Rafat Ali

Articles posted by Rafat Ali

19 Jun 2013

  • ChinaOB Daily: Hotels prepare for Chinese visitors, worldwide

    Destinations

    Editor’s note: We’ve recently started a new daily roundup of news affecting outbound business, for countries trying to attract Chinese travelers. Follow all news from ChinaOB Daily, here. Newest hotel amenity: In-room rice cooker?: Many Ritz-Carlton, InterContinental and Marriott locations have expanded their menus to include congee — a Chinese rice porridge dish — and dim sum on [...]

  • China’s new G2 generation will change global tourism once again

    Destinations

    These G2 consumers today are typically teenagers and people in their early 20s, born after the mid-1980s and raised in a period of relative abundance….They are confident, independent minded, and determined to display that independence through their consumption. Most of them are the only children in their families because when they were born, the government [...]

  • Behold the most earnest travel press release of 2013: Swaziland Tourism

    Destinations

    We came across this press release from Swaziland Tourism Authority today that we thought had fooled for a second, until we realized it was real. It wasn’t a joke, and it wasn’t a parody either, just pure earnestness and eagerness, most of which got lost in translation. Being the smallest country in Africa, it has to project [...]

  • Four key trends on Chinese tourists visiting Europe this summer

    Destinations

    With summer season kicking in, prestige European brands are closely watching Chinese tourists and monitoring spending patterns for signs of continued growth. Here are four key summer travel trends to watch out for: Chinese tourists are seeking new destinations and branching out from the usual big cities and the novice-level “must-sees” in a harried ten-day, [...]

  • The top innovators shaping the future of the events industry in U.S.

    Destinations

    These are the people—marketers, fund-raisers, designers, producers, and other professionals—that, with new ideas and smart strategies, are setting the standard for events and meetings today. On our list of innovative people this year are folks from all over North America, including an Ohio-based executive with a mission to turn passive museum-going experiences into theatrical live [...]

18 Jun 2013

  • Nairobi trying to shed “Nairobbery” image, starts walking tours

    Destinations

    The nickname “Nairobbery” does little to help the image of Kenya’s unruly capital. That could be changing. The region is witnessing rising visitor numbers…driven heavily by the increased spending power and travel habits of Africa’s growing middle class. On May 26, Nairobi visitors enjoyed the city’s first historical walking tours. Two-hour trips now pass by the [...]

  • The next wave of Royal Baby travel souvenirs to hit the market soon

    Destinations

    From Union Jack booties to “Born to Rule” sleepwear, the British royal family has joined retailers in offering baby products to mark the arrival of the royal heir. Analysts estimate the baby fever could boost the economy by 240 million pounds ($380 million). A baby sleepsuit modeled on a guardsman’s outfit is one of the [...]

  • ChinaOB Daily: London, Ireland, UK, South Africa, Korea

    Destinations

    Editor’s note: We’ve recently started a new daily roundup of news affecting outbound business, for countries trying to attract Chinese travelers. Follow all news from ChinaOB Daily, here. How London can attract more Chinese visitors: ”For the UK, I’ve long argued that the focus should be squarely on high net worth individuals and small groups of discerning tourists. It [...]

  • Here’s one way to lure Chinese visitors: Build a replica of Forbidden City

    Destinations

    Australia’s coastal Wyong region outside Sydney, a pretty stretch of pristine beaches and wildlife-filled wetlands, isn’t high on the travel agenda of most Chinese tourists. But the local mayor and a Chinese businessman have big plans to change that – by building a A$500 million ($480 million) theme park that will include a full-size replica [...]

17 Jun 2013

  • Naspers may buy India’s RedBus booking service for $140 million

    Digital

    Naspers, the South African media and internet conglomerate which has a global portfolio of digital acquisitions, is now close to another one: it is buying India’s biggest bus booking service RedBus.in, for a reported price of between $100 million to $140 million, according to two reports in Economic Times and NextBigWhat. The talks are still in advanced [...]