Americans put saving energy ahead of vacations
Indianapolis Star
As summer beckons, it seems Americans are thinking more about the stifling cost of energy than about making tracks to the beach.
Cutting energy bills and use is a bigger deal to them than taking a vacation or scoring the latest smartphone or tablet, according to an AP-NORC Center poll that asked people to choose priorities. Not even 1 in 5 ranked a summer trip or the latest gadget as a priority, while majorities said reducing electricity use and making homes energy-efficient are important. But in typical American fashion, by far the highest priority was having a reliable set of wheels.
Lebanon tourism stable despite unrest
Reuters
Lebanon’s tourism minister said the crucial summer tourism season would not be badly damaged by growing domestic unrest and turmoil in neighbouring Syria, and forecast revenues this year of about $7 billion, similar to last year.
Fadi Abboud shrugged off concern that tourism could take a heavy hit and said he expected 1.8 million visitors this year, despite an almost complete absence of overland travellers.
Bookings down at London hotels for Olympics as tourists turned off by high prices
GMA News
Bookings at London hotels for the Olympic period are down by around a third on last summer, with travellers being put off by high prices, a British travel agent said on Wednesday, dampening hopes that the Games will help to revive Britain’s economy.
Credit ratings agency Moody’s said last month that the Olympics would provide only a temporary boost to corporate earnings but said hotels would be a clear beneficiary.
However, past Games have shown evidence of a displacement effect – with regular tourists put off by fears of overcrowding and high prices during an Olympics.
Hotel wholesaler JacTravel is forecasting visitor arrivals to London in July to be more than 35 percent down on 2011, and August to be almost 30 percent down.
Delta Air Lines wants to pull in more a la carte fees
Knoxville News Sentinel
First there were fees for checked bags. Then a charge for extra legroom. Now Delta Air Lines is tempting travelers to pay for wireless Internet.
The Atlanta-based carrier has partnered with Amazon.com to let fliers use its website on flights at no cost. But ultimately, Delta hopes passengers will shell out up to $18 for unlimited Wi-Fi access as part of its efforts to increase sales beyond the plane ticket.
It’s a strategy more airlines are embracing as they look to raise revenue and offset rising fuel costs. Delta made $814.3 million in such sales in the third quarter last year, about 18 percent more than in the same period in 2010, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
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