America's Most Popular Holiday Destination Is ... ?

America's Most Popular Holiday Destination Is ... ?

By Darren Booth | CNBC
Fliers this year can expect to pay about 8 percent more for holiday airfares and 6 percent more for New Year's airfares to top destinations than in 2011, according to a study released by Orbitz Monday. But some locations saw prices for flights and hotels drop.

The Orbitz  Holiday Travel Insider Index analyzed hotel and flight booking data from its website to rank the most popular holidays destinations for 2012. The study provides the top 10 holiday destinations for Christmas and New Year's, evaluating the average airfare and daily hotel rates in each of the most popular
markets.

The Best and Worst U.S. Cities for Travel Taxes

The Best and Worst U.S. Cities for Travel Taxes

How Much of Your Vacation Dollar Goes to Levies on Hotel Rooms, Rental Cars and Flights by Municipalities
By SCOTT MCCARTNEY

17, 2012
In Chicago, the tax on a case of Miller Lite beer runs about 9%. That pales in comparison with the 16.4% tax on a hotel room and the 23% tax on car rentals at O'Hare International Airport.

Travel is one of the most heavily taxed activities in the U.S., even though most cities and towns try hard to encourage visitors and tourism. Travelers don't vote where they travel, so cash-strapped cities and states continue to push fees and taxes onto hotel rooms, rental cars and airports. Cigarettes are about the only thing taxed more heavily among consumer purchases.

Is The Idea Of 'Gay Travel' Counterproductive?

Is The Idea Of 'Gay Travel' Counterproductive?

10/16/2012
Form huffingtonpost.com

During my recent visit to the all-but-destroyed island of Bali, a local friend convinced me to stay someplace I wouldn't have chosen on my own: Spartacvs, an all-male, clothing-optional resort.

Now, I love naked men as much as the next gay dude with a travel blog. But my sexuality is never among my first considerations when choosing a destination.

Ironically, since Bali's scenery and culture, which are always among my first considerations when choosing a destination, have been badly mutilated by decades of excessive tourism, Spartacvs became something of a refuge for me.

Traveling The World Brings Andrew McCarthy Home

Traveling The World Brings Andrew McCarthy Home

by NPR STAFF

October 14, 2012
He's an 80s teen heartthrob who turned to travel writing — and now soul searching. A few years ago, Andrew McCarthy decided to confront the fears that had followed him his whole life. As he prepared to marry the women he loved, he headed out around the world to find the part inside of himself that just kept saying "no" to everything good in his life.

Growth of business travel spending is slowing, study finds

Growth of business travel spending is slowing, study finds

Firms are expected to spend 2.6% more this year than in 2011, when spending climbed 7.2% compared with the previous year.

By Hugo Martín, Los Angeles Times
October 15, 2012
After a dramatic slump during the economic recession, spending on business travel in the U.S. climbed in 2010 and 2011.

But business travel spending is slowing down, perhaps a sign of anxiety in corporate America over the still-shaky economy, turmoil in Europe and slower growth in China, said a report by the Global Business Travel Assn., the trade group for the world's travel managers.

Travel industry must cater for modern 'jigsaw families', says expert, as single parents seek better deals on holidays

Travel industry must cater for modern 'jigsaw families', says expert, as single parents seek better deals on holidays

By TRAVELMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 04:05 EST, 11 October 2012
Holiday companies will increasingly be looking to attract single parent and multi-generational families, a trends forecaster has predicted.
William Higham, founder of consumer trends company Next Big Thing, said the rise of ‘jigsaw families’ meant that escaping for a break is no longer just about mum, dad and two children.

Alaska Airlines: Operations Returning to Normal

Alaska Airlines: Operations Returning to Normal

By DOUG ESSER Associated Press
October 8, 2012 (AP)
Alaska Airlines said flights were running close to normal late Monday after a fiber-optic outage shut down its ticketing system for more than four hours, causing the airline and its regional carrier to cancel 78 flights, affecting nearly 7,000 customers.

More than 130 other flights departed during the disruption, but some were delayed for as long as four hours, the airline said.

"Flights are running real close to schedule right now in all major cities. We expect tomorrow to be back on track completely," airline spokeswoman Marianne Lindsey said Monday evening.

