Author: Charlotte Gill

Descent of the Boeing 747

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Soon after Boeing’s revolutionary 747 made its first flight in 1969, it became fondly known as the ‘Queen of the Skies’ and signalled the beginning of a golden age for commercial flight and luxury travel. Here was a double-decker jumbo that dwarfed all that came before it, both in terms of size and technology. Airlines across the globe rushed to put pen to paper and add it to their fleet.

The aircraft’s now iconic humped exterior and four-engine set-up have fundamentally reshaped how we travel. And with a range of close to 9,565km, a ceiling of 13,716m and a top speed of 1,029kph, the 747 has made long-haul travel affordable for a far greater number of people.

The so-called Jumbo Jet was the first wide-body aircraft to be brought into commercial service, and was progressive, not only for its twin-aisle setup, but also for its double-deck configuration. The plane’s passenger capacity was double that of the second largest long-haul aircraft, and the 747’s size paved the way for a second cargo version, complete with a forward nose-loading capacity.

[T]he aviation industry has undergone a series of extraordinary changes, and everything from traveller numbers to fuel costs have been utterly transformed

“Its introduction not only created a new passenger experience for both economy and first class passengers – such as an upstairs bar and lounge facility for those in first class – but also created a significant capacity increase for freight,” says Peter Kenworthy, Director of Mott MacDonald’s air services advisory business. The aircraft’s renown was such that it was deemed worthy even of transporting America’s President, and, to this day, Air Force One takes the shape of a specially kitted out 747. Unfortunately, the glory years of the 747 are fading; it looks as though the aircraft’s final days as a commercial flyer are upon us.

The Jumbo Jet’s downfall
Skip forward to the present day and orders for the 747 have petered out to such an extent that some models are coming off the production line and straight into storage. The aircraft that was once hailed as the single-most important invention in commercial flight has come to be seen as redundant by some, with its four-engine set-up and seemingly unquenchable thirst for fuel.

In a damning indictment of the aircraft’s fading stature, Boeing announced in October last year that it would be adjusting its already reduced production rate of 1.75 to 1.5 planes per month through to 2015, due to “lower market demand for larger passenger and freighter airplanes”. Given Boeing sold a record 122 747s in 1990, this measly 18-craft-per-year production rate illustrates how far the plane has fallen.

Exacerbating the plight of the 747 is the speed at which airlines are dropping the craft from their line-ups. Where once carriers clamoured to have it, cheaper, more fuel-efficient and more diverse craft have supplanted it.

Slow to change
In the 40-plus years since the 747’s introduction, the aviation industry has undergone a series of extraordinary changes, and everything from traveller numbers to fuel costs have been utterly transformed.

According to GlobalChange.com, the number of passengers in the UK from 1954 to 2005 has surged from four million to 228 million a year, and the figures look certain to continue upwards as those in emerging markets travel abroad more often. Domestic air transport in China grew at an average annual rate of 15.5 percent between 2000 to 2006, according to the Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions, and figures compiled by Boeing show Chinese air traffic in 2012 increased 10.6 percent year-on-year.

These numbers are indicative of wholesale changes to the aviation industry, though also reveal the extent to which the jumbo has failed to keep pace. “Long-haul capacity provided by airlines has been moving to more fuel-efficient and smaller twin-jet aircraft, often with increasing frequency on a given route,” says Kenworthy. “Operations by four-engined long-haul aircraft such as the Boeing 747 or Airbus A380 are increasingly providing capacity in markets where airport slots are constrained, such as at Heathrow. The smaller seating capacity of twin jet aircraft, improving seat cost economics and improved range is facilitating both a higher frequency of operations on many long-haul routes as well as enabling new smaller long-haul markets to be served.”

Ask any carrier what their top cost is and chances are they’ll say fuel. Ongoing social and political unrest in key supply sites, combined with spiralling demand and the global financial crisis, have seen oil prices skyrocket in the last 40 years, and four-engine gas guzzlers like the 747 are not paying their way.

Space shuttle Endeavour, mounted on top of a modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft, flies over the Mojave Desert
Space shuttle Endeavour, mounted on top of a modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft, flies over the Mojave Desert

What’s more, a far sharper focus on climate change has seen the aviation space come under fire from consumers concerned about environmental costs. Europe’s Clean Sky research programme shows that air transport represents two percent of all human-induced CO2 emissions, and 12 percent of that from all transport sources – few want the negative publicity that comes with stocking a gas-guzzling jumbo jet. As far as advances in fuel efficiency are concerned, the 747 has been left to stagnate while the rest of the pack has slashed emissions dramatically.

Another issue is the 747’s lack of diversity. The sheer size of the plane means it’s only equipped for long-haul flights, and in an age where company margins are growing slimmer by the day, carriers prefer to have an aircraft capable of both long and short-haul trips.

Saving grace
“However, the latest version of the Boeing 747 has an immediate role to play, albeit focused towards serving cargo rather than passenger markets as the 747-8I passenger aircraft has seen limited success,” says Kenworthy. The number of 747s in service today is made respectable only by its place in the global air-cargo industry, which faces different risks should the recession-hit freight business continue to plummet at the current rapid rate.

However, the fact that the 747’s extinction is buffeted only by its place in freight shows how its status has diminished. And while, at the time of writing, there is a still a small place for the 747 in commercial flight, the day when the epoch-defining machine will be wiped from the sky is coming, and the craft’s place will be reserved only for museums, storerooms and scrapyards.

What’s it like to be the Queen’s Olympic stunt double?

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

How often do you travel?
I travel a lot with work, though I never really know when that’s going to happen. It could well be two or three times a year work-wise and then maybe two or three times for pleasure, or it could just as easily be 10 times a year for work and the same again for pleasure.

My work is very sporadic, so I kind of slot things in and around it. I tend not to go on organised holidays as such, and I tend to go abroad specifically for an activity.

When I stepped out of the boat I quickly realised I had stood on a crocodile, and that we had come to a halt on its back

Where do you like to go on holiday?
I predominantly go to Switzerland and Italy during the summer. My son lives in Austria during the winters, so I’ll generally go to Austria to visit him and therefore go to ski resorts.

