Hospitality and Travel News

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2011-11-19T07:03:00.002-05:00

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NYC Steakhouse Workers Arrested for Fraud

2011-11-18T12:26:00.000-05:00

NBC New York: More than two dozen current and former waiters and their associates from some of the city's top steakhouses have been arrested in an alleged identity theft ring, accused of stealing credit card numbers from wealthy customers, NBC New York has learned.

Several suspects are from top city restaurants like Smith and Wollensky, Capital Grille and Wolfgang Steak, as well as Morton’s in Stamford and the Bicycle Club in New Jersey, sources said.

The alleged scam targeted customers who often paid with American Express Black cards and other high-limit credit cards, according to sources.

Law enforcement sources said some restaurant workers used handheld scanners to copy the credit card information as they walked away to process the bill. Later, that information would be sent to leaders of the alleged fraud ring, who would forge new credit cards with the stolen information and test them out on taxis.

If the cards worked, the suspects would go on major shopping sprees, buying up expensive goods like Chanel goods and Jimmy Choo shoes. The thieves would then re-sell the luxury brand items for cash.

Officials estimate profits totaled at least $1 million, sources said.

NYPD officials and District Attorney Cy Vance were expected to announce details of the case Friday. Many of the suspects are also expected to be arraigned in Manhattan criminal court.

An NYPD spokesman declined to comment Thursday, as did a Vance spokeswoman.

Managers at Smith & Wollensky, the Bicycle Club and Capital Grille restaurants declined to comment.

A manager at one Wolfgang’s restaurant said he believed all workers on the schedule Thursday had arrived and was unaware of any law enforcement allegations against any worker.

A manager at Morton's also referred calls to its corporate headquarters.

Officials stress restaurant operators had no knowledge of the alleged crimes by the few employees.

Volcano Eruption Sparks Tourism

2011-11-18T10:01:00.001-05:00

Mount Nyamuragira

Mail and Guardian: Its status as the battleground in "Africa's world war", and possibly the worst place on Earth to be a woman, makes it arguably the world's most counterintuitive holiday destination.

Yet tourism in the Democratic Republic of Congo's ravaged east is doubling by the year as intrepid travellers set out to witness its natural wonders.

From a standing start of zero in 2008, when war was still raging, Virunga National Park's visitor numbers climbed to 550 in 2009, then 1 800 in 2010 with an expected 3 800 for 2011. As a result, this year the oldest national park in Africa expects to raise more than $1-million.

Among the attractions on offer are an overnight trek to the eruption of the Mount Nyamuragira volcano and tracking through forests to glimpse critically endangered mountain gorillas.

In a sign of growing confidence, Virunga is also due to open its first tourist lodge on January 1, with guests paying $200 a night in 12 bungalows boasting lava-rock walls and thatched roofs.

"Clearly it's not Spain we're trying to sell," said Cai Tjeenk Willink, the park's business development officer. "The good thing is we have high-quality attractions here: the mountain gorillas, the active volcanos, safaris with elephants, lions and leopards, the lake, a lowland forest and one of the highest mountain ranges in Africa. We have a lot to offer."

Willink said that most visitors were from Belgium, the former colonial power, and about one in 10 is British.

The Nyamuragira volcano began erupting on November 6 and has several lava fountains spewing up to 200m into the air, with lava flowing slowly north into an uninhabited area of the park.

The park, a Unesco world heritage site, has set up a tented camp in a safe area close to Nyamulagira, where visitors can stay overnight.

Let Delta Haul Your Christmas Tree

2011-11-18T09:52:00.000-05:00

Jaunted: If you’re off to grandma’s house next week to celebrate Thanksgiving and you want to bring a Christmas tree back home with you—no problem! Delta will gladly carry your tree under the belly of the plane, and in fact, they’ve been doing this for a few years now and are the only domestic carrier to do so—we think.

Delta is hardly an extension of Santa's sleigh, so obviously there’s some special rules and regulations when it comes to checking a Christmas tree. First, we’re thinking that you might need to remind the agent at check-in that this is totally normal, as this is probably not one of Delta’s most widely used policies. Next, be sure to get ready for plenty of stares from fellow passengers and well as those TSA folks that seem to always be hanging around.

Once it's time to check the tree just remember that freshly cut trees are considered limited-release baggage, so that pretty much means you just need to accept whatever damage might occur. So please don’t flip out when there’s a couple pine needles missing once you get home. It’s a domestic option only, so no American trees overseas please.

Just like its fellow cargo companions, your tree is subject to all sorts of size restrictions and baggage rules. We guess the tree counts as you first checked bag, so be sure to carry-on if you’re dreaming of bringing a tree along as your traveling companion. Finally, you might need to make a quick trip to Home Depot or the local garden center, as your tree needs to be wrapped up in burlap or something similar for its holiday flight.

Hotel Dispenser Systems

2011-11-18T09:18:00.000-05:00

Hotel Chatter: To dispense or not to dispense? We're talking about hotel toiletry dispensers, that is. We (and a few of our readers) have said before that dispensers are cool so long as there are some good products in them. Fortunately, if you are visiting these hotels along the West Coast, you'll be encountering some good "tropical" stuff from Tommy Bahama.

The Acqua Hotel, Hotel FIVE, The Maxwell Hotel, University Inn, and Watertown Hotel have all added gallon dispensers of Tommy Bahama toiletries to their guestrooms in an effort to be eco-conscious. But Kurt Helmke, the general manager of the Acqua Hotel, outside of Marin in California, knew that not any old brand would work in the dispenser.

A lot of hotels have started moving to dispenser systems, but the Tommy Bahama products make us stand out.

Tommy's amenity line, distributed by Pineapple Hospitality, includes the Exotic Coral Shampoo, Protective Conditioner, Liquid Soap, Hand and Body Lotion and Bath and Body Gel. The amenities are all natural, have never been tested on animals and exude a clean, fresh aroma. No Hawaiian shirts needed!

Man Sues Airline for Expired Drink Coupons

2011-11-18T09:09:00.000-05:00

Reuters: Southwest Airlines Co. was sued by an Illinois man over the discount carrier's decision to stop honoring coupons for free alcoholic drinks, which it had given to select travelers and which lacked expiration dates.

The plaintiff Adam Levitt said Southwest had for years awarded customers like him, who bought tickets through its premium-priced "Business Select" program, hundreds of thousands of coupons for the drinks, which would otherwise cost $5 each.

But on Aug. 1, 2010, Southwest changed its policy, and said Business Select passengers may use their coupons only on the day of travel printed on them. Some other passengers were given more time.

"In an industry where the competition is always knocking (or banging) on the door and where watching the bottom-line is more important than ever, we owe it to our employees, customers, and shareholders to find ways to operate smarter," Mike Hafner, vice president of cabin services, wrote on a company blog.

Levitt, who lives in the Chicago area, said the policy change amounted to a breach of contract. He attached to his complaint copies of 45 coupons for free drinks, which he said he had accumulated and which the change left worthless.

"Southwest decided that it would make more money -- improve its 'bottom-line' -- by choosing not to honor the coupons that consumers had already paid and bargained for," said the complaint filed Wednesday in Chicago federal court.

The lawsuit seeks class-action status for Southwest customers in the United States with unredeemed drink coupons. It seeks compensatory damages and other remedies.

Southwest had no immediate comment. A lawyer for Levitt did not immediately return a call seeking a comment.

U.S. carriers are reducing services and cutting expenses as fuel costs rise and an uncertain economy threatens to reduce demand for travel. Southwest, based in Dallas, has long been among the healthiest major U.S. carriers financially.

TLC & Southwest Team Up for Reality TV Show

2011-11-18T09:02:00.000-05:00

MSNBC: Americans seem to have an insatiable appetite for reality shows. They also seem to be endlessly fascinated with the good, the bad and the ugly about their flight experiences.

Now, it seems, the two will be mixed for the television public – again.

TLC, the television network that is part of Discovery Communications, announced Wednesday that it is starting production on a new series that will take viewers behind the scenes of the modern air travel experience.

The network has ordered 13 half-hour episodes, which will be produced by ITV Studios America and based on unprecedented access to Southwest Airlines.

“We were interested in working with Southwest,” said Dustin P. Smith, vice president of communications for TLC, “as it is one of the largest airlines in the country and is known for its exuberant corporate culture and for having refreshing and personal customer service that is regarded as unique in the industry.” Those qualities, combined with an in-depth look at the hurdles of traveling, would create a dynamic show, he said.

Ashley Dillon, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, said the airline was chosen also because of its tradition of transparency, which relies heavily on the use of social media, blogs and other media.

“We’re always telling people what we’re doing behind the scenes. Why not put that on TV?” she said “That makes us an attractive airline for a TV show.”

Southwest’s daily operations were previously the subject of a television series in 2004-2005 when “Airline” ran for three seasons on A&E.

“Customers loved that show,” Dillon said. “Airline”aired on Monday nights, and on Tuesday mornings there would be a surge of people applying for jobs, as the show reflected the important role that employees played at the airline, Dillon said. And even six and seven years later, employees featured on the show are stopped at airports by travelers seeking autographs.

“We found people loved behind-the-scenes views.” Most travelers, she said, do not know about all the challenges of flight – from getting all the bags boarded to landing safely.

The new series “will be fresh and new and different,” Dillon said. The earlier show focused on customer service at the airport, but the current production will be broader and will include many more employees: maintenance workers, providers of drink and food, pilots as well as attendants.

“Employees will be the storytellers,” she said.

The series will also feature stories of real travelers – beginning with the purchase of tickets at their homes and continuing for the duration of their journeys.

What’s the appeal of a show based on such a mundane occurrence?

“Airlines are a fascinating business,” said Henry H. Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and co-founder of the Atmosphere Research Group, a market research company. “It's an industry known for attracting 'characters' in certain roles, especially like pilots and flight attendants. Non-airline employees see the industry as somewhat 'glamorous' thanks to the ability to see so much of the U.S. (and abroad) either for free or on deep discounts. Some mistakenly believe that there is a lot of hanky-panky on crew layovers, though that couldn't be further from the truth.”

Harteveldt said other recent shows to profile the industry include "Fly Girls", a series that “capitalized on the popularity of reality shows, presented against the background of a fun, young, hip airline like Virgin,” and “Pan Am,” “a scripted show that is trying to capitalize on the popularity of the 'go-go' time frame of the 1960s when the economy was stronger and so much was new and possible. It's a clear rip-off of 'Mad Men,' and a bad one at that.”

Harteveldt said he was not surprised that Southwest was chosen as the focus of the TLC series.

“Southwest is a well-known national airline with a reputation for friendly, and a bit off-beat, customer service,” he said. In addition, Southwest is careful about the people it hires, and has a distinct corporate culture which adds to the appeal. “Its employees are generally happy to work there, so you're less likely to hear negative comments from employees.”

A title for the series and a firm date for the premiere have not yet been set, but it is expected to debut sometime in the spring of 2012, Dillon said.

Production is scheduled to begin this coming weekend at Baltimore Washington International Airport and Denver International Airport, with additional airports to be added in coming weeks.

New Website Offers Deals on Last Minute Getaways

2011-11-17T13:42:00.000-05:00

MSNBC: First came LivingSocial Escapes, which offers customers discount vacation packages.

Now comes LivingSocial Instant Escapes, launched Thursday, which offers customers last-minute travel deals up to 55 percent off.

Doug Miller, senior vice president for LivingSocial’s new business initiatives, told msnbc.com that he’s seen a lot of interest from customers in last-minute travel. While most LivingSocial Escapes packages can be booked several months out, Instant Escapes deals are aimed at travelers who don’t have plans for the upcoming weekend. “Our focus is on creating demand,” he said.

Customers can find these last-minute deals on the current LivingSocial Escapes website or mobile app or sign up to receive weekly e-mails. New deals will be posted on Wednesdays, focusing on destinations within driving distance and are good for either that Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. Most deals are one-night stays, Miller said.

The first Instant Escapes deals include:

- $139 per night at the Larkspur Hotel in San Francisco, which also includes a $15 credit to the on-site Bar 1915 and a $75 credit to rent a luxury car;

- $265 per night for a room at The Hudson Hotel in the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City, as well as free WiFi, late check-out and continental breakfast for two; and

- $84 per night at Washington, D.C.’s Hotel Madison with a complimentary room upgrade and late check-out.

Since launching a year ago this month, LivingSocial Escapes has sold nearly 600,000 room nights at more than 800 different properties around the world. It was quickly followed by Groupon Getaways, which launched over the summer.

Carroll Rheem, director of research for PhoCusWright, said the challenge for deal sites is to drive incremental bookings, not undercut the price for a customer who was already planning a trip. She sees last-minute escapes as a niche market.

“If you’re kind of bored for the weekend, that’s a very different experience than ‘I know I was going to take a trip,’” she said.

Airline Passengers Told to Pay Extra for Fuel

2011-11-17T13:32:00.003-05:00

Hundreds of passengers on a Comtel flight from India to Britain were stranded for six hours in Vienna when they were told they had to pay extra to buy more fuel.

The charter service asked them to kick in more than 20,000 pounds ($31,000) to fund the rest of the flight to Birmingham, England. In the video below a Comtel cabin crew member tells passengers, "We need some money to pay the fuel, to pay the airport, to pay everything we need. If you want to go to Birmingham, you have to pay."

Some passengers said they were sent off the plane to go to cash machines to get the money.

Video:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

AAA: Thanksgiving Travel Up 4% Over 2010

2011-11-17T10:47:00.000-05:00

Click on Detroit: More Americans are hitting the road this Thanksgiving holiday, despite higher gas prices, according to the motorist group AAA.

The American Automobile Association projects 42.5 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles during the Thanksgiving weekend, an increase of 4 percent from the 40.9 million people who traveled last year.

But gas prices are also up, making the drive more expensive this year. The nationwide average price of unleaded gasoline was $3.39 per gallon on Thursday, compared with an average of $2.88 a year ago.

The high cost of gas might be why travel was flat for Memorial Day and actually decreased, compared to last year, during Independence Day and Labor Day. But the Americans who have been staying home to save money are shrugging off their financial concerns for Turkey Day, according to AAA.

"Driving AAA's projected increase in the number of Thanksgiving travelers is pent-up demand from Americans who may have foregone holiday travel the last three years," said Bill Sutherland, vice president of AAA Travel Services, in a prepared statement.

"As consumers weigh the fear of economic uncertainty and the desire to create lasting family memories this holiday, more Americans are expected to choose family and friends over frugality.

Driving will be the dominant mode of transportation during Thanksgiving, while forecasts for air travel are mixed. AAA is expecting air travel to increase by nearly 2 percent, but the Air Transport Association of America is projecting a 2 percent decrease.

AAA defines the Thanksgiving weekend as the period from Nov. 23 to Nov. 27.

New York Tops December Hotel Searches

2011-11-17T10:09:00.001-05:00

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

USA Today: Where are travelers most searching for hotels this December? New York tops the list, according to Kayak.com's analysis of two years of hotel-search data.

The Big Apple, after all, does a fantastic job of decking itself out for the holidays. And each year, tourists from the Tri-State area - and around the world - flock to the city to soak up the atmosphere.

Last week, workers were busy hanging gigantic snowflakes from wires high above Fifth Avenue. Visitors also love to photograph the spectacular Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, which will be lit this year on Nov. 30, and take in other festive sights - including hotels adorned with decorations.

So what about the four other cities that made Kayak.com's Top 5 list? They're all warm-weather destinations.

It makes you wonder if Northeast residents rushed to book December trips after the freak, Oct. 29 snowstorm pounded the region and left millions without power for days.

The full Top 5 from Kayak:

·         New York
·         Las Vegas
·         Orlando
·         Cancun
·         Miami

The Top 5 cities that experienced the biggest increases in hotel search volume for December travel on a year-over-year basis:

·         Miami
·         San Francisco
·         New Orleans
·         Fort Lauderdale
·         New York

On the flip side, Kayak.com also looked at cities that fell out of favor this year compared to 2010.

