WAV Travel News - Friday Editon
Bill Vervaeke, CDME
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 795-5912 (Office & Facsimile)
(561) 318-9089 (Cellular)
WAV: I am pleased to lead with this story and wish Bruce great success.
UNITED CARIBBEAN LINES GRANTED FERRY LICENSE TO CUBA
United Caribbean Lines (“UCL”) is pleased to announce its selection today for a license to operate ferry services between the US and Cuba by the U. S. Department of the Treasury.
Commenting on the license, Alexander P. Panagopulos, Chairman of UCL said: “I am thrilled that United Caribbean Lines is going to participate in this historic event. We are honored to have been selected by the US government and feel privileged to be amongst the very first to serve Cuba and the US and to reunite its proud peoples with a service that will only bring immediate prosperity to Cuba, Florida and the region. United Caribbean Lines aims to bring only the highest quality services and become the first choice in sea travel and transportation. Our target is to always deliver more than we promise.”
Mr. Bruce Nierenberg, President of UCL, added that United Caribbean Lines plans call for ferry services from several of the main ports in Florida such as Miami, Tampa, Port Everglades, and Key West.
The trips to Cuba from Florida will be on modern overnight ferry vessels designed for international service.
United Caribbean Lines shall operate its daily passenger ferry service within the guidelines of the current US regulations for all travel to Cuba.
Final sailing schedules, first voyage dates, and ship details will be issued after completing arrangements also with Cuban authorities.
Expect cruise prices to rise, says Norwegian CEO
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said the pace of booking for 2016 bodes well for rising prices.
In a conference call to discuss first-quarter earnings, Del Rio said the load factor at the Norwegian Cruise Line brand for next year is double what it was for 2015 at the same point last year.
For all of the company’s brands, which include Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, 2016 bookings are 39% ahead of a year ago.
“What is going to happen next is you’re going to see prices steadily increasing as a result of those load factors,” Del Rio said.
Del Rio also said that Norwegian Escape, set for debut in November, is “booked 10 times better” than Norwegian Getaway prior to deliver at the same point.
Del Rio disclosed that there’s been a 6.7% average increase in beverage prices implemented without much push-back. He said the reaction to a $7.95 room service convenience fee tested on Norwegian Breakaway encouraged Norwegian to introduce the fee fleetwide on May 1.
Asked about the decision by Princess Cruises to put a new ship in China, Del Rio said there’s so much focus on China that it makes him wonder what other opportunities are being overlooked. “It’s incredible to see our competition devoting their newest, largest and probably best-performing ships to the Chinese market,” he said.
Del Rio said a task force studying the Chinese market would report by year’s end, setting the stage for a decision by Norwegian whether to expand there.
Acquisition expense drives loss at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings reported a $21.5 million loss for the first quarter, driven primarily by “transaction- and integration-related costs” of its acquisition of Prestige Cruise Holdings.
In the 2014 first quarter, before the $3.03 billion purchase of Prestige (parent of Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises) Norwegian had net income of $51.7 million.
Revenue for this year's first quarter was $938.2 million, up from $664 million prior to the merger.
Norwegian said operating income in the quarter was $60.3 million, down from $73.1 million a year earlier.
After excluding a slew of merger-related expenses, Norwegian reported adjusted net income of $62.6 million in the 2015 first quarter, up from $49.5 million a year earlier.
Norwegian raised the level of synergies it expects from the merger to $75 million in 2015, including $30 million in revenue synergies and $45 million in cost synergies. Previously, it said synergies would total $40 million. Of the total, Norwegian said it will reinvest $20 million, yielding net synergies of $55 million for 2015.
It said it expects merger synergies to amount to $115 million in 2016.
Gardens council: We oppose All Aboard Florida
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Saying “there is no benefit to Palm Beach Gardens,” the City Council unanimously voted Thursday to oppose All Aboard Florida.
“We are only a transit stop for the train going from point A to point B,” said council member Marcie Tinsley.
All Aboard Florida plans 32 passenger trains a day between Miami and Orlando on the Florida East Coast Railway tracks, with stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The Miami-to-West Palm Beach service is expected to begin in late 2016, with the Orlando leg starting in 2017.
AAF officials have countered that the project will create jobs, boost tax revenue to local communities and reduce traffic on Florida roadways. AAF officials say they will make improvements to the rail bridge that will make the span safer.
Ali Soule, AAF public affairs manager, defended the project on Thursday, saying AAF is committed to safety.
