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Prof. María Jimena Martínez

 

RREADINGEADING MATERIALMATERIAL

Inglés III

COUCHSURFING

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

CouchSurfing is a hospitality exchange network and website. With almost 2.5 million members in

245 countries and territories, CouchSurfing has an Alexa Traffic Rank of about 2,500.

Etymology

Couchsurfing is a neologism referring to the practice of moving from one friend's house to

another, sleeping in whatever spare space is available, floor or couch, generally staying a few days

before moving on to the next house.

Membership

Free to register, members have the option of providing information and pictures of themselves

and of the sleeping accommodation they offer, if any. More information provided by a member,

and other members, improves the chances that someone will find the member trustworthy

enough to be his host or guest. Security is often measured in the reference established by

networking. Volunteers may verify names and addresses. Members looking for accommodation

can search for hosts using several parameters such as age, location, gender and activity level.

Homestays are consensual between the host and guest, and the duration, nature, and terms of the

guest's stay are generally worked out in advance. No monetary exchange takes place except for

compensation of incurred expenses (e.g. food).

CouchSurfing provides editable travel guides and forums where members may seek travel partners

or advice. CouchSurfing's main focus is "social networking" and members organise activities such

as camping trips, bar crawls, meetings, and sporting events.

The website features a searchable database of hundreds of upcoming events organised by

CouchSurfing members, including the annual "Berlin Beach Camp" which draws over 1,000

attendees, the annual "WinterCamp," and a New Year's Eve party hosted in a different city in

Europe every year. Famous Couchsurfers include Julian Assange and Daniel Bedingfield.

Security verification

There are three methods designed to increase security and trust, which are all visible on member

profiles for potential hosts and surfers:

Personal references, which hosts and surfers have the option to leave after having used the

service.[2]

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An optional credit card verification system, allowing members to "lock in" their name and address

by making a credit card payment and entering a code that CouchSurfing mails to an address of

their choice. This also allows CouchSurfing to recoup some costs by requiring a fee for verification.

For fairness, the verification fee is based on a sliding scale, taking into account the Purchasing

Power Parity and Human Development Index of the country of residence.

A personal vouching system, whereby a member that had been vouched for three times —

originally starting with the founders of the site — might in turn vouch for any number of other

members he knew or had met through CouchSurfing, and trusts.

Ambassadors

Members who wished to

volunteer for various tasks on

the site and help spread the

word about CouchSurfing in

general were able to become

ambassadors. Ambassadors

must be role-models and

actively promote the CouchSurfing spirit among members and to the public. In addition to

promoting use of the site, they greet new members, help with questions and perform other

administrative tasks, all on a volunteer basis. No new ambassadors are being created at this time.

Demographics

As of January 2011, there were over 2.4 million persons who were registered with Couchsurfing, [3]

a population comparable in size to Latvia or Jamaica.

As of January 2011, couchsurfers represents more than 80,000 unique towns in 245 states and

territories. Around 20% of the couchsurfers had registered their country as being the United

States, with Germany, France, Canada and England also registering large numbers of participants.

The city with the largest number of resident couchsurfers was Paris.[3]

English was spoken by nearly 74% of registered Couchsurfers. French (20%), Spanish (17%) and

German (16%) were also spoken.[3]

The average age of participants was 28 years of age.[3]

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History

Casey Fenton

The CouchSurfing project was conceived by Casey Fenton in 1999. [1] According to Fenton's

account, the idea arose after finding an inexpensive flight from Boston to Iceland. Fenton

randomly e-mailed 1,500 students from the University of Iceland asking if he could stay. He

ultimately received more than 50 offers of accommodation. On the return flight to Boston, he

began to develop the ideas that would underpin the CouchSurfing project.

Fenton developed the code intermittently over the next few years. [1] The site was launched with

the cooperation of Dan Hoffer, Sebastien Le Tuan, and Leonardo Silveira [1] as a beta in January

2003. The project became a public website in January 2004.

Initial growth of the site was slow. By the end of 2004 the site had just over 6,000 members. In

2005, growth accelerated and by the end of the year, membership stood at just under 45,000. [3] As

of 29 January 2011, CouchSurfing have almost 2.5 million members and is the most popular free

accommodation site.[4] The site has an Alexa Traffic Rank of 2,584.[5]

Mission

The mission statement of CouchSurfing is Create Inspiring Experiences:

"At CouchSurfing International, we envision a world where everyone can explore and create

meaningful connections with the people and places they encounter. Building meaningful

connections across cultures enables us to respond to diversity with curiosity, appreciation and

respect. The appreciation of diversity spreads tolerance and creates a global community." [10]

