NEW TRENDS: TRAVEL 2012

Planning a trip in 2012, here are the luxury travel trends right now:

1. Luxurious Resorts in Undiscovered Locales
Undiscovered locations have always been a trend when it comes to luxury travel. Places such as South America, Middle East, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia come to mind.

Other interesting locations include: Eastern Europe (Albania and Serbia), Greenland, Uzbekistan, Kuwait and Qatar.

2. Authentic and Novel Experiences
Planned tours and guided trips are out. Luxury travelers are looking for novel experiences now. No big tours. The personal tour expert guides, one-on-one trips, specially designed personal development, or spiritual growth trips are all gaining popularity.

3. Off-Season Travel
Another luxury trend is traveling at times when no one else is.

4. Vow "Renewals"
Baby boomers are now celebrating big wedding anniversaries and they’re making lavish trips to celebrate. The hot new places now for vow renewals are Hindu Temples in India or Indonesia, also Buddhist Temples in East Asian destinations. Couples are traveling to unique and luxurious locals to renew their vows.

Popular vow renewal journeys include beachside ceremonies in Hawaii, Vietnam, or Thailand.

LUXURY TRAVEL TRENDS: 2012

Here are the major luxury travel trends shaping up for the new year:


1. Luxurious Resorts in Undiscovered Locales

Undiscovered locations has always been a trend when it comes to luxury travel. This year globe trotters are looking discover places in South America, Eastern Europe, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Staying at luxurious hotels in places that aren’t so popular means you can enjoy comfort and enjoyment while still experiencing an authentic, unique escape. Some other ideas for ‘out-of-the-box’ locations include: Eastern Europe (Albania and Serbia), Greenland, Uzbekistan, Kuwait and Qatar.

2. Authentic and Novel Experiences

Planned tours and guided trips are out. Luxury travelers are looking for novel experiences now. Things like personal expert guides, one-on-one trips, or specially designed personal development or spiritual growth trips are all gaining popularity.

3. Off-Season Travel

Another luxury trend is traveling at times when no one else is. This reduces waiting times at popular attractions and gives you time to enjoy the local vibe without the rush of tourists.

4. Vow Renewals

Baby boomers are now celebrating big wedding anniversaries, and they’re making lavish trips to celebrate. Couples are traveling to unique and luxurious locals to renew their vows. Popular vow renewal journeys include: Hindu temples in India or Indonesia, A Buddhist temple in an East Asian destination, Beachside ceremonies in Hawaii, Vietnam, Thailand, or South America.

STUDY: JET LAG CAUSES MEMORY & LEARNING PROBLEMS

Here is some useful information if you’re a frequent traveler. We now know that jet lag causes memory and learning problems and not only for the next day but for up to month after you return. According to the new research and psychologists at the University of California, Berkeley, chronic jet lag results in brain changes and impaired cognitive function for a long time.

So whether you're a flight attendant, medical resident, or rotating shift worker, repeated disruption of your circadian rhythms is likely going to have a long-term impact on your cognitive behavior and function.

Why exactly does changing time zones result in jet lag?

It’s all in the circadian rhythms. When we cross time zones rapidly with air travel, it upsets our internal clock. (East-bound is the worst when it comes to getting your clock back.) Chronic disruption of sleep cycles can lead to: memory and learning problems, decreased reaction times, higher incidences of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer and compromised fertility.

The World Health Organization Now actually considers shift work a carcinogen. For those who have just returned to work, allowing one day of recovery for every one hour in time-zone shift is best. You might also try popping melatonin, which helps regulate your internal clock.

THERMAL LIE-DETECTORS & CLONED DOGS

Airport security’s getting stricter and more high-tech. Here’s a look into what to expect. The CHECK-POINT OF THE FUTURE is a project still in the concept stage from the International Air Transport Associated (IATA). It’s a series of neon-lit tunnels that include eye-scanners, x-ray machines, metal and liquid detectors. There are three corridors, and the “travel profile” you are assigned determines which one you go in. The IATA is hoping to have these checkpoints up and running in airports in the next five to 7 years.

