Norwegian Cruise Ship Crunches Manhattan Pier
Intercontinental Hotel Group’s Imaginary Green Hotel
UK Government Responds to ‘Contaminated Air’ in Planes
US Business and First-Class Seats See Biggest Drop Since 2003
2008: Best Year Ever for US Tourism to Israel
NORWEGIAN CRUISE SHIP CRUNCHES MANHATTAN PIER – New York Daily News
Last Sunday, Norwegian Cruise Lines’ ship Norwegian Spirit struck a Manhattan pier as it was trying to back into adjacent Pier 90. Luckily, no one was injured. An on-looking passenger who “spent time in the Navy,” explains, “We were coming in a little faster than I thought we should be, and we didn’t make the turn.” The boat ripped through metal crash guards, causing damage to beams supporting parking lots, but nothing collapsed. Passengers maintain that the cruise was “wonderful,” noting, “and now we get to talk about this forever.”
Link: New York Daily News
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL GROUP’S IMAGINARY GREEN HOTEL – Luxist
The “Innovation Hotel,” owned by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), is claiming to be the world’s first 100 percent ecologically-friendly hotel. It’s solar- and wind-powered, constructed entirely from recycled materials, and even has a rainwater harvesting system that directs water to the hotel’s bathrooms. Shrubbery on the roof and plants within the hotel add insulation while diminishing noise pollution. The hotel replaces the usual plastic signage at the entrance with lava stones carved with its name. Hotel chiefs hope that within the next few years some of these features will be standard in all IHG hotels. But, for now, you’ll have to be satisfied with taking a virtual tour on the company’s Web site.
Link: Luxist
UK GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO ‘CONTAMINATED AIR’ IN PLANE CABINS – The Telegraph (UK)
An increase in UK pilots and passengers experiencing nausea, dizziness and numerous related health problems has raised the alarm with government officials. Upon a closer look, the UK’s Committee on Toxicity estimates that passengers on one in 2,000 flights may be exposed to toxins in cabin air. Other specialists believe that this number is much greater, perhaps around 200,000 passengers a year. Pilots noted aircraft including a Boeing 757 and Airbus 319 as having foul smells or “contaminated air” within the cabins. The UK’s Department of Transportation will be researching the effects this cabin air has on long-term human health, and will be carrying out tests through Cranfield University.
Link: Telegraph (UK)
U.S. BUSINESS- AND FIRST-CLASS SEATS SEE BIGGEST DROP SINCE 2003 – USA Today
A trade group for international airlines announced recently that in March the number of international first- and business-class passengers has declined the most since 2003. Speculations have surfaced that this is a result of a slowing financial sector and a limping U.S. economy. The International Air Transport Association’s spokesman Steve Lott concedes, “Airline executives get concerned when they start to see falling traffic in the front of the plane because it’s the premium passengers that represent valuable revenue.” Lott adds, “Whether they are flying less or flying in coach, those are both worrying signs for airline managers.” Apparently, premium-air travel in the Middle-East, Far-East and Africa is holding strong. Experts say increasing fuel costs are undoubtedly contributing to the diminishing number of premium seats being purchased in the U.S.
Link: USA Today
2008 COULD BE BEST YEAR EVER FOR U.S. TOURISM TO ISRAEL - Ha’aretz (Israel)
According to the Israel Tourism Commissioner for North and South America, 43 percent more American tourists have visited Israel in the first quarter of 2008 than in the same period of 2007. And this is good news, considering that thus far in Israel’s 60-year history, 2007 stands as the most successful year for U.S. tourism to Israel. Shaul Tzemach, Director-General of Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, notes, “This adds urgency to the need for additional hotels and flights, especially if we are going to meet our goal of hosting 5 million tourists a year by 2012.” International hotel companies are popping up all over Israel. Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport currently has 70 airlines operating regular scheduled flights, and five of those have up to 20 non-stop flights back and forth between Israel and North America.
Link: Ha’aretz
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