Travel Weekly Blog

Daily Telegraph travel news ed Charles Starmer-Smith has revealed details of an EasyJet APD protest - apparently the airline is to send staff to airports dressed as taxmen. How does this compare with Ryanair's print ads and flights-for-protest scheme? Over to the venerable broadsheet's travel blog, where Starmer-Smith isn't mincing words:

EasyJet’s band of brainstormers have come up with a lame fancy dress parade which will be about as effective as staging a nuclear power protest by wearing Green Peace pants...

Eek.

Nathan Midgley, Travelweekly.co.uk

The Casino Advisory Panel's decision to give Manchester a super-casino will fuel debate for weeks to come - not only from those who doubt the social benefits of casinos at all, but also from those who feel the regional license has been awarded to the wrong bidder.

Tessa Jowell fielded a few questions from MPs yesterday afternoon, and personally I rather liked Malcolm Moss's observation:

How can one defend choosing the most deprived and vulnerable area of Manchester to test whether a super-casino that is open 24 hours a day, with free admission, will generate an increase in problem gambling?

(Answer: "I take the hon. Gentleman's words as a contribution to the debate that we will have in the next few weeks.")

That said, there are a number of good reasons for encouraging schemes that will boost domestic tourism - which this surely will.

You can browse the text of the Commons discussion at Theyworkforyou.com.

Nathan Midgley, Travelweekly.co.uk

On the subject of women and travel (see previous post from Brian Horden) I hear on BBC radio's Culture Shock that Oslo luxury hotel The Grand has devoted a whole floor to female guests, with each suite named after - and decorated with photographs of - a different successful Norwegian woman. Groundbreaking, patronising or just a marketing stunt?

See also: pink consumer electronics, comfy banks for women.

Nathan Midgley, Travelweekly.co.uk

Brian Horden, one of our industry bloggers, wades in to a long-running debate...

That question has appeared yet again..."why are women not at the top with more travel companies?"

My views on this subject go back in history, and then jump right into the year 2006.

My first three bosses in the travel industry were all female, and I can only repeat what I have said on many other occasions: my gratitude to these people for the knowledge, wisdom and experience which they shared has been reflected in the many successes that I have enjoyed in my travel career.

I also wonder how many women actually want some of the top jobs in our colourful industry?

So often, behind the scenes of some of the more successful companies is the strategic thinking of the female mind....the "engineer" behind the success of new thoughts, new ideas, and new systems.

And, on a slightly different "tack", customers enjoy talking to women, especially professional, knowledgeable and enthusiastic women, and moving these people "upstairs" within the company so often removes the best people for face-to-face contact (how often do you see "super salespeople" retail managers working on the Foreign Exchange desk!).

Some contentious views, I am sure; and just to support some of my many thoughts on this subject, just look at the cruise business with Carol Marlow as president of Cunard, Trudy Redfern as vice president of Silversea, Lynn Narraway, director of Carnival Cruise. Or look at the women in First Choice…air and retail, and all successful

Do women want the top job, and all the "baggage" that goes with it, or would they rather be in the position of quietly driving the company forward from behind the scenes? I am sure there will be lots of thoughts on this.

Brian Hordon, director of training development, Silversea Cruises

Our post on Ryanair's Greedy Gordon ads has opened up a can of worms - Simon Robinson of the Big Biofuels blog weighed in with:

How can the considerable damage to the environment that flying causes and the incredibly low fares on offer, compared with similar trips by rail which has much smaller carbon footprint per passenger be justified? Come on travel industry how do you sleep at night...

TW reporter Ed Robertson replied:

It is worth putting aviation’s environmental damage in proportion with the rest of the UK’s carbon footprint. According to sustainable tourism charity the Travel Foundation, aviation accounts for 5.5% of the UK’s emissions, while the energy industry accounts for 35%, the UK’s car habit 20% and people’s homes 15%...

Head over to the post's comments section to read their arguments in full and - you know the drill - let us know what you think too.

