LeisureDaily.com ✈

In an attempt to help staff suffering with claustrophobia from working in the suffocating conditions of Nemesis Sub-Terra, Alton Towers Resort bosses have gone to bizarre lengths by introducing a series of claustrophobia workshops.

Led by one of the UK’s most popular contortionists, Pixie Le Knot, the classes will train staff to become comfortable working deep underground, in the confined spaces within Nemesis Sub-Terra.

Since the attraction opened a few months ago, a large proportion of staff have admitted to having suffered with claustrophobia from working in airless catacombs, endless tunnels and dark, cramped cages.

Deep underground in the belly of the attraction, Pixie and her team today began the class by demonstrating their skills in dealing with intensely small spaces. As the contortionists crammed themselves in to a perspex box, workers looked astonished at the body-shocking spectacle whilst Pixie explained how they handle such tight and often uncomfortable conditions.

Resort bosses are confident that their unique, if not slightly unusual, approach to staff training will pay off. Katherine Duckworth from Alton Towers Resort commented, “Nemesis Sub-Terra is set to push you to your limits. While our guests experience around four minutes of the intensity underground, our employees spend eight hours in the claustrophobic confines of this attraction. We’ve given our staff an unusual training session today and hope that Pixie will help them overcome their fears of the small spaces in the attraction.”

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS ANNOUNCES PLANS TO OPEN

$12 MILLION LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER

        IN WESTCHESTER’S RIDGE HILL, YONKERS, NEW YORK - FIRST IN NY State

New York, London ( 30 May 2012)     Global leisure giant Merlin Entertainments (Merlin), the world’s second biggest visitor attraction operator, announced today plans to build the company’s fifth US LEGOLAND Discovery Center (LDC) in the new Ridge Hill Mall opened last October in Westchester County, the first-ever LEGOLAND Discovery Center in New York.     This follows an announcement last week outlining the company’s plans to open its first ever Canadian attraction – also and LDC – in Toronto.
Merlin currently has fifteen attractions in North America including the latest a Water Park in LEGOLAND Florida which opened only last weekend.  A sixteenth, a SEA LIFE aquarium in Kansas City, Missouri is scheduled to open later in June.
This new $12m project at Ridge Hill will open in late Spring 2013.  Commenting Glenn Earlam, Managing Director of Merlin’s Midway Attractions Operating Group, which includes the LDCs, said:   “We are also absolutely delighted to be opening in this exciting new retail development.  Ridge Hill provides an exciting mix of retail, dining and quality leisure attractions like the LDC and I have no doubt that is destined to become a very popular leisure ‘destination’ not just for local Westchester County family visitors, but also for those from the greater metropolitan area of New York – a catchment area with a high proportion of families with young children – so exactly the right location for a LEGOLAND Discovery Center.  .”

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the developer – Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC) – for its support.    We are already working with FCRC in Manhattan where we have a major Madame Tussauds wax attraction, and I hope that this will reinforce what is already a successful working relationship.  Indeed the enthusiasm with which this project has been greeted by FCRC, and particularly the Ridge Hill development team, and the quality of the overall development were key factors in our decision to come here. Our plan now is to start work on the site later this summer in order to open as early as possible in 2013, which we expect to be late Spring/early Summer.”

“Forest City Ratner Companies is extremely pleased to welcome LEGOLAND Discovery Center to Westchester’s Ridge Hill,” said Kathy Welch, Senior Vice President for Retail Development at FCRC. “The addition of this fantastic attraction is going to complement the outstanding mix of tenants already in full-swing and those contemplated to be opened by the end of this year.”

“Ridge Hill retailers have been attracting thousands of new shoppers daily and we believe that the LEGOLAND Discovery Center is going to add immeasurably to the excitement already being generated and further enhance Ridge Hill’s position as an outstanding family destination.  We are particularly excited by the popular MINILAND exhibit – found in every LEGOLAND Park and attraction – which reflects the iconic buildings of each individual attraction’s location.  Here in Ridge Hill we understand that this will include buildings from the Manhattan Skyline like the new Freedom Tower and Empire State Building, as well as more local landmarks nominated by the local community. ” concluded Ms. Welch.
Plans and designs are already being drawn up for the 33,000 square-foot site and construction is expected to begin in July.  LEGO models for the Ridge Hill attraction will be made in Merlin’s specialist studios around the world and shipped in during construction ready for the opening in 2013.

Best luxury holiday options revealed by Hotels.com Hotel Price Index HPI (HPI®)

A three night, five-star weekend in New York may sound like a dream come true but, with an average room rate of £340 per night the money spent could last a lot longer on other global destinations, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®).

The research reveals that for the same total cost you could visit the vibrant and resurgent Warsaw for twelve nights or indulge yourself with mouth-watering Belgian chocolates for eight.

The Index, now in its eighth year, chronicles the actual prices paid by travellers in more than 142,000 hotels across the world.

If it’s a hedonistic nightlife you’re after you can enjoy the lively Berlin nightlife for eight nights or party with the Irish in Dublin for seven. For those seeking a slower pace, you can discover the secrets of Tallinn for nine nights or relax under the Lisbon sun for eight.

Alison Couper from Hotels.com, said: “Consumers will always have a different criteria for the expectations on their holiday. Whether they’re working to a budget or want to live the high life, there are a lot of deals on the Internet to suit everyone’s needs.”

“New York will always be one of the most popular choices for a holiday destination but the HPI has revealed what else the same amount of money could provide you with”.

Alternative destinations to a three-night five-star luxury weekend in New York

(Based on an average room rate of £340 per night)

From how to avoid emergency toilet stops, to preventing fights on the back seat!

New partnership of travel brands sees Europcar customers get value for money with ‘Kids Eat for Free’ promotion at Little Chef

www.europcar.co.uk

London, May 2012 – Europcar, the leader in car hire services in Europe, has joined forces with Little Chef, Britain’s iconic roadside restaurant chain, to make family journeys easier.

For the whole of June 2012, Europcar customers can get money off their bill when Kids Eat for Free.  With the offer covering the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend it makes it more affordable than ever for families to get out, whether for a day trip or a weekend or week away (http://www.littlechef.co.uk/findalittlechef).

Europcar and Little Chef are also searching for the best family travel tips because both brands know that family journeys can stretch parents’ patience to the limits.

“Every parent will have stories to tell of emergency stops on the side of the road for a toilet break and fights breaking out amongst kids sitting together on the back seat as the boredom of a long journey takes its toll”, said Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group.  “So, to mark our partnership with Little Chef, we thought it would be fun to ask our customers to share their tips for having a stress-free journey.