“We are about moving people, not hazardous material,” Soule said.
The council agreed to send a letter to the state opposing the issuing of $1.75 billion in tax-exempt bonds. The council also passed a resolution to oppose AAF.
While Gardens is only one city opposing the statewide project, the city’s opposition is significant, said Mike Ferdinandi, a Gardens resident.
“The opposition is getting louder across the state. If more cities do the same, state officials will listen,” he said.
Train opponents from Frenchman’s Creek and other north county communities have gathered at recent meetings of the Jupiter and Tequesta municipal councils and Palm Beach County Commission. They want the government boards to draft letters to oppose the railway.
“The noise, freight and vibration will physically affect our health and our homes and diminish our property values,” said Jane Feinstein, chairwoman of Frenchman’s Creek’s External Affairs Committee.
Ideas to boost safety and lessen the impact of AAF are being considered.
One is requiring AAF to overhaul bridges to make them raise and lower more efficiently. All Aboard Florida plans call for upgrades and a double track on the Loxahatchee River bridge to allow two trains to pass at the same time.
Also, the Jupiter Inlet District last month presented a plan to increase the 4-foot clearance below the river bridge so that 89 percent of boats could pass under when the 90-year-old bridge is lowered for trains to go over the span.
Another proposal calls for requiring a bridgetender to be at the spans at the Loxahatchee River, the New River bridge in Fort Lauderdale and the St. Lucie bridge.
“We are all about building a safe and convenient commuter rail system,” Soule said.
The 20 Craziest Requests Travel Agents Received This Year
Part and parcel of any agent’s job, at least in theory, is to make good on clients’ requests in the hopes of fashioning idyllic travel experiences for them.
That, however, is not always possible, particularly when the requests are impossible to fulfill. What, for instance, is an agent to do when a client expresses a desire to meet Elvis? Or inquires about alternatives to air and sea transportation to Europe?
Well, for starters, if the travel advisors are ASTA members, they share those requests with the Society, which, in turn, compiles the 20 Top Strangest Requests list as way in which to commemorate National Travel and Tourism Week, which runs through the rest of this week, and May 6 Travel Agent Day.
“When planning your trip, travel agents know what consumers often don’t know to ask,” said Zane Kerby, ASTA president and CEO. “But according to this poll of ASTA professionals, agents also sometimes have to save their clients from questions they DO ask. It’s clear from the list of ‘strangest requests’ that some travelers need a little more hand holding than others,” he said.
While it is arguably the policy of most agents to respect their clients’ privacy, agents clearly found these 20 requests too entertaining not to share.
The Full List:
1. Can you please book the honeymoon suite for us and another couple?
2. Can you please plan a honeymoon for me, my bride and my mother?
3. Can you guarantee that no pet has ever been in the hotel room?
4. Can I fish off of the cruise ship?
5. Do they speak English in Britain?
6. Can you book two rooms in different parts of the resort—one for me and my wife, and the other for my girlfriend?
7. Is our relationship like a client/lawyer relationship? (ASTA wonders if this is the same client who asked Question 6).
8. Does the crew actually sleep onboard the cruise ship?
9. Don’t tell my fiancé this is where I took my first wife for our honeymoon.
10. I would like to go somewhere where there are NOT a lot of men.
11. I’d like to meet Elvis.
12. I’d like to get married in the Caribbean on an island where the marriage is not legal in the U.S. (Again, we refer you to Question 6).
13. Will there be shadows on my face at 4 p.m. when the pictures are taken?
14. Will you watch my pet while I’m away?
15. Are there toll roads on the way to Hawaii?
16. How can I get to Europe without going by air or sea?
17. I’d like to visit Scotland and Denmark on the same trip. (Agent then tells client he does not have time in his schedule to travel the distance). But they’re only an inch apart on the map!
18. Can you set it up so that the whales jump in the background at the same time I’m proposing to my girlfriend?
19. Can you ask the airline to block the seat next to me so I can stretch out?
20. I don’t want a window seat on the plane because I just had my hair done.
Baha Mar Resort Opening Delay Extends To At Least September
It’s another month, another delay for the $3.5 billion Baha Mar mega-resort project. The websites for the Nassau, Bahamas property’s four hotels are not accepting reservations before September, and company officials have not provided a confirmed opening date for the vast property.