I suggested yesterday that last night's BBC documentary Should I Give Up Flying? would be interesting viewing. Indeed it was. But my jaw hit the floor on two occasions:

1: A segment on rising sea levels consisted almost solely of a jaunt round Venice, presenting as local a threat whose greatest claim on our attention is that it is global.

2: At the end of an item on regional airport expansion Brian Blessed contested that Doncaster's Robin Hood Airport was a good thing because the land it stands on has long been used as an airstrip. Yes, it's circular logic, but it also makes the more fundamental mistake of being irrelevant.

There were, though, decent items on India and China's air travel markets and the race to produce greener aircraft and fuels. What's the verdict from readers?

Nathan Midgley, Travelweekly.co.uk

The normally coy Ryanair laid its cards on the table today with a series of large - full page, in some cases - ads in the national press attacking the Government's breathtakingly unpopular doubling of Air Passenger Duty. This comes the day after the budget airline announced it had one million free flights to give away to passengers who wrote to 'Greedy Gordon' and complained about the rise.

That's even cheaper than getting an unlimited quantity at two-for-one, which was the going rate last week after Ryanair's site apparently suffered a glitch.

Anyway, cop an eyeful of the Greedy Gordon ad in the Telegraph, Mail, Guardian and elsewhere.

In an unrelated matter, the highly-publicised documentary Should I Give Up Flying? airs on BBC2 tonight. Should be interesting viewing.

Nathan Midgley, Travelweekly.co.uk

You know I don't mind paying full price for a holiday and I never EXPECT to get a concession especially in peak season (although Cosmos give agents 20% even in August!).

But I do hate to think that a member of the public has got a holiday cheaper than me.

Perhaps I'm expecting too much but as an agent you'll come back and, all being well of course, promote that particular travel company for free!

A small concession or reduction goes a long way. I remember booking my honeymoon nearly 20 years ago with Paris Travel Service on the Orient Express - they gave me 25% and I never forgot it. They were always my first choice for Paris.

So all you tour operators out there: a little goes a long way and lasts a long time!!!!

I recently took my kids to Lapland. The tour operator who we will call AcrossSnow didn't give us a concession. Okay, I thought, its peak season, not much availability (and no I couldn't go with Cosmos as they didn't have the dates I wanted But they WOULD have given a concession!).

But it really bugged me to hear that of most of the group, we appeared to have paid the most.

Meanwhile, back in September I was the lucky winner of two tickets to Australia with a well known consolidator and a well known middle eastern airline.

I held off telling the kids – as I thought I'd wait to hear what the restrictions were. I knew I wouldn't be able to travel peak season, Dec, Easter etc but it was via Dubai and going to Oz, so surely August would be fine?

Anyway, they were very excited when I told them. I had to go back to the shop and open up so they could get some brochures and begin planning their dream trip.

All running smoothly until the consolidator told us the airline don't allow any school holiday travel. The kids’ dreams were shattered, so I if I could pay a supplement.

Three months later (and I now only have nine months to use them) and the consolidator is STILL waiting for a reply from the airline!!!!

In the meantime two staff here booked their holidays and I no longer have more than two weeks to go anywhere!!

So now I've asked if I can give them to someone else. I wonder how long this response will take…

So, anyone out there fancy a trip to Oz? Don't hold your breath, though, as if it takes them another three months to let me know there'll be barely anytime to use them as it'll be Easter, then Half Term, then the private school hols, and then its Scotland school hols, then its August and UK hols – and then they expire!!

It's great being a travel agent!!!

Diane Coleman, Tickets Travel

If you’re feeling depressed today, worry not, you’re in good company.

January 22 is the most depressing day of the year, according to one headline-grabbing psychologist who, among other things cites fading memories of holidays as one reason for this being a particularly gloomy start to the working week.

If you’re a travel agent or tour operator, however, there should be a little spring in your step and a glint in your eye that says, today’s the day to sell holidays, to give people something to look forward to.

