News Update: Airline Security Tightens Overseas, Expedia Acquires Wotif Group and Tourists are Bound for Norway

Airline Security Tightens on Overseas Flights to U.S.

USA Today - July 7, 2014

© Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

The Department of Homeland Security officials announced that security would tighten at airports where flights head directly to the U.S. The Transportation Security Administration said that as part of routine screenings at the overseas airports, officers may ask owners to turn on devices including cellphones. If those devices are dead or cannot turn on, they won't be permitted on the flight. The change is part of an attempt to anticipate the next attack. This comes as violence in Iraq and threats from al-Qaeda have become more of a concern.

MyTake: This is just another precaution taken by our country to avoid future terrorist attacks. Even though the additional security can be irritating, there hasn't been much criticism to it. I think most people are accustomed to these extra safety measures, and most people are happy to oblige in return for a sense of security. Just make sure you have your devices charged fully when you get to the airport.

U.S. Vacation Timeshare Industry has Banner Year in 2013

Hospitality Net - July 7, 2014

A new study found that the U.S. timeshare industry enjoyed significant growth in 2013. The study, conducted by Ernst & Young and commissioned by the American Resort Development Association, found that sales volume increased nearly 11% compared to 2012, average sales price rose 9% and there were 29% more resorts planned for the upcoming year. Occupancy remained steady around 76%. 

MyTake: The numbers don't lie, timeshare growth has made a comeback. The incremental growth has been going on for a while now, due mostly to more people renting out their properties, and travelers eager to have a different housing experience when they're on vacation. Hotels are no longer the first choice when booking accommodations, especially with websites like Airbnb and HomeAway offering great properties for a reasonable rate. Although timeshares may not be the most prevalent properties on those websites, it's clear that the success of the platforms is having a positive effect on the timeshare industry.

Expedia Acquires Australia's Wotif Group

Skift - July 6, 2014

Expedia Inc. agreed to acquire Australia's Wotif Group for $658 million, marking another major merger/acquisition in the online travel market. Wotif owns brands in the Asia-Pacific region like Lastminute.com.au, Travel.com.au, LateStays.com and GoDo.com.au, among others. The purchase allows Expedia to expand it's presence in that region of the world.

MyTake: Online travel companies are trying to bulk up their offerings, especially in international markets, as more and more people are eager to take long trips to exotic locations. Expedia's acquisition will help it expand in the Asia-Pacific region and help it grow it's global hotel business. This move comes after Expedia announced its acquisition of a small European car rental site Auto Escape Group. It will also help Expedia compete against Priceline Group, which just acquired restaurant-reservation site OpenTable in June. I expect we'll see a few more mergers/acquisitions in the online travel market as companies continue to add more platforms and give consumers more choices when it comes to travel.

Tourists Are Bound for Norway, Thanks to Disney

Travel Weekly - July 6, 2014

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Disney's animated film Frozen has experienced overwhelming success since it's release, creating a huge fan base of people eager to travel to the country that inspired the film: Norway. The country has experienced a major surge in visitors. Tour operators have reported anywhere between 20% and 40% increases in sales to Norway for 2014, and total arrivals from New York to Oslo in the first quarter of 2014 were up 57% from the year before. While the movie certainly got people excited about the country, Norway also played it's own role. It partnered with Disney to launch a global campaign to raise awareness about the destination. 

MyTake: It's pretty typical for a destination to take advantage of the popularity of a show or movie in order to attract travelers. Norway was incredibly smart to partner with Disney, a global powerhouse that is known in households all over the world. The success of the movie has not only prompted tour operators and the country of Norway to offer special packages, but Disney's own tour brand created an eight-day Norway itinerary to meet demand. The high level of tourists most likely has to do with the fact that the movie has garnered a very large youth fan base, and children play a big factor in trip planning. If they want to go see where Anna and Elsa live, then their parents will make every attempt to get them there.

Lights in the Sky

The Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, is nature's impressive light show that dances through the night sky in a number of the world's northern most regions. Most of us have heard about the magical colors that blend and shimmer so seamlessly its as if they are being controlled by some master digital artist. And when you think about it, they are, Mother Nature herself, the most skilled artist ever--in my opinion. And while most of us have heard of the Northern Lights and seen pictures, few have had the privilege of seeing them in person.