Deal seekers may want to scan this list of Top 8 cities where hotel search volume decreased the most on a year-over-year basis because they could have better luck in these destinations finding hotel bargains in December:

·         Barcelona
·         Los Angeles
·         San Diego
·         Boston
·         Nassau, Bahamas
·         Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
·         San Juan, Puerto Rico
·         Chicago

Developer Says S. Florida Could Be Bigger Than Vegas

2011-11-17T08:47:00.000-05:00

Sun Sentinel: The developer behind a plan to build the world's largest casino on the Miami waterfront predicts gamblers will spend more in South Florida than they do in the Las Vegas Strip, the kind of grand transformation that now has the mayor of Miami rethinking his support of the project.

The Malaysian-based Genting Group released a one-page summary of an economic study it commissioned saying the addition of three 5,200-room casino resorts would generate as much as $6 billion in gambling revenue a year. The Vegas Strip, long considered the hub of American gambing, generated $5.7 billion last year, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The striking numbers come on the heels of a letter by Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado to Genting Chairman K.T. Lim that rolls back the mayor's previous embrace of the company's planned Resorts World Miami casino resort on the city waterfront.

"I believe that your proposed project may be one of the best things that ever happened to our community -- or the worst,'' wrote Regalado, who in June presented Kim with the key to the city shortly after Genting paid $236 million for the Miami Herald's waterfront headquarters. "It is too early in its planning to tell."

The mayor's Nov. 8 letter calls for both Miami and Genting to "stop and think and work together, carefully and unrushed, to avoid any problems that may develop" with the massive project, which would include 5,200 rooms and nearly four times as much gambling space as the largest casino in Vegas. Genting issued a statement Wednesday saying it was "working closely with authorities at all levels of government" as it moves forward with the proposed development.

Genting hired Spectrum Gaming Group to prepare an economic study on bringing three casino resorts to South Florida. On Wednesday Genting released a one-page letter by Spectrum stating three casino resorts would generate between $4.5 billion and $6 billion in casino winnings a year. The letter does not make the Strip comparision, but Spectrum managing director Michael Pollock said it's reasonable to imagine South Florida eclipsing Sin City.

"You've certainly got the population,'' Pollock said. "You've got the tourism infrastructure. You've got access to multiple markets -- many of which are untapped by gaming, such as Latin America."

Pollock said the study was based on three resorts the same size as Resorts World Miami. That would mean world's three largest casinos would operate in South Florida. The letter was released the same day Genting executives made their case in front of a Senate committee considering a industry-backed bill that would allow three casino resorts to open in South Florida.

In an interview, Regalado said his letter does not reflect a change in his position, and that the Resorts World Miami project would not be too large for the city as long as Genting can address traffic woes and new strains on city services.

"It could be manageable,'' he said. "But we just need to understand what kind of impact it will have."

Regalado's newest statement is "gratifying" to business leader Norman Braman who recently met with the mayor urging him to reconsider his views on gambling.

"I think it gets back to the more that people really think this through, the more they realize and understand all the pitfalls that casino gambling will bring to this community," Braman said. "I don't think Tomas Regalado wants his legacy stained by being instrumental in bringing casino gambling to this community."

Braman, who recently engineered the successful recall of Miami Mayor Carlos Alvarez, said he will make it his mission to defeat the casino gambling bill and the potential of three destination resort casinos in South Florida. He said he's received an flood of calls in the last few weeks from other community leaders interested in supporting his efforts.

"I will do whatever is necessary to prevent casino gambling from coming into this community," Braman said. "People now are really waking up to what's happening.This is an assault on our quality of life."

Innovative Travel Companies Recognized

2011-11-17T07:35:00.000-05:00

MSNBC: Travelers face no shortage of challenges, from finding the right hotel to making the most of their vacation to knowing which restaurant recommendation to trust.

On Tuesday, 32 companies looking to make the travel experience better presented their products at the Travel Innovation Summit at this year’s PhoCusWright conference before their peers in the travel industry, a circle of critics and a panel of judges.

Among this year's winners, announced Wednesday:

GroundLink: a global, private car service that can be booked online or via mobile.

Gtrot: a website that provides travelers with targeted content such as deals or things to do in a specific city, based on their friend's social media activity through sites such as Facebook or Foursquare.

Evature: Eva, its Expert Virtual Agent, is designed to understand travel requests submitted in natural language, also known as free text.

Hipmunk: offers a flight and hotel search that now integrates with a traveler's calendar and features a heatmap for cities throughout the world based on, for example, the density of shopping or nightlife in a particular neighborhood.

ReviewPro: a customer intelligence tool that hotels can use to profit from the social web and manage their online reputation.

The judges also gave runner-up nods to two companies: Tru, a global mobile carrier, and TripLingo, a language-learning app that includes, among other things, a Slang Slider that helps travelers find the best translation.

“Travel is still very open to innovation,” Gregg Brockway, co-founder of TripIt and one of this year’s judges, told msnbc.com “I think we saw some companies that are answering really interesting problems.”

TSA Blasted for Being "Bloated, Inefficient"

2011-11-17T07:23:00.000-05:00

CNN: Ten years after its formation, the Transportation Security Administration on Wednesday got the type of birthday card no one wants to receive -- a blistering report from Republican lawmakers who said the agency is "bloated" and "inefficient" and has done little, if anything, to improve aviation security.

Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, a longtime critic who has fought to privatize TSA screening jobs, said Congress never intended the agency it created in November 2001 to "mushroom" into a workforce of 65,000 employees, "top heavy" with bureaucrats.

"I can tell you, in our wildest dreams ... no one ever envisioned 4,000 administrative personnel in Washington, D.C., making on average ... almost $104,000, and then nearly another 10,000 out in the field," Mica said.

But the most scathing comment came from Rep. Paul Broun, R-Georgia.

"Americans have spent nearly $60 billion funding TSA and they are no safer today than they were before 9/11," Broun said.

Pressed on the accuracy of that statement, Broun and Mica said the TSA has never stopped a terrorist attack, and gave credit to private citizens or others for terrorist plots disrupted thus far.

"Unfortunately, the focus has been diverted from security ... into managing a huge bureaucracy," Mica said.

Broun concurred. "We must focus on identifying terrorists and stopping them instead of patting down grandma and children. And we must stop worrying about political correctness," he said. "TSA needs to put their resources into intelligence and technologies that can be more effective when it comes to catching highly elusive and dangerous terrorists."

The lawmakers said they are preparing legislation to reform the TSA.

A TSA spokesman called the GOP report "an unfortunate disservice to the dedicated men and women of TSA who are on the front lines every day protecting the traveling public."

The country's aviation system is "safer, stronger, and more secure than it was 10 years ago," spokesman Greg Soule said. The agency has screened more than 5 billion passengers over the past decade, he said, and has prevented more than 1,100 guns from being brought onto passenger planes this year alone.

Mica and Braun released the GOP report at a news conference held in the main concourse of Reagan-Washington National Airport. Their remarks criticizing the state of aviation security were amplified over a loudspeaker, and drew sidelong glances from passengers headed to airport checkpoints.

One day earlier, TSA Administrator John Pistole stood in the same location to discuss holiday travel preparations, touting advancements in screening technology and saying passengers are happy with changes that have reduced the number of pat downs of children.

The report released Wednesday was prepared by Republican staffers on House Transportation and Oversight committees. It is largely a compendium of earlier critical reports of the TSA, looking at its deployment of failed technology, such as puffer machines; the failure to interdict terrorists, such as 2001 "shoe bomber" Richard Reid and 2009 "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab"; and the lack of card readers for the 1.8 million ID cards issued to transportation workers.

The report says the agency has grown nearly four-fold since its inception, from 16,500 workers to more than 65,000, while commercial passenger traffic has increased less than 12 percent.

But a TSA spokesman said the agency had approximately 56,000 security officers in 2002, the year it started screening, and has approximately 52,000 today.

The report by the Republicans contains 11 recommendations, saying the TSA must act with greater independence from the Department of Homeland Security, and the administrator's stature must be elevated. The TSA has become "lost" in the Homeland Security bureaucracy, Mica said.

It also calls on the agency to contract out more screening jobs to private industry. Currently, 16 airports, including San Francisco International, have "opted out" of federal airport screening and use private screeners under what is known as the Screening Partnership Program. The screeners wear the same uniforms, use the same technology and follow the same procedures.

Mica advocates the continued privatization of airport screening jobs, but administrator Pistole has been less supportive, at one point saying he would expand the program only if there was a clear advantage to doing so.

In other TSA news, a travel industry group Wednesday said the agency's screening procedures remain "inefficient and frustrating" for travelers.

The U.S. Travel Association released the results of an online survey it conducted last month of about 600 people.

According to the survey, "four of the top five air traveler frustrations relate to the checkpoint process," including the top frustration: "People who bring too many carry-on bags through the security checkpoint." But five of the 11 options on the survey pertained directly to TSA checkpoints, and the remaining options did not include some common irritants, such as excess baggage fees.

The survey says 66.2 percent of air travelers are "somewhat or very satisfied" with the TSA's overall performance as it relates to security, 21.2 percent are neutral, and 12.5 percent are "somewhat or very dissatisfied."

But frequent air travelers are less happy, with 54.6 percent "somewhat or very satisfied."

The group said that despite the TSA's new initiatives to improve passenger screening, an "overwhelming majority" have not recognized any improvements in checkpoint efficiency when compared to the previous year. It said 81.8 percent plan to arrive at the airport the same amount of time before a flight as they did last year.

The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.

The TSA said it was pleased to see the vast majority of travelers polled believe the agency is moving in the right direction, and said checkpoint screening has gotten speedier, taking less than 20 minutes for more than 99 percent of passengers last year.

"The increased number of carry-on bags impacts our ability to further reduce wait times, but not the level of security we provide, which remains our priority," the agency said.

Hotels Serving Up Their Own Honey

2011-11-17T07:12:00.001-05:00

Los Angeles Times: Thanksgiving dinner guests at Carmel Valley Ranch can expect the Central California resort to serve a honey of a meal.

The great bird will be basted to a rich golden brown in a glaze of honey, apple cider and butter. And there will be honey corn muffins and an elegant ice cream that's a delicate mix of honey scented with lavender.

Guests can give thanks for these sweet dishes to the bees of Monterey Peninsula, most specifically the 70,000 Italian bees of Carmel Valley Ranch (www.carmelvalleyranch.com), which work overtime to provide honey for the upscale 500-acre resort.

The ranch's four colonies of bees are part of a new trend swarming across North America and Western Europe. It's accompanied by the buzz of millions of bees, many of them living on the rooftops of urban American hotels.

From Honolulu to Paris and from Vancouver, Canada, to the Florida Keys, honeybees have taken up residence on hotel ledges, rooftops and balconies and are busy doing what they do best: pollinating plants and making honey.

The hives are part of a beekeeping movement that has a two-fold purpose: to save the species, which has been decimated by colony collapse disorder; and to bring hyper-local honey to guests staying at these hotels.

Urban beekeeping has been growing in popularity for several years. Opéra Garnier, the Paris opera house, has kept hives humming on the roof for more than a quarter of a century.

The Obamas hopped on the bandwagon earlier this year when they served White House Honey Ale, home-brewed by their chefs with honey from the White House beehive.

But the loudest buzz comes from the hospitality industry, where hoteliers have found on-site beehives another prong in the movement to localized sourcing. Hotels are adding beehives to their properties to produce organic honey for use in a variety of areas, from spa treatments to cocktails.

At the Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah — the Beehive State — dandelion and lavender honeys are popular and are served at Buzz, the resort coffee shop (www.montagedeervalley.com).

Eighteen Fairmont Hotels have added apiaries, mostly on rooftops. At the Fairmont Washington D.C., the hives are named Casa Blanca, Casa Bella and Casa Bianca; at the Fairmont Newport Beach, executive chef Chad Blunston works with beekeepers to extract honey for use in Bambu Restaurant; and at the Fairmont San Francisco, 50,000 honeybees produce honey to be used at the afternoon tea service.

Last month I stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, British Columbia, where I could look down from my 20th-floor room and see six hives — and about half a million bees — in the center of a third-floor balcony herb garden. The bees quietly went about their business within 20 feet of the hotel pool and within 50 feet of the mammoth Vancouver Convention Centre. Meanwhile, I snacked on a selection of the hotel's delicate honey truffles, Bee's Knees. In the dining room, I found a small jar of honey on the table at breakfast.

Despite the interest in saving bees, their numbers continue to dwindle.

In March, the United Nations sounded the alarm, seeking international efforts to save bee colonies, which have declined as much as 85% in some areas, particularly the industrialized Northern Hemisphere, according to a report by the U.N.'s environmental agency.

The causes: pesticides, air pollution, parasites, the loss of flowering plants and a decline in beekeepers in Europe.

"The way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century," said Achim Steiner, executive director of the United Nations' Environment Programme.

"The fact is that of the 100 crop species that provide 90% of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees."

In the greater scheme of things, the hoteliers' beekeeping efforts probably aren't "a blip on the radar for honey production or pollination input," said Kim Flottum, editor of Bee Culture magazine.

"But the promotional value far outweighs the practical application value," he added. From the standpoint of the beekeeping community, the hotel trend is appropriate because "it keeps honey bees in front of people all the time, and featured in a very positive light."

The bottom line, Flottum said: "The hotel wins, the bees win, beekeeping and beekeepers win, the local flora thrive, folks who never thought about where their food comes from get a little insight into that side of the business. It's all good."

John Russo, the beekeeper at Carmel Valley Ranch, couldn't agree more. He runs a program there called the Bee Experience that introduces guests to beekeeping. "When people get enthused about the bees, and want to have their own hives, I feel like I've made a few more converts," he said. "That's a terrific feeling."

Air Passengers Start Wearing Their Luggage

2011-11-16T13:44:00.003-05:00

Scottevest SeV Chloe Hoodie

MSNBC: In an effort to avoid checked baggage fees, many passengers now try to pack everything they’ll need for a trip into carry-on bags that can fit into an airplane's overhead bins.

For now, most domestic airlines don’t charge for carry-on bags or for coats, purses and other small personal items. But few travelers would be surprised if more airlines began following the lead of Spirit, Ryanair and some other budget airlines, which do charge fees for carry-ons.

It may already be — unofficially — happening. In what George Hobica, founder of travel website Airfarewatchdog.com, terms a “relatively new trend,” some airlines are getting aggressive about weighing carry-on bags.

“Hawaiian has a 25-pound weight limit and actually weighs bags at the gate, snatching away bags that weigh more and charging a checked bag fee,” said Hobica. “EVA Airways has a 15-pound limit, and several other airlines have limits as well. It's touted as a safety precaution, of course, but it's also a sneaky way of extracting fees for carry-ons.”

For passengers not willing to take a chance at getting dinged with a last-minute charge, there’s another option: wearing your luggage.

At the San Francisco-based chain of Edwards Luggage stores, co-owner Randy MacKenzie said the line of iPad-compatible vests, hoodies, jackets and trench coats from SCOTTEVEST, each with between 20 and 30 built-in pockets and compartments, is a big hit in the “luggage you can wear” category.

"We started selling the SCOTTEVEST two years ago and we've sold hundreds. The product continues to resonate with travelers as it becomes more and more challenging to get through airport security and important to utilize valuable packing space."

For parents trying to carry both a baby and a bulging diaper bag, the convertible Go-Go Babyz “Sidekick” is a diaper bag that doubles as a wearable baby carrier.

And then there’s the Jaktogo, a carry-on bag that can be worn as a coat. (Other versions include the Dresstogo and the Ponchotogo.)

Invented by John Power, an Irish-born engineer who was determined to find a way around carry-on limits imposed by the budget carriers he frequents in Europe, the Jaktogo has 14 various-sized pockets designed to hold more than 30 pounds of clothing, gadgets and gear.

“It’s certainly not a fashionable item you’d wear around town,” said Power. “And we won’t be showing it off in Paris or Milan. It’s ‘boarding-gate’ clothing that’s all about practicality and thriftiness.”

Ultimate Techie Hotel Room Available in Paris

2011-11-16T12:16:00.003-05:00

Smart Planet: Novotel and Microsoft have teamed up in Paris to create the ultimate techie hotel room. The room “3120” has been outfitted with the latest technology including a digital mirror and Xbox consoles. The prototype will only be available temporarily at the Novotel Vaugirard-Montparnasse location and visitors can book the room through February 14^th.

Novotel is a chain of hotels present in 40 countries attracting a mix of family and business clients. This high tech room is the first collaboration with Microsoft since the partnership formed in 2008.

