By summertime the hotel was looking forlorn and desperately in search of a new brand to put its name on the door. We even went so far to say we could probably rule out the likes of Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton to come and snap it up.

How wrong we were!

The-Ritz Carlton Vienna is now scheduled to open this year in the very same building on the city’s Schubertring. Combining two nineteenth-century palaces, the hotel will feature 202 rooms, including 35 suites, and a Ritz-Carlton Club floor for those guests wanting a little extra pampering.

This latest addition brings a total of twelve hotels in Europe managed by, or affiliated to, Ritz-Carlton. These range from “proper” Ritz-Carlton hotels in for instance Berlin to the Abama Resort on Tenerife, as well as partner hotels The Ritz in London / Madrid and Bulgari in Milan. While not yet listed on the group’s website, we soon expect Bulgari London to take that number to thirteen in June. Fingers crossed!

The hotel’s design team, Dreimeta, has conjured a heady mix of transience, bohemia and showbiz, with bathroom-cum-dressing rooms, vintage sofas and antique leather suitcases dotted everywhere. Even though it won’t be fully completed until next year, there is plenty here to reward the guest.

Each building in the 25hours group has its own identity. The version in Hamburg’s HafenCity, for example, sits by the docks and has a maritime theme, while one of the hotels in Frankfurt has been designed in co-operation with the jeans giant Levi’s.

What they have in common, currently at least, is the German language, a dynamic urban budget chic and a great sense of fun.

In Vienna, three new glass floors, housing 34 suites, now sit on top of the original six-storey building, while the former students’ quarters beneath are being remodelled to fit the hotel’s contemporary, artisan feel. By next spring, a further 187 rooms will have been added, as well as a spa, a gym, conference areas and a restaurant seating 120 people. Though the bedrooms won’t be as large as the airy suites above, most will offer views of the Viennese skyline.

The Dachboden (Loft) is a relaxed rooftop bar and terrace with views over Weghuberpark and the city beyond. It has already become a favourite after-work haunt and weekend hangout. Until the hotel gets a fully functioning restaurant, the Dachboden is offering sustenance in the form of Brettljause, a regional cold-cut speciality served on a wooden platter that sits comfortably with the hotel’s fun, informal feel.

The hotel staff are young, energetic and friendly; the atmosphere is party-like and the guests seem smart and interesting.

Location

25hours Hotel is on the western edge of Vienna’s city centre – the Innere Stadt – just outside the Ringstrasse that encircles it. You can reach the magnificent St Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) on the number 46 tram in just a few minutes, but it doesn’t take much longer to walk, taking in the sweeping Austrian Parliament building en route. Alternatively, turn left and stroll straight into the vast Museums Quarter, home to renowned institutions such as the Leopold Museum, with its numerous works by Egon Schiele, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Kunsthalle – a diverse array of restaurants, cafés and bars.

Vienna is a city of parks and gardens – 280, in fact – and the hotel has free bike hire to let you explore them, and to whizz around the capital’s compact centre.

Comfort

Walk into any of the suites and the circus theme hits you like a custard pie in the face. Seemingly printed on the wallpaper above the beds are fire-eaters, sword-swallowers, jugglers, acrobats and tigers – all given a slight but unnerving dark edge by the Berlin artist Olaf Hajek.

Each spacious suite includes a kitchenette. The furniture has a simple, stagey and temporary feel, as if it has been salvaged from an artist’s garret or put together by a prop builder (although, thankfully, the large and comfortable bed is an exception).

The flat-screen TV is perched on a pile of leather suitcases, the bedside lampshade has been crocheted and the sliding doors of the wardrobe roll on cartwheels to resemble a circus wagon. The bathroom doubles as a dressing room with a showbiz-style lighted mirror.

You are made to feel that you are part of a travelling circus, in town for a week and then moving on. Anyone who has ever wanted to be on tour in a show or a band will love it. Expect star treatment.

Tourism can facilitate people trafficking “for sexual exploitation or organ harvesting, as well as the exploitation of minors,” the pope said in a speech to mark the 2012 World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Tourism.

These are “evils that must be dealt with urgently since they trample upon the rights of millions of men and women, especially among the poor, minors and handicapped,” the pope said.

The United Nations estimates there are around 2.5 million victims of human trafficking in the world at any one time.

The pope — who has faced thousands of clerical sex abuse scandals in Europe and the US since becoming pontiff — condemned “the exploitation of minors, abandoned into the hands of individuals without scruples.”