CouchSurfing Collectives

Since June 2006, development of the website has been run in large part by CouchSurfing

Collectives: events which may last days or weeks, bringing groups of CouchSurfers together in a

chosen city, to develop and improve CouchSurfing. Previous Collectives took place in Montreal,

Vienna, New Zealand, Rotterdam, Thailand, Alaska, Costa Rica and Istanbul.[11]

Tax status

CouchSurfing International Inc. is a non-profit corporation incorporated in the U.S. state of New

Hampshire.[12][13] An application for the federal 501(c)(3) non-profit status was filed in November

2007.[19] As of January 1 2011 CouchSurfing is not in the "list of organizations eligible to receive

tax-deductible charitable contributions". This means that its non-profit status is in question.

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COUCHSURFING KILLED THE YOUTH HOSTEL?Couchsurfing.org is fast becoming a hit with young globetrotters

looking to share experiences, cultures, and their couch. Since it got off

the ground six years ago, the social networking site which makes it

possible to stay in a local’s home in just about any country in the

world, has attracted almost two million members. This free travel

network opens up a world of opportunity for “surfers”, but will it

affect the billion dollar backpacker industry?

The Couchsurfing Project gained momentum soon after computer programmer Casey Fenton took

a trip to Iceland without organising a place to stay. Wanting to experience Iceland like a local, he

spammed 1500 students in Reykjavik asking if anyone would let him crash on their couch for the

night. The overwhelming number of offers he received led to the creation of couchsurfing.org

(“creating a better world, one couch at a time”) in January 2004. In its first month, an average of

37 people signed up each week, but for the past few years around 15,000 people have consistently

joined every week.

“Couchsurfing started out on the fringe, but it’s started becoming a mainstream phenomenon,”

said Dan Hoffer, co-founder and Chairman of the Board for Couchsurfing International. “We never

expected it to grow so big so fast. We were really surprised by the growth of the community and

by the passion people feel for the whole experience.”

At the time of publication, there were 1,821,847 couchsurfing members offering their free

hospitality in 238 different countries, and around 2 million positive “surfing” and hosting

experiences had been recorded. But because couchsurfing is still in its relatively early days, it is

difficult to predict just how big an impact it could have on the backpacker accommodation

industry.

Tourism Australia’s 2009 International Visitors Survey (IVS) reported that two thirds of all

backpackers (defined as those who stay at least one night in a youth hostel or backpacker

accommodation) visiting Australia are under the age of 30. Youth hostels rigorously target their

budget dorm accommodation at these young travellers, who often seek the cheapest option. The

survey also found that more than half of the backpackers arriving in Australia are from Europe.

Interestingly enough, more than two thirds of couchsurfing members are also under 30, and more

than half of all couchsurfers are also from Europe (around 30 per cent are from North America).

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But despite the fact the backpacker industry thrives off the same

youth travel market, various observers say the rapid growth of

couchsurfing members should not ring alarm bells.

“[Couchsurfing] may have over 1.8 million members but the amount

of people who use the site as their exclusive mode of travel remains

relatively small,” said Vicky Baker, freelance journalist and creator of the Going Local Travel blog.

“I don’t think hostels feel under threat and they shouldn’t. Couchsurfing will never take over from

hostelling. The hostels that are incorporating new services are more likely to be trying to reach the

growing “flashpacker” market,” she said.

Far from sustaining injury, youth hostels are thriving with the emergence of the “flashpacker” –

backpackers who travel later on in life with more funds to their name. The 2009 IVS found there

had been significant growth in older travellers within the backpacker market, particularly in the

40-49 age bracket, who are increasingly more likely to stay in backpacker accommodation instead

of standard hotels.

“The hostel industry as a whole has made a successful push to change travellers’ perceptions,”

said Pete Meyers, Vice President of hostel review website Eurocheapo. “By adding more

amenities, increasing the volume of private rooms available in addition to dorms, and providing

more services for local sightseeing…hostels are broadening their appeal to a larger audience.

We’ve seen a steady, constant increase in the volume of hostel reservations flowing through both

of our budget travel websites, Eurocheapo and European Hostels,” he said.

Australian youth hostels are also faring well. Tourism Australia’s IVS (2000-2008) showed the

number of backpackers arriving in Australia went up by 3 per cent each year since 2000, while

nights spent by international visitors in backpacker accommodation increased 7 per cent since

2005.

“I can’t see [couchsurfing] as a real problem for us now, but in a few years maybe it will be,” said

Brett Claxton, Vice Chairperson of the Backpacker Tourism Advisory Panel and Director of Calypso

Backpackers in Cairns.

