Mobile Apps for Tourism

Lately I have been involved with the Mobile world and there is an amazing amount of great mobile apps for tourism available (one of my favorite is what MySwitzerland has to offer).

And now I found this article:

7 Ways Mobile Apps are Enriching Historical Tourism

Some of the most famous historical sites would be just another old house or pile of rubble if you didn’t have any background information about their significance. Tourists have always had options for educating themselves about what they’re looking at. They can read relevant books beforehand, they can hire a tour guide, or, if everyone in the group has the patience, they can take the time to read every plaque and sign on the premises.

Now, many programmers are also offering tourists the option to learn about these sites via their smartphones. While many of the world’s significant historical locations have some sort of interactive app connected to them, the seven we picked below are among the most innovative and impressive.

To read the full story simply visit Mashable / Mobile.

Enjoy this,
Chris

Negotiating with hotels

I found an interesting document for associations on the ICCA website:

Ideas and advice for meeting planners to obtain a better understanding of the hotel business objectives that drive hotel negotiating positions.

Most hotels have limited experience of dealing with associations, and are more familiar with corporate meetings and intermediary agencies, whose needs and buying behaviour can be very different from those of association planners. Many buyers in the association world have limited experience of negotiating with hotels, and do not clearly understand the business objectives that drive hotel negotiating positions. Most guides on the subject of negotiating concern themselves with the corporate market. These three facts add up to the need for a simple guide to assist the international association buyer to speak the same “business language” as the hotel sales representative, and to obtain a fair deal that reflects the importance and value of their event.

More here:
Negotiating with hotels

World's Sexiest Rooftop Pools

The rooftop garden at the new Marina Bay Sands Hotel, perched atop three towers 660 feet above Singapore and totaling more than 15,000 square feet, has the feel of a paradise that's off-limits to mere mortals. (Although, for $20, non-guests can visit the observation deck.)

As if the sheer magnitude of the place weren't intoxicating enough, the 500-foot-long guests-only infinity pool—one of the largest urban pools in the world at that height—feels equally endless, and a little dangerous, too. Add to that an international crowd of beautiful people lounging on white daybeds beneath swaying palm trees, and the whole place takes on a floating-in-the-heavens kind of sex appeal that makes you want to strip and drift through the water in your birthday suit.

There are also rooftop bars and restaurants, in case, you know, the gods get hungry.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel
10 Bayfront Avenue
Singapore
Tel: 65 6688 8888
Thanks http://www.concierge.com for the article

Art may be everything, except being boring - Case study

“Art may be everything, except being boring”- St. Moritz Art Masters 2010/ Engadin St. Moritz, Switzerland

This case study is written by our guest authour Irina Trofimovskaya.

From the 27th of August until the 5th of September the third addition of the St. Moritz Art Masters took place in St. Moritz and in other villages in the Upper Engadin. National and international painters, photographers and sculptors exhibited their works in churches, hotels, banks, galleries, museums, lakes and other public places easily accessible to the visitors and free of charge. This was a great collaboration between the organization committee and the local partners.

From the event visitor point of view, what type of marketing will attract you to visit this event? Is an advertisement in the national and international newspapers and in train stations will attract your attention with advertisement slogans like – “St. Moritz Art Masters- the leading Art event in the world”? Probably not. Important to mention that this event is open for everyone who is interested in fine arts, good atmosphere, socialization, mobility, education and all that in a wonderful destination called the Engadin St. Moritz.

During the marketing campaign, the brand St. Moritz Art Masters was mentioned just in small letters on the left side of the advertisement posters. The advertisement posters carried amusing, provoking and clever statements which attracted the viewer attention. Every person could identify himself with at least one of them or relate it to someone they know. For example, when speaking about art, which person wouldn’t identify him with the statement “the best is yet to come” or “in few years no one will remember the bad critics”? And to whom you can relate the statement “I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying”?

Another attraction was the Angels and Demons sculptures by Alain de Lille (2008) posted in St. Moritz village several weeks before the exhibition. The statements and the sculptures were so attractive that people made photos and published them on the social media platforms. This type of publicity gains easily the buzz effect or the WOM- word of mouth, when people start to discuss the topic and exchange experiences.

The question now is, if the camping fulfilled the visitor’s expectations? It definitely did! When arriving to St. Moritz, the visitor was in a totally transformed village. There were directing signs to visiting the venues where works of art were presented. A detailed brochure with the description and location of the exhibiting artists was produced in English and German and allowed the visitor to move independently on his own pace through the venues. In most of the venues additional written information and interpretation was provided about the arts.

