Colors: Yellow Color
Colors: Yellow Color

With experts forecasting a heatwave this summer, Edinburgh's five star visitor attraction, Dynamic Earth will be keeping visitors cool with a host of polar themed events for the whole family to enjoy.

Throughout the summer holidays (1 July - 27 August) Dynamic Earth is inviting youngsters to become polar explorers and see if they have what it takes to withstand the harsh environments of the poles through a range of interactive demonstrations and activities.

With the help of Dynamic Earth's much loved green screen photo booth, visitors can dress up in a genuine polar explorer kit and take a trip to Antarctica with some cuddly penguin pals. Photos from the booth will be uploaded to the Dynamic Earth Facebook page for visitors to share with friends.

As part of an admission ticket, visitors can also take part in the daily interactive family science shows which aims to entertain participants showing the difference between the Arctic and Antarctic. While drop-in activities, including polar themed arts and crafts tables, will help youngsters get creative and inspired by polar wildlife.

After a successful run over Easter, 'Penguin Nights' are back by popular demand with screenings of The Penguin Counters; a cinematic experience focusing on the research work of Ron Naveen and his team who count hundreds of thousands of penguins to track the impacts of climate change and ocean health on penguin populations, helping us understand our changing world. The Penguin Counters' treacherous, heart-warming journey poses the ultimate question in the world's fastest warming region: What can humans learn from penguins on the frontlines of climate change?

Eilidh Massie, head of marketing at Dynamic Earth comments: “We are fascinated by the poles here at Dynamic Earth. Our permanent polar extremes gallery is a firm favourite with visitors of all ages, so we always enjoy putting on extra activities for families to enjoy.

“We're extremely excited to welcome back The Penguin Counters, an important and entertaining film assessing the impact of climate change on our favourite polar birds. We expect these screenings to be a sell out so grab your tickets before it's too late!”

On top of the polar activities, regular Dynamic Earth features include Scotland's only permanent 4D cinema, a real iceberg, a bone-shaking earthquake and the Deep Time Machine which takes visitors billions of years back in time.

Regarded as the unspoilt Canary Island, La Gomera is home to some of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet. From sandy coasts and deep ravines to laurel forests and volcanic mountains, there is no shortage of amazing vistas to behold. Each viewpoint has its own special charm, and their diversity is sure to leave even the most well-travelled sightseers impressed.

Mirador de Abrante – Agulo

Have you ever wanted to experience the sensation of flying? Head to Mirador de Abrante to discover what it really feels like. Perched on a clifftop above Agulo, this glass observation deck provides visitors with breathtaking views over the Atlantic Ocean and the three town centres below: El Charco, Las Casas and La Montañeta. On clear days, the island of Tenerife can be seen bordering the horizon, capped by its highest volcano, and the highest in Spain, Mount Teide.

Mirador de Abrante also has a gastrobar, so you can take in the views while tasting Canarian-inspired international cuisine. It's also a great place to see daily exhibitions of the Silbo Gomero whistling language by the restaurant's staff in the afternoon.

Alto de Garajonay – Garajonay National Park

Alto de Garajonay is the highest point of La Gomera at an altitude of 1,487 m. With a 360-degree view, it allows you to see almost the entire island on clear days, as well as the islands of La Palma, El Hierro, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. In the summer, usually in the evening, you can even see unforgettable views of the 'mar de nubes', which literally translates as a 'sea of clouds'.

What's more, there are many archaeological treasures to be found here as it was once an ancient site of worship for the pre-Spanish inhabitants. These original settlers would choose the island's highest points as symbolic sites, as indicated by the various remains that have been found in the area.

Salcombe's seaside gem South Sands has been featured on Channel 5 documentary 'Our Dream Hotel' as one of Salcombe's “most successful high end hotels” with “views to die for”. The boutique hotel inspired new hoteliers on the programme with its classy, understated beachside décor that combines timeless seaside-chic with a modern touch.

Commenting on the TV accolade hotel director Stephen Ball comments: “We are delighted that South Sands has been recognised for its interior design as this reflects the passion, care and attention to detail we ensure through all elements of the hotel – from the restaurant and bar menus, through to each individual bedroom and the estuary-facing terrace.”