Which cities do you like?
Cities I’m not so big on, but in terms of where I go in Switzerland and Italy, it’s generally just north of Lake Garda in Italy in a place called Arco, and in Switzerland it’s generally Lauterbrunnen or Walenstadt, purely because of the topography for big cliffs and the opportunity for wing suit flights.

What’s the most memorable location you’ve ever performed one of your stunts?
That doesn’t necessarily come into travel, because my most memorable thing, I suppose, is either the Olympics opening ceremony or my wing suit landing, which were both UK-based and both very different in terms of the location and visually what they looked like.

For my wing suit landing it was quintessential British countryside, beautiful little villages, rivers and so on, but for my Olympic landing it was the madness of a new stadium. So both were very different but equally memorable for me.

What is your idea of a perfect day?
If I picked out all my favourite things, I’ve never really had the perfect day on holiday. I’m vegetarian, it’s sometimes difficult to go abroad and eat vegetarian comfortably, whereas in Greece in particular there is an abundance of vegetarian food, the people are wonderful, and it’s close enough to the UK to be able to fly there for the week and not really have the travel time encroach on your holiday too much.

Connery spends a lot of time jumping from planes
Connery spends a lot of time jumping from planes

My perfect day though, if I could have it, would be to go for a run in the early morning sun, do a stunning wing suit flight off a cliff, and then chill out for the rest of the day chugging from bay to bay on a little moped, eating lovely fresh vegetarian food and enjoying a glass of wine on the beach as the sun goes down.

What is your favourite cuisine?
In terms of travelling, Greek is my favourite, because you know you can walk into lots of places and get an abundance of vegetarian food. I like Thai and Indian, but I don’t know that I have a favourite cuisine because certain cuisines have a wintery feel and others more of a summer vibe. Certainly for hot weather I like Greek food.

Are there luxuries that you can’t do without?
No, I don’t hanker for little luxuries, it’s just not for me.

What makes your accommodation great?
For me it’s the location. I’ve spent a lot of time by the ocean and lot of time in the mountains, and I always steer back towards the mountains. I think it’s not so much about the hotel itself, it’s about the people around you and the location you’re at.

Do you travel light?
I always think that I travel light, however I always come back and think to myself: “I could’ve travelled much lighter there.”

I’ve just come back from Hong Kong for a week working on a UK-based TV show, and not having been before I didn’t know what to expect. Honestly I could’ve got away with three or four T-shirts, a couple of vests, three or four pairs of shorts, and wouldn’t really have needed much else.

Do you collect souvenirs?
No, pictures and memories are souvenirs to me.

What is your favourite method of transport?
One of my favourite journeys has been from Geneva down to Malaga and that was via train.

Connery prepares to enter the Olympic stadium in Stratford, London
Connery prepares to enter the Olympic stadium in Stratford, London

As you age you change, and maybe it was a very memorable trip because, relatively speaking, I was quite young and maybe hadn’t had such an adventure before. Whereas if I did that now, I may well think: “Oh God, I wish I’d flown.”

I’ve also travelled the length of Pakistan by train, which again was phenomenal: visually it was wonderful and culturally, a very interesting experience. Travelling short distances, I actually like to walk. I love hiking from [a] valley, up into the mountains and staying there for the night. Walking can be beautiful and more rewarding than doing it, say, by bus.

Do you have a favourite place to stay domestically?
Purely because I have friends there and it was where I sort of grew up as an older teenager, New Quay in west Wales. I’ve taken my son there over the years, and he’s sort of grown up going there too. I’ve got good friends there, and I was actually part of running and tow-behind-a-boat sausage ride on the seafront there so I’m quite well known among the locals.

What is your all-time holiday highlight?
A while back when I was in the parachute regiment I stayed in Kenya as part of a six-week training operation and had one week off to spend doing whatever I wanted. A few of us stayed in an area known as Lake Baringo and went open kayaking across some very muddy water when the boat suddenly grinded to a halt. It was a very shallow lake, so naturally I thought we’d bottomed out. However, when I stepped out of the boat I quickly realised I had stood on a crocodile, and that we had come to a halt on its back. So, that’s pretty unforgettable for me. It’s not necessarily something I’d like to happen again, but it certainly sticks in my mind.

How war fuelled Käthe Kollwitz’s art

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

The colours are what strike you first. Or rather, it’s the disparity between the vibrancy of one set of works and the bleakness of the other that draws the eye. While Käthe Kollwitz worked almost exclusively in monochrome, her etchings puddles of darkness from which the stark outlines of desperate figures emerge, Kata Legrady’s sculptures and large-format prints shimmer with promise and colour.

Legrady, who was born in Hungary but now lives between Budapest, Paris and Hannover, may not seem like the obvious counterpoint to Kollwitz, one of the most important European printmakers and sculptors of the period between the First and Second World Wars. But when Gudrun Fritsch, curator of the Käthe Kollwitz Museum in Berlin, began to think about how the gallery might mark the centenary of the start of World War One, she immediately saw how Legrady’s provocative explorations of militaristic propaganda could speak powerfully to Kollwitz’s mournful, angry depictions of the impacts of conflict. Warning & Temptation: The Pictorial Worlds of War of Käthe Kollwitz and Kata Legrady, was born.

“If she hadn’t had her art, her talent, I’m absolutely sure she would have gone mad with guilt”

“Legrady wants us to look twice,” explains Fritsch, pointing to works such as Mine (multicolour) and Partitur 1-2-3 (both 2009), which show weapons decorated with pretty, jewel-like candies. Look beyond the sugar coating of nationalism, these works suggest, and all you’ll find is death and destruction.

Other aspects of war come under fire too: in the 2013 series Fur Grenade, what appear to be genuine antique grenades have been wrapped in tiny, luxurious pelts to ridicule the glamorisation of conflict. The Colt Government, a handgun used by the US armed forces in both world wars, is a frequent motif, whether wrapped in dollar bills as a reference to the role of the arms industry and the business of war (Government US-Dollar, 2012) or made into a child’s plaything (Rocking Horse, 2011) to suggest the way militaristic and nationalist propaganda impacts on us from an early age.

