Stagecoach expands Icomera Wi-Fi on board UK bus fleets

Icomera AB, the world’s leading provider of cellular broadband gateways, has announced that Stagecoach Group plc, one of the UK's largest transport operators, has expanded its in-vehicle Wi-Fi services for passengers across multiple fleets in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Wales. Stagecoach already utilizes Icomera's award-winning Moovbox M200 Mobile Broadband Gateway to provide mobile Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity to passengers at speeds up to several megabits per second on bus services in London, Oxfordshire and Scotland.

As part of a Government-funded £116m scheme to bring better transportation to Cambridgeshire, Stagecoach has launched a fleet of twenty new state-of-the-art vehicles to operate on the longest and greenest guided busway in the world. Commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council, the 25km (16 mile) guided busway will provide a frequent, reliable, sustainable and attractive public transport alternative to driving between St Ives and Cambridge.

"This is a major investment by Stagecoach in a project that we believe will bring significant economic, transport and environmental benefits to the Cambridgeshire region," said Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus. "The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway will improve access to jobs, education, healthcare and shopping for local people. By using 100% biofuel and equipping the vehicles with hi-spec features such as leather seats and Wi-Fi, we believe we will be able to attract current car users to a significantly greener, smarter travel option.”

Concurrently Stagecoach has invested over £3.5m in seventeen new Moovbox-equipped coaches on the X5 route servicing towns between Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford. "The new coaches boast greener engines, leather seats, free Wi-Fi, power sockets, air-conditioning and access for wheelchair users", said Tony Cox, Managing Director of Stagecoach East. "Commuters will love the free Wi-Fi and power sockets, meaning they can start work as soon as they get on the coach."
In South Wales, Stagecoach has launched a new £2m fleet equipped with Wi-Fi Internet access to allow passengers to check their e-mails and surf the web. The seventeen ADL/MAN Enviro 300 buses hi-tech buses will operate the X4 service from Hereford to Cardiff via Abergavenny, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd, with Internet access provided by the Icomera Moovbox available throughout the journey.

The Moovbox M200 Mobile Broadband Gateway acts as a bridge between a vehicle and high-speed cellular data networks including 3G/HSPA, EV-DO and WiMAX, providing Wi-Fi access and an Ethernet-based local area network (LAN) for connecting on-board systems such as CCTV and passenger information systems. The M200 also has integrated GPS receiver for real-time automatic vehicle location (AVL) via the web-based MoovManage service. Stagecoach will be utilizing the Vodafone's next-generation HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) 3G network to provide Moovbox connectivity.

Thomson Cruises announces A Dream addition to Its fleet

Thomson Cruises, one of the UK’s biggest cruise lines, today announces the addition of Thomson Dream to its fleet. Joining Thomson Celebration, Thomson Spirit and Thomson Destiny, the ship will begin sailing under the Thomson Cruises brand as of April 2010.

David Selby, Director of Cruising enthused “Whilst the recent independent survey of passenger reviews published by Cruise.co.uk illustrates that Thomson Cruises,is already among the highest rated cruise lines in the business, the addition of Thomson Dream will allow us to satisfy an even wider audience, attracting new customers as well as introducing a new option for our many loyal followers who return year after year.”

Currently sailing as the Costa Europa, the ship has capacity for 1,506 passengers and at 54,000 gross tonnes, will be Thomson’s biggest and most luxurious ship yet.

The interior décor is stylish, the public areas of the ship are spacious and tastefully designed, with several bars for watching the day’s port sail away, a large fitness area and sports deck, a cosy library and adults-only area for relaxation.

The Broadway show-lounge with its large revolving stage will allow Thomson to continue to feature its highly popular entertainment programme, for which it is renowned. The ship will also offer a choice of several smaller areas for daytime entertainment and cabaret.