He said there was not a particularly strong couchsurfing community in Queensland. Australia

currently has 52,016 couchsurfers, with an average of 1500 new members joining every month,

but by many it is still considered more of a niche and adventurous way to travel. “I think the more

popular it gets, the more people will accept it as a way to travel,” said Claxton.

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Julie Freeman from the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) Australia reported the number of nights

spent by travellers in YHA Australia hostels has been increasing steadily over the past 10 years.

YHA also opened four new hostels last year.

Not paying a cent for accommodation is an appealing idea for couchsurfers, and is one of the key

reasons for couchsurfing’s popularity, but those in the hostel industry argue there will always be a

place for hostels in the youth travel accommodation sector.

“Couchsurfing is certainly an attractive option to many avid travellers who are looking to stretch

their budgets, and will likely continue its impressive growth,” said Meyers. “However staying in a …

home rather than a hostel might not appeal to everyone.”

“There have always been informal kinds of travel accommodation,” said Duncan Simpson, YHA

Head of Corporate Affairs and Policy in the UK. “But my hunch is that people will continue to want

the more formal offer and its associated security, safety and reliability.”

Avid couchsurfers say they wouldn’t do it any other way. Twenty-nine year old Juan Carlos Cantillo

has been on various couchsurfing trips, and has hosted many couchsurfers in his home in Costa

Rica. He says couchsurfing can’t be compared to a hotel or a hostel because the idea is to

exchange cultures, ideas and make friends. “I think the type of people who couchsurf are also a

special type of individual who are open and adventurous,” he said.

“You get to know the culture and the reality, you aren’t a tourist anymore, but you immerse

yourself in the culture and for a period of time you live there…I prefer couchsurfing to a hostel.”

In a tourism industry which revolves around guidebooks and heavily-programmed tours, some see

couchsurfing as one of the only ways to interact in a meaningful way with the local culture.

“Hostel life can be oddly out of touch with [the local culture],” said Baker. “I mean how many

locals go bungee jumping and white-water rafting? And yet this often becomes the big

‘experience’ that all backpackers do in a place.”

There is little doubt couchsurfing will keep growing in popularity. Together with hostels, they’ll

continue to make the travel scene a more interesting and diverse place to explore.

By Natalie Muller

http://www.reportageonline.com

www.tourism-review.com

7

VOLUNTEER TRAVEL: HIGH SCHOOL GRAD HELPS ORPHANS IN BALI It was once known as the "gap year," a year of independent travel

and volunteerism abroad between high school and college. The

concept became popular following World War II, when youth travel and cultural exchange were

considered useful tools to promote global understanding.

Recently, Wood River High School (Idaho) graduate Julia Bowman raised money locally – and spent

some of her own – to fund a gap-year journey to the island of Bali in Indonesia. She returned this

month after spending three months working at an orphanage for girls.

"Since spending time abroad, my ideas for the future have relaxed," she says. "I have seen many

ways of living and many different kinds of success. One thing that I have realized is how important

it is for Wood River Valley students to take time off from school. "

"I have Community School and Wood River High School friends who have gone directly to college

and are shocked by all of the terrible things happening in the world. Even though I was involved

with Amnesty International in high school, my knowledge of world events was terrible."

Bowman plans to attend the University of Denver Business School, where she is enrolled in the

Honors Program and the Pioneer Leadership Program. While she is eager to pursue her studies,

she said her travels put the notion of "success" into a broader perspective.

"I learned that a college degree is not essential for success or happiness. I have also learned that

my future will probably have little to do with orphanages or other service work."

Bowman said she will remain connected to the orphanage where she worked, perhaps finding

ways to help the girls there in the future. "I made many friends – for three months they were my

family. I have some vague ideas about what action I can take to help the foundation and other

orphanages like it but nothing more than ideas."

Bowman said she has plans to share details from her experience abroad with the Wood River

Valley community, which made her $2,000 donation to the children of Indonesia possible. She paid

for sewing machines at the orphanage where she worked, and paid for rice at a Muslim orphanage

she visited.

"Originally I had planned to donate the money solely to the Widhya Asih Foundation, where I

stayed, but there was a much greater need at this other orphanage. There was an outdoor, dirt-

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floored kitchen. Twenty-seven girls slept in two rooms together with only two bathrooms, which

had no roof."

Bowman raised money from the Rotary Club and through the Wood River Middle School's Goal

Setting Program. Seventh- and eighth-graders sold buttons to help pay for Bowman's time abroad.

Bowman paid for her airfare.

