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LOTUS Coronavirus update (11.06)
CMA wins refunds victory over Vacation Rentals
One of Britain's biggest "staycation" travel providers has agreed to refund customers who had their holidays cancelled after the Competitions and Markets Authority intervened.
Hoseasons and sister company Cottages.com, owned by Vacation Rentals, have reversed their policy on refunds and the companies will now give the options to refund to all customers, whose holidays were cancelled due to the lockdown.
The authority said its Covid-19 task force had received more than 4,500 reports about British holiday rental companies refusing to give full refunds or offering only vouchers, with complaints about Vacation Rentals making up a “significant proportion”.
The consumer watchdog has also recently expanded its investigation to include package holiday companies.
The controversial 14-day quarantine rules for arrivals into the UK were officially implemented on Monday 8 June as a Home Office spokesman admitted it ‘was very hard to imagine’ how some of the measures would work ‘in practice’ and within hours Jet2 and Virgin Holidays cancelled all departures in the first half of July.
The current quarantine plans involve all passengers - bar a handful of exemptions - to fill out an online locator form giving their contact and travel details, as well as the address of where they will isolate, under government measures that are now in force to guard against a second wave of coronavirus. People who fail to comply could be fined £1,000 in England, and police will be allowed to use what is termed “reasonable force” to make sure they follow the rules.
Ryanair, easyJet and BA-owner IAG have launched legal proceedings (pre-action protocol letter) calling on the UK government to remove the quarantine rules.
In addition, a group called Quash Quarantine, which includes outbound travel businesses and UK hospitality enterprises from Kuoni to TGI Fridays, has also been threatening legal action to overturn the measures.
While the measures have initially been imposed for a year, the Government has said they will be reviewed every three weeks. The first review date is 29 June.
The effect has been to stifle inbound and outbound tourism for the summer.
The Quash Quarantine group say, according to The Independent, that it has been given private assurances by Government that travel corridors will be in place by 29 June.
The Evening Standard on Monday splashed with ‘Britain is Closed’ – referring to the introduction of the 14-day quarantine for UK arrivals. Passengers told of confusion and chaos as even though terminals were almost deserted, there were still queues as passengers had to fill in forms at the last minute.
Kit Malthouse, the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service said that the measures could be swiftly watered down.
Heathrow’s CEO John Holland Kaye said: thousands of jobs would be at risk if the quarantine is not lifted soon.
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said: quarantine will cause ‘untold devastation’ for the UK’s tourism industry.
He told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 and ITV’s Good Morning Britain that while thousands of British families were booking their holidays for Portugal, Spain and Italy, there has been almost a collapse of inward bookings to the UK, on which Britain’s tourism industry depends, particularly in the peak months of July and August.
Asked whether Ryanair would cancel July and August flights if the quarantine remained in place during those months, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary told Radio 4 listeners: “No, because the flights are full outbound of the UK. British people are ignoring this quarantine, they know it’s rubbish.”
Union bosses criticised the way the measure was being introduced as being shambolic and warned that there was no provision to check the address.
IAG chief executive Willie Walsh told Sky News on Friday (5 June) the policy, had "torpedoed" BA’s chances of resuming flight operations in July.
WTTC president and chief executive Gloria Guevara: If quarantine and travel restrictions aren’t lifted, then 2.9 million jobs could be under threat, while the measures could wipe $186 billion off the sector’s annual contribution to UK GDP – which would be down a massive 73% on 2019. “Lifting quarantine, establishing air bridges, adopting global health and safety protocols, and implementing a rapid test and trace strategy will be vital to protecting at-risk travel and tourism jobs in the UK.”
The Sun reported that Boris Johnson wants to agree a cross-EU exemption to the order for all arrivals to the UK to isolate for 14 days. And he wants the travel ban eased as soon as possible.
Travel Weekly reported on Wednesday that confirmation of establishing links to foreign holiday destinations could come as early as this week, but travel corridors would have to coincide with a change to FCO advice.
Speaking on Sky News, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he "really hopes people are going to be able to fly to go on summer holiday".
On Thursday, BBC Radio 4’s Today programme interviewed a spokesperson from London First who was representing a number of lobby groups and universities including those who have written a new letter to the Government asking for clarity about quarantine and when it will end.
Jasmine Whitbread, CEO said: “The blanket 14-day quarantine is a blunt instrument and we want to establish travel corridors and return to a risk-based approach. The new letter wishes to highlight breadth of the impact on jobs and economy. Foreign students alone add £6.9 billion a year to the UK economy while tourism is about 7% of the UK’s economy. A very blunt approach will have a disproportionate impact.”
Saga adds Covid-19 cover to travel insurance
Travel Weekly reports that treatment abroad for Covid-19 and repatriation to the UK is being included as standard as part of Saga travel insurance policies.
The over-50s specialist has added the cover to help customers feel more comfortable about travelling once the government advice changes to say that it is safe to do so.
On Wednesday, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned that the UK is likely to be the hardest hit by Covid-19 among major economies.
Britain's economy is likely to slump by 11.5% in 2020, slightly outstripping falls in countries such as Germany, France, Spain and Italy, it said.
If there were a second peak in the pandemic, the UK economy could contract by as much as 14%.
"The crisis will cast a long shadow over the world," the OECD added.
It said that in what it called a "single-hit scenario", with no second peak, there could be contractions of 11.4% in France, 11.1% in Spain, 11.3% in Italy and 6.6% in Germany.
In its latest assessment, the OECD found that the UK's largely service-based economy meant that it had been particularly badly hit by the government's lockdown restrictions. The services sector, including financial services, hospitality and tourism, makes up about three-quarters of the UK's GDP.
Faisal Islam, the BBC’s Economics Editor said: “The expectations or hopes of a rapid bounce back in the economy - a so-called V-shaped chart - is not now happening.”
As Secretary General Angel Gurria put it to me, it will be "U-shaped", the question is how long will be the period at the bottom of this "U". This pattern is not affecting all countries equally.
The OECD also predicts the strongest growth in the UK at 9% for 2021. It also mentions the pandemic’s economic impact is being "compounded" by the looming plausible failure to sign a trade deal with the EU and new trade barriers with the European Union at the end of the year. It recommends temporarily extending the UK's stay in the single market. That is advice that the Government has shown no inclination to follow so far.
The OECD said the pandemic had started to recede in many countries and activity had begun to pick up, but it does not expect a convincing recovery. It sees the outlook for public health as extremely uncertain.
Noel Josephides, of AITO and Sunvil Holidays warned, that “if we can’t trade and we can’t bring cash into our businesses, there will be redundancies and company collapses.”
At a technology conference, CogX, Tony Blair urged workers to reskill as he warned that if workers failed to retrain for the digital economy then they could be left behind once government support schemes were wound down. He said: I can’t see travel, tourism and hospitality industries coming back very fast. I think bricks and mortar has had its day, certainly in its present form. There is a necessity to re-equip people with what they need.”
The CBI has said that UK businesses do not have the resilience to cope with a no-deal Brexit after the battering of the coronavirus crisis and has called for an extension to negotiations, that have not been going well.
The Times splashed with a pricing story on Monday and revealed that holiday firms are hoping to lure nervous Britons abroad with cheap deals.
“Travel companies are already cutting prices by up to two thirds in an attempt to restore confidence and entice holidaymakers to book overseas trips this summer, with more deals expected in the coming weeks,” wrote Ben Clatworthy. The piece reported that Number 10 has told Grant Shapps to have “air bridges” agreed by 28 June, and if that is the case, it will be possible to return to “mass-market holidays” in July.
The Times piece was informed by a TTG feature examining the future of pricing, which argues that the evidence of sun-drenched British beaches in May suggests that there is no lack of demand but that in order to stimulate demand for overseas holidays, the consensus is that pricing will include bargains to allay anxieties, which will then be followed by price hikes.
This summer airline seats will be dramatically cut compared to last year. EasyJet will operate half its routes in July and fewer than 75% in August, so those looking to dynamic package, will have a shortage of options. Reduced airlift is leading to hotels to offer rates to operators, but there are concerns that again, prices will rise later in the year. Prices for ground transportation as well as chartering aircraft are giving tour operators cause for concern – with a short season and needs to provide social distancing on coach transfers, which could all push prices up.
Travel Weekly followed up reporting that average package holiday prices to the Algarve have dropped by as much as 48%. According to TravelSupermarket, uncertainty is pushing prices down, and until the FCO lifts its advisory against global non-essential travel, has made certain that demand is rock bottom, although searches have resumed within the last two weeks.
Travolution reported that the weekly icelolly.com Covid-19 Pulse report saw August searches leap 145% week-on-week this week although it remained the seventh most popular departure month in searches and bookings are still mostly focussed for 2021.
Travel Agent Tracker
TTG has reported that travel enquiries were at their highest level since they launched the TTG Travel Agent Tracker in April with three-quarters of respondents taking new holiday enquiries during the week ending 5 June, up 7% week-on-week. More than a third reported an increase in sales, with agents also reporting that consumers are angry that quarantine measures have been introduced now.
The Times reported at the weekend that website searches for caravan holidays are up 20% and that caravan holidays are attracting a younger crowd.
GTP has reported that international flight bookings for Greece, Portugal and Spain have seen a significant jump for July and August, according to flight analyst ForwardKeys.
On 20 May, the Greek Government made announcements that the country would open its doors from 1 July and markets reacted immediately. Between 20 May and 3 June the number of international flight tickets issued for Greece increased from effectively zero to 35 percent of what they were during the same period in 2019.
In the 12 days from 22 May – 3 June, the number of international flight tickets issued for Portugal, increased from effectively zero to 35 percent of what they were during the same period in 2019 and in the 11 days from May 23 – June 3, the uplift in Spain has reached 30 percent.
Leisure travellers make up the bulk of new tickets, but recovery is stronger amongst expats and those visiting friends and relatives, and there are still relatively low levels of bookings as many are still reluctant to fly.
Private jet charter firm PrivateFly has reported an 85% rise in enquiries from agents in the past two weeks. Hannah Needs, PrivateFly’s head of partnerships, said: “With travel restrictions easing in much of Europe from 15 June, we are very busy indeed with enquiries from travel agents, concierges and yacht brokers.
“They are telling us their clients are desperate to get away but are reluctant to fly on airlines until the risk of Covid-19 has reduced significantly – particularly those with families, or those who are older or in higher risk groups. Agents are increasingly looking at private aviation as a solution, so holidays can go ahead safely and with peace of mind.
“Private jet travel is obviously more expensive than airlines but for clients prepared to spend more, it offers far greater control over your environment, both in the air and on the ground.”
What next for the cruise industry?
Cruise specialist, Sue Bryant examined the current situation for cruise in The Times.
Her findings are:
- All ships are currently in limbo and in clusters off the Canary Islands, Bahamas and Manilla, or around Southampton and off the Isle of Wight, Tilbury and Rosyth. Others have gone back to home bases such as Italy.
- Many ships are in what’s called “warm lay-up”, which means they could, in theory, start operating within a couple of weeks. For all this to happen, borders need to open, flights need to operate, Britain’s blanket quarantine needs to be refined and infrastructure in ports needs to be functioning.
- In the meantime holidays continue to be cancelled on a rolling basis, with passengers being offered refunds or future cruise credits. Marella Cruises expects to start at the end of July. P&O Cruises this week delayed its return until 15 October, Cunard until November and others may well follow.
“Our current focus is on close co-ordination with all relevant public health bodies to approve further enhancement of our already stringent health and safety measures,” said Paul Ludlow, the president of P&O.
Saga is understood to be looking at cruises around Britain without ports of call, while Viking Cruises is speaking to its regulars to gauge interest in similar cruises, subject to government advice.
How soon will we be cruising again?
It will be a slow start. The first river cruise, run by the German line Nicko, started on the Danube and Rhine last week. Another German line, A’Rosa Cruises, is planning to start sailing the Douro as well as the Rhine and Danube in June.
Hurtigruten and the luxury SeaDream Yacht Club will start sailing the Norwegian coast this month, but with the country’s border closed until 20 August, only locals will benefit.
Twenty-two ships were due to launch this year, but there are now inevitable delays. New orders are stalling, and the market will be flooded with second-hand ships.
What changes are we going to see on board?
Smaller cruise lines are saying that they will sail at between 50 and 70 per cent capacity; big ship lines are yet to be specific. Expect constant temperature screening, relentless disinfecting and endless hand-sanitising. When big ships start up, embarkation could be staggered to avoid crowds in cruise terminals. Buffets will be waiter service only and spas will, for now, be closed. Facemasks could be mandatory. Royal Caribbean has even applied to trademark a face covering design.
The Financial Times Big Read
Alice Hancock has also been interested in how Covid-19 has impacted the sector in an analysis piece: ‘Coronavirus: is this the end of the line for cruise ships?’. It reports that the 338 ships that make up the industry are docked and Carnival, the world’s largest cruise company, is haemorrhaging $1bn a month.
Operations are on halt until at least August, with bookings for 2021 reportedly at the same level as last year.
More than 60,000 crew members remain stranded aboard ships waiting to find out whether they will be repatriated.
Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, whose ships make up 70 per cent of the industry’s ships, now face multiple court cases from passengers who lost relatives and crew who became ill.
The cruise industry adds an estimated $150 billion to the global economy according to CLIA, serving 3% of the population.
Norwegian and Carnival have both fundraised during the pandemic but there are plans to lay off staff and cut pay.
The industry has one of the highest repurchase rates of any sector – with 85% who take a cruise booking again.
