Mountain professionals courting singles

Collaboration between resorts and club meetings, specialized agencies, speed dating on chairlift: the mountain professionals do not lack imagination to combine skiing and dating soulmate.


Wide open spaces, clean air, sport and a little cold to encourage closer: the cocktail seems more conducive to meetings. This is certainly rely on this element that many mountain tourism stakeholders to attract singles crowns. It must be said that the statistics estimate that population to 18 million people in France. Latest ones, and Meetic Belambra just announced their partnership to offer to the souls of lonely snow stays. An almost natural alliance between the giant online dating clubs and the great banner of resorts.

For this first collaboration, a single week is planned on one site: from 17 to 24 January at the club Belambra Arc 2000. On the program: skiing, of course, but also dance classes, a workshop to learn how to concoct cocktails, games evenings teams not to mention dancing or singing evenings. Rather enticing, even if the solos do not necessarily appreciate the supplements that apply for single occupancy of a room (699 euros against 566 euros for two).
Co-skiing through the Internet

Moreover, specialized agencies have not waited for this initiative to target that audience. Among them, Celibacy snow exclusively offers stays for winter sports. For an annual membership of 50 euros, members can access particular stays for singles, divorced and solos. And this time, no supplement for single room occupancy.

And for those who prefer to improvise once there, the stations no shortage of proposals. A pioneer in the field, the resort of Orres (Hautes-Alpes) launched since 2007 a weekend with singles speed dating on chairlift. A formula widely adopted by many mountain villages from the inevitable speed dating on Valentine's Day, which tends to become a classic embellished with variations such as the Snow dating Valmorel (several activities offered to unmarried) and even skiing dating near Bordeaux, in one of the only french indoor ski centers.

And now, with the rise of social networking, the co-skiing is in vogue. It is this time to find partners online, often on the station's website, only to find themselves on the slopes. An initiative that Carroz (Haute Savoie) disclaim all shades this winter, between ability to share its ski days, courtyards, meals or leisure activities such as walks with sled dogs. As for the 3 Vallées (Savoy), they also highlight the practice on their website including Les Menuires who have a specific meeting point for co-skiers.

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North Korea launches a website dedicated to tourism

North Korea has launched a website exclusively designed to allow tourists to calmly prepare a unique stay in the most closed countries.
For the fans. North Korea has decided to open if not, at least be interested in foreign avid original tourist experience. According to South Korean news agency Youhap the country, led an iron fist by Kim Jong-un, now has a new information site for tourists who wish to venture in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) DPRKtoday.com. The entry into the country is only possible at only way to tour and approved by the government.

Although the site is written only in Korean, a quick glance allows the user to browse articles with pictures and video clips touting the customs and greatest cultural assets of the country: athletic prowess, huge achitecture , museums, water parks or arcades are highlighted in a false cheerfulness atmosphere. The shots in bright, cheerful colors that honor surreal landscapes to Disneyland-like instantly recall that traveling by totalitarian regime.

Hosted in China like the official propaganda agency Uriminzokkiri countries, the website also seems to be itself an intrinsic propaganda tool in the service of power. For information alongside the "tourist", are also found content praising the policy of Kim Jong-un, says The Guardian, which also points out that the site is careful to report a recent demonstration in Pyongyang on a reporting UN denouncing the situation of human rights in the country. Regimented, tens of thousands of Korean Norths had indeed gathered in November in Pyongyang to protest against the UN resolution condemning violations of human rights in the country. North Korean media claim that the website was created to "satisfy the growing interest and expectation" on the nation.

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The Marmara Hotels resume clubs colors

Slowing it a few years ago, the brand Marmara standard of the hotel club cheap French, upslope. In the program, the renovated site, more focused on Europe and new concepts.
After chained poorest seasons, Marmara is optimistic about the current year and renews 30% of its offer for the summer. The chain had hitherto been hit hard by the collapse in sales in Tunisia and Morocco, especially as some of its facilities were aging and is increasingly easy to make your own trip flight + hotel online. "Our strategy Marmara beginning to bear fruit, says Pascal de Izaguirre, CEO of TUI France which also includes brands Nouvelles Frontières Aventuria Passion and the Islands. We focus on Europe and the Mediterranean, while improving the consistency of our clubs. "

Echoing these statements, TUI France which has just published its results has reduced its operating loss by 40% over 2013-2014. Certainly, the group still loses 37 million euros in its tour operator activities, but he sees a return "almost in equilibrium" by the end of the current fiscal year before being profitable in 2015- 2016. It must be remembered that after historic losses in 2010-2011, TUI France launched an initial plan for 550 jobs and a second involving over 300, which ends.

