Days after the failure of XL Holidays it has emerged that London-based K&S Travel has also gone into administration, which could affect over 500 people.
The tour operator, which specialises in Turkish travel, ceased trading on September 14th with 550 Holidaymakers mainly in the resort of Bodrum, according to a Telegraph report.
It is understood that the Civil Aviation Authority stated that it would charter an aircraft to fly stranded customers back to the UK.
The news provider also reports that boss of Virgin Airlines Sir Richard Branson called for special regulations to be introduced in order that if another airline is to go under, it will be able to continue flying to get passengers home.
Beleaguered Italian flag carrier Alitalia may have potentially found a saviour in the form of a rescue package that relies on two billion euros (£1.6 billion) of tax payers' money.
The country's main trade unions are reportedly on the verge of signing the agreement that would save around 20,000 jobs.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Press Release: MANAGING THE IMPACT OF THE CARIBBEAN SEX TRADE ON TOURISM
A newly formed NGO, Sex Trade Impact (STI) is calling on policy and decision makers in tourism sectors across the Caribbean to take a closer look at the phenomenal growth and size of the local, regional and international sex trade and the impact it has on the industry.
STI appears merely as a thought provoking initiative from the outset, but a closer look at its objectives brings to light the importance and need for public and private sector organizations to take steps to the minimize the impact of the global sex trade on their tourism economies.
Headed by its founder and president Charles Lewis, STI is based in Barbados. The organization was launched to offer facilitation, training and consultancy services to government agencies and private sector organizations to deal with issues stemming from the Sex Trade.
The organization's first initiative is to host a series of tourism seminars around the region, commencing with its October 15 debut in Barbados, which will feature speakers from numerous areas of interest, relevant to the cause of protecting investment from the negative impact of the Sex Trade.
These seminars are geared toward educating tourism officials, owners, directors and managers on the challenges brought about by an ever growing Global Sex Trade, magnified by the vulnerability of the region to this age old practice.
Lewis states "Regional policy and decision makers in all public and private sector organizations can no longer trivialize the impact of the sex trade. The lure of the rich lifestyle and making 'Big Money' is causing a dramatic increase in the number of people in the Caribbean becoming sex workers.
"The success of our tourism industry is also boosting the migration of foreign sex workers to our shores, in search of wealthy clients."
Lewis further states that, "In acknowledging their dependency on tourism, government officials, owners and managers can no longer pretend that the sex trade issues do not affect their establishments and the industry on the whole."
With 25 years in the Sex Industry under his belt, Lewis has for many years identified many of the problems which are usually overlooked or swept under the carpet. Left unmonitored these issues will continue to undermine years of tourism development.
The work of STI does not stop at tourism. The NGO is also focusing on the health issues and joins the fight against the spread of AIDS/HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
They are also developing initiatives to promote the destigmatization of sex workers and the protection of their human rights.
Lewis continues, "One of the aims of STI is to become an effective medium through which government agencies and Sex Workers in the Caribbean can communicate to voice their concerns and resolve issues.
More information on the objectives of Sex Trade Impact can be found on their website. www.sextradeimpact.com
STI appears merely as a thought provoking initiative from the outset, but a closer look at its objectives brings to light the importance and need for public and private sector organizations to take steps to the minimize the impact of the global sex trade on their tourism economies.
Headed by its founder and president Charles Lewis, STI is based in Barbados. The organization was launched to offer facilitation, training and consultancy services to government agencies and private sector organizations to deal with issues stemming from the Sex Trade.
The organization's first initiative is to host a series of tourism seminars around the region, commencing with its October 15 debut in Barbados, which will feature speakers from numerous areas of interest, relevant to the cause of protecting investment from the negative impact of the Sex Trade.
These seminars are geared toward educating tourism officials, owners, directors and managers on the challenges brought about by an ever growing Global Sex Trade, magnified by the vulnerability of the region to this age old practice.
Lewis states "Regional policy and decision makers in all public and private sector organizations can no longer trivialize the impact of the sex trade. The lure of the rich lifestyle and making 'Big Money' is causing a dramatic increase in the number of people in the Caribbean becoming sex workers.
"The success of our tourism industry is also boosting the migration of foreign sex workers to our shores, in search of wealthy clients."
Lewis further states that, "In acknowledging their dependency on tourism, government officials, owners and managers can no longer pretend that the sex trade issues do not affect their establishments and the industry on the whole."
With 25 years in the Sex Industry under his belt, Lewis has for many years identified many of the problems which are usually overlooked or swept under the carpet. Left unmonitored these issues will continue to undermine years of tourism development.
The work of STI does not stop at tourism. The NGO is also focusing on the health issues and joins the fight against the spread of AIDS/HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
They are also developing initiatives to promote the destigmatization of sex workers and the protection of their human rights.
Lewis continues, "One of the aims of STI is to become an effective medium through which government agencies and Sex Workers in the Caribbean can communicate to voice their concerns and resolve issues.
More information on the objectives of Sex Trade Impact can be found on their website. www.sextradeimpact.com
RIP EXCEL...
I've just downloaded a song to listen to while I'm writing this post... Can you guess what it is?