As with Thomson’s other ships, the atmosphere onboard will be relaxed and friendly with emphasis on service, entertainment and dining. The ship’s dining options will be of a very high standard and features five restaurants including a main dining room, an a la carte Grill restaurant and a 24hr buffet restaurant, where friendly waiters are on hand to take care of everything from surf ‘n’ turf to a midnight sandwich.

All cabins onboard, from the super luxury Grand Suites with balconies to the comfortable standard cabins, have been recently renovated. The spacious standard inside and outside cabins have a stylish neutral décor, with a splash of accent colour, while the high end Grand Suites and Suites offer a separate living area, queen size bed and large en-suite bathroom with bath and shower. The Grand Suites also have large balconies for an idyllic sail-away cocktail.

Out on deck there are two swimming pools, one of which has a retractable roof allowing for year-round swimming whatever the weather. Plus, there is plenty of space to sunbathe and relax during the day and then enjoy the entertainment when the sun goes down.

Thomson Dream adds to the highly successful cruise operation out of Palma, joining Thomson Destiny which is currently sailing itineraries during the summer months. Thomson Dream will sail three, seven night itineraries taking in some of the most picturesque areas of the Mediterranean including Rome, Florence and Barcelona. There is also the addition of a new port, La Goulette in Tunisia, a traditional fishing town just 20 minutes from Tunis.

David Selby concludes; “Palma is ideal as a home port. Passengers have a short flight from 22 different UK airports and once there, it is ideally situated to reach a whole host of fantastically varied destinations during a seven night cruise. This latest addition to the fleet reinforces the importance of the cruise market to Thomson and our commitment to its growth.”

A standalone ‘Thomson Dream’ brochure covering itineraries for Summer 2010 will go on sale on 16 July 2009 with prices from just £729 per person based on two adults sharing, including return flights and accommodation on a full-board basis. Plans for the Winter 2010/2011 season will be revealed soon.

It's all Greek to British Holidaymakers - On the Beach

In a survey conducted by leading online travel agent On the Beach, a staggering 72% of holidaymakers admitted that other than saying “hello” and “thank you”, they could not communicate with the locals in their language.

With the holiday season in full swing, and as millions of Brits head to sunnier climes, On the Beach asked 1,000 holidaymakers how they adapt to local culture whilst abroad.

The survey revealed that only a meagre 9% of holidaymakers can converse fully with the locals with 18% saying they could ‘get by’ in a foreign language.

However, it would appear that British holidaymakers are a tad embarrassed by their lack of foreign language skills with 97% admitting they should be making more of an effort. The remaining 3% stated that as they only travel once a year, they don’t feel they need to bother making the effort to learn.

However, what the majority of holidaymakers lack in foreign language skills, they make up for in their enthusiasm to immerse themselves in foreign cultures.

It would appear that the once famous ‘Brit abroad’ tag seems to be diminishing.

Typical British boozers abroad are no longer favourite watering holes amongst holidaymakers, with 87% opting for nights out in traditional local bars instead. Only the remaining 13% admit to partying only in traditional British pubs abroad.

The survey also revealed that the British palate has become more sophisticated over the years with more and more people willing to try new and exotic menus. Of those surveyed, 47% said they favoured local traditional restaurants with only 6% saying they stick to British fare.

Gone are the days when Brits only mix with other Brits whilst on holiday; 91% of those surveyed stated they enjoy mixing with the locals.

Further evidence that the British holidaymaker is keener than ever to experience other cultures can be seen when asked about their choice of hotel. Only 19% said they booked recognised international hotels this summer, with 81% opting for local family run establishments.

Simon Cooper, Chief Executive Officer at On the Beach said, “The survey shows that we behind many of our our European neighbours comes to learning new languages. Not only can it be very useful, the locals really do appreciate it when foreigners make the effort. However, it is good to see that British holidaymakers are becoming more open to different cultures. Many of the most popular holiday destinations including Spain and Turkey have a wonderful rich history and taking time to explore other cultures can only add to the overall holiday experience.”

Safety instructions? Childs' play with Thompson!