Travel: Niagara Falls area, Canada gear up for big battle re-enactment

Travel: Niagara Falls area, Canada gear up for big battle re-enactment

Oct 5, 2012

'Battle of Queenston Heights,' an oil painting attributed to James B. Dennis, depicts a major clash between American and British forces on Oct. 13, 1812. The battle will be re-enacted next weekend. / Image courtesy RiverBrink Museum, Queenston, Ontar

by Warren Gerds
Green Bay Press-Gazette

FILED UNDER
Life & Style

Canadian citizen Des Corran is pumped about next weekend. He’s a re-enactor with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment*, and he’s participating in the re-creation of the Battle of Queenston Heights.

Two hundred years ago on Saturday, American and British soldiers and their support forces engaged in the first major battle of the War of 1812 at Queenston, Canada, which is a few miles north of Niagara Falls.

Some perspective: Green Bay is near one end of the Niagara Escarpment, and Niagara Falls is near the other end of the massive, looping geological formation.

As rock solid as the escarpment has been for eons, politics around the time of the War of 1812 included shifting sand.

Hawaiian tourism office launches promotional campaign in Taiwan

Hawaiian tourism office launches promotional campaign in Taiwan

Oct 04, 2012

The Hawaiian tourism office in Taiwan launched a promotional tour package on Wednesday in cooperation with local travel agencies to take advantage of a potential tourism boost from Taiwan’s inclusion in the US’ Visa-Waiver Program.

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau’s office in Taipei said the seven-day tour would depart from Taiwan on Nov. 1 — the day Taiwan’s US visa-waiver status takes effect — and will cost under NT$70,000 (US$2,380) per person.

Look for travel deals from Southwest Airlines soon

Look for travel deals from Southwest Airlines soon

If you have travel plans this fall or winter, especially between Thanksgiving or Christmas or right after New Year’s through mid-February, look for a big sale soon from Southwest Airlines.

Tom Parsons
Published: 04 October 2012

If you have travel plans this fall or winter, especially between Thanksgiving or Christmas or right after New Year’s through mid-February, look for a big sale soon from Southwest Airlines.
If it follows last year’s pattern, the sale will happen on a Tuesday and others will match — but it will only last a few days.
Travel demand drops dramatically during the two weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas and the week after New Year’s, around Jan. 8, through Feb. 14, which are some of the weakest travel periods of the year. This is because most people burn through their vacation time during the holidays.
Over the past few years, Southwest has cut those fares dramatically during its October sale because it’s the only way to fill up planes. For all of you who will be flying short-haul this holiday season, you will be paying much more than last year.

Travel guide: How to save on holiday season airfares

Travel guide: How to save on holiday season airfares

By Emily Brennan
10/03/2012

New York Times
With oil prices rising and flight capacities shrinking, airlines will be charging more for fares around the holidays. "For Thanksgiving, right now, fares are an average $24 higher than they were last year," said Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com. But, he added, there are ways to find deals and avoid undue expenses. Here's an edited chat with him:
What's the best way to save on airfare during the holidays?

Rooftop pool, wine bar: Hotels building in Africa

Rooftop pool, wine bar: Hotels building in Africa

By JASON STRAZIUSO

Associated Press / October 1, 2012

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The rooftop pool at Nairobi’s newest high-rise hotel juts out over the edge so swimmers can peer through the glass bottom eight stories down. A new champagne bar sits nearby. IPads with detailed wine descriptions serve as menus.

This is the face of new, high-end hotels in Africa. Nairobi has seen the construction of several upscale properties in recent years, as developers eye an increase in business travel to a continent with rising business prospects.

American Airlines inspecting jets for loose seats

American Airlines inspecting jets for loose seats

By DAVID KOENIG
AP Airlines Writer / October 1, 2012

DALLAS (AP) — The federal government is examining two separate incidents in which passenger seats came loose midflight on American Airlines planes in the last three days.

American said Monday that it would inspect those and six other Boeing 757 jets overnight.

The Federal Aviation Administration said both planes had recently undergone maintenance work that required seats to be removed and reinstalled. American spokeswoman Andrea Huguely said an initial review found that there could be a problem with the way the seats fit into tracks on the floor.

5 great travel deals in ‘next door’ cities

5 great travel deals in ‘next door’ cities

Save up to $71 a night by lodging outside a city you’re visiting
October 01, 2012|Charles Passy

For travelers headed to any number of major U.S. cities, it’s a tempting offer: a hotel room for up to 40% off the regular rate, no coupon or loyalty-club membership required.

The only catch? The room isn’t exactly in the heart of the city. In fact, it’s not in the city at all. Think Marietta, Ga., instead of Atlanta. Or Tacoma, Wash., instead of Seattle. Even New Jersey in place of New York.