And with a cold snap with us and no World Cup this year to ride a coach and horses through all your plans to generate forward bookings, operators are heralding the return of the busy early year booking period.

I’m not usually one to take much notice of the kind of psycho babble that prompted this blog but maybe there is something in it. A relative of mine was saying just last night how all she could think about at the moment was where she was going to go on holiday this year.

So while everyone else is moping around, suffering from the effects of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), it is the travel trade’s job to find the motivation, the positive outlook on life to sell them their dream holiday.

Good luck, and hopefully by the time the year’s happiest day come along (June 23) you’ll have sold enough holidays to enjoy yourselves.

Lee Hayhurst, acting news editor [note new title for Lee - Ed]

Don’t let’s hear anyone in Government ever accuse the travel industry of failing to speak with one voice.

We’re dealing with an administration whose left hand does not know what its right is doing. We’ve had the Chancellor seeking environmental credit for doubling air passenger duty – a bogus claim that would only make the smallest sense if APD hit demand – while the Department for Transport asserts its support for expanding airports to meet a doubling of passenger numbers.

Then we have the environment minister – a Blairite to his boots – who hit out at airlines for not doing more to cut emissions, only to be slapped down by his own department.

At least the industry comprises competing interests – retailers and suppliers, multinationals and small businesses – a fact that explains the lack of agreement. What is the Government’s excuse?

If ministers believe the threat of climate change is serious, why no consistent message, let alone policy? The truth is the Government has no intention of curbing aviation growth. It merely wants increased revenue from the increasing numbers flying, while hoping to deflect green demands for action on climate change.

Ian Taylor, reporter

It was only a matter of time before there was a travel angle on the current Celebrity Big Brother goings on.

According to the BBC, Indian tourism officials have placed advertisements in several newspapers, "inviting Jade Goody and friends" to the country to experience its "healing nature".

Ten out of ten for marketing opportunism – and let’s face it, isn’t that what this whole sorry affair is about now?

Martin Couzins, acting editor

Is it me, or is there growing disregard for the requirement to turn off mobile phones on flights?

On a recent outbound EasyJet flight several people around me received text messages as we came into land. The same thing happened on the return. It didn’t help that the cabin crew gave a confusing message. As the aircraft taxied from gate on the way out, we were told we shouldn’t use mobiles during the safety demo – implying it was OK to use them before and after.

I checked with the Civil Aviation Authority, which confirmed the rules on mobile use have not changed. Phones should be off when the engines are on because of the risk of interference with cockpit instruments and systems.

It was foggy at the time of the first EasyJet flight, when spacing between aircraft can be critical and you would not want an instrument to freeze, flicker or give a false reading, would you?

Mobile use will be allowed inflight on some services in the second half of this year. Disregard for the restrictions on most other flights will only grow. Must we wait for something to go wrong and then be told that it was an accident waiting to happen? Or are the restrictions unnecessary?

Ian Taylor, reporter

A spy has sent us a picture of Miles Morgan, late of the Thomson parish and now of self-employed fame, cavorting around at the Globes on Tuesday night.

The burning question is: What's in the bag, Miles?

Last night, my colleague Jo Gardner and I were given the task of playing Trinny and Susannah.

We were on a mission to find the best dressed people at the Globes - quite a hard task with almost 1,500 people walking through the doors of the Grosvenor House desperate to grab a glass of champagne.

Deciding on the critique was pretty tough – did we go for some smart and elegant or some really eye caching numbers?

Well, from men in kilts through to ladies in their designer glad rags we did pick out a few and both the magazine and the web will name those that stood out for us. You can see them in our best dressed gallery at flickr.com.

Who stood out for you?

Kelly Ranson, reporter

It’s always a sign of a good night when you see respectable members of the travel trade sprawled on the floor at the end of the night.

One young man was seen tripping and ultimately falling as he attempted one of the Grosvenor House Hotel’s many staircases, a young lady lay flat out on the stairs to the exit, while one City analyst could not help but fall flat on his face in the ballroom – naming no names Andrew…

Of course it was another story for a certain member of the Travel Weekly team, but I couldn’t possibly comment in public.