Born and brought up in Soviet-era Hungary, and twice competing for her country in the Youth Olympic Games, Legrady experienced this style of propaganda first-hand. Not all her works on this theme are terribly subtle, but they are effective: there are some messages that benefit from being shouted rather than whispered.

There is shouting within Kollwitz’s oeuvre too, but it’s mainly found in the pacifist posters for which the artist became famous in the years following the First World War. Having lost her 18-year-old son Peter to the fighting a few months into the conflict, Kollwitz rejected her previous belief in the power and validity of violent revolution, turning wholeheartedly to pacifism instead.

War: Never Again!, 1924, perhaps Kollwitz’s best known poster, is displayed here alongside other originals, such as Free Our Prisoners, 1919-20 and The Survivors – Make War on War, 1924. These posters appeared in their thousands all over Europe, but were sought out and destroyed after the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, their pacifistic message antithetical to the new regime. Only a handful survive.

Kollwitz was immensely proud of these posters, says Fritsch, but it was her final print, Seeds for Sowing Should Not Be Milled, 1942, that Kollwitz referred to as her “testament”. She died three years later at the age of 77, just weeks before the end of the Second World War. Unlike many artists and intellectuals of the time, Kollwitz did not flee the Nazis, despite being stripped of her professorship at the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin (she was the first woman to hold the title), having her work removed from museums and being forbidden from exhibiting.

Kata Legrady: Cheval à bascule, 2011
Kata Legrady: Cheval à bascule, 2011

Motifs of motherhood
Kollwitz’s final lithograph features a motif she had been exploring from the start of her career, but which took on even greater significance in her later work: that of a mother protecting her children. There are plenty of moving portrayals of this subject in Warning & Temptation, from the small bronze Pieta, 1937-38, to the more overtly political The Widow II, a woodcut from War, a series the artist produced between 1918 and 1923.

Kollwitz saw motherhood as the most important role available to women, says Fritsch. The tragedy that she could not protect her own son – and, in fact, persuaded her husband to let their boy volunteer in the first place – is palpable in all of the artist’s late mother-child works.

“If she hadn’t had her art, her talent, I’m absolutely sure she would have gone mad with guilt,” says Fritsch. The curator should know: she has been closely involved with Kollwitz’s work since 1967, when she attended an exhibition put together by the influential gallerist Hans Pels-Leusden and was brought to tears by Kollwitz’s 1907 etching, Battlefield – “I don’t know why,” she says.

When Pels-Leusden pointed out that this was clearly a work she needed to own, she told him that, as a student, there was no way she could afford to buy it. The dealer offered to accept payment in instalments and a friendship began that would ultimately lead to the pair establishing the Käthe Kollwitz Museum together in 1986. It is a story Fritsch tells with emotion in her voice.

The museum is privately funded and presents two exhibitions a year, displaying works from its permanent collection (which has its foundation in a considerable haul donated by Pels-Leusden) alongside those of other artists. Accompanying Warning & Temptation is a small display of works by local schoolchildren and young people responding to Kollwitz’s War: Never Again! in this important centenary year. Fritsch feels passionately that the artist should be more widely known in Germany: she would like to see Kollwitz’s work on the curriculum.

Part of what makes Kollwitz’s prints and sculptures, and the works by Legrady that hang here alongside them, so powerful is what they do not say, rather than what they do. Neither artist, Fritsch explains, “shows the real battlefield. They don’t show soldiers fighting, they just give an idea of the consequences of war.” The real battlefield is left to our imagination.

Employees and employers battle over rights to frequent-flyer miles

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Flying for miles and miles on a hot and crowded plane for work, most expect a lengthy journey will pay off in the form of frequent-flyer points, to be redeemed on a much-needed holiday. But employers are now claiming that bonus points are theirs, and not employees’. This is creating friction in the workplace as well-travelled staff try to claim air miles as their own, while company policy prevents them from doing so. This has prompted more firms to define policies related to bonus points earned through business travel, and it’s quickly become a hot topic when negotiating contracts. But this also raises the question: legally, whom do the points belong to and what are your rights or options as an employee with significant mileage stocked up?

So far, the topic has caused much debate in public and private forums. In the past year alone, Europe has seen several major politicians get called out for using bonus points earned through business travel for private use. The speaker of the UK House of Commons, Michael Martin, was accused of using air miles on flights with his family, causing a media storm over the problematic ethics of using a tax-funded resource as a personal incentive. Denmark’s former Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen was put through a gruelling five-hour press conference after media revealed he had flown first class when working for an international environmental NGO, then used the air miles gained on a family vacation. In both cases, the politicians in question were criticised for being shady about their use of bonus points.

What is an airmile?

  • Also known as frequent flyer miles or bonus points
  • Frequent flyer miles were invented in May 1981, when American Airlines began the first mileage-based loyalty scheme, AAdvantage
  • They are an incentive scheme for regular travellers
  • Miles are also accrued by other purchases and are often a credit card incentive
  • More than 150 million people belong to frequent flyer schemes worldwide

A fare perk
But honestly, when looking at the problem in question, it’s worth considering how many people view air miles as their own? For politicians, how would it even be possible for air miles to go to the entire population, that contributed to the taxes, which funded the tickets? Never mind the sheer absurdity of trying to divvy up such miles. In essence, this is a discussion that comes down to ethics and rights. Is it fair to use corporate perks in our personal lives?

Yes, say a growing number of companies around the world. The Maersk Group, a major player in industries such as shipping, drilling and oil, has a huge number of corporate travellers every year. According to one of the firm’s travel bookers, Maersk Drilling alone has more than 150 employees in the air on any day of the year. With the amount of mileage racked up on trips to destinations such as Angola and South Korea, and the group having gone through several rounds of cutbacks in recent years, would it be pertinent to suggest that air miles be used for future business travel on behalf of the group?

