Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Travel keeps the heart healthy

Studies suggest that leisure travel can boost cognitive and cardiovascular health.

Travel tops many people’s retirement goals, and it’s a given that staying healthy prolongs our ability to take active vacations. Yet research suggests that the reverse holds true as well: Travel can actually keep our brains and bodies healthier as we get older.
That’s a message that many of us are eager to hear at this time of year, when we may already be looking back wistfully at our end-of-year vacations. So it’s timely that the Global Coalition on Aging, a group of companies across various industries focused on issues related to aging, in collaboration with the U.S. Travel Association, has been circulating an analysis it conducted of the existing medical literature on travel and health.
Some members of these organizations, of course, would see their businesses benefit if more people traveled more often and stayed healthier longer as a result. But a few of the studies that they highlight do show a compelling connection between vacation and physical well-being. Travel has been found to lower the risk of heart attack and death from coronary disease in certain groups, while the new and complex situations encountered while traveling can also help keep the brain sharp.
It’s not too far-fetched to imagine doctors prescribing travel for their patients as these benefits become more widely appreciated, said Michael Hodin, executive director of the Global Coalition on Aging and managing partner at the High Lantern Group, a consulting firm. “It becomes less of a nice-to-have and more of a need-to-have relationship,” he added. Several decades ago, the public didn’t fully grasp the benefits of diet and exercise, Hodin said, and the same might hold true for travel today.
Indeed, we tend to think of travel’s benefits as short-lived. We unwind when we’re out of town, and if we’re lucky, those feelings of relaxation might linger for a day or two once we’ve resumed our regular lives. In fact, the health benefits continue well beyond that.
As part of the long-running Framingham Heart Study, which studies residents of Framingham, Mass., women aged 45 to 64 were asked how often they took vacations. In a 20-year follow-up study, researchers found that women who vacationed every six years (or less frequently) had a significantly higher risk of developing a heart attack or coronary death compared with women who vacationed at least twice a year, even after adjusting for traditional risk factors such as blood pressure.
A separate, nine-year study found that annual vacations reduced the risk of death from any cause, and specifically death from heart disease, in a group of men at high risk for coronary heart disease
Travel is also good medicine when it comes to brain health, said Paul D. Nussbaum, a Pittsburgh-based psychologist who participated in the Global Coalition on Aging report. While studies isolating the impact of travel are few, plenty of research has suggested that there are brain-boosting benefits to social and leisure experiences. One study found that regular participation in activities such as traveling, odd jobs or gardening was associated with a lower risk of subsequent dementia.
The value of novelty
Challenging new experiences of any kind can boost cognitive health, by helping the brain develop parts of nerve cells called dendrites, which are like branches of a tree, Nussbaum said. For example, well-known studies out of University College London have shown that parts of the brains of London taxi drivers actually expanded to help them navigate their complex routes around the city. While these studies focused on people in a work environment, Nussbaum and others think that the novelty of leisure travel—especially the kind that involves navigating an unfamiliar environment on your own—can also boost the brain.
Elderhostel, a Boston-based nonprofit organization, offers various levels of structure in the travel programs it offers, rebranded in recent years under the name Road Scholar. The most popular among boomers is the “flex” option that splits days in half, between planned group activities and independent exploration, said JoAnn Bell, vice president of Road Scholar Programs. Navigating unfamiliar terrain can be stressful, Bell said, so often tour guides will help participants learn their way around a new place before they go out on their own.
For Joe Nevin, a former Apple executive and ski instructor in Aspen, Colo., half the fun of visiting a new place is figuring out the metro system. A “mileage runner,” Nevin, 67, racks up more than 100,000 frequent-flier miles a year by visiting far-flung locales such as Tokyo and Singapore. (He usually spends no more than a couple of days in each destination, which he said helps to minimize jet lag.)
What if your idea of travel is visiting the same beach resort every year, where you lie on the same patch of sand? To be sure, this type of vacation confers certain health benefits, including lowering the stress hormones that have been shown to accelerate aging. But if your goal is to boost brain health, it helps to shake up your routine.
And what if you lack wanderlust completely? With so much societal focus on bucket-list travel for retirees, some folks feel guilty that they’d rather stay home. One answer, Nussbaum said, is to take baby steps outside your comfort zone. For example, visit the next county over, or try a new restaurant.
Traveling for exercise
When he’s not taking the longest route possible around the world, Nevin teaches boomers how to ski moguls and powder through Bumps for Boomers, the ski program he founded in Aspen. He teaches boomers with ski experience how to break out of their “intermediate rut,” working within the limits of the middle-aged physique with a focus on maintaining balance and controlling speed. “We’ve got all these boomers trying to keep up with their grandkids,” Nevin said. Studies strongly suggest that regular exercise may help reduce cognitive impairment and the risk of dementia.
One nice convergence that often happens with active family travel is that the oldest and youngest participants have the same stamina levels, said Dan Austin, president of Austin Adventures, a Billings, Montana-based travel company. On a cycling day, guides might take the younger kids and the grandparents on a 15-mile bike trip, while the older kids and the parents push on for an additional 20 miles, Austin said.
Group travel builds social ties, which studies have suggested help protect against dementia. Joyce Minosh, a retired secretary from outside Boston, enjoys taking hiking trips with friends through Road Scholar and other programs. Her husband prefers to stay at home and play bridge, which is just fine by Minosh. “It’s great to go traveling with friends,” she said. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
source: marketwatch

