Bournemouth University.

So It's been a whole term at Bournemouth university, and now that the christmas holidays are over I'm back tomorrow for the second term. So far I'm loving Tourism Management. It's such a broad course and i feel like it's going to open a lot of doors for me. As the course is management based there is a few units which regard mathematics, such as 'The Market Economy' also known as economics and 'Financial Reporting' which can be seen as an accounting based unit. Mathematics, isn't exactly my strong point, but I came to university for a challenge and I aim to get to grips with the mathematics. I sat an economics in-class test just before christmas and I felt like it went well, and mid January I have my accounting in-class test so I'm currently revising that. I also study Spanish, which i feel is great, as you can never go wrong with a language, whatever industry your thinking of entering, and just before christmas I sat 50% of my year grade through written, listening, reading and oral tests, which I get the results back for in 2 weeks! So far I'm loving Bournemouth University, and more importantly Tourism Management.

In other news, September 2013 I'm off to Singapore and Australia! The soul reason to visit is because my Sister lives in Sydney. But it made sense to make it into a bigger trip, so I'm visiting, Singapore, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne over a three week period all in Business Class with Finnair, Qantas and British Airways. I am more than excited!

A very entertaining safety demonstration video.

Air New Zealand have truly embraced the 'middle earth' link as they cleverly market for the new film 'The Hobbit', through a very unique and attention grabbing safety demonstration video.

Check it out for yourself!

Jersey Field Trip

As part of my Tourism Management Level C work, I participated in a 3 day field trip to Jersey to learn about Jersey Tourism. We departed from Poole part on Friday12th October on a ferry to Jersey via Guernsey, unfortunately the weather wasn't exactly on the same side as the ferry and the crossing was very turbulent. 

On arrival we met with Jersey Tourism Marketing Manager, Simon Le Huray and Jersey Conference Bureau General Manager, Hamish Reid. Both Simon and Hamish provided very interesting information regarding tourism in Jersey, including how Jersey plays it's part in the environment by releasing nothing into the sea that isn't clean, and even the rain water is treated in UV lighting to make sure it is sterile before it can be released. Another interesting point I picked up on was how important Business tourism is to the island as it is not affected by seasonality unlike Leisure Tourism, and then how this could link to destinations like Jersey needing good policies in order to attract an all year round industry.

On the Saturday we went sightseeing. It felt nice actually being a tourist and seeing attractions and destinations from a tourists point of view rather than studying the attractions and destinations. We visited attractions such as La Hougue Bie, the Jersey War Tunnels and Mont Orgueil.

Mont Orgueil.

Breathtaking view from Mont Orgueil.

I enjoyed visiting different attractions and realising how certain settings and dramatic techniques can captivate tourists in attractions. For example in the Jersey War Tunnels, the multimedia effects used, such as projections, videos and sound effects throughout the tunnels made the attraction almost tell you how to feel. These effects would help create a 'sense of place' for certain visitors, and manipulate their feelings throughout different parts of the attraction.

What I loved about the Jersey War Tunnels is that they give each visitor a cardboard cut out passport of a real person that lived in Jersey during the war, which gives visitors a chance to track the person throughout the history displayed in the war tunnels. I thought this was a clever technique used as it almost gave a 'guided tour' experience to visitors, as the history of the Jersey inhabitant guided the visitor through the tunnels.

On the Sunday, the third and final day of our trip we were given bus passes and entry tickets for a wide range of attractions throughout the island and were given free time to explore attractions at our leisure. I went to the Durrell Wildlife Park. Although at first I thought the wildlife sanctuary was a 'zoo' I was pleasantly surprised to see animals such as Orangutans, Bats and other animals in open spaces without too much caging, which I liked as it represented their natural environment more than a tiny metal cage.

Jersey itself is an interesting island. I've been before in the past, but this time I really had chance to analyse the culture of the island. As Jersey is so close to France, parts of the island's road signs etc are written in French, and this is expressed within some of St Helier's architecture as it feels like there is a mix of European aspects. Such as French and Italian styled buildings but then twinned with the British culture. Jersey's interesting mix of culture intrigued me throughout the trip.

The sunset over Jersey on the ferry back to Poole.

How am I doing you say?

Dear readers,

On the 16th of August I accepted my place at Bournemouth University! After being out of education for nearly 3 months, I feel like my blog has been slipping a bit, especially with my upkeep of posts. But in 8 days I will officially be a Tourism Management student! I can't wait to be indulged with knowledge and be inspired to write some really cool blog posts!