“Suggestions can be posted on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/EuropcarUK)or tweeted to us (@Europcar_UK).  We will then collate all the suggestions to create the top ten tips for family travel this Summer.

“Travelling with kids can be challenging, which is why regular breaks for a tasty snack can be a lifesaver for frazzled parents. And our unique partnership with Little Chef means Europcar customers not only get great deals on car hire, but they can get even better value on great food too!”

Commenting on the partnership Little Chef Chairman, Graham Sims, said:: “With over  90 Little Chef restaurants nationwide, we’ve been offering motorists great value on good food for over 50 years. Together with Europcar we’re helping families get out for less this June with our fantastic deals. When kids and parents need a break from the car, nothing beats the fresh food and friendly service available at a Little Chef.”

The Europcar/Little Chef offer is valid from 1 June until 30 June 2012.

Europcar customers can simply log on to http://services.europcar.co.uk/littlechef/Europcar%20Kids%20Eat%20Free%20voucher.png to  print off the Little Chef voucher to benefit from the Kids Eat Free offer.

Please feel free to use the accompanying photography provided below:

Kids Eat for Free at Little Chef with Europcar

Top Ten Tips for Tech Travellers

Going on your holidays can be one of the most enjoyable and relaxing periods of the year; jetting off to get away from the stresses of life at home, and recuperate in paradise…at least that’s the idea.

Whether it’s for business or pleasure, more and more people are taking their prized possessions with them when they go away; items such as laptops, expensive phones and music players are all frequent travellers along with their owners.

If you decide to travel with these items it is vital that you keep them safe, and Absolute Software, makers of LoJack for Laptops laptop recovery software, is here to help with the following Top Ten Tips for looking after your gadgets while you’re on the move:

1.       Don’t dangle your dongle: As proud as you are of your gadget, make sure you keep them out of sight as much as possible. Whether it’s an airport terminal, a hotel reception or trendy bar, unfortunately there are always prying eyes on expensive pieces of equipment, so conceal them whenever possible.

2.       Better safe than sorry: Hotel rooms, however secure, do still have people accessing them during your stay, plus doors can unintentionally be left open or not closed properly. If you have a gadget of worth, keep it locked in a personal safe, most are now compact enough to fit.

3.       Foreign policy?: Most tablets are now as expensive as your entire suitcase, so keep yourself covered by making sure your gadgets are covered in your travel insurance policy.

4.       Backup to basics: Arguably more important than the insurance policy. It is vital that you backup your files (saving on another device like an external hard drive, for example) to make sure that important documents or cherished photos are not lost along with the device. If your laptop is not recovered, these files will be lost forever if they are not stored elsewhere.

5.       And keep them separate: Many will carry their USB stick or hard drive around with the device – rendering the backup process redundant.

6.       No worse for the software: If you are a victim of theft, there’s software available that can help. Avoid tracker apps/programmes that make you the detective and allow you to monitor the progress of your stolen gadget; the temptation to turn vigilante and try and recover yourself may be too great. Plus, if you lose your laptop abroad, having a general idea of where it is won’t help when you’re back home. Instead use tracking software that has a dedicated theft recovery team behind it who can work directly with the police to recover your laptop, cutting personal risk out of the equation.

7.       Close to me: Don’t feel tempted to check your laptop in with your baggage – it’s much safer if you keep it with you.

8.       Disable the cable: Don’t assume your computer is safe just because you’re using a cable lock – these can be cut through all too easily.

9.       Just encase: If you’re on holiday, you’ll be out and about. Whether it’s at the beach, on a business trip or on a night out, your device is likely to come out with you. You spend hundreds of pounds on these devices, so protection for the outer shell as well as what’s stored inside is a must.

10.   Foreign currency: By now you know to bring a travel adapter on your travels, but what you might not be so aware of is the difference in electrical currents abroad. Electricity is transmitted at different frequencies that vary worldwide, so don’t assume that your gadget’s charger is compatible. You could be faced with a frazzled device, so do your homework on electrical currents in your destination before travelling and get a high-quality converter if necessary.

Starting today and running until Thursday 25^th October 2012, Drayton Manor, based near Tamworth, Staffordshire, promises to give visitors, who have pre-booked tickets via its website, call centre or hotel, free passes if it rains continuously for a minimum of one hour during their time at the park.

In order to claim the return voucher, guests must present their original advanced purchased ticket to the Guest Services department in the park. Visitors will then be able to return on any date between Tuesday 4^th September and Friday 26^th October for free.

Colin Bryan, Drayton Manor Theme Park’s managing director, said: “It would be amazing to experience beautiful, sunny weather every day during the summer, but we have to be realistic. There will be days when it will be wet and miserable, which may prevent guests from fully enjoying their day out at the park.

“This initiative means that if their visit is spoilt by the weather they have the opportunity to return for free on another day, when hopefully the weather will be better.”

For further information about this initiative and to see the full terms and conditions, visitwww.draytonmanor.co.uk.

Only Bidding launch a second way of obtaining bargain hotel nights stays with the unveiling of “Making an Offer”. The consumer sets the price that they want to pay for a hotel stay by “Making an offer” receiving an instant confirmation, best of all its free.

(TRAVPR.COM) WORLDWIDE – May 28th, 2012 – The old adage is true- “If you don’t ask, you don’t get”. And none more so than in the Hotel industry. Hotels are very accommodating- in more ways than one! We know that if you offer a hotel a reasonable price for a nights stay, they might just say YES! Using this premise, we have developed the ‘Make an Offer’ system. It’s a simple way of saving money and paying what YOU want for a hotel night stay.

So, how can you make these saving? It’s easy!
First, search for your hotel by entering destination and dates.
Secondly, choose a room type (Double, Single etc) and board type (i.e. Bed and Breakfast, All inclusive etc).
Thirdly, Make an offer for a price that you are happy to pay.
Your offer will be accepted (or rejected) instantly.
Finally, get your bags packed and enjoy knowing you’ve saved loads.

Lets use an example of a couple wanting to stay in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. They decided to stay at the Novotel, for 4 nights, bed and breakfast between 10th-14th March. They searched for their required hotel at www.onlybidding.com and made an offer using the prices of other Travel Agents such as Ebookers/Expedia/Booking.com etc as a guide. The offer will either be accepted or rejected instantly. If the offer is rejected, you have 2 more chances within a 24-hour period to make another offer.

Previously accepted offers range anywhere from ten pounds saving up to hundreds of pounds. For the above example, Booking.com quoted £342 whereas, when making an offer the customer only paid £147- a saving of £195.