"Instead of going directly from one cultural bubble to another, Wood River Valley to university, I

recommend that students take a year off from school. There is a world of difference between

knowing that people live in poverty, and actually seeing a family of seven supported on $3 a day,

or visiting their homes and eating their food. There is a difference between reading about a riot

and meeting the girl who fled during the night with her family and watched her village burn."

Her father, County Commissioner Tom Bowman, said he is proud of his daughter for taking time

off and working overseas. "Sometimes parents are too protective of their children," he said.

"There is a lot to learn out there outside of school."

For details on Bowman's journey, visit her blog, http://jbsadventuresinbali.blogspot.com/.

By Tony Evans (Idaho Mountain Express)

http://www.mtexpress.com

www.tourism-review.com

9

HAINAN PUSHING GREEN, BLUE, AND NOW…RED TOURISM

Will "Red Tourism" take off in the Chinese Hainan? Or is the future "Green" and "Blue"?

Last year, the Chinese government announced controversial plans to transform Hainan island –

China’s southernmost province – into an international tourist destination, on par with popular

spots like Hawaii, Thailand and Australia. This transformation, which is designed to give the island

a five-star makeover, adding new golf courses, luxury hotels, and world-class service and

transportation standards, has already had an effect on Hainan, though not everyone agrees the

immediate effects have all been positive.

The government’s plan to create a tropical paradise in Hainan has brought a flood of speculative

money into the market, causing many commentators in China and abroad to worry that a property

bubble akin to the one that formed (and popped) in the 1990s – causing years of stagnation in the

island’s economy – could be inflating right in front of our eyes. This, added to political tensions

caused by Vietnam’s unease at China’s Hainan development plan and resistance by some Hainan

residents, has many wondering if the island could actually rival the Balis or Mauis of the world, or

whether the plan is doomed to fail.

Despite these concerns, new constructions are continuing on Hainan, and tour operators are

kicking up their marketing efforts both at home and (on a much smaller scale) abroad.

Interestingly enough, rather than only promoting the island’s nascent image as a luxury getaway,

we’re seeing a three-tiered “color” marketing structure emerging. From “Green” (rainforests, golf)

to “Blue” (beaches, ocean), and now to “Red” (communist) tourism, Hainan’s tour operators hope

they have something to offer everyone.

Situated in a tropical environment, the island’s blue tourism does best during winter months when

tourists flock to Hainan to get a break from cold weather back home. With rich land resources and

a rainforest in the center of the island, Hainan is also trying to lure travelers year-round with what

it calls “green tourism.” The daily Xinhua reported that drawing on the high-end vacationers that

visit the island’s beach resorts, Hainan’s government is now pumping money into land tourism

projects of all kinds, from golf courses to rainforest excursions.

But for travelers on a tighter budget who are looking for a less-fancy escape, Hainan is also

promoting what is known as “red tourism.” In its most recent efforts to attract tourists, the island

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is catering to those who want to learn about China’s communist roots. Although it’s not a part of

the mainland, the island has strong ties to the Party, providing key generals and strategic military

camps during the war.

“The historical achievements of Hainan have laid the foundation for Hainan’s economic takeoff,”

Chinese Minister of Culture Cai Wu said. As many of the “red culture” hotspots exist in villages and

not among the ritzy resorts, the island sees this kind of tourism as a key opportunity to more

evenly distribute the economic benefits gained from the travel industry.

This sort of “commidified communist” tourism is by no means new in China, although it is new to

Hainan. In Hainan, much like in inland provinces like Shaanxi and Jiangxi, many “red tourism” sites

are located in relatively poor areas. By promoting stripped-down tourism packages to

revolutionary-period sites – the thinking goes – poorer areas can still benefit (on an albeit smaller

scale), and tourists without the means to enjoy a five-star vacation can still take a…red star

vacation, getting in touch with China’s “red” 20th-century history – much of which is disappearing

amid the country’s present-day go-go capitalist business atmosphere.