Enhancing the hotel's interiors, head chef Allister Bishop's menus stand apart for their creativity blended with a level of simplicity, encouraged by knowing the lure of fresh beach side produce and divine country living. Wherever possible, Allister uses local ingredients and integrates foraged food into the menu and the food is matched with carefully chosen wines and cocktails. Bar manager Will Neal also frequently incorporates seasonal, foraged ingredients with locally produced drinks into cocktails and non-alcoholic options. The spectacular curved wall of the restaurant's pristine French windows presents a breath-taking centrepiece to the extraordinary bar and terrace area. The unparalleled views overlook the brilliant blue, green colours of the Salcombe Estuary and end result is a sensational dining experience.

South Sands' rooms range for the small but intricately designed 'Optimist' to the largest and grandest 'J-class', which is adorned with opulent features such as the decadent 8ft bed and two roll-top baths and has stunning estuary views and coastal scenery. A private balcony looks directly across the bay and provides a wonderful setting for breakfast or a glass of bubbly. There are also five Beach Suites which sit to the side of the main hotel which make an attractive venue for private functions, corporate events and business meetings. Each comprise of two large ensuite bathrooms, one of these can be set up with twin beds, a generous open-plan reception, lounge, and dining and kitchen area.

Having converted the layout of eight A330-300 aircraft, Philippine Airlines' has introduced a brand new cabin product on nine of its international destinations. This improvement comes ahead of the launch of the Boeing 777-300ER on the London - Manila route, which will also offer an enriched and innovative inflight experience across PAL's Business and Economy classes.

David Cochrane, PAL Country Manager UK & Ireland said, “As we look forward to upgrading our aircraft on the London – Manila route from December 2017, we are thrilled to have a vastly enhanced cabin product operating on our 'beyond' destinations. This means that within this year, our guests flying from London and connecting via Manila will have a completely enhanced experience from takeoff to touchdown on our key routes.”

The reconfigured A330 is now operating the Manila – Honolulu route and will begin service in July to Melbourne and Shanghai, in August to Sydney, in September to Singapore and Hong Kong, in October to Tokyo Haneda, in November to Tokyo Narita and in December to Osaka.

“At Philippine Airlines, we aim to please. This inspired us to go through the process of providing our passengers a reconfigured aircraft with meticulous seat and IFE selection. As we journey on to becoming a 5-star, world – class, full service carrier with a heart, we devote our efforts towards meeting customer needs”, PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime J. Bautista said.

The Coca-Cola London Eye has been selected by the largest travel community on social media – Beautiful Destinations – as the number one most liked landmark in London captured by the Beautiful Destinations team. With more than 9 million global followers and 6,000+ posts, the Coca-Cola London Eye has beaten iconic sights including Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Oxford Street to claim the number one spot with more than 750k likes. The best performing London Eye post has received 255k likes and ranks #40 out of all @beautifuldestinations posts on Instagram.

Overall, London is ranked within the top four most-liked destinations tagged with #BDTeam on Instagram including Saxony, Paris and Santorini as places that most inspire. This hashtag became popular among travel creators during Beautiful Destinations' World's Coolest Job search last fall, now totalling nearly 140,000 posts.

Beautiful Destinations is a media company that seeks to make the world a better place through the sharing of authentic, inspirational and immersive travel stories. Since 2012, we've built the largest travel community on social media with over 15 million followers in 180 countries, who turn to us daily on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and Weibo. Everyday, we produce and curate content that showcases the beauty of the world and inspires people to travel.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has received a €460,000 grant from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to implement a project to increase the Caribbean tourism sector’s resilience to natural hazards and climate related risks.

“Global climate change and its impacts, including the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, pose a significant risk to the Caribbean region and threaten the sustainability of Caribbean tourism. The CTO is pleased to have the support of the CDB to implement this project which will contribute to enhancing the resiliency, sustainability and competitiveness of the region’s tourism sector. Mainstreaming climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk management (DRM) strategies in tourism development and planning is our duty to our member countries,” the CTO’s Secretary General Hugh Riley said.