Another example of two friends wanting to stay at Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach in Dubai for 10 nights, Bed and Breakfast between 24th May to 4th June. They found a price on Expedia for £1260 including taxes and services charges but WITHOUT breakfast. They made an offer for the same room type on Only Bidding that was accepted for £990 WITH breakfast including taxes and service charges- a saving of £270.

Only Bidding has over 95,000 hotels from all around the world for customers to Make an Offer on (depending on availability).

Background
Only Bidding is the worlds first online bidding system for hotel rooms. It gives travellers the opportunity to bag a great deal on holiday accommodation by buying hotel room night stays either at auction or by making an offer to the hotel.

Only Bidding is a company with a new concept based on the fact that unoccupied hotel rooms are lost revenue.

Only Bidding empowers the consumer to pay a price that they are happy to pay for hotel accommodation and a price that hotel suppliers are willing to accept for that room- balancing supply and demand: a Win- Win situation for all!

For the customer, it’s simply grabbing a bargain hotel stay for a price that may otherwise be out of budget. Customers can find great deals during low seasons/quiet periods and last minute as hotels will be willing to reduce the room rate. Hotel rooms are an inventory that expires each night, so hotels often will accept rates that are cheaper than other available rates.

For the hotel, the advantages of joining Only Bidding are clear- they get to fill otherwise unoccupied rooms with guests. A hotel will be paying indirect costs for the running of the hotel regardless of whether the hotel has one room occupied or a hundred. The hotel would increase occupancy and therefore increase revenue. Additionally, there is a greater chance of the hotel’s restaurants, bars, spa facilities having an increase in turnover as there are more guests.

In conclusion, Only Bidding, now offers two ways of getting a bargain hotel stay. You can book by bidding for them at auction or making an offer for it.

So in other words: Bid, Buy, Bye!

Only Bidding
www.onlybidding.com
info@onlybidding.com
Twitter- @OnlyBidding

• One in four UK travellers won’t have ventured into Europe in the last five years
• ·         Holidaymakers shun their dream destinations in favour of tried and tested locations
• ·         Travel trivia takes a hit: 40 per cent of people think that Russia is not a European country and almost one in ten didn’t know that the Berlin Wall was located in Germany

The average UK resident has only experienced 17 per cent of Europe (seven out of 41 countries), research has revealed today.

Despite 88 per cent of the nation wanting to see more of Europe, a quarter of UK travellers won’t have ventured into Europe in the last five years. What’s more, one in five holidaymakers will only have ever been to one other European country in their lifetime, if any.

According to the survey of over 2,000 people*, conducted by leading escorted coach tour operator Leger Holidays, the most common barriers that prevent people from exploring Europe are cost, the thought of over-complicated journeys and not being able to speak the local language.

As a result of these prohibiting factors, holidaymakers are now far more likely to opt for a tried and tested destination within their safety zone, rather than exploring the Nordic region of Europe that houses many of the dream destinations they actually wish to see. The top five countries on the UK’s wish list currently include:

1.            Italy

2.            Switzerland

3.            Iceland

4.            Norway

5.            Sweden

Huw Williams, Marketing Director at Leger Holidays, said:

“Europe holds some of the most exciting and vibrant destinations in the world and it’s disheartening to see that people aren’t making the most of these locations, especially since they’re right here on our doorstep.

“We were equally shocked to hear the reasons that people gave for limiting themselves to certain destinations and giving up on their ideal holidays. If the thought of visiting somewhere unfamiliar causes any concerns, there are numerous escorted tours and services available which offer additional support and expertise.

“We’d also challenge people to look outside of the more obvious ‘budget’ sector where certain airlines or networks will dictate which destinations you’ll be able to access. There are plenty of other options available on the market; many of which offer great value for money and a chance to venture off the beaten track, or a specific holiday resort, to experience more of what that location has to offer.

“At Leger Holidays we specialise in creating tours that make it easy for our customers to visit the places they’ve always wanted to see. With dedicated on board experts and over 29 years of experience in the travel industry, we can provide as much (or as little) support as our passengers need. Thanks to services such as this, there’s really no reason for missing out on the more exotic locations that Europe has to offer and the knowledge you’ll gain as a result of these once in a lifetime  experiences.”

The decline in European travel has also had a detrimental effect on the nation’s general knowledge of Europe, especially amongst those under 45 years old whose prime years of travel are most effected by the current economic climate.

When questioned, over 40 per cent of people didn’t know that Russia was a European country and a further 31 per cent of people thought that Iceland fell outside of Europe too. A third of those surveyed couldn’t name the countries that make up the Benelux and almost one in ten (7 per cent) didn’t know that the Berlin Wall was located in Germany.

When it comes to foreign currency the nation is equally challenged, with one in five Brits unable to recognise the Polish Zloty as a European tender and one in ten believing that Lev, the Leu and the Krona didn’t qualify as European currency either.

Almost half of the nation (49 per cent) can’t speak a European language.  And, of those who do, French is by far the most popular with 31 per cent being fluent in the language of love compared to just 12 per cent that speak German and a mere nine per cent who can speak Spanish.

Huw added:

“There’s only so much you can learn from reading books and travel guides. Experiencing a country, and its cultures, first hand is one of the most valuable and memorable ways of truly taking in a destination and we’d encourage anyone wanting to know more about Europe to go and experience it for themselves.”

The Top 10: Most Visited European Countries     The Top 10: Least Visited European Countries

1.            France                                                                  1.            Greenland

2.            Spain                                                                     2.            Albania

3.            Germany                                                             3.            Ukraine

4.            Italy                                                                       4.            Serbia

5.            Belgium                                                                5.            Lithuania

6.            Greece                                                                 6.            Latvia

7.            Ireland                                                                  7.            Bosnia

8.            Netherlands                                                       8.            Estonia

9.            Portugal                                                               9.            Liechtenstein

10.          Austria                                                                  10.          Romania

With over 29 years’ industry experience, Leger Holidays offers total financial security with ABTA and ATOL protection.

*Survey conducted with YourSayPays, 19th -24th April, with 2,147 respondents across the UK

Retail developers CentrO and global leisure giant Merlin Entertainments (Merlin), Europe and Germany’s biggest visitor attraction operator, announced today further details of a €15m investment plan which will significantly expand Merlin’s business in one of Germany’s leading Ruhr tourist centres – Oberhausen.     Merlin is developing two new high quality attractions in Germany’s biggest shopping mall – CentrO Oberhausen – complementing the company’s existing SEA LIFE aquarium which has been one of the most popular attractions in the area since 2004.   Both scheduled to open in Spring 2013 - Ocean Adventure Parkwill replace the old Centr0 Amusement Park, and is an exciting extension to SEA LIFE taking the marine experience to the next stage;  while a new LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre (LDC) will offer an exciting new experience for families with young children.