Sunday, 27 September 2015

Wyndham reaches 1,000 hotels in China

The 227-room Wyndham Urumqi North, one of two new hotels to open under the company's Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand flag

Wyndham Hotel Group has reached 1,000 hotel mark in Greater China, claiming to be the first global hospitality company to do so.

The news follows after the announcement of two new hotels opening under the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand in the country. These include the 227-room Wyndham Urumqi North, which is situated along China's strategic Belt and Road initiative and is the first internationally branded hotel in Wujiaqu City; as well as the 389-room Wyndham Qingdao, which is located in Qingdao's Chengyang economic zone and is the second Wyndham hotel to open in the city.

Commenting on the milestone, Wyndham Hotel Group president and CEO Geoff Ballotti said: "Today serves as an incredible testament to the strength of the Wyndham Hotel Group portfolio and highlights the increasing significance that China continues to play, not just for our organisation but the industry as a whole.

"China continues to be on the rise and with a booming middle class that is traveling more and more, we believe there's no better company as uniquely positioned as we are today to meet their evolving needs."


Wyndham Hotel Group first entered the Greater China region in 1998 with the introduction of its Howard Johnson hotel brand. In 2004 it introduced Days Inn and Super 8, and over the last decade the company has undertaken a strategic roll-out of six of the company's 15 brands throughout more than 260 cities and 30 provinces.

source: arabiantravelnews

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

21 Travel Hacks You Need to Know Before You Go


The best part of traveling is arriving at your destination. All of the other stuff that comes before is typically a drag. Overpaying for airfare. Check. Cramming your life into a suitcase. Check. Sitting uncomfortably close to strangers in a winged tube in the sky. Ugh, check.
Also on your pre-flight checklist: Jumping through the TSA’s anal-retentive hoops (barefoot). Packing no liquids, gels, aerosols, creams or pastes over 3.4 measly ounces per itty-bitty container. Then plopping them into quart-sized, clear plastic Ziploc bags. Oh, and ditch the shoes. You have to prove they’re not dangerous.
Bon voyage, baby. Isn’t traveling fun? With a few simple -- and sneaky -- travel hacks up your sleeve, it can be. Or it can suck less, at least.
From snagging an entire row of seats on the plane, to rigging your suitcase so it (hopefully) arrives in the first batch of bags at the baggage claim, the quick travel tricks detailed in the infographic below can help make getting there and back much less of a headache. 
Pack a few of these helpful travel hacks for your next trip and happyish trails to you.
source: Entrepreneur