The CDB / CTO partnership was formalized at a signing ceremony held on June 22, 2017 at CDB’s headquarters in Barbados. Speaking at the event, CDB President, Dr. Wm. Warren Smith, noted that the tourism sector makes an enormous contribution to the Region’s socio-economic development.

“Tourism generates high levels of employment, foreign direct investment and foreign exchange for our borrowing member countries and, given its multi-sectoral nature, it is a very effective tool for promoting sustainable development and poverty reduction. However, maintaining this critical role calls for adequate safeguards to be erected against the enormous threats that climate change and natural hazards pose to the sustainability of our Region,” said Dr. Smith.

Funding is being provided under the African Caribbean Pacific-European Union-Caribbean Development Bank- Natural Disaster Risk Management in CARIFORUM Countries programme, which aims to reduce vulnerability to long-term impacts of natural hazards, including the potential impacts of climate change, thereby achieving national and regional sustainable development and poverty reduction goals in those countries.

During the 19-month project implementation period, the CTO will support the region’s tourism entities with policy formulation, the promotion of best practices in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, and the development of tools to enhance the tourism sector’s knowledge and awareness of disaster risk reduction strategies and the potential impacts of climate variability and climate change (CVC).

A training component will also be included to strengthen the ability of public and private sector tourism stakeholders to undertake adequate mitigation and adaptation actions to CVC. The CTO secretariat will also benefit from institutional strengthening to help provide technical assistance and ongoing support for tourism-related climate services.

The project is in keeping with 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, which has been designated by the United Nations General Assembly.

Val d'Isère, in the French Alps, is renowned as one of Europe's most popular ski destination. However, not everyone realises that it's a resort of two seasons: visitors who gather here each winter can have just as much fun during the summer. And, just because the sun's shining, it doesn't mean there's no skiing to be enjoyed…

The average temperature in July and August is 25°C; perfect for sunbathing and not too hot for hiking, biking, and the many other sporting activities on offer.

Tempted? Here's what's on offer:

SUMMER SKIING Val d'Isère is home to the Pissaillas glacier, which at 3,000 metres offers skiing until 16 July. The Cascades chair lift and the Montets T bar run from 7 am to 12 pm each day, subject to weather conditions. In winter, skiers and snowboarders leave the hamlet of Le Fornet and board the cable car and then the gondola to reach to the glacier with a total journey time of more than 30 minutes. However, during the summer, it's possible to drive or take the bus to the foot of the glacier, before clicking into your skis or snowboards and carving down the slopes.

HIKING AND BIKING Whether it's time to walk or pedal, the lifts are open free of charge from 1 July to 27 August. Head to Le Lac de L'Ouillette, which offers an ideal day out for couples, groups of friends and families. Situated above Val d'Isère at 2,500 m, the Alpine lake is the perfect place for a relaxed picnic, where visitors can drink in the spectacular mountain views. Alternatively, dine at Bar d'Altitude L'Ouillette, which has a spacious terrace with comfy seating for the sunny days. And why not take your fishing rod? The sparkling lake is stocked with trout. This summer there's also a new children's play area.

WOW air is to become the first airline in Europe to operate Airbus' new A321neo aircraft following an acquisition deal signed today at the Paris Air show between the low-fare transatlantic airline and the aircraft manufacturer.

“This is a significant addition to our fleet that will allow us to service routes of more than six thousand kilometres, a journey that the previous model of A321 has not been able to do,” says Skuli Mogensen, WOW air Founder and CEO.

The new aircraft will enter service in July, joining WOW air's current all-Airbus fleet of 17 aircraft and will operate on various European and North American routes, including the new service to Tel Aviv, announced only weeks ago.

"This first new A321neo delivery for ALC in Europe illustrates our strong and growing relationship with WOW air.  We are most honored to be associated with the success and network expansion of this consumer friendly, cost efficient and environmentally conscious airline, which in a short period of time, has become one of the most innovative air carriers serving Europe and North America,” says Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation.