“Sexual tourism is one of the most abject of these deviations that devastate morally, psychologically and physically the life of so many persons and families, and sometimes whole communities,” he said.

Benedict urged “those who are engaged for pastoral reasons or who work in the field of tourism, and the whole international community, to increase their vigilance and to foresee and oppose such aberrations.”

The Catholic Church has launched initiatives to tackle sexual abuse by priests following decades of cover-ups, including a summit on clerical child abuse and an Internet-based Centre for Child Protection opened this year.

Tourists checked in for more than 8.9 million hotel nights between June and September last year, compared to 7.6 million in 2010. But the vast majority of those tourists were Romanian residents. Despite having one of the best figures for growth, Romania had the lowest percentage of non-residents staying in the country’s hotels. Just 14.7 percent of holiday accommodation guests were resident outside Romania, well below the 48 percent EU average, and far behind many EU countries that had 70, 80 or even 90 percent plus non-resident hotel guests.

In Bulgaria, 79 percent of hotel guests were not resident in the country. The figure from Romania has slipped slightly since summer 2010, when 15.4 percent of hotel guests were non-residents. Total numbers of residents and non-residents were up last year in Romania, but the increase in hotel stays by residents was greater, thus causing the slip in percentage of non-residents.

A few countries missed out on what was in general a good summer for EU tourism, Italy and Malta both recorded drops in hotel occupancy, down 1.2 and 1.9 percent respectively. Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the UK accounted for over 70 percent of the total nights spent in EU hotels last summer, while the top destinations for non- EU residents were Spain, Italy and Greece, together accounting for more than 50 percent of hotel stays by non EU tourists.

It has a representative government with the President as its head. The capital city is Paris.

France has an advanced industrial economy and a robust farm sector. Main activities include automobile manufacture, aerospace, information technology, electronics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals and fashion.

France has produced some of the continent’s most influential writers, thinkers, artists and musicians — Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Gauguin and Matisse to name a few.

France’s cuisine is known the world over and some would say cooking and eating are part of the French culture and lifestyle.

France’s late 19th century Universal World Expositions made Paris an increasingly important center of technology, trade and tourism. One example is the Eiffel Tower, a structure that remained the world’s tallest building until 1930. The first metro line opened in 1900.

Paris is located in the north-bending arc of the river Seine and includes two islands, the Ile Saint-Louis and the larger Ile de la Cite, which form the oldest part of the city. The city is pretty much flat and the highest level of Paris is 113 feet. The city has several prominent hills, of which the highest is Montmartre at 427 feet.

The city’s weather is the typical western European oceanic climate, which is affected by the North Atlantic Current. Over a year, Paris’ climate can be described as mild and moderately wet. Summer days are usually warm and pleasant with average temperatures hovering around 75 to 80 degrees.

Paris’ population is around 2,211,000 people, but the metropolitan population is now more than 12,000,000 making it one of the most populated cites in Europe. Paris was the largest city in the Western world for about 1,000 years, prior to the 19th century and the largest in the entire world between the 16th and 19th centuries.

More than 42 million tourists visit Paris each year making it the most visited city in the world. The city and its region contain 3,800 historical monuments and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Venezuelan government created Conviasa in 2004 to replace the private airline Viasa, which was liquidated in 1997. Conviasa flies numerous national and Latin American routes, as well as to Spain, Ecuador, and Syria, at affordable prices. The government has also used it to deliver humanitarian aid to countries in need such as Japan and Haiti.

In June last year, U.S. politicians, during a hearing in the House of Representatives, requested that a number of measures be taken against the Venezuelan government, including sanctions against Conviasa for “supporting terrorism” because of its flights to Syria.

According to the European Commission press statement released today, the ban is due to “numerous safety concerns arising from accidents and the results of ramp checks at EU airports.” The decision, it says, is “based on the unanimous opinion of the Air Safety Committee, composed of representatives of the 27 Members States of the EU, Croatia, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)”.

“The safety performance of two other Venezuelan air carriers, Estellar Latinoamerica and Aerotuy, was also reviewed in depth; however, measures were not considered necessary at this stage. Nonetheless, these two air carriers remain subject to increased monitoring,” read the statement.

The Venezuelan government has expressed its “firm rejection” of the measure in an official statement today.

The decision is “completely disproportionate and contrary to the conclusions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding [Conviasa’s] safety performance,” said the Venezuelan government.

“The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is evaluating reciprocal and proportionate actions to protect its fundamental interests and safeguard the prestige of the state-run airline for the Venezuelan people and the international community,” the statement concluded.