Thursday, 17 September 2015

Dubai's hotel imbalance to be addressed


The midscale sector of Dubai's hotel market, which has been dominated by luxury properties for years, will get a major boost in the final months of 2015 as the emirate attempts to address the balance.
Data released by JLL revealed that up to 50% of the 3,600 new hotel rooms to enter the Dubai market in the final months of the year have a three-star or lower rating, while competitive room rates are set to rival the luxury market, as 69% will have four stars or less.
“This will add much-needed midscale room stock to the emirate’s hotel landscape, where three-star or below room supply only accounted for 29% of total availability in the first quarter of 2015,” said Nadege Noblet-Segers, exhibition manager, Arabian Travel Market.
Mid-market travel has been selected as the official show theme for ATM 2016, which will take place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from April 25-28 next year.
Destinations like Dubai are already putting in place programmes to encourage investment into midmarket hotels such as the release of government land plots for three and four-star hotel projects, speeding up of the construction permit approval process to just two months, and the waiver of the 10 percent municipality room tax for four years upon completion.
Dubai currently has a total hotel key count of approximately 94,000. This figure is set to rise to between 140,000 and 160,000 keys by 2020 with around 20% set to target the mid-market hotel sector.
A host of global hotel brands and local UAE-based operators are targeting the aggressive brand expansion in this area.
A Knight Frank study revealed that the Dubai segment showed a year-on-year RevPAR increase of 0.5% during the first quarter of the year, which was driven by an increase in average rate at a time declining performance for the luxury and upper upscale segments.
Demand is being driven by a growing middle class in markets such as China, India and Africa combined with budget Generation Y travelers and young families.
“There is massive pent-up demand for new midscale projects and this could also be the catalyst for a new wave of visitors for whom saving money on their hotel stay would free up their budget to spend in other areas from dining and attractions to shopping and excursions,” said Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels, which has an active portfolio of properties covering both the upscale and midmarket segment.

Monday, 14 September 2015

Eid Al Adha 2015

Saudi Arabia announced that Thursday, September 24, will be the first day of Eid Al Adha.
The Saudi Press Agency [SPA] said announcement was made in a statement by the Supreme Court in the Kingdom.
The statement said Arafah will be on Wednesday, the ninth of the month of Dhu Al Hijjah, corresponding to September 23 and the first day of Eid accordingly will fall on Thursday, the tenth of the month of Dhu Al Hijjah, corresponding to 24th of the month of September.
Dubai, UAE announcement soon.
Source : Emirates247

Sunday, 13 September 2015

Dubai to host World Retail Congress


Dubai is first city outside Europe to host the event since its launch in 2007.


Dubai has won the bid to host the 10th World Retail Congress 2016, adding another feather to its cap of achievements as an international business and retail destination.

The announcement came during the concluding day of the 9th Congress in Rome where Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry-led trade mission participated.

As part of its strategy to promote Dubai’s business attractiveness to international investors, the Dubai delegation was led by Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, and included Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber, as well as a number of leading retailers and officials from the emirate.

Majid Saif Al Ghurair said: “The opportunity to host this global event will also promote Dubai’s status as a global hub for major events, conferences and exhibitions, which also complements Dubai Chamber’s commitment to bringing high profile global events to the emirate to promote its vibrant investment environment to leading international investors.”

Hamad Buamim said Dubai will add value to the Congress as this landmark event is the biggest convention of the retail industry’s leading professionals and will help enhance the competitiveness and potential of Dubai retailers.

He further stressed that the retail sector is a key pillar of Dubai's economy, contributing about 29 per cent to the emirate’s GDP as the expected volume of retail trade was around Dh86 billion in 2014, with expected growth rise of 5.9 per cent during the current year while expecting to maintain the same growth rate for the sector at compound annual growth rate of 6.1 per cent until 2019, indicating positive outlook for the sector’s growth in the medium to long term.

The President and CEO of Dubai Chamber informed that there are many factors that help in the growth of the retail sector in Dubai including the growing economic prosperity, steady population growth, rising salaries leading to high consumer spending, cultural diversity, tourism growth, continuation of infrastructure development projects, and the establishment of more commercial centres which are supporting the retail sector development.

Since its inception in 2007, the World Retail Congress has taken place in major European cities including Barcelona, Berlin, London, Paris and Rome.

source: Emirates247

Monday, 7 September 2015

Times Square Hotel in New York will soon be re branded as a W hotel.


The iconic Manhattan at Times Square Hotel
Qatar's Al Rayyan Tourism and Investment Company (ARTIC) announced that The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel in New York will soon be rebranded as a W hotel.
ARTIC is the international hospitality subsidiary of Al Faisal Holding Company in Qatar, who had acquired the hotel back in 2014 and had kept the wraps on its new operators and brand.
ARTIC has signed an MoU with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, which will see Starwood take over the management of The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel. Under the MoU, ARTIC is fully renovating the hotel, complying with Starwood’s specifications for the W brand. The renovation and conversion programme is expected to be completed by the end of 2017 driven by an investment of $250 million.
Built in 1962, the hotel is located at the heart of Mid-Town and combines the age-old glamour of New York and classic Art Deco detailing in the coveted Times Square location. The 22-storey property currently features 689 rooms and suites, commercial space and is located in close proximity near New York’s landmarks. The Hotel covers an entire block of 44,100sqm.
H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, chairman of ARTIC, commented: “ARTIC’s renovation and rebranding of this prime New York hotel under the iconic W brand is in line with our strategy of adding value to high quality assets in premium locations. We have developed a strong relationship with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in recent years and I am pleased to announce this latest agreement which further extends our collaboration with them.
"The US is a key market for us and I am confident that we will invest in more hotels there as we further enhance ARTIC’s portfolio of premium hotels and move towards a flotation of the Company on one of the international stock exchanges.”
Tarek M. El Sayed, executive board member, said: “When we acquired The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel last year we said that we were planning a major renovation and for the Hotel to be managed by a leading international hotel company.
"Today’s announcement marks the next stage in that process and it also reflects our commitment to increase the value of our assets. We look forward to further enhancing our US presence as more opportunities arise.”
In a deal that involved the two parties, Starwood sold their Miami hotel to Qatar's ARTIC, in early 2014 for $213 million. Also, they bought out a five-star hotel in Rome in 2014.