The earliest date available for room reservations is Sept. 8 according to the websites of the 1,000-room Baha Mar Casino & Hotel, the 300-room SLS Lux at Baha Mar, the 200-room Rosewood at Baha Mar, and the 707-room Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar.
The date is months beyond the most recent opening schedule provided by Baha Mar officials, who in April said the flagship Baha Mar Casino & Hotel would open in May, with all rooms in all of the resort’s four hotels completed later in June.
In addition, Baha Mar’s Facebook page is peppered with posts from consumers who are concerned about summer bookings that now appear to be invalid.
“When is the resort opening?” asks Kelly Collins in a May 7 post. “I am booked to arrive July 13th and have non-refundable airline tickets for my family. This will really ruin our summer vacation. No one at Baha Mar is giving us any reassurance!” The Baha Mar Facebook page’s administrators asked Collins to message them directly “so we can reach out to you in person to talk about your upcoming stay.”
Other posts complain that the prospective guests have received emails telling them their late June reservations have been canceled. Lindsey Wessel Mericle says that with a notice of cancellation of her June 27 stay, Baha Mar “offered to put us up in a hotel ‘comparable to our Baha Mar rate’ and two free nights in the future OR pay for our airline fees and two free nights in the future.”
A Baha Mar spokesperson contacted by TravelPulse.com declined to comment on the most recent delays. “I have no information I can provide you at this moment,” the spokesperson said.
The Baha Mar project has been plagued by delays. At the project’s launch in 2011, company officials said the resort would open in December 2014. Since then, Baha Mar officials have announced at least three subsequent launch dates.
Other problems have emerged in the meantime. In April Sarkis Izmirlian, Baha Mar’s chairman, complained that “a less-than-ideal business climate” in the Bahamas had caused many of the project’s delays.
In local media reports Izmirlian said factors ranging from costly and unreliable electrical power to government-run education and training programs that were “promised but have not been provided,” had hampered the project.
Izmirlian has also run into difficulties with its partner in the project, China’s state-run Export-Import Bank and the contractor, the China State Construction Engineering Corp., at one point claiming the contractor “has not completed the work with an attention to detail consistent with Baha Mar standards of excellence.”
There has also been a dispute over land use with officials at SuperClubs, who own land on Cable Beach that is designated to be included in the project. In addition, Baha Mar officials have dealt with labor disputes at the project’s fifth hotel and lone pre-existing property, the Melia Nassau Beach, which remains open as it completes its renovations. The 694-room hotel is scheduled to reopen as the Melia at Baha Mar early next year.
United Airlines Attempts to Have In-Flight Wi-Fi Class Action Suit Dismissed
United Airlines Inc. filed a motion late last week in an effort to have a recent class action lawsuit brought against the major U.S. airline earlier this year dismissed.
According to Karina Basso of TopClassActions.com, United claims the suit — which alleges the company tricks travelers into "buying in-flight DirecTV and Wi-Fi services that are inoperable during international flights" — is based on a false premise.
United defended itself by pointing out that it makes it clear to passengers that the services are only available within the continental U.S., according to the motion filed on May 1.
"Those [Wi-Fi service] offers, which control over Plaintiff’s inconsistent allegations, demonstrate that Plaintiff’s claims are fatally deficient and must be dismissed. Specifically, United tells its on-board passengers before they confirm their purchase that 'Live DIRECTV programming is not available while the aircraft is outside of the continental United States' and that 'Wi-Fi service is available over the continental U.S.' Plaintiff cannot avoid dismissal of her claims by failing to attach or quote in full these dispositive documents," states the motion, which was filed in New Jersey federal court.
United also believes its protected by the Airline Deregulation Act, legislation that bans state law claims over a particular airline's rates, routes, and other services.
The class action suit was originally brought against United back in March when Plaintiff Cary M. David said she paid for a DirecTV service during a flight from Puerto Rico to New Jersey only to have access for roughly 10 minutes.
The suit alleges the following, per Basso:
"United sells these services to passengers on the flights and fails to disclose that the services will not work as advertised when the aircraft is outside the continental United States or is over water. It is not until they have crossed U.S. borders or are over water, with no service, that customers learn that their DirecTV and/or Wi-Fi service will not work for all or part of the flight."
David alleges the company attempts to purposefully deceive international fliers and is looking for an injunction that would prevent United from engaging in the alleged wrongdoing on top of compensatory and treble damages.
