tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22538434320435304902011-09-17T10:48:43.432Ztourism in england hotels attractions and more plus a few personal comments on other subjects including tourism development and the media, hotels and places visitedJohn is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.comBlogger291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-46576335256662465432011-04-24T21:35:00.006Z2011-04-24T21:45:02.534Z

EUKHOST - ISP ReviewThis is a personal view and not related to tourism company I am a director of.A personal message from our MD UPDATED: 24 April 2011Beware this ISP company - in fact don't use them at allWe have 3 servers with them . A Windows dedicated server in the USA, a Windows dedicated server in the UK and a Linux dedicated server.The EUKHOST Windows UK server acts as a database server

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-60260167788071889252011-02-11T23:34:00.006Z2011-02-11T23:42:33.517Z

Hot off the press - so to speak - we understand that the WHOLE team at VisitBritain business tourism are facing the chop.This includes Simon Mills , who has only been there a year, joining the soon to be defunct team in 2010 from the Hong Kong Tourism Board in London. We feel sorry for him and his team - probably promised so much yet given so little.Hold on - is not London hosting the Olympics

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-64318332782497964242011-02-11T23:20:00.005Z2011-02-11T23:30:36.819Z

With VisitBritain closing their London Visitor Center in Lower Regent Street it ends any physical place for tourists to go for information in central London.It just leaves the City Of London centre by St Paul's Cathedral, run by the City of London Corporation.Also to close are 13 offices in places like New Zealand - a traditional place for thousands of visitors to the UK.Yet Visit Britain are

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-81287729460624575842010-12-20T21:47:00.002Z2010-12-20T21:55:12.078Z

According to TravelMoleABTA Spokesman Sean Tipton implied that many of those stranded at UK airports should not have been there in the first place..... Tipton added: "I suspect that, in spite of the media reports, there are not many thousands of holidaymakers stuck at UK airports."The majority of those who are stranded at airports this weekend are foreigners trying to get home for Christmas. I

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-12190688134931852652010-12-20T20:59:00.004Z2010-12-20T21:26:59.844Z

Really BAD service from Tesco today.Delivery date was picked weeks ago and those tasty Tesco treats ordered - until this morning - what a farce.A man rings up - "About your TESCO grocery delivery today..."Me: YepTesco Man: "It's been cancelled"Me: WhyTesco Man; "Snow - all deliveries cancelled if you want to re-book cal the call centre Sorry - bye"Um wait a minute Tesco's I don't have a car and

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-31072511315138720962010-11-30T18:52:00.003Z2010-11-30T18:57:45.341Z

One of our favourite hotel chains, City Inn, are rebranding as Mint Hotel, which sounds rather cool.A new Mint Hotel is due to open in the City of London and in Amsterdam, just by Central station.We actually stay in City Inn hotels ourselves when we visit Bristol or London so it would be interesting to see any decor changes next time we stay. Maybe we will get free mints !

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-66479012643244338092010-11-30T18:44:00.004Z2010-11-30T18:58:40.221Z

"This is very, very good news for tourism in England," according to James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEnglandEspecially good news for London hotels, who are already being booked out for the Royal Wedding on the 29th April 2012.We have even heard that hotel rates are suddenly 300% higher for dates around the Big Day.We guess all hotel rooms around Westminster, Pimlico and even good hotels

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-78603028208481785042010-09-12T00:21:00.002Z2010-09-12T00:28:46.307Z

It's about time there was a compulsory hotel registration scheme in the UKAs long as the premises pass health & hygiene laws and the self-assessed fire regulations anyone can open a "hotel" - even if it is actually a bed and breakfast.With the Olympics coming up some visitors are going to be disappointed about the quality of their London hotel.With a compulsory registration scheme hotel guests

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-43929825153345676402010-09-06T23:49:00.006Z2010-09-07T00:06:55.741Z

With Coop travel not forecasting an upswing in profits until late 2011 , are holidays in the UK still more popular then going abroad ?Probably - as the downside to UK holidays is the unpredictable weather - the south-east got more of the summer weather than the south-west this year . The upside is you pay in pounds - and the euro rate is still not that good, even though hoteliers in Europe are

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-70916539925576771092010-08-25T00:39:00.002Z2010-08-25T00:41:54.473Z

Hotels are falling over themselves to be perceived as "green"The latest one , from America, is that they don't change the sheets. Or rather they will if you , um, pay them.About time being Green didn't = cost saving for the hotel and , oddly, no decrease in price for the guest.