It's Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust". It's a classic and appropriately accurate in these times. And no I'm not talking about the Lehman Brothers crisis, even though that's what my trusted advisor (ever since the Annual Caribbean Tourism Summit) Dr. Alan Greenspan is talking about. But let me get back on track here, we're talking about tourism on this blog, and I'm talking about Excel Airways in this particular post.
Of course this is not even mildly a joke, especially for the 85,000 passengers still on holiday or the 240,000 more that have either used Excel or one of its various subsidiaries to book a holiday. It's also a potentially dire situation for the 1,700 staff that have lost their jobs. But let's talk about us right now, it's a particularly serious situation for the Caribbean market. Excel's charter flights were a low cost alternative to reaching the West Indies. So I'm going to state the obvious. The closure of such an airline will result in less individuals from the UK (one of our larger markets) visiting the British West Indies. So what happened? Here's what their website has to say:
"On 12 September 2008, Alastair Beveridge, Nick Cropper, Simon Appell and Stuart Mackellar were appointed as Joint Administrators of the Companies by the Court. The Companies entered into Administration having suffered as a result of volatile fuel prices, the economic downturn, and were unable to obtain further funding. The Joint Administrators cannot continue trading the business and therefore all flights operated by the Companies have been immediately cancelled and the aircraft grounded. Going forward, the Joint Administrators are unlikely to be able to trade the business or operate the aircraft. All passengers who have yet to commence their travel should make alternative arrangements."
I was fortunate enough to attend a family function the other evening to meet family members who were visiting from the England and guess which airline they used? That's right, Excel Airways. As of Friday, they weren't too sure how and when they would return to the UK, but I understand that their ticket will be honoured and all stranded passengers are returning home with Virgin Airways - Richard Branson saves the day! However, this wasn't the most outrageous story that I had heard:
"On Thursday night XL Airways flight JN1121 pushed back from the terminal at Sanford International, the Orlando airport that is the gateway to Florida for thousands of British holidaymakers every year. For the 266 passengers on board it was the end of a late summer break - two weeks spent basking on the beach or squealing with delight on the rides at Disneyland. The thrills weren’t over just yet. As the aircraft prepared to taxi, two police cars raced up, lights flashing. The plane stopped, then eased back to its stand. The passengers were told to get off. 'We went backwards about 150 feet, stopped and got a message from the captain that there had been a bit of a problem,' one passenger told a local television news crew. What the holidaymakers didn’t know was that XL Leisure Group, the airline’s owner, had run out of money. As they kicked their heels in the terminal, a High Court judge was, in the early hours of the morning UK time, approving the appointment of an administrator for the company. XL executives had tried to time the appointment so its planes would be airborne and heading home before they were seized by creditors. Unfortunately, according to sources at Gatwick, cabin crew on the Florida flight got wind of the impending collapse and inadvertently mentioned it to airport staff. When the whispers percolated up to airport managers they were alarmed. XL owed them money for handling fees. Take-off was stopped and the plane impounded". Ouch!
There's only one way to end a story such as this. I'm sorry Excel. Times are tough and you are the weakest link - goodbye!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Tides coming to the Caribbean
The Tides, an elite brand with resorts in the world’s most desirable locations, has announced plans to reposition The Jalousie Plantation in St Lucia.
Kor Hotel Group, operator of The Tides brand, has entered into an agreement with property owner Roger Myers to manage, rebrand and reopen the resort as The Tides Sugar Beach in 2010.
“We are very excited to embark on this project in St Lucia, which will apply our unique blend of high design and intuitive service to the exceptional work already achieved there,” said Kor Hotel Group President, Nicholas Clayton.
Located in the “Valley of the Pitons,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the future Tides will have a spectacular setting, with 192 acres of rainforest and white-sand beaches. Guests at The Tides will be enveloped in views of the two majestic pitons (mountain-like formations) and the Caribbean Sea beyond. Upon opening, the resort will offer 150 sumptuous villas and guestrooms with private pools, four restaurants, an array of recreational activities, and amenities including a beach lounge, a comprehensive fitness center and a world-class spa.
Plans include a full closure of the resort in early summer 2009, followed by an extensive US$100M renovation, as Kor prepares to reposition the resort with a complete redesign, offering a chic fusion of European, Asian, African and Caribbean influences, embracing the style and spirit of its island setting.
The newest addition to The Tides collection will feature the brand’s distinctive offerings, including a prime coastal setting, provocative design, intuitive service and an array of refined and modern amenities designed for the spirited traveler. Personal Assistants, a Tides feature, will anticipate guest needs and assist them in accessing and enjoying the transformational experiences found on St Lucia.
There will be locally grown and influenced cuisine and a holistic wellness program will offer ocean-inspired dishes and sustainable, marine-based spa products and treatments.
With locations on some of the most unique and awe-inspiring beaches in the world, The Tides Sugar Beach in St Lucia is set to become the brand’s first Caribbean offering. Sister properties include The Tides Riviera Maya at Playa Xcalacoco on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, The Tides Zihuatanejo on Playa la Ropa, on the Mexican Riviera, and The Tides South Beach in Florida.
