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BESydney Scores $50 Million Nu Skin Mega Incentive

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderous World) — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 23:39:00 +0000

BESydney Scores $50 Million Nu Skin Mega Incentive

Direct selling company, Nu Skin, has confirmed that its 2016 incentive trip will be to Sydney.

The announcement was made at a recent Nu Skin Academy event in Macau.

This is one of the largest incentive wins in BESydney’s 44-year history and one of the largest incentive groups Australia has ever hosted.

Business Events Sydney (BESydney) CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith said, “It’s a milestone in the making. Sydney shines as a strategically-important destination for Asian corporates looking to reward, motivate and inspire their top sales people. The city is a firm favourite for Asian companies, and this win is testament to this.”

The incentive will see Nu Skin’s qualifying sales people travel to Sydney for a five-day program in April 2016. Delegates will travel from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

Nu Skin Greater China Regional President Andrew Fan said, “Sydney has exceeded every expectation. Throughout this journey its stakeholders have united for a cohesive, whole-of-city approach which we have not witnessed before. I am confident that Sydney will deliver an outstanding incentive program. Our sales people will feel motivated and inspired by Sydney as the 2016 host destination and this is sure to drive sales performances.”

The winning bid was the result of collaboration between BESydney, Destination NSW, Tourism Australia, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and Sydney Airport Corporation Limited.

In addition to the 2016 Nu Skin event, BESydney has secured $278 million worth of confirmed business for the future.

Summer Sporting Extravaganza to Boost Australian Economy

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderous World) — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 04:27:00 +0000

In Australia, summer is all about sport. This season the addition of two major international events to the calendar is a big bonus, not just for sports lovers but for the economy as well.

Australians who don't enjoy sport turn off the television and head for the beach at this time of year.

For everyone else, there's a smorgasbord of Test and one-day cricket, PGA golf, an internationally famous yacht race, a grand slam tennis event, cycling and Formula One races.

The country is set to enjoy an unprecedented quantity of world sport worth an estimated A$320m ($267m; £172m) to the economy thanks to the addition of two major events.

The Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup - being held across five cities in January - and the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup, which will be played in Australia and New Zealand in February and March, eclipse other events in size and dollar value.

The Asian Cup is the biggest sporting event in Asia and the cricket World Cup is the third biggest sporting event in the world after the summer Olympics and the FIFA World Cup.

Australia's summer of sport

December 9 - January 10: Four cricket Test matches, Australia v India.
December 11-14: Australian PGA golf Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast.
December 26-30: Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
January 9 - January 31, 2015: Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup.
January 16 - February 1: Cricket one-day international tri series, Australia, India and England.
January 17-25: Tour Down Under cycling classic, Adelaide and South Australia.
January 19 - February 1: Australian Open grand slam tennis, Melbourne.
February 14 - March 29: ICC World Cup.
March 12-15: Australian Grand Prix Formula One, Melbourne.

Every year, between 1 December and 1 April, there are five million tickets on sale for sport and entertainment events across New South Wales, according to state government body Destination NSW. For the same period in 2014-2015, there are eight million tickets on sale.

"That's what happens when you add an Asian Cup and a World Cup to the calendar," says Asian Cup chief executive officer Michael Brown. "There's going to be a lot more people spending a lot more dollars."

Test Cricket

Australia's golden summer begins with the first of four Test cricket matches between Australia and India on 9 December. The fixtures were rescheduled to start later in the month because of the sudden death in late November of 25-year old Australian Test player Phillip Hughes.

Golf

The first Test now clashes with the Australian PGA golf event, while the Sydney to Hobart yacht race - which organisers claim is the largest spectator sporting event in the world - competes with the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

An estimated one million spectators will watch the start of the yacht race - about 300,000 of them from the water and another 700,000 lining Sydney's harbour and coastline, says chief executive officer of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Mark Woolf.

Economic Ipmact

The economic impact, however, is incalculable, says Mr Woolf, because it is a free spectator event.

"The metrics that come out of this race are enormous," he says. "It's not a stadium event. We don't have a captive audience. But there are tentacles everywhere.

"There's the investment of transporting and accommodating 118 boats and crew for the start. The crews bring their friends and families. Then there's provisioning and fuelling and self-catering for spectator picnics.

"Even the NSW town of Eden gets an economic lift. It's the last safe harbour for boats to refuel and restock before crossing Bass Strait. Once they reach Hobart the boats and crews have to get back to Sydney.

"Then there's the impact of those TV pictures of a perfect Sydney harbour beaming into Europe and America in the middle of winter on their Christmas night. It's hard to quantify the publicity and future tourism impact."

Asia Cup Soccer

As the Test cricket ends the Asian Cup kicks off on 9 January, with 16 teams playing 32 matches in Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

According to Mr Brown, PricewaterhouseCoopers has said the event will pump A$225m into the economy. Asian Cup organisers target ticket sales of 500,000, with 50,000 international visitors expected to attend.

Three of Australia's top ten trading partners - China, Japan and South Korea - have qualified, which means hosting the Asia Cup is a unique tourism, trade and investment opportunity for the country and the region, he says.

"The Asian Cup is Asia's biggest sporting event and football is the biggest team sport and the most popular sport in Asia," Mr Brown says. "In Asia, football outstrips cricket as a sport."

Tourism Tsunami

But the Asian Cup will also have to compete for spectators and TV audiences with the Tour Down Under cycling classic in South Australia and the Australian Open grand slam tennis tournament in Melbourne.

ICC World Cup Cricket

Then, the biggest sporting event of the summer begins on 14 February. More than one million people are expected to attend 49 one-day matches featuring 14 teams playing in the ICC World Cup at venues in Australia and New Zealand.

ICC World Cup chief executive officer John Harnden says 500,000 tickets have already been sold and tens of thousands of international spectators are expected to attend, creating a tourism tsunami between the two countries.

"There will be a lot of travel between Australia and New Zealand, and then India, the UK and the US are the three primary points of origin (for spectators)," says Mr Harnden.

"It is a great opportunity to showcase ourselves to the world and benefit from that great word of mouth from all those tens of thousands of tourists saying what a great time they had. If the Australian and New Zealand teams do well, that will be an even bigger bonus."

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The Secrets Flight Attendants Want You to Know

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderous World) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 05:57:00 +0000

WE’RE infatuated with life in the skies — and all the myth-busting that comes along with it. Who would’ve guessed that dim lights are meant to prep you for evacuation, or that those airline blankets aren’t always freshly washed?

Of course, nobody knows these secrets better than flight attendants. Abbie Unger, a longtime flight attendant (formerly employed by United, Continental and US Airways Express) who retired in 2011 to publish a book and launch a new career as a flight attendant consultant, tells all.

Coaching wannabe crew members through the rigorous application process, her Flight Attendant Career Connection is a Facebook Group where more than 7,000 members swap job advice, trade stories and discuss the ins and outs of a famously glamorous — and notoriously mysterious — industry.