Thomson has enlisted their youngest ‘cabin crew’ yet in order to demonstrate the airline’s safety instructions onboard all of their flights. http://www.youtube.com/ThomsonHols

An industry first in UK aviation, this innovative new safety film features a group of children talking passengers through the ins-and-outs of emergency exits, oxygen masks and lifejackets. Children were used for their charm and ‘ahh factor’ with the aim of ensuring that passenger engagement remains high throughout the entire safety video.

This fresh approach stands out against many current onboard safety videos which are viewed by passengers as mundane, old, tired and boring. In fact, research conducted by the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) in 2006 found that 54% of passengers did not watch the in-flight safety video in its entirety.

Carl Gissing, Director of Customer Services at Thomson Airways, comments, “The safety and security of our customers has always been our number one priority. The creative style of this new film demonstrates our commitment to communicating important safety instructions in a way which maximises audience engagement. By adopting a somewhat quirky approach to a mandatory airline safety briefing, we believe that we will achieve increased levels of attention from our customers – and any subsequent debate that arises over in-flight safety can only be a good thing.”

Conducting its own research into the merits of the new and improved safety video, Thomson found that there was a:

· 15% increase in the number of passengers who paid full attention to the video;

· 66% increase in the number of passengers who felt that the new film made them feel more safe;

· 333% growth in the number of passengers who engaged with the video; and

· 91% increase in the number of children under the age of 12 who watched the entire video until the end.

The new safety video has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority and will feature on all short and mid-haul Thomson flights from Monday 13 July 2009. The final phase will be the roll-out of the new video on all long-haul routes from September 2009.

To view the video please use the following link: http://www.youtube.com/ThomsonHols

Best Western has a doggedly good idea

Best Western Hotels, Britain's biggest independent hotel group, has not gone to the dogs. The dogs are going to it!

Tails are wagging with glee at Best Western Hotels across the UK as the group opens its doors with a fanfare of new features being introduced for man's best friend in order to cope with the 150% increase in dog bookings seen over the past year.

Dogs at several hotels now have their own room service - tentatively titled 'Groom' Service - and even enjoy luxury fine dining from their own in-house canine-menu, including delicious items like specially sourced marrow bone and select cuts of free range chicken and rump steak.

Best Western hotels have long been popular with dog owners and their pampered pooches but in the last 12 months the group has seen a huge increase in the number of dog owners seeking suitable accommodation for themselves and their loyal four-legged friends. As a result several hotels within the group, which has won awards for its Pet Friendliness, devised a number of canine-centric new features designed to make guest pooches feel even more pampered.

One of these is the inclusion of special dog-beds, available on request. Owners can now book a twin room with a bed for themselves and a custom doggy-divan for their canine companion. Doggie treats on the pillow and walks specially devised for those with short, medium and long legs are another special feature at the Best Western Monkbar hotel in York.

Pet friendly hotels, are dedicating rooms specifically for guests with dogs and other rooms which are never used to accommodate pets, plus investing in the latest vacuum cleaners designed specifically to cope with pet hairs. For example, one Leeds hotel, the Best Western Dower House, has four rooms with direct access to the hotel gardens.

June Nelsey, general manager of the Best Western Monkbar Hotel, said: "Many people cherish their pets as part of the family, as dog owners ourselves we understand that people don't like to leave their pets at home and want their pet to have as good experience as they do while away.

"We even offer our seven year old Labrador to guests who miss their own pet and want a dog to walk. He has even had dog chews sent from Australia and doggie gifts from America to say thanks for a great holiday."

Clarissa Baldwin, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said: "Dogs love a change of scenery just like anyone else so we are very pleased that dog-owners are increasingly choosing to holiday with their canine chums. Boarding kennels are not necessarily ideal for every pet and some, like the very old, very timid, or animals that have spent time in a Rehoming Centre may find it a stressful experience and, where possible, would be far happier joining you on your break."