Following a question to the Prime Minister about the shut down of the cruise industry in Southampton putting hundreds of jobs at risk, TTG reported that Boris Johnson responded: “"Like all industries, the cruise industry – I think – is going to have to go through, in the short-term at least, a period of self-reinvention to make sure that it is Covid-secure.
"And I have no doubt it can do it. It is a great, great British industry, and we will support it in any way we can."
Southampton is the UK’s busiest cruise port, with a number of cruise lines homeporting ships in the city including P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Cunard.
However, Johnson provided no detail as to how the government would support the sector.
Southampton is the UK’s busiest cruise port, with a number of cruise lines homeporting ships in the city including P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Cunard.
Silversea takes delivery of a new ship
Travelmole reported that Silversea Cruises has taken delivery of its first-ever destination-specific ship, Silver Origin. It's the first in-person cruise ship delivery since the pandemic lockdown. The all-suite, all-balcony, 100-guest Silver Origin will welcome travellers year-round in the Galapagos Archipelago and has a number of environmentally low-impact features.
Hurtigruten has announced a year-round programme of voyages departing Dover from mid-March next year.
Travel Weekly reports that Riviera Travel has announced a strategic review of its business and entered a 30-day consultation with staff with up to 95 roles at risk.
Breaking Travel News reports that MSC will extend the fleet-wide halt of its cruise operation through to 31 July. At the same time it confirmed its full summer programme for 2021 starting from March.
Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has launched a new range of ‘Destination Spotlight’ films in its CMV at Home series. Each week CMV invites people to tune in to CMV TV to view the featured destination starting this week with the British Isles.
TTG reports that Cunard has extended its suspension of operations until November due to the “continued impact of Covid-19.”
For Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, Cunard is cancelling all sailings due to depart up to and including 1 November, while cruises onboard Queen Elizabeth have been axed up until 23 November.
Carnival in Miami operates 105 ships on nine cruise lines. It suspended dividends and share buybacks and cut non-essential capital expenditure. In April it tapped the capital markets for $6 billion to get it through the crisis.
Canada cruise cancelled until 31 October
UK aviation health panel reports to Government
Recommendations for safe air travel have been sent to the UK aviation industry and the Department for Transport, reports the BBC. Prof Ashley Woodcock, an expert in respiratory medicine from the University of Manchester, led a panel of aviation health experts which recommends:
- Wear face coverings at all times
- Use alcohol hand sanitisers frequently
- Stay 2m (6ft) away from other people and their baggage, where possible
- Board and disembark one row at a time and be seated apart from others if possible.
- Those seated at the back should be the first on and last off.
On board, there should also be 'sequencing' of toilet visits - with people asking permission to go from cabin crew - and a spare supply of face coverings, it adds.
Passengers with a long-standing cough caused by asthma, COPD or other respiratory disorders should consider wearing a coloured mask to highlight their underlying condition.
In airports, shops and restaurants should be opened but managed carefully to avoid overcrowding.
The panel also said that thermal-imaging cameras and swab tests for coronavirus are not "clinically valuable" in airports, as about one in every three infectious people would be missed.
Air systems and low humidity on planes already reduces virus spread through the cabin.
Airlines to lose $84 billion in 2020
Reuters reports IATA (the International Air Transport Association) forecasts that airlines are set to lose $84bn (£65.9bn) in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. IATA said revenue would likely halve, falling from $419bn from $838bn last year. IATA forecast a rise in 2021 revenue to $598 billion.
This is almost 2 percentage points narrower than the previous week's 86.5% drop and the smallest rate of decline since March 2020. Nevertheless, it is the seventh successive week of cuts broadly in the -85% to -90% range.
Europe's cuts are no longer the world's deepest. That distinction now belongs to Latin America, where seats have dropped by 88.7% year-on-year. Seats are down by 80.8% in Middle East, 80.5% in Africa, 78.7% in North America and 51.6% in Asia Pacific. The rate of fall is narrowing in the three big regions – Asia Pacific, Europe and North America – but widening in the others.
Data based on filed schedules indicate that European aviation may be at the beginning of a slow rebuilding of capacity.
However, plans by Ryanair, IAG, Lufthansa and Air France-KLM imply that capacity for Europe's leading groups will still be reduced by around 50%-80% in July 2020. Even those plans are based on the lifting of restrictions.
Following positive financial results with an underlying net profit growing 29.9% to a record €344.8m, the airline hit turbulence as reports emerged that it had handed its management share bonuses, potentially worth millions of pounds, despite making a thousand staff redundant, using the government's furlough scheme and borrowing hundreds of millions of pounds from the Bank of England's emergency funding line.
There is likely to be a backlash from politicians and trade unions, says The Times.
Virgin Atlantic has announced its plan to restart passenger flying, with services from Heathrow to Orlando, Hong Kong, Shanghai, New York JFK and Los Angeles set to resume from 20 and 21 July.
EasyJet is resuming flights from next week, although this will be primarily for domestic routes only. Following this, half of its fleet will start overseas flights in July and 75% will resume in August but with around 30 per cent of its normal flying capacity between July and September. It has announced new safety measures too.
Six new routes are being added by easyJet from Luton airport for next summer. Zakynthos, Larnaca, Fuertevenura, Gran Canaria, Marrakech and the Bulgarian beach destination of Varna are being introduced.
EasyJet is also launching a promotion which sees 25,000 seats to holiday destinations across Europe on offer from £19.99 on selected routes for travel between 1 July and 31 October.
Ryanair will resume flying on 1 July.
The UK flag carrier hopes to resume flights from 1 July with just eight routes from London Heathrow and added health and safety measures.
Later in July, international flights will resume to 29 destinations within North America, Asia and Africa.
Jet2 has postponed the launch of its flights, with routes resuming from 15 July to 40 destinations including Spain, Portugal and Greece with added health and safety measures.
Regarding refunds, Jet2 is allowing passengers to either move their flight booking to another date without charge, or to use a credit note within six months. More detail can be found here.
United is the first airline to ask all passengers to complete a health self-assessment during check-in.
Gatwick North Terminal
London Gatwick North Terminal will reopen on 15 June.
Cathay Pacific and Austrian Airlines bail outs
Business Traveller reports that the Hong Kong Government will bail out Cathay Pacific. The deal is part of a US $5 bn recapitalisation by the airline.
Austrian Airlines is also to be bailed out by the Austrian Federal Government and Lufthansa, but ecological requirements have been imposed including shifting short haul passengers onto rail (similar to Air France); cutting CO2 emissions and increase jet fuel efficiency.
As with Jet2.com, Jet2holidays has postponed the resumption of its summer programme to 15 July and reiterated its commitment to working with independent agents on rebooking options.
The operator had originally planned a 17 June return, but has subsequently pushed the date back.
G Adventures has unveiled a new ‘Travel with Confidence’ policy, which introduces new safety procedures across all future G Adventures trips. Designed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both travellers and employees, while continuing to deliver the adventure of a lifetime, the policy includes new social distancing and hygiene measures, which will be in place from the moment travellers join a trip until they depart.
Sky News reported that UK holidaymakers are swapping planes for caravans this summer, with many planning staycations and saving up for an "extra special" holiday next year.
Travel firm Kuoni reported a "clear upturn" in demand for 2021, with more than half of customers booking a trip to the Maldives, famed for its white sandy beaches.
Kuoni chief executive Derek Jones said: “Whilst there is still so much uncertainty around plans to open borders, the 14-day quarantine and social distancing, people are telling us that they’d rather plan ahead for next year and save to make the trip an extra special one, upgrading what they’d normally do.” “It’s clear from the conversations we’re having with customers and booking patterns that many people will opt to stay closer to home within the UK this year as they see overseas travel in the near future as being too risky.”
Wendy Wu Tours
Founder of tour operator Wendy Wu Tours, Wendy Wu, was interviewed by The Telegraph and provided some insights into changes. She said: “People will want to be safe. They will want to go to safe destinations and know all will be well. People will want operators to look after them. They will book even more holidays online rather than on the high street.
“Funnily enough, China will be one of the safest places on earth. It has made itself a fortress against the virus. Countries like South Korea and Taiwan have had very few cases and dealt with the virus very effectively. The five stans of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – also had very few cases and will be safe.
“Like China in the Nineties, they are little-known and seen as difficult and challenging. As with China, we will seek to make them more mainstream and accessible.”
Hotels face valley of death to recovery
Hotels will see outgoings ratchet up as they prepare to open and won’t see income until after their first guests leave, leading them down a very precarious ‘valley of death’ – says Nicolas Mayer, PwC industry leader for hospitality and tourism in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, who said: “The most-scary thing for me is the moment the tourism ecosystem opens, especially for hotels in destination. There is a valley of death where cash goes out when you start ramping up, hiring, investing in inventories, but the first cash inflows come after guests have left. That gap can be 150 days.”
Recovery Roadmap for Hotels
In a Phocuswire webinar on ‘The Recovery Roadmap for Hotels’, Robert Gilbert, President and CEO of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) outlined the three key concerns for travellers: - those of health, personal finances and safety with regards to flying and staying in hotels. But he cited a rolling Deloitte customer survey which has seen six consecutive weeks of decline in those concerns, albeit only a slight decline in consumers’ concerns in making regular payments and delaying large purchases.
HSMAI’s own research of members has found that 82% of members believed that the leisure sector would return first with intentions to holiday and fly this summer up from 24% in April to 31% in May. He said that consumers were wanting to hear from hotels about packages, special deals and flexible bookings.
Within the corporate sector, business traveller intentions are improving and domestic corporate travel will rebound quicker than international.
In May, the Global Business Travel Association said that 98% of members had cancelled international travel and 92% had cancelled domestic. However, research in June found that more than half of respondents planned to resume travel in the near future.
Gilbert said that the meetings and conventions business sector – which represents about a third of hotel revenue globally - would be the last sector to fully recover. The variables for recovery are complex, with new social distancing; room and seating configurations and F&B considerations needing to be cross-referenced with regulations dictated by national, municipal, and state governing bodies.
Reports so far are that events that are not cancelled are rescheduling in 4th quarter 2020 or 2021.
A survey from the PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) has found that 87% of respondents had cancelled one event; 66% had postponed and 61% were still evaluating whether to postpone or cancel an event.
This sector will undoubtedly look different post-pandemic, but there could be a spike in demand for functions for those who have not been able to meet in the first three quarters of 2020. With all sectors, health, personal finance and safety will trump all other considerations and the hotel sector still has to contend with the ongoing health and economic uncertainty that the pandemic poses.
Regional market performance
Kate Moro, Vice President of Data Partnerships at Amadeus looked at bookings across the globe and presented statistics that reflected bookings data that are currently on the books from participating Amadeus hotels.
Moro says that they are beginning to see strong signs of demand in some markets – and in those markets hotels should hold their rates [and not discount]. Right now, however, there are signs that most rates are dropping.
Pre-Covid, there were approximately 6.5 million reservations in the USA per week but by the start of the pandemic there were more cancellations than bookings. However, in the week of 24 May, the USA saw two million reservations – it is the seventh week-on-week increase in bookings. Occupancy is at around 20%.
However, the booking windows are short – mostly in the 0-14 day booking window and in most areas, the booking window is shorter than that, with many in the 0-3 days booking windows, with the shortest booking rates seeing the lowest rates.
Amadeus is seeing strong demand in the leisure sector in some regions and resort areas. For example, in the Panhandle of Florida, there are reports of 60% occupancy from individual bookings. The consumer profile is domestic and self-drive.
The two weeks up to 24 May began to see net positive bookings with recovery from individual bookings. The short term booking window is strong, but there is no base for future bookings. Most hotels are still showing a 10% occupancy from individuals, but this may change as the country opens up and the holiday around Canada Day on 1 July looms.
The week of 24 May was the first week that have been positive for bookings in the UK. Hotels have generally had an occupancy rate of under 5% since March and average room rates are low.
The week of 24 May provided Mexico with the fifth week of positive growth in room occupancy.
Moro said that despite the need for hotels to fill beds in times of low demand, research consistently proves that lowering rates doesn’t necessarily drive demand, but appreciates that occupancy recovery is faster than rate recovery, yet urges hotels to think about providing added value rather than lowering prices.
She also urged hoteliers to understand the booking window in their own market – so that they can provide tactical marketing when the customer is booking – whether that is flash sales or impressions on online travel agent sites.
It’s important for hotels to understand the nuances in local markets. Research into New York City’s relatively high occupancy rates during lock down revealed, for example, that health care workers were using the rooms. Hotels are likely to be used for other things in future, for example dorm rooms for students. Understanding this is important for recovery and important to benchmark appropriately to make the right recovery strategies.
She looked at future group bookings in NYC for Q4 2020 – and compared the picture between February and June 2020. The picture looked the same. No change had been made to block bookings in the intervening months, but she urged hoteliers to find out whether these bookings will be maintained, as knowing this will be critical for planning for Q4.
Data from 2019 suggests that short term group bookings are becoming more prevalent and hotels can capitalise on those shorter booking windows this year.
Gilbert outlined that recovery for post-Covid-19 is going to be different from previous crises.
Findings so far:
- CBRE economists found that on average hotels are opening 8-12 week after the peak of the virus in each country
