Quote of the Week
Benefits cheat Sylvia Rogers claimed £28,000 from the state which, by shrewd investment and careful husbandry she turned into a very comfortable £60,000. She showed up in court this week, provocatively wearing novelty socks with "Show Me the Money" on them, and received a six-month suspended sentence. She should also be fast-tracked on to a women-only shortlist for a safe seat. With such an eye for financial detail, Mrs Rogers, from Wythenshawe, Manchester, would be at home in the Palace of Westminster.
The Daily Telegraph, 7 April 2009
 Person of the Week
Peter Long, Chief Executive, TUI
This week Peter was awarded the equivalent of an OBE by the Spanish government in recognition of his "extraordinary work" in supporting Spain as a tourist destination.
Long will be presented with the Cross of The Order of Isabella the Catholic, at a ceremony at the Spanish Embassy in London on 28 May.
(Reference: www.e-tid.com)
Facts of the week
Whitbread urges civil servants to switch to budget business hotels
- Research finds that switching all public sector hotel stays to Premier Inn could save taxpayer more than £20 million.
- Parliamentary questions tabled by Mark Hoban MP in November 2008 revealed that more than £43 million each year is spent by government departments on overnight hotel stays.
- Analysis by Whitbread has now shown that the potential savings if Ministers and civil servants switched to Premier Inn savings could amount up to £40 per night, or up to £24 million in total each year.
- Patrick Dempsey, Managing Director of Premier Inn, said: "We look forward to working with government as it looks for more efficient ways to spend taxpayers' money in these difficult economic times."
http://www.northwestconservatives.com/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=106
The state, and the future, of the UK hospitality industry
Key points from Bob Cotton, Chief Executive, British Hospitality Association, keynote speech
- Over the past five years there has been, on average, £5 billion investment per year in the hotel industry - about 200 hotels per year.
- Evidence indicates that we have reached the bottom of the current economic cycle, which it is believed was in February and early March.
- There has been a complete collapse of the international corporate market, and it will change fundamentally – people will travel less.
- UK domestic corporate travel is very tight and price driven, but holding up OK.
- UK leisure markets are holding up reasonably well, as people are staying in the UK as opposed to travelling abroad.
- The weak pound story is a "political red herring" - international travel is not being greatly impacted by this trend, though 'near Europe' countries are still visiting on a largely short-stay basis.
- There is a distinct stay at home trend.
- Never underestimate that government expenditure will be coming to an end, not just the education sector but also in health, transport and, above all, local authorities. Local authorities have a bigger influence on the industry than any other sector, and tourism is typically the first thing to be cut.
Sheffield Hallam University, Centre for International Management Research Conference
7 April 2009
Are we better off forgoing our daily coffee to put towards our retirement? Or is the regular espresso fix a way of life? One finance company suggested that the average 30-something could add £3,843 per year to their retirement pot by saving this expense.
 FM 2015
Think Tank Event
13 May 2009
The Hague University
This global think tank event is an opportunity for the FM and contracting
markets to engage in thought-provoking discussion about the future of the
industry.
Check out the EP website to find out more about the programme and speakers, and to register your place. |
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