Here, a few secrets your flight attendant may be burning to tell you:

It’s not a flight attendant’s job to look nice.

A 1957 stewardess manual lists requirements that crew members remain unmarried and under 57 kilograms.

Flight attendants wore girdles as late as the 1970s, and reports regular weigh-ins seem to have left their mark on the profession. But in her experience, Unger says, today’s airlines focus less on looks. “They do want someone who is pleasant to look at,” she told us. “But you don’t have to be a supermodel. You have to be open and engaging — it really has to do with personality.”

Passengers do not need to panic during turbulence.

Flight attendants have flown enough to know that turbulence-related injuries can occur but are uncommon. Unger advises buckling up and riding it out. “Turbulence is like going down a bumpy road,” she says. “If you’re in your seatbelt, you’re not in danger.”

Listen to the safety instructions of flight attendants and don’t panic

But if you see your flight attendant sitting down, you should definitely sit down.

That being said, Unger says looking at the crew is a sure-fire way to tell if the bumpiness has potential to harm you. Flight attendants will often move around the cabin during mild bumps, but they’ll stay seated if they know things are going to get intense.

2013 Delta flight attendant job seekers faced tougher acceptance odds than Harvard applicants.

In 2013, Delta received about 44,000 applications for about 400 flight attendant job openings — that’s a lower acceptance rate than Harvard’s.

Unger says this year’s Delta recruitment is looking just as tough — she estimates there will be about 200,000 applications for 1800 open spots. “This is a dream for a lot of people,” she explains.

If you really want to tip your flight attendant, try asking three times.

Unger says passengers often assume flight attendants make a lot of money, but “it’s not a very good wage at all.” Many airlines discourage tipping, she explains, and advise that crew members turn down a passenger’s first attempt at offering a tip.

Try a second or third time, though, and your flight attendant will feel freer to accept. “Or just put it in an envelope and leave it on your seat,” Unger says.

Flight attendants are there to make your trip enjoyable.

Your flight attendant can make you less nervous.

Flight attendants tend to know what every bump, lurch and strange sound means for the plane, whether it’s a harmless bout of turbulence or the squeaky landing gear doing its regular job.

And attendants would love to share this information with fliers, if they ask. “If you’re nervous, let your flight attendant know,” Unger says. “I’d be happy to have a conversation so you know you’re not alone.”

If your flight attendant turns quiet, it’s to run through emergency scenarios.

Just before takeoff, Unger says, flight attendants are often required to take 30 seconds to run through their safety training, reviewing what will happen should anything go wrong during the trip. “Your flight attendant may be chatting with you, but she’ll stop and be quiet or just look out the window,” Unger explains. “She’s thinking about what she would do in an emergency.”

Airplane food feeds more than just passengers.

After passengers have been served, Unger says the cabin crew will sometimes eat leftover first-class meals. The best part? “There’s ice cream on lots of international flights.”

Flight attendants eat plane food too

Water is the cure for your jet lag.

Simple hydration is a flight attendant’s number-one hack to feeling and looking refreshed after a long haul, Unger says. She recommends filling a mega-size bottle and keeping it at hand during your trip.

This article originally appeared in The Huffington Post

How To... Keep Your Belongings Safe Whilst Travelling

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:58:00 +0000

When it comes to travelling, one of the most important tasks is to keep yourself and your belongings safe.

It’s something that you need to be aware of at all times and can make even the simplest trip stressful.

Here are a few tips on how to keep your cool, and your wallet, on your next trip:

Low

Keep cash and credit cards as well as photocopies of important documents in different places
Wear all bags on the opposite shoulder to the one facing the road to decrease the chance of someone snatching the bag as they are driving
Be aware of your surroundings – if it looks unsafe, leave
Lock the doors and windows of your hotel room

Moderate

For long trips ensure that you have a spare credit card that you can activate if your original gets lost or stolen
Be careful about taking money out of ATMs, if possible do it near banks or hotels where security will be a little better, or buy everything on card
Put locks on your handbags
Close the blinds at your hotel so outsiders don’t know if you’re there or not

Extreme

Take down serial numbers of all electronic goods that you are travelling with
Stash credit cards inside your shoes
Sew extra pockets on the inside of your pants
Hide valuables around the hotel room i.e. under the bed
Put something big, like a chair, or fragile, like glass, at your front door when you go to sleep so that you can hear if someone tries to break in. Be careful with this one if you are a sleepwalker and be aware that this may not be the safest option in the event of a fire

What not to do

Don’t use waist or neck wallets, not only are they uncomfortable, but they also put a huge target on your belly
Don’t put your wallet or passport in your pocket; they’re called ‘pick pockets’ for a reason!
Don’t look too ‘expensive’ or ‘touristy’ when walking around foreign streets
Don’t leave valuables lying around your hotel room, at the very least put them under some clothes

(Source: e-Travelblackboard.com)

Best Travel Deals of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 04:55:00 +0000

Metro Hotel on Pitt, in the heart of Sydney's CBD, is offering a very Merry Sydney Christmas package to visitors who find themselves in transit on Christmas Day.

The package costs $250 and includes one night's accommodation for two in a Superior Deluxe Queen room, Christmas lunch or dinner for two people at Paradiso Restaurant (2 course), breakfast for two and free internet.

The total saving is $116. Offer valid for December 24 and 25, 2012, and subject to availability.
Details: 1800 004 321 or www.metrohotels.com.au.

CAIRNS

The 4.5-star Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort is marking the start of summer with rates for locals from $139 per room per night.

It includes one night accommodation for two adults and two children, and a buffet breakfast.
An upgrade to a pool view room is also part of the rate, subject to availability, as well as late checkout at midday and a 10 per cent discount off all food and beverage purchased at the resort.
The offer is valid until March 31; terms and conditions apply.

Details: (07) 4080 1888 or www.novotelcairnsresort.com.au.

TASMANIA

Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania is offering a Gourmet Escape package this summer.
It includes accommodation in a Pencil Pine Cabin, breakfast daily for two people, a three-course dinner for two, and a wine and cheese tasting session on one night.

Prices start from $392 per couple per night and is valid until March 31, 2013. Subject to availability, and block-out dates and minimum night stays apply.

Details: www.peppers.com.au.

EUROPE

Princess Cruises is offering a discounted fare when travelling onboard Dawn Princess's 37-day cruise from Rome to Sydney.

The voyage takes in the Western Mediterranean and Asia, including visits to a range of UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Petra and Malta, as well as the option of an overland shore excursion to the Taj Mahal in India.

Departing Rome on September 4, 2013, prices start from $5999 per person twin share.
Details: 13 24 88 or visit www.princess.com.

THAILAND

Amari Palm Reef Koh Samui has a three night Christmas package starting at $680 (conditions apply).
The package is for between December 22-26, 2012, and includes accommodation in a deluxe room, daily breakfast, return airport transfers, a 20 per cent discount on treatments at the hotel's Breeze Spa, and a 15 per cent discount voucher off any of the resort's restaurants.

