Once every 10 or 15 years

Much of the UK is under snow and has been for the last couple of weeks, which has been a real treat for the children and, after the first couple of days, a real problem for everyone else as the transport system grinded to a stop.

Luckily, during this time, we had the opportunity to visit a client in Scotland whereupon we were give the chance to indulge in a little 'curling'.

Our curling took place on Loch Kilconquhar, an event that only takes place when the Loch is completely frozen over an occassion that happens only every 10 or 15 years!

Curling isn't really the most sophisticated of games, although the Olympic teams would probably no doubt disagree with that. It's played by two teams of four players each on a rectangular sheet of carefully prepared ice. Teams take turns sliding heavy, polished stones down the ice towards the target (called the house). Two sweepers with brooms accompany each rock and use timing equipment and their best judgment, along with direction from their teammates, to help direct the stones to their resting place.

Stones and brooms and ice and uncanny level of skill required to slide your stone onto the target. Needless to say we were put to shame by the locals whose 'broom action' was far superior to ours!

Top 10 Destinations for 2010

And a Happy 2010 to everyone. As we launch ourselves into a new year, it seems you can't turn without another top ten predictions for the new year! There are quite a few to choose from but we prefer the latest from Bristish Airways since it seems to be nearer the mark (and not just a self-promoting PR exercise, although it still is..)

Here's British Airways top ten destinations for 2010 (and our comments)


1. Cape Town, South Africa
Nearly half a million football supporters are expected to visit South Africa during the FIFA World Cup in June. With Cape Town home to stunning beaches, mountains, vineyards and the Cape Town Stadium, its sure to be a popular base for fans. Cape Town has always beena popular long haul destination and despite the fact that the World Cup takes place in winter we expect many people will beheading to SA this summer.

2. Istanbul, Turkey
As European Capital of Culture for 2010, Istanbul is Europes hotspot in the New Year. Offering great value for money and a huge variety of things to see and do - from beaches and bazaars to the breathtaking Bosphorus. And it's outside the Euro-zone for British holidaymakers that are still struggling with a 1:1 exchange rate.

3. Las Vegas, USA
BA has just lauched a new route to Las Vegas, so this is the one destination we don't agree with!

4. Vancouver, Canada
Already a must-go destination for skiing and snowboarding, its no surprise that Canada will play host to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in February and March. North American skiing will benefit as much from the GBP:USD:EURO relationship as much as the fact that the Olympic games are in Canada!

5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Punta Cana is one of the emerging destinations for holidaymakers in the New Year, with tour operators and industry experts citing local beaches as the most stunning in the Caribbean.

6. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Most of Croatia is brilliant in fact and the cluster of private islands has made this a favourite destination for those seeking a little solitude in the Med. We woudl also add Montenegro, Serbia and Albania!!

7. New York, USA
Of course

8. Stockholm, Sweden
Regularly voted one of the best cities in the world to live in, Stockholm has become the model city for others to follow Europes epicenter of biodiversity and ecology will celebrate its official title of European Green Capital in 2010, making it a popular choice for eco-tourists. We would also add Oslo, one of our favourite cities.

9. The Maldives
Set in the Indian Ocean, this tropical paradise will be one of the hottest destinations for holidaymakers and honeymooners in 2010. Collections of coral reefs boast unrivalled facilities for diving, while the picture postcard beaches offer chill-out bliss to the maximum. Not so sure about this: the Maldives are beautiful but in serious danger and more tourism has to be managed carefully!

10. Delhi, India
Thanks to the growing trend for tiger safari, nearby destinations Bandhavgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Kanha National Park provide another reason to get off the beaten track and visit Delhi in 2010. Not sure what BA mean by 'off the beaten track' still, we're very please they've included Dehli in their list!

Consumer Trends for 2010

A Mintel report predicts a new set of trends for 2010 with consumers balancing their spending plans for 2010. The research company forecasts that “resilience” will define consumer behaviour, as people’s strengthened resolve and changed behaviours shape new lifestyles due to their experience of recession in 2009.

Balanced consumption has replaced conspicuous consumption.

1. Resilience

Mintel expects consumers to demonstrate resilience—an ability to recover from and adjust to any misfortune or change brought on by the recession.

People will face next year with better attitudes and strengthened resolve, learning new skills, looking to online educational tools to develop professional and social skills.

Businesses that harness consumers’ new resilient, education-driven mentality will benefit next year.

2. Reviewing and re-evaluating

The past year gave consumers cause to re-evaluate every aspect of their lives, looking for value and savings and in 2010, expect shoppers to keep reviewing as they hunt out the best deals and realise where they can get by on less.

Value initiatives are important and they’ll remain so. However, consumers will purchase more expensive products if they are convinced of the products’ value.