“The A321neo will ensure that WOW air can reach and serve more destinations, with its greater range, performance and economic operating cost advantages, including lower fuel consumption".

The efficient, single-aisle jetliner will have a configuration of 218 seats and advance the airline's move towards reduced fuel consumption, further reinforced by the recent addition of an A320neo to its fleet.

“The A321neo will allow WOW air to further expand its network in Europe and North America, with the most comfortable and fuel efficient aircraft in its class,” said John Leahy, COO-Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft.

“Aside from the reduced operating costs, the aircraft also provides a WOW effect for passengers with its spacious state-of-the-art cabin,” he added.

Moving away from WOW air's tradition to name its fleet after family members, the new aircraft will be christened TF-SKY and is set for its inaugral flight on 5 July 2017.

Enjoy an exciting historical jousting tournament at Blenheim Palace from 18 - 20 August. Recreating the glorious jousting matches of Britain's past, knights will take to their noble steeds in a momentous display of bravery and skill.

Expect a spectacular battle between the Knights of Arkley beneath the backdrop of Blenheim Palace on the South Lawn. Each jousting tournament will be staged twice daily over the weekend starting at 12.30 and 3pm.

Six knights will take to the stage in a joust between The Marquis de Lyons and the dastardly Black Knight. Watch skills-at-arms, medieval games, jousting and sword combat. There will be a chance for a lucky few to be shown how to use a pretend sword and try their hand against one of the squires.

The weekend will be packed with historic action and family friendly entertainment, from thrilling falconry displays to 'have-a-go' archery. For the younger children there will be Baby Dragon's to meet or come on an adventure with the Dragon Procession. Hatched from a small Dragon sanctuary in the Welsh Marshes, these delightful creatures are very friendly and well mannered, although a dragon is never entirely predictable…

After working up quite the appetite watching the battles and displays families can enjoy food, refreshments and tournament treats on the South Lawn along with a medieval stand with lots of historically themed goodies.

Yukon is the land of the midnight sun, where skies are glorious and summer light just won't quit, with the best time to visit between May and August. Life flourishes under hours of intense sunlight as the land hosts millions of migratory birds and explodes in wildflower blooms.

On summer solstice, June 21, the sun doesn't set at the Arctic Circle—the further north one travels, the higher the sun and the longer the season of the midnight sun. All over the Yukon, summer is a busy time of festivals and outdoor play.

Employers who operate a ‘use it or lose it’ holiday policy are being warned that the term could be void in light of recent case law.

Law firm Clarke Willmott LLP is warning that the right to carry holiday over could be extended beyond sick leave, which could mean additional unforeseen expense for all employers.

Kate Gardner, Employment Partner at Clarke Willmott, is urging businesses to ensure their Contracts of Employment and Terms of Engagement fully incorporate the up-to-date law on holiday and all other associated elements.

Kate, who acts for a wide range of employers, said: “In the recent case of Sash Window Workshop Ltd – v – King, Mr King was a commission-only sales person who was purportedly self-employed.

“Because his annual leave was unpaid, he limited the holidays he took so that his earnings were not severely curtailed.

“When his work ended with the company, be brought an Employment Tribunal Claim, stating that he was employed, or at least should be termed a worker, and therefore should be entitled to holiday pay.

“The Employment Tribunal agreed with him. But how much holiday pay could he claim? Could this include ‘rolling over’ holiday from the years he had not taken leave, for fear of losing commission?

“The Employment Tribunal has agreed in theory that sick leave may not be the only circumstances that would prevent a worker from taking annual leave.

“This would mean that a commission-only sales person could be entitled to claim rollover of holiday from one year to the next.”

Kate added: “If any worker is unable to take annual leave due to sickness, that individual is entitled to carry over their holiday entitlement to the following holiday year. If they then leave, employers need to pay for all of that accrued, but untaken, holiday.

“This could be a large sum if they have ‘rolled over’ holiday from previous years. But in the light of this case, the right to carry over holiday may be extended beyond sick leave.

“The decision has now gone to the European Court and we await the Judgment. But it is likely they will reinforce the decision of the Employment Tribunal, which could mean greater holiday costs for all employers.”