Photos: Wikipedia, TR archive

http://www.jingdaily.com

www.tourism-review.com

RED TOURISM

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Red tourism (Hanzi: 红色旅游)[1] is a subset of tourism in the People's Republic of China in which

Chinese people visit locations with historical significance to Chinese Communism "to rekindle their

long-lost sense of class struggle and proletarian principles."[2] The Government began actively

supporting red tourism in 2005[3] to promote the "national ethos" and socioeconomic

development in those areas,[4] which are typically rural and poorer than East China. In July 2010,

officials representing 13 Chinese cities signed a "China Red Tourism Cities Strategic Cooperation

Yan'an Declaration" to develop red tourism; [5] the cities are: Guang'an, Yan'an, Xiangtan,

Jinggangshan, Ruijin, Zunyi, Baise, Shijiazhuang, Linyi, Anyang, Yulin, Qingyang, and Huining.[5] A

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Chinese official said "This is a major project that benefits both the Party, the nation and the

people, either in the economic, cultural and the political sense."[6]

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ALASKA – THE GREATLAND

Alaska is the largest and northernmost state in the United States of

America, also called The Last Frontier. Its breathtaking beauty dazzles

visitors and its unique combination of urban life; worldly adventures

and pristine wilderness are all within easy reach. Alaska is where

ordinary people experience the thrill and excitement of the

extraordinary. Alaska is where you feel free. Alaska is where your

dreams become reality.

Whether you are travelling independently, with a family or in an escorted group, Alaska is a

destination for everyone. While flying over the tallest mountain in North America – Mt. McKinley –

or watching Aurora Borealis dance on the starlit sky may be some of the most sought after

activities, the list of adventures is endless and caters to a variety of tastes and ages.

Imagine stepping onto the ancient land that was once connected to Eurasia by a land bridge and

having a first-hand experience with its native inhabitants. Explore the amazing coexistence of the

human and animal worlds. Feel the adrenalin rush through your veins as you view grizzly bears in

their natural habitat, kayak next to the largest mammals on the planet, walk on glaciers, dog sled

with champion mushers or hike in the world’s northernmost patch of the rainforest. Alaska is the

only place where you can experience all of these unique activities. And this, plus much more, can

be enjoyed in as little as one week!

Think these activities are beyond your reach? Think again! Everyday people just like you are

coming to Alaska and seeing, feeling and experiencing all that it has to offer.

Not only your visions of Alaska entirely possible, but Alaska is more accessible than you might

think. During the peak summer months many major US airlines provide non-stop service to Alaska

from over 14 US gateways. International travelers can connect to non-stop charter flights from

Frankfurt and Tokyo. Once you are here, getting around Alaska is easy, with just about every mode

of transportation.

You can get on a breath-taking train ride as you watch the wildlife go about its daily routine. You

can take a cruise ship or a ferry as you soak in the mist of the ocean. You can also get around by

car, motorhome or bus to enjoy your own sightseeing stops. Touring Alaska by airplane should be

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included in every itinerary to see Alaska’s vast landscape unfold slowly beneath you as you

approach the land of rigid peaks, massive glaciers and expansive river valleys.

An Alaskan holiday is more than just a place to visit, it is a magical place where you can still

connect with nature and perhaps reconnect with yourself. Take a vacation that you will talk about

for the rest of your life.

By Yuliya Redelina

All Alaska Tours has been providing group and independent tours of Alaska for over 20 years. Let

our experience be your guide and choose from one of our 60 programs – or we will customize any

tour.

http://www.alaskatours.com/

www.tourism-review.com

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THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF ALASKA’S TOURISM

Tourism is Alaska's second largest private-sector employer,

accounting for one in eight private-sector jobs. It is also Alaska's

fastest-growing industry.

Most of Alaska's visitors are from the United States (87%), with 9%

from Canada and about 4% from other countries. The majority of

Alaska summer visitors come for pleasure. During the fall/winter season, business and convention

travel is the primary trip purpose. Another significant visitor segment includes those who are

coming to Alaska to visit family and friends.

Despite the current challenges, a visit to Alaska continues to be the fulfillment of a life-long dream

for many travelers. The state's beauty, wilderness and wildlife continue to attract visitors. In a time

of uncertainty and concern for safety, Alaska has an opportunity to capitalize on the perception

that Alaska is a safe place to visit and an exotic alternative to traveling abroad. While

infrastructure and transportation challenges exist throughout the state, abundant resources are

available for communities and business to develop cultural tourism, ecotourism, wildlife viewing,

adventure tourism, and sportfishing.

Significant opportunities exist statewide to expand tourism during the winter. Winter visitors are

drawn by the Northern Lights, particularly in Fairbanks and the Interior. Aurora viewing is

accompanied by dog sled tours, skeet shooting, cross-country and downhill skiing, snow

machining, ice-skating, ice fishing and other winter activities. Rural Alaska remains the frontier in

tourism, however, rural Alaska often lacks staff and resources necessary to prepare for and attract

tourism development.

As the volume of visitors grows, maintaining the quality of the “Alaska experience” at prime Alaska

attractions is a key issue facing the visitor industry. The state and the industry recognize this

concern and, through long-term planning efforts, are working to improve the visitor infrastructure

and develop new attractions.