Of course if Ed Robertson wants to give a full account of his journey home, that’s up to him.

Juliet Dennis, news editor

Over on table 54 former-ABTA head of corporate affairs Keith Betton was actually seen to put his hand in his pocket and buy a packet of cigarettes instead of doing his usual trick of blagging off anyone he can find with a pack.

The Siren PR table was handily situated close to its client’s two Royal Caribbean International tables, the scene of some of the night’s most vocal celebrations when it scooped the best four-star cruiseline award ahead of rival and perennial winner P&O Cruises.

Following much hearty backslapping, hugging and punching of the air with Royal Caribbean’s Robin Shaw, Michael English and Jo Rzymowska, who could barely contain her delight as she collected the award, at the centre of the celebrations.

Can this be the same Rzymowska who told a Travel Weekly journalist last year after P&O Cruises won their category that she didn’t care much for winning a Globe and much preferred to win consumer awards? Anyway, there’s nothing like winning!

Lee Hayhurst, deputy news editor

Staging the awards in-the-round was a master stroke – a throwback to the Globe of Shakespeare’s day perhaps. Whatever, it worked marvellously.

So many awards ceremonies are diminished for all those sat on the margins or far from the stage and reduced to watching on a TV screen. Aside from anything else, being more inclusive cut down the background chatter.

The standing ovation for TW boss Trevor Harding was genuinely warm and made a fitting end. So it was shame to bring on the showgirls – too much of a throwback to a former age in an industry in which more than half the workforce are women.

Surely it’s time more of them made it to the stage as award winners?

Ian Taylor, reporter

There’s black tie and there’s black tie. This year’s Travel Weekly Globes provided some twists on the familiar awards attire.

Leading the way was Travel Weekly’s very own Trevor Harding, who managed to pimp up his dinner suit with a three-quarter length ivory silk jacket. And then there was David Speakman’s pin stripe dinner suit. Are the boys the new girls, suits the new dresses?

It was pointed out to me last night that Onholidaygroup’s Steve Endacott seems only ever to be referred to as Endacott. Or is there some other commonly used moniker for the dynamic packaging dynamo?

Martin Couzins, acting editor [and huge fan of ivory silk jackets, we presume – Ed]

Like any gadget obsessed male, I have an unswerving faith in technology. But the Japanese really do take it to another level.

The Akihabara district, packed wall-to-wall with consumer electricals was one thing, but the level of automation in even the most banal situations was quite another. Taxi doors ping open automatically, toilets convert to bidets when you least expect it…but the most fun of all was the drive from the airport.

Approaching the barrier at the toll booth, our driver Mr Kuramochi slows from 60, to 50, to maybe 40. The booth is only about 10 yards away but he's done as much braking as he's going to do. I’m half expecting some sort of A Team moment, but the barrier springs into action at the last second, swift as the flipper on an old pinball table. Kuramochi smiles at our panicked expressions. “I love it when a plan comes together,” he seems to be thinking.

Matt Hampton, features editor

We might strive to fit in with the locals when holidaying in Europe or America, but really, in Japan, why bother?

It’s like going through the looking glass. As a westerner you haven’t much chance of fitting in.

I’m not abnormally tall, but is it my imagination or does everything seem smaller then usual?

The bed, the shower… there’s a heated element behind my bathroom mirror to prevent it from steaming up when you have bath, which seems to have been positioned so a Japanese lady might do her makeup.

When I come to shave all I can see is my chest! [The picture clearly indicates our dear Matt did not decide to shave his chest instead - Ed]

It’s not the land of the little people per se, but certainly the land of the Five foot somethings. Vive la difference, I say. As globalisation encroaches on our shrinking world, it’s refreshing to be somewhere that still feels a little alien.

Matthew Hampton, features editor

I’m not entirely convinced I haven’t just eaten a testicle.