 

The last twelve months have seen many developments when it comes to Brits’ relationship with Europe. But data from KAYAK.co.uk, examining the current feelings of British people regarding European travel, reveals that though tensions do exist, travel continues to help break down borders.  According to the study, 76% of Britons feel that travel ‘helps to break down barriers’ - with 39% of those asked claiming it was one of the ‘most important ways’ to do so

This study supports the launch of a new KAYAK campaign called ‘Love Letters’, which aims to illustrate the power of travel to open people’s minds and bring them together, with videos and a dedicated hashtag, #loveurope

The feeling that travel ‘breaks down barriers’ was felt strongest amongst younger respondents, with 59% of 18-24 year olds compared to just 33% of 55-64 year olds agreeing with the statement. On the other side, 15% of Brits questioned said travel made no difference in increasing tolerance - an answer given by 19% of 55-64 year olds compared with just 4% of 18-24 year olds.

Furthermore, Britons as a whole also rejected the notion that major political or economical upheaval would change the way they thought about travel, with 47% of respondents saying that such a situation would make no impact at all on their travel plans, more than said it would make them more (6%) or less (24%) likely or enthusiastic to visit a particular country.

When asked about the feelings they have experienced while travelling abroad, most British people (51%) said they like to experience new things, while 40% were also curious to discover new cultures and countries. Thirty two per cent said they were inspired to visit more places in the future. Travelling also helps to build friendships: although 34% of Britons say they don’t have any friends from other European countries, significantly more than in Italy (7%), Germany (10%), Spain (14%) or France (16%), more than half of British people (58%) said they had made new friendships while travelling in Europe, while only 14% were uninterested in making new friends.

Which country do Britons most like to visit? The top country cited was Italy (15%). Trips around the UK were the second most popular, receiving 11%, while perennial favourite Spain was the third choice, with 8% of respondents.

The top reason given by British people for travelling abroad was to do sightseeing (35%), followed by relaxation and a break from work (24%). A vocal minority (10%) claimed to see ‘nothing’ to like about other European countries - this was a response mainly given by those of the older generation (14% of 55-64 year olds compared with 7% of 18-24 year olds)

In partnership with Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, Visit Franklin, and Americana Music Triangle the convention will explore the value of music to heritage tourism, destination marketing, and audience development.

The Music Tourism Convention is targeted to destination marketing organizations of all sizes and music destinations from across the globe will feature TEDx-style talks and panel discussions from industry leaders. Participants will also share ideas through roundtable discussions focused on best practices for telling each destination's story and how to best market the story to travelers, in addition to experiencing first-hand the live music scene of Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival and Franklin, Tennessee.

“Music is a universal language that speaks to the world and is a key component in the decision-making process of where many travelers decide to spend their vacations,” said Ellie Westman Chin, President & CEO of Visit Franklin. “Our mission at Visit Franklin is to share Franklin, Tennessee with the world, and we are excited to be partnering with an international leader like Sound Diplomacy to not only do that but also bring together so many other destinations to share ideas and learn from one another.”

Over the two-day convention, taking place at The Factory at Franklin, participants will hear from industry experts on an array of topics including: “How Music Can Make Your Destination Rock,” “Music Tourism: When You 'Think' You Have No Music,” and “Making the Most of Your Music Attractions” among others.

Participants will also go “Inside The World's Top Festivals,” with representatives from Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, Celtic Colours International Festival, and more discussing how these iconic festivals came to be, and their positive impact on the communities around them.

Music tourism is booming globally, and the U.S. Music Tourism Convention will continue the global conversations that began this past February at the Liverpool, England Music Tourism Convention where 200 delegates from 59 cities and six continents gathered to discuss music's impact on the industry. Registration for the two-day event is $150, and a discounted student rate of $100 is available to any participant currently enrolled in college coursework. All conference attendees will also be able to purchase discounted two-day tickets to the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, which is held September 23-24, following the convention.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has appointed the Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, as Special Ambassador of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism 2017. The ceremony took place in New York on 7 June on the side-lines of the UN Ocean Conference, where among other activities the Prime Minister addressed participants on the value of tourism to sustainably advance the blue economy.