The need for adequate tourism marketing funds to keep Alaska competitive in the global travel

market continues to be a major concern for the industry.

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www.tourism-review.com

LLOYD HOTEL: UTILITARIAN CHIC IN AMSTERDAM

While researching historic accommodation for a stay in Amsterdam, I

came across the Lloyd Hotel (Lloydhotel.com) awash with cultural,

historical and architectural eccentricities. Reached by taxi or by

frequent electric train service, this rather forbidding brown brick

structure overlooks a major city waterway slightly outside the tourist core. Originally built a

century ago as a six-storey emigrant processing center for poor Europeans who hoped there were

better lives in the New World, it later served as a refugee centre for Jewish people during WWII,

and as a young offenders prison before falling into disuse. By 1996, the Municipality of Amsterdam

was looking for a new idea for the building with a less heavy history.

After years of design creation by four visionary initiators, it re-opened in 2004 as a cultural arts

hotel with 117 rooms, an authentic restoration proudly reflecting its chequered history with

surprisingly attractive, even playful, elegance. It was an instant international success. With no two

rooms alike in design, furnishings, colour scheme or size, what really peaked my curiosity was the

one-star to five-star room ratings all under one roof. Now that's quirky! I decided to book a couple

of nights to stay in each of these extreme stars.

With no doormen and only a modest entrance I felt more like I was entering a hostel than a

famous hotel. The friendly staff at the tiny reception cubicle where I checked in directed me to the

top floor where my five-star attic room awaited. Exiting the sixth floor elevator, narrow hallways

were decorated with strips of stained dark brown linoleum, surely from the hotel's youth prison

days. Assured that mine was one of the most popular rooms in the hotel, I entered a dimly-lit

industrial space with roughly-bolted wooden beams, silver pipes and battleship-gray concrete

floor. Small dormer windows gave harbour glimpses if I stood on tiptoes and leaned out, but

luxury became obvious in the queen-size bed and large bathtub, both prominent in the bedroom.

By contrast to the bedroom, the ensuite bathroom with shower, toilet and sink shared postage

stamp-sized space.

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In addition to leisure travellers of all ages, there are many

businessmen and women who choose Lloyd Hotel for its comfort,

friendliness, health-conscious breakfast buffet and back-to-basics

lunch and dinner venue designed with straight back chairs and

wooden tables like an institutional canteen. Most repeaters have a

favourite room in mind too. Equally significant to the owners is the hotel's reputation as a Cultural

Embassy, attracting arts and culture guests who enjoy performances, festivals and exhibits year

round hosted in its dramatic, gallery-like public spaces. Many international artists and musicians

stay and perform at the hotel.

When I made my move down several floors to a one-star room, I was startled by the upgrade of

the still-narrow hallway to gleaming gray and red pottery tiles covering the floor and half way up

the walls. My one-star bedroom was the size of a modest walk-in closet, with a single metal bed

and tiny metal table and chair, with just enough floor space for one medium suitcase. However,

there was no downgrade of the hotel's amenities, all neatly arranged, including a terry towel

bathrobe. A large window gave a panoramic view of Amsterdam's bustling commercial harbour

(without having to stand on tiptoe). Though my boot camp-style single bed looked like it could

easily be purchased in a garage sale, in fact each bed was custom-made at a cost of thousands of

Euros, based on the original design used by the youthful inmates. With a first class mattress, two

feather pillows and a duvet topping the bed frame, I have no doubt that I experienced a comfort

level none of the bad boys every knew.

A couple of doors down the tiled hallway was my shared bathroom, labelled BADKAMER, for which

occupants of three bathroom-less accommodations on my floor each had a key for their exclusive

use. With two ceiling-to-knees windows, the immaculately-kept black and white tiled bathroom

was four times the size of my one-star room!

So how does this quirky hotel choose a rating for rooms? Entirely by size! No matter how many

beds, the view or the floor, it's all about the square footage. Room prices vary from 95 to 450

Euros, including breakfast buffet. Only the one-star rooms have shared bathrooms. Check out

different room designs on the Lloyd Hotel website, and book early no matter what time of year

you are visiting Amsterdam.

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By Alison Gardner

http://www.travelwithachallenge.com

www.tourism-review.com

18

US GRANT HOTEL: A HOTEL FIT FOR A

PRESIDENT

Few places in America have stood long enough to celebrate a 100-year anniversary, but this fall

season, the US GRANT Hotel of San Diego does just that.