Saturday, 5 September 2015

Dubai and China Tourism trade


Dubai Cruise Tourism, part of Dubai Tourism, organised a three-city roadshow in China last week to showcase Dubai as an ideal embarkation destination on an international cruise itinerary for Chinese tourists.

The trip reinforces the growing prominence of China as an international source market, with visits to Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai.

The roadshow, the second undertaken by Dubai Cruise Tourism over the past 12 months, showcased Dubai’s strong credentials as a cruise destination ahead of the 2015-2016 season, which commences in September.

Initiatives such as this have also contributed to the 2014-2015 cruise season being recognized as the best performing Dubai cruise season to date with an 11% increase over the 2012-2013 season, which held the record previously.

So far, the first half of 2015 has seen a 21% increase in ship calls and 42% increase in the number of cruise tourists.


This year’s roadshow featured a series of training sessions and workshops for China’s travel trade professionals, providing them with the capabilities to showcase Dubai’s cruise offerings to the Chinese vacationers.

The roadshow also included gatherings that allowed travel trade professionals access to representatives from industry leaders MSC, and Royal Caribbean International and provided a platform to discover and discuss the mutual benefits of promoting cruise tourism and the newly launched multi-entry UAE visit visa for cruise tourist.

Commenting on the event, Dubai Tourism senior vice president Hamad bin Mejren said: “There is an increasing appetite amongst Chinese tourists to discover destinations differently and cruising from Dubai is a concept they have embraced with enthusiasm.

"China ranks number 20 in the top source markets for Dubai’s Cruise Tourism; as we were able to communicate successfully about what makes Dubai a must-visit destination for the Chinese travellers during our previous roadshow and With this visit, we are hoping to build on that success and further boost the number of Chinese cruise tourists visiting the emirates.

Chinese visitors to Dubai increased by 27% in the last year and we look forward to a similar increase in the numbers for cruise tourism sector as well.”


The Dubai cruise season runs from September to June, with 2015-2016 expected see a total of 128 cruise ship calls in the city, bringing more than 465,000 cruise tourists.

source: arabiantravelnews

Wednesday, 2 September 2015

Dubai Is Using Palm Trees to Charge Your Phone

The UAE's most populous city is harnessing its most abundant resource—sunshine—to provide WiFi and charging outlets on beaches and streets.

Date palms are a familiar feature in the United Arab Emirates. Man-made palms? Not so much. This will soon change as a sustainable-energy company Smart Palm is set to install 103 faux-date-palm solar collectors as a creative, eco-friendly way to provide connectivity, data, energy, and shade in Dubai. According to Fast Company, Smart Palm and the Dubai Municipality have partnered to erect two 20-foot charging "trees," one on Surf Beach and another in Zabeel Park so far.

The Smart Palm's fronds are—you guessed it—topped with photovoltaic panels which take in and store energy from the sun. The trunk and platform of the stylized white-metal and wooden trees are equipped with W-iFi (reaching devices up to 300 feet away) and eight "charging points" for visitors to plug into the electricity created by the Smart Palm and power up their devices at speeds 2.5 times faster than a normal outlet.


Other cities have also ventured into the realm of public solar-energy charging stations. In 2013, New York City collaborated with AT&T to install 25 free, solar-powered charging poles around the city, keeping urbanites' smartphone batteries in the green. San Francisco now has its own solar energy stations as well, from San Diego's Envision Solar. Three locations debuted earlier this year, and now provide free solar energy for the charging of electric cars. It seems like the urban energy of the future will be delivered sunny-side up.

source:cntraveler