New Travel Channel show goes behind the scenes at Miami International Airport

New Travel Channel show goes behind the scenes at Miami International Airport

By Associated Press, Published: September 30,2012

MIAMI — The Travel Channel has spent years telling stories about where people go, but now they’re doing a show on how people get there.

“Airport 24/7: Miami” offers viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to move more than 100,000 travelers each day through Miami International Airport.

“We host a Super Bowl every day at MIA,” security director Lauren Stover said, comparing the number of travelers to attendance at the championship football game.

With thousands of employees running what can easily be compared to a small city, the show follows workers as they deal with terrorist threats, intercept drug smugglers, attend to medical emergencies, repair aircraft and secure an Air Force One landing, all the while trying to get the passengers to their flights and the planes in the sky on time.

Fashion shows travel continents and eras in rich day at Paris Fashion week

Fashion shows travel continents and eras in rich day at Paris Fashion week

By Associated Press, Published: September 27,2012

PARIS — Paris fashion has no boundaries and no borders.

Thursday’s cultural melting pot of spring-summer 2013 shows was proof enough.
Curious designers, thirsty for new inspiration, ventured across the globe to bring new ideas and exotic cultures back to the catwalk.

Manish Arora traveled to northwestern India’s Rajasthan to bring Paris a vibrant infusion of traditional Indian dress and lavish regal jewelry.

Balmain’s creative nomad Olivier Rousteing, meanwhile, replaced last season’s muse — the Russian Empire’s Faberge Egg — to travel to the artisanal wicker-weavers of Cuba to give his summer collection a unique panache with its hints of in-vogue black.

Barbara Bui, who also opened with black, joined the expedition with geometric American Indian prints and tribal-looking dresses and foulards.

Taking another tack, Nina Ricci, forever a romantic Parisian gamine, traveled decades back in time to produce a nostalgic show with a modern twist.

Friday’s collections include Roland Mouret and Issey Miyake, as well as the debut ready-to-wear show for new Christian Dior designer Raf Simons.

TUI Travel sees encouraging winter holiday sales

TUI Travel sees encouraging winter holiday sales

LONDON | Thu Sep 27, 2012

(Reuters) - TUI Travel, the world's biggest tour operator, said it had sold more summer holidays this year than a year ago and that early sales of winter getaways had been encouraging.
The group, which owns Thomson and First Choice, on Thursday said it now had fewer holidays left to sell than at this stage last year. It said year-on-year summer holiday sales were up 6 percent in Northern Europe, 5 percent higher in central Europe and 2 percent up in Western Europe.

Global travel and tourism ’fairly optimistic’

Global travel and tourism ’fairly optimistic’

September 26 2012
The state of travel and tourism globally looks fairly “optimistic”‚ especially amidst the global economic slowdown‚ SA’s Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Wednesday.

The minister was speaking at The World Tourism Day business breakfast in East London‚ Eastern Cape.

According to Minister Van Schalkwyk‚ globally‚ tourism was a leading export sector‚ accounting for 30% of the world’s services exports‚ estimated at US$1-trillion a year.

“It now also constitutes 45% of the total services exports in developing countries and makes a significant source of export revenue for our country. In 2011‚ travel and tourism exports constituted 67.9% of all services exports from our country‚” the minister said.

Agencies optimistic for stronger profits in 2012 and 2013

Agencies optimistic for stronger profits in 2012 and 2013

Lina Rokou - 25 September 2012
For the first time in several years, the percentage of corporate agencies seeing a decrease in performance was less than leisure agencies. Whereas many corporate agencies reported increased performance for revenue and transactions, most failed to see an increase in their client list, suggesting that the revenue increase is not related to an increased clientele.

Alexandria, VA –In response to a recent survey, ASTA found that that most agencies saw stronger revenue and transaction volume in the first half of 2012 as compared to 2011. Further, the survey found agencies expect to see a stronger profit in 2012 and 2013, returning to pre-2009 profit levels.

Top 10 Biergartens around the world

Top 10 Biergartens around the world

Fri Sep 21, 2012

LONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) -
Bavaria's King Max Joseph I decreed in 1812 that beer could be
drunk where it was brewed and food could be served there too,
giving birth to the Biergarten (Beer garden) 200 years ago. This
weekend Oktoberfest begins in Munich, so to mark the
bicentennial of the Biergarten and the start of Bavaria's most
famous festival online travel consultants Cheapflights.com
(www.cheapflights.com) have created a list of the top 10 beer
gardens around the world.

1. Hirschgarten, Munich, Germany