Presidential History

In 1910, the son of President Ulysses S. Grant opened the landmark hotel in the middle of metro-

chic San Diego, and it’s remained a top destination for America’s bigwigs ever since. Out of the

nation’s 44 presidents, 14 have stayed in the historic hotel, including John F. Kennedy and

legendary scientist Albert Einstein. Renowned for its unparalleled opulence and hospitality, the US

GRANT Hotel has earned its ranking as not only a presidential destination, but also as a corporate

and leisure one.

Today Still Fit for a King

The foundation and reputation may be 100 years old, but the hotel’s interior has recently enjoyed

a facelift. Following a $58 million renovation in 2006, The US GRANT now boasts 270 classic

guestrooms, including 47 suites, each exquisitely appointed with original artwork, marble baths

and Italian linen bedding.

The hotel's Grand Lobby, adorned with sparkling crystal chandeliers, hand-loomed silk carpets,

and artwork gives guests a preview of modern and elegant guest rooms and 22 distinctive meeting

rooms.

Each of the guest rooms and suites feature such stunning details as a custom Yves Clement drip-

painting headboard, adding a modern touch to classic Empire-style furnishings in a contemporary

setting

Crown Jewel

Still known as “The Crown Jewel of Downtown San Diego,” the US GRANT Hotel is an Exxon-Mobil

Four Star Hotel, a winner of HotelWorld’s “Best Luxury Guestroom Design Award” for 2008, and

was named one of The Robb’s Report’s “Top 100 Hotels in the World.”

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The hotel’s restaurant, The GRANT Grill, features California-fresh seasonal cuisine, offered in

conjunction with handcrafted cocktails from a top-notch artisanal bar. The unmatched quality of

ingredients and precision from the kitchen earned the hotel a “Best Hotel Dining” award in 2008

from San Diego Magazine.

www.tourism-review.com

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HEALTH TOURISM: BULGARIA IN NEED OF A BUSINESS MODEL

Health tourism is a growing phenomenon in Europe. So what are the

chances for Bulgaria? Health tourism experts from Kohl & Partner

Hotel & Tourism Consulting and the Bulgarian Health Tourism

Association met in Sofia in June to discuss systematic approaches for

this exciting business sector.

Patient Mobility in the EU

According to a Gallup-survey, Eurobarometer (2007) on patient-mobility within the EU, 4% of the

interviewed EU-citizens (EU27) had received a treatment in other European countries over the last

twelve months (at the time of the survey). Slightly more than half of EU citizens are open to

travelling to another EU country in order to seek medical treatment (average 54%).

However, there were significant differences between the countries; not only geographical but also

cultural distances played a major role. The most prominent reason to do so is a hypothesized

unavailability of the necessary treatment in the domestic healthcare system. The hope of better

quality through a specialist residing elsewhere in Europe and the promise of quicker access to

necessary treatments are also an important motivating factor for patients.

Europeans are least likely to look for cheaper treatments when considering the options to obtain

health services from another EU country. However, it plays a role for 48% of those who are open

to travel for such a purpose.

To sum it up, quality is the major drive for health tourism to Western Europe and lower prices are

a major argument to travel for treatment to Central and South Eastern Europe.

Prices for treatments in other CEE and SEE countries are partly even lower than in Bulgaria. A pre-

condition for health tourism is also a good quality level of the medical treatments. So far, Bulgaria

has a comparatively low number of international certified medical institutions. The overall

healthcare system is in need for improvement to attract patients abroad.

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Dental, Elective Surgery, Gynecology for Health Tourists in Bulgaria?

A strategic approach to the medical tourism business in Bulgaria requires a focus on a limited

number of facilities/regions and treatments. In the open discussion with Kohl & Partner it was

stated by Dr. Stoev, president of the Bulgarian Health Tourism Association, that important

stakeholders in Bulgaria see chances for health tourism in the fields of dental treatments, elective

surgery and gynecology. Some high-standard facilities already exist in Bulgaria – like a Japanese

run hospital in Sofia.

The Need for a Business Model

If country-, region- or company-clusters want to benefit from health tourism, a specialized

business model must be developed. This model should determine the policies, the organizational

structures, processes and the human and financial resources. It must precisely define the

cooperation between the healthcare and tourism providers and the regional / national

institutions. For example, how sales platforms can be processed and how the business is legally

arranged. International co-operations have to be realized in order to exchange know-how,

connections and to get access to European Funds.

By Dipl.-Kfm. Matthias Buchholz (K&P Vienna) and André Gribi, Managing Director (K&P Sofia)

http://www.kohl.at

www.tourism-review.com

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SPECIALIZED OR MORE GENERAL EDUCATION FOR

STUDENTS OF TOURISM?