TEHRMAL LIE DETECTION

This one is so cool. Researchers in the UK have developed a camera that detects lies. I know I’m going to have to see this to believe it. It’s a thermal-imaging camera that captures facial temperature when someone is being questioned. "When  a person is making something up on the spot, brain activity usually changes and you can detect this through the thermal camera," says professor Hassan Ugail, who leads the research. It could be used during customs interviews at passport control. The development of the system continues. The name of the airport where it’s being tested is not revealed.

BLUETOOTH PASSENGER TRACKING

A new system in Finland’s Helsinki-Vantaa Airport monitors Bluetooth signals from cell phones to study passenger movement around the terminal. The information is used to predict waiting times in the airport.  The passengers can see waiting times on the flight information display screens.

BEHAVIORAL DETECTION OFFICERS

In the United States, The Transport Security Administration (TSA) is training Behavioral Detection Officers (BDOs) to speak with passengers, casually, to detect suspicious behavior. What they look for is "involuntary physical and physiological reactions" that are natural reactions of people when they are afraid of being discovered. BDO’s are now working in about 161 airports around the country.

‘SUPER CLONE’ SNIFFER DOGS

Only three out of ten trained sniffer dogs are fit for the job once they are done. What they’re doing now is genetically cloning a Labrador Retriever named Chase who had incredible drug-detecting capabilities in South Korea.

JET-SET TREND:
BOEING BUSINESS JET

New in jet-set trends is the Boeing Business Jet (otherwise known as the BBJ). Boeing recently released it. It's a 747-8, their largest plane to date and the longest commercial jet in the world. Boeing Business Jets are spiffed up jets for people with money. The 747-8 Intercontinental is the latest, and most expensive corporate jet in the world. The cost: $300 million but if you really want it fit to your needs it could be more like $500 million. Boeing won’t say exactly who buys these jets but most are private orders and one third go to the Middle East. The largest engine is now called the MAX. The range for these planes: over 17 thousand kilometers.

The plane seats between 25-50 passengers and brings luxury to another level. It includes a master bedroom, washroom with showers, a conference room, dining area and a living room. The BBJ is a partnership between Boeing Commercial Airplanes and General Electric.

TRAVEL TREND:
BEST TRAVEL APPS TODAY

The trend in Hollywood is to use smartphones to make travel plans. Travel apps are popping up everywhere. They’re free and handy - but not all are good. Here are the top ones trending now:

FLIGHT AWARE: See where your flight is at the moment – it is real time flight tracking. If you’re waiting at the airport and you’re plane is scheduled to be there, you can check and see where it is.

GATEGURU: Airport wait times could be annoying, but looking for something specific in the massive building could be even more annoying. GateGuru lets you know what stores and restaurants are around your gate and gives you reviews too.

TAXI MAGIC: Makes hailing a taxi so much easier. You could order a cab from your phone and pay directly from the app. The app is free, but there is a $1.50 fee for using the credit card from your phone.

TRIPIT: Useful for keeping all your travel plans organized in one place. It helps you manage and you won’t lose details. Helps manage: flights, hotels, cars, appointments and meals.

TRAVEL TIPS:
WEBSITES TO LOOK OUT FOR

I’ve got some travel tips this week and new online sites to take note of.

Room 77: 
Since you can’t choose your seat on a plane, why can’t you choose your room in a hotel? Room 77 lets you see the individual rooms within a hotel, what they look like and how to book that room. Right now it has a whopping 560,000 rooms in the database and counting. Roger Wong is the Director of Product & Marketing.

http://www.room77.com/.

Hipmunk:
It’s a brand new style of flight meta-search that aims to, “take the agony out of travel planning.” It tells you things that other sites don’t, like which will be “dark flights” for plane sleepaholics. It then shows you in a clearer than clear capacity the cheapest, the quickest, the shortest stopover. Adam Goldstein, is the CEO.

www.hipmunk.com.