- CBRE economists assessed countries and regions coming out of lockdown and provided categories: 1) recession - and cautious of a second wave: Spain, Iran, Turkey, Russia, India and Peru, USA, UK. 2) gradual re-opening and stabilisation – most of Europe, and Australia and Canada 3) There are a handful of countries in growth mode – who are 70% normal - China, Austria, Denmark, Czech, Norway. At present there is only one country that is still in lockdown and freefall mode – Brazil.
- Gilbert also suggested that individual markets are likely to recover at different speeds. With some recovering in 4-6 months and others taking 10-14 months and yet others whose recovery is likely to be even longer.
Top tips include:
For revenue management
- Build your segmentation strategy to align with recovery phases
- Consider a flexible pricing strategy while guarding your rates
- Review and create new competitive sets based on market changes
- Remain flexible, regularly revisiting your plan over the long term
Key considerations include:
- Ensure sales team has the training and resources they need for a new approach to consumer expectations
- Create new packages
- Adapt to the needs of a new digitally confident consumer
- Check with customers, clean database and constantly re-evaluate
Key considerations include:
- Evaluate changes in your market demand, feeder market, regulations and competition activity
- Research government guidelines for your area in your feeder markets to align timings for marketing plans
- Understand new traveller expectations and update profiles for current and future guests
- Craft sincere, clear and relevant messaging and update materials across all channels to ensure consumer confidence
- Establishing strong relationships is key – remain responsive and flexible when engaging with guests
WTM to go ahead
TTG reported that WTM will take place at ExCeL as planned in November, following the venue’s use as one of the NHS Nightingale field hospitals.
FCO tweaks global travel advice
TTG reported that the Foreign Office (FCO) has tweaked the wording of its global advisory against all non-essential travel. Back in March, the FCO advised UK nationals against all non-essential travel worldwide for an initial 30 days. However, this was extended to an "indefinite period" in early April.
At the weekend, the FCO dropped "indefinite period" from its advisory.
The new wording reads: "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. This advice is being kept under constant review."
Travel Daily reported that European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson announced that the EU free-travel zone could be up and running again before the end of June.
Countries in the 26-nation Schengen area had imposed border restrictions without consulting their neighbours and all but essential travel into Europe from outside is restricted until 15 June, but many ministers have suggested that they wanted this deadline extended until early July.
English outdoor attractions, including zoos and safari parks, will be allowed to reopen from Monday 15 June – providing they can ensure social distancing.
The government is reportedly ready to let pub beer gardens in England reopen from 22 June as part of plans drawn up by a group of ministers, dubbed the “Save Summer Six”, who are looking at ways to restart the hospitality industry earlier than initially planned.
The proposals, first reported in the Financial Times, would allow some of the 27,000 pubs that have outdoor space to serve customers for the first time in three months.
Meanwhile Scotland’s tourism minister announced that the tourism sector could reopen from mid-July.
Fergus Ewing said tourism and hospitality businesses should therefore prepare to reopen on 15 July "within appropriate safety guidelines".
Patricia Yates, acting CEO of Visit Britain, told The Guardian that the first surge in visitor numbers are likely to be to ‘safe’ remote coastal and rural areas and that it might take longer for cities to bounce back. They will be looking at promoting areas outside the honeypots. “What is needed is destination management to rebuild tourism more slowly and keep residents, visitors and businesses that depend on tourists happy.”
Blood tests in Italy’s northern province of Bergamo has shown that around half of the population were infected.
The country is now open to tourists and Raffaele Trombetta – Italy’s ambassador - said that British visitors will be welcome. The country will make sure every precaution will be taken to keep visitors safe with social distancing and other measures such as thermal scanners in place.
In Venice – with an estimated 25 million foreign visitors a year – officials are, according to The Guardian, using the pause to rethink “an entire Venice system”, with sustainability and quality tourism at its core, said Paola Mar, the city’s councillor for tourism. Part of the plan is to lure locals back to live permanently in the city. The mayor is in discussions with universities, aiming to offer tourist rentals to students, and old buildings are being restored for social housing. Measures to control visitor numbers – including a tax on day trippers, which was due to be introduced in July – will go ahead next year, while the debate around cruise ships continues.
“Our goal is to trigger a renaissance of the city,” said Mar. “We want to attract visitors for longer stays and encourage a ‘slower’ type of tourism. Things can’t go back to how they were.”
The Times reports that Italian nightclubs, along with cinemas and bingo halls will open on Monday 15 June, but dancers need to keep two metres apart.
A Times journalist reviewed a short-stay in Rome, as the city prepares to welcome tourists back. The shops and restaurants are open, but social distancing is required as is mask wearing. Matthew Neale said in many ways it is a good time to visit, as the city is much quieter than normal, and prices are cheaper, but visitors will be expected to follow the rules.
The Guardian has reported that in Amsterdam the mayor urged extreme caution in reopening to tourists, while non-profit group Amsterdam&Partners believes the tourist hiatus pushes to the top of the agenda plans to cut numbers and give Amsterdam back to locals.
The city has launched a sustainability taskforce to map the way forward. “We are working with partners to discuss how we can restart in a more sustainable and responsible way,” said Amsterdam&Partners spokeswoman Heleen Jansen. “The main focus is that we want a sustainable visitor economy that doesn’t harm the livability of our city. If you have the right balance between living, working and visiting, you can have the right visitor economy. That’s what went wrong in the last years in the old city centre, and we have to entice locals to discover their city centre again.”
Germans to beat us to the towels
To make sure the country’s new de-escalation measures are a success, Spain is opening to Germans in mid-June to test the protocols. Around 6,000 German tourists are set to fly to the country this month.
If they are successful, then Spain will open up its borders to foreign tourists from July which may include Britons.
Balearic tourism minister Iago Negueruela said that 4,000 Germans will stay in Mallorca, 1,000 in Menorca and 1,000 will go to Ibiza and Formentera.
Spain’s tourism minister has insisted British tourists will be welcome once restrictions on overseas visitors have been lifted, pending changes to the UK government’s quarantine plans and Foreign Office advice against all-but-essential travel.
In contrast to Italy, nightclubs and discos in Spain have now reopened but dancing is banned. An amended order published by the Ministry of Health says any space once allocated for dancing must now be used instead for tables and chairs, provided the two-metre social distancing rule is respected.
Mateo Asensio of the Barcelona tourist board told The Guardian: “Our first task is getting locals back out into the city, then the domestic market and our neighbours. When the international market returns, we’ll focus more on specific sectors. It’s an opportunity to change the rules.”
With the world’s “new normal” including social distancing, an increased fear of crowds and busy places – and the future of airlines in the balance – over-tourism may not be a pressing issue for some time.
Lisa Griffin, owner of the Shamrock pub in Benidorm was interviewed by The Observer and told that until the tourists come back, hotels open, flights are at capacity and quarantine is lifted in the UK, it won’t be worth our while reopening. “It’s what happens in Britain that really affects Benidorm, because it’s mainly them who visit.”
Beaches forced to close
The Sun reported that four beaches in Majorca - Illetas, Bugambilia, Oratori and Portals Nous - were closed after a high influx of visitors, while Benirras and Cala Calonet in Ibiza were forced to close as well. Local authorities slammed the actions of the party guests, and has since announced plans to ramp up security and police to patrol the beaches. Mayor of Ibiza village Sant Joan, Antoni Marí Marí, has since signed a decree closing the beach for limited periods, warning that further rule breaking could affect Brits returning to Spain.
The Sun also reports that bars are trying encourage tourists with cheap booze deals this summer with or without Brits. The Hotel Association of Palmanova-Magaluf says it won't allow attempts by "some establishments" to thwart the efforts being made to ban what has become known as "tourism of excesses".
They warn that anyone planning to breach the new rules is not welcome and Magaluf will continue with its aim of attracting the family sector, rather than holidaymakers intent on getting drunk and having wild parties.
They have spoken out after reports that a number of party organisers in the UK are already offering all-inclusive packages for Magaluf, with drinks included for 100 euros a day.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the Prado Museum opened at the weekend with a reduced capacity and is taking the opportunity to assess what reforms can be made to improve the visitor experience.
The Daily Mirror reports that Brits could be holidaying in Turkey by the middle of July. It is understood that government officials in popular Brit holiday destinations hope for "air bridge" deals ahead of the summer holiday season.
The Eiffel Tower will open on 25 June, The Palace of Versaille opened on 5 June and the Louvre will open on 6 July.
According to GTP, Greek authorities are re-considering the possibility of introducing new lockdown measures after a series of violations and an increase in Covid-19 incidents over the weekend.
Despite strict warnings and far-reaching coronavirus regulations in place, a beach bar on Mykonos was fined 20,000 euros and shut down for two months days after it organized a party over the three-day holiday weekend, which is not allowed. Similar events were reported at other summer spots across the country.
At the same time, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) announced 97 new Covid-19 cases, 30 of which are travellers from abroad who tested positive and 29 as part of organized screenings in the Xanthi border region. Indicatively, of all Greece’s confirmed coronavirus cases, 690 or 22.6 percent regard travel from abroad.
Separately Athens is accelerating plans for a car-free historic centre.
A Times journalist visited the Athens Riviera, and found that ‘organised’ beaches will be operating at 50% capacity, and hotels have significantly stepped-up hygiene protocols and are offering welcome kits with hand sanitisers and masks and apps for contactless check-ins and dinner bookings.
Holidaymakers flying from a limited number of British airports will be able to enter Europe without being tested and quarantined under new measures to open up tourism, The Times reported.
A “blacklist” of 13 UK airports has been drawn up by the European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa), an EU organisation, to mark out those in areas with the highest coronavirus infection rates and Greece confirmed last week that it will be using the system. The 13 airports blacklisted included Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.
A Times journalist visited the Algarve and was impressed at the measures the hotels were going to – Portugal has set some mandatory rules, but hotels are also taking extra measures too.
Austria will reopen its borders to its European neighbours from Tuesday, with the exception of travellers from Britain, Spain, Portugal and Sweden.
China’s recovery continues as daily passengers top 1 million. Chinese carriers have transported more than 1 million passengers in a day for the first time since late January as the country’s market continues to recover from the coronavirus crisis, reports Routes Online.
The number of daily passengers carried by airlines in China topped the 1 million mark on 5 June —the first time in four months the figure has been achieved.
According to figures released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the total number of passengers flying during the day was 1.04 million. This is the highest total since 28 January when Covid-19 travel restrictions began to be introduced.
China, meanwhile, has dismissed as "ridiculous" a Harvard medical school study that suggested the disease may have been spreading in the city of Wuhan as early as August last year.
President Trump has increased pressure to reopen America by declaring that he will resume political rallies "maybe next week", despite confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country passing two million.
On Thursday, The Guardian reported that the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the US, which is the worst-affected country worldwide, passed 2 million, according to Johns Hopkins University data, which lists 2,000,464 cases. The country has recorded 112,908 deaths.
The US will be looking at whether effects of relaxed restrictions – and Memorial Day weekend on 25 May - which saw large crowds in parts of the country – will result in a rise in cases.
Nine California counties have reported a spike in new coronavirus cases or hospitalisations.
Moscow swung abruptly back to life yesterday after the mayor surprised the Russian capital by lifting the vast majority of coronavirus curbs overnight.
Panellists on a LATA consumer trends webinar said the UK is now producing more new bookings than cancellations for future travel to Latin America for the first time since the pandemic hit the region, but year on year arrivals in May were down 63% compared to last year.
LATA, which also obtained consumer research of readers of Wanderlust, said it would analyse consumer attitudes and how they have changed towards Latin American travel in light of the pandemic, and identify the traveller profile who is likely to visit the region post-crisis.
It is creating a resource centre giving members access to data and is creating safety guidelines for destinations to open up to tourism safely.
The spread of the virus has intensified in the region, with Brazil now recording the second most cases of Covid-19 in the world, after the US, but more daily deaths than any other nation.
Brazil has fully restored its website of coronavirus data following an order by the Supreme Court. The government controversially removed totals of cases and deaths over the weekend.
The epidemic in Mexico is advancing toward its peak level of infections, the World Health Organization warned. Mexico, where total confirmed cases exceed 120,000 and the death toll stands at about 14,000, began a gradual re-opening of the economy at the start of June.
India and Pakistan
The BBC has reported that restrictions in India are being lifted despite an increase in cases in an attempt to shore up the economy.
Authorities in Delhi have warned that cases in the Indian capital could reach half a million. If that happens, 80,000 hospital beds will be needed - a huge leap from the current capacity of nearly 9,000. Neighbouring Pakistan, meanwhile, has been urged by the World Health Organization to reimpose intermittent lockdowns.
Jamaica has announced it will reopen its borders for international travellers on 15 June.
The country is currently repatriating 8,000 Jamaican nationals who have been stranded overseas due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions.
Additionally, an extensive set of operational protocols were announced, including health screening before entry, which will be implemented to manage risks to workers, communities and travellers.
On 4 June, Tunisia entered into the third phase of its efforts to lift its coronavirus lockdown. New tourism sector-specific protocols have been developed to allow hotels to reopen, with hotel and travel agency staff in Tunisia are being trained to adopt the new rules.
Now, the country’s national tourist office (TNTO) has issued a new video detailing its plans to restore its tourism economy.
Travel Weekly has reported that South Africa is ready to reintroduce tourism from September.
Iran has seen a rapid surge in the numbers of coronavirus cases in recent weeks, sparking fears it might be facing a second wave of the pandemic.


