Heathrow Paparazzi-proof for celebrities, dignitaries
USA Today
In the tabloid capital of the world, high-profile athletes, dignitaries and Olympic visitors can have access to a small corner of Heathrow Airport that local transportation officials are billing as “paparazzi proof.”
It is a heavily-secure oasis of sumptuous lounges, fresh flowers, champagne and catered food. Shrouded in frosted glass near the far corner of Terminal 5, it is dubbed “Heathrow by Invitation,” where high-fliers actually shell out $2,325 (U.S.) per traveling party of up to six people for a host of privileges, most of all locked-down privacy at one of the world’s busiest airports.
New tourism ad makes US look like Canada
CBC.ca
A softer, gentler America that looks a lot like Canada, with its depiction of diverse people and stunning landscapes, is the focus of a new travel campaign that is making the tourism industry here nervous, but experts say the real aim of the exercise may be to rebrand the “militaristic” United States.
The centrepiece of the Discover America campaign is a TV spot featuring the folksy Land of Dreams sung by Rosanne Cash accompanied by diverse musicians, while scenes of urban and nature vistas flash across the screen interspersed with multicultural images such as smiling women in hijab and musicians playing sitar and tabla. The tagline: Discover this land as never before.
Ads for plane tickets must show real cost-US court
Reuters
Airlines can no longer understate the cost of a plane ticket by leaving taxes and government fees out of their advertised rates, under new rules that won U.S. court approval on Tuesday.
The rules are designed to make travel advertising more transparent by telling customers the total cost of a ticket, including all mandatory taxes and fees.
A U.S. appeals court turned aside a challenge to the rules brought by Allegiant Travel Co (ALGT.O), Southwest Airlines Co (LUV.N) and Spirit Airlines Inc (SAVE.O), and supported by the industry’s trade association.
Disney disses Santa look-alike
USA Today
A white-bearded Santa impersonator discovered coal in his stocking last month, when officials at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom theme park told him to change his clothes because his appearance was “confusing to other guests.”
Thomas Tolbert, 52, is a professional Santa Claus from Roswell, Ga., who, NBC News reports, “once took third place for looks, believability and photo at a national Santa Convention.” He visited the park with relatives last month, and said he spent his first two days chatting and posing for snapshots with other tourists and Disney “cast members.”
But on the third day, officials told him he needed to stop — and that he’d need to look less Kris Kringle-ish.
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