HotelTonight:
It’s an app for iPhone and now android. You can book a same-day hotel on the move, direct through your mobile phone. Brilliant! The business model is to use distressed hotel inventory to fill last minute rooms with last minute guests. It’s a slick app, some deals can knock off up to 70% of the usual hotel price.

www.hoteltonight.com

Backbid:
You to post your reservation on Backbid, and it lets other hoteliers in the same area bid for your business, and lets them offer you a cheaper rate or more incentives to move over your booking to them. Its ingenious!

www.backbid.com.

TRAVEL:
HOLLYWOOD’S NEW WAY TO BOOK FLIGHTS

Hollywood has become aware of Google’s latest search product: Google Flight Search.  You can now search airline ticket prices by entering your travel information in the main toolbar – then clicking FLIGHTS on the results page. You can also access the page directly at www.google.com/flights. Results show up immediately.

There is a calendar function, which shows pricing options over several months. You could also explore by price tag before choosing your destination. Let’s say you want a weekend getaway, nowhere specific, you put in your budget and all you available options in that price range pop up.

TRAVEL:
HOW TO AVOID LOSING YOUR LUGGAGE

Some advice now on how to avoid losing your luggage when flying. Over two million bags were lost, damaged or delayed last year.

1. Check to see that the attendant typed in the right destination code If not, you’re baggage is not following you to your destination. Check the attendant’s work – and label your bag to be safe in case it does go to the wrong place.

2. Make sure you pick up your luggage right away from the turnstile.  No matter what, make sure you get your bag first thing. If you don't, it gets stored in the unclaimed baggage room, which may take a long time to recover.

3. Share your plans and put it in your suitcase. Pack a copy of your itinerary in a place on top of the clothing, so that airline workers will know where to route your bag in the case they find it and cannot get in touch with you.

4. Document everything. It’s a bit of a pain but photograph or video the contents of your bag as you pack. I always write everything down to know what was in each suitcase.

6. Arrive early. If you check a bag within 30 minutes of your departure time, it may not actually make it onto the plane.

7. Embellish your bag so when its lost it will stand out.

TRAVEL TREND:
AIRLINES CHANGING THE WAY WE BOARD

Airlines want to get you on board fast. Studies have shown that an airline can save up to $30 for every minute cut from boarding. Have you noticed this new way some airlines are boarding people these days? It's called: random boarding and it’s been introduced on Canadian, US, and international flights. Once the first class and executive class passengers have boarded, coach passengers are boarded in the order they checked in. It doesn’t matter where their seat is. Supposedly, it saves the airlines four to five minutes of boarding time from the current 20 to 25 minutes.

There’s a doctor who has figured out the fastest way to board. Dr. Jason Steffen is an astrophysicist at Fermi National Laboratory in Illinois. He says airlines should load us by alternating rows, and starting from the back of the plane, is quickest. When loading people in a row, travelers in window seats enter in first, then middle seats, followed by aisle seats.
His way turned out to be the fastest when compared to four other boarding methods. It took the volunteers three minutes and 36 seconds to board according to this new way. Then there is the “Wilma” method, which has all window seat passengers boarding first, followed by middle seats, and ending with aisle seat passengers, that took four minutes and 13 seconds.

Loading the plane took four minutes and 44 seconds if passengers are boarded by random. The slowest methods were ones that most air travelers are familiar with, the block system, which seats passengers in descending groups of rows. It took six minutes and 54 seconds. Some flight attendants say that randomized boarding causes complete chaos in the cabin.

TRAVEL TREND:
TANNING CONCIERGE

There is a new trend in the travel world that is really taking hold: the tanning concierge. They help you with all your tan needs. Whether it be the real sun, fake bake or a spray tan, they are there to answer all your questions. The W in Scottsdale Arizona opened three years ago and is launching a tanning concierge service: an on call 24-7 person that is available to provide experts tips on sun care and providing in room spray tan. They are really skilled in all things sun care and after sun care. The Beach House Hotel in Hermosa Beach has the beach babe tanning service. They organize in room spray tans. In Washington DC there’s a hotel that has complimentary sunscreen for guests exploring the city. In South Beach the tanning butler can be found at the Ritz Carlton.