“A few years ago, some of the execs considered claiming mileage from our corporate travel, but it was quickly shot down. The bonus points belong to our employees because whenever they’re sent away on a business trip, it’s time away from their family. Giving them the right to use mileage is a fair company perk. Otherwise we wouldn’t ever get anyone to go on these trips. We have to give them some incentive. So we keep everyone’s point cards in our travel database, so when we book a trip, the mileage earned goes straight to the employee. It’s really a no-brainer,” said the travel booker, who preferred to remain anonymous.

Denied by law
Looking at it objectively, frequent-flyer points are something a traveller clocks up every time he or she flies to a new destination. If the plane ticket is paid for by your employer, then legally, the bonus points racked up on said trip belong to the employer and would end up on their mileage account (typically under One World or Star Alliance, which cover the majority of air services). However, ethically, you may feel entitled to said bonus points as business trips can be a significant hassle, cause stress and exhaustion that impact on time off, and cut into free time with family and friends.

Because very few firms stipulate clearly whether they claim ownership of bonus points earned through business travel, this often poses a dilemma for employees.

“It comes up in business ethics quite a lot,” said Simon Webley, Research Director at the Institute of Business Ethics. “A good many companies tell their staff they may use air miles. But don’t assume you can”.

Set out rules
Most of us would agree that if our contracts, which we had freely entered into, forbade perks then it would be unethical if we still took them. However, with a lot of firms unclear on whether mileage is a perk or not, confusion remains. But with bonus points often attaining value to the tune of thousands of dollars, air miles are becoming a new bargaining tool for employees all over the world and are something that should be defined in contracts.

“Companies should have specific rules for use of company perks as part of their code of ethics or code of conduct, in order to avoid confusion,” added Webley.

With the growing awareness on mileage, more employees are stipulating the right to air miles – and doing better for it. As business travellers increasingly make their own bookings, more employees are using their own credit cards to pay for business trips and being reimbursed by the company. If this is the case, the employee has every right to the gained air miles. As mentioned before, a ticket paid for by an employer, but used by an employee, technically generates bonus points that belong to the company. However, an employee is allowed to use these and attain control if the company stipulates so. What’s more, this can even be a tax-free deal – as long as the miles aren’t traded in for cash (which some air-services do) and as long as mileage isn’t stipulated as a tax benefit in an employee contract.

Whether firms consider mileage a perk or not, the rules are pretty clear legally. With a code of conduct or a specific paragraph in employee contracts, confusion over the personal use of corporate air miles would disappear, making it possible for everyone to enjoy free trips, corporate lounges and upgrades – guilt free.

Visa bureaucracy hinders some of the world’s most lucrative destinations

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

As economic development continues to further growth in countries like Angola, Saudi Arabia and Russia, business travellers have to broach destinations that might have less than practical visa application systems. The accessibility to countries can vary greatly and, notably, some countries – particularly those experiencing an economic boom – have restricted access in order to prevent an inflow of job seekers.

For business travellers and their companies, this can prove increasingly challenging to deal with as some visa rules lead to creative travel planning in order to meet client criteria or secure a deal.

“The process for obtaining a visa for entry into different countries can vary and some countries have very specific visa application requirements. Some countries also require extensive processing time for business visas – sometimes up to 15 working days – and evidence of an official invitation for travel to a particular country can often be required,” explains Katrina Cliffe, Vice President and General Manager at American Express Global Business Travel, Europe.

“Countries that are complicating their visa norms are hurting themselves,” he argued

That said, not all countries require visas. EU countries within the Schengen agreement allow for free travel, while others like Thailand and Dubai offer most foreign nationals a visa upon arrival. Visa issues mainly concern those countries where you need to obtain a visa in order to legally visit the country. Illegally entering a country without one could lead travellers to face prosecution or be permanently denied entry to it.

Visa woes such as complicated applications; high fees and red tape recently prompted the Secretary General of the United National World Tourism Organisation to suggest that countries review their existing visa norms so as to facilitate free movement of tourists across borders.

“Travel and tourism, with their potential in mobilising resources and revenues, would contribute significantly to the economies and no country could ignore the contribution,” Taleb Rifai said at a UNWTO conference last year.

Despite the fact that tourism is on the rise across the globe, challenges remain when it comes to streamlining visa processes in order to avoid delays and hurdles when attempting to get the necessary travel documents, Rifai said, adding that it is necessary for countries to address this sooner rather than later.

“Countries that are complicating their visa norms are hurting themselves,” he argued.

In this respect, some countries have long since gotten a staple as the “worst to visit” based exclusively on complicated visa procedures. For instance, the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is widely considered to be the richest country in the world thanks to its untapped deposits of raw minerals, has a visa application process hindered by bureaucracy and the prospect of having to pay unofficial fees for entry. With the DRC’s government ramping up mining and oil production, an inflow of business travellers from the resources industry has begun, yet visa rules and issues have not changed. What’s more, Congo is not the only country employing visa restrictions.

“Processing time can often be an issue. In addition, visa processing fees are usually non-refundable even in the case of application cancellation or withdrawal. Changes to embassy or consulate regulations and requirements can often happen with little or no notice,” Cliffe told Business Destinations.

Similarly, Angola is experiencing one of the highest economic growth rates on the African continent as its oil industry continues to boom. This has put pressure on visa applications as major corporations such as Maersk Drilling and BP pursue lucrative drilling contracts in the country. This has not gone unnoticed in the former Portuguese colony, which recently implemented a harsh visa regime set to prevent unemployed Europeans from job-hunting there.

Long processing time is the biggest problem in Angola; but there are also consular fees, the requirement for an invitation and at least $100 a day financial support along with proof of immunisation in order to gain entry. This has prompted several firms to think out-of-the-box when dealing with regular travel to Angola. An example of this is one drilling firm, which currently ensures that at least three employees have an active visa for Angola in the event that they need to send highly sensitive material to the country – like drilling tenders and contracts. With delivery services in the country considered highly unreliable, face-to-face delivery is often necessary, yet the country has not eased up on visa restrictions, even though they’re hampering business travel and economic inflows.

Finally, it is worth noting that this is not purely an African issue. Developed countries in Europe and Asia are employing the same tactics, with Russia enforcing a strict invitation-only visa regime and Saudi Arabia preventing unmarried women and couples entering the country – despite its booming infrastructure industry attracting major foreign corporations.

How to find the right Spanish property

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world, including the UK, are heading to Spain for their summer holiday this year. Many will return intent on buying their own place there, especially when they see what great value Spanish property is, and – if you’re British – how favourable the exchange rate is at the moment.

However, before making any rushed decisions, it’s worth stepping back and thinking about your purchase with your head as much as your heart. Since Spain is an extremely varied country, with wonderful beaches, mountains and countryside, it offers all types of property from seaside villas to wooden alpine chalets, town centre apartments to stone country houses. Property-buyers have plenty of choice. The question is, which is the right property for you?

Perils of the sea
Most British people head straight to areas close to the beaches. The lure of sun, sea and sand is very strong, but properties near the sea are generally more expensive than those inland and, perhaps just at 20 minutes’ drive away from the coast, you will find houses or apartments that are much better value and have more outside space. These will either be in a small village or town or on an urbanisation, built to cater for locals and foreigners alike. Seaside complexes or urbanisations carry community charges, as do apartment blocks, so you should look into the terms and costs of these charges carefully before you commit to buying a property.

[P]roperties near the sea are generally more expensive than those inland

All along the coast you will find villas of different styles and sizes. In some areas of Spain, properties with a sea view are still expensive, despite the fall in property prices. Apartments that are closed for up to five months of the year are aired and thrown open to the wind and the sun most weekends around Easter time, and are fully occupied as summer approaches. These properties are often let out to tourists to help pay the maintenance costs or mortgage. However, you should be aware that owners are now required to apply for a licence to let their property and these are not always approved. Get your lawyer to check with the local town hall what their policy is towards letting to tourists.

If you are retired and buying a Spanish property, you should think about what facilities you want close by. It’s all very well buying a villa on a cliff with a wonderful view, but it is likely that such a property will have numerous steps and will be some distance from the nearest shop, so you will have to get the car out every time you need something. The same applies to holiday apartments in small coastal bays, where most shops close for the winter months. The larger coastal resorts stay open 12 months of the year.

More resources
Not everyone, though, is seeking a beachcomber’s life. Many are attracted to the pretty inland towns and villages, surrounded by vineyards and steeped in history. Again, there are urbanisations in the country areas, but also typical village houses. Village properties are cheaper than in the big towns – unless it is especially popular with expats – but they will most likely need some, if not total, renovation, and the running and maintenance costs may be quite high.

It’s not uncommon for older expats who have villas or apartments right on the coast to sell and move into their nearest town to be closer to the amenities they need, not to mention the bars (no more taxis home). These Spanish properties are now being bought by younger Brits and Europeans, ready and able to take on a second home away. In fact, statistics show a definite shift towards properties very close to shops and markets, where there are good communications to the rest of Europe and the UK.

Finally, let’s not forget the mountainous regions of Spain, some of which offer skiing and winter sports, or hiking and other outdoor pursuits in the summer months. The mountain ranges of the Pyrenees, the Cordillera Cantabrica, Sistema Central, Sierra Morena, and the Cordillera Subbetica all offer attractive properties, many with an income. Homes in the better-known and smarter resorts are inevitably more expensive, but there are numerous little towns and villages offering good value for money.

Spain has a wonderful choice of locations and property types, so you should be able to find the home that’s just right for you and your family. It’s just a question of writing down what you need, how close you want to be to a town or shops, whether you want to drive or not, and how much the overheads will be. Happy house hunting!

Richard Way is the Editor of The Overseas Guides Company, 0207 898 0549.

XCom Global brings you international wireless access at affordable costs

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Have you returned from a trip overseas to find your mobile phone bill hit with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dollars of data coverage and roaming fees? This has become a common occurrence with the prolific use of smartphones and the other portable technology we need to take care of business on the road.

Within each country, we have found ways to offer internet access in a relatively affordable way. However, the international community does little to accommodate those who travel outside their country. Carriers apply fees to those who roam outside their network – and at the rate we now consume data, those fees add up quickly.

XCom Global offers a simple solution that can potentially save you thousands of dollars each year: a wireless data
rental service

Rent and roam
XCom Global offers a simple solution that can potentially save you thousands of dollars each year: a wireless data rental service. You rent equipment and unlimited data access without any long-term contracts. Travellers can take advantage of XCom Global’s pre-negotiated rates and arrange for data connectivity at a fixed rate before they set out on their trip – saving time and money.

Renting is easy. Travellers fill out the online order form, providing their itinerary. XCom Global recommends the best plan for their trip. The rental device is shipped out, arriving the day before the traveller’s departure. A FedEx return slip is included in the package. When the traveller returns home, they pop the rental device in an envelope and ship it back to XCom Global.

The best solution
Although there are other solutions that travellers have explored, each has its limitations and is typically more expensive once you’ve factored in realistic data usage and productivity. Flat-fee international plans, available from most carriers, cap data usage at a few hundred megabytes per day. So, even if you remember to sign up for an international plan before you leave, you may still return to hefty overage charges. You are forced to monitor your usage and many are shocked at how soon they use their allotment. Read the fine print on plans such as T-Mobile’s that include free international data – this is only for 2G connections. You could be waiting a whole day for an email to load.

Hotel wi-fi is often more expensive than an XCom Global rental. Since you are sharing your connection with other hotel guests, speeds are unimpressive at peak times. You are also tethered to your hotel room for data access. Free hotspots (in coffee shops, hotels, airports, etc) should be accessed with caution. Hackers target these connections. XCom Global’s hotspots are secured with WPA2 and VPN pass-through via IPsec.

Purchasing a local SIM for your phone can be trickier than it sounds. Your phone may not be compatible with the foreign network and may operate on slower legacy networks. XCom Global’s equipment is certified to operate on the in-country network, and takes advantage of the latest technologies, such as LTE in select countries.

For those who want fixed-price, high-speed, secure connections for all of their wi-fi-enabled devices (you can connect up to 10 on one XCom Global Mobile Hotspot rental), XCom Global is the best solution. The company offers worldwide coverage (in over 175 countries) and access to 24-hour customer support no matter where you are in the world. And for convenience, it can’t be beaten. XCom Global Mobile Hotspots are portable, easy to use, and are ready to go as soon as you arrive at your destination. Be a hero – add an XCom Global rental to every international itinerary.

Where are Wimbledon stars buying property abroad?

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

It’s not just tennis players who should be inspired by Wimbledon champions – anyone searching for a second home, in the UK or abroad, could start by seeing where the heroes of SW19’s Centre Court have splashed their cash on property.

Both the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles Champions, Djokovic and Kvitova, respectively, received prize money of £1.76m at Wimbledon this year. And how many of us would love to go property hunting with a budget like that?

We can’t all afford our own hotel, but the price of investing in a fraction of a hotel or share of a hotel room can as little as £20,000 or less

It’s easy to see how the world’s leading tennis players can afford to snap up a few homes around the world. So where do you think today’s racket-wielding stars have made property investments or choose to reside? Let’s take a look at four men’s Wimbledon champions and some more affordable options that would suit more average budgets.

Novak Djokovic is from Serbia, but these days lives in an apartment in the tax-friendly, millionaire playground of Monte Carlo, Monaco. He wakes up to views of the Mediterranean and has the exclusive Monte Carlo Country Club a short lob away.
Hop back over the border into France though, and prices plummet while the sweet Mediterranean views remain. Centrally located apartments in the sweet resort of Menton, a few kilometres east of Monaco, are available from circa £300,000.

Elsewhere, a few months before becoming the first British person to win Wimbledon in 77 years, Andy Murray acquired a country hotel three miles from his hometown of Dunblane. Reopening in Spring 2014, Cromlix is set in 34 acres of woodlands and garden grounds, with its own chapel and house loch. It boasts a Chez Roux restaurant, five suites and ten bedrooms, gate lodge accommodation, two drawing rooms, a reception hall, conservatory, dining room, and snooker and meeting rooms.

We can’t all afford our own hotel, but the price of investing in a fraction of a hotel or share of a hotel room can as little as £20,000 or less, depending on the size of the share. These types of investment often come with guaranteed returns and a buy-back option.

Runner-up this year, but seven-times previous winner, Roger Federer has a collection of boutique homes that includes a large ski property in the eastern Swiss canton of Graubünden. The property, which he had built, is in the charming resort of Valbella, near the town of Chur, and comprises two linked luxury chalets. Roger also has an apartment in Dubai.

For a ski pad, the French Alps has more choice of affordable properties than Switzerland, where districts typically have quotas controlling foreign ownership in resorts. France also offers the option to purchase through a leaseback scheme, which means guaranteed rental return each year and VAT exemption of new-build at the time of completion.

And let’s not forget Rafael Nadal. Born and raised in Mallorca, where the legendary Boris Becker also has a property, Rafa seems nowhere more at home than on the popular Balearic island. His family still resides in the inland town of Manacor, but Rafa has his own villa 10 minutes away in the pretty beach resort of Porto Cristo. To really escape, the tennis star also owns a villa in an exclusive resort in the Dominican Republic.

If you’re priced out of the Dominican Republic or Porto Cristo, for a good choice of quality apartments available for less than £150,000 head to Cala d’Or, just down Mallorca’s coast from Porto Cristo.

Richard Way is the Editor of The Overseas Guides Company, 0207 898 0549.

South San Francisco Conference Centre accommodates and delivers

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Nestled in the Biotech Bay region, the South San Francisco Conference Centre boasts a great location, green credentials and the best business technology. You’ll find everything necessary for a successful meeting or conference, and incomparable local knowledge from the centre’s staff. For the third year in a row it is Business Destinations’ Best Meetings and Conference Centre, North America.

Perfect location
A little north of San Francisco International Airport and 15 minutes from both downtown San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the South San Francisco Conference Centre is perfectly placed for business. Guests are also treated to complimentary parking and a free shuttle service to and from the South San Francisco Bart station and CalTrain station on weekdays.

The South San Francisco Conference Centre offers highly competitive rates for top-quality service in a venue designed exclusively to host meetings and events

The 3,000 guest rooms at the motels and hotels surrounding the centre are perfect for those coming from beyond California, and staff are happy to help coordinate group bookings. Attentive event coordinators also assist with crucial conference details – from set-ups and technical services to customised requests. The South San Francisco Conference Centre offers highly competitive rates for top-quality service in a venue designed exclusively to host meetings and events.

With Napa Valley, Monterey and other northern Californian attractions within driving distance and the centre of San Francisco 15 minutes away, visitors have plenty to do in their downtime. The city is famed for its inclusivity, diversity and culture. World-class shopping, sports, arts, theatres, botanical gardens, multicultural neighbourhoods, as well as the amazing dining scene of San Francisco, complete the experience.

San Francisco’s culinary offerings are wide-ranging and impressive. With a keen awareness of the reputation that precedes it, the South San Francisco Conference Centre pays special attention to its own catering options. All foods are prepared on site, allowing the venue to present guests with the freshest, highest quality, organic food. Conference planners choose from many menus for every meal, including break services and hors d’oeuvres for more casual occasions.

Green credentials
In November 2011, the South San Francisco Convention Centre became the first business in the region to earn the Bay Area Green Business Certification. The conference centre has always incorporated sound environmental practice. Previously a warehouse, then a photo-processing lab, the building had become an empty eyesore at one of the major entryways to San Francisco. This building was repurposed as a gleaming conference facility and opened to its first clients in 1993.

The South San Francisco Conference Centre has continued its commitment to being environmentally friendly. Such dedication has steadily gained in popularity among meeting planners, allowing the venue to pursue its goals with the support of clients. The 2011 certification is a qualified way to let everyone know exactly what has been done to earn its environmental credentials.

Technological edge
South San Francisco Conference Centre provides an extraordinary diversity of space, filled with essential technologies for a successful meeting or conference. An impressive 20,500sq ft of flexible meeting space is available, including a dramatic, glass-encased atrium lobby, providing a beautiful pre-function space flooded with light. A further 3,600sq ft of pre-function space wraps around the ballroom. The Grand Ballroom can be divided into as many as 10 meeting rooms, while the Baden Room can be halved or expanded with the addition of the Oyster Point Room.

All meeting rooms are sound-insulated with no visual obstructions. Meeting and event planners can take advantage of a private event office. Vehicles can even enter the ballroom, creating the potential for motor shows and other corporate displays.

The facility features wireless access throughout. The South San Francisco Conference Centre’s fibre-optic connectivity supports the most demanding wired or wireless internet service requirements clients may have. Telephone and data connections extend to any location and the in-house technical staff is on hand.

Projection Presentation Technology has been the preferred in-house audio-visual provider for the centre since it opened. Audio systems for single speakers, panels, musicians, videos and teleconferencing are all available, as well as atmospheric staging and professional theatrical lighting. With the help of them and other departments South San Francisco Conference Centre has won Meeting News’ Planners’ Choice Award and Successful Meetings’ Pinnacle Award 12 years in a row.

Africa has world’s most expensive cities, claims survey

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

African cities have become some of the most expensive places to relocate to, according to a survey by Mercer. The international expat data provider attributed surging living costs in the continent to political instability, currency fluctuations and rising inflation. Having covered 211 cities across five continents, typical high rankers such as New York, Beijing and Munich aren’t even in the top 10 of the world’s most expensive cities.

The international expat data provider attributed surging living costs in the continent to political instability, currency fluctuations and rising inflation

1. The world’s most expensive city to live in for expatriates, Luanda in Angola, is not the typical wealthy city, but nonetheless very costly for newcomers. According to Mercer’s 2014 Cost of Living Survey, Luanda tops the rankings because of particularly high living costs and prices of goods for expatriate employees wishing to live in a safe and accessible area. Other issues include travel costs and expenses related to permits and taxes issued by the Angolan government.

2. Also surprisingly, N’Djamena in Chad ranks as the second most expensive city to live in as currency fluctuations, political instability and the impact of inflation on goods and services has sent the cost of living skyrocketing in recent years. Transportation takes up a particularly large chunk of an expat’s budget in N’Djamena, and basic things such as toilet paper and haircuts are typically 250-300 percent more expensive than in European cities such as Madrid and Paris.

3. Expat hub Hong Kong ranks third, having jumped three places since last year. This Asian city has extremely high rents and with a lack of housing, demand continues to push prices upwards. In addition, the Hong Kong dollar remains strong in comparison to other Asian economies, such as Japan, where the yen has dropped significantly and seen cost of living in Tokyo go down as a result.

4. Singapore, which is quickly becoming the preferred destination for expatriates and multinationals, is the fourth most expensive city in the world. Here, the cost of expat programmes have surged as efforts to retain talented employees in a competitive market have pushed firms to offer better compensation packages. This has in turn boosted cost of living and sent the prices of services up.

5. In fifth place is the only European city in the top five – Zurich. Switzerland’s largest city is dominated by rental properties and there’s stiff competition for a small amount of available homes. Most households spend almost a third of their income on monthly rent, and utilities are an additional 10 percent. What’s more, high costs related to compulsory private healthcare have helped the city jump three spots since last year, as it has become increasingly expensive for multinationals to relocate employees to Zurich. Surprisingly, supposedly expensive European cities like London and Moscow came in 12th and ninth, after the Russian ruble depreciated significantly in recent months.

12 business leadership lessons from the pharaohs

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

The Great Pyramid at Giza, built for King Khufu in 2589 BC, is the only survivor of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’, and the largest pyramid built by any of the Egyptian pharaohs.

80 other similar monuments still stand today – a testament to the ambition of the pharaohs and the dedication and work ethic of the people of ancient Egypt.

It can be comforting to know that little has changed in over four thousand years

What lessons can modern-day business leaders learn from the pharaohs of the past? A lot more than you may think.

There are many parallels to the pyramid-building journey of the pharaohs and the equivalent faced by leaders in business today, such as:

1. Both journeys involve the initial development of a vision by a single person. The Pharaoh’s desire was to build a monument that could transfer him to the New World. The wish of the leader today is to build a growing, successful and sustainable business.

2. Leadership plays a critical role in the development, support to and realisation of any vision, whether you are a pharaoh or chief executive.

3. A great vision has a great purpose attached to it, making it easier to enlist the support of others. Pharaohs understood this. Forward-thinking leaders recognise this too. Purpose is a major contributing factor when enlisting talent on any organisation’s journey.

4. Leading people into the unknown is often an unexpected similarity on each journey. Egyptian people were asked to take a leap of faith and trust the leader (the Pharaoh) and his officials on the journey. Employees in most businesses today are similarly asked to trust the leader, many of whom may have little experience and knowledge in the unique area of growing and developing a business.

5. Pharaohs faced the same people-performance challenges as modern-day leaders – from resignation to recruitment, cynicism to optimism, complacency to commitment. It can be comforting to know that little has changed in over four thousand years.

6. Leadership and management are two different and important journey disciplines. Very few Pharaohs were natural-born ‘people managers’ and they left this important task to other high officials. Many of the most successful senior leaders in organisations today readily admit that they do not possess the management skills required to get the best out of others.

7. Building the pyramid could take up to 20 years to complete. Most business journeys enjoy similar timescales. The landscape and the workforce constantly changes. Learning how to navigate the correct path and keep people on track was an important leadership discipline in ancient Egypt. Navigating the landscape is regarded nowadays as the core skill requirement of the 21st century leader.

8. In ancient times, navigating the changing landscape required the need for an agile workforce. Modern-day leaders also understand the need for agility to help them to respond quickly to any issues and events which may affect the performance of their business.

9. Culture plays an important part in delivering success. Innovation, attention to detail, financial control, teamwork and other high-performance behaviours are evident on both journeys.

10. The Pharaoh’s biggest fear – an unfinished pyramid – resulted in a few sleepless nights. Speed of thought and high energy levels amongst the workforce were important to delivering performance on a daily basis. To remain competitive, modern-day leaders also understand the need for urgency, accelerated growth and performance momentum on their journey.

11. Complacency is a common fear of both sets of leaders particularly when progress on the journey is good. New ways of working and the setting of higher standards are needed to sustain operational efficiency.

12. Ownership is the ‘holy grail’ on the journey – the ultimate cultural prize demanded of the Pharaoh. Business leaders also recognise that without personal accountability linked to each individual’s role in the workplace, success is impossible to achieve. Importantly, collective ownership contributes towards the creation of an agile, successful and sustainable organisation.

Finally it’s worth noting that great pharaohs created memorable journeys. They inspired others to buy-in to their vision, believe in the possible, embark on the journey and deliver success for the kingdom.

Many great leaders – the modern-day business pharaohs – such as Richard Branson, Warren Buffett, James Dyson, Bill Gates, Marissa Mayer and Sheryl Sandberg possess the same inspirational qualities.

They recognise that ‘everyone dreams of being part of something special’ and that by using the powerful experience of the journey, performance momentum can be maintained resulting in the delivery of their vision.

Adventure, purpose, challenge and a sense of belonging are strong and effective drivers of people performance on the journey.

Great journeys also live long in the memory of those who participate in them.

Just ask any Pharaoh.

Best wishes on your journey, wherever it may take you.

John Stein is the founder of the winning (formula) and the author of the new leadership book Building the Pyramid.

Silversea cruises sets the standard for corporate and incentive travel

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Silversea cruises, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, continues to see increased demand for European groups and charters. Having set the standard in corporate and incentive travel, Silversea has been named Business Destinations’ Best MICE Cruise Company, Europe, 2014. Silversea will bring about a number of new opportunities in 2015 for companies looking to incentivise employees, show customer appreciation, stage conferences, hold consumer endorsement events or product rollouts, as well as hosting influential international clients.

Silversea is already receiving booking requests for 2016, 2017 and beyond

Silversea is already receiving booking requests for 2016, 2017 and beyond, with many companies eager to guarantee cruise space for a spectacular event, and set their budgets around this. Most corporate and incentives cruising programmes run for seven days, but to keep up with demand, Silversea offers a number of short charter options lasting three or four nights.

The Caribbean and Mediterranean are always popular destinations, but more unusual locations can also be visited. Silversea added Silver Galapagos to its fleet of ships in 2013, and this year introduced Silver Discoverer. This new ship can accommodate up to 120 guests and explores the Far East and warmer climes such as Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. The ship even has its own glass-bottom boat, allowing exploration of exotic underwater ecosystems.

Full deck charter
Silversea offers the option to charter entire decks across the fleet. This will assure total exclusivity in a secure and confidential environment, while also allowing guests and organisers to enjoy the full facilities of the luxury cruise.

Maarten Tromp, Silversea Director of Corporate and Incentive Sales, explains: “We often get requests for groups that are looking for ‘something exclusive’, but the group being too small for full charter. By taking over a deck exclusively, there is a high degree of personalisation possible while still having access to the full array of ship facilities.”

Silversea offers a number of ways to customise the experience on board, including an abundance of thoughtful options and luxurious amenities – from Bvlgari toiletries and personalised stationery, to a bar filled with the group’s favourite wines and spirits.

Short cruises
Silversea’s fleet of luxury ships normally sail for a minimum of seven nights. However, to accommodate a greater range of schedules, Silversea has designed a variety of shorter voyage itineraries for partners who prefer to put on events of three to five nights. These short segments include: suite accommodations, each with ocean views and a personal butler; top-shelf wines and spirits; gourmet dining; port charges; gratuities already included; all meals, including in-suite breakfasts and a poolside grill; and meeting space together with audiovisual equipment.

With Silversea’s all-inclusive packages, there are no unpleasant surprises and no hassle, allowing bookers to budget with confidence and ease. Ranging from four to seven days, these shorter cruises are the ideal length to accommodate any event.

The Silver WInd vista suite
Luxury afforded: a glimpse into Silversea’s Silver WInd vista suite

“In recent years we have seen an increased trend for shorter cruises within the leisure sector and conference organisers have also recognised the value that these shorter cruises can offer. Silversea cruises between four and seven days can often work out very cost-effective, as food and facilities are included in the overall price,” said Maarten Tromp. “We have seen a higher demand for these from the sector and as a result have introduced some fantastic shorter itineraries for 2015.”

Better than a resort
With a total of eight ships covering seven continents, the options for your event are endless. Whether you are looking for a more traditional type of cruise or the thrill of expedition, you won’t fail to find your perfect trip.

Expeditions allow you to take guests to isolated waters where you can spot rare whales and schools of dolphins, or venture onto land and search for wild orangutans and the remnants of Stone Age societies. And when you return to the ship, luxury awaits. Organisers can also select from a range of food and wine cruises, transforming their guests into culinary connoisseurs or budding sommeliers.

Over the last 20 years, the European market has proven to be one of the most successful in corporate and incentives bookings for Silversea. The all-inclusive package has been a consistent draw for clients, offering a fixed cost, which covers everything from meals, drinks, use of audiovisual and meeting materials, and conference facilities. All of this, matched with the excitement of exploring destinations inaccessible to larger ships, landmark ports and smaller, less-visited harbours, often in the heart of a city, is the advantage of a small cruise in a big world.

Each Silversea ship features a choice of lounges and conference rooms, with complimentary audiovisual equipment, wi-fi access throughout the whole vessel, mail and shipping services, mobile phone and wireless data services as well as a direct dial telephone service. Every ship houses the necessary ingredients for an impressive and spectacular event, providing everything the modern businessperson needs to keep on working, or totally relax.

Sample-of-short-cruises

For further information tel +44 (0)207 340 0729, or email maartent@silversea.com