New Malaysia Air CEO vows turnaround for battered airline
In memo to staff, new Malaysia Airlines CEO says finances worse, airline to shrink to survive
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- The new CEO of Malaysia Airlines said its financial situation is more challenging than anticipated and it will shrink in size as it tries to overcome a tarnished image with the travel industry and the public.
Malaysia Airlines was battered last year by double jet disasters. Its government owner has brought in a new CEO, former Aer Lingus chief Christoph Mueller, to oversee a 6 billion ringgit ($1.7 billion) turnaround.
In a memo dated Tuesday, Mueller thanked Malaysia Airlines staff for a warm welcome since he started work at the airline on May 1 but also noted parts of the organization seemed "depressed" and customers say service is deteriorating.
Malaysia Airlines, Mueller said, is "suffering badly from a heavily damaged brand reputation" in key markets with many people avoiding the carrier because "they are frightened."
The carrier is moving ahead with a previously announced overhaul that will involve cutting its staff by 6,000 or about 30 percent.
"Since the new airline will be smaller in size, we simply have not enough work for all of you," Mueller said.
The airline had a good safety and service record before last year's disasters but the tragedies, and the airline's handling of the first one in particular, hurt its brand. A Malaysia Airlines jet with 239 people on board went missing March 8 last year while en route to Beijing and no trace of it has been found. In July, a Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.
Mueller said the airline will soon mail out termination letters and new job offer letters to those who will remain in the airline. That approach is being taken because staff requested privacy in the handling of employment matters, he said.
The CEO's memo was shown to reporters on Friday by the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia, which protested the termination exercise by mail as "obnoxious and arrogant."
It said its 3,500 members were now stressed and worried. The union has written to Prime Minister Najib Razak, asking him to intervene and urging the airline to offer short and medium-term layoffs as well as salary cuts before a final termination exercise is carried out.
Mueller comes to the Malaysian job from a stint reviving Ireland's Aer Lingus. He'll be the first foreigner to head the Malaysian state-owned company. Analysts say he's an industry veteran "battle-hardened" from his work carrying out corporate restructurings at other state-owned airlines, including failed Belgian carrier Sabena.
He was dubbed "The Terminator" in Ireland because his German accent made for easy comparisons to Arnold Schwarzenegger in assassin robot mode as he outlined his plans to remorselessly fix Aer Lingus.
Mueller said in the memo that the airline's new business plan will focus on cutting overall costs, which are up to 20 percent higher than its competitors, and withdrawing from markets where it cannot be competitive.
"Sometimes you have to retreat and regroup before growing again. And that is the ultimate target. We want to grow again in the last phase of restructuring," he said.
Mueller said he envisioned a new airline that is "safe, on-time and friendly" that will be the new pride of Malaysia. He said endurance and faith are needed for the turnaround program that will take three to five years.
"It is my duty to tell you today that the medicine is bitter and that the fitness program which is required to bring us back into shape will cause a lot of sweat and sometimes tears. But it will be rewarding in the end."
Subtropical Storm Ana threatens Carolinas
Subtropical Storm Ana, the first named storm of the 2015 hurricane season, formed overnight off the coast of the Carolinas, the National Hurricane Center said.
As of 5:00 a.m. ET, the storm had sustained winds of 45 mph and was located about 160 miles south-southeast of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The storm will bring rain, wind and rough surf to the Southeast coast through the weekend, AccuWeather predicted.
It's forecast to hit South Carolina on Sunday.
A subtropical storm is a "hybrid" storm, one that has ingredients of both a tropical storm and a regular storm.
English Airline Passenger Banned for Life After Indecent Exposure Incident
England’s low-cost Jet2.com airlines has made a huge statement to a passenger who indecently exposed himself on a flight to Spain by banning him for life from any of the company’s airplanes, setting the precedent for similar situations in the future.
According to the Lincolnshire Echo, a 22-year-old man from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, reportedly exposed himself to flight attendants during a flight from East Midlands Airport in Leicestershire to Majorca, Spain.
The man was on vacation with his friends and the plane was full of other passengers when the alleged incident took place.
After the plane landed at its destination, the incident was reported to the authorities and charges could eventually be brought against the passenger for indecent exposure. Regardless of how the police handle the situation, Jet2.com did not allow the passenger on the return flight to England and has officially banned him from flying with the company ever again.
Jet2.com CEO Steve Heapy released a statement to the media about the incident and how his company is outraged:
“We carry millions of families every year so this disgusting behavior will not be tolerated. It is totally unacceptable. We pride ourselves on giving our customers a friendly and relaxing flight experience so we will take action against anyone who causes offence and disruption to our crew and passengers.”