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Watchmen actress Hong Chau was on hand at Amazon’s Winter 2020 TCA presentation in Pasadena today to promote the second season of Prime Video’s Homecoming. Chau is reprising her role from the first season, Audrey Temple, and told the ballroom full of reporters that she looked at “Temple’s journey this season as a coming-of-age as a young professional.”
Chau herself is hot coming off of a tour de force turn in HBO’s Watchmen, where she played the cunning trillionaire Lady Trieu.
**SPOILERS FOR THE WATCHMEN SEASON ONE FINALE AHEAD**
Watchmen ended with Lady Trieu attempting to steal the superpowers of Doctor Manhattan (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). She claimed she would use them to save the world, but her father, Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias (Jeremy Irons), believed she would ruin the world. He adjusted his own tiny, falling squids to kill her in a grotesque hail storm.
However, the question remains: Was Ozymandias right? Would Lady Trieu be a monster? Or would she have been true to her word.
“I know what I think, but I’m going to keep that a secret because it’s so much more interesting to hear what the audience thinks,” Chau told the scrum. “It’s gone both ways. I actually I am a little bit surprised by how favorable [laughs] Lady Trieu came off.”
Chau continued: “That was a very, very pleasant surprise because I agreed to do the role knowing that she wasn’t…” — she paused — “…entirely what she seemed on the surface, but I think that it’s a great honor to play a villain on a genre show.”
Even if Chau believes Lady Trieu is a villain, there’s no denying she was a villain with style. One of the best moments in the Watchmen finale came when a newspaper stand worker complimented Lady Trieu on her halo-like hat and she made a “bless your heart” sort of mime to thank him. Decider asked Chau if that little physical movement was scripted.
“I asked Damon [Lindelof] if I could have the hat,” Chau said with a giggle. “And then the costume department like quickly whipped it up! And I showed them the picture of the [ao dai] because it’s a traditional Vietnamese hat. And I was like, ‘You know, because we had established early on that this woman built this vivarium to honor her mother, I feel like that’s an important part of her and so we should try to work that in in the last episode.’ So I’m glad they were amenable to it.”
When another reporter asked Chau what her favorite part of being on the show was, she said, “Gosh, she’s so cutting. I love that. I love somebody who takes no prisoners and who is able to just speak her mind without any fear or self-consciousness. It’s so rare that we get to that; that anybody gets to do that in real life so it was pure joy.”
Watchmen has yet to be renewed for a second season, but Homecoming Season 2 premieres on Prime Video later this spring.

