Travelogue… with Bob Nicolaides

 

 

1Q Figures Encouraging for Greece’s Tourism

 



The Parthenon

The economic crisis in Greece had an enormous negative impact on the Greek hospitality industry between 2010 and 2013, with an estimated loss of €2.5 billion across the board, €820M loss felt by the hotels in Athens alone. The country however is seeing both a primary fiscal surplus which was unexpected, and a rebound tourist movement towards the end of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014. Hotels are experiencing a surge in occupancy rates with business tourism showing impressive gains.

 

Athens has been showing signs of recovery since May 2013 and the first quarter of this year shows the trend continuing. Occupancy levels reflect a 32% rise and the RevPAR for this period is up 20.6%. In addition, there appears a realization of 30% increase in conferences taking place in the country. These improvements in key areas offer hope for the Greek hospitality industry across the entire current year.

 

Guinness World Record: Amazing base jump from Burj Khalifa

 

Skydive Dubai has set a new Guinness World Record after Soul Flyers World Champions Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet took an 828 metre leap off the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

The pair set Dubai's latest record-breaking title when they performed the feat on Monday, setting off orange flares on the way down.

Jumping high.

Skydive Dubai said the jump was only possible with the construction of a 3x1m platform at the very top of the pinnacle, which it described an immense task in itself. The structure, which was spotted by residents and tourists last week, took three days to install, with challenges faced due to weather constrictions limiting the time available for construction, the company said.

It said measures were in place to ensure the Dubai pinnacle did not get damaged. “On behalf of the entire team and myself, I would like to thank HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of Dubai Sports Council for giving us the opportunity in making this project a reality,” said Nasser Al Neyadi, president of the Aero Sport Federation and chairman of Skydive Dubai. “Skydive Dubai has become a pioneer in regards to aerial sports and will continue to strive in setting more new world records.”

As part of preparations for the base jump, Fugen and Reffet completed a series of training jumps off Lauterbeunnen Mountain in Switzerland over a week, which is almost the same height as Burj Khalifa. This was followed by base jumping out of helicopters in Dubai to ensure they were ready for the leap off of the world’s tallest building. “This was the jump of a lifetime and an achievement of three years of hard training. I am glad we landed successfully, accomplishing a lifelong dream,” Fugen said. Reffet added: “This was my best jump by far. It was a dream come true.”

In April, Skydive Dubai, which opened in 2010, broke the Guinness World Record for the smallest parachute jump. “As always, Skydive Dubai prides itself on the 100 percent safety record and the Burj Khalifa jump is no exception”,said Alan Gayton, general manager, Skydive Dubai, The Palm Drop Zone. “This success is due to the ‘practice make perfect’ method of training that we always follow and the 100% dedication of everyone working on this project.”

 

The most expensive restaurant of the world- Ibiza Sublimotion

 

As well as world-class clubs and luxury villas, the party island of Ibiza is soon to be home to the most expensive restaurant on the planet. The new Hard Rock Hotel, opening in Playa d'en Bossa on May 18, will be launching Sublimotion - an ‘unparalleled gastro-sensory venture’ where a 20-course meal will set diners back £1,235 a head.

Expensive you say?

Michelin-starred chef Paco Roncero is behind the five-star resort’s exclusive concept, which aims to take 12 guests at a time ‘an experience for all the senses’. Combining food, art and technology, the menu, which is yet to be unveiled, promises to create a ‘complete and unprecedented emotional experience’ at the first Hard Rock Hotel to open in Europe.

A spokesman explained: ‘The dishes will cause a stir among the most neglected senses; from moments of humour, pleasure, fear, reflection and nostalgia, diners will be wandering through a world of sensations from the North Pole where they will enjoy a cold snack that they carve on their own iceberg or to the baroque Versailles where the elegance of a rose is sure to melt in their palate.’ Guests will dine in a unique space that will recreate a titillating atmosphere for all the senses, with‘state-of-the-art’ systems creating a ‘vivid setting transcending human senses’.

Roncero, Spain’s most famous chef, will also be launching the 3,00-seater Tapas restaurant Estado Puro at the Hard Rock– set to be the biggest luxury hotel in Ibiza - when it opens next month. He said: ‘We are very excited about the opening of Sublimotion and believe our guests will enjoy a culinary experience they’ve never previously encountered. ‘We are so delighted to be working with Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza in one of the most international islands in the world.’ Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza will include 493 rooms, boasting suites with private pools, ocean-front balconies and outdoor Jacuzzis. VIP services, including access to some of Ibiza's most exclusive clubs and restaurants, will also be offered to guests.

Abel Matutes Prats, CEO of Palladium Hotel Group, said: ‘This commitment to gastronomy, entertainment, technology and luxury fits perfectly with Hard Rock’s passion to keep music at the forefront of each initiative, as well as Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza’s standing as a music-inspired innovator in one of the world’s most renowned music capitals. ‘Catering to a new wave of modern travelers seeking unexpected, yet exceptional encounters, we’re thrilled to provide a journey of the sense that promotes music culture.’