Wish me luck!

What I've been doing lately

Dear readers, sorry for my long interval between blog posts! I've just got home from a little getaway in Corfu an island owned by Greece. Corfu was interesting, very different to here in the UK, but of course thats what we travel for! A change of scenery and lifestyle.

I wanted to try a new type of blog post, different than past ones, regarding news and my views of happenings in the Travel & Tourism industry. I set up a Pinterest account weeks ago, and today I actually logged on and got around to setting it up and following a few Travel bods to get my home page flowing, it then occurred to me that most of the people using Pinterest are posting photos of spectacular photos of destinations around the world, (which I am adding to my bucket list of places to go), looks like it's time to dig out the holiday albums and find some photos to upload to get my Pinterest going!

@hellototravel
Pinterest.com/hellototravel

Don't forget to share this post on Twitter!

(P.S. I feel like I should end each post with some sort of comment, to maybe summarise or round up these ranty sorts of posts? I'll think about that.)

British Airways' sponsorship of London 2012 through their interactive online campaign.

So British Airways have been very patriotic over the last few months on the lead up to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, after doing some research I looked into the airlines YouTube channel, (BA YouTube Link) where they had a stack of videos regarding their #HomeAdvantage. What I love about the airlines efforts, is that they are encouraging the UK not to fly, shown through a possible outcome for if the airline decided not to fly during the games,  what use they would put their planes and staff to highlighted by the advert. The airline is shown to be encouraging the UK public to support the athletes and give them that extra cheer which could be the difference in motivation between Silver and Gold for some athletes, highlighted by BA's Head of Marketing, Abigail Comber, 'if we can just give them one more voice in the crowd, one more clap'. Obviously people will need to fly in order to get to the Games but BA is also showing in their advert that the airline is about giving it's customers an amazing journey to an exciting destination, highlighted by this plane travelling through the streets of London.


Last week I came across the new British Airways advert regarding London 2012, the use of typical major attractions such as 'Millionaire's row' and 'Footballers Alley' help the public be able to relate to the advert, as well as the fact that the advert can be interactive as well as you can type in any UK postcode to take a BA plane right up your street, creating comedy and a bond between BA and it's online audience. What I like about the advert is the fact it can be interactive but also it's truly representing London 2012.

The Daily Mail have written about the high popularity of the interactive advert as well as getting in touch with the airlines digital marketing manager Richard Bowden who said "Tens of thousands have customised their own versions. It has created a real buzz." Highlighting advertising for both the airline but also London 2012 as British Airways are also a proud sponsor. 

Here is the television version of the advert:

The interactive version can be accessed via the British Airways Home Advantage Facebook page.

Sources: Daily Mail & BAYouTube Link

A look into the future for Aviation

So the other day whilst I was twittering I came across this really cool web article headlined 'Supersonic jet to fly from London to Sydney in four hours'  Which immediately interested me, as we all know a flight to Sydney can be long winded and time consuming. How can it only be four hours you ask? Through the use of 'lighter composite materials, advanced engines and smaller fuselages to reach top speeds' highlighted in the Daily Mail article. The new supersonic jet,  codenamed the X-54 will travel at 2,500mph compared to the Concorde that flew at 1,350mph. Currently the jet is designed to carry 12 passengers, and it is planned that the jet will not be available in full-size until at least 2030 hoping that the technology is possible and public acceptance is granted .



But what is most different and allows this supersonic jet to actually have a future in the Aviation industry is that all three companies, NASA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream have been working together in order to reduce the sonic boom 'closer to a puff or plop'. But obviously the difficulties may not be just technical but also the acceptance of the super sonic jet into the public.

Of course the X-54 is merely a development but what attracted me most about the jet is the futuristic aspect it holds for the Aviation industry, and how if short flight times for 'long-haul' destinations are achievable what does the aviation industry's future hold? This sense of futurism has made me think about how 3 or 4 travel classes may not be needed with flat-bed seating due to the quick flights, which makes me think how airlines may have to restructure their usual set up in order to adapt to new technology.

Follow me on Twitter @hellototravel

Sources: Daily Mail Fox News

Entering Summer 2012

As of yesterday I'm no longer a college student! Had my last exam yesterday, and after weeks of revision, it feels weird being able to relax and not constantly clock watch or feel guilty that I could be revising.