TRAVEL TREND:
NEW FLIGHT ATTENDANT CALL BUTTON

New in travel trends: they're now redesigning the flight attendant call button. What I’m asking is, what was really wrong with it in the first place? Boeing has unveiled one redesigned and relocated as part of the re-imaging of the 737. The button is now longer next to the light or the air vent. Now on the 737 it is a different color, located farther away from the other buttons and is clearly marked as the button to push if you need her attention. The reason for the change: travelers pretend they didn’t hit it all the time when she appears and you waste her time.

Y-UP:
FIRST CLASS UPGRADE AT SAME PRICE

Have you heard of Y-Up's? They allow you to fly business-class or first-class at the same price as flying coach! For once we can thank the poor economy for this good fortune as airlines are having a tough time selling out first-class seats. They would rather sell those at a much lower rate instead of leaving them empty and not making any money at all. A few quick facts about Y-Up’s: they are usually one-way and they are often refundable! They are nearly always available, even during peak travel seasons. Most importantly, they can help you acquire twice as many air miles as flying coach!

TRAVEL TIPS:
GETTING THROUGH SECURITY

I’ve got some travel tips for you on how to go through security as smoothly and quickly as possible.

Liquids: When traveling through airport security, remember the 3-1-1 rule: only 3.4 (100 milliliter) bottles are allowed; all liquids must be placed in one quart-sized clear, zip top bag; and only one quart-sized bag is allowed per passenger. There are some exceptions: liquid medications, baby formula and breast milk are allowed in “reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces" and do not require a zip-top bag.

Here are things NOT to wear – 

Gel Shoe Inserts: They are not permitted at all. Don’t even bother putting them into your carry-on. Put them in your checked baggage but shoes made with gel heals are allowed.

Ladies Wear Pants Instead of Skirts: Just like loosing fitting clothing long skirts are target for extra screening. New pat-down rules allow screeners to check under your skirts – so you’re better of with pants.

No buckle and lace shoes: Slip-ons are definitely the best.

Clothes With Metal Studs or Buttons: Leave all that behind. You would think this is a no-brainer, but people still do it. Go simple. 

Metal: rings, necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks, watches and pins will all ring through a metal detector.

Belts & Belt Buckles will ring as will some Under-wire Bras. Yikes.

Loose-fitting Clothing:  Things like big pants or baggy sweatshirts are not advised as they may be target for additional screening.

TRAVEL TIPS:
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT

I’ve got some tips for you on how to get what you want when traveling.




1. Remain calm no matter hat stress the trip is causing
When a flight is delayed or a hotel loses your reservation, calmly and politely express concern to the gate agent. 

2. Find the silver lining
Sometimes you have to look for it. A kind thank you, smile or compliment  will make the attendant more at ease and willing to help. 

3. Show a little empathy
Think about the employees. When things aren’t going smoothly especially, imagine what a terrible day they’re having. Try a simple “You must be having a rough day”.

4. Flatter 'em
A small compliment about their work can go a long way.
 
5. Be a volunteer
Be nice and put yourself out there to help other travelers either by agreeing to move to accommodate two people who want to sit together, or yielding to someone with a disability. 

TRAVEL TREND:
NICHE

Traveling in 2011 will be all about the experience.

Safari houses are hot this year. Relying on room-service from the 32nd floor of a luxury hotel no longer satisfies today’s ambitious luxury traveler. Instead, clients are looking to villa rentals and exclusive safari experiences to ensure that their time abroad is truly unique.A growing number of luxury villa rentals and safari houses have sprung up especially in South Africa and Botswana.