The project is only meant to last three months, but could be prolonged according to Marine Todesco, communications chief at Novotel’s parent group, Accor. “If this room fulfills expectations and if reservations are in demand, it could be prolonged,” she said.

The room is a techie dreamland. It has an Xbox Kinect for game lovers. The SENSORIT digital mirror allows guests to check news while checking their reflection. The Windows Phone 7 and the Nokia Lumia are also available, though they won’t be commercially available in France until the end of the year.

Todesco said that the Surface interactive table is among the most surprising feature. Guests can use it to browse the Web, play online games, or even use interactive maps to plan the next day’s adventures. “Its applications are basically unlimited,” she said.

The features are largely experimental in the hotel. “It’s important to note that the innovations in the rooms are pilot versions; some of them, if they are very successful with clients, could be deployed on a larger scale,” Todesco said.

The room “3120″ is available for 199 euros a night and is located in Paris’ 15^th arrondissement, with a view of the Eiffel Tower. While details aren’t available yet, Todesco said that another Novotel-Microsoft project will be unveiled next year in a to-be-announced European capital.

Video:

Ohio Launches Tourism Website

2011-11-16T10:17:00.000-05:00

Media Post News: The Ohio Tourism Division is launching a website to showcase Ohio attractions, restaurants and destinations that have been featured in movies and on television.

The goal for the “Scene in Ohio” site is to capitalize on the “travel-motivating factors of mainstream media,” says State Tourism Director Amir Eylon. Travelers are visiting places they have learned about from their favorite television shows and movies, Eylon says. The website makes it easy to find those places along with other nearby sites to encourage a longer getaway, Eylon adds.

The interactive site is kicking off with more than 50 locations, but users are encouraged to add to the site’s content. Listings pull photos and videos from social media networks, show Yelp consumer reviews for applicable locations, and offer social media sharing capabilities.

The website’s main feature is a list of locations searchable by category (movie, television, and food), keyword and zip code; photos and videos from social media channels; Google maps; and Yelp reviews where available. The map feature also shows users the locations of other nearby “Scene in Ohio” sites as well as a brief highlight of stars born in Ohio or with strong Buckeye connections.

Each “On-Screen Ohioan” listing includes an overview of the star's career and Ohio connection, an interesting “factoid” and a link to their profile on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb).

In addition to sample itineraries for “movie buffs” or “foodies,” visitors can build and share their own Ohio itineraries. Ohioans and visitors alike can share additional movie, television and restaurant sites that may be added to the website.

Sites and experiences of all sizes located across the state range from the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield ("Shawshank Redemption") to Cincinnati's Fountain Square ("Ides of March") and from Thurman Cafe in Columbus ("Man v. Food") to Wendy Kromer Confections and City Bake Shop in Sandusky ("The Martha Stewart Show").

Research has shown that tourism often increases after places are featured on TV or in movies. The Journal of Travel Research cites two of the most notable increases: a 7% increase in tourism for Savannah, Ga., after "Forrest Gump," and a 300% increase in tourism for the Wallace monument in Scotland the year after "Braveheart" was released. Many restaurants across the U.S. report double-digit sales increases after being featured on Food Network or Travel Channel programs.

The Most Anticipated Rides at U.S. Theme Parks

2011-11-16T09:06:00.001-05:00

EarthQuest Adventures

Los Angeles Times: At first I thought it was too early to look ahead at the new attractions coming to U.S. theme parks in 2013, but then I realized a number of big rides have already been announced and many more are already in the planning stages.

It already seems like 2013 is shaping up as a good year for ride enthusiasts and theme park fans. Big industry players have announced major projects, and several smaller parks are planning to roll out significant additions.

A few projects delayed by the economic recession have been given a 2013 opening date that might be best described as tentative rather than definitive. Only time will tell. But we won't let that dampen our anticipation.

Since it is still early, I'll update my top 13 over the coming months as new projects are announced. Until then, here's my list of most anticipated rides for 2013:

1) Magic Kingdom - Fantasyland

The final phase of the ambitious Fantasyland expansion at the Magic Kingdom in Florida is expected to wrap up in 2013, featuring a Seven Dwarfs mine train coaster, a Little Mermaid dark ride and a dueling Dumbo attraction.

2) Disneyland - Fantasy Faire

The Fantasy Faire medieval village at Disneyland in California will feature princess meet-and-greet areas and stage shows at the current location of the Carnation Plaza Gardens bandstand next door to Sleeping Beauty Castle.

3) Morey's Piers - Wooden roller coaster

The $10-million wooden roller coaster by Great Coasters International will span two piers and dive under the boardwalk at Morey's Piers. The New Jersey seaside amusement park is considering two names for the ride: Wildwoody and Boardwalk Flyer.

4) SeaWorld Orlando - Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin will transform SeaWorld Orlando's 24-year-old Penguin Encounter habitat into a new winter-themed land with 55-foot-tall glaciers in the shape of nuzzling penguins towering over shops, restaurants and an as-yet-unannounced attraction. SeaWorld remains highly secretive about the new attraction, describing it only as a one-of-a-kind, family-friendly yet thrilling interactive ride offering varied adventures from a penguin's point of view.

5) EarthQuest Adventures - New theme park

The oft-delayed $300-million EarthQuest Adventures theme park outside Houston would feature six themed lands filled with thrill rides, roller coasters and animal exhibits. Long-term plans call for a water park, retail center and hotel.

6) Lake Compounce - Water park expansion

The oft-delayed $15-million water park expansion at Lake Compounce in Connecticut will feature a slide tower, wave pool, lazy river and kiddie pool.

7) American Dream Meadowlands - Indoor amusement park

The stalled $3.8-billion mega-mall project next to the Meadowlands football stadium in New Jersey is scheduled to open in 2013. The completed 3-million-square-foot American Dream Meadowlands mall is expected to include an amusement park, water park, giant Ferris wheel and indoor ski slope.

8) I-Walk Orlando - Orlando Eye

Merlin Entertainment, the parent company of the new Legoland Florida theme park, plans to open a 425-foot-tall observation wheel in 2013. The Orlando Eye, slightly smaller than the landmark London Eye, would be part of new retail complex on International Drive in Orlando, Fla.

9) Skyvue Las Vegas - Giant Ferris wheel

The 500-foot-tall Skyvue giant Ferris wheel, taller than the London Eye, will feature more than 40 gondolas, each holding up to 25 passengers. The mini amusement park on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip across from Mandalay Bay will include several roller coasters.

10) Waldameer - Thrill ride

Waldameer has promised a new thrill ride for the area next to the merry-go-round. The Pennsylvania park last added the Mega Vortex spinning Disk-O thrill ride in 2009.

11) Water Magic - Water attraction

The $40-million Water Magic water-powered funhouse sounds like a cross between a water park and a children's museum where visitors will get wet but won't wear bathing suits (body driers will be available). The 40,000-square-foot water attraction near Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., will feature a walk-on-water illusion, hands-on water symphony, water mirror maze, bubble room, deep-sea diving experience and water sculptures.

12) Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Oktoberfest revamp

The Oktoberfest section of Busch Gardens Williamsburg has undergone a multi-phase renovation over the last couple of years, with the addition of the Mach Tower drop ride (2011) and the Verbolten multi-launch coaster (2012). A third phase of the Oktoberfest renovation is expected to be unveiled by the Virginia park in 2013, according to Screamscape.

13) Six Flags Magic Mountain - New ride

Six Flags Magic Mountain recently shuttered the 1971 Log Jammer water flume to make way for a new ride in 2013. The wooded 6-acre parcel in the center of the California amusement park includes a sizeable man-made lake that could play a role in the new attraction. Will it be another water ride, a terrain coaster or a thrill ride that somehow interacts with the lake?

Waitress Says She Was Fired for Wearing Tea Party Bracelet

2011-11-16T08:06:00.000-05:00

Northwest Herald: Tea party members, conservative bloggers and radio hosts are rallying in support of a Woodstock (Illinois) waitress who says she was fired from the Crystal Lake Outback Steakhouse for wearing a political bracelet and admitting tea party sentiments.

Twenty-three-year-old Megan Geller of Woodstock said that a couple dining at the restaurant in early October took offense to a bright yellow bracelet with the words "Don't Tread On Me" imprinted on it.

Outback's Chief Legal Officer Jospeh Kadow said Geller was fired for her inattention to customers that evening.

"Megan Gellar was not let go because of her tea party bracelet," Kadow said in a statement to the Northwest Herald. "On the night in question two separate tables complained about her lack of attention."

When the manager spoke to Geller about these complaints, she responded by yelling at him with a hostile attitude and that led to her termination, Kadow said.

Geller says she told the diners her mother, Tonya Franklin, gave her the bracelet after Franklin received it at a tea party event. Those last three words incensed the couple, who then asked for the manager, Geller said.

Holding signs, and waving American flags and yellow "Don't Tread On Me" banners, a weekend protest outside the restaurant was held against what demonstrators called a violation of Geller's free speech rights.

Conservative bloggers and radio hosts also have spread Geller's story.

"They stirred up the wrong hornet's nest and messed with the wrong mama," Franklin said at the protest Saturday. "When mama's get mad, mama's get to work."

Megan said she feigned ignorance when the customers questioned the bracelet's meaning.

"I didn't want to talk politics at work," she said.

Geller claims she wore the bracelet "for months" with no prior warning from restaurant management and was never asked to remove the bracelet.

"She was not fired because a customer complained about her bracelet," Kadow said. "That would have simply been handled by asking her to take off the bracelet."

Documents from the Illinois Department of Employment Security provided by Geller state that she was fired for misconduct, but she should not have been denied unemployment benefits

"The evidence shows the claimant was discharged from [Outback Steakhouse] because they received a couple complaints from customers since she was wearing a bracelet with a political point of view," according to documents from the state agency. "Since the claimant's action, which resulted in her discharge was not deliberate or willful, the claimant is not ineligible for benefits."

Outback did not challenge Geller's unemployment claim, or submit any information regarding her claim, Kadow said.

New Website Lets Hotel Workers Complain

2011-11-15T13:57:00.001-05:00

CNN: With so many means for guests to leave feedback on hotels worldwide, it's easy to take those opportunities for granted. But what would workers in the hospitality industry say if they were asked to comment on their employers?

We'll soon find out, thanks to a new Tumblr page that lets hotel employees share stories of demanding bosses, long shifts and finicky guests.

The inspiration for "Joey Quits" comes from a likely source: Joey DeFrancesco, who became a viral video sensation and working-class hero in October for posting a YouTube video of him resigning from his hotel job accompanied by a marching band.

With more than 2.8 million views in just over a month, the YouTube video generated more than 4,000 comments and even more e-mails, Facebook messages and cell phone texts, DeFrancesco said. Much of the response came from current and former hotel workers who said they related to DeFrancesco's complaints of struggles with management.

"We did not expect to get all this attention. But when we did, we knew we had to do something with it," the 23-year-old Rhode Islander said.

Websites such as Hotel Workers Rising are backed by unions and address conditions from a labor standpoint. But "Joey Quits" appears to be one of few forums dedicated exclusively to letting individuals air grievances.

The site's masthead bears a screen grab from the YouTube video of DeFrancesco's triumphant face next to messages in Spanish and English urging users to submit stories about their hotel workplace.

"Inspired by the success of the 'Joey Quits' video and responses to it from other hotel workers, we created this site to collect stories about unjust working conditions in the hotel industry," the site says, also in Spanish and English.

The feed, which launched this week, had 10 entries as of Tuesday morning, including videos of DeFrancesco and other former employees of the Renaissance Providence, the site of DeFrancesco's famous resignation. The rest are anonymous or come from users claiming to be former hotel industry employees. CNN could not verify their claims.

The goal is not to encourage boycotts of the accused hotels but to hold them accountable by raising awareness of undesirable conditions, hopefully paving the way to stronger labor laws, DeFrancesco said.

"The site is intended for workers so they can read it and know they're not alone, that others are experiencing the same things as them, creating a sense of working-class identity and hotel worker identity that's crucial to transforming the industry and forming unions," he said.

"The other audience is the public that's visiting the hotels, so they know how bad conditions are and let their disapproval be known with their wallets until things change."

New York To Have 90,000 Hotels Rooms by 2012

2011-11-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

NY Daily News: New York is on its way to having a record number of hotel rooms this year — and a good many of them will be in the outer boroughs.

The city will have 90,000 rooms by the end of 2011, Mayor Bloomberg said Monday, as tourism continues to grow despite a weak economy. The number of rooms in the city has grown 24% since 2006, according to City Hall. New York is also set to surpass last year’s record of 48.8 million visitors.

Speaking at the opening of the Z NYC Hotel in Long Island City, Queens, Bloomberg said the record number of rooms show how the city’s tourist trade is expanding beyond Manhattan.

“Our tourism sector employs 323,000 people, and those jobs are now increasingly located outside Manhattan as tourists want to visit all of the city’s great neighborhoods,” Bloomberg said.

About 40% of new hotel openings will be in outer-borough areas including trendy hotel-hotspot Long Island City, which now boasts 17 properties and has another five on the way.

Miami Touirism Hiring Rebounds -- Still Soft in Las Vegas

2011-11-15T12:03:00.001-05:00

Miami Herald: The recession hit South Florida hard, but Las Vegas got clobbered.

By many measures, Sin City’s economy sunk deeper than Miami’s did. Among all of the major metropolitan areas in the country, Vegas has the highest unemployment rate: 13.6 percent. Property values sunk 58 percent from their peak in the housing crash, compared to the 49 percent drop in South Florida. Vegas also leads the nation in foreclosures.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that Miami’s tourism industry bounced back much faster from the recession than did the tourism industry in Vegas.

Vegas relies much more heavily on conventions than South Florida does, and the meetings industry got hammered in the recession as corporations scaled back on anything that looked lavish. Spending on gambling also took a dive during the recession.

These Vegas-Miami comparisons, of course, are taking on new importance as Florida considers allowing a law that would bring mega casinos to South Florida.

While Vegas is essentially a one-industry town, South Florida thrives on economic activity from tourism and construction — two Vegas staples — it also can count on international finance, trade, and a sizeable professional services industry to provide jobs and spending power.

Gambling opponents point the region’s tourism statistics as proof South Florida doesn’t need gambling, since the hospitality industry appears to be strong without it. But gambling supporters also point to the region’s economic diversity as an argument for bringing in casinos, since they would serve as an extra outlet for hiring and development — not the only one.

Getting Wet and Wild in Las Vegas

2011-11-15T10:15:00.003-05:00

Splash Canyon Water Park

Vegas Chatter: Back in the day, it wasn't a Vegas vacation without a stop at Wet N' Wild on The Strip. Right next to the Sahara and before the reign of the Vegas day pool scene, the mega-waterpark was the cool place to get cool... at least until it turned off the spigots for good back in 2004.

Now, a new water attraction is about to make a splash, but don't look for it on Las Vegas Boulevard. Splash Canyon will keep the wet and wild times about 15 miles southwest of The Strip. Scheduled to open next Memorial Day Weekend, the H₂O complex will feature the requisite wave pool with 3-foot-high waves and Lazy River as well as 20 slides, a kids play zone, cabanas, picnic areas, restaurants, and probably a gift shop ready to teach us a lesson about forgetting sunscreen, our sunglasses, or Chapstick in the hotel room.

But, we know what you really want to hear about is the rides -- and if you'll be taken for one to get in. The water slides will include two 7-story Speed Slides, a six-lane, head-first Mat Racer, and a three-slide, multi-rider Tube Complex where 2 to 3 people can get drenched at once. Unlike Wet n' Wild, the inner tubes will be free here. We can't remember how much we forked over to get in back then, but Splash Canyon will charge us a top ticket price of $29.99 for adults or really tall kids. Tykes under 48 inches will get in for eight bucks less as will seniors and the military. Children under two will be free.

If you come to Vegas a lot, the best option, though, is a special $99 season pass available "while supplies last." Once those are gone, they'll go up by $40 bucks. Of course, tourists will need to factor in a rental car, too, or a really expensive cab ride for a day of fun in the sun off The Strip.

Delta In-Flight Ad Spurs Backlash

2011-11-15T09:10:00.003-05:00

ABC News: A video commercial (since removed from YouTube) sponsored by a non-profit, anti-vaccine organization now playing on Delta flights has come under fire by a pediatrician organization, prompting the airlines to review its approval process for in-flight programming.