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-43158245145816824992010-08-25T00:27:00.004Z2010-08-25T00:49:48.932Z

Um been some time but one item of interest is the rebranding of the Holiday Cottage Group.Wyndham Worldwide, who purchased Hoseasons, an old established UK British company, has suddenly decided to disguise it's American ownership of Cottages4U and other UK companies it has bought up, including Blakes canal boats, by re-branding the Holiday Cottage Group as Hoseasons Group.So be aware Hoseasons

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-66296528102874059742007-09-05T13:42:00.000Z2007-09-05T13:47:08.259Z

News story that VisitBritain entertained a load of travel agents from the UAE in May, flew them over gave them tours, but they haven't sold one package to Scotland. Not quite sure why VisitBritain did this -isn't this VisitScotland's remit really.Come to think of it what real links does Dubai have with Scotland ?More details at http://www.arabianbusiness.com/498661-

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-57714918216004728272007-08-26T00:25:00.000Z2007-08-26T00:31:50.211Z

There is going to be a "Restoration" type programme on ITV in the autumn.The "winner" gets funding from the Big Lottery.As well as the Eden Project ( which has already had 10's of millions of funding from the EU and other sources ) and others being shortlisted I'm afraid our pick is the Science Museum outpost at Swindon - big hangers - rockets , aircraft ( even a Dan-Air Comet ) , bicycles,

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-30222882836067504442007-08-26T00:19:00.000Z2007-08-26T00:23:06.126Z

So far - noted on this campaign1. a newsletter that mentioned English Countryside once - most of the rest was just sales messages - is this what tourism promotion is about from Enjoy England ( Visit England - or whatever it is supposed to be these days ) ??2. an advert in the Sunday Times in the main section - not the Travel Guide section for some reason.Did that cost £1 miilion...

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-47007347683188422332007-08-15T10:07:00.000Z2007-08-15T10:17:43.087Z

Cultural Secretary James Purnell has announced a new £1 milllion campaign to rural tourism.The goverment is giving £750,000 and Visit Britain is putting in £250,000 from its budget.The campaign is to promote rural areas and attractionsWe guess this is in response to the floods and foot and mouth scares. It will be interesting to see how they spend the extra funds - presumably a mail-shot to their

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-90339378911564396162007-07-27T13:12:00.000Z2007-07-27T13:18:26.815Z

No smoking in travelodges either - from next year for existing travelodges and from now on opening of new ones. Premier Travel Inns play "follow the leader" and join in as well.So some enterprising souls have started http://www.hotelsmoking.co.uk to list hotels and pubs with bedrooms etc where you smoke.Fairly good idea if they get some support from hotels with smoking rooms. For accommodation

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-5642496354026330682007-06-29T15:01:00.000Z2007-06-29T15:03:13.418Z

Completely off topic. I do love those events that have massive media exposure and you never ever find out what happened next.So I have one for you here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6223750.stm

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-32706455848405048522007-06-19T13:44:00.000Z2007-06-19T13:54:52.151Z

JustCallLondon has launched a new telephone call service for visitors to London.Operating every day visitors and tourists can make telephone enquiries or text message tourist questions.The telephone service is a premium rate number but at 50p a minute it is cheaper than some tourist board offices. Text costs £1.00 per message.For overseas visitors there is a online subscription service operated

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-53278942728778104982007-06-13T10:05:00.000Z2007-06-13T10:18:02.582Z

VisitBritain is trying to get England's attractions to sign up to a new national Code of Practice.From April 1 2008, only attractions signing up to the Code of Practice or those part of the Visitor Attractions Quality Assurance Service (VAQAS) will be promoted by VisitBritain, presumably on web sites and in brochures.It costs £25 - but is this just another attempt to raise revenue from a new

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-9559203744941734182007-05-25T13:44:00.000Z2007-05-25T13:47:14.362Z

Christopher Rodrigues - Chairman VisitBritain - is due to speak at the 3rd World Tourism Conference in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.Nice !Beats Birmingham - wonder how long he stayed at the British Travel Tradefair - can't remember seeing him speak there.