It’s my own fault I suppose. I’ve gone for the first night immersion technique into Japanese culture and chosen the tiniest neighbourhood restaurant I could find.

No English menus, no pictures of the food, just a convivial atmosphere and the pleasant aroma of grilled meat.

So, lesson one in Japanese travel – carry a phrasebook. I don’t know why I didn’t bring mine with me. This isn’t Europe; you can’t just get by with a bit of Spanglish and an Olé!

My outing resulted in much fevered pointing, not a little guesswork and a good deal of patience from my Japanese hosts. But I wasn’t disappointed.

Concentrated effort and blind hope brought some delicious grilled salmon, followed by four little skewers of meat. Wonderful. Tangy lemon chicken, little bacon rolls, some beef and something crunchy that may once have been attached somewhere rather delicate.

The next course was based on my waiter’s sole words of English: “very little fish”. He wasn’t kidding. Tiny little things about the size of a grain of rice – I swear one of them was moving when it arrived – on a bed of mashed horseradish.

Oh well, when in Nippon…Ita daki mas (Bon Appétit, according to my phrasebook).

Matthew Hampton, features editor

Dickens World in Chatham, Kent, is a £62m attraction due to open at Easter.

There is just one problem – someone seems to have a problem spelling Mr Scrooge’s name. Like The Shamen's Ebeneezer Goode, he’s been given one too many Es (see picture)...

Martin Couzins, acting editor

More missives from Las Vegas, and proof if it were needed that Sin City is the place good music goes to die.

Not only is the desert resort rocking to the sound of The Beatles (Cirque du Soleil’s Fabs mash-up Love is currently packing them in at the Mirage), New York’s CBGB is being moved wholesale to the Strip. The rent in NYC was soaring, so owner Hilly Kristal is shipping the club out to Vegas – urinals and all.

Given that CBGB – alma mater of the Ramones, Blondie, Television and countless other punk bands – is beloved as the genuine rock and roll article, there’s no telling how it’ll fare in Las Vegas, somewhere better known for its extravagant celebration of fakery.

But maybe there’s a certain symmetry to the move. “Rip it up and start again” was Punk’s rallying cry, and if there’s anywhere on earth that takes that to heart, it’s Vegas, baby. If a hotel gets a bit tired they pull it down and build something bigger and more fabulous.

Speaking of fabulous openings, the Playboy club is also new in town and doing a brisk trade at the Palms. The club, on the 52nd storey of the famous hotel and casino, is the first since Hef closed the operation in the 80s.

Is there any place for it in the noughties? I doubt it. Whereas Playboy in its heyday was genuinely cool – it had great design, cerebral features and naked chicks – in its current incarnation it’s a byword for mediocrity. Reading an issue is like peering into the mind of the middle aged, middle American male.

So will the home of the bunny girls take off again? We’ll soon be able to judge for ourselves: London has been earmarked as the location of the next club. Mine’s a Martini Hef, with a lemon rind, not an olive.

Matthew Hampton, features editor

Just before Christmas I posted about Paris Syndrome, a form of acute culture shock brought on by exposure to the rougher charms of the French captial.

Sufferers might want to consult C'est So Paris, a new website from the Committee of Tourism Paris Ile-de-France that is dedicated to helping English visitors 'cop the Parisian attitude'.

Whether it succeeds in making a virtue of gestures like 'Camembert' remains to be seen, but at least you'll know what to expect. Forewarned is forearmed.

Nathan Midgley, Travelweekly.co.uk

Never let it be said that we share a language with the Americans – their latest abuse of the Queen’s English: “Mancation”. No, really.

Apparently, this means leaving wifey at home to get on with her darning and embroidery, then escaping with the boys instead.

The JW Marriott in Las Vegas isn’t the first to (ab)use the term, but it promises the chance to live a dream lifestyle that lets men be men. Well, wealthy men – you need a spare £25,000 to play this game.