Details: www.amari.com/palmreef.

Holiday Travel Tips to Keep You Safe and Saving

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 23:18:00 +0000

If you are heading home for Thanksgiving or ringing in the New Year somewhere special, the last thing you are probably thinking is, 'am I insured for that?'

Homeowners' Away from Home: Travel Insurance can cover any number of things, from flight cancellations to lost or stolen luggage, but you may be surprised to learn you could already be covered. Homeowner and renter's insurance do not necessarily stop at your doorstep, so call your agent to see if your belongings are covered away from home.

Keep Your Goods Good and Safe: Wherever you're headed these holidays, your trunk's likely loaded with gifts and pastime goods. Whether wrapped up or worn in, your golf clubs, gadgets and tablets are probably not protected by your auto insurance policy. If you tend to travel with high ticket items, ask your agent about adding a layer of protection. For example, Safeco Insurance offers personal property coverage through its Optimum Package.

Protection for the Unexpected: If you're driving home these holidays, remember, accidents spike over the holidays. To play it safe, look into Emergency Expense Coverage, which pays transportation, meals and lodging expenses if you crash away from home.

Avoid Overpaying and Under-Protecting: You may cringe at rental car fees, but the big dig is temporary insurance, which tacks 50%* onto your tab. Here's where you can save. Standard auto insurance often extends liability/collision protection to rentals, so you can cut costs and keep your coverage.

Partners, Promos and Perks: Last minute travel is a surefire way to overpay. Get free alerts from Airfarewatchdog.com and the jump on limited promotions from SmarterTravel.com, like flyer deals, rental car pre-pay discounts, and how to score free upgrades. Book through partners like credit cards and travel sites to save on flights and hotels. Always search for promo codes, and utilize loyalty programs.

They are easy to join and promise perks ranging from discounts to expedited processing.
World-wide Rental Car Coverage: While it's true your car insurance may offer protection for car rentals state-to-state, it is unlikely that your coverage will extend country-to-country. Some insurance companies, however, offer wider protection to their preferred customers.

In summary, save the surprises and the spending for the holiday, and get the best travel deals you can before you go. Take advantage of companies that compare deals for you, such as Answer Financial which staffs hundreds of licensed agents to give you an apples-to-apples understanding of the insurance choices, prices and coverages available to you. Finally, make sure you know which coverages you have and which you actually need, to make sure you're protected without overspending. If you are unsure, don't waste money, call your agent.

*Figures derived from identical quotes from three top rental car companies. Quotes assumed a one week compact car rental at the Los Angeles International Airport locations for each company, with payment due upon arrival.

Book Accommodation at www.Metrostar.com

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/09/4894568/holiday-travel-tips-to-keep-you.html#storylink=cpy

Top Five Golden Rules for Female Travellers

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:18:00 +0000

Top five Golden rules for female travellers

With 45 percent of woman making up the corporate travel market, International SOS has identified five golden rules to help woman keep safe when travelling for business.

Rule number one: Know Yourself

Understanding your profile and how that profile may be perceived when you travel is vital. Key areas to consider include your physical appearance, travel experience, personality type and budget.

Rule number two: Do your research

Don’t assume, do your research before you travel and know the geography of the city you are visiting, plus be aware of any cultural differences.

Rule number three: Don’t be an easy target

Plan your flights so you arrive in the daytime especially if you are planning to catch a taxi and always use official taxis.

Rule number four: Be assertive

Be confident as appearing unfamiliar can make you a potential target. Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t.

Rule number five: Stay calm in a crisis

Statistics have proven that woman are more prone to harassment, assault and hand bag theft therefore it important to know how to respond in a crisis. Being prepared is key to reducing risk while on business travel

Travel Makes You More Attractive

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:57:00 +0000

A recent survey of Aussie singles reveals that travel makes you more attractive, while 96 percent of respondents say they are looking for someone who likes to travel.

The Intrepid travel poll of over 880 singles on RSVP found that 55 percent of respondents believed having ‘travel’ on a potential mate’s profile makes them more desirable.

Intrepid Travel spokesperson Jo Stewart said the survey shows that travel increases your sex appeal.

“Travellers are generally considered curious about the world, open minded and adventurous, all of which are attractive qualities,” Ms Stewart said.

Daring travellers appear to be the more sort after, with 23 percent nominating ‘adventure seekers’ as the most attractive, followed by the ‘off the beaten track’ traveller at 22 percent and then the ‘cultured connoisseur’ at 16 percent.

RSVP spokesperson Melanie Dudgeon said the results show that shared interests and lifestyle goals are very important when looking for a mate.

“Many singles hope to travel and explore the world with a partner and this is why a common interest in travel is important to such a large majority,” Ms Dudgeon said.

Furthermore the survey found that 49 percent of respondents said they have had a holiday romance and 72 percent said they think of meeting a mate whilst on holidays.

Snake Horror As Passenger Stuffs 247 Animals In Suitcase

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 05:35:00 +0000

Shocked airport police in Argentina pave seized a Czech man trying to board a transatlantic flight with a bulging suitcase stuffed with 247 live poisonous snakes, endangered reptiles and other animals.

Karel Abelovsky, 51, was reportedly caught at Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires while trying to board an Iberia flight for Madrid. Baggage scanner technicians were astounded when they X-rayed the bag and saw it was filled with squirming “organic substances”. Inside they found more than 200 reptiles and molluscs.

Abelovsky had taken the trouble of using clear plastic containers to package nine species of poisonous snakes, including South American venomous vipers and juvenile boa constrictors. The packaging wouldn’t have saved the reptiles from dying if placed in the place’s cargo hold, which is where they were headed.

Abelovsky has been charged with attempted smuggling and faces the prospect of up to 10 years in an Argentine prison.

The case has been compared to “Snakes on a Plane” a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film starring Samuel L. Jackson. The movie plot, perhaps just a little far-fetched, involves mobsters releasing hundreds of snakes on a passenger plane in an attempt to kill a trial witness. More than 450 snakes were used during the filming, with one scene showing a crate opening halfway through the flight to release venomous serpents that slither into one of the plane’s toilets and kill a couple having sex.

Trains, Buses, Automobiles But Not Planes This Season: Survey

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 05:19:00 +0000

Two out of five air travelers would rather take another form of transport over this holiday season, the U.S. Travel Association has said, and according to Airlines for America, U.S. air travel will drop by an average of 20,000 people a day between 15 December 2011 and 4 January 2012 compared to the same period last year.

The U.S. Travel Association cites the frustrations of air travel in a period when over half of surveyed air travelers are flying with gifts.

The association has thus again called for airlines to “remedy the carry-on chaos...clogging U.S. airports” by changing luggage policies “to include in the price of a ticket the costs associated with checking one piece of luggage”.