There have also been several other incidents involving indecent exposure on planes in England recently. One of the most recent came at the end of March, when a 46-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly being drunk on an aircraft after she indecently exposed herself.
Airbnb Member Banned from Site for Kicking Out Gay Couple
According to Foti Kallergis of ABC13.com, Airbnb was forced to ban one of its users from the site after it was reported that she discovered it was a gay couple that rented her home and decided to kick them out.
The renter, Jonathan Wang, booked the Galveston, Texas, home for two-nights at around $140 per night. After Wang and his partner unpacked their belongings and got ready for the wedding they were in town to attend, they left for the reception.
When the two men returned to the rental property, Wang was confronted by the home owner. He described the conversation to Kallergis, saying, “Heather asked me, where my wife was. Who is this person? I said it was my significant other Brent. She said I thought you were bringing a wife. I said I didn't say that specifically. I said is that going to be OK? She said it's not.”
After packing their belongings, Wang and his partner were forced to leave the house immediately without another place to stay. They attempted to book a new room for the night, but the majority of hotels in the area were booked for the weekend.
Wang was eventually able to call a friend to get a room for the night.
In the homeowner’s description, the ad for the property read “straight friendly,” something Wang did not take notice of until he was confronted by the owner. When ABC13.com reached out to Airbnb, the company gave the following response:
“We have a zero tolerance policy for discrimination on Airbnb. The host in question has been removed from the site. Airbnb has clear guidelines that a host or a guest may not promote hate or bigotry.”
Airbnb also issued Wang a refund and paid for the room he was forced to book after being kicked out.
Tourists Break Historic Statue in Italy While Trying to Take Selfie
Taking selfies has become a phenomenon amongst younger travelers, but two tourists in Italy took it too far when they broke a piece off a historic statue while climbing it in order to take the perfect picture.
According to Chris Kitching of The Daily Mail, two men face criminal charges for climbing on the Statue of the Two Hercules in Cremona, Italy, and breaking off the crown that sat on top of the sculpture.
The statue is a symbol of Cremona—a city whose founding is credited to Hercules—which features the mythical character holding the emblem of Cremona. The two tourists climbed on top of the statute to take a selfie, but the weight was too much and the crown fell to the ground.
Local news outlets are reporting the authorities have two suspects in the case, and a team of experts was being brought in to determine the extent of the damage and if the statue could be repaired.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera shared an image of the damage following the incident:
The Statue of the Two Hercules was built in 1700 and was originally showcased on top of the Cremona city gates. While it found itself throughout the city since it was completed, the sculpture now resides in its current location of Loggia dei Militi palace.
Unfortunately for Italians and history buffs, a recent string of bad decisions from tourists has caused damage to several priceless artifacts and structures.
From travelers snapping the fingers off statues to carving their names in the Coliseum, the Italian government is dealing with visitors behaving badly. For the record, taking a selfie is not worth ruining a priceless artifact. Ever.
Proposed Reno-London flights grounded by Fed red tape
Reno airport's highly anticipated nonstop transatlantic service from London has hit the buffer even before it got off the ground.
Announced in November amid much fanfare, UK carrier Thomas Cook planned seasonal services to Reno-Tahoe Airport from London , but these have now been cancelled due to border control red tape.
The problem stems from the lack of US Customs and Border Protection resources at the airport.
"It's about customer service. Our customs facility here at Reno, the staffing they have, is not going to be able to clear the Thomas Cook passengers for almost three to four hours," said Airport spokesman Brian Kulpin.
That was unacceptable to the airline. It doesn't fit their customer service model so they cancelled the flight. Obviously, we're disappointed."
Kulpin said the airport has been seeking more funding for extra customs agents to speed up passenger processing.
"Unfortunately nothing is simple when it comes to the US government and US Customs and Border Protection. To get funding for more staffing at Reno is something that has to be done through Washington D.C."
Kulpin added that it is doubly disappointing as ticket sales were going well.
"You know, they sold tickets with about half from the US. The other half came from Europeans. The flight was doing really well in terms of sales," he said.
Sun Country Airlines threatens shutdown in pilot dispute
The chairman of regional carrier Sun Country Airlines has upped the ante in the long-running labor dispute with pilots by threatening to close down the company.