domain: artistic


text:
- Is public or private healthcare better?
- Are hospitals part of the public sector?
- Which is better private or public sector bank?
- Is it better to work in the private or public sector?
- Who pays more private or public sector?
- Is Obamacare public or private?
- Who first proposed the NHS?
- What are the disadvantages of private health insurance?
- How the NHS is funded?
- Who do the public sector care for?
- Is healthcare a public service?
- What are the disadvantages of private hospitals?
- Is healthcare a private sector?
- Is the NHS public or private sector?
- What is the public sector in health care?
- Why private hospitals are better?
- What are the difference between private and public sector?
- Is NHS better than private?
Is public or private healthcare better?
Public hospitals may have better medical facilities for your condition than private hospitals and are usually equipped to handle more complex cases.
Also, public hospitals are usually the first choice for emergencies or acute health issues..
Are hospitals part of the public sector?
This Commentary looks at public-sector providers—those organizations that are owned, administered, or financially dependent in great part on public-sector support, especially for vulnerable populations (public hospitals, community health centers, public clinics, and public health departments)—and presents three …
Which is better private or public sector bank?
One of the advantages of public sector banks over private sector banks is that the former usually charge lower on these additional fees compared to private counterparts. One reason could be that private banks incur high overheads in the form of more expensive offices, higher salaries to employees and other costs.
Is it better to work in the private or public sector?
Overall, public-sector employment is seen as more attractive, even at a time when spending cuts are anticipated.” … Some 45% of those questioned by IFF believed they would be better off in the private sector, compared with 33% of private-sector workers who thought they would be better off in public services.
Who pays more private or public sector?
While the 2016 Fraser Institute report indicates the average public employee makes nearly 11 per cent more than those in the private sector, Reid says for some jobs the private sector tends to pay up to a quarter more. Whether someone wants those jobs usually depends on their personality and preferred lifestyle.
Is Obamacare public or private?
Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income United States residents, is a social welfare program like SNAP food stamps or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. Obamacare’s health insurance exchanges are private health insurance plans. They’re offered by health insurance companies such as: Anthem.
Who first proposed the NHS?
Aneurin BevanWhen Labour came to power in 1945, an extensive programme of welfare measures followed – including a National Health Service (NHS). The Minister of Health, Aneurin Bevan, was given the task of introducing the service.
What are the disadvantages of private health insurance?
As you might expect, the greatest disadvantage of private health insurance can be the cost. This is especially true if you are in poor health and do not have access to group coverage of any kind. Many individual policies can cost several hundred dollars a month, and family coverage can be even higher.
How the NHS is funded?
The NHS is funded mainly from general taxation supplemented by National Insurance contributions (NICs).
Who do the public sector care for?
In a nutshell, the public sector is responsible for providing all public services in the UK, from the emergency services and healthcare, education and social care, to housing and refuse collection. A range of opportunities and a varied workload are just two reasons why you should consider a career in this sector.
Is healthcare a public service?
Governing bodies have long provided core public services. … Later, governments began to provide other services such as electricity and healthcare.
What are the disadvantages of private hospitals?
Disadvantages of Private Health Care.Inequality. It will be a bigger burden for those on low incomes to take out health care insurance. … Health Care is a Merit Good. People may forget, be unwilling or be unable to take out private health care insurance. … Positive Externalities. … More Expensive. … Bureaucracy. … Difficult to get money back.
Is healthcare a private sector?
Health care markets As most health systems involve private sector activity, they inevitably consist of a number of markets.
Is the NHS public or private sector?
The National Health Service (NHS) is the publicly funded healthcare system in England, and one of the four National Health Service systems in the United Kingdom. It is the second largest single-payer healthcare system in the world after the Brazilian Sistema Único de Saúde.
What is the public sector in health care?
While healthcare tends to be delivered and managed locally, the public health component of the sector, focused primarily on population health, is managed across all levels of government: national, state, regional, local, tribal, and territorial.
Why private hospitals are better?
23% of the respondents believe that private hospitals provide higher quality treatment than government hospitals, 19% doctors believe that it is the advanced equipment used, that sets them apart, and 6% attribute it to the less mortality but 53 % doctors believe patient care is the differentiating factor.
What are the difference between private and public sector?
The private sector is the part of the economy that is run by individuals and companies for profit and is not state controlled. … Companies and corporations that are government run are part of what is known as the public sector, while charities and other nonprofit organizations are part of the voluntary sector.
Is NHS better than private?
Choice. One of the advantages of private healthcare is that it allows users to have a choice of consultants, hospitals and treatments, but an NHS constitution mirrors this: ‘Everyone who is cared for by the NHS in England has formal rights to make choices about the service that they receive.