Volunteering is also big. 2011 is more about meaning and travelers are now looking for more meaningful ways to see the world.You’ll start seeing more volunteer activities integrated into green and sustainable travel programs through 2011 not just aimed at backpackers anymore. Another big trend in 2011 will be the second layer vacation. These are vacations that surpass the popular destinations usually depicted in city pamphlets or travel guides.

Vacations are out. Foodcations- in!Keep the skis and bathing suits at home and pack your kitchen knives and apron. We’re all becoming food-crazed and enrolling in cooking classes in exotic places is something that families and spouses are sure to be doing more and more.

Special-interest trips such as epicurean journeys, a visit to a vineyard, and the multi-generational family trip continues. These have been on the incline and will continue to increase into 2011.  

TRAVEL TIP:
SAVE ON DRY-CLEANING

Hotels know that suitcases squash your clothing and need dry-cleaning when they are unpacked. They take advantage and charge a crazy amount for it. Instead, use a product called wrinkle-release spray. You just hang up your clothing, spray it, smooth out the wrinkles with your hands, and let it air dry. Brands to choose from include Wrinkle Free, Austin House, and Downy. You could find them in the laundry products section. 

Another option: 

Try making your own by mixing one tablespoon of fabric softener and 1/4 cup of unscented rubbing alcohol with one cup of distilled water. Put it in a travel spray bottle and use it as you need.

TRAVEL TIP:
SAVE ON RESORT FEES

Here are some tips for when you get to the registration counter at a resort:
 
You’ll often be charged an extra $10 to $15 per day as a resort fee, supposedly to cover such amenities as the swimming pool and fitness club. This is nothing but a ruse to make a hotel’s rates appear lower at the time you are scouting for a room, say industry insiders. 

The hotel knows that by the time you arrive, fatigued from travel and dragging your luggage and kids along, there’s no way you’re going to refuse your hotel room because of an add-on fee. 

So at the time of booking, scan the fine print of your agreement and ask the hotel about any fees that are not included in the quote. If such fees at the registration counter surprise you, call your credit card company after checking in and ask it to get the fee waived. 

TRAVEL TIP:
TRAVEL SCAMS

Leaving on vacation? Here are the top travel scams to watch out for:


1. The Front Desk
This is an easy one to get caught with. You get a call in hotel room from the front desk confirming your credit card information for reservation purposes. Turns out, the call comes from a scammer and not the hotel.

2. The Lady with the Baby
This one happens mostly in Europe. A woman walks to towards you and tosses what looks like a baby she's holding into your arms. As you fumble, partners grab your wallet, purse or camera.

3. The Newspaper in Your Face
A group of children surround you laughing and waving newspaper in your face. It blocks your vision and disorients you. That’s when one of trained kids gets into your pocket or grabs your bag.

4. Five for Fifty
You pay with a 50, which the cab driver drops and exchanges for a 5. He gets mad you paid him only 5, forcing you to pull out more money. This doesn't work so much in Canada because both bills look different, but in countries where denominations are very similar looking it works like a charm.

5. Waiting for the Bus
A thief on a bike will grab the purse of a woman nearby. As she screams travelers waiting for the bus drop their bags to catch the thief - that is where someone is plotted to pick them up, Another common one, at a train terminal where you are struggling for your luggage, someone may offer to help you and eventually runs off with your things.

6. The Cut and Roll
You are in line at the security gate at an airport and two people cut in line. One goes through the body scanner, while the other carries electronics on him that buzz the scanner and hold up the line. This makes it impossible for you to go through at the same time as your carry-ons or even see what is happening on the other side. Meanwhile, the second guy has easy access to your bad on the rolling carpet.

TRAVEL TIP:
HOW TO GET HOTEL UPGRADES

I’m going to tell you how to increase your chances of getting a hotel upgrade.

Nowadays, hotel upgrades are harder to land than before, but it doesn’t mean they’re impossible. Staying only one night, coming in late, and traveling when there’s a conference in town makes it easier to get an upgrade. Chances are all the small rooms are occupied if there is a conference. They would rather put you in a bigger room than relocate you to another hotel.