The schools preparing new employees for tourism industry

struggle to keep up with changes in the field claim the

professionals. Some schools favour specialized training the

others teach the students the general fundaments.

Because of the poor training of students, the HRD (Human

Resources Directors) are increasingly reluctant to recruit graduates. The professionals claim that

the schools are too concentrated on students' fundaments not making efforts to catch up with

the developments. They also complain that for an industry that needs experts, the education is

too general and that the students lack specific ideas of the reality of market.

The directors of tourism education establishments do not agřee with the criticism. Victor

Gervasoni of the Business School of Tourism in La Rochelle told Toumag.com that every year

schools organize a development committee with the HRD from large enterprises of given sectors

which allow the students to have a very good overview of the market trends. Many schools also

work with students in training and organizing seminars with experts. The programs sometimes

evolve very quickly.

Marie Poulain, the Director of ESCAET (College of Commerce and Business Administration of

Tourism) is also in favor of more specialized training. She says that those whose education is too

general will find I difficult and probably even too demanding to cope with. The director of ESTHUA

(Graduate Institute of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of 'Angers), Philipe Violier,

contradicts he suggesting that the best way to adapt to the requirements of each company is

having fundamental and versatile basis.

Specialization is sometimes seen as a setback. It is considered better to choose a sector in which

opportunities are provided. This is why Victor Gervasoni advocates general training. He does not

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want the students to be too specialized, but to have a base strong and wide enough to evolve. His

long-term vision is to train students to cope with the jobs of tomorrow.

www.tourism-review.com

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GAY FRIENDLY ARGENTINA HAS GOT THE EDGE

On 15th of July, a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was

passed in Argentina thus making it the first Latin American

country to do so. It comes as no surprise that an already

popular holiday destination will attract much more

international attention because of it this year.

After a heated debate which divided the country, Argentinean President, Cristina Fernández de

Kirchner finally signed the bill which legalizes same-sex marriage on 15th July. Many aggressively

fought against it and while the capital Buenos Aires happily accepted, numerous rural country

areas which are deeply Catholic find the new law difficult to accept. However, tourism experts

agree this is the best news and Argentina is preparing for a tourist boom in 2010.

A survey in 2008 estimated that 17, 8% of visiting tourists were indeed lesbian, gay, bisexual, and

transgender (LGBT). The fact that Argentinean government made a stand and openly supports

same-sex marriage will inevitably result in a massive increase of LGBT visitors in the near future.

This topic was discussed at the recent GNetwork360 tourism and marketing conference and the

Tourism Minister Enrique Meyer mentioned that „Argentina is already standing out...Interest in

tourist is already rising as this is a country that is more open than other in terms of rights and how

it treats citizens.“

The LGBT travelers present a very significant group in terms of tourism ; especially US citizens are

famous for their passion for travel. Nearly 84% of LGBT people here possess a valid passport in

contrast to only 32% of heterosexuals. Their spending potential is vast and Argentina will

undoubtedly benefit from this. It already belongs to one of the most popular destinations in Latin

America, and now the newly passed bill added considerable value to their tourist potential.

www.tourism-review.com

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REENACTMENTS OF WW2 BATTLES: POPULAR

TOURISM ATTRACTION

Battle reenactments with original guns and vehicles

have become a popular attraction for tourists

visiting the central Europe.

Reenactments of various battles – especially those

from the Second World War – have been quite

popular among tourists for some time leading to the foundation of several new historical clubs.

People who work or study during the week, dress their period uniforms on weekends and “fight”

battles as Nazi or Soviet soldiers or as partisans. Their shows then lure hundreds of viewers from

around the region, reported Tyden.cz.

The chairman of one of the Slovak military history clubs Vladimír Vadina explained that in the

neighboring country the reenactments have longer tradition: “Czechs were ahead of us in terms of

equipment and uniforms; their reenactments were simply better. Of course the tradition is longer

there and they also have more military clubs but we are slowly catching up with them.”

According to him, today there are approximately 15 clubs with 200 members in Slovakia that

reenact the WW2 battles. Since some of the battles require considerable amount of “soldiers” and

“fighters” to participate the clubs of neighboring countries have to often join forces which helps

further development and improvement of the show.

Today the soldiers are thus very well equipped; they wear accurate accessories as well as period

uniforms. Their guns and weapons are mostly original. Even the vehicles are original and often

provided by private collectors.

The whole show thus easily takes the audience – both adults as well as children – back in time

portraying not only the battles and strategic moves but also the lives of common soldiers. As

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such, the reenactments have become quite popular among tourists both in Slovakia as well as

Czech Republic.

www.tourism-review.com

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