South Asia fuels shops boom February 15, 2012 SHOPPERS from Asia helped keep Britain’s tills ringing last year, with their spending in the UK up by 34 per cent thanks to growing demand from south eastern countries like Singapore. Chinese travellers remained the biggest drivers of growth, with spending up 64 per cent year-on-year in January, according to Global Blue, the tax-free shopping [...]
Art, history and pampering in New England’s capital February 12, 2012 Boston: the genteel city of academia, tea parties, clam chowder, Matt Damon, and for me at least, electric eels. I had come to Boston on a long weekend – a bit of sales shopping, sight-seeing and relaxing in this history-steeped city. Yet also to confirm something that had been a bit of a mystery for [...]
RENT December 15, 2011 HEAD OF RENTALS AYLESFORD INTERNATIONAL Q. I’m a homeowner with a property in central London – despite the fact that this area isn’t directly affected by the Olympics, I am keen to capitalise from the influx of tourists coming to London in the summer, but where do I start? A. Many homeowners across London are [...]
Airlines lobby to axe levy on passengers November 17, 2011 FOUR of Britain’s biggest airlines put aside their differences yesterday to lobby the government to scrap its air passenger duty (APD), which they slammed as uncompetitive. Ryanair, EasyJet, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have written to the chancellor arguing the tax on passengers, set to rise by twice the rate of inflation in 2012, puts [...]
CITY VIEWS: WILL AIR PASSENGER TAXES DAMAGE UK TOURISM? November 17, 2011 CHING MAN | MIZUHO “I think they will, yes. For the average tourist, budgets are tight as it is! Personally I will stay in the UK this year unless it is essential to travel.” JACK STOCKTON | JM GROUP “Probably not, because flying from Europe is cheap. Long-haul flights are expensive anyway, so if you’re [...]
This tax will not fly: Don’t ground Britain’s growth November 17, 2011 THE chief executives of rival airlines Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, Ryanair and the IAG group – which includes British Airways – do not normally agree to share a platform. That they chose to yesterday morning – outlining their opposition to Air Passenger Duty (APD) – is a sign of how seriously the aviation sector takes this [...]
Profits rise as Burberry stays upbeat November 15, 2011 BURBERRY’s chief executive Angela Ahrendts said demand across flagship stores in cities such as New York and Hong Kong was helping the group to defy the downturn, as the fashion house reported strong first half results. The 155-year-old British brand, known for its signature raincoats, made 60 per cent of retail revenue in 25 cities [...]
Burberry first half profits jump November 15, 2011 Luxury goods group Burberry met forecasts with a 26 per cent rise in first-half profit, helped by buoyant tourist spending around the world, and kept its growth targets despite an uncertain economic backdrop. “We remain mindful of, and prepared to react to, any local or global uncertainties,” said the 155-year-old maker of raincoats and leather [...]
Reclaim the City from Robin Hood tax risks November 6, 2011 MUCH has been written in recent weeks about the protest camp outside St Paul’s and about the City of London Corporation’s attitude to it. I would like to take this opportunity to bring a degree of clarity to the situation. The City fully supports the democratic right to protest and at no point have we [...]
Affjordable Norway: a mountainous trekker’s paradise October 30, 2011 IF you want to turn back at any point, you can.” Our sympathetic Norwegian host was suddenly full of reassurance. She was looking across the breakfast table with the concerned expression of a mother observing her sick, ailing child. Fear, dread. Pity. Maybe a hint of disdain for being put in this position. With a [...]