The TSA is also being called upon to expand its PreCheck trusted traveler program to more travelers.

"Our research shows that reducing hassle without compromising security will encourage more Americans to fly — as many as two to three additional trips a year — leading to an additional $85 billion in spending that would support 900,000 American jobs," U.S. Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow said.

43.3 million air travelers are expected to fly on U.S. carriers over the 21day period, Airlines for America has said, a one percent drop over last year.

However, flights will still be full, particularly between 21-23 December, 26-30 December 26-30 and 2-3 January.

So, I guess the question is, if Santa Claus had to pay for excess baggage would he avoid flying too?

Mobile Phones, Just Plane Annoying

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 04:27:00 +0000

A recent survey has revealed that 86 percent of people are against their fellow passengers being permitted to use their mobile phones whilst in flight.

The survey, conducted by Skyscanner has found that the majority of people felt it was ‘annoying to have to listen to other people’s conversations’.

This finding comes just as Virgin Atlantic announced it will permit mobile phone calls on its New York to London route, becoming one of the first international airlines to allow the usage of mobiles in-flight.

Despite the majority of people welcoming advancements in internet connectivity it appears that the majority of people would prefer to not have the constant chatter of other people’s conversations when in confined spaces.

The survey also revealed that if the service was available 48 percent of people would send texts, 35 percent said they would surf the net, ten percent said they would send e-mails and only six percent said they would actually make and take a call.

Additionally only one percent of those interviewed said they would pay more to fly with a carrier that offered mobile calls.

Skyscanner marketing development manager for Australia Dave Boyte said flying was the only time we were allowed to truly switch off.

“Now with Virgin’s move into on-board mobile and the introduction of Wi-Fi on flights in Australia it is only a matter of time before we are always on call,” Mr Boyte said.

(Source: etravelblackboard.com)

Ryanair's Calendar Girls cause Spanish outrage

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:59:00 +0000

Ryanair has outraged Spanish housewives who claim the airline's 2012 charity calendar, which features scantily-clad members of its cabin crew, is exploiting female workers.

The Provincial Association of Housewives and Consumers of Valencia (TYRIUS) has issued a formal complaint to the airline and reported it to the Non-Sexist Advertising Observatory of Valencia as it "uses the female body" in the form of advertising.

Even though the calendar will raise money to send 50 British families with children who suffer from a fragile skin condition on holiday to Spain, TYRIUS said had called for it to be taken off sale.

The housewives say that the airline is profiting by using the publicity whipped up by the calendar to sell its low-cost flights.

TRRIUS says the airline, which has published its Cabin Crew charity calendar every year since 2008, is preying on the dignity of women workers and its cabin crew.

Ryanair has already sold 9,000 of the 10,000 2012 calendars, raising €100,000 for the charity, DEBRA. It said men in other professions, including firemen, also posed semi-naked to raise money for good causes.

(Source: Travelmole.com)

Which is the World's Safest Airline?

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:47:00 +0000

Every other day we seem to hear reports of commercial airline failures — planes diverted to make emergency landings after in-flight dramas, aircraft grounded due to shonky equipment, near collisions and crew strikes over safety standards — and these are just to name a few from this week.

With all the uncertainty in the sky, which is the safest airline to trust with your travel arrangements?

AirSafe.com is an independent fact-gathering website run by a former airline safety analyst in the USA, and it gives consumers an idea of an airline's relative safety by analysing historical performance. But one can't exactly compile a top-ten list of the world's safest airlines — a number of factors come in to play when ranking a carrier's safety ranking.

What makes an airline safe anyway?

This particular safety register calculates an airline's 'fatal events' since 1970, based on the number of passengers who lose their lives relative to the total number of onboard passengers. This estimate is then weighted against the number of flights a particular airline operates — for example, if a carrier has only operated one flight since the 70s, and all aboard met their maker, that company would have a much higher score than an airline operating a hundred flights a day and has lost a handful of passengers over the last four decades.

So who's the safest down under?

Based on fatality rates alone (not including your in-flight bumps, bruises and busted doors), here is a list of popular carriers that fly in and out of Australasia. Remember — the lower an airline's ranking, the safer its track record:

· China Airlines — 7.16

· Air India — 4.89

· Thai Airways — 1.60

· Singapore Airlines — 1.50

· Cathay Pacific — 1.45

· Air New Zealand — 0.74

· United — 0.31
and, still the safest airline with a total of zero fatalities ...

· Qantas — 0.00

So despite the bad press of late, the kangaroo in the sky is your best bet on arriving alive. But according to the Australian and International Pilots Association's recent government address, carriers across the globe are 'forcing airlines to adopt less safe practices' due to financial pressures.

Are we better off grounded?

In short, no. According to Wikipedia, approximately 744 people were killed globally by commercial airline accidents in 2007. That is roughly equivalent to the number of people who died after being struck by lightning the very same year. So your chances of touching down in one piece are incredibly good, considering the fact that over ten million commercial flights took off last year alone. By comparison, roughly 3,000 people are killed globally every DAY in automobile accidents. So bear down, brave it, but be sure to buckle up.

(Source: travel.ninemsn.com.au)

New York draws more than 50 million visitors in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:15:00 +0000

New York City will welcome 50.2 million visitors by the end of 2011, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Tuesday.

Bloomberg noted that five-and-a-half years ago, the city set a goal to reach 50 million visitors by 2015; in 2008, the goal was moved up to 2012. The city has now achieved that goal one year ahead of schedule. The announcement was made in Times Square as video screens flashed the words “50 million.”

NYC & Company, the city’s tourism-marketing organization, forecasts that New York will welcome 10.1 million international visitors by the end of 2011, a 4% increase over 2010.

The top international source market is the U.K., with more than 1 million visitors expected by the end of 2011, a 2% increase over 2010.

Some 40.1 million domestic visitors, a 2% increase over last year, are also expected by year’s end.

New York visitors are expected to spend $32 billion this year.

The city, home to more than 90,000 hotel rooms, is on track to sell 27 million hotel room nights in 2011, 4.5% more than in 2010.
(Source: Travelweekly.com)

Check out these great New York hotel accommodation deals - www.metrostar.com/newyork/

Travellers Spend on Flights, Save on Hotels: Study

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Expenditure on first- and business-class air travel rose by 9.1 percent and 5.4 percent respectively in the third quarter of 2011, while spending on luxury hotel accommodation grew by only 2,2 percent, a study has revealed.

According to the American Express Business Insights study, spending on economy hotels grew by 10.5 percent in the same period.

Industry analysts and travelers have attributed this trend to frustration with flying and an improvement on the standards of economy lodging, USA Today reported.

"It really speaks to the fact that [consumers are] so concerned about the airline experience that they're willing to make the trade-off," Applied Predictive Technologies senior vice president of hospitality Maryam Wehe told the paper.