domain: politics


text:
This miniature three book set in 1:12 scale includes Gulliver's Travels, Robinson Crusoe and The Swiss Family Robinson. All 3 open and have 12 pages with 5 to 8 illustrations. Each book measures approximately 7/8 of an inch high by 5/8 of an inch wide with the titles printed on the spines so they look GREAT open or closed.
I personally design every book which can take more than 2 hours. Scaled perfectly for your dollhouse, room box, dollhouse coffee table or a book shelf in your miniature scene. All my books that are 1/12 scale have miniature hard covers. Most of my miniature books are readable BOOKS. They are printed on both sides of the page with a readable passages. All of my books interior paper, hardcover book board covers, ink and glues are acid-free archival quality.
This is a collectors item and it is not recommended for small children.

domain: design


text:
We’re all suddenly facing a lot of time at home. For those of us who love to travel, we’ve had our wings clipped for a while. But, thanks to technology we can still travel around the globe…virtually!
If you’ve got kids at home, this is also the perfect post to help them keep learning about the world. You can even use this list to come up with themes for the day and do educational activities around the destination.
Virtual Day Trips in the USA
If you have an art or history buff in the home, this will be of interest. You can look around the White House and Eisenhower Executive Office Building and get a look at some of the amazing portrait art hanging in the White House.
This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States, and you can take a virtual educational tour around the site from home. You’ll also learn a lot about this famous landmark.
While many businesses are closed, zoos are still operating because they have to care for the animals. Cincinnati is giving you a chance to meet their animals with Facebook Live Home Safaris at 3 pm ET / 12 pm PT from March 16th through April 11.
Also, check out all the great animal cams offered at the San Diego Zoo.
I know many of us take delight in watching a sunrise or sunset over the water. Find webcams for popular beaches all over the United States (and even around the world). Start your day with a sunrise in Florida and end it with a sunset in California.
See the famous Alamo, a historic Spanish Mission that was built in 1718.
Check out one (or all) of five amazing National Parks found in Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Utah, and Florida while at home.
Another famous national park has given you the opportunity to visit the park virtually with amazing panoramic shots that even include sound! Visit Tuolumne Meadows at night, look out from the top of Yosemite Falls, and have lunch inside the Ahwahnee Hotel.
And when you’re ready to visit in person, check out this great Guide to Yosemite with Kids.
Ever wonder about these unique animals that call Florida home? Check out these fun Manatee videos and learn all about these adorable “sea cows”.
You’ll need to download an app for this, but it’s full of great information for NASA fans.
Have you always wanted to visit a natural history museum? Get a peek at some of the exhibits that are featured at the Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.
Since it is the season of cherry blossom blooming around the United States, check out this great collection of art depicting these beautiful trees. You can also see the beautiful cherry blossoms in bloom in Seattle at the University of Washington webcam.
Take a virtual tour around the first National Park of the United States and learn about the unique geothermal formations that make that park so unique and famous.
The Boston Children’s Museum has worked with Google to create a virtual walkthrough tour of the museum. Perhaps you can discover what area of the museum would be your favorite place to visit.
Virtual Trips Around Canada
Look around the beautiful Parliament building of Canada in Ottawa. And learn a little about the Canadian government system.
Get insight into the history of Canada with this virtual walkthrough tour of their famous museum in Quebec.
Watch the famous polar bears of Churchill, Manitoba and learn all about these amazing creatures of the arctic.
Want to learn a little more about farming? Check out these great 360 cams and food tours around Canada.
Look at this famous Canadian Rockies mountain town and learn about its history.
International Travel Virtual Day Trips
Get a virtual tour around the Eiffel Tower including what you’d find at the top and each of the lower tower units.
Check out three popular exhibits at one of the most famous museums in the world.
Visit the Vatican in Italy, including a look at the amazing Sistine Chapel.
Take a walk through history with art exhibits with this online interactive tour from the British Museum. See creations from 2000BC to 2000AD.
Visit one of the seven wonders of the world while at home. Take a virtual walk along the wall and learn about the history of the wall.
Here’s a unique POV video that showcases the variety of Japan’s tradition and modern features. It makes me eager to replan our canceled trip to Japan!
And even beyond our planet Earth, discover the planet of Mars from the Curiosity Rover.
If you’re searching for more art exhibits to tour, check out the Google Arts and Culture page for all the museums they’ve created virtual tours with.

domain: geography


For those eager for their next MCU fix and wondering exactly what time Marvel’s WandaVision comes out each week, the brand new Disney Plus series is being released Fridays at midnight PT/3 am ET. WandaVision has released its first eight episodes, which started to drop on Friday, January 15, followed by one new episode every week for the rest of its release schedule.
If there were for another season of WandaVision, it likely would not arrive on Disney Plus for quite some time.
Elizabeth Olsen is now busy filming her critical role in the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, which is scheduled for launch on 25th March 2022.
Based on where that movie leaves Wanda Maximoff, yet another streaming show could be a possibility, however, Marvel Studios would want to give fans plenty of time to get caught up before they dropped the next season in her story.
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For that reason, forecasts that any possible second season of WandaVision would not be released until January 2023 at the earliest.
WandaVision season 2 cast
On the off-chance which WandaVision does return, it’s possible that the cast could seem quite different.
Elizabeth Olsen would have to reprise the role of Wanda Maximoff for almost any follow-up to existing, but there’s no guarantee that Paul Bettany’s Vision is alive at all.
Teyonah Parris has amazed lovers in her debut appearance as Monica Rambeau, but she is all set to move on to the upcoming Captain Marvel sequel, so it’s possible her character’s journey will diverge from Wanda’s route at that point.
We could see allies Darcy Lewis and Jimmy Woo reunite, played with Kat Dennings and Randall Park respectively, provided they aren’t currently committed to some other MCU projects and they’ve been such a popular group among fans.
As mentioned before, if Wanda’s superpowered children have been brought back, it’s probably by that point they would have to be played with 2 elderly actors so anticipate a recast.
Question marks remain over Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness and Evan Peters’ fake Pietro (AKA Fietro), as the WandaVision finale will likely dictate if it could be possible for either to come back for more Marvel insanity.
We’ll update this page with additional upgrades on a possible WandaVision season two as they arrive.
How Many Episodes of WandaVision Are There Going to Be?
Here’s the full WandaVision Season 1 release schedule:
- Episode 1 – “Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience”: Friday, January 15 – Available Now
- Episode 2 – “Don’t Touch That Dial”: Friday, January 15 – Available Now
- Episode 3 – “Now in Color”: Friday, January 22 – Available Now
- Episode 4 – “We Interrupt This Program”: Friday, January 29 – Available Now
- Episode 5 – “On a Very Special Episode…”: Friday, February 5 – Available Now
- Episode 6 – “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!”: Friday – Available Now
- Episode 7: – “Breaking the Fourth Wall”: Friday, February 19 – Available Now
- Episode 8: – “Previously On”: Friday, February 26 – Available Now
- Episode 9: Friday, March 5 – Season 1 Finale


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2. This article isn’t intended to be about making $50k per year from $0 to start with. This is intended to show different ways that it’s possible to generate $50k in passive income. As for your rental property comment, check out RealtyShares or other similar companies. You can be a rental property owner without having to run the business. You can be a limited partner and just invest in real estate, and leave the actual work to the general partner. Basically, there are options to make $50k without working, but like the first paragraph says – front load your life!
passive income calculator
Andrew Fiebert is a thirty-something soon-to-be father of twins, a self-professed data nerd, and has worked as a Data Engineer for Barclays Capital and iHeartRadio. He's spent the past six years growing LMM into a multi-six-figure business with over 500 hours of free personal finance education that reaches over 1 million people every month. Andrew has a B.S. in Computer Science and has been featured in Quartz, Forbes, Business Insider, and The Telegraph.
1. The batting cage idea is very risky. I’ve seen many of them close over the years and it is not anything close to passive income if you want to keep the business going. You have to continually promote it and target youth leagues, coaches, schools etc to catch all of the new players who grow up and want to play. I’ve played at probably 8 batting cages over the years and 7 of them closed.
How can I earn income from home?
There are dozens of ways to generate passive income. However, the option you select has to do with two metrics: time and money. Either you have a lot of time or a lot of money. Most people usually don't have both. But, if you have a lot of money, generating passive income almost instantly is easy. You can buy up some real estate and begin enjoying rental income. Or, you can invest in a dividend fund or some other investment vehicle that will begin generating a steady income for you.
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passive income pursuit
I actually went back to the post and looked closer. Out of the first 13 ways listed, only one requires that you have house. None of the rest require you to have a house or a car. Of course, there are 11 more ideas in addition to those first 13 and some of those do require you to start with an investment. However, there’s nearly always a way to create passive income if you are willing to put in the time and work involved. If you do not find something that works for you in this post, check out our other posts. If you’re constantly on the lookout for ways to create passive income I’m betting you will find a way that works for you. Be diligent and I bet you can do it, even in South Africa. Good luck!
What is SEO in website?
Choose stocks with high dividends. Typically, the companies that pay the highest dividends are older, more established companies. These companies no longer need to reinvest their income into growing the company, so they are free to allocate the money to investors in the form of dividends. Telecommunication companies, Real Estate Investments Trusts (REITs), and utility companies, in particular, are known for having high dividend payouts.
Where investing is a wealth-building strategy that has been around forever, the second passive income option on this list is fairly new. Affiliate marketing is an income idea that requires you to have a website or platform you can use to promote other companies, or “affiliates.” When someone uses your affiliate link to purchase a product or sign up for a service, you get paid.