So what's been happening over my revision period?
Well, revision! But as all my Twitter followers would know, over the Jubilee weekend I took a little trip to Paris, which was lovely, so here are some photos!

Musee du Louvre

The Eiffel Tower

La Defense, the business district building where the Hilton was located inside.

Arc de triomphe

Me

A nice Club Europe experience home.

A small BA plane at Heathrow's T5 on the way there.

Views from The Eiffel Tower.

So now that I finally have some free time, my blog will be updated regularly so keep posted, and follow me on Twitter for daily updates - @hellototravel 

A more personal post

So this post is a little more personal than my usual posts, rather than writing numerous blog entries on aviation and tourism news that I find interesting, I believe now and then a post relating to myself is needed in order to make my blog more about my life!


So on Monday my sister took the plunge and moved to Australia! Although before setting roots down in Sydney her and her boyfriend are travelling around Bali for 4 weeks! The amount of jealousy I am holding right now should be illegal! She previously spent 2 months travelling around Australia about 5 years ago, (doesn't feel like 5 years ago, feels shorter!) and so got a holiday working visa for a year and off she's gone! So i've spent the week becoming very involved with numerous airlines, but in a different way than I normally am. Instead of researching about the latest airline updates from my twitter feed and online news articles I have spent the week on price comparison websites and airlines researching the prices of a Business Class return from LHR to SYD to be in Sydney for NYE! As you can imagine the ticket prices were not cheap. Looks like I'm going to be doing a lot of overtime at work this summer! If not I hope to be out there for Easter 2013. Doesn't that sound ages away?! 


In other news, I am sorry that I have been updating less regularly but it's that time of year again where my walls are covered in sticky notes, mind maps and colour coded pieces of paper as I prepare for my Summer term exams! I hope to blog throughout my exam period but as you can imagine I am working my socks off to get the best grades I can to get into University!


So I am not promising an update every week until June the 20th when I can close the laptop lid and push the text books aside for summer! 


Follow me on Twitter for daily updates! - @hellototravel


Wish me luck!

How 100 years late maritime disasters can still relate. Titanic VS Costa Concordia

Dear readers, I apologise for my lack of blogging during the last two weeks. I feel like I have been almost avalanched with coursework and revision schedules, but by organising my time efficiently I feel organised and on top of my studying again.

So on Sunday it was the 100 year anniversary of the sinking Titanic on it's maiden voyage. ITV produced a series on the Titanic, which I thought at first was going to literally be a re-build of the famous James Cameron film from 1997, but in fact the story highlighted views of different characters in different classes, and gave a unique view, which was although unreal and produced by ITV, I found it interesting towards the different types of passengers that travelled on the ship.

A few days before the anniversary I watched multiple inside footage of the Italian 'Costa Concordia' cruise liner that sank on Friday 13th January which made me relate the two maritime disasters and compare. By contrast all the passengers on the modern cruise liner were of all one class, but similarly it can be shown that the un-organisation of the evacuation process was still present. Although they were hardly like, due to the scale of the Titanic compared to the Costa Concordia. The reassurance of a stress and panic free evacuation process was definitely not shown onboard either ship.

Captain Schettino's actions by disembarking the ship can be shown as chilling and wrong for leaving passengers still onboard alone and stranded. This video link highlights Schettino's actions.

Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Oceanic and now... Richard Branson launches journeys to the centre of the Earth through his new organisation named as Virgin Volcanic

So Sir Richard Branson has created 'Virgin Volcanic'.  Stated by Branson's own Virgin.com it has been said that only 500 people have been to space, only three people have been to the bottom of the ocean, but no one has ever been to the centre of the earth. I am astonished by Branson's new creation, and although Virgin Volcanic, is not yet in operation his preparation for the future of tourism is futuristic and motivational for me as a student in the industry.

The VVS1, the new revolutionary vehicle created by Virgin, will be constructed out of patented carbon-carbon materials, which were created for deep space exploration. The VVS1 will be able to immerse three people into the molten lava core of an active volcano.





Virgin Volcanic plan to target the five most active volcanoes in the world within the first free years of operation, being:


•    Etna - Sicily, Italy
•    Stromboli - Aeolian Islands
•    Yasur - Republic of Vanuatu
•    Ambrym - Republic of Vanuatu
•    Tinakula - Solomon Islands


Although the organisation seems new, modern and mysterious, it was registered in the late 1990's in order to explore active volcanoes, due to Branson's 'long held a fascination with volcanoes'.