One (business and leisure) traveler admitted that hotels were for sleeping, while it was “miserable for me to spend five or 15 hours on an airplane in Economy”.

"The only time I spend in a hotel is when I'm sleeping," law attorney John Harding said.

"I don't need all the accoutrements."

According to American Express Business Insights senior vice president Ed Jay, the trend in accommodation spending is focusing on luxury or value options, “which also speaks to the barbell effect apparent in travel — and other sectors — wherein consumers selectively choose either high-end or low-cost options, squeezing out the midtier providers with flat or declining spending growth”.

Source = e-Travel Blackboard: G.A

Could London Hotels Suffer a Post-Olympics 'Hangover?'

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:48:00 +0000

2012 will be a huge year for London in more ways than one. With the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and a certain international sports event set to descend upon the city, Londontown will see a massive influx of tourists. Hotel rooms are rapidly being snapped up by intelligent travelers, and profit projections for city lodgings remain promisingly high.

But what will become of the city after the torch has been extinguished and tinsel and confetti from the Queen's celebration swept away? According to a recent report by local commuter publication of choice, the London Evening Standard, a dark cloud may descend over the city come 2013.

Per a representative from PricewaterhouseCoopers, "if visitor numbers to the capital do not pick up sharply once the Games have finished," a profit "hangover" may ensue owing to a sharp and sudden decline in visitors.

Unfortunately, this isn't the kind of morning-after buzz that swiftly quaffed pint or traditional fry up will remedy. Rather, it's suggested that businesses "implement plan B in preparation for a prolonged period of low, erratic demand." Bummer. Best to load up on the Vitamin B now, London hoteliers.

(Source: HotelChatter.com)

Need to book a room for the London Olympics? Log on to www.metrostar.com

How to Haggle Like a Pro

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:26:00 +0000

Scoring a bargain from shopkeepers who haggle for a living can be difficult. Most have a lifetime of bargaining experience behind them and they know how to read tourist shoppers well. If you're tired of being one-upped on your bargain hunting adventures, follow these simple tips and you'll be haggling like a pro in no time.

Don't haggle on day one Before heading out and using the force, it's important to curb your enthusiasm, Obi-Wan!

And by that I mean try to avoid buying anything on the first day of your holiday.
Instead, spend time familiarising yourself with local prices and comparing the shopping districts around town. Your research and newfound knowledge will pay dividends when you do start to bargain.

Look the Part

So you're ready to bargain? Great! Before you leave the hotel, dress down.
Gold rings and big watches scream 'Wealthy!', especially in poorer countries.
If you want to grab a bargain, dress as though you don't have a black Amex stashed inside your designer wallet.

Build Rapport

When you walk into a store, smile and say a warm "G'day" (NB: Australians are generally offered better prices than Yanks).
You'll get a better bargain if you're on friendly terms with the seller, so make sure you laugh, play nice, and enjoy the haggling process.
If you're feeling tired and cranky, avoid haggling altogether. Go and recharge over a nice meal instead.

Know Your Limits (and keep them to yourself)

Once you decide what you want, determine how much you're prepared to pay for it.
If you've done your research at other stores you should have a rough idea of the item's asking price.
Todd, an Australian businessman who bargains abroad for work, says "It's important to set a limit in your head before bargaining with the shopkeeper, otherwise you could walk out spending much more than you initially anticipated."

Let the Shopkeeper Open the Bargaining

"What's your best price?" isn't the greatest opener known to man.
In fact, as soon as you open a sale, the shopkeeper gains an idea of how badly you want an item.
If the vendor knows that you really, really want something s/he'll sense it, and it will be harder to bargain on its price.
Allow the shopkeeper open the bidding and avoid this amateur mistake.

Go low

It's always difficult to know where to start the bidding.
Personally I believe it depends heavily on which country you're in.
In India and Thailand I find it safe to start bargaining at around one quarter or one fifth the original asking price, whereas in Marrakech — where shopkeepers have an abundance of European tourists who happily pay higher prices — I'm laughed out of stores after offering that sort of rate.
Read each situation and act accordingly, but remember — the lower your starting offer the lower your final price will be.

Hold your Ground During the Haggle

The back-and-forth in haggling is crucial. Shopkeepers will often use a variety of tactics to goad you into buying for a higher price, so remember to stick to your guns and never pay more than the price you've set in your head.
Over time you'll develop your own idiosyncrasies and one-liners to handle even the most relentless of shopkeepers.
For now, these might help you hold your ground:
• "I've seen it cheaper somewhere else."
• "I'm not really sure…"
• "The thing is I just don't need it…"
• "It's not the greatest fit…"

Silence is Golden

Once you've openly stated how much you're willing to pay, try, try, try and keep your mouth closed.
Let the shop keeper come back to you with a counter offer before you jump in hastily with a higher price.

Be Prepared to Walk Away

Being prepared to walk away from an item is at the core of every good haggler's heart.
If you're adamant that you won't leave until you get a particular item, an experienced shopkeeper will pick up on it way before you realise you're no longer wearing your poker face.
This is where being prepared to walk away wields its mighty sword.
"If you know in your heart that you can easily walk away from the item and happily never see it again, then you will always have the power over the sale," says Todd.
"But if the seller knows that you need it, then they'll always have the power over you."
If you do walk away, never go back So you didn't get the price you wanted and you walked away. Good for you!

The next step is to never go back. Ever. In fact, don't even look over your shoulder.
The second you do, the shop keeper will know that you're still wanting that item, which means you'll ultimately pay premium price if you ever set foot in that store again.

It's Not Always About a Discount

While the shopkeeper may not budge on a lower price, they may be willing to throw in another item or two for free. That way they move more stock and you get what you want.
Never be afraid to ask if this is possible.
Live by the haggler's motto: "If you don't ask, you don't get."

Never, Ever…

As a customer, there are some things you should never do while bargaining:
• Never mention your total budget and never flash your cash before agreeing on a final price.
• Don't keep bargaining once the deal is agreed upon. It's just bad manners.
• You'd also do well to avoid haggling in busy shops. Haggling is an intimate exchange, and if the shop is full with other customers you could be perceived as a nuisance.
• To save yourself time and energy, always ensure that you're haggling with the right person. There's no point bargaining with a junior employee only to restart the entire process once they "check with the manager".
• Finally, and for obvious reasons, don't haggle in a shop that displays a "No haggling" sign. Those signs are there for a reason, and they're usually posted by cantankerous shopkeepers who are tired of dealing with penny-pinching tourists.
Happy haggling!

Do you have any tried and true tips for driving a bargain abroad? Tell us about them.

(Source: travel.ninemsn.com.au)

American Airlines Plane Boots Alec Baldwin Over 'Words With Friends'

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Did you feel that? If the internet could have earthquakes, we'd have just experienced a minor one as Alec Baldwin went from tweeting like normal, to getting kicked off an American Airlines plane at LAX, to being in custody, to becoming a trending topic, to giving his side of the story via Twitter in just about the span of one hour.