To avoid that the concept of resort hotel takes getting old, the hotel park Marmara has been renewed and is now focusing on the 80% 4M and 5M classification, the highest tour operator. But no question of looking sidewise rates Club Med, customers are particularly fussy about the offers available and the price / quality ratio. And to maintain contact with a young, the tour operator placing on the digital and stands as the tour leader on social networks. It is true that already generates 28% of its sales online and is 34% next year and that the group gives a TripAdvisor goal scoring (4 points out of 5) for all its clubs even if it does is not reached everywhere.
Nearly 25% of customers in Spain

In terms of innovation, alongside the Marmara clubs hosting a 100% French clientele, the tour operator increases its offer "concepts clubs" developed by its British-German parent company TUI Travel and open to international tourists. This summer, 25 of these clubs will be in the catalog, including 12 Splashworld those that attract the most French families because they are built around a water park while Magic Life aims sports lovers and couples is for couples as its name suggests.

Destinations hand, Spain already weighed 20% of customers in 2014, "will further strengthen in 2015" while Greece is also progressing to become the second point of the tour operator fall. As for distant destinations (Mauritius, Senegal, Dominican Republic ...), they were closed, with the exception of Guadeloupe. And on starting points, Marmara tour operator plans to strengthen its status serving regions with 68% of departures are out of Paris and the mark will this summer 200 flights per week from 12 French cities.

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Disney and Center Parcs launched Villages Nature

It took over ten years to get this project up, but Villages Nature is now on track. This

entertainment resort and accommodation designed by a company jointly owned by Disneyland and Pierre & Vacances Center Parcs should be operational by the end of 2016. As Center Parcs faces a tough opposition on its draft Roybon (Isère), the latter should experience a more peaceful future, supported by a broad coalition of elected officials, with the notable exception of environmentalists. Moreover, the project is expected to create 1,600 direct jobs between 2016 and 2018, not counting the indirect jobs and labor on construction sites.

The Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, must ask this Thursday afternoon the first stone of the site which should count in its initial phase 783 apartments and cottages as well as extensive leisure facilities for a total investment of 360 million euros. But overall, as its success could count up to 2300 or more than 5000 long-term accommodation. The concept that installs in Paris on 260 hectares suggests rather strongly Center Parcs. It will include a vast water point, accommodation, restaurants, a petting zoo, walking trails ... and the inevitable bubble 11,500 m2 housing the water park.
Neither Safari nor Normandie

But its proponents highlight the differences that should make it a unique place. The clinching argument is in double digits, its location: located mainly in the municipality of Bailly-Romainvilliers (Seine-et-Marne), the complex will be located 32 km from Paris and 6 km from Disneyland Paris. To improve its service, bus shuttles will be implemented from Chessy RER station and a freeway on ramp 4. A So many amenities publicly funded. Furthermore, the project is based on an ecological approach, relying in particular on geothermal energy to heat all year round outdoor lagoon at 30 ° C. Contrary to Center Parcs, it will propose next individual cottages, apartments (with hanging gardens) on buildings with two or three floors. However, the rates should be 15% higher than the average for that Center Parcs practice.

"As Center Parcs offers a rather spontaneous nature, working with teams allowed Disney staged stronger and sophisticated of this nature," says Dominique Cocquet, CEO of Nature's Villages. The hero of the site shall remain the nature, no way to evoke the Disney characters. "I like to summarize our concept by the formula: or safari or Normandy," says Dominique Cocquet. In the end, not exotic but not of "country" setting in the program. A choice that fears the project detractors interpretation of nature's fashionable Dubai.

As for the real estate financing mode, it also differs from what was recently Center Parcs. While the latter site, that of Vienna, was widely purchased by institutional investors, 783 units were funded by Eurosic (up to 50%), Pierre & Vacances (37.5%) and Euro Disney (12 5%) before being sold to individuals. This formula is used to start the work regardless of the state of sales.

"To date, we have achieved 247 sales turnover including tax of € 90 million," says Gerard Bremond, president and founder of Pierre & Vacances Center Parcs. A situation in line with expectations, with the purposes of resale fully completed late 2016. With an average sale price including VAT of almost 360,000 euros now, Gerard Bremond no secret that he hope the tax exemption device Censi-Bouvard, used in tourism real estate, will be extended beyond its expected term end of 2016. "Laurent Fabius is very involved in tourism and has ambitious goals, he says, facetious. As I think consistency between objectives and means implemented, I hope that there will be measures to ensure sustainable tourism accommodation capacity up to scratch. "

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This winter, the Alps will be too expensive for many Russians

VIDEO - With the collapse of the ruble, the cost of skiing holidays abroad will increase and part of Russian clients will give up. The decline could exceed 10%.
More than the political crisis is the decline in the Russian currency which should prevent some of these customers to taste this year at skiing in France. According to the body for promoting France Montagnes, attendance of Russian customers (nearly 80,000 people last year) and Ukrainian expected to fall 10% this winter. Although with the current exchange rates of currencies, a French residence now costs 20% more expensive for Russians and the bill was up more than 50% for a Ukrainian.

