Invasion of the Dutch!

The Dutch people are discovering Europe, including their own country. The "Nederlands Bureau voor Toerisme en Congressen" tells us that about 450.000 inhabitants are going to visit foreign countries, 550.000 are going to see the most beautiful spots of Holland.

The next holiday, called "voorjaarsvakantie", better known as "krokusvakantie" for us Belgians, is being divided in two weeks, because the system in Holland is like this: the North is going to take their holiday from 14 Februari till 22 March. The South on the other hand from 21 Februari till 1 March.

Dutch people staying in Holland are going to stay in Bungalows, sometimes like in holidayparcs such as "Centerparcs". Abroad they are going to stay in hotels, appartments and bungalows. When they go abroad, they mostly go for a skitrip.

Après-ski probably is the main reason for the Dutch when they go skiing. Unless the prejudice they mostly travel on a shoestring, they don't. They spend a lot. Not like a millionaire though, but more then you should think. So it's good they travel, especially for the (European) economy.

Travel fairs 2009: Brussels/Antwerp

A brandnew touristic season and year starts in January! Not only a brandnew year with good intentions ( Intentions we all want to fulfil of course ;)), but a year which starts with several travel fairs, in Belgium known as Brussels and Antwerp. Now, what may we expect of these fairs?

Antwerp: The travel fair in Antwerp will take place at 23th January until 29th January, mostly from 10 til 18 h. The guest country will be Tunesia. One of the biggest fairs of Belgium will this year attract many customers as well, although, let's hope so. There will be more then 600 exhibitors, and neighbouring countries as well as far away destinations are represented on this meeting of salesmen- and women, and potential buyers.

Brussels: Travel fair Brussels, a magnificent spot to see the destinations/touroperators/airlines... who offer interresting actions and show their new brochures. Italy is the guest country of this year, it opens at 5 and ends at 9 February. Every day from 10 until 18 h. For a client it really is worth to see, or just to walk around.

Now, will these fairs attract a lot of people? Probably they will attract at least the number of visitors they had last year. But why, we are in a crisis?! Because people don't buy that fast on these fairs, most of the time, they don't buy at all. Visitors don't feel obliged to buy. They come to watch, and for many of them it just is an argument to be already in the holidayatmosphere. So that's why they come and feel good when walking through the aisles. Representatives have the oppurtunity to attract those visitors with interestingprices, actions and reductions.

Let us hope this will be a good announcement of a good year for the touristic industry in general !

How to change a jumbo jet into a hostel ?!

We can find hostels all over the world. Sometimes they can be found in prisons, castles, farms... But have you ever heard of a hostel in a jumbo jet?






In Arlanda, Sweden they managed to change a jumbo jet into a hostel. Arlanda is one of Sweden's mayor airports, and is to be found close to Stockholm. The Boeing 747-200 is situated at the entrance of Arlanda, and you can see the plane off the road.



The hostel has got 85 beds spread over 25 rooms. The rooms aren't big at all, only 6 m², and a height of 3 m. Most rooms have 3 beds, and are equipped with TV, wireless Internet free of charge. You have to share bathroom and toilet with other rooms. Only in the suite ( situated in the cockpit! ), which is much bigger than other rooms, sanitary can be found. You don't have to sleep in the hostel, if you want to visit the airplane. You can go on an excursion with your family if you want and you can visit the cafe to have a snack or a coffee.

The prices differ:

For a dorm (man and female are separated), you pay about € 31,5.

For a three-bedded room the price is : € 123,06.

The next time you visit Sweden, make sure this attraction is on your must-see list!

Spotting Dolphins in the North-Sea

Why should we go to South-Africa, Madagascar or Canada to see dolphins swimming. We just can go to Ostends, where Jeremy Demey organises dolphin safaris on our very own North-Sea. People become calm and relaxed when they see those dolphins.

This is an example again of what our beautiful country has to offer. Dolphins! Who thought about that??? Belgium discovers its opportunities more and more, and takes the chance to offer those products.

Another example: Vespatours through Limburg. Rent a Vespa, and take a tour through the magnificent landscapes of the south of Limburg. It really works!

