Travelogue… with Bob Nicolaides
1Q Figures Encouraging for Greece’s Tourism
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.
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| The Parthenon |
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.
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| Jumping high. |
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.
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| Expensive you say? |
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.
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| Frequently Visited Cemetary |
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 2nd
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.
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| Herod Atticus Theater; On Canadian List is #2 |
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.
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