The reason for the tarmac takedown? Apparently, according to Alec, he was playing the popular mobile Scrabble-like app Words With Friends when a flight attendant "reamed" him out. Of course he was probably still playing it beyond the point of being asked to turn off and stow all electronic devices for take-off, hence the flight attendant interference. We predict that the next few days will see news channels rehashing the old argument of whether or not cell signals interfere with airplanes. You know, that old chestnut.

What we've learned tonight:
· If you're playing against Alec Baldwin in Words With Friends, his dedication to it probably means you aren't waiting long for your turn.
· If you're playing against Alec Baldwin in Words With Friends, long delays in his play may indicate that he's arguing with flight crew for the right to make his next move.
· Alec Baldwin doesn't pay attention to the in-flight safety demonstration
· Alec Baldwin flies American Airlines
· Scrabble is missing golden opportunities with their crappy mobile game.

Yo, Alec, ping us! We want to play!

(Source: Jaunted.com)

Airline War Hots Up With Virgin Plans to Steal Market Share

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:58:00 +0000

TRAVELLERS will reap the rewards of an airline war with cheaper fares and more regional routes, Virgin Australia boss John Borghetti said.

The airline chief executive who used to work for rival Qantas has revealed ambitious plans to steal market share from his old employer and expan services to regional areas.

"A lot of these routes have not had competition. All you have to do is look at the airfares that are being charged,'' he said.

He also questioned why Qantas had dramatically dropped prices on certain flights after his airline launched business-class services on the same routes.

Mr Borghetti said Qantas reduced business-class fares between Sydney and Perth by nearly 25 per cent after Virgin introduced the same service.

After Virgin announced launch business class fares on the Sydney to Perth route for $1399, Qantas reduced their fares from $2,013 to $1,519.

"Why haven't they done that in the last ten years?''

As well as returning Australian aviation to the kind of competition not seen since the Ansett days, Mr Borghetti also wants to increase his frequent-flyer membership to three million.

Membership of Virgin's Velocity has increased 10 per cent to 2.75 million members in 3 1/2 months.

Pop star Dannii Minogue helped launch a frequent-flyer partnership with Westfield online last week.

Virgin was also given regulatory approval to form an alliance with Singapore Airlines, allowing passengers who book flights with the airline the chance to fly on Singapore Airlines flights, get lounge access and accumulate frequent flyer points.

In addition to previous alliances with Etihad, Delta and Air New Zealand, it will take the number of destinations it flies to to more than 400 worldwide.

Mr Borghetti said the move would open up emerging markets such as China and India and continue the airline's
expansion into regional Australia.

The airline also recently began flying between Brisbane and Port Macquarie and Brisbane and Gladstone and plans to announce new regional routes soon.

"We will now be able to promote regional Australia through those 400 odd destinations around the world, from Dallas to Port Macquarie,'' he said.

As well as reconfiguring the interiors of its domestic planes this year and will launch business class services across the network on January 18.

At the moment, Qantas boasts 41 per cent capacity share in the domestic market or 65 per cent including its low-cost subidiary Jetstar, while Virgin's is about 30 per cent.

But Mr Borghetti said he had no desire for Virgin to be the biggest airline in the country.

"Whatever market share gives the best return is the market share that I want,'' he said.

"What we do have the desire to do is be the airline of choice.''

Read more

Flight Attendants Reveal Their Worst Passengers

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:24:00 +0000

IF you've left the door open while peeing, if you listen to music while they try to talk to you or if you've tried to grab a seat in the crew rest area – then flight attendants hate you.

Flight attendants from around the world have broken their silence to reveal the things that passengers do that really gets under their skin.

While Kevin Rudd's alleged angry outburst at a flight attendant and Naomi Campbell's infamous cabin catfight have hit the headlines, it's these everyday annoyances that really get their goat.

YOUR SAY: Tell us about your worst experiences with crazy cabin crew below.

You leave the door wide open when you pee.

“One of the most annoying things passengers do is not closing the lavatory door,” celebrity flight attendant David Holmes from Southwest Airlines said.

You double order your drinks.

“Asking one flight attendant for a drink and before they get back with it, asking another flight attendant for the same drink, is bad news,” Bethany Burke, a flight attendant from Florida, US, said.

You tap flight attendants on the shoulder to get their attention.

“Passengers tap me to get my attention but then don’t give me eye contact when talking to me,” Mr Holmes said.

“Passengers wouldn’t take off their headsets when I asked them if they wanted food or drink,” ex-hostie Susan, who worked for Qantas for over 20 years, said.

“When I ask passengers if they’d like something to drink, three times out of five the response will be ‘Wha?’ And that's a ‘wha’ without the ‘T’,” Heather Poole, flight attendant for a major US carrier, said.

“‘Something to drink?’ I'll ask again, and while I ask this question I find myself wondering why you haven't taken off the iPod or those giant Bose noise cancellation headsets covering your ears when you see me standing at your row.”

You stuff your bag to breaking point and then ask for help to stow it away.

“The worst is when people bring a heavy bag onboard, then tell me that they can't lift it overhead because of a bad back,” Mrs Burke said.

“Lifting your bag into the overhead bin is not, nor has it ever been, part of my job description. Honestly, I don't know what bothers me more, the fact that a passenger will come on-board and expect me to lift their bag, or the fact that they actually get upset when I won't lift the bag,” Mrs Poole said.

You complain about the overhead bin being full and make a fuss about having to put your bag in the rows behind.

“Passengers who get annoyed about the overhead bins near their seats being full, and then say the word “ridiculous”, are so annoying,” Mrs Poole said.

You order a special meal and then change your mind at the last minute.

“I hate it when passengers order a vegetarian, kosher or fruit special meal and then want a regular meal instead," Mrs Burke said.

You’re messy and inconsiderate.

“There’d be so many people who’d just throw things on the floor right in the middle of the cabin, such as newspapers they’ve finished with or rubbish,” Susan said.

“Surprisingly, it’s no different in first class, they’re just as messy as the other passengers.”

You read up about getting free upgrades and pull all the tricks to try and get your way.

“Another annoying thing is the tricks people used to play to get upgraded," Susan said.

"You could see the pattern for a lot of people, but if they win it’s just rewarding them for bad behaviour.”

You expect to be told the moment you change time zones.

“Passengers often want to know exactly when they should change their watch when crossing time zones,” Mrs Burke said.

You try and take over the crew rest area.

“Trying to sit in our crew rest seats, which are sacred to us, is a very bad idea,” Mrs Burke warns.

You enter the galley without permission and loiter.

“Unless you've actually been invited into the galley (it does happen), you do not step onto the floor for any length of time," Mrs Poole said.

You spill water on the toilet floor and leave without cleaning it up.

“People would leave water on the floor after using the toilet, forgetting about all the other passengers who may slip and fall,” Susan said

You have unrealistic expectations of your air travel experience.