The nearly three-minute public service announcement put on by the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) describes alternative methods to preventing the flu besides getting the flu shot.

The video also includes a statement by the president and co-founder of NVIC, Barbara Loe Fisher, saying the flu shot doesn't effectively protect against nearly 80 percent of flu cases.

In a letter to Delta, the American Academy of Pediatrics president, Robert Block, urged the airline company to consider removing the ads. Displaying NVIC's message on Delta flights is, "putting the lives of children at risk, leaving them unprotected from vaccine-preventable diseases," Block wrote.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 49,000 Americans die from flu-related complications each year. According to ABC News' chief health and medical editor, Dr Richard Besser, the ad leaves out the importance of the flu vaccine.

"Flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu," said Besser. "This was not made clear in the ads from the National Vaccine Information Center."

In a response to the AAP, Delta conceded that the video does not point to vaccines as the primary source for flu prevention.

"Therefore, we have changed our internal review processes and procedures to help ensure that submitted content is vetted differently going forward," Delta's general manager of occupational health, Barbara Martin, wrote in response.

Delta declined to comment to ABC News on specific changes it plans to make to its review process. Fisher told ABC News she was shocked to hear that Delta is reviewing its approval method.

"This is the first time I've heard about it, it's a little concerning to me," said Lowe, who added that the airline initially approached her organization about creating the PSA for its flights.

"I really feel that when you see this video, it doesn't tell people not to vaccinate," said Lowe. "It talks about becoming educated."

The video led to an online petition calling for removal of the ads. The petition has received more than 2,000 signatures.

According to the petition, "Putting travelers onto an airplane, where they are put in close proximity, if not direct contact, with other travelers for extended periods of time while discouraging them to do everything possible to protect themselves and each other is simply irresponsible at best, and downright dangerous at worst."

The paid commercial will run on Delta flights through November, which complies with the two parties' contract.

This is not the first time NVIC has come under fire for its public service announcements. In March 2011, the AAP wrote a letter asking CBS to remove NVIC's video ad that played on the station's Jumbotron in Times Square. In December, the vaccine advocacy group Every Child by Two will display its PSA on Delta flights calling for everyone 6 months and older to get the flu shot.

"What concerns me is that there's an attempt to demonize consumer advocates and to isolate and eliminate us from the public conversation about an important public health topic," said Lowe.

Qantas Airlines Celebrates 'Mo'vember

2011-11-15T08:54:00.000-05:00

MSNBC: Even the smoothest flights will be plenty hairy for passengers on one Qantas Airways plane through the rest of the month.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, is being decorated with a nose-cone mustache to spread the word that it’s not November.

It’s Movember!

“Mo” is Australian slang for mustache and the designated vehicle for what four Melbourne men admit is the laziest way to raise money and awareness in the battle against deadly prostate cancer.

It’s like a 5K for couch potatoes.

“We call it the hairy ribbon,” Adam Garone, Movember CEO and one of four co-founders, told msnbc.com. “Our motto is, ‘Changing the face of men’s health. We want to use growing a mustache to get men talking about prostate cancer, and this is a fun way to do it.”

It all started at a 2003 backyard party when Garone and his mates were talking about how every fashion eventually recycles and becomes popular again.

All but one.

“We talked about mustaches and how popular they were in the 1970s and ‘80s,” he said. “But they never came back. There were 30 of us, and we decided to devote the month to growing mustaches.”

Expecting support, they received revulsion. Garone said his girlfriend hated it and his bosses at Vodofone forbid him from making sales calls, reactions that only added to the fun.

So the next year they decided to do it again — only this time for a good cause.

They marched into the local headquarters of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The organization said they’d welcome any funds they raised but, no, they were reluctant to affiliate with such silliness.

Little did they know the men had tapped into a perfectly manly way to reach men about an area they’re often reluctant to discuss. And it isn’t their funny bones.

In that first year, 450 friends raised $55,000 and the organization began sensing the so-called “Mo Bros” and “Mo Sistas” were onto something that would soon take off in ways that had nothing to do with Australia’s iconic airline.

In addition to the mo-plane, Qantas spokeswoman Emma Kearns said the airline placed a giant mo on its Sydney terminal building. "We're proud to support Movember and are encouraging our team to 'grow a mo' for Movember," she said, adding that prizes for best mo will be given. Females are encouraged to add to the mo-mentum by sporting fakes.

The disease is personal at Qantas, where CEO Alan Joyce was treated for an aggressive form of prostate cancer earlier this year. Early detection, however, led to a successful operation and a return to work within a few weeks.

“My doctor told me that there was an 80 percent chance that I would have been dead within 10 years if it hadn’t been detected when it was,” the 45-year-old Joyce said in July.

Movember swooped into North America in 2007, and Garone said the mustache and nearly 500,000 global participants, including affiliates at Livestrong and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, have helped raise $174 million.

The stunt with Qantas thrills the group, who want to make facial hair to November what pink and breast cancer awareness are to October. They are optimistic more promotional stunts will ensue.

“I wouldn’t advocate vandalism over works of art, but the Mona Lisa would look great with a Photoshopped mustache,” he said.

Will Missiles Make 2012 Olympics Safer?

2011-11-15T08:44:00.001-05:00

Surface-to-air missiles may be used to help provide security for the London Olympics next year. Defense secretary Philip Hammond says “all necessary measures” will be taken to ensure security at the games, including “appropriate ground to air defenses”, if such action is recommended by the military.

The announcement came as it emerged that America has repeatedly raised concerns about security at the Games and was preparing to send 1,000 agents to protect American citizens.

Video:

Woman Feaks Out Over McDonald's Breakfast Menu

2011-11-14T14:49:00.000-05:00

The Smoking Gun: When Shanaya Edgell arrived early yesterday morning at a McDonald’s in Janesville, Wisconsin, she was expecting to order from the fast food joint’s regular menu--Big Macs, french fries, Chicken McNuggets, and the like.

Except it was around 3 AM and the restaurant had already switched over to its breakfast menu--hash browns, Egg McMuffins, hotcakes, and the like.

This enraged Edgell, according to Janesville Police Department officers.

The 22-year-old--for some unexplained reason--turned on her boyfriend, biting him on the lip and tearing off his shirt. At some point during her meltdown, Edgell climbed atop the roof of her 40-year-old beau’s car and launched into a loud diatribe about McDonald’s.

After Edgell dismounted from the vehicle, she was collared for disorderly conduct. Danny Davis, deputy chief of the Janesville police, told TSG that Edgell and her boyfriend had been at a bar prior to heading to McDonald’s. When questioned by an officer about her behavior, Davis said, Edgell copped to “freaking out” in the wake of the menu changeover, adding that she was “acting crazy.”

Edgell, pictured in the above mug shot, is being held in the Rock County jail in lieu of $150 bond. She is scheduled for a court appearance later this afternoon.

Couple Sue Airline Over Cockroaches on Flight

2011-11-14T14:14:00.000-05:00

WCNC: A North Carolina couple is suing Air Tran Airways, alleging they were sickened by cockroaches coming out of air vents and storage areas on a recent flight. They say flight attendants ignored their concerns.

WCNC-TV reports that Charlotte attorney Harry Marsh and his fiancée, Kaitlin Rush, saw the cockroaches soon after takeoff on a Sept. 15 flight from Charlotte to Houston with a stop-over in Atlanta. They say flight attendants were too busy to investigate the problem. Marsh said Rush became nauseous and now doesn't want to fly.

They're claiming mental and emotional distress and seeking more than $100,000, plus the price of their tickets.

Air Tran said it can't comment on pending litigation, but it denies several allegations. The airline says cleanliness is important and that planes are regularly and professionally treated for bugs.

VIdeo:

An American Airlines Ad Staring Kevin Spacey

2011-11-14T13:49:00.002-05:00

Jaunted: Get ready for another airline ad to hit your television screen, as American Airlines is ready to interrupt your weeknights on the couch with new spots featuring Kevin Spacey. That's the good news. The bad news is that technically they’re only going to be run in the United Kingdom — because we all know actors hate selling stuff in their own backyard when they can do it overseas instead. Sure he’s an Academy Award winner, but can he put butts in AA's First and Business Class seats?

In total there’s a few new ads kicking around showing off how American Airlines caters to the individual in all of us. If you take the time to check out the one we stuck (below), you’ll see Spacey doing his thing as several different types of people — from dad to designer — all getting ready to head off to the airport. As the ad winds down, Kevin Spacey tells us he loves American Airlines, while saying hello to himself as his other personalities seated in first class.

The other ads show different ways to check-in — again different strokes for different folks — along with the various dining options aboard an American Airlines flight. Like we said earlier, the only downer is that these are only hitting the airwaves across the pond. That means no Spacey commercials for us here in the nifty fifty. We say that’s okay, because we really don’t think these ads are that catchy or creative — although we do like us some Spacey.

Video:

Hilton Announces Soap Recycling

2011-11-14T13:40:00.000-05:00

Business Green: Many of us may feel a twinge of guilt at swiping soap from hotels, but it turns out that this petty theft may be the greener option.

US hotels throw out an estimated 2.6 million bars of soap every year, most of which ends up in landfill. But unused soap represents a waste mountain that global hotel chain Hilton Worldwide is now committed to tackling.

The company has agreed to collect used soap to donate to the Global Soap Project, a non-profit organization that reprocesses used soap from hotels into new bars that can then be distributed to vulnerable populations in developing countries at risk of disease related to poor sanitation and hygiene.

Hand washing with soap is among the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diarrhea and pneumonia, which together are responsible for more than 3.5 million child deaths each year.

The Global Soap Project was founded by Derreck Kayongo and his wife Sarah in 2009, and has distributed more than 25 tons of soap to communities in 20 countries across four continents. Kayongo had the idea when he was a refugee in Kenya and found that access to soap was extremely limited.

"Even when available, those living on less than $1 a day had to choose between buying food or soap," he said. "People were suffering from illness simply because they couldn't wash their hands."

Hilton Worldwide said that the new partnership will produce more than a million new soap bars for the Atlanta-based project, and that the company will take a seat on the board to help guide its growth.

"We are proud to invest in the Global Soap Project and are excited to leverage our expertise to support their organization, while simultaneously solving critical social needs," said Christopher Corpuel, vice president of sustainability at Hilton Worldwide.

Adding to the Travel Lexicon

2011-11-14T10:39:00.002-05:00

Cuddle Class?

Economic Times: Here are some terms that capture the changing trends and concepts, says Sushmita Choudhury Agarwal.

Austerication
This is what you get when you combine austerity with vacation. The word was coined to describe the growing trend of swapping hot travel destinations for something cheaper, closer home. Think downgrading from Maldivian shores to Goan ones, or skiing in Auli instead of the Alps. Given that the problems in Europe are far from over and inflation is still soaring at home, austerication is the word of the year.

Bleisure
It blurs the old divide between business trips and pleasure. Here's how it works: if you are being sent on a two-day business trip, you can invite your spouse to tag along. If your office has booked you in a double room, why not make the most of it and shell out extra only for the air fare? After all, the post-work hours can be put to good use.

Cuddle class

You've heard of, and probably experienced, the cattle class enough number of times. Now Air New Zealand has introduced a new way of flying, and so revolutionary is the idea that it may well force other airlines to follow suit. Basically the airline has designed the economy seats in its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a way that a row of three seats can be converted into a couch at the touch of a button. You get to fly flat without paying first class rates.

Extrava-gappers
A relatively new breed of high-yielding corporate slaves, who choose to take a sabbatical or an extended break when their careers hit a rough patch, like a recession, or job apathy. The agenda includes sampling never-before travel experiences while the economy recovers or as they sort out career aims and return to work life when things are clearer. What sets this group apart from the between-college-and-a-job breed is wallet size: the former have earned fat pay cheques and aren't into shoestring backpacking.

Flashpacking
This is evolved backpacking, padded up with a lot more moolah. Flashpackers retain the essence of backpacking-no fixed itinerary, travelling light, going beyond the done-to-death destinations-but in more comfort. So you trade the youth hostel for a glamping (glamorous camping) site, backpack for a strolley, throw in your iPod, iPad and DSLR camera, and look beyond the low-cost carriers. In a nutshell, flashpacking is what an extrava-gapper would do.

Greycation
Originally, a holiday exclusively for the silver-haired pack. After the recession and amid fears of another one looming large, the word has broadened its scope to mean holidays with elderly people. There is a growing trend of cheaper multi-generational vacations across the globe.

Galveston Hopes for Tourism Magic

2011-11-14T10:30:00.001-05:00

Carnival Magic

Houston Chronicle: Galveston loves magic — especially the kind that promises to float millions of tourism dollars into the local economy.

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic made its debut over the weekend and embarks Monday on an inaugural trip from Galveston, marking the third new cruise ship in the southern port this year. Island officials hope the ship will bring the island more tourism dollars, as Galveston marked a milestone in its decade-long efforts to market the port city as a cruising destination.

"It shows the major cruise lines understand the appeal of Galveston and are choosing to invest in it over other popular markets," said Leah Cast, a spokeswoman for the Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The 130,000-ton ship boasts a WaterWorks aqua park with a 312-foot-long spiral water slide, a ropes course, as well as numerous other amenities.

Rates for a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise itinerary, departing from Galveston, range from $529 to more than $1,000 per person, depending on travel dates, for a standard inside stateroom based on double occupancy, according to Carnival's website.

Sue Schmitt, a Houston travel agent, says the cruise line is usually more economical and has already booked about 20 cabins for clients.

"Most of them are excited because it's brand new," she said. "For many of them, the ship is the destination."

Steady bookings

While the prolonged economic downturn has put a squeeze on tourism, Schmitt says her business has been surprisingly steady this year.

The addition of Carnival Magic adds to Galveston's cruising cachet, she said.

"Obviously Carnival feels that way or they wouldn't put a brand new ship here," she said, adding that she and her husband are booked to sail on the inaugural trip Monday. "I have clients going on it in two weeks, and they are so anxious for me to get back and report."

John Heald, Carnival's senior cruise director, said bringing the new ship to the Lone Star State was an easy decision.

"Florida was upset, but Galveston is a great revenue market for us," he said.

His only concern so far was the lack of a drugstore close to the terminal so the crew wouldn't have to travel far to buy toiletries.

The Magic arrived about one month after 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph began voyages from the island. Together, the ships have the potential to bring about 100,000 more visitors to Galveston and at least $10 million in direct economic impact to the island's tourism industry, according to the visitors bureau.

The potential tourism dollars had island officials wining and dining national media, travel agents and other industry players throughout the weekend, many of whom toured the ship and the island Sunday and spent the night aboard.

Selling Galveston

The visitors bureau handed out free passes to local attractions and gave a presentation about the island to Carnival's sales representatives over the weekend as part of an effort to have the cruise line pitch the city as a destination.

Sunday afternoon, pop band Maroon 5 performed for the crowd.

The port recently completed $12.5 million in renovations of the terminal designed specifically to accommodate more passengers and the larger Carnival Magic vessel.

Carnival's parent company helped finance improvements in 2004, a partnership that helped the port grow and raise the money it needed for the recent renovations, which included a new gangway and expanded passenger waiting areas, said Galveston port director Steve Cernak.

"We couldn't have done it without them," he said.

Other ships sharing the port with Carnival Magic include the Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas, which started sailing out of Galveston last week, replacing similarly sized Voyager of the Seas. The 2,400-passenger Disney Magic is expected to start sailing from the port next September, followed by the 3,080-passenger Crown Princess in December 2012.

Troubled Bayport

Meanwhile, the Port of Houston Authority's $71 million Bayport Cruise Terminal remains without a ship regularly calling on the facility that was built in 2009.

Three Thanksgiving Travel Myths Debunked

2011-11-14T08:49:00.001-05:00

Budget Travel: Local TV news shows trot out a few staple stories every November, as reliably as families trot out Butterballs for basting.

Air travel during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one topic that reliably brings tall tales. Here are some popular myths, debunked.

Myth No.1
The day before Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for flying. Not true! Don't listen to your local TV newscaster. The Wednesday before Turkey Day won't even be in the top 25 busiest days of the year for air travel this year, according to all forecasts. That Wednesday in previous years hasn't been "the busiest day for air travel" in many years. The Saturday after Thanksgiving is usually busier. What's more, taking a flight on virtually any Thursday or Friday during the summer is usually worse than any days during this period.

