Category: Trip Planner

Qatar to host World Travel Awards 2011 Grand Final

World Travel Awards (WTA), the “Oscars of the travel industry”, has announced it will host its 2011 Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Doha, Qatar on 11th December 2011.

The glittering ceremony will be staged at W Doha Hotel & Residences and will attract the most important decision-makers in global travel and tourism.

The evening marks the culmination of a year-long search for the very best travel and tourism brands in the world, and will feature the winners from WTA’s regional heats competing head to head.

WTA’s 2011 regional heats included Middle East Ceremony (Dubai, UAE), Europe Ceremony (Antalya, Turkey), Africa & Indian Ocean Ceremony (Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt), Asia & Australasia (Bangkok, Thailand), and Caribbean & The Americas (Montego Bay, Jamaica).

After a rigorous selection procedure, Qatar was chosen as the host of WTA’s 2011 Grand Final Gala Ceremony, reflecting the Arabian nation’s rapid emergence as a tourism hotspot, and sport tourism in particular.

W Doha Hotel & Residences exemplifies Qatar’s leading edge approach to design and luxury lifestyle. Guests can en Full article here…

Tags: 2011 Grand, 2011 Grand Final, Final, Grand Final

North American Leisure Travel Edges Ahead of Global Market

North American leisure travel outpaced global travel bookings in September by 1.4%, according to data released today by Pegasus Solutions. Overall, the leisure market saw leisure bookings gain momentum worldwide from the +4.2% increase seen in August, evidencing a surge in off-peak travel.

In the midst of the Euro debt crisis, Europe’s leisure reservations actually declined slightly by -0.5% compared to September 2010. Globally, average daily rates (ADR) for leisure bookings increased by +3.0% over prior year, with North America jumping +5.0%, ahead of the +3.8% year-to-date pace. O

Full article here…

Tags: American Leisure, American Leisure Travel, Leisure Travel, Market

Picture Postcards: Graffiti in France

Todays Picture Postcard was taken by our contributor, DeeBee, who mentions on her blog that,

In the last two decades, graffiti have started to be recognised as a “proper” form of art and we should more refer to it as Street Art then Graffiti.

Tags: Graffiti, Graffiti France

Lifestyles of Adventurous Opportunists

Adventurous Opportunist aka Workamper. 

Workamping:  Working or volunteering at a variety of jobs across the United States and Canada while living part or full time in a recreational vehicle; the ability to “enjoy America, one job at a time;” also, small business owners or independent contractors who conduct their business out of a recreational vehicle.

Most people aren’t familiar with the word “workamping” although it was coined in 1987 by Workamper News, Inc., which began as a newsletter out of Heber Springs, Arkansas.  The business has greatly expanded yet still operates out of Heber Springs. 

When people first hear about Workamping opportunities, they often want to know “how do I find out more; or, ask “how do I get started?” 

A great way for the adventurous opportunist or Workamper wannabe is to attend a Workamper Rendezvous. The next Rendezvous

Full article here…

UK TOURISM SWELLS IN JULY THANKS TO THE CHINESE

In spite of riots, problems with the Euro, the effects of the recession and a global trend to take holidays in lesser-known places, the UK has enjoyed a boost this year.

The £115 billion industry of tourism in the UK has taken a few body blows in recent times. Economic disaster in Europe coupled with political instability in the UK itself has provided great challenges for the British to recover from.

However, there is a cause for optimism as the amount of visitors has risen by 2% and revenue was up 4% in July this year.

Full article here…