Source: online.wsj.com via Vanessa on Pinterest

I usually don't give much thought to the Northern Lights, I just view them as one of nature's mystical wonders meant  to be admired. However, when I was out to dinner with my friend B last night, she spoke so enthusiastically about wanting to go see them. She was adament about booking a flight anywhere that she could see them--Finland, Norway, Sweden, though Alaska seemed like the easiest and most economical option. When I asked what was so great about it, she simply replied, "I've always wanted go!" It doesn't hurt that this year, the Northern Lights are expected to be especially vivid thanks to increased solar activity. Now through the end of March is the best time to see the lights, according to experts, which only adds to her eagerness to get out of the city. Much to her chagrin, her job as an accountant makes it near impossible for her to go anywhere before April--thank you, busy season.

But for those of you who actually can make it up north to see the show, it certainly is a spectacular site.

Break for a science lesson:

An aurora is a natural light display that occurs at high latitude regions, caused by energetic charged particles colliding with atoms in the thermosphere. The charged particles are generated in the magnetosphere and are directed by the Earth's magnetic field, drawing them into the atmosphere. Most aurorae occur in the auroral zone. There are a couple kinds of aurora: the diffuse and the discrete. Diffuse are featureless, usually a glow in the sky that is barely visible. Discrete are sharply defined and are usually only seen in the night sky. These are the ones that show the magnetic field lines or curtain-like structures, and can change within seconds or remain unchanged for hours.

Obviously, there is a lot more advanced science behind this, but that's the basic overview. All you really need to know is that these particles provide us with a stunning light show that eclipses anything we could create through technology.

So, where can you go to see the Northern Lights?

Some of the best places to go are in Scandinavia. 

Norway: The lights can be seen from all over the country, but the best place is above the Arctic Circle in the northern region. The belt hits the Lofoten Islands in the north and follows the coast up to the North Cape, so anywhere along this strip is prime for viewing.

And while you're waiting for the lights--since there is no guarantee of when they will appear--it's a good idea to take part in some kind of activity or tour. Hurtigruten is a cruise company that offers six- to 12-day sailings along the coast. Guests can relax on the deck, or in their spacious cabins, enjoying great Scandinavian food and champagne. Each room has an aurora borealis alarm clock to notify passengers when the lights appear.

If you prefer to stay on dry land, why not try a snowmobiling or dog sledding excursion. There are plenty of guided tour operators for both, so just select one and get going!

Source: online.wsj.com via Vanessa on Pinterest

Finland: Even though the aurora borealis is elusive sometime, it is visible about 200 nights a year in Finland. For unhindered views of the lights, while staying warm, check out the Hotel Kakslauttanen's Igloo Village. It features 20 glass igloos with thermal panes, so you stay nice and toasty as you gaze at one of nature's true wonders. It is a little pricey, $220 per person per night, but the experience is definitely worth it. Another service from the hotel is a panorama bus.

For something a little closer to home, Alaska is a great option.

Most of the time, the ribbons of light are visible as far south as Juneau, but become more vibrant the further north you travel. Anchorage, the epicenter of Alaska, has some decent views, and there are tons of activities, attractions and entertainment to enjoy during the day.

Continuing north, Talkeetna is a tiny town of about 850 people situated in the foothills of the Alaska Range. It's mostly a summer tourist spot, but locals will head to this quirky town in the off season to enjoy the lights.

Fairbanks, known as the "Golden Heart City," provides some of the most phenomenal views of the aurora borealis. It's proximity to the active area over the arctic and its long winter nights give guests a clear view of the nights sky. The city welcomes guests with open arms, providing tours, hotel deals and special events for the light show. The city has heated "aurorium" cabins where people can comfortable see the lights. If the cold doesn't scare you, why not take part in an overnight sled dog trip?

The more I write about this natural phenomena, the more I want to go see it myself. Unfortunately, I'm a little late in getting my plans in order, and I don't think I'd be able to pull off a last minute trip north. But I strongly urge anyone who can make it up there to drop what they're doing and go!