“I saw a first-class passenger chuck a hissy fit as we didn’t have the right flavour of yogurt onboard. A bit unrealistic,” Susan said.

Now we want to hear your side: Tell us about your worst experiences with crazy cabin crew below.

View Source

Tipping – The Scourge of Customer Service

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:25:00 +0000

OK – I need to get this off my chest and if in doing so I start an argument so be it, but in my view enough is enough. Let me start by saying I have zero problem with tipping for great or exceptional service, nor do I have a problem with tipping someone who goes out of their way to help me solve a problem or resolve an issue.

BUT (yes a BIG BUT) I am done with tipping outrageous amounts for someone who is just “doing their job”, the job they are being paid to do and the job that I expect them to do.

Now someone is going to say immediately that “these people” (yes I am generalising broadly at the moment) are lowly paid; my answer to that is that is not my problem. If employers are not willing or able to pay proper wages; or if employees are not able either individually or via a union to negotiate decent salaries, why do I have to cover the gap? Pay people well and they will work better, their level of service will improve, the customers will be more pleased and a tip – for great service – may well be forthcoming.

One of the derivations that I have for the word TIP is that it comes from an abbreviation that means “to insure promptness”, which means we will pay you a bit more if your serve us quickly, first, better or whatever and by that definition the tip was probably originally paid up front – or perhaps part of it was, with the rest later – to ensure that the service required was delivered. Not now, it is nothing more than an expectation, here is the price and the tips are extra; or in cruise line terms gratuities are not included so they WILL be added to your final bill. I hasten to add NOT on cruise lines that I travel with, and that is one of the reasons.

Let’s look at the word gratuities; this is a word that appears in upmarket restaurants, on five star hotel bills and on cruise ships. The word implies gratefulness, you are grateful for the service you have received and are prepared to reward for it; why, if it is only someone doing the job they are paid to do? I don’t get it; we don’t pay gratuities to our lawyers, doctors or dentists who all provide professional and very important services to us, nor do we pay gratuities to teachers who play a huge role in bringing up and educating our children. And we certainly do not pay gratuities to our military personnel, who perform great service and far, far too often make the ultimate sacrifice for us. We may well express our gratitude to all of these people in very different ways, but the services they perform for us are important, require great skill sets and are services we cannot possibly perform ourselves and we do not pay gratuities for them.

We are however expected to tip/pay gratuities to those who perform (shall we say) more lowly skilled services for us, some of which we could do ourselves but choose not to and others that we would like to do ourselves but simply cannot. Almost inevitably all of these services are in the hospitality, transport, tourism and travel industries. Even then there is a difference, we do not tip the airline pilot (we should he/she gets us back on the ground safely), or the ship’s captain (ditto he does a tricky job very well), or the hotel manager, or the chef – it is just not expected nor is it required. We are however expected to tip the underlings, the workers, the staff all of the ones who are simply not paid enough for the job that they do, and it is often not just expected but it is required; everyone knows that we will cover the gap and that leads to poor and inefficient customer service and poor business practices.

Why is that you ask, simple; if the service staff (I am generalising here again folks not singling out anyone in particular) know that they will get their tip/gratuity, irrespective of the level of service that they provide, then they will do the minimum that they have to do knowing that it will ultimately be enough. Yes – I do know that there are exceptions – there always are – but in general this is the truth. If the expectation is that the reward will be received irrespective, the level of commitment drops in direct proportion. It’s an economic fact!

I have just spent 30 hours in America, and it is that 30 hours that started me thinking along this track; and yes, before you ask, I do blame America and the tipping culture for the expansion of the problem. They did not invent the tip, but they sure polished it, buffed it and shined it up into what it is today. Examples you ask, let’s look at a couple or three that really caught my eye.

Example one: I believe that the expectation level now is a minimum of 20%, this is reinforced by the number of establishments with a 20% service fee already on the bill. Then to top it off there is still space to add a tip (gratuity at the Setai Miami Beach) when you pay the bill or an expectation of added cash in the hand.

Example two: The cab driver who picked us up from the Hilton Barbados, he was just waiting outside, and drove us to St Leonards Gap for 20 Barbadian Dollars, expected a tip, – why I ask? He sat in his cab when we got in, drove us to where we asked to go and sat in his cab when we got out, we had no luggage and there was nothing else he had to do but his job – which was to drive the cab, he did that, ok I guess, but when I did not tip he was not happy; someone tell me why he deserved and had an expectation of a tip. This was just one example of many transportation issues – where there was an expectation of a tip.

Example three: The waiting staff at the breakfast buffet at the Sheraton Miami Beach, a hotel that in our 18 odd hours there was almost (not quite) totally devoid of any degree of customer service. The server bought our coffee and when we asked refilled our coffee; she also cleaned our table before we sat down, that’s it, that’s all; but she had an expectation of a tip, over and above the service charge on the bill, why I ask again? What did he/she do for me that was out of the ordinary, what extra service did he/she provide? The answer none – in fact the waiting staff were much more interested in the Top Gear crew (TV Show with a motoring bent, just in case you are one of the only three people on earth who have not heard of it), including host Jeremy Clarkson and getting noticed by/photographed with them to worry too much about the customers.

Are there more, sure but you get the drift, everywhere there are service staff expecting and receiving tips for doing their job and nothing else, and because they know that the tip will be paid their performance suffered accordingly. Incidentally no-one got a tip from me in any of those examples or the 10/12 others over the last four days. Did I tip anyone you ask; yes indeed I did and I will tell you about them also.

I tipped Miguel the barman at the Sheraton Miami, because he did a tough and busy gig, with a smile, had a joke with us and went out of his way to get me the wine that I wanted. I tipped Gloria at the Waterfront Café in Barbados, because she was quick, friendly and offered a couple of suggestions. I tipped Anthony the cab driver, who brought us in from the airport, because he lifted and shifted our bags, and I will tip the one that takes us to the cruise terminal in an hour or so assuming he does the same thing.

I tipped Everton behind the bar at the Barbados Hilton, because he was friendly, told me a couple of stories and listened to a couple of mine and looked after us well. I also tipped hotel porters who lifted our bags because our bags were heavy, too heavy. So, as I said at the outset I am not opposed to tipping to reward performance, I am totally opposed to tipping people who are just doing their job. So where do we go from here?

My very firm view is that we should return to tips or gratuities being a reward for exceptional service and not simply an accepted thing or with service charges automatically added to any bill. In order to do that we also need to ensure that the workers who are performing the duties are adequately rewarded up front, but still need the tips as cream, that way the level of service will pick up as the level of expectation decreases. Now I admit – it’s radical, it is not a short term process; it would take a long time to get moving and will most likely never happen, but there you go, it’s a way forward.