Yes, luck does come to play when it comes to upgrades, but the desk staff has more power than you realize. Just be nice. If they’re under booked they’ll slip you into that room with the nicer view. Even just mentioning you’re celebrating a birthday on anniversary might entice them to bump you up.

TRAVEL TREND:
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT

Now turning to travel trends and how to get what you want when you travel:

Here are the tips from the travel experts. 

1. Remain calm no matter what stress the trip is causing: When a flight is delayed or a hotel loses your reservation, calmly and politely express concern to the gate agent. 

2. Find the silver lining: Sometimes you have to look for it.  A kind thank you, smile or compliment will make the attendant more at ease and willing to help. 

3. Show a little empathy: Think about the employees. 
When things aren’t going smoothly especially, imagine what a terrible day they’re having. Try a simple “You must be having a rough day”.

4. Flatter 'em: A small compliment about their work can go a long way.

5. Be a volunteer : Be nice and put yourself out there to help other travelers either by agreeing to move to accommodate two people who want to sit together, or yielding to someone with a disability. 

TRAVEL NEWS:
FRUGAL SPENDING TRENDS

So summer has ended and you enjoyed some sort of vacation time I hope.
You did go away, maybe not as far as you would have in years past and maybe didn’t spend as much.

I got the chance to speak with Vince Alberta, the Las Vegas Tourist Authority. He says that travel spending has definitely changed.

He says that spending has changed and that that’s where they’re seeing the biggest trend. Spending was down 15% for the leisure visitor in 2009.  He says that it is not that people have stopped going – what really has changed is how they spend their money. Before, travelers might have gone to three really nice restaurants during their stay, now they would be cutting to one if any.

Even though the spending of the consumer is down, if you compare Las Vegas to other destinations in the world there is still a strong demand. Right now they welcome over 36 million and Alberta predicts over 37 million by the end of 2010.

TRAVEL NEWS:
CREDIT CARD THEFT

Credit card theft is something you need to be aware of next time you check into a hotel – it’s on the rise.

When you check in they ask for your credit card. Sounds basic but the problem is that puts you at great risk for credit card theft from credit card hackers.

A study released shows that 38% of credit card hackings involve the hotel industry, Retail is 14.2% and Restaurants and Bars 13%.

When you give your credit card to hotels, they hold on to the number and card information in the system. It sits there in the clear giving easy access to coming and going employees.

There is an illegal black market today with local gangs that specialize in buying stolen credit card numbers.

Here's what you can do to protect yourself: Tokenization.

Tokenization encrypts your card number. It swipes your card on the spot and is encrypted so the card only works inside that hotel.

Here are some pointers:

• Keep receipts

• Check your credit card bills online during your trip, don’t wait till the end of the month when you get your statement

• Report billing errors or stolen card immediately

• Ask the hotel if they have tokenization when you check in

• Ask hotels directly - how are you going to keep my information safe?

TRAVEL TREND: VIRGIN AMERICA


Now turning to trends when it comes to airlines. More airlines should be paying attention to in-cabin mood lighting. Poor cabin lighting on a long flight may worsen jet lag. Exposure to bright light at an hour when you are ordinarily asleep can confuse your body's internal clock. Smart cabin lighting may actually help your body adjust to a new time zone and beat back jet lag. Virgin America has an in-cabin lighting system that subtly shifts through 12 shades of violet, including a welcoming, bright blue-purple during the day, a softer violet hue after dusk, and a deep, calming near-black on red-eyes when it's time to sleep. It's so cool. I loved their in-flight safety video. It kept my interest as it, along with the entire airline, has a relaxed air about it. Now Virgin America, has an operating loss of $27 million in revenues of about $110 million in the fourth quarter of '09, ending in December. Virgin execs say the customers like their product so they are flying with them. The load factor in the fourth quarter was 81 percent, compared to the fourth quarter of last year when it was 62 percent.