Best Western spokesman, Chris Webb, added: "There's been a huge uptake of rooms by dog owners and their pets in the last 12 months. In order to accommodate this increase we are investing in lots of new features to make sure our guests, and their four-legged best friends, are well catered for. We want to make sure that the pooches tails are wagging as much at our hotels as they do at home."

Ends

APH helps teachers, lecturers get better holiday deals

Airport Parking and Hotels (aph.com), the long stay airport parking experts, has teamed up with the Association of Teachers and Lectures (ATL) to offer all members up to 15% off APH airport car parks, 10% off participating airport hotels and 10% off airport lounges.

ATL members just need to book through www.aph.com/atl or call 0844 871 7521 quoting ‘ATL’ to receive the discount on all participating airport parking, airport hotels and airport lounges available with www.aph.com.

Examples of savings include:
One week’s airport parking at Gatwick Airport – only £47.60 saving 15%*
The APH Gatwick car park is situated on 10–15 minutes from the airport and offers transfers to the terminal.

Overnight hotel accommodation at Manchester airport – only £61.20 saving 10%*
The Britannia Airport Manchester South hotel is situated close to the terminal and the price includes a three-course dinner for two people.

“ATL is very pleased with the partnership it has with APH. The feedback we have received about the APH service to our members is very positive” ATL Member Services Department.

Airport Parking and Hotels Ltd has over 20 years' experience as a retailer of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. It offers parking at 24 UK airports, ports and Eurotunnel terminals plus airport hotels packaged with parking, airport lounges, travel insurance, car hire and holiday taxis.

For further information visit www.aph.com or call 01342 859515

Hotels.com reveals the increasing popularity of minimoons

Hotels.com research has revealed that minimoons - trips of less than two weeks - are increasingly replacing traditional fortnight-long honeymoons as cash-conscious newlyweds keep an eye on their budgets.

The Hotels.com poll of 'Wedding Ideas' magazine readers found that over three-quarters (77%) of couples are planning to take a honeymoon lasting less than two weeks. In fact, 30% are planning to go away for just one week or under. This group of 'minimooners' said budget constraints (74%) and worries about work commitments (56%) dictated the shorter length of their holiday.

It is not only the length of stay that is changing; the research found that couples are flexible about when they leave for their honeymoon. Whilst 57% of those questioned plan to head off straight after their wedding, over a quarter (28%) are considering waiting for a few weeks or months after the wedding before they go away and a further quarter (26%) said they would be happy to take a short break after the wedding and wait until they have the money for a longer holiday.

Honeymoon spend reflects this trend, with the majority of those surveyed (27%) saying they will spend between £500 and £1000 per person on their honeymoon, while one in five (19%) are planning to spend just £500 per person or under (£1000 in total). However, some couples will still splash out - 17% are planning to spend more than £2,000 per person on their perfect honeymoon.

The research found that while 54% of those questioned plan to go on a long haul post wedding trip, a growing number are planning to steer away from the traditional honeymoon beach destinations of Mauritius and the Maldives, and instead opt for holidays closer to home. While 18% are planning to go to mid-haul destinations such as Egypt, Turkey or Morocco, a further 19% will honeymoon in Europe and 9% are planning a UK break.

Beach and city breaks are the most popular honeymoon of choice, with a quarter of Brits (25%) choosing to combine culture and sunshine over a classic beach holiday (20%) or an exotic break (17%).

Alison Couper, Communications Director for Hotels.com, said: "A honeymoon is an important part of getting married and we're not surprised to see that people would rather downsize their trip than not go at all. Whether newlyweds decide to shorten their honeymoon to a 'minimoon' or stay the traditional fortnight but drop a hotel star rating, there are some fantastic deals to be had. There are savings of up to 50% off in the current Hotels.com summer sale, so honeymooners should take advantage."

Rachel Moschke, Editor of Wedding Ideas magazine, said: "Most of us worry about saving up for our wedding day, but it seems we're reluctant to give up the quality time together that a honeymoon offers. A 'minimoon' is the perfect way to start married life, without busting the budget."