Hotels are popping up all over the province as well, again an evidence of the tourists we are attracting. That's good. Especially for the expectations of prosperity. We just have to wait until we reach the point, we hit the jackpot. And that can be today, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow!

BTExpo shows off !?

The annual trade fair dedicated to tourism professionals, this year had it's 5Th edition. XIOS hogeschool Limburg, Tourism- and Recreation management was there! Walking down the aisles of tour operators, hotel representatives, airlines, tourist boards, associations..., we saw enthusiastic pros selling themselves, sometimes recognising each other, and having a good chat.

There were not that many exhibitors, but that's not that remarkable, knowing this was for professionals only. And it's definitely not a problem at all. You maybe ask yourself, if that's boring then, when there are only a few exhibitors? Not at all! For us, it's the opportunity to see them all, and have a good impression of all of them.

We also saw a press conference (exciting!) of Travelcoop. Travelcoop is an overarching company for travel agents. On this press conference, Jan Peeters, today officially launched as spokesman of Travelcoop, gave the press and other professionals information about the opportunities & challenges, seen in the future for the independent travel agent. Afterwards, there was the release of the first official "Travelcoop-brochure". The brochure maintains the most important products, Travelcoop offers. I'm curious what the press now is going to write!

In general, it was a little bit different from other expositions, but let's say it was worth to see.

Opening a hotel in financial crisis: Atlantis Palm Hotel

Opening a hotel in financial crisis, you would think it isn't the best thing to do. Companies have difficulties, so have financial institutions and tourists react on this evolution by not spending that much money anymore. Though, the Arab Gulf State of Dubai thinks differently.

$ 1,5 mio. That's the price of this construction. Sol Kerzner, gaming and resort magnate, says they believe in this hotel, on a long-term vision. They believe Dubai will be one of the top destinations of the world. They have attracted a growing number of tourists. Is this surprising? No! Dubai and the rest of the gulf states are having a tourist boom. This because of the investments they do, and the becoming of a brand, the Gulf state-brand.

Back to the Atlantis Palm Hotel. The hotel's signature suite costs $ 25.000 a night, beyond the reach of ordinary holiday makers. But will this affect the rich businessman? They always spend a lot of money, when they are travelling, sometimes with money of the company itself and probably they will be doing throughout the crisis. Unless they really are affected by the financial problems, stocks...

But how many guests have been staying in the hotel since it has opened in September? The occupancy is around 77 and 78 percent according to Kerzner, but internal documents obtained by Reuters forecast occupancy, rates around 19 to 80 percent, between 19 - 25 November, and peaking when the star guests arrive for the Gala Lunch. But look at this: 17 November: Average Room Rate: $ 231. 20 November: Average Room Rate: $ 40!!! This because of a low occupancy. By now, it has raised from 26% up to 33%. Apparently, businesspeople do feel the financial crisis. And the hotel does too. It has this strange effect on us, hasn't it?

This hotel is a piece of art in Dubai, again. After the Burj Al Arab, it will be a magnificent hotel, that attracts wealthy tourists. And after all, that's the target of this Golf State...

In search for an hotel? : globalhotelreview.com

Wonderful ! Eventually a subjective site about hotels worldwide. You can choose whether you like the hotel by giving good marks, or if you think this hotel isn't not worth existing, just let yourself go in the ratings.

A short manual to use this site:

On the first page, you should enter the name of a hotel, and if possible, the city and country where it is situated. Afterwards, you get the website, email, adress, map... of this hotel. But the thing we are looking for, can be found at the bottom of the map: the hotel reviews. You can see the opinion of those people, who stayed in the hotel (hopefully). They rate cleanliness, facilities, service, location and pricing.

You can find a written review about the hotel. This is a nice tool to use, when you want to go to a hotel, you sometimes really don't know what to expect. Just have a look on this site, but be aware of the subjectivity of some persons (could be hotelowners), who maybe want to undermine other players. But don't be frightened ! If there are more good reviews, than bad ones, it's easy to find the "hotelowner" ;) Or it's just someone with a bad experience in this hotel.

Overall, this site seems a good and subjective tool to me. Just check it out yourself: http://www.globalhotelreview.com/