Merlin took over the management of the amusement park in March last year, and the first phase of development is already well under way.   The new Ocean Adventure Park will open with one of the most enchanting and challenging family experiences the company has developed to date, and a first for Merlin -Antarctic Adventure Expedition Extreme – an amazing combination of ride, aquarium and animal encounters which show every element of Antarctica via a series of ‘test zones’, and ending with a Penguin Encounter which will have every member of the family spellbound.  See some of the region’s most beautiful penguins, on the ice and under water – laugh at their antics, marvel at their sophisticated community and just have fun…… and this is just the beginning.    In line with Merlin’s strategy of continuous investment for all its attractions, other exciting new features  will be added to the Park in the future.

Merlin’s third attraction in Oberhausen will be the company’s newest attraction concept, the uniqueLEGOLAND Discovery Centre (LDC).  Offering a fun, highly interactive and educational two to three-hour indoor experience specifically designed for families with children 3-10 years old.  Based on the ever popular LEGO brick, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres provide a range of play areas including a 4D cinema; a brick pool, master classes from the LEGO Master Model Builder; exciting LEGO rides; special party rooms for birthdays and other celebrations. Also included will be the popular MINILAND exhibit, found in everyLEGOLAND Park and attraction, which is designed to reflect the iconic buildings and skyline of each individual attraction’s location featuring buildings nominated by the local community.

The LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Oberhausen will be Merlin’s eighth LDC worldwide and second in Germany, and will replace the one currently operating in Duisburg.     The move to Oberhausen offers many significant benefits both commercially with central management, great efficiency and buying power; but most importantly for visitors – who will have an opportunity to take advantage of joint ticket offers and other special activities to encourage them to visit all 3 exciting attractions in Oberhausen.

Commenting, Sabrina de Carvalho, Merlin Entertainments Business Head of Midway Germany, and responsible for the Oberhausen developments, said:  “Merlin Entertainments has been operating in Oberhausen very successfully with SEA LIFE since 2004, and now the company is investing more than 15 million euros overall on what will be a brand  new leisure destination combining three high-quality attractions and a host of exciting adventures and events for the whole family.     It is a great project and we have no doubt that it will be very well received both by local residents in the area and visitors to the town. “

“We have been looking at options for CentrO Park for some time.  We didn’t want a quick fix but a high quality long term solution in line with both our own strategy, and our commitments to the City.” said CentrO Director

Frank Postges-Pragal.   “In our view Merlin is one of the world’s most innovative and creative operators of visitor attractions and the ideal partner with which to develop this project.”

Postges-Pragal continued.  “CentrO’s strategic masterplan, as Europe’s leading retail developer, is to take the retail/leisure experience to a whole new level and this partnership with Merlin in Oberhausen is a perfect starting point.   Merlin’s 2 new attractions, together with our other planned innovative retail development in the Mall – primarily in der Bunten Grosse – will we believe be a major driver of visits and help establish Oberhausen as a significant tourist destination.”

The city of Oberhausen also welcomed the news.   Mayor Klaus Wehling said:   “We are delighted at the partnership between CentrO and Merlin – and will give the project our full support. We see these plans as an excellent platform for the further development, not only of CentrO but most importantly the overall tourist potential for the City.  The project also reflects CentrO’s commitment to both retail and leisure investment in the area.”  Wehling continued: “ Merlin’s three high quality global attractions – SEA LIFE, and now the planned new LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and Ocean Adventure Park – will undoubtedly add to the continued momentum here in Oberhausen to increase our visitors and underline our position as a major tourist centre. “       These plans are being developed in close consultation with the City, and  Mayor Wehling and the administration are confident that they are in line with the overall economic plans to develop this area.

Glenn Earlam, Merlin Entertainments’ Managing Director Midway Attractions concluded: “This is a major investment for Merlin but one in which we have enormous confidence.    Our creative colleagues in MerlinMagic Making have come up with some exceptional ideas for the new Ocean Adventure Park which cannot fail to please.  While the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre concept is already successful in both Europe and the USA.  More than that, our experience has shown that bringing together an exciting mix of retail, dining, and quality leisure attractions like these, creates a whole new element to a family day out, delivering significant incremental business to both the shopping centre, and to the area as a whole.  We are therefore particularly delighted to be so closely associated with CentrO Mall which has all these elements, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners and landlords CentrO, with whom we have an excellent working relationship and whose support has been a critical factor in our decision to invest here.    Such projects also play an important part in Merlin’s future growth strategy for our ‘midway’ or indoor City Centre attractions.”

Work on the Ocean Adventure Park is already underway; and work is scheduled to begin on the new LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Summer 2012.

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS ANNOUNCES PLANS

FOR FIRST ATTRACTION IN CANADA

$12 Million Legoland Discovery Centre to Open in Toronto’s Vaughan Mills

Toronto, Ontario (May 25, 2012)   Global leisure giant Merlin Entertainments (Merlin), the world’s second biggest visitor attraction operator, announced today plans to build the company’s first ever attraction in Canada – a $12M LEGOLAND Discovery Centre (LDC).  It will open in spring 2013 at Vaughan Mills, one of the Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) premier shopping and entertainment destinations, owned and operated by Ivanhoé Cambridge.
Merlin’s newest attraction concept, the unique LEGOLAND Discovery Centre will offer a fun, highly interactive and educational two to three-hour indoor experience specifically designed for families with children 3-10 years old.  Based on the ever popular LEGO brick, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres provide a range of play areas including a 4D cinema; a brick pool, master classes from the LEGO Master Model Builder; exciting LEGO rides; special party rooms for birthdays and other celebrations. Also included will be the popular MINILAND exhibit, found in every LDC and LEGOLAND Resort Theme Park.  Each one is different however and designed to reflect the iconic buildings and skyline of each individual attraction’s location featuring buildings nominated by the local community.
This new attraction at Vaughan Mills underlines Merlin’s aggressive global growth plan, spearheaded by significant development in key cities throughout North America.   Canada will be the 21^st country in which Merlin has attractions.  In 2012 alone, the company will open 6 new attractions, including 4 in the USA; as well as continuing to invest in new experiences and improved customer service across its existing portfolio of 90 attractions.

