Travel Trends :: Groupon-esque Travel

[trip style = budget conscious]

Coupons are making a comeback. But in 2010 and via web 2.0, they look a little different. They are virtual (until you print them out), viral and group-buying focused, as in, if a deal gets shared enough and people buy it, everyone gets to indulge.

The Groupon Craze We all know Groupon is hot right now, businesses from cooking schools to Fairmont Hotels have been jumping on board to entice consumers with savings, which they hope will bring them regular customers. Playing off the coupon and social networking trend, there's a groupon-like travel website launching next week. My prediction, it's going to be BIG.

New Kid in Town TripAlertz is an online travel community where prices go down as bookings go up. Not a bad formula. This US-based website is free to use and takes seconds to join. Unlike Groupon, you don't have to unlock a deal, rather you can purchase it for a limited time. The more people purchase, the greater the savings. In the website's launch phase, most of the deals appear to be Florida-based, but as the site expands, they plan on expanding worldwide.

Travel Sharing = Travel Savings This social-buying travel site puts a whole new spin on group travel. Yes, it offers the same type of discounts as the Pricelines and Hotwires of the world, but it does so transparently, in a way that depends upon social sharing. Therefore, if you see a hotel deal you like, you can a) indulge on your own, or b) share it with your friends, likely get greater savings and plan a group trip!

Bon voyage!

Travel Trends :: Street Food

When most people hear the term street food, it conjures up images of greasy street meat or roasted chestnuts. Times are a changing! Different grades of street food are mainstream in Asia, Mexico, LA and Portland, but aside from nut and hotdog vendors, street food has never been approved in Vancouver. Until now...

Following in the footsteps of a successful, 500-strong food-cart program in Portland WA, Vancouver BC is launching a street food trial program on July 31st.  According to The Vancouver Sun, the city's 800 applicants were more than expected, so a lottery was held crowning 17 winners.  With options ranging from freshly-squeezed lemonade, to Dim Sum, to central European food, each vendor will be assigned a location to park their mobile kitchens.  As the program matures, more gastronomic entrepreneurs will be permitted and approved to populate the streets of Vancouver.

Map of Vancouver Street Food Vendors View Vancouver's food cart vendors in a larger map

In the past, Vancouver's food safety regulations are what's held back food sold on the street, limiting the offering to Costco-like options, sans the good stuff.  Even the famed Japadog was closed down just before the Olympics due to health violations, but has since re-opened its street meat phenomenons, as well as a retail outlet.  Vancouver's pilot program aims to raise the level of street-cart food safety, and in turn increase street-level epicurean delights.

I wonder if Vancouver's street food will live up to its well-known culinary scene?  Time will tell.

PS - If you're planning to hit-up street food vendors in Portland or LA, it helps to have a penchant for social media. Because the US's street-cart programs are mobile, vendors have to adjust their location with parking regulations, so they tweet their new parking space every few hours.

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[photo by b.new.man]

Trend: Designer-Inspired Hotels & Decor

[travel trends] Looks like hotels are taking a cue from fashion.  With icons like Jean Paul Gaultier designing for Target, and Miley Cyrus and Max Azria collaborating for WalMart, who is to say the same thing can't be done with hotels?  Well, it is...

Recently, stylist Amanda Ross was named as the W Hotels Fashion Director. Part of the Starwood brand, W Hotels' 36 properties are aimed a stylish traveller who appreciates "modern travel and modern living," making the partnership all the more apropos. Ross has consulted for major designers as well as acted as the stylist for NBC's short-lived Lipstick Jungle.  Although her first W project is under wraps, she mentioned she'll be visiting Barcelona this month and also heading to Paris for Fashion Week, and it just so happens a W is opening there next year.

What does 'Fashion Director' Mean? In the case of W Hotels and Amanda Ross' partnership, being the Hotel's fashion director means: - creating a strategic framework for W's global point of view on fashion - working with a designer to create staff uniforms & special collections for sale at W Hotels - styling the look of the rooms, lobbies and other common areas.

Ross' role with W Hotels is talked about as the "First position of it's kind for any hotel".....well kinda.

Armani Armani has collaborated with Emaar Properties to create the "Armani Hotel Dubai" in the world's tallest building: Burj Dubai tower.  Armani's hotel is apparently the first in a series of hotels, resorts and residences to be opened around the globe.  You can already make reservations for the Dubai hotel which is supposed to open today, but rumor has it, the open will have slight delay.

Now Posh? Late in January, there was a media frenzy concerning Victoria Beckam's 40.5 million dollar offer to design a hotel in Dubai with fellow fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld. Media reports note the singer-cum-designer was "stunned by the offer," but since then, no reports have surfaced about whether or not the deal will proceed.

What About Airlines? Most airlines have jumped on the celebrity chef bandwagon, but who is going to be the first to hire a Fashion Director to consult on uniforms and cabin decor?