This Thanksgiving is expected to pale in comparison to previous ones—at least when it comes to air travel. Fewer people will fly this year than last year and the year before, and numbers are down 12 percent from boom-boom year 2006. A forecast for this year's Thanksgiving holiday period by AAA predicts about 23 million vacationers will take to the skies between Friday, Nov. 18, and Tuesday, Nov. 29.

All that said, severe weather can, of course, wreak havoc on the aviation system at any time. So, keep an eye on the weather forecast as you travel. Also: Florida's main airport have the unique problem on the weekend before Thanksgiving, when cruise passengers mix with travelers starting their Thanksgiving holidays early.

Myth No.2
It's too late now to redeem frequent flier miles for travel on many routes. Not necessarily so! Just ask Jared Blank, the frequent flier analyst who blogs at Online Travel Review. Blank has access to the computer databases that give peeks into the availability of reward travel. He says flights from the East Coast to Florida and the Caribbean still have business-class seat upgrades available. And "flights to Europe, especially on European carriers, look quite open over the Thanksgiving break," he says.

Myth No.3
There are more flight delays at Thanksgiving than at most other times of year. Wrong again! Reporters at NPR and USA Today debunked this chestnut in recent years. They asked the Department of Transportation to crunch the numbers on this, and, historically, "on-time performance for flights since 2001 during a 12-day window with Thanksgiving in the middle" were the same as the average for the rest of the year. No blips.

For the record, LAX International in Los Angeles will be the nation’s busiest airport this Thanksgiving, followed by Chicago O’Hare, Orlando International and San Francisco International, according to the annual Orbitz Insider Index.

Boeing Signs Record-Breaking Deal

2011-11-14T08:39:00.002-05:00

Emirates Airlines 777

CNN: Boeing and Emirates Airlines have signed an $18 billion deal -- the largest deal in the aircraft manufacturer's history -- to supply the airline with 50 aircraft, with options to expand the deal even further.

U.S.-based Boeing has agreed to build 50 of its 777-300ER airliners for the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, the companies said. The agreement also contains options to supply an additional 20 aircraft, which could add $8 billion to the deal.

At $18 billion, this is already Boeing's largest deal as measured in dollars, the aircraft manufacturer said Sunday. The company also said this is a record year for the 777, with orders for this year totaling 182 so far. That breaks the prior record of 154 orders in 2005.

Emirates' fleet of 94 777s is the largest in the world, according to Boeing. The 777-300ER is designed for long-haul flights, with the "ER" standing for "extended range."

The magnitude of the deal provides a hopeful sign about the economy. Airlines in particular suffered when fuel prices spiked in 2008, and have coped by eliminating their least fuel-efficient flights and by adding fees to services that were once included in the fare, like food, check bags and pet travel.

Boeing also unveiled the 787 Dreamliner last month. After long delays in production, the Dreamliner made its first commercial flight on Oct. 27 from Tokyo to Hong Kong.

The Dreamliner is the first commercial jet to be built from light-weight composite material made from carbon fibers. United Continental Airlines is the first U.S. carrier to take delivery of the plane, which it plans to start flying next year.

United also recently launched its first biofueled flight, with a 737-800 produced by Boeing.

Emirates, which refers to itself as "the world's fastest growing airline," released its results for the first half of its fiscal year on Nov. 3, saying that it had added 10 aircraft and 3,400 staffers during that time.

Emirates now has 161 aircraft, ramping up its fleet from 60 in the last seven years.

Disney Tests RFID Theme Park Entry System

2011-11-14T08:08:00.001-05:00

Inside the Magic: Given its emphasis on future technology, it’s no surprise that Walt Disney World has chosen its Epcot theme park as the location to use a new ticket entry system. Testing began (Sunday) on an RFID based system that requires no turnstiles to enter the theme park. Guests instead simply place a chip-equipped ticket up to a Mickey Mouse-themed device and after a quick finger scan, a green light lets them know they can proceed into the park.

RFID stands for radio-frequency identification, which allows tiny electronic chips to be scanned without the use of lasers or barcodes. Information can be stored on these chips to, in this case, give Disney’s guests quicker entry into theme parks.

@DisKingdom took part in the new test at Epcot, sharing information and a couple of photos with us of the new scanners that have replaced some of the park’s turnstiles. A full report with more photos can be found on their Disney Projects web site.

Guests visiting Epcot today have the option of having their tickets scanned and then equipped with a Mickey Mouse sticker with an embedded RFID chip, presumably encoded with the same information found on the ticket’s magnetic strip, normally used for entering the park. The sticker itself is a bit thicker than a standard paper ticket due to the chip inside, but not thick enough to be intrusive. If the test goes well, future tickets presumably will have RFID chips embedded inside them.

Upon approaching the new RFID scanners, guests are instructed to simply hold their chip-equipped tickets up to the Mickey Mouse head shape, then place a finger onto the biometric scanner, and wait for the green light to pass through. Reports suggest it is a faster process than going through traditional turnstiles, taking only a few seconds.

During the test, many of Disney’s cast members are monitoring guests’ flow through, offering instructions on how to use the new system. While lines can and will still form leading up to these new scanners, the goal is to reduce the amount of time each guest spends in using a ticket to enter the park, ultimately reducing the wait time to get in.

Rumors of Disney using RFID throughout their theme parks have been around for a while, indicating that not only could guests enter the park using this technology, but also to purchase items within the park (like many credit card companies’ existing scan-and-pay options), as well as in interactive and personalized experiences throughout theme park attractions and shows. So it’s possible this Epcot test is far more than just an enhancement to entering the park, but the beginning of the future in how Disney guests enjoy the theme park experience.

Security concerns are always raised when RFID technology is used, as the ability to have quick scans has the potential of being abused or hacked. Some may be concerned about the use of finger scans, thinking Disney is fingerprinting its guests, but these biometric scans have been in use for select passes for several years, scanning only finger dimensions and not the fingerprint. Disney has also likely taken all necessary security measures to prevent abuse of the RFID chips, though given how the technology works, it’s easy to imagine that someone with enough equipment and knowhow could potentially find a way “into” the new setup, even possibly cloning and duplicating someone else’s annual pass. And depending on just how much personal information is stored (or accessible) on the RFID chips, now or in the future, the potential for identity theft is another issue Disney surely will be considering as the test continues. Fortunately, extreme close proximity to a ticket would be required to “read” it, so it’d be rather obvious if someone was trying to access it without permission. In other words, keeping an RFID-equipped ticket (or credit card) safely tucked away is the best way to avoid this issue.

This is the second time Disney has tested a turnstile-free entry into Epcot. The first occurred in March, featuring rows of barcode scanners. At the time, Disney commented, “Our teams are always trying out new ideas – stay tuned to see if this makes it into the parks.” And the same statement likely holds true for the new RFID test that began today. It’s another way in which Disney will learn valuable information in an effort to continue to improve the overall guest experience, with the ultimate goal of reducing lines and waits, enhancing the magic of visiting a Disney theme park.

'Hotels for Heros' Will Help Wounded Warriors

2011-11-13T08:06:00.000-05:00

MSNBC: For people thinking of ways to give back on this Veterans Day, there is a new program in the works to help wounded warriors and their families by providing free hotel stays.

Hotels for Heroes, a program that would allow consumers to donate hotel reward points to injured service members who are traveling to receive care through the military health system and to their families, was recently announced by Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin and Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, both Maryland Democrats.

"It's really about Americans helping other Americans," said Susan Sullam, communications director for Senator Cardin. Federal legislation was introduced in both the Senate and the House last week, she said. "It is the ideal time, as people are focused on veterans because of Veterans Day."

As of Nov. 10, 31,921 members of the U.S. Armed Forces have been wounded in Iraq and 14,793 wounded in Afghanistan, according to Department of Defense statistics.

If the legislation is passed, Hotels for Heroes would be an expansion of the national Hero Miles program that provides free round-trip airfare to wounded warriors recovering at military or Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers as well as to friends and family visiting them. Flights are made possible by airline passengers who donate frequent flier miles.

"We are thrilled to be able to help these soldiers heal with their families at their side by helping to reduce travel expenses," Ruppersberger said in a statement. Ruppersberger introduced legislation for the Hero Miles program in 2003.

The Hero Miles program is administered by the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides accommodations to military families visiting injured troops at hospitals.

"To date, over $35 million worth of tickets have been donated by Americans, that’s more than 25,000 tickets that have allowed military families get to the bedsides of their loved ones," said Cindy Campbell, vice president for community relations and media affairs for Fisher House, and a retired naval officer.

Fisher House, which will administer Hotels for Heroes if the proposed legislation passes, has a network of 54 houses in the U.S. and Germany on the grounds of major military hospitals and VA medical centers.

Earlier this year, Staff Sergeant Chaz Allen was injured in Afghanistan, and lost both legs. Once back in the U.S., his wife Jessica Allen flew back and forth regularly to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington from Tennessee. Hero Miles provided most of the tickets for Allen, and also provided tickets to other family members, according to the foundation.

The U.S. government pays for the immediate family to fly to visit their wounded loved ones, but there is a cap on how many flights can be taken, and many family members are not eligible, Campbell said. The goal is that no family member will ever have to worry about how to afford tickets, she said.

"Americans have been extremely generous, and we hope they will be just as generous when it comes to hotel points," she said. The new program, if passed, would allow veterans and military families to utilize hotels when the Fisher House homes are full.

Legislation is still in the proposal stage, but early feedback from representatives in the hotel industry is positive.

"As an industry, we are very interested," said Joseph A. McInerney, president and chief executive of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, a hotel industry trade group. "Even if it doesn’t get passed, maybe as an industry we need to step up and do something. The military is like motherhood and apple pie. Why wouldn’t you want to do something for people who defend our country every day?"

Bjorn Hanson, divisional dean of the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management at New York University, said: "My understanding is that U.S. lodging industry owners, managers and brand executives embrace this is as a great idea and look forward to this and similar programs."

Occupancy for 2012 will be around 60 percent, Hanson said, "so in many markets on many nights there are rooms available, and that availability can create opportunities for our industry to be helpful and say 'thank you' to troops and their families."

More information about the Hero Miles program can be found here.

Hotel points cannot currently be donated, but people interested in voicing support for Hotels for Heroes legislation can contact their congressmen or senators, Sullam said.

Obscene Photos Found in Myrtle Beach Hotel

2011-11-13T07:38:00.001-05:00

WMBF: One Myrtle Beach hotel found itself covered with obscene photos Friday morning and no known suspects.

At approximately 9 a.m. Friday morning, Myrtle Beach Police responded to a hotel on South Ocean Boulevard to find pornographic and obscene materials that had been placed in the common areas.

According to a police report, security at the resort had begun to find these materials beginning at 10 p.m. Thursday night in various locations throughout the building, including door frames, elevator doors and stairwells. The photos were collected by security and turned in to Myrtle Beach Police.

The photos collected were found in areas of the hotel not under the surveillance of video cameras, and appeared to be removed from an old photo album. The police report stated that the photos were old polaroids, possibly taken in the early 70s of adults engaged in "various sexual acts."

Anyone with information about this incident should contact Myrtle Beach Police.

Chinese Flock to Buy London 2012 Olympics Toys

2011-11-13T07:23:00.000-05:00

The Mirror: The Chinese have gone London 2012 bonkers, with Hornby reporting booming demand for Olympic-themed toys.

The firm is shipping 2012 branded busses, taxis and Minis to 500 stores in China after a flood of interest.

Boss Frank Martin put the unexpected boost down to a Beijing bounce, with many people in China gripped by Olympic fever following the Games there.

He said: “We have already made the first shipments and we expect this new market to be an important contributor to our London 2012 sales.”

Most of the products are made in China yet, because of the ordering process, they’re shipped to the UK and then back again.

Martin said the Games, plus a host of new products, should ensure Hornby a “cracking” 2012. The upbeat tone came as Hornby announced profits soared 80% to £1.2 million ($1.9 million) in the six months to October.

The firm is enjoying strong overseas sales, with demand for train sets in Germany especially strong. Germans spend more per person on train sets than anyone else in the world.

Hornby’s group sales rose 11% to £28.4m ($45.7 million) in the six month period, driven by a 50% surge in overseas takings. Sales in the UK, meanwhile, edged up 4% with orders from store chains higher than in previous years.The firm has responded to customers’ money worries by launching more value products, including its Tornado train set.

Sales of Airfix kits were up this year, although demand for Scalextric sets fell.

Hornby’s Corgi arm was also up, also helped by London 2012 merchandise. Hornby has also secured the toy rights to a new kids’ TV show, Olly the Little White Van, which it hopes will prove a hit.

Libya Hopes for Post-War Tourism Boost

2011-11-13T06:59:00.000-05:00

Libya has remained off the beaten track for tourists despite boasting a range of interesting and ancient sites. But officials and businessmen in the country are hoping to make moves to help that change.

Video:

Illinios Casino Bets on the Hearing Impaired

2011-11-13T06:48:00.003-05:00

Rivers Casino

Chicago Tribune: After years of job rejection, Kuumba Hogu of Park Forest wasn't expecting much when he applied for a position at Rivers Casino.

Employers would often retreat the second they saw his hearing aid, the 37-year-old said, so he anticipated the same reaction from the gambling venue in Des Plaines.

But his confidence grew when the Anixter Center, a Chicago nonprofit that helps those with disabilities, had him sign with a hearing-impaired Rivers Casino employee who described the work atmosphere and his experience with other staffers. After a successful interview with the northwest suburban casino, Hogu began working as a facility technician Sept. 9.

People at Rivers Casino "take the time to hear what you have to say," Hogu said through an interpreter. "I wish other employers would give deaf people a chance and open the doors."

Hogu is one of seven hearing-impaired staffers at the new casino, which has partnered with the Anixter Center to find job candidates. Three of those seven were introduced by Anixter.

The 95-year-old organization's goal is to convince businesses that disabled people can exceed job expectations despite some limits. One of its programs also brings in translators to make the interview process smoother.

Often, employers focus on the person's disability rather than their abilities and ask questions unrelated to the job, said David Price, an employment specialist for the Anixter Center.

That has not been the case at Rivers, which opened this summer and is now used as an example by the agency. The casino will also be highlighted in the center's upcoming promotional film as a model for workplace diversity.

"They're not hesitant to hire our candidates," Price said. "That's something we don't see very often."

The partnership began this year when Adam Schermerhorn, 52, who is also hearing-impaired, decided to apply for a job at the casino. Working with the Anixter Center, the Chicago resident said he wasn't nervous about the application process but felt a little overwhelmed at the job fair in April with 6,000 others.

But when Schermerhorn and a member of the nonprofit were approached by a Rivers Casino employee who also knows sign language, they immediately felt more relaxed. Representatives from the nonprofit began speaking with casino staff about its mission and began building a relationship.

Ultimately, Schermerhorn was asked back for an interview, then offered a job as a technician, which allows him to flex his carpentry muscles. He is now a liaison between the casino and the agency and was the Rivers employee who sat down with Hogu to see if he would be a good fit.

Rivers leaders say American Sign Language is one of about 10 languages in use at the casino. Instead of focusing on a disability, they look for people who fit the job qualifications, have great customer service skills and positive attitudes, said Kate McMahon, director of human resources and community relations for Rivers Casino.

"It's almost invigorating to see the communication between our employees," she said. "It's not a barrier for us."

Hogu said he's happy to finally be part of a team that's accepting of him. He and Schermerhorn have been teaching sign language to their co-workers, but more important, they are sharing their skills and expertise.

"I'm just glad to be offered the opportunity to work here," Hogu said. "It's been a long journey for me."

'X Factor' Contestants Report Bed Bug Infestation

2011-11-12T07:40:00.000-05:00

TMZ: Several "X Factor" finalists claim they were nearly eaten alive at their L.A. hotel this week, TMZ has learned -- after a swarm of bloodthirsty bed bugs feasted on their flesh ... while they slept.

Sources close to the contestants tell TMZ, the unidentified singers in question were staying at the Grafton Hotel ... and when four of them woke up in the morning, they were covered in bites.

We're told the contestants did a little digging and claim they discovered the hotel had a massive bed bug infestation -- so they bailed asap, and notified "X Factor" producers ... who then dealt with the hotel and found new digs for the singers.