TRAVEL NEWS: MICROBES


89 percent of travelers would react if they noticed their flight seatmate was displaying visible flu-like symptoms. While 55 percent would request to be moved to a different seat, 27 percent would notify a flight attendant, four percent would put on a facemask or scarf and an additional three percent would request that their fellow passenger cover up with a mask or scarf.

Airplanes are considered the top spot to beware of unwanted microbes (48 percent), followed by public transportation (19 percent) and hotels (six percent).

61 percent of travelers confess they have disregarded airline rules on a flight. Unbuckling seatbelts before the light is off tops the list of flyer felonies, with almost half of travelers (49 percent) admitting to unclipping prematurely. Further indiscretions include moving someone else's luggage to make room for their own (23 percent), standing up before the seatbelt light is turned off (16 percent), and six percent even admit to using a forbidden electronic device in-flight, such as a cell phone or pager.

'Quiet Sections' Preferred:
41 percent of travelers said they'd be most likely to pay extra to sit in a 'quiet section' of a plane, while 39 percent would love to be free of kids in a 'child-free section'.

Wi-Fi may be a useful in-flight option, but some travelers would prefer to remain altogether disconnected, with 11 percent saying they'd choose a 'Wi-Fi-free section'.

In-flight Indulgences
72 percent of travelers expect to pay for in-flight extras when flying in 2010, with extra leg-room at the top of the wish list for more than one-third (35 percent) of respondents. 26 percent are most likely to pay for snacks or an in-flight meal, and more travelers plan to dish out for in-flight alcohol (23 percent) than for seat selection (22 percent) or checked bags (20 percent).

If you're looking to book a trip this summer, book through a Virtuso agency so you can get those upgrades and complimentary meals and credits.

For Vision 2000 - call their VIP desk.
Toronto: 416.222.2440
Montreal: 514.748.2522
St. Catharine's: 905.684.0888
Or email them at vip@vision2000.ca

LAS VEGAS: CITY CENTER


Las Vegas now has its own urban core - a 67-acre city-within-a-city that's redefined the skyline and Las Vegas Blvd. As I drove in, my eyes opened wide as I tried to look high enough to see the sprawling development right in the middle of Vegas. Truly a city within a city.

It's called CityCenter™ and it's an 8 1/2 billion dollar development (1.2 billion dollar in debt) and there has never been anything like it.

In Vegas as a whole, overall, visitation is down about 3 per cent but the city expects to gain it all back by the end of this year. 36 million visitors came in 2009 and 37 and a half million are expected this year. Currently home to three luxury hotels, condos, world-class designer shopping and the Cirque Du Soleil Elvis Show - the greatest part about CityCenter™ is that it's one of the world's largest environmentally sustainable urban communities. Nowhere in the world does this exist. ARIA Resort & Casino™ is the focal point. Next door, Vdara Hotel & Spa is smoke-free, non-gaming and houses the spa. A very sleek all-suite boutique hotel with a sophisticated international flair and outstanding structure but financial troubles hit the entire complex, as it opened in the height of the recession December 2009. As far as the spa itself and what I thought of it, you know I love to bring you the latest spa news weekly but I didn't see it. The publicist told me it was nice. I also wasn't able to check out the rooms so it's not something I can tell you about - but - I can tell you the complex has to be seen. The fountains and water features are outstanding and the architecture striking. The Vdara structure is directly connected to Bellagio® and adjacent to the new, ARIA. Bellagio® is not attached but is an MGM property. In Vegas, the mother companies encourage tourists to visit all their establishments keeping it all in the family. I had a chance to take the tram, which connects the various buildings. It was great, felt very Jetsons and I wish the ride was longer, I could have just gone round and round looking up at the massive structures for an hour. CityCenter™ MGM MIRAGE™ earned six distinct Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council. Vdara used wood products from responsibly managed forests; high efficiency water use - both inside the building and outdoors; alternative fuel options for limousines; and an improvement of more than 30 percent in energy efficiency over standard building codes. Crystals, the shopping and entertainment district of CityCenter™ will have all its stores rented by the end of the year according to Farid Matraki - Vice President and General Manager of Crystals. He says each month another huge designer store is opening and by the end of the year, he says, the entire complex will be leased. Stores include a 15,000 square foot Gucci store, a 5,000 square-foot mens and ladies Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton has built one of the their biggest stores in North America here and Prada is opening a 17,000 square-foot store soon. Overall, my tour of CityCenter™ impressed me visually, as design elements are so original, there was nothing I could compare it to anywhere in the world. The views are beautiful and the choice of dining abounds (although I didn't try any of it) I did find the lighting in the casino to be dark and cavern-like, a distinct lack of benches for people to sit with bags and just bask in the beauty around them were non-existent other than one stone bench in the ARIA lobby, and without seeing the rooms and spa I can't recommend but it is something you have never seen before so walk through, the grandeur is spectacular. I had a chance to speak to the very personable Alan Feldman, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for MGM Resorts International. He said very urban CityCenter™ is very much a view of what Vegas will look like in the future, great architecture, walking paths, food and great art. He said it's a nice juxtaposition to what else Vegas has to offer. When asked how he felt about the recession hitting his development, he replied that they are there for the long haul and when things turn around, CityCenter™ be front and center.