“The designation of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development was due to the recognition by the United Nations of the potential of the tourism sector to contribute to the fight against poverty, to help curb climate change, promote gender equality and foster mutual understanding and peace amongst diverse cultures” said the Prime Minister.

“Tourism is a sector that is vital to the livelihoods of our people and touches all the three dimensions of sustainable development, the social, economic and environmental aspects. As a people-to-people activity, it has helped and continues to contribute to the revitalization of our culture, customs and traditional crafts, and plays a pivotal role in the preservation of our cultural heritage and is a force that promotes peace and understanding” he added.

“The International Year is a unique opportunity to promote common action and enhance the power of tourism to build a better world. We thank Samoa for leading the initiative for the adoption of the UN resolution declaring the International Year and for its sustained, exemplary contribution in promoting the value of our sector towards the achievement of the 2030 Development Agenda, particularly for the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS)” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

The Special Ambassadors of the Year are leaders and prominent personalities committed to promote the role and contribution of tourism in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. While tourism is included in three of the SDGs – SDG 8: ‘Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all’; SDG 12: ‘Sustainable Consumption and Production’ and SDG 14: ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development’, it can advance all 17 SDGs.

The Ocean Conference was an opportunity to highlight how tourism can effectively contribute to Goal 14. UNWTO joined the World Bank and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) to discuss and launch the report ‘The Potential of the Blue Economy: Increasing Long-term Benefits of the Sustainable Use of Marine Resources for Small Island Developing States and Coastal Least Developed Countries’.

UNWTO was also co-organizing a Side Event on the “European Union tourism committed to Blue Growth” on the 8 June with DG MARE and NECstour. Coastal and Maritime Tourism is one of the key sectors of the European Union Blue Growth Strategy with a high potential for sustainable jobs and growth. Tourism employs over 3.2 million people and generates a total of 183 billion Euros in gross value added, representing over one third of the maritime economy. The universal dimension of the SDGs provides the EU regions with the opportunity to show leadership and share best practices to extend and scale up their Blue Growth strategy in other parts of the world, and in particular through their island territories in SIDS regions.

In these days of being constantly available thanks to modern technology, many people long for a place to take refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and turn inward. And now Frankfurt Airport has added a Quiet Room where travelers can do exactly that.

Harry Gatterer, a trend researcher and futurologist who leads the Zukunftsinstitut (“Future Institute”) in Frankfurt and Vienna, explains why havens like this are so important in today’s fast-paced world: “In the 21st century, we are constantly bombarded by masses of information and bathed in the glow of screens with hardly a break. The so-called information society is now reacting to this overkill with a countertrend: mindfulness. It’s therefore safe to say that in the future, people will actively seek moments in which to reflect and reconnect with themselves. This type of everyday spirituality is poised to become an essential survival technique. The principle of ‘strength in serenity’ has never before been so relevant.”

Frankfurt Airport has responded to this widespread wish for a place of silence by creating the “Quiet Room”, which all passengers may use for free regardless of their worldview, culture and religious affiliation. The highlight of the white room is an undulating golden ceiling illuminated by lamps that reflect the light onto the floor and walls. An oak bench occupies the middle of the room, inviting travelers to sit down and enjoy moments of rest and contemplation.

The Quiee Room is located in the postsecurity part of Terminal 1 on Level 3 of Pier Z and is open daily until 10 p.m. The airport’s operator, Fraport, has coined the motto “Gute Reise! We make it happen” to communicate its commitment to serving passengers and meeting their individual needs and wishes. It constantly strives to upgrade the customer experience at Germany’s most important transportation hub by launching new services and facilities.

Midsummer in Scandinavia is a highlight of the year, with celebrations across the region welcoming the light and warmth that summer brings. The long daylight hours also open up the opportunity to make the most of the activities on offer, from the more conventional kayaking, cycling and wildlife viewing to more unusual midnight golf tournaments, marathons and even midsummer night skiing. As the Solstice approaches (this year falling on Wednesday 21 June), why not book a holiday where you can enjoy the midnight sun in style.