Glenn Earlam, Managing Director of Merlin’s Midway Attractions Operating Group, which includes the LDCs, comments “The LEGOLAND Discovery Centre concept is already successful in both Europe and the USA, and I know people will love it here in Canada, which is a very important development market for Merlin.  We are absolutely delighted to be opening our first attraction here, and believe that Toronto, and particularly the City of Vaughan, which is already a popular destination for family visitors, just 32 kilometres north of Downtown Toronto, is exactly the right location for us.   More than that, 5.4 million consumers reside in the Trade Area of this new attraction; of which a high proportion are families with young children.   Our experience has  shown that bringing together an exciting mix of retail, dining, and quality leisure attractions like the LDC, creates a whole new element to a family shopping day, delivering significant incremental business to both the shopping centre, and to the area as a whole.  Such projects play an important part in Merlin’s future growth strategy for our ‘midway’ or indoor City Centre attractions.”
Earlam remarks “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank both Ivanhoé Cambridge, with whom I hope we develop a long and close working relationship for the future, and the City of Vaughan including Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, for their support.  The enthusiasm with which we have been welcomed was a key factor in selecting our location. Our plan is to start work on the premises later this summer, as we anticipate a spring 2013 opening.  In fact, this is just the beginning of Merlin’s introduction into Canada, and we have already identified two other potential new sites.”

Merlin currently has 14 attractions in North America including LEGOLAND Discovery Centres in Chicago,  Dallas/Fort Worth; Atlanta Georgia and Kansas City, Missouri; the stunning LEGOLAND Florida theme park, which opened in October last year; LEGOLAND California theme park, with its exciting Water Park, and SEA LIFE aquarium (a hotel will also open in 2013); Madame Tussauds attractions in New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas and Hollywood; and SEA LIFE aquariums in Phoenix, Arizona; Dallas/Fort Worth and the Mall of America in Minneapolis, underlining the company’s position as the world’s biggest global aquarium operator.   2 more Merlin attractions are also scheduled to open in the USA in 2012 – a SEA LIFE in Kansas City, Missouri and a Water Park in LEGOLAND Florida.

“As a leading owner and manager of shopping centres across Canada, Ivanhoé Cambridge continually strives to provide best-in-class experiences for consumers in all its properties.” declared George Fiddler, Senior Vice President, Retail, Central North America.

“The decision by Merlin Entertainments to build a LEGOLAND Discovery Centre at Vaughan Mills, already one of GTA’s premier shopping and entertainment destinations, reinforces the centre’s reputation as a distinct tourist attraction,” declared Stephen Gascoine, General Manager, Vaughan Mills. “Vaughan Mills is thrilled to partner with Merlin Entertainments and welcomes this exciting new attraction to our growing list of entertainment, dining, outlet and fashion retailers.”
Construction for the approximate 34,000 square foot site is expected to begin in summer 2012.  LEGO models for this Vaughan Mills location will be made in Merlin’s specialist studios around the world and shipped in during the construction phase.

“The LEGOLAND Discovery Centre will be a wonderful addition to all the great tourism attractions in Ontario,” said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Chan.  “Ontario is a premier global travel destination and now visitors – as well as parents and children from our province – have one more great reason to visit. This is a great entertainment venue that will generate jobs and growth.”

Ontario is North America’s premier destination for foreign direct investment with highly competitive corporate tax rates and business costs; educated workforce; and efficient infrastructure. The province is also the largest travel destination in Canada, with over 139 million people within a day’s drive of southern Ontario.

“This is great news for the City of Vaughan,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “It has been a pleasure working with Merlin Entertainments Group to make the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre project a reality.  As a city, we are very proud that we were chosen as the best city to host this very impressive and world class entertainment venue.  I welcome Merlin Entertainments and this great attraction to our dynamic and vibrant community .”

City of Vaughan, Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco echoed his comments.   ”I am very happy to hear that Merlin Entertainments Group has chosen Vaughan Mills, in the heart of the City of Vaughan, as the location for its first attraction in all of Canada – a LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.  LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is a wonderful family venue, and I have no doubt it will prove to be a great tourist attraction for the city and for Vaughan Mills. I have been a long time proponent of developing tourism infrastructure as part of our economic development strategy in order to bring both full-time employment and investment to the City of Vaughan, and the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre will be a great addition to the tourism landscape of Vaughan.”

Beach-bound Brits look closer to home for their holidays this summer, new Expedia Report reveals

2012 Expedia Beach Report reveals trends, holiday habits and beach behaviours of Brits, compared to other travellers from around the world:

·         Britain’s best beach: the real Jersey Shore!

·         European top 20 destination list revealed: Spain dominates, with UK a close second

·         Cost is increasingly important for cash-strapped Brits who are tightening purse strings

·         Brits are beach holiday starved when compared to other European sun-seekers

·         Long-haul holidays decline in popularity with staycations on the rise

·         Shark attacks concern Brits when deciding on a seaside destination!

London, 17^th May 2012 – Expedia.co.uk today launches the 2012 Expedia Beach Report which crowns Jersey as having the best British beaches, and paints an interesting picture of the real British holidaymaker: in common with travellers around the world we can’t stay away from the beach with even more of us planning a beach holiday this year than last. Yet in comparison with European sun-seekers, we are relatively starved of beach holidays and driven by cost and our obsession with the weather.

The report also shows that Spain dominates the Expedia top 20 beach destination list for UK travellers, revealing widespread demand for the traditional Spanish beach holiday. The Channel Islands features within the top 10, highlighting its suitability for seaside-loving Brits looking for a holiday closer to home vs. popular long haul beach destinations such as Florida.

Britain’s best beaches: the real Jersey Shore!

This year Jersey comes top of the list of Britain’s best beaches. Known for its beautiful sandy bays and clear waters, Jersey beaches take the crown as Brits enjoy all the benefits of beautiful French weather, but with familiar British food and culture.

The Top 10 British Beach Destinations 2012*:

1.     Jersey

2.     Bournemouth

3.     Blackpool

4.     Torquay

5.     Isle of Wight

6.     Guernsey

7.     Newquay

8.     Weymouth

9.     Penzance

10.  Ramsgate

Europe’s best beaches: ¡Y Viva España!             

Spain dominates as leader with its beach credentials, occupying five places in the top 20 list of best beach destinations for UK travellers, and the Iberian Peninsula accounting for the top 3. The average travel time for Brits to head to any seaside resort is 7.4 hours, compared to our European counterparts, who will travel further to reach their ideal beach spot.