TRAVEL TREND: 'PACKAGES' ARE HOTTER THAN EVER


Vacation packages provide the best overall value for travelers. Hotels are not keen on lowering their standalone rates, but will do so as part of a package. Travelers who bundle flight and hotel will save the most.

Now don't think these packages are limited to the typical all-inclusive beach vacation.

Here are the 3 hottest trends for vacation packages:

BabyMoon Packages: These are vacations aimed at expecting couples who may want to have one last vacation alone together. It allows the couple to have a relaxing time while the spouse is pregnant. A lot of the packages include massages and treatments to calm the expecting mother.

Adventure Travel Packages: Another type of emerging trend in travel is the adventure travel package. These are filled with fun and exciting activities and are a perfect alternative to the typical beach vacation. Examples of adventure travel packages include safaris and exotic adventure cruises.

Not the outdoors type? Also available are art, cooking, and wine tasting vacation packages.

Charity Vacation Packages: These allow the traveler to enjoy their escape and give back to society at the same time. In this case, organizations provide consignment packages for charity auctions.

HOT TRAVEL DESTINATION: ABU DHABI


Now turning to some hot spots this summer thanks to the recession. Dubai is a hot destination, thanks to massive drops in prices. The state-backed Dubai World debt announcement triggered a price war in hotel room rates to stimulate demand and a currency, which is losing its value. If you are after a bargain, Dubai is a place to go in summer 2010. Figures from Hotels.com show that online searches for hotels in Dubai rose 570 percent in the days after Dubai World's announcement of its plans to restructure its debt. With the release of Sex And The City 2, interest in the Arab world is expected to jump and Abu Dhabi is positioned as the new and somewhat more restrained Dubai. Canada's The Travel Network, located in Toronto and Montreal is the specialist for finding the deals if you want to book a trip to Dubai or Abu Dhabi as seen in the movie.

http://www.thetravelnetwork.com/

TRAVEL SERVICE: ZERO BAGGAGE


Zerobaggage.com is a new startup that opens for business this November. Tired of paying for your bags now when you're flying? Zero Baggage provides you with clothes and other essentials at your final destination.

You just take a carry on with your essentials and no check-in bags because they get you what you need.

You simply fill in an online virtual suitcase - and the contents will be waiting in your hotel room when you arrive.

Items are previously used - but clean and well maintained but there is also the option of renting new items only. Feel good about doing this by knowing that you are borrowing local items and services that follow an ecological model. You also earn carbon credits for traveling lightly, thus lightening weight, which can be reimbursed for various services such as a spa trip or dinner.

If you become a member of Zero Baggage you are able to buy new items, or store personal effects at frequently visited places.