Kor Hotel Group, operator of The Tides brand, has entered into an agreement with property owner Roger Myers to manage, rebrand and reopen the resort as The Tides Sugar Beach in 2010.
“We are very excited to embark on this project in St Lucia, which will apply our unique blend of high design and intuitive service to the exceptional work already achieved there,” said Kor Hotel Group President, Nicholas Clayton.
Located in the “Valley of the Pitons,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the future Tides will have a spectacular setting, with 192 acres of rainforest and white-sand beaches. Guests at The Tides will be enveloped in views of the two majestic pitons (mountain-like formations) and the Caribbean Sea beyond. Upon opening, the resort will offer 150 sumptuous villas and guestrooms with private pools, four restaurants, an array of recreational activities, and amenities including a beach lounge, a comprehensive fitness center and a world-class spa.
Plans include a full closure of the resort in early summer 2009, followed by an extensive US$100M renovation, as Kor prepares to reposition the resort with a complete redesign, offering a chic fusion of European, Asian, African and Caribbean influences, embracing the style and spirit of its island setting.
The newest addition to The Tides collection will feature the brand’s distinctive offerings, including a prime coastal setting, provocative design, intuitive service and an array of refined and modern amenities designed for the spirited traveler. Personal Assistants, a Tides feature, will anticipate guest needs and assist them in accessing and enjoying the transformational experiences found on St Lucia.
There will be locally grown and influenced cuisine and a holistic wellness program will offer ocean-inspired dishes and sustainable, marine-based spa products and treatments.
With locations on some of the most unique and awe-inspiring beaches in the world, The Tides Sugar Beach in St Lucia is set to become the brand’s first Caribbean offering. Sister properties include The Tides Riviera Maya at Playa Xcalacoco on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, The Tides Zihuatanejo on Playa la Ropa, on the Mexican Riviera, and The Tides South Beach in Florida.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Stay to Get Away
Trinidad is truly a blessed nation.
If you’ve ever visited Trinidad, or even know a Trinidadian, you’ve probably heard the saying “God is a Trini”. And its true God really must be a Trinidadian because there is so much enjoyment to be had here in our little twin island nation. Why? Because there is never a dull moment here in Trinidad. Never, never, never. There is ALWAYS some sort of “bacchanal” going on, whether it’s the next-door neighbour’s cousin’s ex-boyfriend or another Manning/Panday saga. Big, small or usually both - It doesn’t matter. Trinis love a little drama (I’m convinced this is why The Young and the Restless is so popular here, but that’s beside the point). In fact, when Shakespeare said, “all the world is a stage” I think he was talking about Port-of-Spain on any given day. There is always something happening in Trinidad and that’s because Trinidad is one of the most diverse, chaotic and vibrant societies that you’ll ever encounter! We’re a mix of well…everything! We’re a nation of a French and British plantocracy, black slaves and Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, and “poor white” indentured labourers. Oh, and I nearly forgot, the indigenous Carib populations and the Syrian immigrants. Phew! It’s a mouthful and so are we.
We are a microcosm of the world’s population in one tiny island. Some would say that this is a recipe for disaster, but I think time has proven that this is a magical combination. Of course I have a theory on why it works and what makes us so theatrical. Long ago when we were all brought to this special place we bonded over the same thing that continues to hold us together to this day – Carnival. I think enough has been written about Carnival to revisit this topic at length. Of course, it is a culturally and visually beautiful festival for many reasons, the costumes, the Mas and it doesn’t hurt that Trinidad has some of the most gorgeous people in the world… However, it has to be mentioned as it is a crucial, if not the most crucial aspect of our society, because of what Carnival does to us as a people - it joins us in harmony. Not to be a little rude and to quote Jeremy Taylor, but I suppose you could liken Carnival to “make up” sex. We fight and toil all year long and arguably still put on a bit of a show, but at Carnival time none of it matters anymore, as we’re all joyous and “in love” again.
Well that is for everyone except me. Call it the “British-ness” in me, but Carnival hurts my feet and I don’t have the stamina for more than one day (to the genuine dismay of some of my friends). My ideal would be one day of fun and one day of quiet. I like to escape from it all if you will. And this is where I can talk about what I really love about Trinidad – it’s natural diversity – because I can ”escape” if I want to. It’s almost as if our diversity permeates from our people to the earth below us. We have everything. We have the chaos, but we also have quiet and peace in our natural surroundings – beaches, rainforests, green mountains, flat savannah lands, you name it, we have it! I will never understand why more schools don’t offer field trips to the Asa Wright Nature Centre as it is certainly a natural and educational resource, but again, that’s beside the point. Trinidadians can escape to the quiet of the countryside if they so choose and because it’s such a small space, I promise you the drive won’t be more than one hour (OK, maybe two) no matter where you go.
Trinidad can be a country of balance, if only Trinidadians knew where to look. We have the potential to be a joyous society. We, as a people will never stop offering up our own individual and collective excitement, and our natural environment will never stop cooling us down, whether it be in the form of a light breeze, a heavy torrential downfall or even the shade from a coconut tree…this is the Caribbean after all. We should appreciate that we live in paradise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