Sources connected to production say the hotel acknowledged the bed bug problem. A rep for the Grafton had no comment when we called.

Sleep tight.

Pressure Increases on Tripadvisor

2011-11-12T07:33:00.001-05:00

The Telegraph: TripAdvisor, the travel review website, may have to change the way it operates if proposed changes to defamation laws go ahead and a new complaint being considered by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) is upheld.

The website has come under increasing pressure from hoteliers and restaurateurs who claim that many of its anonymous reviews are either fake or defamatory. The issue was at the heart of Channel 4’s recent documentary Attack of the TripAdvisors.

The website is already being investigated by the ASA over the way it advertises its content. A report is likely to be published in the coming weeks. Should the complaints be upheld, many of the claims made by TripAdvisor about the reliability of its reviews may have to be scrapped.

TripAdvisor recently replaced its long-established slogan “reviews you can trust” with “reviews from our community” on all of its hotel reports. It claims this was not in response to the ASA investigation.

Several hoteliers are also taking legal action individually against the website for alleged defamation and subsequent loss of earnings. They are presenting their case through KwikChex, a “reputation- management” company.

Proposed changes to defamation laws being considered by the Justice Department could prevent sites such as TripAdvisor from publishing reports by anonymous reviewers. The Joint Committee on the Defamation Bill, which drafted the proposals, said: “We wish to promote a cultural shift towards a general recognition that unidentified postings are not to be treated as true, reliable or trustworthy.”

It has also been revealed that a second complaint is being investigated by the ASA over the way hotels and restaurants market their businesses using positive reviews from TripAdvisor.

“The whole issue is coming to a head,” said Chris Emmins, co-founder of KwikChex. “Should these new regulations be accepted, TripAdvisor will have to alter its methods fundamentally.

“Laws and regulations are starting to catch up with the way the digital world has evolved. It’s not a witch-hunt; we just want to see the right thing happen.”

This week, TripAdvisor started a support line for disgruntled business owners – a development likely to be viewed as an attempt to appease them. The company said it wanted to send a “strong message about our commitment to delivering quality customer care for accommodation owners”.

The support line has been criticized by early users. Katie Mackay, who owns Tiroran House on the Isle of Mull, called the number to complain about a four-year-old review that relates to a section of the hotel that has since been rebuilt. She says she was told that the review could not be removed unless the entire hotel had closed.

“It was the same response I’ve always received from TripAdvisor,” she said. “They were polite, but they didn’t change anything and just read aloud the terms and conditions you can find on their website.

“The effect of negative reviews is huge. There are 68 reviews of our hotel on TripAdvisor, and 62 are positive, but if a bad review is sitting at the top, there is a massive impact on bookings.”

She said the rejection of anonymous reviews would create greater accountability.

Meanwhile, one rival website has used the criticism of TripAdvisor to promote its own product. This week Feefo – which specializes in retail reviews and requires proof of purchase before accepting reports – promised to deliver “the kind of authenticity that TripAdvisor is widely criticized for not guaranteeing”.

Toronto's CN Tower Claims New World's Record

2011-11-12T07:21:00.002-05:00

City News Toronto: The CN Tower’s EdgeWalk has claimed a Guinness World Record, adding to the title already held by the tower itself.

The attraction will be named the highest external walk on a building at a Nov. 17 ceremony. Guinness representative Carey Low was in Toronto on Tuesday to present the award to the tower’s chief operating officer Jack Robinson.

She handed out the plaque on the EdgeWalk’s platform, 356 metres (or 116 storeys) above the ground.

"I am personally delighted to award this certificate to the CN Tower ahead of the ceremony,” Low said.

The EdgeWalk offers a birds-eye-view of the city, but it’s not for the faint of heart.

It costs $175 to strap in for an open-air walk along the 1.5-metre platform that runs along the tower’s highest pod. The entire experience will run 1.5 hours, with the walk itself lasting between 20 to 30 minutes.

Up to eight people can make the hands-free trip at the same time, supported by a harness and pulley attached to an overhead rail. In 2010, the CN Tower was named the world’s tallest tower, an honour it has held for over 34 years.

EdgeWalk Video:

Changing the Game for Hotel Rooms

2011-11-12T07:00:00.002-05:00

Room 77 Website

Business Insider: The latest industry to see the rise of a potential game changing start-up is the Hotel Biz. A little known startup called Room 77 was profiled today by Nick Wingfield in the Bits Blog of the New York Times.

Earlier this year Room 77 launched a web site that allows its customers to select specific rooms in hotels instead of just “Types” of rooms.

With a very clean interface that enables a consumer to study the layout of rooms in the hotel and even see the view from the hotel window for that room, Room 77 allows a traveler to check out things that may be important to them, like distance from elevators or stairs. In the beginning not a lot of hotels will be able to offer the information needed for this product, so getting the exact room will be difficult for a while.

But when they do start offering this service, they will be embarking on a new world for hotel operators: transparency.
Most hotels aren’t thrilled about the idea of a consumer knowing exactly what he or she wants. The problem is obvious: Hotels haven’t been particularly good at giving people what they want, so they use their own judgement frequently to give the potential customer something close to what they really want, but not the exact room type because it may not be available. That process becomes much more complicated if the requests are for specific rooms.

The hotels worry that they will lose customers who can’t get the specific room they want. There is a legitimate question as to whether or not the hotel managers really want to see this kind of information out there in real times.

But the fact is, if you can give the consumer something he or she wants, you are doing the right thing. One way or another they will get the information they want, so if you are a hotel owner/manager, you would be better off embracing this technology and running to be up first and best with it.

On top of that, this opens the door for a new pricing model. The very “best” rooms, based on the demand from customers, could cost more. Think of the airline seats with more space that now sell that added space for more.

No matter what, this is the case of technology improving the relationship between the customer and the company.

Man Trashes Hotel Room Over Lack of Toilet Paper

2011-11-11T14:41:00.000-05:00

CBS Charlotte: One man made sure a Charlotte motel was going to pay for him running out of toilet paper.

Upset about the lack of toilet paper that was available in his room, a man destroyed $2,090 worth of hotel property on Monday, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police report. The identity of the man remains unknown.

The incident, which happened at the Charlottetown Manor, happened around 10 a.m. Monday. According to the report, the man grew irate after learning he didn’t have toilet paper and proceeded to walk upstairs to a vacant room that was being renovated. Upon entering the room, he proceeded to clog the toilet, causing water damage to the room, totaling about $2,000 in carpet and ceiling charges.

The man would go on to break a blow dryer and several lights, accounting for an extra $90 in charges.

The suspect returned to his room and damaged more property using physical force, according to the report.

The suspect faces vandalism charges.

U.S. Tourism's Lost Decade

2011-11-11T12:37:00.000-05:00

US News: The travel industry today became the latest to slam federal rules and bureaucracy, charging that tough visa rules for potential tourists have robbed the nation of $600 billion and hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Two grim facts: More Chinese now visit France than the United States, in part because it's hard to get a U.S. visitors visa. And while the U.S. used to be the destination for 17 percent of the world's tourists in 2000, that's dropped to 12.4 percent and shows no sign of changing.

"Even as world travel grew by more than 60 million travelers between 2000 and 2010, the U.S. share of the market remained essentially flat. During this 'lost decade,' our economy squandered an opportunity to gain $606 billion in total spending from 78 million additional visitors—enough to support 467,000 more jobs annually," said a new report out this afternoon from the U.S. Travel Association.

"We know that we are not getting our share," said USTA spokesman Robert Bobo.

The key issue: The U.S. is slow to issue visas, especially since 9/11, and visitors from distant nations are going elsewhere. Among the key problems are the post-9/11 requirement that visa applicants be interviewed before traveling and a lack of visa offices. In China, for example, 20 cities with 20 million or more citizens have no U.S. visa office.

To reverse the slide, travel officials today unveiled a broad plan to speed the issuance of visas, potentially leading to the creation of 1.3 million new jobs and additional economic output of over $850 billion.

The key suggestions on the plan dubbed "Ready for Takeoff" include:

— A presidential directive to boost tourism from countries like China, Brazil, and India.

— Have the State Department do more to promote travel to the United States.

— Hire 440 new consular offices and put them in China, Brazil, and India over the next five years.

— Allow existing visa holders, including many business travelers and student and exchange visitors, to renew visas in the United States instead of returning to their home countries to do so.

— Utilize demand management tools and techniques to analyze and predict periods of high user demand and lower wait times.

The industry, however, gives credit to the Obama administration for realizing the problems and working to boost foreign travel to the United States. Just this week, for example, the agency charged with pushing travel to the United States, the Corporation for Travel Promotion, renamed itself "Brand USA" and plans to launch an advertising and marketing campaign in the spring of 2012 to push the U.S. as a business and vacation hot spot.

Flying on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner

2011-11-11T11:09:00.000-05:00

FlightGlobal: So, what is it like to fly the 787?

To The Ear

While I did have at least a general idea of what to listen for, the 787's "more-electric" systems architecture have noticeably changed the sound of flying. In the cabin you immediately get a sense there are fewer moving parts surrounding you. The sound is less low mechanical rumble and more high-pitch buzz, which ultimately defines the low noise level in the cabin. If there is an appropriate automotive equivalent, it was reminiscent of the sound a hybrid-electric vehicle makes compared to a traditional internal combustion engine. It's not until the twin Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines are spooled up that you realize just how different 787 is from the passenger's perspective.

After two flights on JA801A to Hong Kong from Narita and back, I became used to the sights, sounds and smells (or lack thereof) around me. Following the flight, passengers asked each other if they could feel the different features of the cabin; the higher pressure (lower altitude), higher humidity and lower noise. It wasn't until I boarded my flight back to New York on an All Nippon Airways 777-300ER, that the contrast became stark.

At first, I chalked the different feeling in the air to the "new airplane smell", but when contrasting JA801A to the 16-month old JA787A, the air was noticeably different and significantly dryer. By comparison, the feeling aboard 787 felt as though the cabin door was never really closed.

787, like that of the much larger A380, known for its quiet cabin, has a near-silent taxi. There is very little audible difference between sitting at idle engine speed and rolling along the taxiway.

I've posted two audio files comparing the 787 and 777-300ER takeoff rolls. Each was recorded with an iPhone 4 inside the aircraft's cabin, positioned just aft of the engines, under the 44 Section to control the variability in recordings as much as possible.

Admittedly, this is an unfair comparison as our 787 was lightly loaded with 240 passengers, no extra cargo, and sported two 64,000lb engines. This is compared to a heavily loaded 777-300ER, fueled for a trans-pacific crossing with just one of its General Electric GE90-115B engines able to produce nearly as much thrust as the two de-rated Trent 1000s combined, but it should give you a sense of the different sounds of each aircraft.

On climb-out the gear retraction and flap motors were extremely quiet as well. Once at cruising altitude, one aerospace journalist remarked that the ride on 787 through still air felt akin riding on an airship, citing the Hindenburg by name. Minus the obvious historical divergences, the 787's cruise appeared to be smoother than the 777, though this may be more a factor of the reduced cabin noise than the aircraft's aerodynamics and flight controls.

While the 787's cabin is absolutely quieter than both the aircraft it replaces (the 767) and its larger sibling (the 777), one area of the cabin is notable for how loud, not how quiet, it is. The 787's signature LED lit door two archway has a significantly different noise profile than the cabins that are both forward and aft of the entryway. The explanation for this is fairly straightforward: With no bins, no seats, fewer sidewalls and two doors, there simply isn't as much to absorb the wind and engine noise.

To The Eye

Being a passenger on 787, aside from the lighting, the largest difference are the windows. When you're in Boeing's static mock-up of the cabin, there's a feeling of detachment to the outside environment, but it's not until you sit down and there's a world outside your window, are you fully able to appreciate the wider view.

Worth noting, my aisle seat at 12C afforded me an easy opportunity to shoot video out the window. First, I had a very understanding seatmate, and second, the windows were big enough that I was able to rest my DSLR on the headrest of the window seat with no problem.

While it remains hyperbole to say that every seat is a window seat aboard 787, the 18in high windows change the the overall feeling of the cabin in a very real way.

The display of rainbow lighting on our taxi out from Narita was definitely unique, but it wasn't until flight attendants took control of the windows during the flight, darkening them to full opacity, when it remained a sunny day on the other side of the fuselage that we could see the full effect. The LED lighting does get washed out a bit by the added light from the larger windows (not a bad thing), but its full capability will be seen during long overnight flying in a dark cabin.

Admittedly, the dimming window shade takes a really long time to return to full transparency. Say, if you're trying to take a photograph, for example, it leaves a darkish cloud in the middle of the pane for a while after the edges have returned to clarity. Though I'd imagine that the slow rate of change will dissuade some on board from treating the dimmer as a cabin strobe light. (Dimming phases 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

User-Friendly Lavatories

Boeing has added a very useful feature to the outside of the 787s lavatories: A traffic light. This is a feature that has been on the A380 since its inception, in the form of forward cabin indications that show when the lav is occupied. The 787 puts a green or red light (depending on occupancy) above each door that can be seen from most seats, and for those out of sight, a small drop-down monitor at the forward part of each cabin also illustrates if the lav is available. Upon entry, the default lighting is a deep purple glow that gives way to softer and more even lighting. As you've seen before, the lavatory is entirely hands-free.

One issue that may crop up in the near future is the lavatory door itself, which makes a jarring slamming sound when being closed. And no, I did not test drive the washlet (bidet).

A Tip of the Hat

There's a subtle on-board homage to the origins of the 787, found in a most unlikely location. The Panasonic IFE moving map display features an aircraft icon - hardly unusual - that denotes the current progress of the flight. That icon, you'd expect, would be a 787. It's not. In fact, it's the original 7E7. The miniature airplane icon clearly shows the bottle nose and swept wings, shark fin and bottle nose that stood as Boeing's artist conception of its new mid-size jetliner. It is a fitting, if subtle, nod to the origins of the aircraft's design.

More Travel Trends for 2012

2011-11-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

Holiday Hypermarket: The annual TripAdvisor travel trends survey has revealed that the majority of US travelers intend to spend either same amount or more on travel in 2012.

The survey of over 2,700 US holidaymakers found that 49 per cent said they expected to spend the same amount of money on travel in 2012 as they did in 2011, and 31 per cent of respondents said they anticipated spending more in 2012. 79 per cent planned to spend at least $3,000 on holidays in 2012, with 57 per cent spending at least $5,000 and 21 per cent splashing out at least $10,000 on leisure travel in 2012.

90 per cent of those surveyed planned on taking at least two trips in 2012 and 24 per cent were intending to take five or more holidays.

The survey also looked at different types of trip and how popular they were expected to be over the coming year, and found that cultural trips, island destinations and cruise holidays were expected to prove more popular in 2012. 38 per cent of respondents took a cultural trip in 2011 but 42 per cent said they intended to take one in 2012, and while 19 per cent said they had been on a cruise in 2011, 23 per cent said they were planning a cruise for the next year.

The most popular type of trip overall was the beach holiday, with 44 per cent of people saying they would book a beach holiday for 2012.

In terms of destinations, 68 per cent of US travelers said they planned to travel outside the States in 2012, with 54 per cent opting for a holiday in Europe.

Vietnam, Land of Ridiculous Theme Parks

2011-11-11T09:13:00.000-05:00

CNN International: If there’s one deeply unattractive quality in a travel writer it’s a sneer.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a jumped-up gap year kid blogging about how the“locals” don’t understand correct environmental protection or a corpulent blowhard taking a break from opining on American politics to glare askance at hectic traffic and piles of rubbish.

It’s the kind of writing that doesn’t do much except inflate its author’s ego and annoy readers.

So it’s not with a sneer that we view these theme parks. It’s mostly bewilderment.

Why the concrete bunnies? Wherefore scale models of real things you can already see in the city? Is that guy really hanging off the rollercoaster one handed? And he’s …welding?

Theme parks are popular in Vietnam. Each weekend the behemoth-sized Suoi Tien, just outside Ho Chi Minh City, is packed with families traipsing about looking at old mechanical dinosaurs or dressing up in old-time mandarins’ costumes for photos.

Whether this is better or worse than standing in a 16-day-long line to visit Disney’s Space Mountain is anyone’s guess.

“Finish, broken, cannot’

It’s what? We ask the woman at the ticket counter.