There was art for every taste, age, mood and interest. This event was once again one of the highlights of Top of the World destination Engadin St. Moritz and brought many visitors just before the end of the summer season. I highly recommend visiting this fascinating event next year. For forward information visit the St. Moritz Art Masters official web site http://www.stmoritzartmasters.com.

Irina Trofimovskaya

Project Partner
Manfred Ritschard & Partner LLC
Corporate training & Marketing
http://www.manfredritschard.ch

Why Dubai if Barcelona is even closer?

Yes, it looks similar to the Burj Al Arab in Dubai but this hotel is in Barcelona: the brand new W Barcelona.

It has 2.500 sqm (26.910 sq ft) of meeting space to accommodate a small gathering or a large group. Launching W's only Great Room with unobstructed views over the sea and over 1.000 sqm (10.000 sq ft), W Barcelona does redefine meeting experiences in Europe.

Creative in approach and innovative in design, W Hotels engage and energize meeting attendees. Their unique Sensory Set Up® gets ideas flowing with mood music, signature scents and more. It stimulates all five senses with mood music, aromatherapy scents, thought-provoking placecards, creative catering, retro candies and inspiring games.

Plus, all rooms are fully wired with the latest technology for Wi-Fi and more.

Hotels to Stay in Before You Die

Concierge.com published today a great list of 13 hotels throughout the world of "must stayed before you die" properties.

One of my favorite Hotels is the OBEROI UDAIVILAS, Udaipur, India.

This is the text of Concierge.com which comes with this hotel:

So your friends say they're not sure about going to India? If they could only get a load of you now, overlooking the gorgeous Lake Pichola from your perch in a magnificent palace fit for a maharaja. In fact, some of the world's best hotels are packed into the country, especially around the northern desert region of Rajasthan. Our pick: Oberoi Udaivilas. Built in 2002, it feels like it's been on the lake for centuries, especially with its series of turrets and fountains that could be plucked out of the Mewar period. The design is equal parts sublime and decadent, with gold-leaf domes, exquisite chandeliers, and gorgeous Indian textiles. The grounds are enormous—30 acres—and include an animal sanctuary with peacocks that parade through the gardens. Ask for a Premier Lake View room with a private patio overlooking the water and steps that lead right into a semiprivate pool (five suites come with completely private ones). Not to be missed: a sunset boat trip around the lake followed by a private dinner on a floating dock—it'll make you the star in your own Bollywood flick.

OBEROI UDAIVILAS, Udaipur, India
Tel: 91 294 243 3300
Doubles from $745

Special venue for your next Management meeting

This is your perfect venue for your next management meeting:

Bonefish Cay, Bahamas

Location
This 13-acre island is located in the Abacos chain of islands in the Bahamas and takes its name from its interesting shape and the amount of bonefish in this region.

Accommodation
2 guest villas with 6 suites and the impressive master bedroom and a large Main Lodge (a total of 7 double rooms) can be rented to a total of 14 guests. Each double room has modern bath and finishings. The main building of 5,000 sq. ft. is the centre of this island paradise and the meeting place for eating, drinking, for a game of pool, or for taking your chances at a round of poker. The 30-foot-high cypress cathedral ceiling brings a feeling of majesty to the main house. The entertainment area also features a stereo system and home-theatre system with satellite television and large-format screen for comfortable viewing.

Activities
There are island boats always ready for your excursions. The island manager will give you a tour of all the nearby highlights, and you may even greet dolphins along the way. Professional diving tours can be arranged with the neighbouring island. Snorkelling equipment as well as ocean-going kayaks are provided for your use. Take a swim at low tide around the island's own coral reef and see the multitude of coral and fish. The island has two long, sandy beaches, and paths over the island. There are many shells and native plants that make a stroll interesting. Reservations for golf (18 holes) on the neighbouring island of Treasure Cay can be made on request, or a game of tennis on Spanish Cay.

Getting there
Flights from Fort Lauderdale fly daily to Treasure Cay, where you will be picked up by car, delivered to a private harbour and then taken by boat to Bonefish Cay. Or charter a flight from Miami or Nassau to the neighbouring island, Spanish Cay, where there is a port of entry and 5,000-foot runway

Rates:
From EUR 50,000 per week plus local taxes for the entire island for up to 14 guests, including gourmet full-board, service and use of all water-sport facilities. Alcoholic beverages, diving, golfing and flight transfers are at guests' expense.
20% surcharge for peak season rentals Christmas/New Year.

Not happy with my suggestion? See here more options for Islands to rent: Vladi Private Islands