In an email to unions chairman Marty Davis said the company is 'downsizing the airline, for what will need to be its ultimate shut down.'
It is the latest salvo in what has been a long drawn-out dispute lasting years.
Davis' email said the family owned airline has made its 'best and final offer ' to the 245 pilots based at its Minneapolis-St. Paul hub.
Union negotiator Capt. Brian Roseen defended the union's stance, saying Sun Country has the lowest paid B-737 pilots in the country.
"We are disappointed Mr. Davis has chosen to respond to us with the threat of a shutdown even as the Association is prepared to present its counter-proposal. "Sun Country pilots intend to show up for work tomorrow and continue to do our jobs the way we always have -- safely, professionally and courteously," Roseen said in a statement.
The pilots' union and Sun Country entered federal mediation back in May 2012 and in February pilots voted for strike action if the latest round of talks failed to reach an agreement.
Rome airport re-opens but flights still disrupted
Airlines are warning of further disruption to flights to and from Rome Fiumicino Airport today (Friday) after a fire yesterday.
Delays and some cancellations are expected as schedules are reorganised and congestion is relieved.
The airports was closed until midday Thursday after the fire, which which broke out in an underground baggage storage area in Terminal 3 shortly after midnight (10pm GMT).
Alitalia has set up two task forces in order to simplify service and to give information to passengers departing or transiting at Fiumicino.
As Terminal 3 has been condemned for airport operations, Alitalia and Etihad Airways passengers must check-in at Terminal 1 for all domestic, international and intercontinental flights.
To help passengers, yesterday Alitalia arranged some ferry flights (with only crew aboard) to short haul and long haul destinations.
Ryanair witched 12 of its services from Fiumicino to Rome's Rome Ciampino Airport yesterday and is switching more services today.
Officials described the fire as 'violent' although there were no injuries, except for three people who suffered smoke inhalation.
The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault, although an investigation continues.
Uber Joins the Bidding for Here, Nokia’s Digital Mapping Service
Uber is best known for allowing people to book a taxi through its smartphone application. But the fast-growing company has far broader ambitions.
More and more, Uber is positioning itself as a logistics company. The goal is to deliver people and things within cities as quickly as possible — relying heavily on Google’s Maps in the process.
That dependency may soon change.
Uber has submitted a bid for Here, the main competitor to Google Maps, for as much as $3 billion, according to three people with knowledge of the offer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Here is owned by Nokia, the Finnish telecom giant, which announced last month that it was considering selling the business.
The bid is competing with one in the works from a consortium of German automakers, including BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, according to two of those people. The automakers are teaming up with the Chinese search engine Baidu on the offer, the people said. A separate bid from an undisclosed private equity firm has also been submitted, and Nokia is expected to announce the sale of its mapping unit by the end of May.
Negotiations over the sale of Nokia’s mapping business are continuing and the talks still may not lead to a deal, the people cautioned. Representatives for Uber, the German automakers and Nokia declined to comment on the deal rumors.
The multibillion-dollar battle to buy Here highlights the growing importance of digital mapping services as companies connect their products to the Internet. Other tech giants, including Facebook and Microsoft, have previously shown interest in acquiring Nokia’s mapping unit.
The world’s automakers and tech giants like Google have unveiled a series of driverless car projects that rely heavily on up-to-date road data. Companies like Amazon and FedEx use mapping information to run their global logistics operations. And tech start-ups, including Uber and Airbnb, the vacation-rental website, have incorporated digital maps into the heart of their businesses.
While Google Maps has an estimated one billion mobile users, or about 10 times the amount of Here’s smartphone users, Nokia’s division dominates in automobile mapping — a field in which both Google and Apple, which has struggled with its own mapping service, have earmarked for growth.
Nokia’s mapping business holds more than an 80 percent global market share for built-in car navigation systems, and spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year to update its maps that span from New York to New Delhi. Here, which is based in Berlin, employs about 6,000 people worldwide to maintain Nokia’s digital maps and connected-car services with almost three million daily adjustments. The unit reported yearly revenue of $1.1 billion, or less than 8 percent of Nokia’s total sales in 2014, according to company records.
“It’s extraordinarily difficult to get this type of mapping data,” said Jamie Moss, an analyst at the technology research company Ovum in London. “Other than Google, Here is one of the few companies that can offer this data right now.”
Analysts said Uber’s attempt to buy Here would give it access to a fully established digital mapping business.