Top 20 Beach Destinations for UK Travellers:

1.     Balearic Islands, Spain

2.     Algarve, Portugal

3.     Malaga & Costa del Sol, Spain

4.     Sorrento (Penisola Sorrentina), Italy

5.     French Riviera, France

6.     Malta

7.     Canary Islands, Spain

8.     Morocco

9.     Lake Garda, Italy

10.  Channel Islands, UK

11.  Cyclades Islands, Greece

12.  Miami, Florida

13.  Croatian Coast

14.  Cyprus

15.  Alicante & Costa Blanca, Spain

16.  Devon and Cornwall, UK

17.  Valencia & Costa Azahar, Spain

18.  Monterey, California

19.  Costiera Amalfitana, Italy

20.  Bournemouth, UK

The rise and rise of the British staycation

Despite this Spanish dominance, British holiday destinations are popular for UK holidaymakers, with some of the UK’s best beach areas accounting for a significant proportion and even pushing Dubai out of the top 20. This data also reflects the growing trend for the UK “staycation”, as Expedia.co.uk shows that a fifth of the population (25%) head no further than domestic shores on holiday. And with this year’s summer event calendar full to the brim, Brits will have more reason than ever before to stay close to home.

The popularity of long haul destinations has waned in 2012 as destinations such as Florida and California drop down the list compared with last year.

Cash-strapped British holidaymakers rate price over destination

As the financial crisis shows no sign of let-up, it comes as no surprise that price is the most important factor in deciding a beach holiday destination for three quarters (75%) of UK public. Well-known worldwide for their obsession with the weather, Brits are feeling the pinch, placing far more importance on cost than sunshine (67%), beach quality (66%), food (62%) and whether there might be sharks in the water (40%)!

How UK holidaymakers select their beach destination vs Germans and French

Andy Washington, Managing Director, UK and Ireland comments: “It’s interesting to see that short haul travel and ‘staycations’ continue to be a trend for UK travellers this summer, as we see cost being of great importance when making a decision on beach holidays. We often see travel patterns changing in line with currency fluctuations, and we expect many Brits to take advantage of the relative strength of the pound against the Euro, with European destinations growing in popularity as a result.

The research shows that Brits favour a combination of shorter breaks throughout the year, and a beach break in Summer, but we tend to spend slightly less time at the beach than some of our nearest neighbours – almost 20% less time than the Germans and around 15% less than the French.

We see that Brits tend to take a more flexible approach to holiday and unlike the many of our European counterparts we are not so rigidly committed to taking the bulk of our holiday in summer. Brits start planning our main holiday a long time in advance, but we’re also keen to have the flexibility to add a weekend in the beach if the sun comes out, but getting a good deal is always on our minds.” added Washington.

Further interesting findings from the 2012 Expedia Beach Report

British beach-seekers’ behaviour versus the rest of the world:

Brits’ beach activities:

·         Despite being known for drinking habits abroad, only 12% of Brits would take part in beach bar games – that’s less than India (22%), Mexico (19%) and Ireland (18%)

·         Prudish Brits wouldn’t dream of sunbathing naked at the beach with only 2% baring all, compared to 15% of our more confident German cousins!

·         In general us Brits opt to kick back on their beach holidays and keep themselves to themselves in order to relax (63%). Our German counterparts however are much more sociable and active when it comes to their holidays, taking part in swimming (82%) and exercising (29%).

Beach holidays in the last 12 months

·         Brits (30%), Danes (31%) and Dutch (32%) are those most starved of beach holidays, in stark comparison with the sun-seeking South Americans who cannot stay away from the beach: Brazil (72%),Mexico (61%) and Argentina (57%)

·         However this is likely to increase this year, as 67% of Brits, 73% Danes and 77% Dutch plan to take a beach holiday over the next year

Holiday planning

·         Brits are the most organised holiday planners with over a third (35%) planning more than six months ahead (EU average 22%). In Europe only the Dutch come close (30%) and globally only the Canadians (31%). Naturally those living closest to the beach tend to leave it to the last minute – French, Spanish and Italians – all with over 20% planning less than a month ahead

Influence in choice

·         French (49%) and Spanish (50%) are those most concerned about suitability of the beach for families compared to less than 30% of Brits, Dutch, Swedes and Danes. Globally the Mexicans are the most concerned with this aspect by far with a whopping 81% rating this a key consideration

For more information or if you are feeling inspired to book your next beach holiday, simply visithttp://www.expedia.co.uk/p/beach-holidays

22 May 2012 - Bonotel Exclusive Travel, one of the leading receptive operators, offering Luxury Hotels and Resorts, Upscale Boutique Hotels, and National Park Accommodations throughout the United States, Caribbean, Canada and Mexico has selected Triometric’s Web Services Analyzer to drive business intelligence and operational insight from their XML based web services traffic.

Triometric Web Services Analyzer monitors the performance of web services and extracts key business data from Bonotel Exclusive Travel’s inbound and outbound XML traffic to provide real-time alerting, operational insight and business intelligence reports covering search patterns, look-to-book ratios, inventory planning and revenue management.

“After implementing Triometric’s Web Services Analyzer into our system we quickly detected several IT and network related problems we didn’t know existed” says Gideon Marken, Technology Advisor at Bonotel Exclusive Travel and continues “We have also identified some high look-to-book ratios and are now educating our commercial team on analysing this data and working with our clients to improve conversion rates.”

Faisal Sublaban, Vice President of Business Development & Contracting at Bonotel Exclusive Travel adds “Triometric’s business and operational visibility has not only helped us gain a better understanding on how our business is currently meeting demand but it also allows us to be more creative in how we add new features to improve our capabilities.”

Triometric and Bonotel Exclusive Travel have worked in collaboration to identify key operational metrics and the business intelligence needed to improve visibility to support performance and commercial objectives.

“Understanding customers’ behaviour and suppliers’ performance on delivering the right products at the right time is essential in the online travel industry” says Jonathan Boffey, Business Development Director at Triometric and adds “Triometric’s XML monitoring and business data extraction technology can be implemented at both channel-ends of any travel web service connection providing the crucial business intelligence needed to make better data-driven decisions.”

Britons heading for the continent might be getting more euros for their pounds than at any time

in the past three years but they shouldn’t relax in their search for the best deals as they plan

their summer holidays.

The pound’s value against the euro has soared to its highest level for more than three years

amid uncertainty in the eurozone sparked by financial and political chaos in Greece and

economic fears for Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Richard Turner, head of foreign exchange at The Money Shop, which sells foreign currency

from its 480 branches nationwide, says that although the exchange rates are improving,

holidaymakers should still be on the lookout for ways to make their money go even further.