Brands that engage consumers effectively stand to be successful next year despite price barriers.

3. Prove it – accountability

Because consumer confidence worldwide took a hit this year, 2010 will see increased demand for proof and results.

People are tracking more areas of their lives through online forums, comparison sites and micro-blogging sites, so transparency is no longer a differentiator for brands; it is a requirement.

We’ve become a society of doubters, sceptical of nutrition claims, the motives of “green” companies, and the competitiveness of bank rates.

A company’s need for accountability is nothing new, but the quantity of information available today adds to the challenge.

4. Escapism

The past year has meant a huge amount of economising and scaling back on previously normal treats and experiences.

While consumers have become accustomed to ‘staycations’, small indulgences and cooking at home, Mintel predicts they’ll start occasionally breaking free from the “tyranny of value” in 2010.

Escapism will resonate both in and outside the home as consumers splurge on big purchases.

Savvy brands are already capitalising on people’s desire to escape by offering new experiences like 3-D media and audio literature.

5. Media evolution

Micro-blogging, social networking and interactive media have exploded into consumers’ lives, and as confidence in usage grows, people will incorporate new media forms more into their daily lives.

Nine in 10 adults in the UK have a computer in their home and in the US, four in 10 Americans have at least one social networking profile.

As people use new media to change and simplify daily tasks, they’ll question the nature of authority and effective use of advertising.

Companies must work harder next year to truly engage, attract and interact with consumers, as media quickly evolves.

6. Ethical responsibility

In 2010, it’ll be even more important to coax consumers out of their spending slumber and wean retailers off perpetual discounting.

Ethics will play a large part in rebuilding brands. Environmental and ethical issues still attract attention: nearly half of UK adults view them as important and 90% of Americans buy green products at least sometimes.

For businesses to rebuild brands through ethical efforts, they’ll need to connect with consumers, giving them an emotional reason to buy. As consumers demand more from the companies they do business with, they’ll want ethical responsibility to be a chief concern, creating more scrutiny on ethical claims than ever before.

7. Stability

The past year left its mark: consumers are shying away from the spending binges of the past few decades and finding that moderation and preparation are possibilities.

Mintel predicts 2010 will be a year for increasingly seeking balance and readjusting to the “New Economy.”

As people accept the economy as it is now and embark on more balanced spending, they will also stabilise other areas of their lives: food, diet, beauty.

Brands can capitalise by giving consumers multiple product options at different price and benefit levels.


We are looking forward to the challenges already!!

Merry Christmas!

New Conference for the newest state

At the recent World Travel Market in London we had the pleasure of meeting Bujar Kuci, the Director of the Ministry of Trade & Industry for the Republic of Kosovo and we were impressed by his visions for the tourism future of Europe's newest state.

We now read that the American Tourism Society (ATS),is going to hold its Fall 2010 Conference in Pristina, Kosovo’s capital, from October 25-27, 2010. This event will be the first-ever tourism conference to be held in the newborn country.

Phil Otterson, President of the ATS says “Kosovo is a perfect example of what ATS’s mission is about, assisting transformational destinations with tourism marketing skills, training through the onsite ATS tourism college program, and educating ATS members about the newest destinations."

Whilst not without its problems, there is much potential in Kosovo. In the same way as Serbia has repositioned itself after the war, there is much to be done but the rewards are numerous.

We send our best wishes to Kosovo and, by the way, if there's anything we can do to help....

The American Tourism Society (ATS) was established in 1989 by a group of US tourism industry executives to provide exclusive access, business networking, and promotion for transformational destinations. It is a nonprofit, nonpolitical travel industry organization whose membership includes experienced tour operators, destination tourist offices, hotels, airlines, and other travel industry professionals. Collectively, ATS members generate over US$5 billion in sales involving three million North American travelers. ATS holds an Annual Fall Conference and a Tourism College hosted by a different member destination each year

Green Circuit Green Light

There's a nice idea from Raj Gyawali of Socialtours.com in Nepal who has put together a consortium of Specialist TourOperators under the banner 'The Green Circuit'. His partners are are Socialtours.com in Nepal, Help Tourism in NorthEastern India, Grass Routes in Orissa, East India, The Blue Yonder in Kerala and Ecosphere in Spiti Valley, NorthernIndia. Each tour operator, is an expert in their respective region and specialise in deep rooted community based responsible tourism initiatives.

This is unusual in itself since these operators would normally be competing against each other to get business and here they are working in unison. Each tour operator is a committed expert in their chosen field and offer unique tourism product specific to local environmental and cultural conditions

With the GreenCircuit you have a unique collective of operators dedicated to ethical and sustainable tourism at a grassroots level. The accountability is much higher because they work in the very same communities they conduct their tours.