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-31489808755555279332007-05-23T11:11:00.000Z2007-05-23T11:19:11.692Z

VisitBritain has appointed Saatchi , those well-known advertising types, to re-brand VisitBritain by the time of the Olympic Games in London.But as usual in the VisitBritain rollercoaster of a ride, it is for "international marketing activity"So guess what - that probably means VisitEngland is left out the cold again - the re-branding paid for by cuts in staff.Does VisitBritain no longer take its

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-28959169719090011122007-05-14T12:47:00.000Z2007-05-14T13:00:33.408Z

VisitBritain cut 80 jobs - 35 overseas and 45 in the ukSome of these cuts are fairly drastic and included Claire Hancer, who has just got a SHINE award as Public Sector Woman of The Year in the travel industry. Claire worked on Visit England campaign so I guess its another blow to to Visit England at the expense of Visit Britains focus on ensuring all those nice overseas offices take less

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-6044345417864954092007-05-04T22:22:00.000Z2007-05-04T22:32:21.854Z

VisitBritain launched a new website (yes another one !) www.vistbritain.us which is supposed to be one of a number of specific country targeted websites.It appears to be rather similar to visitbritain.com - but just think of the money spent on it and the fun they had .It also appears to be trying to sell things - so instead of VisitBritain promoting Britain as a destination ( and their brief

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-10187371780803117712007-05-02T14:04:00.000Z2007-05-02T14:23:57.755Z

Um when it is actually a Guest House or Bed and Breakfast !My definition of a hotel is one that has someone on reception all the time, has a restaurant that has more than one choice of meal, a bar area and a lounge.However there are plenty of establishments around, especially in London, that call themselves hotels but don't meet this definition.These are sometimes described as "bed & breakfast

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-10137214172942847702007-05-01T18:11:00.000Z2007-05-01T18:16:27.217Z

A hotel in England may be a Private Hotel.The distinction is that in a private hotel you are a guest of the owner so if you turn up and he doesn't like the look of you he can say "You can't stay here"A normal hotel has to give you a room - as long as you can pay for it !There are still some small private hotels around - mainly in large seaside resorts and cities.Part 2 ? coming soon...

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-66257340914244396592007-04-30T10:51:00.000Z2007-04-30T11:00:03.487Z

Is it just me that hates those hotel key card, push card in - take out slowly and see the light go green - no it doesn't - so try again - nope doesn't work- try again and again and again... - Ah at last .And after a few drinks it always seems to be more difficult.A few years ago we tried and tried the key card - went to reception and was told we had been locked out as we had a drink at the bar,

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-59196368455128115052007-04-29T11:09:00.000Z2007-05-01T22:32:42.700Z

They work hard, long hours, and often for free.They are the public interface answering questions on disabled access, lost property, people trying to find long-lost relatives, finding somewhere to stay on an August Bank Holiday weekend in a tourist destination near you ..They don't get to go to the "conferences" held in sunny far-away places, they struggle to get funds and support. Yet they are

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-35046100424092109552007-04-28T16:54:00.000Z2007-04-28T21:49:09.926Z

Lets recap - over the years we have had ( going to show my age here !)1. got a crunchy drive - so you're a country house hotel2. Put a spa jaccuzzi thing in a bathroom - so your a spa hotel3. Make everywhere no smoking - so you are a Non-Smoking Hotel then - that gets rid of 30-40% of customers but hey who wants guests to stay and have to clean the rooms ?4. Got a spare room with a table and a

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2253843432043530490.post-40817014796386008372007-04-28T16:46:00.000Z2007-04-28T19:36:36.581Z

Ok this is just going to be a range of topics related to tourism in England - is a fragmented mess ?- is it joined up or just a typical English muddle...Everything here is an individual opinion only - so feel free to comment ( sign in first - all comments are moderated to stop the spammers out there !)I'll try to keep the subjects relevant - but if I go off on a tangent it will be just be me.

John is the namehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11910170740454262923noreply@blogger.com0