The mapping tool, they say, could help with services like Uber Pool, the company’s ride-sharing initiative, which uses geospatial mapping data to pair riders with drivers. To carry out such matches speedily, the company needs significant engineering power and a rich trove of mapping data, according to people with knowledge of the project.
In addition to Google’s Maps, Uber relies on data from Apple and other companies’ mapping initiatives, as well as its own online information.
Uber, whose backers include Google’s venture capital arm, has taken steps in recent months to hedge against its heavy reliance on the search giant. This year, for example, the company unveiled the Uber Advanced Technologies Center that, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, is working on mapping and autonomous vehicle technology.
And in March, Uber acquired deCarta, an almost decade-old mapping software company based in San Jose, Calif., to bolster its mapping efforts. The company also has hired a number of mapping software engineers in recent months, according to two people familiar with Uber’s hiring efforts.
The company’s plans, however, may still be outflanked by the German automakers, which also view Nokia’s mapping business as central to their future.
Mercedes and other automakers already are testing so-called autonomous vehicles that rely on Here’s technology to guide cars around city streets with limited intervention from drivers. They are reluctant to become overly dependent on Google’s Maps, which offers similar services, particularly because Google is working on autonomous vehicles of its own.
As part of its bid, the German consortium wants to give others access to Nokia’s mapping service, under a licensing agreement, so that the business can maintain its global reach and remain the primary competitor to Google Maps, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
“Mapping data is an important long-term asset for the auto industry,” said Jeremy Carlson, an analyst at IHS Automotive, in Los Angeles. “It makes sense that they would want to protect it.”
Broward celebrates record tourism, looks ahead to more growth
Following a record-breaking first quarter, Broward County's top tourism promoter urged local hospitality workers to savor their achievements and keep working toward even more milestones.
The first three months of 2015 saw an all-time high in hotel occupancy – 88.9 percent. That followed 2014's record 14.3 million visitors.
The county should surpass that by pulling in 15 million visitors for 2015, said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, at a Thursday gathering of local hospitality workers commemorating National Tourism Appreciation Week.
"2014 was great and 2015 has been spectacular so far," Grossman said as she thanked hundreds of hospitality workers gathered at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and others across the county for their roles in the destination's success.
"This is our celebration of everyone and everything that makes Greater Fort Lauderdale the tourism powerhouse that is has become."
More than 14 million people visited Broward last year and spent $11.4 billion in the destination's hotels, attractions, retail shops and restaurants, as well as other goods and services.
Broward's tourism industry employed 168,000 people in 2014, and generated a record $53 million in tourist tax revenues.
And tourism officials are confident both visitation and spending will increase in 2015.
"We're really striving hard to make 15 million visitors in 2015," Grossman told attendees. "I think we can do that. I think we can get really, really, really close to $12 billion worth of impact in the economy."
Broward led Florida in hotel occupancy during three months in 2014, including December, and for the first two months in 2015, Grossman noted.
State tourism officials at the conference lauded Broward's achievements, including 64 consecutive months of growth in hotel occupancy.
"Your success is extraordinary," said Will Seccombe, president and CEO of Visit Florida, the state's official tourism marketing organization.
Statewide tourism is also enjoying strong growth, with four consecutive years of record visitor totals.
In 2014, Florida welcomed 97.3 million visitors, an increase of 3.9 percent from 2013, according to preliminary estimates by Visit Florida.
"2015 is starting off with another really strong season," noted Seccombe. "We'll announce numbers next week, but I fully expect it will be on another record quarter and a lot of that is due to the great work that you all do."
Promotions are already under way to attract visitors to the area during the summer travel season. They include the bureau's Summer Savings 2-for-1 card offering specials at more than 70 attractions through Sept. 30. There's also the Vacation Like a VIP promotion running through Oct. 12 that offers a free room upgrade, $100 resort credit, $25 gift card and other perks to qualifying guests of at any of 10 hotels in the Lauderdale Luxe Collection.
For music lovers, the Lauderdale Live music festival returns to downtown Fort Lauderdale for the second time June 19-21, with headlining acts Phillip Phillips and O.A.R..
The National Urban League's annual conference, running July 29 to Aug. 1 at the convention center, is expected to attract 5,000 to 10,000 people, including political, civic, community and business leaders from the U.S. and Caribbean. The conference is expected to generate about $10 million in economic impact.
