Articles originating from material posted on this site have been published by two websites that includes:
World Travel Market 2011 - Emerging trends in gay travel
MyDestination.com: http://www.mydestination.com/blog/emerging-trends-for-the-gay-traveller-in-2012/
Argentina - the Video series
etbtv.com
Cordoba: http://etbtv.com/play.php?vid=759
Resistencia: http://etbtv.com/play.php?vid=758
Iguacu 1: http://etbtv.com/play.php?vid=757
Iguacu 2: http://etbtv.com/play.php?vid=756
The Dakar: http://etbtv.com/play.php?vid=755
If you haven't seen these, check them on this blog or head to the links above.
Friday, 25 November 2011
Friday, 18 November 2011
WTM part three: Tech trends hitting travel
The World Travel Market is always abuzz
with tour operators, hoteliers, travel agents milling the huge hall looking for
the next best destination, that unique deal that will scoop all the traveling
consumers or find a new money-making scheme for the travel industry – however
in recent years the growth area (apart from Asia and Africa) has been Travel
Technology. Yes, finally travel technology has arrived – having worked in the
technology industry for a few years it has been shocking at the rate of pace
it’s taken the travel industry to catch up.
We’ve been buying travel online since 1995,
I remember my first booking I tried to make on Expedia back in 1999 – but at
that point it completely confused me so I trekked to the nearest high street
travel agent to get the ticket. Since then I’ve never been to a travel agent,
instead I’ve booked online for myself – surfing the world wide web for the best
deals. And it’s fascinating now where to get the best deals for travel.
People assume that online travel agents
like Expedia and Booking.com are going to present them the best deal; or the
new portals that are ‘metasearch engine’ like Kayak.com that pulls all the
deals from the internet (well this isn’t strictly true as some companies block
Kayak from getting their deals), so sometimes it is much better to go direct
and shop around for the best prices. This still makes the buying process somewhat
tricky. When you go to Tesco/Asda to purchase food – well it’s what’s on the tin
– you want baked beans you get baked beans, yet with travel you might get baked
beans only (room only), or baked beans with a side (with breakfast) or baked
beans on toast and a side (a little extra) or the full English breakfast (which
can be array of compliments to the baked beans). Well this has already made it
complex.
Yet the story in this is that while
consumers want it more simple, the industry is simplifying technology to make
it easier for the industry to sell more complex products. Don’t expect to
compare apples for apples, for us, the traveler, we will soon have to compare
apples with bacon and figure out the missing pieces and how this associates to
cost.
Yes it’s not all that complex – there are
technologies out there that are certainly making it more exciting for the
traveler:
TravelSim http://www.travelsim.net.au/ this sim card for any phone will ensure
that you get the best rates wherever you are. So if you’re a corporate traveler
your personal calls can be made at your leisure without the hefty bills later,
it lowers the cost for a company – and should you be an avid traveler will keep
you in contact with the world – AND the world wide web with its new 3G
capabilities
World Rainbow Hotels – http://www.worldrainbowhotels.com/ one of the great inventions of the
last few years, finally a hotel directory of gay hotels where you can BOOK!
We’ve been waiting for Spartacus to do this for sometime, but with its heritage
of being a great directory, it failed to deliver so far online. This will
become a great resource supported also by Gaycomfort.me
Yabbedoo.com http://yabbedoo.com/ – while this is a product for hotels to
buy – it is very much for the traveler/guest. Hotels get their own dedicated
iPhone application, which means guests can discover everything in the local
area at their fingertips – and delete the application when they’re done. It
includes bars, events, restaurants, museums and attraction – great stuff – and
for hotels it’s a really good deal!
Getaroom.com http://www.getaroom.com/ is yet another OTA
but this time from the former CEO and President of Hotels.com – I have a feel
that this may just be a little bit successful J Check it out for your hotel deals.
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Around the World in one Gay day
It's time to have that whirlwind romance with the world of gay and see what the headlines are saying across the world - will this impact your travel decisions?
1. Italy - Perhaps not the most homo-friendly country, though I hear the Pope is beginning to come around to the gays...
This one is that United Colors of Benetton have unveiled its UNHATE campaign, with men who are most unlikely to be caught kissing. For MORE
2. Russia - famed for being a bad-ass, and certainly no different on gay issues, this country is embracing homosexuality...
The gay pride for St Petersburg could be all over after The Moscow Times reports that legislators in the city have tentatively approved a bill that would impose fines on gays or lesbians who openly profess their sexual orientation. For MORE
3. California, USA - the state that decided that it would reverse its decision on gay marriage goes all out for girls...
Miss Long Beach and Miss Southern California cities beauty pageants have just finished and the first lesbian contestant made it the finals. For MORE
4. Czech Republic - its all over for indecent images...
A Czech MP decided to embarrass herself by hosting a pornographic art exhibition in the plight to remove the gay sauna in the city. For MORE
5. Nepal - we're on top of the world for gay rights thanks to Everest...
The first serious gay film to be made in Nepal is underway, nick-named Brokeback Everest it centres around two lesbians doing something together. For MORE
6. Bahamas - competition becomes a bit more complex than an ITV quiz!
Bahamas Tourist Office has just shot itself in its foot - offering a couple who are legally entitled to enter into marital/civil partnership in the UK and in The Bahamas - a full on wedding. Well, they actually meant Civil Marriage, not Partnership. So no gays allowed, but well done jeweller of Goldsmiths for no longer being a judge. For MORE
1. Italy - Perhaps not the most homo-friendly country, though I hear the Pope is beginning to come around to the gays...
This one is that United Colors of Benetton have unveiled its UNHATE campaign, with men who are most unlikely to be caught kissing. For MORE
2. Russia - famed for being a bad-ass, and certainly no different on gay issues, this country is embracing homosexuality...
The gay pride for St Petersburg could be all over after The Moscow Times reports that legislators in the city have tentatively approved a bill that would impose fines on gays or lesbians who openly profess their sexual orientation. For MORE
3. California, USA - the state that decided that it would reverse its decision on gay marriage goes all out for girls...
Miss Long Beach and Miss Southern California cities beauty pageants have just finished and the first lesbian contestant made it the finals. For MORE
4. Czech Republic - its all over for indecent images...
A Czech MP decided to embarrass herself by hosting a pornographic art exhibition in the plight to remove the gay sauna in the city. For MORE
5. Nepal - we're on top of the world for gay rights thanks to Everest...
The first serious gay film to be made in Nepal is underway, nick-named Brokeback Everest it centres around two lesbians doing something together. For MORE
6. Bahamas - competition becomes a bit more complex than an ITV quiz!
Bahamas Tourist Office has just shot itself in its foot - offering a couple who are legally entitled to enter into marital/civil partnership in the UK and in The Bahamas - a full on wedding. Well, they actually meant Civil Marriage, not Partnership. So no gays allowed, but well done jeweller of Goldsmiths for no longer being a judge. For MORE
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