Boy, time sure does fly when you are having fun! I don’t know where the time went but November is fast approaching and we have been getting ready for World Travel Market 2011 in London. It is after all THE place to be.

Manolis will be doing the rounds as ever, with a huge backpack and his vast repository of knowledge.

This year it’s all about the meetups and boy do we have a busy schedule! We ‘d love to meet up with everyone if at all possible so please drop me a line and I’ll arrange an appointment or quick coffee. We are taking some meetings in central London too but it’s best if we catch up on the exhibition floor really.

We will also be going to the Travel Blog Camp once again. It was just such a great experience last year, we loved meeting all the bloggers and taking part in the lively debate. We are expecting great things again this year.

I’ll try to update again on WTM but in the meantime here are some nice little videos from last year (or perhaps you’d like to take a look all all our updates from WTM 2010).

Hope to see you there!

When I was writing a few months ago about London making the most of the Royal Wedding I could scarcely imagine the creative boom that the whole affair would bring on.

I receive newsletters from my favorite retail outlets each and every single day with some clever little pun and some not-really-relevant-but-close products. Little pillows, the Union Jack on absolutely everything and crazy ideas about parties and events.

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I bet you heard the news. Prince William is to wed Kate Middleton. The happy couple announced their engagement today with a wedding being planned for next year.

Make not mistake. London will make the most of the wedding. I just saw a lovely representative from Visit London on BBC London news (so sorry I didn’t get her name) saying how from past experience they know that London’s tourism will receive a huge boost. (read their blog entry)

The organisation estimates that the economic benefit to London could be between £30m and £50m from domestic and international visitors to the capital.

Apparently, thirty years ago, the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana brought an additional 600,000 visitors to the capital and with the popularity of Prince William and Kate this figure could increase significantly. (read the full Press Release)

Regardless of your politics, a wedding of this magnitude offers an amazing opportunity for the city’s tourism. Professionals from around the world will be able to see a real time campaign unfolding and take some valuable lessons.

(Photo by Niquinho)

It’s true. Frappé coffee is a Greek thing and you cannot find it in London (that is, you cannot easily find it. But we can give you a tip or two).

What you can get is aromatic hot coffee (and tea).

Sofia and Manolis will be at the World Travel Market in London from 8 November to 11 November to catch up with clients and negotiate prices and contracts on their behalf with tour operators.

How about dropping us a line so we can share a few moments over some steaming coffee? We’re buying.

See you there?

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Read all our blog posts from World Travel Market 2010

Take a look at this brilliant video, done for LG’s Play the Impossible campaign.

I love the way they play around with the landmark. Not to mention the way they use a movement reminiscent of the numerous photographs out there playing with perspective (sun between your fingers anyone?).

The two youngsters are soooo right as Londoners having a bit of fun and I especially like the shy visitor that one of them teases.

Would love to see more of this.

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Found it: Guardian Viral Video Chart: London’s turning

A lovely surprise this morning in Trafalgar Square. (more…)

Walking past St. James’ yesterday I chanced upon this brilliant installation.

It is a water powered lift and it addresses the challenge of equal access to historic sites. At the same time it exhibits how alternative energy sources can be used to help make sites more accessible.

It is part of London Festival of Architecture 2010 which has “The Welcoming City” as its main theme this year. Commissioned for the LFA2010 and designed by Matthew Lloyd Architects working with Architecture Inside Out and Price and Myers with the support of the Royal Engineers and the Royal Parks.

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Greek beach on the Thames - pic from the GNTO UK Facebook page

From the 18th to the 27th of June you can find a Greek beach by the Thames in London. Even if the weather wasn’t all that this weekend hope for some sunshine and head on down there.

You’ll find the Greek beach at the South Bank Riverside walkway by Gabriel’s Wharf to find it (the nearest tube is Waterloo or Southwark) .  There is a variety of activities and events planned (check out the full programme).

The website is a bit confusing but the idea (and execution) is great – the team has also managed great publicity both in the UK press and on television (including the BBC).

Follow Taste of Greece on Twitter

Read more:
Greek Beach by the Thames (Time Out London)
Life’s a (Greek) beach in London (The Sunday Times)

Chat about it:
The trip advisor London Forum

Ahsan, Saima and Mark with Ken Livingstone - from the Working for Hoe Street website

Our whole-hearted congratulations go out to newly elected Cllrs Saima Mahmud, Mark Rusling and Ahsan Khan at Hoe Street ward in Waltham Forest, London. They didn’t just get elected – they triumphed!

They came to us with a simple request. Help us reach our potential voters online and set out our policies clearly. (more…)

Blooming London Uploaded by SoMaFusion on 28 Apr 10, 9.55AM BST.

As the picture will verify London is blooming these days. We actually did more work at the park lately then in an office. You know the volcano ash? Well, we got caught in it and Manolis was stuck in London for a while. Not that we minded too much, the weather being so nice and all. We managed to get through some work and start off a white paper. More on that, later, I promise.

These days our big hospitality contracts are running to full steam – start of the tourist period you see. Booking engines need to be updated, contracts renegotiated, prices changed, accommodation parameters arranged. To tell the truth it’s an exciting time for us; the whole time line stretches before you, the strategy is right there, the systems are ready from our work over the winter and all that’s left is to fill in the blanks. Perhaps I should blog about how we run the hospitality stuff sometime.

On other news we are running a pro bono contract these days with a marvellous artist which has got me thinking about creative people and their use of social media. There is some reading I want to go through and then I’ll share some thoughts.

Finally, we are working on a new venture – again on hospitality. Manolis is working out the details of the business plan before we sit down and think seriously about it but it’s still an exciting time for us.

If only the weather in London would hold as well…