Looking to the future, Broward County Commissioners are also working on a master plan for a 70,000-square-feet expansion of the convention center and an addition of a 750-room hotel on site, Grossman noted. The center's expansion and new headquarters hotel would help draw more large meetings to the destination, Grossman said.
"Every inch of that space and every room in that hotel is needed for us to be able to grow our occupancy, average daily rate and visitor numbers and give the county the opportunity to meet the goals of Broward County's economic future," she added.
Passenger fell from tram at Orlando International Airport, officials say
A passenger was injured this morning after apparently falling from an elevated tram at the Orlando International Airport, officials said.
The man was one of two people on the tram, which takes airport passengers from the terminal to gates 1 through 29, when it made an emergency stop about 5:30 a.m., spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said.
The other person on the tram was an airport employee who was operating the tram in manual mode, Fennell said. That person was not injured, she said.
The passenger was taken to Florida Hospital East Orlando with unknown injuries.
It is unclear how far the man fell. The trams are elevated high enough for large vehicles to pass on roads underneath.
Fennell said airport operations have not been affected.
Orlando International has eight trams total, which take passengers from the main terminal to four airsides.
Fennell said the passenger was traveling to Airside 1.
The trams, also referred to as people-movers or shuttles, travel the 90-second, 2,000-foot one-way trek thousands of times a day, according to previous reports. Each tram can carry up to 240 passengers a piece.
Universal Parks and Resorts will create attractions based on Nintendo games
Universal Parks and Resorts will create theme-park attractions based on Nintendo video games, the companies announced this morning.
Nintendo is the creator of games such as Super Mario Bros. and Zelda. The theme-park division of NBCUniversal owns both Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood.
"Universal theme parks offer incredibly popular, innovative themed family entertainment experiences based on compelling stories and characters – using powerful storytelling and innovative technology," the companies said in a joint statement. " Nintendo has created remarkable and imaginative worlds filled with captivating stories and beloved characters. Now, for the first time, those stories and characters will be brought to life in entirely new ways – only at Universal theme parks."
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Universal has been aggressively expanding its parks. Earlier this week executives said they want to open a new attraction every year at each of its major theme parks. On Wednesday, the company unveiled details of a new King Kong attraction opening next year at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure. The company also has submitted documents to the state showing plans for a water park at Universal Orlando.
It's official! Skies on American Airlines dangerous
It's official, skies on American Airlines may be dangerous and the Airline did put profit over safety. This is according to an investigation concluded by the U.S. Deparrtment of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
On February 26 American Airlines' Senior Vice President for Technical Operations, David Seymour, responded to President Gary Peterson of The Transport Workers Union of America.
Vincent L Murrau II, Manager, Audit and Analysis Branch of the the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration answered on March 25, 2015. His letter was addressed to Le Seham, Council for The Transport Workers Union of America:
The FAA's Flight Standards Service has completed their investigation of your air carrier safety alllegation in case #EWB15504. The investigation substantiated that a violation of any order, regulations or standard of the FAA related to air carrier safety occured. Accordingly, the FAA is taking appropriate corrective and/or enforcement action. Our office will monitor these actions until complete.
Please note the FAA's disposition of safety issues outlined in your complaint is independent of any investigation the Department of Labor may be conducting into your allegations of discrimination.
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.
On April 28, 2015 Attorney Lee Seham submitted the following letter to Investigator Shawn H. Huges. of the U.S. Department of Labor:
Dear Investigator Hughes:
The Complaint's unrebutted allegations and evidence describe a management maintenance policy that amounts to this: "yes, we know that our planes are unairworthy, but if you continue to report this to us, you will all lose your jobs." Not surprisingly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has found that the degraded maintenance culture at American Airlines has resulted in a disregard of federal aviation standards.
In this context, AA's position statement of March 20, 2015, leaves us with slackened jaws. The response goes beyond evasion and deceit; if the author had signed it under oath today, she might well be subject to a charge of perjury. The truth is that AA's recent history reflects a persistent, and well documented, disregard of federal aviation standards.
On May 31, 2013, as a direct result of the carrier's systemic disregard of safe practices, a federal court ordered the adoption of a settlement agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requiring AA to engage in "remedial" training and commit to regulatory compliance. With the ink hardly dry on the FAA/AA settlement, its terms are being honored in the breach.
Five days after AA submitted its March 20*^ position statement, the FAA issued a letter stating that its own investigation of the Complainants' allegations "substantiated that a violation of an order, regulation or standard of the FAA related to air carrier safety occurred."