“Finish,” she replies.

The downhill luge we’d driven along bad roads in hot sun to ride was “finish”and it was barely noon.

We were at Black Lady Mountain, Nui Ba Den in Vietnamese, a mid-sized hill that was another slag-heap strategic point when the Americans fought here.

These days it is a small-time theme park with not much more than a long downhill luge to recommend it. And the luge wasn’t working.

A couple of months before that I’d traveled hours along Highway 1 –- the narrow road that links Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City over a few thousand kilometers of noisy dust –- to ride ostriches at Mango Garden, known in Vietnamese as Vuon Xoai and in Dong Nai province outside Saigon.

Our group was told: “Ostrich is … broken.”

We’d walked past several thousand of the things in paddocks and were standing at a corral full of them. A sign on top showed faded but joyful people riding these equally faded monster birds. The price was only 10,000VND (US$0.50).

We asked again, please?

“Ah,” he looked about to be swayed, then closed with the one word that speaks of dead and certain finality: “Cannot”.

We had to eat them instead (several barbecue places around town offer it on their menus).

Cartoon hell, in ferroconcrete

What the lugeing mountain lacked in working luges it made up for (not really) in terrifying concrete animals. The most terrifying were the bunnies, which were to Thumper what Chucky may be to say, Pinocchio.

A meter high with ferocious buckteeth that spoke of serious inbreeding and once gaudy color peeling off them in great clumps like weird tropical mange. They were everywhere.

Elsewhere, penguins doubled as rubbish bins.

You can make anything out of concrete here. A popular activity across Vietnam is cut down a lot of trees, put in new concrete ones, then call the thing “eco .”

Huge dragons, fake cliffs and representations of mythological figures from various eras are also common.

Discount Dali’s very bad brain day

Many of the exhibits or attractions at these parks aren’t broken, or intentionally terrifying. They’re just bewildering.

A friend of mine was once explaining attractions at Suoi Tien, Vietnam’s biggest, best-loved and strangest theme park.

He described one thus: “A large rotating teapot, two mannequins hanging from the ceiling, apparent victims of some celestial lynch mob, and a memorable tableau which seemed to consist of a woman electrocuting a baby.”

That, according to his wife, is the park’s idea of what Heaven might be like.

At Hanoi’s Bao Son park, a few kilometers outside the capital, you don’t just ask “WTF?” which can be fun, but: "what’s the point?", which is not.

Apart from clattery rides sourced from China and a laser show, there is also a recreation of the city’s Old Quarter. That’s the Old Quarter the whole city grew up with and can see, for free, any time they’d like.

Even the local press couldn’t resist criticizing the whole daft venture. They pointed out that entry fees for a whole family to the park stretch far above the average income.

Making the news, for the wrong reasons

When Vietnam’s amusement parks have been in the news this year it’s usually been for the wrong reasons. Last September, an Indonesian tourist was killed by a falling tree in a waterfall park in Dalat in the Central Highlands.

Earlier this year a six-year-old autistic boy was found dead at Dam Sen water park in Saigon. According to local news his parents have plans to sue the park, believing the management to be responsible.

Not so long ago the international press got all excited when it was revealed that one of the investors in Vietnam’s biggest new amusement park venture -– Happy Land -– is Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson’s father.

The new park, which is due to open by 2014, will be located in southern Long An province a short way outside Ho Chi Minh City.

The plan is likely to attract 14 million visitors a year, and is expected to cost a mammoth US$2 billion. That's an awful lot of concrete.

Many Consider 11/11/11 a Lucky Day

2011-11-11T08:54:00.000-05:00

The Republic: From casinos to wedding chapels, Oklahomans are feeling the luck of 11.

Friday is the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011. Several Oklahoma casinos are hoping the rare alignment of numbers — 11-11-11 — will lure in players, though it's also proving to be a popular wedding date.

The Lucky Star Casino in El Reno will hold $11,000 cash drawings for 11 hours, while the Riverwind Casino in Norman is giving away $11,000 in cash and prizes from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oklahoma City's Remington Park racetrack and casino will give away a cash prize of $1,111.11 following the last race.

Riverwind has seen a spike in attendance on other dates with the day, month and year with the same numerals, according to the casino.

"It just lends to our customers' belief that this is a change of events that's going to be a windfall for them," Riverwind general manager Jack Parkinson said. "We like to cater to them. We like to make it fun."

Remington Park sponsored similar promotions on July 7, 2007 — 7-7-7 — and "people really got behind it and came out for it," spokesman Dale Day said, adding that veterans and active-duty military personnel with receive $11 of free play at the track, since Friday is also Veterans Day.

"We try to play on the calendar numbers," he said. "When it falls in our favor, we normally try to do something with it. It's a special, fun thing to do."

But the hope of good fortune isn't just among gamblers.

At the Arbuckle Wedding Chapel near Davis, seven couples are scheduled to exchange vows Friday. Owner and wedding coordinator Joan Bratcher said that many bookings in one day "is unbelievable." One couple booked their wedding just Thursday morning, though others were scheduled weeks or months ahead of time, she said.

"Every one of them has said they thought that would be such a perfect time," she said. "It is such a great wedding date."

Except maybe for one couple. Bratcher said a large wedding she had booked for Friday night cancelled.

"I had one huge one tomorrow night. And they broke up," she said Thursday. "It was not lucky for them."

It was other coincidences of the date that initially prompted Tulsa residents Russell LaCour and Jennifer Torain to pick the day to tie the knot.

"It is my birthday on Nov. 11 and it also happened to be her late father's birthday as well," LaCour said. "She just happened to suggest that day. It's just amazing."

The couple is now planning to take advantage of the 11-11-11 date: Their ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:11 a.m.

"I don't think luck has anything to do with it at all," Torain said. "We knew we were going to get married. We were looking for a day. I just believe it was God-ordained."

Starbucks Juices Up

2011-11-11T08:44:00.000-05:00

Los Angeles Times: How’s this for a switcheroo: Now that Jamba Juice is offering coffee, Starbucks Coffee Co. is about to start serving up juice.

The coffee king on Thursday finalized its $30-million purchase of San Bernardino-based Evolution Fresh Inc., an artisanal fruit and vegetable juice maker created by Jimmy Rosenberg, the founder of Naked Juice.

Starbucks said it would begin offering juices, made with a process called high-pressure pasteurization, from the company in stores.

But the purchase, Starbucks’ attempt to “reinvent the $1.6-billion super-premium juice segment,” is just a stepping stone into the $50-billion health and wellness sector, the company said Thursday.

To that end, Seattle-based Starbucks said it would launch a separate and still-unnamed health and wellness chain in early to mid-2012, though details are still scant.

“It’s complimentary for them to move in a direction beyond coffee,” said Motley Fool analyst Jason Moser. “It’s a natural evolution toward being more than just a one-trick pony.”

Before Traveling, Some Consult the Stars

2011-11-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

New York Times: When Jeffrey Moran needs advice about his daily commute into Manhattan or his next business trip, he does not plug his destination into HopStop or consult a travel Web site.

Mr. Moran craves more ethereal guidance, and that is where Linda Lauren, a psychic medium, comes in.

“I have a relationship with her, just like you would a counselor or a therapist,” said Mr. Moran, 44, a public relations chief for a wine and spirits company. “You can have the best travel agent and the best assistant and the best travel planner in the world, but if something is not right, it’s not right.”

Under the category of not right is traveling during a full moon (one will rise on Thursday) or when Mercury is in retrograde. More auspicious factors include certain dates, like Nov. 11 (or 11/11/11), which falls on Friday.

“It means angelic protection,” Ms. Lauren said. “It means alignment. It’s all about embracing a new vibration. Travel will be better.”

But what happens if a full moon coincides with a good date, as it might on Friday?

That’s fine, Ms. Lauren explained. A full moon creates an abundance of energy, so people tend to rush more; a full moon on 11/11/11 just requires a traveler to manage or harness the excess energy, she said.

The topic of travel has become more prevalent among clairvoyants, according to Rosemary the Celtic Lady, the founder of the American Association of Psychics. She said she counseled clients to exhale negative energy from travel stress “out of their body.” A psychic Web site also advertises a specific $45 reading for travel, saying that whether the client is “traveling on business or vacation, this reading will help you be better prepared.”

The types of queries that Ms. Lauren receives speak to larger anxieties. Commuters who are heading to the office encounter service cuts on bus and train lines. Travelers tolerate grueling business trips that they feel they cannot turn down because they fear losing their jobs.

“People are looking for any way to get control,” said Dale Thompson, a psychologist who flies about 150 times each year. “Now it’s a grand enterprise to fly anywhere. It’s just become so much more of a hassle.”

Psychologists say more patients are talking to them about travel stress. Bonnie Jacobson, a clinical psychologist, said that, in the current economy, her patients felt pressure to pack as much into a business trip as possible and never to tell their bosses the toll that endless travel had taken on their personal lives.

Mr. Moran identifies with these issues. He first consulted with Ms. Lauren in 2007 about whether to buy a condominium and started meeting with her regularly to talk about meditation. During one meeting in 2008, Ms. Lauren said, he seemed run-down; he was fighting off a sinus infection he had developed because he had been traveling for three straight weeks. They started talking about his travel schedule and have not stopped since.

Ms. Lauren, a fourth-generation psychic medium who said she took counseling classes in college, said that a quarter of her time in sessions was now spent on travel issues.

She typically scours travel itineraries for her clients to make sure they are choosing the best numerological times to travel, and she reads through a special deck of cards when they ask her about attending conventions.

On Wednesday, Mr. Moran traveled to Ms. Lauren’s office in Mountainside, N.J., as he does once every two months. Over the faint sound of chimes and the delicate scent of candles, Mr. Moran ran through some of his concerns: should he spend more time at his company’s Westchester County office, and are Mondays good travel days to head up there?

Ms. Lauren, who charges $100 for a half-hour session, consulted a calendar on her iPad and advised him to put off that decision because of all the planetary activity ahead.

Mr. Moran asked whether it was all right to drive with his partner to Florida on Jan. 13, a Friday.

Ms. Lauren said any fears about Friday the 13th were what her mother would call “stupid-stitions.” She then consulted her calendar and cards.

“I’m feeling you can go early on the 13th,” she said, adding that he might want to give himself two days to recuperate after the trip.

Sometimes, Ms. Lauren’s clients just need help with handling their daily commutes. Craig Rogers, the fitness and sales director for Gravity Fitness and Spa at Le Parker Meridien Hotel, said he originally consulted Ms. Lauren to help him communicate with his dead sister, who was profoundly mentally retarded. But he soon found himself talking with her about his 50-minute daily commute from Plainfield, N.J., to his job in Midtown.

Mr. Rogers has followed Ms. Lauren’s advice to meditate during his commute, using downloaded images from her Web site as visual aids.

“I see people just standing on a platform, just flipping out,” Mr. Rogers said. “You think people are going to be late for something magically wild. To me, you know, it’s just a delay.”

Not every psychic has seen a sharp increase in travel-related issues, however. Stephen Robinson, the executive director and founder of the Holistic Studies Institute of New York, said travel questions made up only about 10 percent of his readings.

“What they are particularly concerned about is safety with travel,” Mr. Robinson said. “They always ask the question, ‘Is the plane going to crash?’ I’ve never seen a person’s plane crash, and I’ve been right every time. What I see are mostly inconveniences.”

Global Travel Trends for 2012

2011-11-10T12:25:00.001-05:00

Terminal U: We’ve all heard of buzzwords like ‘staycation’ and ‘glamping’, but what are the next popular travel trends that everyone will be talking about?

An industry report has shed light on some of the key travel trends that will shape the year ahead.

Mystery holidays and camping in a stranger’s garden have been identified as some of the trends influencing the global travel industry in 2011.

The findings were published this week in the World Travel Market (WTM) Global Trends 2011 report, which is published annually in association with market analysis company, Euromonitor International.

Here’s the lowdown of what’s hot in the world of travel at the moment.

US: Top secret holidays

Playing holiday roulette by booking a trip to a mystery hotel or destination may not appeal to every traveller, but the ‘blind booking’ trend has taken off in America this year, the WTM report highlights.

US-based Nextpedition – launched by American Express this year – is said to be helping to drive the movement.

The site customises mystery package holidays for thrill-seekers willing to leave their entire itinerary and destination in the hands of a travel specialist.

The consumer takes an interactive online quiz to determine their ‘Travel Sign’ based on their hobbies and interests to help define what they might want from a travel experience.

After a consultation with a ‘Nextpedition Specialist’, a mystery itinerary is created based on their Travel Sign and budget.

The destination and itinerary are unknown until a traveller’s journey begins and is revealed day by day via a smartphone.

Online booking engines in the US such as HotWire and Priceline are also appealing to travellers’ sense of adventure with masked hotel reservations, the report adds.

Their ‘Secret Hotels’ offers don’t divulge details of a hotel’s name or exact location until a booking is made.

And US-based sites such as luxurylink.com that focus on mystery travel offers and auctions are also getting a following in the domestic travel market, according to the report.

UK: Camping in a stranger’s garden

When it comes to travelling on a shoestring, pitching a tent on a stranger’s lawn may not sound like everyone’s idea of a fun budget holiday.

But it has become something of a growing trend among holidaymakers in the UK, as cash-strapped homeowners turn to sites such as campinmygarden.com to rent out their gardens as campsites, the report says.

The campinmygarden.com website describes the experience as an “accessible, affordable and fun alternative to traditional accommodation.”

The report predicts that rent-a-garden idea will become even more popular during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

It has the most appeal to travellers in their 20s and 30s seeking modest, alternative accommodation, or who wish to experience the local community, the report highlights.

It adds that ‘uber cocooning’, where consumers look to save money by staying at home rather than going out will continue to drive the rent-a-garden trend.

Africa: Buying your plane ticket through your phone

Africa’s mobile boom is making travel accessible to those on low-incomes.

As a world leader in mobile or m-commerce, Africa’s 489 million mobile phone users are boosting demand for travel services, according to the report.

Mobile phone banking attracts low-income populations in urban and mainly rural areas of Africa, which have no access to financial services.

Kenya Airways and Uganda Airlines are tapping into Africa’s mobile boom by enabling customers without a bank account to book flights through their mobile phones, via systems such as M-PESA and Airtel.

Africa’s first mobile travel app was launched this year – wakanow.com – which includes searches for flights, hotels and car rental.

While South Africa Tourism Board has launched a mobile site – www.traveltoSA.mobi – offering travel deals to Africans in countries including Angola, Nigeria, Mozambique and Kenya.

Social media has also taken off since Facebook launched in major African languages (Swahili, Hausa and isiZulu), offering African mobile users free access to the site.

The report says that travel operators could open up more opportunities for African travel by developing mobile apps and allowing bookings via social media.

China: Hotel chains adapt for Chinese tourists

The Chinese are expected to spend US$57bn (£35bn) on accommodation domestically and abroad in 2011 – the third highest spending behind the US and Germany, according to the report.

Travellers may notice more hotels offering tailored services to entice Chinese tourists and their rising spending power, the report adds.

In 2011, Hilton announced its ‘Huanying (‘welcome’) programme’ which provides creature comforts to Chinese visitors on arrival, in-room and at breakfast.

The programme includes staff fluent in Mandarin at the front desk, two different congee at breakfast and TV programming, along with Chinese tea, tea kettles and slippers.

Also this year, Starwood Hotel Group launched the ‘Starwood Personalized Traveler Program’ offering Chinese amenities and dining.

NYC Hotels Offer SAD Packages

2011-11-10T10:38:00.003-05:00

Gansevoort Hotel

Hotel Chatter: This winter, both Gansevoort Meatpacking and Gansevoort Park Ave are battling Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) with a new promotional package that includes things like a duplex penthouse suite, a tropical cocktail, vitamin D-infused facial, and beach attire for hanging out in your room. For many people, this might just be enough to lift the heavy winter blues.

But Gansevoort's not stopping there. Taking all precautions, the hotel has also decided to photoshop pictures of you with Santa Claus. And provide you with a "friend for the day" (it's exactly how it sounds). Or, even, if that glum mood just won't pick up, to offer a Compliment Concierge that will shower you with praise throughout your entire stay—by the end of which, no doubt you'll be positively elated.

If not slightly stuck-up.