“The pound’s value has leapt due to uncertainty in the eurozone. While it is difficult to predict

if it will carry on rising, it certainly doesn’t look like it will dip in the short-term, which is good

news for travellers as the summer gets under way.

“At its height, in May 2002, travellers were getting 1.6 euros to the pound. By 2009 they were

getting less than 1.1 euros and as recently as April this year they were getting just 1.16 euros.

Now we are selling at above 1.2 euros.”

The company’s figures reveal that during 2009 customers of The Money Shop heading for

Eurozone countries bought an average of £387 of euros. As the economic slump took hold,

spending fell by three percent in 2010 to £374 and then a further five percent, to £353, last year.

Mr Turner continues: “We are confident our rates are consistently among the best, but we

would still urge travellers to shop around and do their research – not just for their cash but for

the best deals on almost every aspect of their holiday.

“Many leave currency until the last minute, often waiting until they are at the airport or even

their destination before buying. This could mean they get much lower exchange rates, pay

commission rates, or face a range of charges when using their bank cards abroad.

“They might also exchange too much before travelling and end up bringing foreign cash home.

At the Money Shop we also offer our £2.99 Buy Back Guarantee, allowing customers to return

up to £200 of unused cash at the original exchange rate and so saving significantly on buy back

charges.”

The Money Shop also offers security in the form of its pre-paid holiday cash cards. These can be

loaded with euros or dollars and used without charge at thousands of outlets. If stolen or lost,

funds will be replaced within 48. The only time you might be charged would be if you needed to

use a cash-point which would cost three euros or $3 per withdrawal.

The Money Shop’s money-saving tips

Plan: Excursions and extras, such as boat trips, para-gliding and special events could add to the

cost but, unless it’s an all-inclusive holiday, so will drinks and ice creams bought during lazy

days by the pool.

Research: If you’re in an established resort, there could be cheaper alternatives for organised

excursions – do some on-line investigations, shopping around before you travel to get an idea of

prices. Don’t feel you have to take the hotel or travel operator’s first recommendations. If you’re

planning to eat out, get an idea of how much local restaurants and bars are likely to charge.

Currency: If you have a clear idea about how much you are likely to spend you won’t end up

changing too much or too little cash. This will avoid having to either change surplus cash back

when you get home or risk high fees and charges at foreign bureaux de change and cash-points.

Make sure you take enough though, as using your credit or debit card to obtain extra cash or to

buy goods when abroad can be very expensive!

Security: Pre-paid holiday cash cards can be used without charge at thousands of outlets in

Europe and the United States so they could help reduce the amount of cash you have to carry

with you.

Do it yourself: Don’t rely on package deals – book travel, transfers, accommodation and

excursions separately and don’t be afraid to haggle over the prices. You may also save cash by

choosing to travel at unsocial times.

Book last-minute: It’s difficult during peak times but the bargains are out there, particularly if

you’re not set on a particular destination. Book the time off work and see what you can find. If

you don’t manage to get away, there’s always the dining room to redecorate!

New judges confirmed for 2012 including Tom Kitchin, Shaun Hill, Simon Rogan, Gizzi Erskine and Simon Hulstone

The Observer Food Monthly Awards 2012, in association with Cuisinart, launches this Sunday with a new judging panel that puts the British food industry at the heart of the awards.

For information pick up this Sunday’s Observer Food Monthly magazine and to nominate visit: www.observer.co.uk/foodawards. The deadline for entries is Friday 29 June 2012.

Holiday Inn is giving couples the chance to rekindle their romance with a special ‘Old Flame’ room rate.

This exclusive rate has been set up to celebrate the Olympic Flame starting its journey around the UK. Holiday Inn is the Official Hotel Provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a Supporting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

Whether pining for a weekend away from the kids or the chance to charm a long lost love, on the 14^th and 15^th May the public will be able to book a reduced rate at over 180 participating Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express Hotels.

The ‘Old Flame’ rate includes a night’s stay in any participating Holiday Inn hotel, a three course dinner for two in the hotel restaurant and a full English breakfast the following morning, all for just £60.

Alternatively, ‘old flames’ can opt for one night’s stay in a Holiday Inn Express, including a free hot breakfast the following morning, for only £30.

The one-off rate will be redeemable from the start of the Olympic Torch Relay on the 18^th May, ending on 30^thSeptember.

Chris Hale, Head of London 2012 at Holiday Inn, commented, “We wanted to celebrate the start of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay and what better way than to give people an opportunity to reignite an old flame. From old friends to long lost loves, they’re all invited to take advantage of this special offer.

“A room, three course dinner and breakfast for just £60 is a fantastic offer and we hope that people get booking from the 14^th May!”

To take advantage of the ‘Old Flame’ rate, and for full terms and conditions, please visit:www.holidayinngreenroom.co.uk/oldflame

As part of its London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games sponsorship Holiday Inn will also:

• Work with LOCOG to host 17,000 athletes and officials in the Athletes Village.  Holiday Inn will use its hospitality expertise by providing residential managers, receptionists and concierges.
• Employ a number of aspiring Olympic and Paralympic athletes on a flexible basis at hotels in the lead up to the Games helping athletes to build their work experience and earn money while they train and compete.
• Welcome guests, including staff from LOCOG and other organising bodies, into hotels across London in the lead up to, during and after the Games.
• Holiday Inn is an official provider to the Torch Relay, and will host the Torch Relay team at its hotels as they tour the UK.

Families looking for fun things to do during May bank holiday holiday should head over to Drayton Manor Theme Park, near Tamworth, in Staffordshire.

Visitors will get to experience the park’s new additions, as well as old favourites. New  are the fantastic live shows performed on the stage above the park’s Ben 10: Ultimate Mission rollercoaster, as well as in Thomas Land™ as part of its fifth year celebrations. Europe’s only Thomas Land features 20 rides and attractions based on the ever-popular Thomas & Friends™ series.

Visitors will also see the new CN Street and don’t be surprised if you bump into one of the many popular characters including Johnny Bravo, Dexter, Dee Dee, Grimm, Numbuh 5, Bloo, Eddy and Four Arms!

There’s also new film showing in the 4D Cinema called The Little Prince, based on the famous book of the same name written by Antoine De Saint-Exupery and published in 1943. This book has been translated into more than 250 languages and dialects and sold more than 80 million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time.

The film follows the adventures of a prince who uses his magical wand to journey from one universe to another and from planet to planet in search of his lost rose. The prince is joined by his fox friend and together they battle a mechanical dragon, ride flying sheep and rescue a friendly giant. Visitors will watch visually stunning Little Prince in 3D while seated in chairs that react to scenes in the film, such as moving, releasing bursts of air and sprays of water.
Drayton Manor has a fantastic variety of thrill rides, including the adrenaline-inducing drop-tower, Apocalypse, stand-up coaster, Shockwave, the splash-tastic log flume, Stormforce 10, and stomach-churning gyro-swing, Maelstrom.