domain: economics


After eight weeks of swim meets, and after hundreds and thousands of yards and countless strokes through the water, Columbia’s neighborhood swimmers will come together over the span of two days for the finale — a championship meet.
The All City Championship Meet will be held on Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, at the Phelps Luck Pool in Long Reach, located at 5355 Phelps Luck Drive.
The Columbia Neighborhood Swim League, which includes 14 teams, is a recreational summer league for youth in Columbia and the surrounding Howard County area. Swimmers range in age from three to 18 and range in ability from novice swimmers to those who participate on the national stage.
No matter their age or ability, swimmers are able to participate in five dual meets and the season championship meet.
The All City Championship Meet will be broken up into three sessions: swimmers age eight and younger will compete beginning at 5:30 p.m. on July 27 (warm-ups begin at 4:30 p.m.); swimmers between the ages of 13 and 18 will compete beginning at 9 a.m. on July 28 (warm-ups begin at 8 a.m.); and swimmers between the ages of 9 and 12 will compete beginning at 1 p.m. on July 28 (warm-ups begin at noon).
The meet is for all CNSL swimmers that meet the eligibility rules listed here. For each event, swimmers are divided into two or three divisions (A, B, C) based on their best time for the stroke, and first through 10th place receive awards in each division, not overall. An awards podium is available for picture opportunities.
All CNSL swimmers are encouraged to attend. Last year, nearly 1,200 participated, the largest turnout ever. For more information about CNSL, visit cnslswimming.org.


The movie theater, RKO Keith’s, is one of the city’s only surviving “atmospheric” theaters built in the early 20th century. Abandoned since the mid-1980s, the opulent Churrigueresque structure’s interior was landmarked in 1984, though a series of owners did little over time to curtail extensive deterioration inside. Now, a new owner, Xinyuan Real Estate, has hired Pei Cobb Freed & Partners to transform the Flushing, Queens building into 16 stories of offices and apartments. (Last week AN contributor Edward Gunts covered the theater’s history and the current development.)
At a Tuesday meeting, the LPC voted unanimously to re-authorize a previously issued Certificate of Appropriateness to build out Pei Cobb Freed’s vision and undertake preservation work on the interior.
Plans call for retail and an apartment lobby to be built around the 1928 theater’s landmarked ticket lobby and grand foyer (the rest of the interior was initially landmarked, but its protections were removed by the Board of Estimate after an appeal by an owner). Significant architectural elements will be conserved, while those too damaged for conservation or missing will be replicated offsite and reinstalled in the theater. Those changes, the LPC said, will be reviewed and permitted at staff level.
Pei Cobb Freed is collaborating with New York–based historic preservation firm AYON STUDIO on the project. During the meeting, AYON founding principal Angel Ayón explained how steel trusses will span the landmarked interiors on the east-west and north-south axes to preserve the cavity as construction on the new building gets underway. When the architects have a new envelope, the team will be able to reinstall the plaster, woodwork, and new curtains. Ayón likened the work on the decorative features to the preservation of Times Square’s Lyric Theater, which underwent a similar process to remove and conserve ornamental plaster.
The LPC is working with the owner to make sure plaster gets put back in place. The two parties agreed to $10 million bond for storage and periodic inspection of the plaster, though the commission said those details still being hammered out. One major requirement of interior landmarks is that they remain open to the public. Patrick Waldo of preservation advocacy group Historic Districts Council (HDC), as well as Christabel Gough of the Society for the Architecture of the City, raised concerns about the accessibility of a space that fronts a future (private) apartment lobby. HDC “strongly” suggested the street entrance be re-examined to expose the interior more fully; at the very least, the group recommended strong wayfinding signage to alert the public to the presence of the landmark.
To get more insight into the theater’s place in New York history, Gunts reached out to Anthony Robins, a former senior preservation specialist at the agency who wrote the original designation report, for more on RKO Keith’s. Here’s what he had to say:
The recent history of the RKO Keith’s—once a mainstay of Flushing—has been dismal. Designed by Thomas Lamb—perhaps New York’s most prolific theater designer—it was planned originally as a vaudeville theater, with movies more or less an afterthought. Lamb designed it as a so-called “atmospheric” theater, attempting to create the illusion that the theater’s customers were seated outside, under the stars, in a picturesque Spanish village. The Spanish-inspired ornament ran throughout the theater into all its major spaces. Located at the major intersection of Main Street and Northern Boulevard, the Keith’s became a very visible institution in the neighborhood.By 1984, the Keith’s, still in use as a movie theater, was one of only three major “atmospheric” theaters surviving in New York City (the others being the Loew’s Paradise in the Bronx and the Valencia in Queens, both now official landmarks). The Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation of the Keith’s entire interior that year was cut back at the Board of Estimate to include just the grand foyer—apparently because a politically connected developer wanted to include the site in a proposed new shopping mall. That plan evaporated, as did the plans of a subsequent developer, but the Keith’s remained shuttered; for 30 years it has sat vacant, decaying and crumbling, its interiors long since vandalized, even as other grand movie palaces have been lovingly restored. Now comes the ultimate indignity of the proposed demolition of the theater shell, and the grand foyer’s disassembly and reconstruction, all by itself, as an odd relic of a vanished theater from another era. There can be no happy ending for this story.


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Chelsea Transfer News: Chelsea interested in Joao Felix, Barcelona eye Bosman move for Cesar Azpilicueta
This season, Chelsea is aiming for the Premier League title. The Blues won the UEFA Champions League last season and the UEFA Super Cup this year. To add to his remarkable collection, Thomas Tuchel now wants the coveted league title.
Chelsea is interested in an Atletico Madrid player who may cost them €80 million off the field. Barcelona is planning a free transfer for a Blues defender next summer.
Chelsea interested in Joao Felix
According to Caught Offside through Don Balon, Chelsea is interested in Joao Felix. Blues owner Roman Abramovich is said to be a fan of Atletico Madrid’s star player and is willing to support a move for him. Since joining the La Liga club, Felix has had a rough time. He is, nevertheless, still a sought-after player as a result of his accomplishments with Benfica.
Chelsea is interested in bringing the midfielder to Stamford Bridge and has not been put off by his €80 million price tag. Atletico Madrid is interested in a swap deal in which Timo Werner would move to the Wanda Metropolitano.
Werner has battled since arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer, much like the Portuguese. So the Blues may not mind letting the German striker go, especially since he is no longer Thomas Tuchel’s first choice.
The change may be beneficial to all parties involved. Both players would be given the opportunity to resurrect their careers. Chelsea is aware that Felix’s arrival will relieve pressure on Romelu Lukaku, as well as providing an upgrade over Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech.
Although his poor record for Atletico Madrid may cause some anxiety, the 21-year-old has the pedigree and time to turn his career around.
Barcelona is considering a move for Cesar Azpilicueta
According to The Hard Tackle through Fichajes, Barcelona is interested in signing Cesar Azpilicueta next summer. The Chelsea captain’s current contract expires next summer, and no agreement has yet been reached to prolong his stay at the club. Despite his significance in Thomas Tuchel’s scheme, the Blues have yet to sign him to a new contract.
The Blaugrana are keeping a close eye on what’s going on at Stamford Bridge. Due to their financial difficulties, the La Liga giants have been compelled to pursue free agents. Azpilicueta is the latest in a long line of free agents associated with Blaugrana. Chelsea, on the other hand, is anticipated to extend his contract.

domain: news


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08-17-2013 06:05 PM
I see the idea of using inqueries anyway to have a shot and to get explainations in the worst case. Thanks!
I really don't mind getting the lowest limit 5k, even with the cost of lowering my 8k limit on my Chase UA card. For a grad student, 5k * 2 is already good enough. I do want this card, since I fly UA once a month NY <-> CA and CSP will boost my miles!
However, I just realize that the AMEX SPG card I've got this month requires ~5k spending in 6 months to get the initial bonus. With CSP that means ~8k spending within the next 6 months -- it's not bad but I don't want to push myself to spend money on nothing.
If you are willing to push the envelope (and not for everyone) look into some manufactued spend, where basically you "really" spend very little (e.g. $10 per $1000 or 0 for Chase). With Chase, you can do this officially:
which allows you to buy chase gift cards on line, with a Chase credit card, at no extra cost, the limit is $2,600 per 30 days, although with a new card I would spread this out over the three months and also buy other stuff.
Once you have the gift cards, you can cash them out in various ways at Walmart for example.
08-18-2013 12:07 PM
08-18-2013 12:19 PM
Seems that CSP also offers a World Mastercard option -- anyone knows if there is a minimum CL in this case?
5k min CL. At the moment, you can't apply directly for the CS/CSP World MC. Although, you can convert to it. I recently converted my CSP Visa Signature to CSP World MC.
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domain: finance


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After a few days of falls, livestock prices saw a turn on Tuesday to increase. Live cattle prices increased 35 cents on Tuesday to hit $128.03, bringing the 27-day average price to $135.72. Feeder cattle prices also saw a jump from $172.30 on Monday to $173.48 on Tuesday. The $1.18 increase brought the 27-day average price to $186.77.
Lean hog prices increased the most, jumping $2.38 to hit $54.18. The 27-day average price now rests at $61.05.
Corn prices saw a jump of two cents, while wheat fell six cents.