The "SAD" package, which was announced earlier this week, isn't cheap. Those who are truly on board with the idea of pay-per-ass-kiss ("You're so pretty," "I wish I had as much style as you," "My, your houndstooth coat perfectly matches the furniture in our lobby!") will have to cough up $10,000 a night at either property.

No fair! When The James hired a tanning concierge over the summer, that service was completely free of charge, so long as you were actually a guest of the hotel.

Of course, there are some for whom a simple Vitamin D facial would suffice. If that's the case, save your credit card and just book a treatment at the spa ($100-$300).

Or just stare at the sun for a while. It won't tell you how good you look, but it'll probably do the trick.

Flash Mob at Dubai International Airport

2011-11-10T10:20:00.004-05:00

A group of dancers disguised as flight attendants surprised travelers at the Dubai International Airport last weekend.

Crowds gathered as the group spontaneously burst into a synchronized dance in the Duty Free shopping area.

The Dubai airport organized the event to promote the new DXB Connect card, a pre-paid card aimed at airport passengers.

Video:

How Ryanair Gets All the Media Attention

2011-11-10T07:48:00.004-05:00

Jaunted: If you were going to do a chart of all the obnoxious ways that Irish LCC Ryanair tries to get media attention, first of all it would be an awkwardly large chart. Second, it would have to cover - at a minimum - the ads that are tasteless, the ads that are sexist, the ads that are sexist and tasteless. Then you would have to cover their heavy-handed intentionally sensational "news" announcements, which usually revolve around things they're never going to do and almost always involve bodily fluids. So bathroom fees and toilets, mostly.

Sex and pee pee. That's what their PR people usually bring to the table. And now, a new bodily fluid to add the chart: semen! How innovative. How risque.

Ryanair head Michael O'Leary took a break from telling Greece passengers that they could pay for flights with mountain goats - classy! - to announce that the airline was considering renting in-flight iPads. Except he didn't frame the announcement as being about iPads. Instead he talked about how passengers would be free to use their rented iPads to view porn.

Sure every women on the planet is already skeeved out by the idea that the guy next to her could be flipping through Playboy on the next long haul, which is something that actually happens. But Ryanair has a "bodily fluids" media playbook in place, so that's what they're going to talk about.

Now in fairness, it's undeniable that appealing to the lowest common denominator works. Ryanair's profits are up a full 20%, with traffic growing 12%, even though—and we can't emphasize this enough, so we're emphasizing it again with a news story from yesterday—they're not actually all that cheap. And that, boys and girls, is why we can't have nice things.

TSA to Expand Pre-Check Flyer Program

2011-11-10T07:42:00.000-05:00

USA Today: The Transportation Security Administration plans to expand its pre-check program for airline passengers, who provide information about themselves in exchange for a faster trip through security lines, the agency chief announced Wednesday.

The experimental program began in October at airports in Miami, Dallas, Detroit and Atlanta.

John Pistole, the TSA administrator, told the Senate transportation committee Wednesday that the program will expand to Las Vegas in December, and to Los Angeles and Minneapolis-St. Paul in early 2012.

"This is an ongoing process," Pistole said, with expansions possible to other airlines and other locations. "The goal is to expand it as broadly as possible while maintaining the highest level of security, all on a voluntary basis."

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., welcomed the announcement.

"I've been calling for this for a long time," Boxer said. "No one who supports this ever wants to compromise security."

The pre-check program is part of Pistole's effort toward risk-based screening, to focus searches on passengers considered the largest potential threats. Other parts of this strategy include:

--An experimental program at Boston and Detroit airports, where TSA officers try to find wrongdoers through their behavior, by chatting with passengers while checking their identification and boarding passes.

--An experimental program for pilots to avoid screening lines at select airports.

--A move to significantly reduce the pat-downs conducted on children 12 years old or younger.

Eligible travelers for the pre-check program include frequent fliers with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, as well as the U.S. Customers and Border Protection's trusted-traveler program.

Participants are able to use a different security line and take off fewer items, like keeping on their shoes and light jackets.

But TSA warns there could still be random security measures, and that nobody is guaranteed expedited screening.

About 45,000 passengers have gone through the program so far at the four existing airports, Pistole said.

The program applies only to domestic flights.

"We want to make sure we get it right domestically first," Pistole said.

More Travelers Going Online

2011-11-10T07:31:00.004-05:00

MSNBC:U.S. travelers who plan and book trips online are more likely to be early adopters of new technology, more likely to own a smartphone and take about three leisure trips a year, according to new research.

“The appetite for new technology is often coupled with a strong appetite for travel,” said Carroll Rheem, director of research for PhoCusWright, which tracks travel trends.

The findings were based on the soon-to-be-released results of PhoCusWright’s Traveler Technology Survey 2011, which surveyed 1,948 online travelers -- U.S. adults who have taken one leisure trip in the past 12 months that involved at least one flight/hotel stay and who planned their trip online.

According to the survey results, 47 percent of U.S. online travelers are on the cutting edge or are early adopters of new technologies.

Of those early adopters, 71 percent own a smartphone and take an average of 3.3 leisure trips a year, spending an average of $3,712 annually.

Of the 1,125 online travelers who access the Internet via a smartphone, 79 percent view maps or get directions, 62 percent research local activities such as restaurants or shows, 43 percent research travel products such as hotel rooms or flights and 42 percent reference existing travel information, such as itineraries.

The survey was designed to help companies better understand how consumers are bringing technology into their everyday lives and how that technology impacts their travel plans, Rheem said.

While the travelers surveyed were comfortable researching information on a smartphone, however, many were more inclined to switch over to a computer to enter credit card information. “They just naturally graduate to the right tool for the job,” said Rheem, noting that it is easy to mistype characters on a smartphone.

When it comes to online social networks, 79 percent of travelers said they participated in at least one, up from 70 percent in 2010.

“A vast majority of travelers are on social networks already,” Rheem said.

The Busiest Airports for Thanksgiving

2011-11-09T14:37:00.000-05:00

Los Angeles Times: Step aside, O'Hare. There’s a new winner in the busiest-airport derby and it's LAX, which is expected to be the nation's most crowded this Thanksgiving. Coming in next are O’Hare, Orlando International in Florida and San Francisco International, according to the annual Orbitz Insider Index. Among the least-busy airports? LAX’s little sister, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, San Jose International and Maui, Hawaii.

The travel company compiled its list of the busiest and least-busy airports based on flight reservations made via Orbitz between Nov. 23 and Nov. 27 at the top 50 airports in the nation.

So where's everyone going? Angelenos are flying from LAX to New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas/Fort Worth and Las Vegas to share turkey with loved ones or take a holiday vacation. Nationwide, Orbitz says, New York, Chicago and Orlando are the top three destinations for U.S. travelers, with Los Angeles coming in fifth.

Holiday travelers can expect full flights though fewer people are expected to fly this holiday season, the Air Transport Assn. of America reports. The organization estimates that 23.2 million air travelers -- about a 2% drop from last year -- will fly in a 12-day period.

While demand is down from last year and remains well below the 2006 peak, passengers still should expect full flights during the Thanksgiving holiday travel season as airlines have begun to reduce capacity and limit the number of seats available for sale due in part to rising cost pressures,” ATA Vice President and chief economist John Heimlich said in a statement. "Based on published airline schedules, these cuts are expected to continue through the winter."

As for traffic at LAX, the airport last year estimated that 1.53 million passengers would pass through the airport in a 10-day period bracketed by the Friday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

The potential throng of holiday travelers at LAX this year may mean longer lines for everything, from airline luggage drop-offs to security screening.

Online Travel Business Mines Facebook Data

2011-11-09T14:30:00.000-05:00

CNET: Posting on your own Facebook wall that you're headed to Ancorage, Alaska and need travel tips might not result in answers. Posting direct questions on friends' walls who have been to Anchorage does. Uptake, an online travel planner, today announced a social travel service that sifts through Facebook to find the friends that can help answer travel questions.

"Friends don't leave friends hanging," says CEO Yen Lee, who says he believes customers of trip advice companies like TripAdvisor don't get their travel questions personally answered.

"Just because you have the same destination and travel same budget as someone who shared on TripAdvisor doesn't mean you're taking a trip for the same reasons," says Lee. "They could have been on a bachelorette trip while you're going on a family vacation."

Travel Q&A is the newest way Menlo Park-based Uptake is helping travelers create vacations based on their Facebook friends' recommendations. Lee says this new approach mimics "natural travel planning behavior."

Uptake has patent-pending "destination mining" technology that picks up friends' explicit location data, such as hometowns and check-ins, as well as friends' less-obvious, implicit location data in the form of photos, status updates, and comments. That final category, according to Lee, contains nearly 70% of friends' destinations.

Lee explains that since your friends have already shared their explicit and implicit location data with you there shouldn't be any concerns about privacy. Uptake is just automating the Facebook homework you are capable of doing on your own.

Once Uptake identifies friends in your Facebook network who have been to a particular destination you can select the specific friends you want to ask about your destination. There's also a way to organize the feedback you receive.

Prior to Travel Q&A, Uptake analyzed and organized people's travel histories along with travel information from 30,000 web sites to help them plan future trips. Those earlier techniques will be bolstered by Travel Q&A, according to Lee.

Founded in 2008, Uptake become the third most popular search and discovery travel site in the world, behind TripAdvisor and Yahoo Travel, according to Lee. Uptake currently has four million unique visitors every month. It also claims the largest library of vacation experiences in the United States, with 1.8 million destination ideas, hotels, restaurants, activities and attractions.

Lee didn't share his revenue or profit stats, but he did say the company will start fundraising in January.

Eight Key Global Travel Trends

2011-11-09T10:28:00.001-05:00

Hotel News Now: At the Global Trends Report press conference on the opening day of the World Travel Market 2011, U.K. TV personality Gavin Ramjaun presented several key emerging trends.

Split into geographic regions, the report, compiled by Euromonitor International, focused on the way travel and tourism markets were responding to both the global economic downturn and also political unrest such as the Arab Spring.

Global arrivals were expected to slow down 5.8% from last year but by 2012 are expected to break the 1-billion arrivals barrier—amounting to a total spend of almost US$1 trillion. The global overview was of ‘recovery on the brink’ with the IMF predicting 4% global GDP growth in 2011, down from 5.1% in 2010. Rising fuel and commodity prices, taxation, austerity measures, political turmoil and social unrest were all found to have exerted some influence. Across all markets, online growth was considered to be without a doubt the most important growth area in the long term, with sales in the mobile device area very strong in the mid-term.

What follows is a list of key trends by region:

North America: mystery trips
“Mystery trips” are on the rise, particularly for popular milestone holidays such as honeymoons and birthdays. Luxury Link’s mystery auction and American Express’ Nextpedition provide hotels, airlines and online travel agencies to sell excess capacity in an opaque bundle that “brings back the element of surprise to the travel experience,” Ramjaun said. Millennials aged 20 to 34 are the main target of these trips, for whom luxury operators review customer profiles and customize mystery experiences for them.

Some other key stats from North America: During 2010, real GDP growth was 3.8% in North America but only 1.9% in 2011. Predictions for 2012 show an increase to 2.2%. Average hotel value in dollars saw 1.3% growth in 2010, 3.6% growth in 2011 and is estimated to be 2.9% in 2012.

U.K.: Rent a garden
“The outlook (in the U.K.) remains bleak with a stagnant economy,” Ramjaun said. Travelers are increasingly searching for alternative accommodation such as campsites and hostels, especially as hoteliers push rates in the buildup to the Olympics. A growing alternative is garden camping, in which Generation Z and the baby boomer markets rent garden spaces in which to camp out. Campinmygarden.com has 350 gardens listed, 80% of which are in the U.K.

The report also found that some London hotels are charging five times more during the Olympic period, and the International Olympic Committee is taking around 40% of hotel availability. Consumers were said to be becoming more ingenious and bypassing high hotel rates with “peer-to-peer transactions tapping into the zeitgeist of what consumers are looking for,” Ramjaun said. “In South Africa with the World Cup, arrivals were up 10%. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the U.K. to take advantage of this.” Whereas in the U.K. hotel growth was found to be -5.4% in 2010 and -0.1% in 2011, 2012 predictions were up to 2.1%.

Europe: luxury without the guilt
The report found the focus was shifting towards “luxury without the associated guilt” in Europe, and therefore ethical and sustainable travel was showing a strong presence. There is an increase in use of “living walls” and “vertical farms” so that luxury hotels can have their own kitchen gardens. The high-end segment is outperforming its mid- and lower-tiered counterparts.

The region as a whole is threatened by a double-dip recession, with increased volatility in the financial markets. Despite this, teal GDP growth remained reasonably stable at 1.8% in 2010, 1.5% in 2011. It is expected to be 1.4% in 2012. Spain, Italy and other bailed-out countries Ireland, Greece and Portugal continue to suffer with high debt and unemployment.

Middle East: rebranding
Arab Spring and other political unrest resulted in a 6.2% decline in tourism arrivals in 2011 compared to 11.5% growth in 2010. But rebranding efforts in regions such as Egypt and Tunisia will yield a bounce back in travel for the Middle East, according to the report.

New campaigns by Egypt’s tourist board are already underway. Bahrain’s summer festival attracted 83,000 visitors and it is thought that post-Gaddafi opportunities will open up in Libya, after an extensive restoration of the countries tourism infrastructure.

Tourist arrivals are expected to increase 1.3% during 2012.

Africa: Mobile commerce boosts travel
Africa was found to be leading the world in M-commerce with 60% of mobile Web users using mobile phones to purchase goods. Mobile-phone money transfer service M-PESA in Kenya targeted unbanked Africans so they could book travel via phones. The upwardly mobile population means that Africa is leap-frogging earlier forms of media and taking travel to those who were traditionally excluded from it.

During 2011, real GDP growth in Africa was more than 5%, driven by economic development and backed by a growing disposable income.

Asia and China: Growing influence
Asia’s economies enjoyed healthy growth but are expected to slow. In China, IHG renamed the Holiday Inn Express to ‘Smart Choice’ and the HND group acquired 20% of NH Hotels. Hotel companies continue to expand in China, with companies like Hilton Worldwide providing comforts such as food and amenities to outbound Chinese. Spending by Chinese travelers is expected to increase. Intra-regional travel is forecast to boost arrivals and incoming tourist receipts as more middle-class travelers explore the region for the first time.

Gamification of travel
Also highlighted as a key area of growth is the ‘gamification’ of travel, or the use of gaming dynamics in non-gaming environments. Interaction is key, with social media playing an integral part in building the brand. Online travel sales are expected to grow around 8% in value this year. The report found that gamification encourages people to share their experience. It appeals to 18-34 year olds and allows companies to target a specific market, build awareness, grow an online community and add information, competition, games and special offers. The report gave as an example Tourism Ireland’s ‘Ireland Town’ game on Facebook, where users can visit well-known tourist attractions in Ireland and share the experience with their friends. The campaign plans to engage 60 million people.

Global village—evolution of social media
On the subject of technology, the report found that hotels are fine-tuning their marketing to reach online audiences and capture social networks with friends and followers. Hotel chains were found to have embraced social media and to provide greater levels of customization. Global hotel chains are providing social media care teams and creating targeted events. A free-spa event in New York’s Madison Square boosted ‘likes’ for Marriott International, for example. For hotels, the benefits were seen as helping enhance brand awareness, opening direct lines of communication and enabling them to aim exclusive offers to online followers.

Australian Airline Offering In-Flight iPads

2011-11-09T09:19:00.000-05:00

The Sydney Morning Herald: Jetstar has started offering its passengers iPads to watch movies, play games and read magazines, in what it says is a world first.

The Apple tablets made their debut on a Jetstar flight from Auckland to Melbourne yesterday.

The devices will be available on flights within Australia longer than two hours as well as selected trans-Tasman and international routes, from today.

Jetstar said yesterday its long-haul passengers out of Australia and New Zealand would be able to hire the tablet from next month. They will cost between $10 and $15 to hire.

There were also plans to introduce the iPads on Jetstar Asia's services operating out of Singapore, Jetstar said.

Jetstar first tested the use of iPads on board its flights for a two-week period in June 2010.

Jetstar group chief executive Bruce Buchanan said the airline was now looking at what inflight entertainment options would be offered on its Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which are due to arrive at Jetstar in 2013.

Jetstar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas.