Visitors to Athens Greece will soon have to add one more destination to their must-see list: The Ellinikon which, among other things, will be home to Europe’s largest coastal park, virtually doubling the amount of greenspace in Athens. Greece is a nation festooned with monumental sights and ancient classics so it’s hard to imagine anything new in this bastion of antiquities, but Ellinikon will have plenty of new to offer visitors. In addition to a 500-acre coastal park, the development will be joined by a beachfront Mandarin Oriental hotel, 50-story residential tower, two shopping malls, a sports complex, casino, and a marina designed to accommodate mega-yachts. Just 25 minutes from the Athens airport and only 20 minutes from the Acropolis and the center of Athens, the Ellinikon’s reinvention of the Greek coastline promises to be transformational to the Riviera and to Athens.
Visa Delays Will Cost the U.S. $12 Billion in Lost Spending in 2023
04.10.2023 - 09:59 / skift.com / United Airlines / Geoff Freeman / Edward Russell / Rashaad Jorden / Fred Dixon
Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, October 4. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
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The U.S. tourism industry has made progress in its recovery from the pandemic, but two major issues are hurting its ability to attract international travelers. What are they? Long wait times for visitor visas and outdated air infrastructure, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.
Executives speaking at the recent Skift Global Forum said the U.S. is facing fierce competition from overseas destinations that have improved their tourism infrastructure. NYC Tourism+Conventions CEO Fred Dixon highlighted Saudi Arabia as one destination his city is competing against for tourists.
In addition, U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman said long visa wait times in some top markets will cost the U.S. $12 billion in traveler spending. Freeman added those long waits don’t make the U.S. a welcoming environment. In addition, Freeman described air travel to the U.S. as a hassle as roughly 23% of all U.S. flights are delayed or canceled.
Next, Air France-KLM will take a minority stake in bankrupt Scandinavian carrier SAS as part of a nearly $1.2 billion deal unveiled Tuesday, reports Edward Russell, editor of Skift publication Airline Weekly.
Air France-KLM will invest $145 million for almost 20% stake in SAS as part of an investor consortium that includes the Danish government. SAS will join the SkyTeam Alliance with Air France and KLM as part of the Chapter 11 restructuring deal. Russell writes the deal is the latest in a wave of European airline consolidation that includes the Lufthansa Group’s pending acquisition of Italy’s ITA Airways.
Russell adds Air France-KLM would see its share in Scandinavia, an area long seen as Lufthansa’s backyard, increase.
Finally, United Airlines has placed an order for 110 Airbus and Boeing planes amid ongoing constraints limiting flight schedules, reports Airline Weekly Editor Russell.
United said on Tuesday that the 110 planes will be delivered between 2028 and 2031. Russell writes the orders are driven partly by United’s need to replace older jets by the end of decade. The carrier is looking to grow at the capacity-constrained airports around the world. Russell adds United’s latest order will enable it to add seats to its existing schedules at, among other airports, Newark and San Francisco.
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Accor to Sell More Than $2 Billion in Hotel Assets: Report
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Royal Jordanian, Wizz Air Weigh Costs of Israel-Hamas War
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Eidfjord: Your Gateway To The Breathtaking Beauty Of Fjord Norway
With change coming to tourism in the Norwegian fjords, Eidfjord is one destination that’s set to benefit. The small town is ideally placed to be a base for travelers exploring some of Norway’s scenic fjords, mountainous national parks, and powerful waterfalls.
MGM CEO Expects 4 UAE Casinos Will Be Allowed
The CEO of MGM Resorts has shared his expectation that the UAE could greenlight up to four casinos, including one in his own development: The MGM in Dubai. Bill Hornbuckle said at the Global Gaming Conference in Las Vegas this week that MGM is building a “podium and pedestal” that “could house a casino,” on the island in Dubai.
The Luxury of Time With AmaWaterways’ Grand River Cruises
Longer vacations are trending within the travel industry, not only offering your clients unforgettable getaways to their dream destinations, but also presenting you with an opportunity to increase your commissions. In response to increasing consumer demand for longer vacations, AmaWaterways has introduced a collection of specially curated 14-night Grand River Cruises.
The Best Points and Miles Travel Deals in October 2023
It’s never too soon to start making those holiday travel plans or even decide on a winter vacation to escape the cold. If you’ve been saving up points and miles to make the trip easier, now is the time to put them to work for you.
On Board a Vintage Boat, Matthew Rhys Shows New Yorkers Their City from the Water
As a flock of noisy jet skiers circle the Statue of Liberty on a warm October evening, Matthew Rhys looks out at the horizon. “There’s a Welsh word, hiraeth, which is loosely translated to ‘a longing for home,’" he says. “But it's something slightly more than that. It's a longing for something that can never be again.”
MGM Resorts cyberattack sparked customer data breach, cost the company $100 million
Regulatory filings and a letter from MGM Resorts CEO William Hornbuckle Wednesday claim a recent cyberattack entailed both a leak of customer data as well as a hefty financial hit to the company.
This new vessel will share the title of 'world's largest cruise ship'
And then there were two. Royal Caribbean announced Thursday the name and launch date for the next largest cruise ship in the world — a sister ship to 2024's Icon of the Seas.