"It is sure that with the crisis in Russia is growing, the forecasts made it a few weeks ago are not intended to improve, admits Michel Giraudy, president of Mountain France and Mayor of Bourg-Saint-Maurice . But we must put this in perspective. This customer has made significant progress but it still weighs only 4-5% of our foreign customers. "A customer who however more than average spending, although it has expanded in recent years to the upper middle class. "These Russian defections should be compensated by additional British arrivals that could reach 10%," says Michel Giraudy. The neighbors across the Channel, the first foreign customer skiing in turn enjoy this year of a more favorable exchange rate could boost their attendance.
Direct Reservations

"It is very difficult to predict with Russian clients, for its part considers Eric Bonnel, director of Val Thorens Tours, which leads promoting its station particularly in European markets. Their history, Russians are accustomed to these sudden changes and often decide at the last minute. "According to him, the difficulties of the tower which several Russian operators went bankrupt and government incentives, particularly for public servants, to spend their holidays in Russia are real. They could boost attendance at local resorts like Sochi. He notes however that Val Thorens, which receives nearly 10,000 Russians per season, the trend is stable for now with rise of direct bookings and expects many last minute decisions.

"Now, this Russian customer can get by in English and approach us directly," says Eric Marulla-Monn at La Bergerie in Morzine (Haute Savoie). In this 4-star thirty rooms, Russian clients could double this year. "Our customers are wealthy families, not millionaires who appreciate the value and proximity to Geneva airport," he said, just play to its strengths in front of Courchevel or Val d'Isère who long monopolized these customers.
Decline in Austria and Italy

According to Eric Bonnel, the period from late December to mid-January, the Orthodox feasts and holidays, is expected to remain favorable. It must be said that this is the one that attracts the most affluent customers. Less affluent Russians who avoid the "high season" to get the best rates, may, themselves, to cancel their projects and could miss the call to complete the season. "Fortunately, the Russians are still very attached to France and its way of life, says Eric Bonnel. Austria and Italy, which have tried to attract these customers with low prices, are likely to be more affected than us by the decline. "

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No memories for visitors to the Eiffel Tower

Employees gift shops of the most famous monuments in France are on strike to demand an increase in their salary.

 

Those visiting the Eiffel Tower were deprived of memories today, due to a strike by employees of the famous building shops for their salaries, do we learned from the CGT. Rémi Picaud, union representative, announced this evening that the strike is renewed tomorrow because of the refusal of the management of SCSC, which manages new souvenir outlets and Relay subsidiary of the group to participate in the negotiations. The strike would continue until their demands are heard. The company would also, he said, sent a bailiff, reinforcing the dissatisfaction of employees.
80% of the striking employees

"80% of employees of the SCSC Eiffel Tower on strike" and "all of the company gift shop located in the Eiffel Tower are now closed," said the CGT trade in a statement. According to Rémi Picaud, shops employ fifty employees in shifts and today there were "11 of 13 strikers," they occupy the shops.

"These employees have a variable part, a completely random bonus because every time a goal is set and this object is then modified so that employees can not reach, so they are paid the minimum wage and they are sick" explained the union.

While "saying it would be the panacea to work on Sundays," he said, these employees are "a good example of people working at night, seven days a week including Sunday and with no additional compensation and do not volunteer. "

According to the CGT, employees are demanding "an immediate, all for 300 euros," even though "everything is negotiable".

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The France leverages its regions to get tourists to Paris

IN PICTURES - The country hosts every year nearly 85 million international visitors, most of which focus on the capital and "two or three regions." The "Destination contracts", launched by the government to promote certain territories, hoping to change all that.
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"France is in tourism much like a gifted student who did not give his full measure," said Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, on 16 December, by officially launching the 'contracts destination "whose principle was announced at the end of tourism Assizes in June. The idea? Pull out a little Paris the millions of international visitors who come each year in France but focus on the capital and "two or three regions."

The purpose of these contracts destination is to create a "brand" around a territory by bringing government and private stakeholders in tourism (hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc ...) around a given theme, as oenology in Bordeaux, the mountains to the Alps, the castles of the Loire in the Loire Valley. This mark should give visibility to the international regions, "as one speaks of a trademark," said the Minister.
Cap on 100 million visitors

     Tourists come here, but do not stay long enough, so do not spend enough
     Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development

Four cases had been withheld since last summer: Tarn-et-Garonne, Alsace, the Great War and in memory of Normandy tourism. To this list, add now 11 territories which are the Alpes, Auvergne, the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, Biarritz, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Lyon, the Vosges, Jura and Normandy and the Ile-de-France. The chosen themes revolve around the mountain, wellness, gastronomy, oenology, the castles of the Loire or of Impressionism. Other files will be selected by March 2015.

Last year, France hosted 84.7 million international tourists. "Tourists come to us, but did not stay long enough, so do not spend enough," lamented Laurent Fabius. He stressed that the Spaniards welcomed 25% of tourists less than the French, but they earned 25% more. The Minister is the 100 million visitors to an indeterminate horizon. "France is rich in its diversity. Still need to make these destinations, promote them effectively, making them accessible to French and foreign tourists, "he insisted. Each selected area will receive from the State a grant of 75,000 euros over three years, half of which was to be paid "before Christmas", 30% in 2015 and 20% in 2016.

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