Who wishes to visit the top cemetery tourism spots?

 

For ideas on planning a trip around this original concept, just follow the guide provided by Hotels.com. Cemetery tourism, though macabre by definition, certainly isn’t gloomy or dull. All the rage in Japan, the idea of travelling to cemeteries – whether to visit the grave of a favourite celebrity, artist or historical figure or simply to admire the tombstones – is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. For ideas on planning a trip around this original concept, just follow the guide provided by Hotels.com.

Frequently Visited Cemetary 

According to the website, which specializes in hotel price comparisons, one of the most affordable cemetery tourism destinations is Palm Springs, where Frank Sinatra is buried at the Desert Memorial Park. The average nightly rate for a double room is €81 (around $112).

Next on the list is Buenos Aires in Argentina, home to the Recoleta cemetery. Though not necessarily famous, most of the wealthy bodies buried here commissioned particularly elaborate tombstones which are definitely worth the trip. A hotel stay near the destination costs €84 ($116) per night on average.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Berlin is one of the most affordable destinations, with the average hotel room costing€85 ($118) per night. At the Dorotheenstädtisch-Friedrichswerderscher Friedhof cemetery, visitors can place flowers on the tomb of the playwright Bertolt Brecht and the sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow, among others.

Finally, no list of the world’s most prestigious cemeteries would be complete without a mention of the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise in Paris. Edith Piaf, Maria Callas, Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde are just a few of the notable personalities laid to rest here. Tourists can expect to pay more for their stay, however, as a double room is priced at €131 ($181) per night on average.

Herod Atticus Odeon ranked 2^nd in list of world's leading theatres

 

OTTAWA (ANA-MPA/I. Frangouli) The Herod Atticus Odeon beneath the Acropolis is the second-best place in the world to watch live performances, according to a list appearing in a special supplement in Canada's "Globe and Mail" newspaper.

Herod Atticus Theater; On Canadian List is #2

Dealing more specifically with the use of privileges from credit cards under the headline "Top venues for live theatre," the list presents the best venues in the world for live theatre, dance and music.

As regards the Herod Atticus, there is a reference to its history, while it is termed the best example of an authentic Greek amphitheatre and is described as "the perfect location where modern music meets with the ancient atmosphere." It is the ideal of all artists, the report says.

Topping the list is England's Minack Theatre, Porthcurno and it is followed by the Herod Atticus Odeon in Athens, the Sydney Opera House, Milan's La Scala, New York's Carnegie Hall, Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and other famous venues around the world.

 

Cyprus keeps itself away from Eurovision rant     Cyprus tourism chiefs have distanced themselves from an "offensive" rant on social media by a director of one of the island's leading travel companies following last Saturday's Eurovision song contest. Joelle Watkins, a senior manager in global marketing at Travelport, wrote to the Cyprus Tourism Organization to complain after seeing the post on her Facebook feed on Saturday night. Louis Loizou, an executive director of the Louis Group which has interests in hotels and cruise ships, allegedly wrote that it was "offensive and a disgrace" that Austrian drag queen Conchita had won the contest. He ranted: "Returning home last night I saw who won and that is when I said "the world as we know it has come to its end"." Eurovision tiff Loizou, a Cypriot who apologized to his Greek-speaking friends for writing in English, added: "I know Eurovision is supposed to be getting funnier and more peculiar each year but this is offensive and a disgrace….The way it is going there will be murderers crooks & pedophiles taking part! Shame, shame, shame to all involved in choosing [sic] these performers and for those who voted and those who accepted them. He later updated his Facebook status, saying: "It seems that my status on the winning performance at this year's Eurovision was largely misunderstood. I have many gay people in my circle of friends and I am very proud to have them as close friends. "Therefore, in no way should that status be interpreted as homophobic. I do apologize if, in the spur of the moment, I chose some very inappropriate words when writing it. In no way did I intend to offend anyone. I merely wanted to express that taste wise, and in particular the beard element, was for me over the top." But his apology came after complaints from colleagues in the industry and after Watkins had written to the CTO to complain about the "deeply shocking, offensive and discriminatory" comments. She added: "Please can you advise whether or not these deeply shocking, offensive and discriminatory comments reflect Cyprus's policy towards the LGBT community and whether you endorse them? "As the national tourist board of the Republic of Cyprus we welcome all visitors, from all walks of life, and it is our media communications policy to continue to promote Cyprus as a desirable holiday destination. "The friendliness of Cypriots is legendary. Our tourism partners continually provide distinguished and professional levels of service year on year. Cyprus respects gender differences and preferences and complies fully with all related European laws and regulations." Watkins has also written to Hilton Hotels& Resorts as the Louis Group owns the Hilton Cyprus and is the managing agent for the Hilton Park Nicosia.