So will Branson's fascination become a reality? Although the preparation has been long, and still undergoing, I believe that Sir Richard Branson's creations really are exploring tourism to a 
full and modern extent.




Sources: Virgin 

Is Space Tourism expected to be sooner than we think?

It can be shown by a Reuter's report, that within the next 10 years that Space Tourism will be a $1 billion dollar industry.


This can be shown by companies which are creating major market investments in order to offer sub-orbital space flights privately. These include companies such as 'Virgin Galactic' founded by Sir Richard Branson:

The company appears to be in the process of building two space ships known as 'SpaceShipTwo' and 'WhiteKnightTwo'. Their latest customer celebrity actor Ashton Kutcher has said to have paid $200,000 for a seat onboard. Virgin Galactic state how their space crafts will be appropriate for their private passengers such as Kutcher, 'missions', as well as giving scientists and educators the chance to carry out experiments carefully as a 'versatile and attractive research platform'. Showing that Virgin Galactic having already targeted two types of customers to use their new, innovative product, due to launch in 2013.


Virgin Galactic is said to be based at 'Spaceport America' located within the State of New Mexico. Spaceport America highlight how 'Forward-thinking pioneers are developing both vertical and horizontal launch vehicles using the power of free-market-enterprise'. 


But not just Virgin Galactic are shown to be making this a soon to be $1 billion dollar industry. Other organisations such as XCOR Aerospace who started selling flights on the 27th February for research 'flight services and assist in creating standardization in research hardware for the suborbital market.' It can be shown from the Hufftington Post that Mike Massee, a spokesperson for XCOR, told The Huffington Post that the company expects to begin testing late this year or in early 2013, and that commercial flights should begin by 2014. Tickets cost $95,000 per flight.


There are shown to be a fair few companies that will be important within the Space Tourism industry such as Blue Origin, Boeing, Space X and according to the Huffington Post 'Sierra Nevada Corporation -- have contracts with NASA to transport crew members to low-earth orbit and the International Space Station. In summer 2011, NASA's space shuttle program, which brought personnel and supplies to the space station, was discontinued.'


Although this all seems very futuristic, it can be shown that from the days of Pan American's prime that the industry was starting to develop and that Space Tourism was being thought of.





It was shown that Pan Am was planning to create 'Supersonic Transport' in the 1960's for the early 2000's. 


I believe that although this has been designed and thought of before, Virgin Galactic, actual creation of aircrafts shows that Space Tourism really is just round the corner. XCOR's Massee has said 'It's the beginning of our golden age of travel for space flight.' Showing a completely new transportation era.


So in the next few decades will the world being seeing cabin crew working in space just like Pan Am visioned?





Sources: Huffington Post, Forbes, PanAmAir, Virgin Galactic, DesignYourTrust, SpaceportAmerica, Google Images.

Lufthansa unveils their new B747-800 with a new Business Class!

So Lufthansa have unveiled their fleet of around 20 Boeing 747-800's on Monday, detailing that the first Lufthansa B747-800 flight will be on the 22nd March, which I saw on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lufthansa.





Lufthansa have highlighted over their Facebook page that they will be hosting a competition to win two tickets for the aircraft’s first Lufthansa world premier on the 22nd March.


But that isn't it. Lufthansa also unveiled a new Business class that will be featuring onboard their B747-800 aircraft! 


What does this consist of you say?
Well...


The new airlines Business Class will include a 15" TV screen which is significantly larger than the current 10.4" TV screens which are currently in use. But the new class doesn't just offer the usual technology upgrades the seat itself is now an impressive 1.98 metre flatbed. On aircrafts that the new class can be configured the seat layout will consist of either a  “V” (where two  seats next to each other are positioned towards one another along a central axis so that at head and shoulder level the seats are further apart than in the foot area), or “H” (where , seats are angled parallel to one another but positioned slightly towards the outer cabin wall).

It has been said by Lufthansa that the intended "V" layout configuration will be installed on the new B747-800 fleet which will fulfil one of their main aims for the new class to benefit their customers, being: "to sit or lie facing the direction of travel, and also allowed the carrier "to virtually double the distance between two neighbouring seats at shoulder level".