A brand new Top 10 list from Politico -- their "10 best pickup opportunities among next year’s Senate contests."
The race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Kit Bond offers Democrats one of their strongest pickup targets, as Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is almost certainly the strongest Democratic recruit of the cycle. Carnahan — the daughter of former Gov. Mel Carnahan and former Sen. Jean Carnahan — has already taken in more than $3 million for the contest. Rep. Roy Blunt, a former House GOP whip, avoided a tough primary against former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, but he still faces an uphill general election battle.


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ATLANTA — A collision with Jimmy Butler in the last four seconds of Friday’s win against the Heat could cost LeBron James.
The Lakers (23-3) said the 34-year-old star was questionable for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks (6-20) with a sore right elbow, tumbling to the floor after Butler blew up James’ attempt to take a charge on the final shot of the game.
James had cold packs strapped to his elbow in the visiting locker room after the 113-110 win, and at one point, he was bleeding.
“I mean it’s fine,” he said at the time. “I’m icing it right now. We’ll see what happens.”
The Lakers also announced that Kyle Kuzma would miss his third straight game while recovering from a left ankle sprain that has now been bothering him for two weeks.
James has yet to miss a game this season. He’s started all 26 games so far, averaging 25.9 points and a league-leading 10.8 assists per game. While his rim-finishing and rebounding has slipped slightly from last season, he’s become a 36 percent 3-point shooter in a more complimentary role to new star Anthony Davis.
James has been the trump card for one of the best starts in franchise history. The Lakers have outscored opponents by a team-high 248 points this season when James is on the floor. When he’s out, the Lakers have only outscored opponents by a single point. After a recent game, Vogel suggested that’s still something the Lakers are working on.
“That’s a part that we definitely need to continue to grow, and we haven’t been as strong thus far, so far in the season,” he said. “The lineups with LeBron out and (Rajon) Rondo in have really started and begun to pick up.”
Thrown into the mix is a complication of schedule: James flew to Columbus over the weekend with plans of watching his 15-year-old son Bronny James play for Sierra Canyon. It’s the first time that the four-time MVP has been able to watch the game live, playing against St. Vincent-St. Mary, his Akron-based alma mater. He planned to rejoin the Lakers in Atlanta in time for tip-off.
The final play has already been a source of controversy. The NBA released a last two minute report on Saturday afternoon indicating that the Heat were disadvantaged by two missed calls: when James took the hit from Butler on an inbounds play, arriving too late to take a charge; then again when Davis contested Butler’s last shot and had his feet in Butler’s landing space. The Lakers contended that Butler intentionally kicked out to draw contact — only to no avail as the shot missed the mark and no whistle blew.
Even after the game, Danny Green took a relatively even-keeled view, saying he had braced for the possibility of whistles on both plays.
“Wasn’t sure if they were going to call it or not because of the way they both (James and Butler) kind of sold it,” Green said. “Jimmy still got the ball and got a pretty good look. Obviously AD, defensive player of the year, very alert, got a contest … It was close. Jimmy had his legs out there and I wasn’t sure if they were going to call a foul or not, but I think the whole crowd was waiting to see if they were gonna review it. But got a good contest and made Jimmy miss.”
James rarely misses games with long-term injuries, but a groin tear last winter with the Lakers turned out to be the longest period he ever sat out with injury since his NBA career began.


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Free-form fruit pie
Easy-to-make sweet pastry, plenty of fruit and a sprinkling of sugar – that's all you need for this comfort-food classic.
For the pastry
- 240g/8½oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting
- 115g/4oz butter, chilled and cut into cubes
- 75g/2½oz caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
- pinch of salt
- 1 large free-range egg, plus 1 small beaten egg for brushing
- 2 tbsp iced water
For the filling
To make the pastry, put the flour in a mixing bowl or food processor. Add the butter, sugar and salt and rub everything together using your fingertips until it has the texture of fine breadcrumbs. (Alternatively, pulse in the food processor.) Add the large egg and iced water and mix or pulse together until well combined. Tip out onto a work surface and bring together into a ball of pastry. Wrap in cling film and put in the fridge to rest for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas 6. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface to a rough circle approximately 35cm/14in diameter. Using the rolling pin, lift the pastry onto the baking tray.
Sprinkle the rhubarb over the pastry, leaving a rim of about 5cm/2in. Scatter the strawberries on top of the rhubarb, then sprinkle the fruit with the 2–3 tablespoons of sugar.
Fold up the pastry edges to make a pie with an open centre. Brush the pastry with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the remaining sugar.
Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crisp and the fruit is cooked. Sieve the icing sugar over the pastry to serve if you wish.
To make an apple and cinnamon pie, arrange 3 peeled, cored and thinly sliced dessert apples in a spiral over the pastry in step 4 and scatter with 1–2 tablespoons caster sugar and 2 tsp ground cinnamon. To make a peach and blueberry pie, arrange 3 small pitted and thinly sliced peaches in a spiral over the pastry and top with a handful of blueberries; omit the sugar. Continue with the recipe from step 5.

domain: food


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GK - Szczesny
The goalkeeping department is the only real source of pride for Tottenham this season, with Hugo Lloris widely acknowledged as a shot stopper of the highest calibre. For Arsenal, Wojciech Szczesny used to be a source of pride. Now, however, fans are not so sure - and he duly kicks our north London Worst XI off.
LB - Rose
By contrast, Spurs are struggling at left-back right now. Kieran Gibbs may be bang average during his off days but he can't really compete with the out-of-sorts Danny Rose in terms of incompetence.
CB - Mertesacker
Without Laurent Koscielny by his side, Per Mertesacker looks as though he might just struggle in the Championship. His pace is non-existent and his judgement seems to be waning with age. The German pips Nacho Monreal as the Spaniard has the excuse that centre-back isn't his natural position.
CB - Kaboul
In a toss-up between who has the worst central defenders right now (Arsenal or Tottenham) it's a very close call. Yesterday, all four of north London's centre-backs looked woeful. And Spurs skipper Younes Kaboul was perhaps the worst of a bad bunch.
RB - Naughton
Calum Chambers was probably the worse right-back yesterday but has otherwise looked very promising for Arsenal. The same cannot be said for Tottenham man Kyle Naughton, who will be out of Mauricio Pochettino's starting line-up faster than Kyle Walker can run the 100 metres when the latter returns to full fitness.
CM - Flamini
In defensive midfield, though, one of Arsene Wenger's men takes this one. For a holding mid, Mathieu Flamini doesn't seem to display any of the requisite qualities to offer any type of protection to his back four these days.
CM - Dembele
Alongside the Frenchman, Mousa Dembele makes our Worst XI. The 27-year-old has been in and out of the Spurs team this season due to his poor form.
LM - Cazorla
Going forward, we go back to the Gunners, as Santi Cazorla has been playing the role of passenger in his last few games for Wenger's side. Arsenal fans want him out of the starting XI - so he rightly takes his place in this one.
RM - Paulinho (C)
How much worse can it get than struggling to get into a team full of midfielders struggling for form? The Brazilian has gradually disappeared off the radar since joining Tottenham and his lack of form is such that he captains our north London Worst XI.
ST - Adebayor
Having played for both sides of north London, Emmanuel Adebayor is the perfect candidate for this team. But, at his best, the Togolese forward can be simply sensational. It is his attitude (or lack thereof) that determines his poor performance levels - and Spurs fans seem to have had just about enough of him this term.
ST - Sanogo
The ultimate striker to complete our XI. Arsenal fans still can't see what Wenger did in the 21-year-old. And they may be left wondering for some time.
Can't decide who was worse yesterday? Why not let our player ratings help!

domain: sports


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I am very concerned about the rate of new building in our area. This could lead to more floods, cut the availability of green open space, overstretch transport systems, and place further strains on other public services.
The Council, with the agreement of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups of Councillors, has backed a Core Strategy to concentrate new housing development in four locations, instead of spreading it around the whole District. They have chosen this approach as they think it will be easier to provide extra roadspace, school places and the other important services if housing is concentrated. At local level the political disagreement has between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems over the number of homes to go to North Wokingham and the number for Arborfield. The majority Group proposed 3500 for Arbofield and 1500 for North Wokingham. The Lib Dems favoured more at Arborfield and less in North Wokingham.
The Council has done this to comply with the Labour government’s instructions, relayed through the regional planning bureaucracy, to build a specified large number of extra homes. The government has not confirmed that it will make the £80 million available to Wokingham for new school construction, put into the Council’s budget for 2012-13, despite the obvious need for more school places if we have to take more homes.
As your MP in the last Parliament I made unsuccessful attempts to persuade the government to reduce or remove the regional housing targets, as I think they are too high. I was more successful lobbying the Conservative Opposition, who have placed the following in the Conservative Manifesto:
“A Conservative government will introduce a new “open source” planning system. This will mean that people in each neighbourhood will be able to specify what kind of development they wish to see in their area. These neighbourhood plans will be consolidated into a local plan. We will abolish the entire bureaucratic and undemocratic tier of regional planning, including the Regional Spatial Strategies and building targets”
This means that if you help elect a Conservative government under these proposals people in Wokingham Borough will be able to choose fewer homes and lower densities of development. This would be something the Council could put into its plan without outside interference from the Region or Whitehall.
I suspect under such an approach we would opt for less and for lower density development, to ease the pressures on green space and flood plain. It would also help resolve the problem that the government is not offering us the large sums required to build schools and roads which new housing on their scale will need.
Promoted by Christine Hill on behalf of John Redwood, both of 30 Street Wokingham RG40 1XU