Author: Shawon Hannan
The Hydro, an event arena in Glasgow, Scotland, is ready to open on September 2, 2012. The building will be equipped to host around 12,000 people, and will be used for concerts and entertainment events. It is reckoned to be one of the largest such venues in the UK, after the Manchester Arena, the O2 Arena in London, the Sheffield Arena, and the LG Arena in Birmingham. Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre Limited (SECC) is constructing the venue. John Sharkey, the chief executive officer for SECC, said, ‘The progress that has been made with The Hydro has been outstanding. The…
Milton Keynes, in Buckinghamshire, UK, has been expanding its horizons and hosting a number of cultural events and activities this summer, continuing over the coming weeks. A town that has seen continuous growth since being classified by the government as a ‘New Town’ in the 1960’s, to help cater for the population overspill from London, Milton Keynes has been chosen as the headquarters for a number of major businesses and organisations, including the Open University. The Milton Keynes Summer of Culture 2012 Exhibition is currently open until September 21 at the town’s Central Library. Celebrating the major events and organisations…
The UK deficit hit the headlines this July with the announcement of a 0.7% shrinkage in the economy. Beyond the economic short-fall however, there appears to be another, more sinister deficit at work; one which is thought to be costing the nation in terms of physical and mental health, compromising well-being whilst causing long-term social and psychological damage to our youngsters; this deficit involves the shrinkage of our children’s natural experiential landscapes. As play, youth and environment workers at the Heartwood Project, a woodland based initiative close to the city of Bath, it has grown increasingly evident to us over…
The Kerala Travel Mart, an annual travel event showcasing the tourism potential of the South Indian state of Kerala, is to be held in September. The seventh edition of the Kerala Travel Mart is to be held from September 27 to 30. The event has attracted much attention from international as well as domestic buyers and service providers. So far, about 460 international buyers and 1,245 domestic buyers have registered for the event, which is double the response by the same time last year. The KTM Society has 599 members in the state and includes various businesses such as airlines,…
Australia-based BIG4 Holiday Parks has announced that it has added a new park to its existing chain of 180 parks. The firm said that the new park, BIG4 Eden Gateway Holiday Park, is located on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales. It is very close to the golden sandy beaches of Twofold Bay, and just about a kilometre from the town centre. The proximity of the park to the town centre offers customers a chance to partake of facilities that include fine dining and curio shopping at Eden’s historic attractions. Those looking for accommodation inside the park have options…
British holidaymakers claim that their vacations are worth much more to them than their monetary value. A study of 2,845 UK adults that was conducted by Nuffield Health, a healthcare charity, and Kuoni Travel, a travel company, has highlighted that holidays are perceived to decrease the stress everyday life, for better physical and mental health. According to the study, around 84 percent of holidaymakers claim that they measure their holidays on how they benefit their state of mind, and not in terms of value for money. The research has concluded that taking a break impacts on the lives of travellers…
Notting Hill Carnival, an annual event that takes place every year at Notting Hill in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, is all set to return this year over the bank holiday weekend of August 26 and 27. The event will include the participation of around 50,000 performers in its famous parade, all dressed in the traditional bright and imaginative costumes. The West Indian community, particularly those with roots in Trinidad and Tobago, usually lead the parade, which on a list of the most popular street festivals across the world, is second only to the Rio Carnival held…
Ryanair, an Ireland-based low cost airline, has announced an increase in its first quarter revenues for the period ended June 30, 2012. The airline has reported that new bases in Billund, Budapest, Manchester, Palma, Paphos and Wroclaw are reporting high load factors, at very low fares. The new bases, as well as the ones about to open, are ready to provide the airline with new opportunities to grow across Europe. The fiscal first quarter revenues have increased by 11 percent to €1,284m, while traffic increased by 6 percent and average fares increased by 4 percent, from the first quarter last…
Thomas Cook Group Plc, a UK-based travel company that has recently been in the news as it battles against financial difficulties, has completed the sale of its stake in Hoteles Y Clubs De Vacaciones (HCV). The company owned a 51 percent stake in HCV, which has been sold to a consortium led by Iberostar Hoteles y Apartamentos SL, for €72.2 million in cash. Iberostar is a Spain-based hotel company, which owns around 100 properties located in 15 countries across Europe, the Caribbean and South America. The HCV portfolio consists of five hotels and a golf club in Spain, and the…
Dalmahoy, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club, a Marriott international brand property located in Edinburgh, Scotland, has announced the completion of a renovation project, and the opening of a new restaurant. The £1 million refurbishment has involved the launch of a new Marriott concept at the hotel, the re-branding of its restaurant as Zest, and the upgrading of the James Braid Bar. The project has also involved modifications to the hotel’s leisure club, as well as spa and fitness areas, renovations to the Golf Pro Shop and upgrades at the gymnasium, tennis courts and dance studio. The refurbished spa now…