Sri Lanka: IDIRAYA and CEAT Tyres Team up for Inclusion

Dr Ajith C S Perera has worked tirelessly to promote Inclusive Destination Development in Sri Lanka through his organization IDIRAYA. Below is an article from Lanka Business Online noting his new sponsor CEAT Tyres. Sri Lanka access for disabled campaign gets corporate support June 05, 2008 (LBO) - Only two percent of the public buildings in Sri Lanka have easy access to the disabled, CEAT Tyres which is backing an organization that is campaigning to improving access to public buildings by the disabled, has said. "Statistics show that less than two per cent of all buildings, private... Read more »

The API, the no frills carrier, the surcharge and the OTA

So last week we discovered that easyJet is – at last – appearing to be willing to work with OTAs on an official and direct connection into its fares and availability engine. This follows its tie-in with a number of technology companies and GDSs to enable third party bookings. This is, of course, the antithesis to Ryanair’s (current) policy. EasyJet’s move delights many (especially the no-frills carrier itself, and the tech firms getting the glory of having the coveted easyJet API), but is still raising concerns throughout the industry. The consternation raised by some – privately... Read more »

New York Times: Interview with Ctrip CFO Jane Jie Sun

Just spotted over at the New Times website - an interview with Ctrip CFO Jane Jie Sun. Another indication of Ctrip's strong desire to expand their customer base outside of China. Claims 50% of the online market and tha tthe online market is 1-2% of the overall travel market. In addition they have another 2-3 % of the overall travel market through call centres. Claim total Chinese travel market is $150billion (Chinese domestic plus foreign inbound). That would put the online travel market at $1.5-3 billion confirming other numbers we have seen. Read More →

Druskininkai, Lithuania

In recent years we’ve gotten used to the idea that former Soviet countries have taken off economically, but it’s hard to shake the stereotypical imagery of grey, dull concrete and cold, depressed societies. Then you wander into Druskininkai and you have to rethink those preconceptions. Druskininkai is a small town in southern Lithuania, only eight kilometres from the Belarusian border. Its great claim to fame is as a spa resort, popular with Czar Nicholas I in the 1830’s and keeping the tradition going through to WWII. The town is surrounded by forest and the beautiful wooden houses emerge... Read more »

Adding video to your site is a great idea

Hello Everyone, My name is Natalie Lucier. I am Todd’s daughter and I have learned a lot from him over the last few years. I recently got a job up in North Western Ontario and I am now creating web content for Superior North CFDC (not-for-profit organization) to help promote the North shore of lake Superior. Although, I just started this job in May, I have been traveling around the region and visiting and meeting with local business owners. I have been keeping my eye out for opportunities to get out in the wilderness and find great places to shoot some photos and video to promote the... Read more »

The ADA Amendments Act is Not the ADA Restoration Act

ADAWatch.org of the National Coalition for Disability Rights offers the following article on current US disability legislation. It reports on the fundamentally flawed legislation known as the ADA Amendments Act which accepts a scarcity model of social resources rather than affirmation of Universal Design and implicitly endorses the Medical Model of Disability by accepting a medically determined severity test. OPINION: As the ADA Amendments Act Passes In the House… The ADA Watch/NCDR Board and State Steering Committee has announced, in a show of unity with other disability organizations,... Read more »

Expedia buys into India with $17million investment in TravelGuru - is there a scary eLong parallel here

contentSutra has a story (in conjunction with VCCircle) that Expedia has spent $17mm to gain a stake in the number four indian player TravelGuru. Intial reports put the valuation at around $30 million giving Expedia a majority stake. An update in contentSutra puts the valuation at closer to $75mm - though the headline still claims that Expedia has a majority stake.I did a background piece on the India market a few months ago. In researching that piece it became clear that TravelGuru was very well funded - having raised as much as $25mm from Sequoia and Battery. First round was $10mm with just... Read more »

Review of citizenM hotel, Amsterdam airport - the good, the bad and the awful

Summary The Good - short walk from airport terminal, prices start at 69 euros a night with films and wi fi included in price, big comfy bed, spacious shower, one remote control for all room functions, plenty of natural light in bedroom, effective soundproofing, wonderful staff, welcoming, relaxed public areas, quick check in and out, 24 hour self service canteen. The Bad - heating difficult to control, not much table space, room floor wet after using wash basin and shower, difficult to get in and out of bed if 2 guests, all rooms have double beds. The Awful - toilet in the bedroom and the ugly... Read more »

Hotel Bayern Vital Reichenhall Juni 2008_0038 [Flickr]

GAP089 posted a photo:  Read More →

Surprising, after all these years……

of online travel, to find that Independent Hotels’ Online Presence Lagging according to this recent study by GuestCentric. The gap between the larger chains and smaller independent hotels is significant when it comes to an effective presence online and the use of web based marketing and distribution tools. The web was supposed to have leveled the playing field for large and small players but it seems that hasn’t entirely happened in the accommodation sector yet, although according to the latest PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends Survey Hotel stays were the most popular component with U.S.... Read more »

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