Lufthansa says it has invested €3 billion in overhauling its inflight products, with a total of 1,349 passengers and crew evaluating the new business class seat during test flights between Frankfurt and New York back in 2010. It can be judged that Lufthansa has injected such a large sum of money into the new Business Class in order to compete with other A380 carriers, such as Qantas and Singapore who already offer fully flatbed seats in their Business Classes.













I believe that the current Business class in use is no where near outdated for Lufthansa, compared to other long-haul airlines who offer a Business Class with no flat bed facility for their  passengers, resulting in some airlines that are losing out on a majority of customers who can find a better quality product elsewhere such as British Airways' club world.


I have experienced both Lufthansa's current Business Class as well as British Airways' Club World product and I believe that both products are exceptional, although on an upper deck of a BA B747 - 400 it can be highlighted that you are presented with more privacy due to a 2 by 2 layout, compared to on the main deck where there is a 2 by 4 by 2 layout for Club World passengers, as well as having a privacy divider it's almost like travelling in a suite which used to be more secluded and private than the old British Airways First Class layout as well as the current Lufthansa Business Class, as there is no attempt at a privacy divider.

 Images and facts are highlighted from this article - The Lufthansa website, as well as myself.

British Airways getting involved in the 2012 olympics!

British Airways is shown to be bringing it's olympic experiences to the everyday people in the london area of Shoreditch. During this month of march it will be shown that British Airways will open it's airline-themed temporary or 'pop up' restaurant, cinema and art gallery. Named 'BA2012' which is highlighted to be a clever mix of British Airways' 2012 identity in the form of an airline route code e.g. 'BA0015' to Sydney.

The restaurant offers visitors a chance to sample the menus onboard in long haul First Class, of which those travelling to and from the UK in First will experience during the 2012 Olympic period. The pop-up restaurant includes artwork Pascal Anson, an artist designer who was mentored by Tracey Emin as his 'Dove' aspect design will be used on British Airways exteriors during the Olympic period, which will be displayed in the BA2012 gallery.

As shown in the image the interior of the restaurant is shown as premium-cabin aircraft, complete with aircraft looking windows and a gangway style divide between tables. 

" THE MENU

The First Class menu, which will be served on board long-haul BA flights departing London Heathrow BA planes between July and September will include:

* Rillette of mackerel dressed on a pickled cucumber carpaccio with sour dough croutes

* Potted braised beef, with a potato and horseradish topping served with hispy cabbage, baby carrots and roasted shallots with a rich jus

* Chilled chocolate fondant with a salted caramel liquid centre, caramel sauce and spun sugar topped with hazelnuts

Dishes such as smoked salmon and Cornish crab roulade with Servruga caviar and summer cress salad, fish pie using sustainable sourced hake and lemon curd cheesecake with raspberry and basil compote will be available to Club World passengers. 

TICKETS

Tickets go on sale on 19th March 2012 and are priced at £50 each, which, though pricey at first glance, is a lot cheaper than a forking out for BA First Class ticket and a rare chance to ‘fly premium' without leaving the ground.

To book a place on Flight BA2012, visit facebook.com/britishairways.

* Bookings must be made in advance

* Flight BA2012 is located at 3-10 Shoreditch High St, East London, E1 6PG.

* For £50, guests will receive entry to the gallery and screening room, plus a welcome glass of champagne, sit down three course menu with amuse bouche, and tea, coffee and petit four.

14th March 2012 "

Information and Images Based on this Article.

I believe that British Airways' creation of the BA2012, is a fabulous way of getting those involved in the public who can't afford the full price of a First Class ticket, or simply want a luxury dining yet unique experience before the Olympic period. Showing that the airline itself, being the official 2012 Olympic airline partner, is representing themselves within the community, and getting London involved! A true portrayal of 'To Fly. To Serve'. 

'The first showers in the sky'

How Emirates marketed 'The first showers in the sky' three years ago, at the birth of the Airbus A380, highlighting the modern day technology of aviation onboard the most technologically advanced aircraft, the A380.

My favourite airline safety demonstration videos

Emirates Airlines, suitable for A380 aircrafts.

Virgin Atlantic Airways

British Airways, suitable for a B747 aircraft.

22nd Feb 2012 - Event Day!

On the 22nd It was team WELOVEGUILDFORD's guided tour for our event management coursework, even though the weather wasn't at it's best I believe our preparation and careful planning made the tour a success as our 'Treasure Hunt' theme worked well with the customers and the attractions we visited on the tour.