In the interim my personal protest will continue, I will only tip for exceptional service and will not tip someone who is just doing their job. I will try to avoid, like the plague, establishments that automatically add a service fee, difficult in the US and some spots in Europe particularly I know but I will try. Where I cannot I will most certainly not tip unless the circumstances are extraordinary. More than that I will maintain the campaign that starts today for as long as possible or it takes, whichever comes first. I will at every opportunity expose poor customer service wherever I see it or hear of it.

Perhaps if enough of you join me – we may, just may, by default, achieve what is required to get back to true customer service and to tips and gratuities being a reward for effort and performance that is exceptional or at least above the norm. It’s worth a try, don’t you think!

Written by : Peter Watson

(Source: globaltravlmedia.com.au)

What’s The Worst Thing About Business Travel?

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:11:00 +0000

What’s the worst thing about business travel?

Plenty, but rude hotel staffs, intrusive airline security and “steerage-like treatment on crowded planes” are the worst offenders.

So says a study by Vitesse Worldwide, an executive travel firm.

A whopping 86 percent of executives in the study said airport security screenings were the worst thing about travel, while more than two-thirds ranked tiny and dirty commercial planes and impersonal treatment by hotel staffs the worst.

"What comes through loud and clear is that an executive traveler isn't asking for high-priced service as much as high touch," said Shawn Abaspor, chief executive of Vitesse Worldwide.

Hotel rates and airfares have been climbing for several months, with travel demand on the rise and airlines cutting capacity by eliminating routes and retiring older planes. And those prices are likely to keep rising.

Average airfares and hotel rates should jump as much as 5 percent in 2012, according to a survey of more than 300 travel managers by the Global Business Travel Association, a Virginia trade group for travel managers.

By David Wilkening

(Source: Travelmole.com)

Flight Attendants ‘Increasingly Chosen for Sex Appeal’

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:54:00 +0000

Some airlines around the world are promoting their services by treating flight attendants as sexual decorations, using the same attitudes that prevailed some 50 years ago, according to Britain’s Guardian newspaper.

The article, headlined “Flight of fancy: the truth about female cabin crew” comes as a female business executive in the UK faces court on charges of allegedly groping “the groin and testicular area” of a male flight steward and demanding sex while drunk on an aircraft. That case is notable mainly because it reverses the usual gender profile of such harassment.

The Guardian article points out that Thai airline Nok Air advertised earlier this year for “beautiful girls with nice personalities” to fill its cabin crew positions. Any “girls” over 25 were deemed too old.

A report in The Times of India last month accused Air India of following a similar recruitment policy. And new airline Thai Smile (operated by Thai Airways and scheduled for launch next year) is recruiting a 100-strong cabin crew of women under 24.

The paper mentioned the case of a flight attendant who had applied to Garuda Indonesia recently. She later told a local newspaper that she and her fellow candidates had been subjected to a “health examination” by a male doctor that involved having their breasts “fondled”. A Garuda official is said to have explained that “hand examination on breast” was essential to detect undeclared breast implants, which “can have health issues when air pressure falls during flights”.

Other cases mentioned by the paper: the Air New Zealand TV advertising campaign of 2009 in which cabin crew wore nothing but body paint; a Southwest Airlines plane bearing murals of bikini-clad supermodel Bar Rafaeli; Virgin Atlantic’s multi-million-dollar ad campaigns featuring the airline’s “red hotties” and Ryanair’s annual “Girls of Ryanair” calendar.

Written by : Peter Needham

(Source: eglobaltravelmedia.com.au)

Whisky-Swigging Woman Could Face Jail for In-Flight Sex Grab

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:39:00 +0000

A female business executive faces jail for groping “the groin and testicular area” of a male flight steward and demanding sex while drunk on an aircraft.

Britain’s Daily Mail printed a photo of the suspect, a strikingly attractive young woman named in court as Katherine Goldberg, 25, of Ealing Common, London.

She is said to have knocked back about half a litre of whisky before grabbing a Virgin Atlantic steward’s crotch. Yesterday, magistrates ruled that the case was too serious for them to deal with. They have moved it on to the Crown Court.

Goldberg, originally from South Africa, pleaded guilty at a magistrate’s court in the London suburb of Uxbridge to sexual assault and being drunk on an aircraft.

But the matter does not end there. Magistrates told her she could face up to 10 years in prison.

She has been bailed for sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court next month.

Magistrate’s courts in the UK can impose no more than a six-month custodial sentence or a GBP5000 fine (about AUD7500). The courts have the power to commit defendants to the Crown Court for sentencing if the magistrate feels that either the offence is so serious that it warrants greater punishment than the magistrate’s court has power to impose, or, in the case of a violent or sexual offence, that a custodial sentence longer than the court has power to impose is necessary to protect the public from serious harm.

Goldberg was returning from visiting relatives in South Africa when the alleged incident took place on a Virgin Airbus A340-600 in the early hours of the morning on 24 August.

She had allegedly made “strong sexual advances” to the victim beforehand.

The women’s lawyers previously tried to avoid the charge going to court by suggesting the sexual assault charge could be dealt with by a police caution.

Comments in the Daily Mail on the case included one from a reader who wrote: “As a former stewardess, all I can say is: The tables have turned”. Another reader wrote: “For heavens sake, she’s just a drunk. Doesn’t anyone have a sense of humour any more? Fine her a few grand for disrupting the flight and have done with it.”

Written by : Peter Needham

(Source: eglobaltravelmedia.com.au)

Airport Security Agents Find Sex Toy But Miss Handgun

noreply@blogger.com (Metro Hotels & MetroStar Hotel Accommodation) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 02:40:00 +0000

US airport security agents are better at finding sex toys in luggage than firearms, according to two recent cases.

A female passenger has reported that agents at Newark Airport apparently discovered her vibrating sex toy when they searched her checked luggage.

She learned this on arriving at her destination when she opened her bag and found a worker had written the cryptic message “Get your freak on girl” in black ink on the back of an official inspection notice printed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The passenger told US media outlet ABC News that she found the note “offensive” and had decided to file a complaint with the TSA.

“I hope they do see the complaint, they’ll look into it and remind their staff that going through people’s personal belongings is a responsibility that should be treated with some modicum of professionalism,” she said.

Vibrators are apparently easier to spot than handguns. A number of those have slipped through the system. TSA screeners missed a loaded gun inside a checked bag at Los Angeles International Airport this week.

Newspaper USA Today reported that a luggage ramp crew was loading an Alaska Airlines flight to Portland, Oregon, when – surprise! – a loaded .38-calibre pistol tumbled out of a duffel bag.

It turns out that the TSA screens for firearms in carry-on bags but is not responsible for screening for firearms in checked luggage – an apparent loophole.

Meanwhile, complaints about pilfering of valuable items in transit, like laptops and jewellery, are on the rise. Some 67,000 passengers have filed loss claims against the TSA since 2003. Some of the missing items may be handguns.

Written by : Peter Needham

(Source: egloblatravelmedia.com.au)