The GreenCircuit is an eco-tourism loop that circles the Indian subcontinent. Made up of individual tours with a definitive focus on natural and cultural heritage; each tour (handled on the ground through respective operators) links together to explore the subcontinent's astounding diversity.

There are many benefits here. A lot of theory on responsible tourism already exists, but actual documented accounts and practical tips from the grassroots is rare, at least as far as the Indian Sub-continent is concerned. While each operator will have indigenous solutions for their respective areas, there is always scope for different perspectives to shed light on common problems. Here there can be dialogue between operators traditionally isolated by geographic distance and a conscious decision to focus efforts on the field. It provides a perfect platform to share experiences, develop ideas and grow collectively.

The right way is the wrong way

An interesting piece from the USA where a right-wing think tank that is influential with the state of Utah's Republican-controlled Legislature wants to abolish the Utah Office of Tourism.

This recommendation comes from the conservative Sutherland Institute as the state faces an estimated $850 million budget shortfall and is a rebuke of the policies put in place by former Gov. Jon Huntsman.

Huntsman, a moderate who is now the U.S. ambassador to China, made developing and promoting tourism in the state one of his economic development priorities. He increased the tourism department's annual advertising budget from $900,000 (roughly Vail, Colo.'s summer ad budget) to about $10 million in 2005. He also pushed through liquor law reforms to make the state more appealing to tourists that the Sutherland Institute opposed, saying it compromised state values for the sake of making a dollar.

In a position paper the think tank is circulating to state lawmakers, the institute says the growth in tourism spending is a waste because air travel hasn't grown enough and visitation to state and national parks has declined from their peak in the late 1990s. The institute contends money could be better spent elsewhere.

"The point is, we're not getting a great return on our dollars that we're spending," Sutherland Institute Policy Manager Derek Monson said. He says he is unaware of the state's return on investment figures "When you think about it, the reason people come to Utah is because of the things there are to see here in Utah, not because the government spends a lot of money promoting tourism," Monson said, noting that he didn't have anything beyond anecdotes to base that on.

This is staggering stupidity. In fact, tourism travel and spending have reached record levels since the infusion of funding came in 2005. Visits increased from 17.5 million in 2004 to 20.4 million in 2008 as spending by tourists increased from $5.6 billion to $7.1 billion.

Tourism officials also note that state and local governments have received more than $12 in tax revenue for every $1 spent on advertising.

"The tourism industry is one of the few agencies in this state that is really making a buck to put back in the general fund to pay for those things," Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty said. "Now is absolutely not the time to scale back. ... This is a cash cow in Utah. Whether its skiing or hiking in Moab and St. George and our national parks, it makes a whole lot of sense to continue the support."

The Governor's Office of Planning and Budget estimates that tourism spending reduced the tax burden on each Utah household in 2008 by about $708.

This is narrow minded thinking that truely fails to appeciate the long-term economic development benefit that tourism can bring to regions, states or economies.

Tourism for Tomorrow

The World Traveland Tourism Council is looking for finalists for their 'The Tourism for Tomorrow' awards, aimed at recognizing best practice in sustainable tourism within the travel and tourism industry worldwide. Given the concern about natural and cultural resources, the awards provide the WTTC with the opportunity of promoting and partnering with the industry leaders in responsible tourism, highlighting the prime examples of best practice.

The awards are determined in 4 categories:

DESTINATION STEWARDSHIP AWARD:

This award goes to a destination – country, region, state, or town – which comprises a network of tourism enterprises and organizations that show dedication to, and success in, maintaining a program of sustainable tourism management at the destination level, incorporating social, cultural, environmental, and economic aspects, as well as multi-stakeholder engagement.

CONSERVATION AWARD:

Open to any tourism business, organization, or attraction, including lodges, hotels, or tour operators, able to demonstrate that their tourism development and operations have made a tangible contribution to the conservation of natural heritage.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT AWARD:

This award is for a tourism initiative that has effectively demonstrated direct benefits to local people, including capacity building, the transfer of industry skills, and support for community development.

GLOBAL TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD:

Open to any large company from any sector of travel and tourism – cruise lines, hotel groups, airlines, tour operators, etc. – with at least 200 full-time employees and operating in more than one country or in more than one destination in a single country, this award recognizes best practices in sustainable tourism at a large company level.

An independent panel of judges, including some of the world's most authoritative experts of sustainable development (and a stringent application process involving on-site verification visits by these experts) has earned the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards growing levels of respect among key audiences - the industry, governments, and the international media.

The winners and finalists are honored at a special ceremony during the Global Travel & Tourism Summit held from May 25-27, 2010 in Beijing, China.

For more information about the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and how to apply check out the website: www.tourismfortomorrow.com