There’s also a 15-acre zoo within the theme park’s grounds, which houses a Sumatran tiger, monkeys and primates, a meerkat mob, and a pair of highly endangered black leopards, as well as various birds of prey and reptiles.

For visitors travelling from further afield or simply looking to turn a day trip into an Easter break, there’s also the luxurious four-star Drayton Manor Hotel. It has 150 bedrooms, including 15 Thomas & Friends themed family rooms, each with a unique hand-painted scene on the wall and ceiling, themed bunk beds, and train track patterned carpets in the corridors leading to each room. For further details, special offers, or to book a room go to www.draytonmanorhotel.com.

For further information, or to pre-book discounted entry tickets, visit www.draytonmanor.co.uk or call 0844 472 1960. For regular updates and news about Drayton Manor Theme Park join us on Twitterwww.twitter.com/Draytonmanor and Facebook www.facebook.com/Draytonmanorpark.

Nigel Pocklington from Hotels.com, a global expert in online travel, is urging the Government to take full advantage of what is being described as Britain’s summer of fun, to generate a long-term boost for UK tourism.

Six weeks before the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and less than 100 days to go until the start of the Olympics, London and the UK will be in the international spotlight more this summer than ever before.

Over 12,000 new hotel rooms will have been built and added to the market in time for the Games and Hotels.com has seen room prices during the peak Olympic period rise by 97% compared to last year.

Nigel Pocklington says people shouldn’t be put off by the popularity of the games.

“There are still good deals and availability during the Olympic period but, if you find the hotel you want for the dates you want, book now on a reputable booking site and don’t wait forbargains at such a busy time of the year.”

“Prices will be at a premium but we expect visitors to be willing to travel further to get to and from the sporting events, and don’t forget there are plenty of events being held outside of London.”

‘Looking further ahead this is a unique opportunity for the UK tourist industry. Never again will we be able to showcase the UK and London in such a spectacular way over an extended period of time. To take full advantage of this beyond this year, the Government needs to ensure that everything is geared up to welcome tourists to Britain. This country currently has amongst the most expensive aviation taxes anywhere in the world and that must be addressed. We have a bigger hotels supply than ever before in our capital, we have spectacular events to attract visitors and everything has to be in place to make the UK an attractive travel location for international visitors.” 

The ‘summer of fun’ effect is expected to last at least three years with many visitors planning return visits. The Royal Wedding reignited worldwide interest in the UK and with all the landmark events this year we expect the feel good factor to continue, with everyone benefitting, from restaurateurs to taxis and the economy in general.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO has confirmed on his Facebook account that Facebook will be acquiring Instagram, here is what Mr Zuckerberg had to say:

I’m excited to share the news that we’ve agreed to acquire Instagram and that their talented team will be joining Facebook.

For years, we’ve focused on building the best experience for sharing photos with your friends and family. Now, we’ll be able to work even more closely with the Instagram team to also offer the best experiences for sharing beautiful mobile photos with people based on your interests.

We believe these are different experiences that complement each other. But in order to do this well, we need to be mindful about keeping and building on Instagram’s strengths and features rather than just trying to integrate everything into Facebook.

That’s why we’re committed to building and growing Instagram independently. Millions of people around the world love the Instagram app and the brand associated with it, and our goal is to help spread this app and brand to even more people.

We think the fact that Instagram is connected to other services beyond Facebook is an important part of the experience. We plan on keeping features like the ability to post to other social networks, the ability to not share your Instagrams on Facebook if you want, and the ability to have followers and follow people separately from your friends on Facebook.

These and many other features are important parts of the Instagram experience and we understand that. We will try to learn from Instagram’s experience to build similar features into our other products. At the same time, we will try to help Instagram continue to grow by using Facebook’s strong engineering team and infrastructure.

This is an important milestone for Facebook because it’s the first time we’ve ever acquired a product and company with so many users. We don’t plan on doing many more of these, if any at all. But providing the best photo sharing experience is one reason why so many people love Facebook and we knew it would be worth bringing these two companies together.

We’re looking forward to working with the Instagram team and to all of the great new experiences we’re going to be able to build together.

Data services take a back seat for Brits abroad as mobile users stick to calling and texting, but they don’t have to change their data habits abroad according to GOSIM.com, an international SIM card provider.

With 1.5 million British holiday makers expected to travel overseas this Easter weekend, research revealed today by GOSIM.com has found that while 54% of them will be using their mobile phones to make and receive calls and text messages, very few will be accessing social networking and other data services.

Despite the dramatic rise in social networking, the survey of 1,012 UK consumers in April 2012 found that just 11% consider this to be the most important feature of their phones when on holiday. The figures do rise to 22% and 19% respectively for 18-22 and 23-35 year olds, giving a strong indication of the trend. For most of them, this social interaction may be burning a hole in the holiday fund given the charges levied by mobile operators for data ‘roaming’. 23% of 56-70 year olds may know that; they prefer not to be disturbed and switch off their mobiles altogether!

“Using your mobile abroad can be a costly and often unknown expense, leaving many Brits hesitant to use their phone in the same way they would at home, but that needn’t be the case.” said John Assiter, GOSIM.com.

GOSIM.com notes that even those who use their phones sparingly can be caught out, particularly if they have talkative friends and family at home. One cost that consumers often overlook is receiving calls, which can range anywhere from 11p per minute in Europe to more than £1 per minute further afield depending on the recipient’s operator.

“Holiday makers generally cut back on calling, texting, social networking and web browsing when abroad, primarily because of their exposure to roaming costs but for savvy travellers who opt for an international SIM card, it is possible to use the phone’s full feature set overseas without taking out a bank loan.” continued Assiter.

The European Union and Ofcom last month announced a phased plan, starting in July this year and running until 2014, to force EU operators to cut costs for phone calls, messages and data for their customers when roaming in Europe. Currently EU travellers that choose to use roamed data within Europe, without a bundle plan in place, will be cut-off once they hit a spend of €50.

GOSIM.com warns British travellers not to rely on their domestic providers when heading abroad and advises that they should include their mobile phone in their preparations. They don’t have to be hit with huge charges, or even risk having their service cut if they go over the spend limit. If they are going to use their phone for calls, text or data, they should consider using a specialist international SIM card that includes significantly discounted roaming rates.