JW’s Mancation should appeal to the inner James Bond in every middle aged man, with casino trips, martinis, fast cars and, er, golf. Pneumatic female entertainment is not provided, but you do get to keep the golf clubs.

One of the major attractions, apparently, is the chance to dine in an authentic Irish pub, shipped over and reconstructed brick by brick from the Emerald Isle.

Complete the experience with a private beer tasting with the publican. Genuine Irishmen may refer to this as a lock in.

It might sound laughable, but when this kind of money is involved it’s no joke. The individual bits of the package combined would usually cost in excess of £28,000 – more than a deposit on a rather nice house – so the £25,000 price tag will seem a bargain to some.

Take a stroll around the forecourt of you local Porsche dealership and you’ll see there really are people out there with this kind of disposable income.

Have they got time to book their own holidays? No.

Are they the kind of people who’d pay someone else to sort it all out? Yes.

You do the math, as our American cousins might say.

Anna Winston, intern

The winners of the Yahoo! Finds 2006 competition have just been announced.

There are some interesting sites in the travel category, although how travel-related they are is questionable.

Tell us what you think or sites that you find interesting or useful when travelling yourself or advising clients.

Winner

Geograph - The Geograph British Isles project aims to collect pictures and information for every square kilometre of the UK and Eire.

Runners up

Meaningful I to I - A website that brings travellers together: sharing experiences and helping to make the world a better place.

Baby Friendly Boltholes - A website that lists places to go on holiday that are baby-friendly.

Train Delays - A website that aims to make sure that people are reimbursed for their train delays.

Heart Beat Guides - A website that lists downloadable podcasts for travel guides.

[Pic: Sunny Sutton with Travel Weekly Towers in the background]

Martin Couzins, acting editor

Next time you’re about to have a rant at the breakfast waiter for dropping your coffee, think twice – it could just be that he’s swapped his top political post to serve your breakfast.

Antigua and Barbuda has just held its annual Tourism Week, including a ‘trading places’ day.

The Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer worked on the front desk at the Jolly Beach Resort, tourism minister Harold Lovell was a waiter at Blue Waters Hotel and UK director of marketing Carol Hay was a waitress at Jolly Beach Resort.

Hay said the experience was invaluable and educational - although she did admit they didn’t let her carry the heavy trays.

Imagine Tony Blair serving up your scrambled eggs? I wonder if he would be trusted with a heavy tray...

[pic: PM Baldwin Spencer manning the phones at the Jolly Beach Resort]

Emily Ashwell, deputy features editor

Having just been on a fam trip to Hong Kong I have been left overwhelmed (and exhausted) by how much of a city you can see in just two and a half days.

I realised how short my trip was when I flew back with the same pilot that I flew out with – his rest stop was my sightseeing break!

However I wasn’t disappointed from start to finish – despite picking up a dreadful cold on the plane (which I think I spread to at least a handful of agents – apologies on that one).

Travel was via new low fare airline Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, but any preconception that it would be like flying no frills for 12 hours went out of the window as soon as I stepped on board the aircraft.

The crew were friendly and helpful and the seats were comfortable – all equipped with seat back TVs to boot. The only difference with the airline is that you have to pay for snacks and drinks, but two meals are included which is great.

Wearily arriving in Hong Kong, the hosts - Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Marco Polo Hotels went full speed ahead to give us a packed trip of the city’s musts.

Without stopping for breath I saw the views from Victoria Peak, bartered in the markets, spent an evening in the buzzing Lan Kwai Fong, visited Lantau Island to see the Giant Buddha and Tai fishing village and finished off with a visit to DisneyLand Hong Kong.

However the one thing that will stick out for me from the trip was the journey on the newly opened cable car, Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail on Lantau Island.

Shani Vickers from Marco Polo Hotels had just bought a reflexology kit for herself and eight of us stood up in the car and tried to balance on top of the wooden mechanism to find out whether our belly was aching or if we had a dodgy kidney or thyroid.

Quite interesting for those people coming past us in the opposite direction…

Kelly Ranson, reporter