The European Union first wrote its blacklist in March 2006, and has since updated it four times a year. It is apparently based on deficiencies found during checks at European airports.

According to Bloomberg, “In addition to imposing an operational ban in Europe, the blacklist can act as a guide for travellers worldwide and influence safety policies in non-EU countries”.

All airlines from Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, and Zambia, are banned from EU airspace. People wishing to travel between those countries must use European airlines or airlines from other countries.

In other cases, only specific airlines are banned, such as Air Madagascar, Air Koryo of North Korea, Iran Air, and Jordan Aviation. In Latin America, only Conviasa of Venezuela and Rollins Air of Honduras are now banned.

Back in 2009, the Swedish tourism industry expected turnover from tourists to Sweden would double to 500 billion kronor ($74.4 billion) by 2020.

However, lackluster spending by foreign tourists has forced the Swedish Travel and Tourism Industry (RTS) to lower their expectations to 451 billion.

“It’s the foreign tourism that’s not growing at the speed we anticipated,” said Jan Lundin of the RTS to Dagens Industi newspaper (DI).

“Swedish tourism continues to grow, however”.

In fact, tourism in Sweden is continuing to grow as an overall trend, and experts insist that there is no crisis, as tourism statistics in Sweden have never been higher.

It’s just that expectations have not been met.

With a growth rate expected of 6.4 percent per year, analysists reasoned that a 515 billion kronor turn over could be expected in 2020, but last year’s growth of only 3 percent suggests this will be unlikely.

For the predicted doubling of tourist sales by 2020, the yearly percentage increase would need to rise to seven percent each year for the next eight years.

In concrete figures, this means an increase of 25 billion kronor a year, RTS wrote in a statement.

“The industry has set high goals, and this generates creativity. We cannot act alone here, and it’s time join hands with convention, culture and sports industry,” said Lundin in a statement.

“Together, we can create more reasons to travel here, to take part in community building, and to contribute to the development of the regions that don’t only attract more visitors, but even become attractive places to live and work.”

A total of 3,151 congresses and corporate events were held in Vienna last year, 7% more than in 2010. The resulting bednights rose by 6% to 1,412,133, equivalent to 12.4% of Vienna’s total bednights. Throughout Austria, the Vienna congress industry generated value-added of 838.4 million euros, an increase of 9% and a new record level. International congresses – of which there were 638 – made the biggest impact. Although they accounted for only 20% of all events, they produced 67% of bednights and 72% of value-added in this sector.

Vienna is continuing to develop its congress infrastructure, and Director of Tourism Norbert Kettner has already announced the next step: “Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration will start teaching at its new premises near Prater in the 2013 winter semester. The Vienna Tourist Board was involved in the planning process, making it possible to ensure that the auditorium complex is ideally incorporated into the nearby facilities of Reed Messe Wien, so that its infrastructure will be perfectly complemented during university vacations.”

Christian Mutschlechner, Director of the Vienna Tourist Board’s Vienna Convention Bureau, has also revealed a new service: “Since the beginning of the year, we have been authorized to certify conferences whose organizers take climate protection, regional value-added and social compatibility into account as Green Meetings. Congress organizers are taking an intensive interest in such matters at the moment, and it was therefore essential for the Vienna Convention Bureau to acquire the necessary expertise so as to be able to offer effective assistance.”

Now, in the wake of terror advisories and stiff competition, making the stay pleasant ranks well below getting visitors in the door.

Dress codes are no longer enforced as more Eastern Europeans check in. More and more cash is forked out for live bands and animators in attempts to outdo the next establishment.

And when it comes to a guest’s new friends, ushered into the room late in the night, it is often best not to ask too many questions.

Walk through Diani or Ukunda townships in the late afternoon, however, and you will see reasons to ask a few questions. A recent visit by The Standard on Saturday brought us face to face with the dark secret of Kenya’s tropical paradise.

Scanty dresses

From around 4pm on any given day, you can see dozens of scantily dressed girls, some in their teens, loitering around shopping centres or in local bars as they prey, or wait to be preyed upon, by tourists.

On the street, their hungry eyes lock on any posh ‘fuel-guzzlers’ driving by, hoping to be picked up and whisked off to lavish beach homes, villas or hotels.

Almost a third of all tourists coming into Kenya have sex with a local during their stay, a recent study found. People who would normally not enter a brothel in their home country hunt for sex openly when abroad.

This has bred a culture of sexual servitude that affects not just the hundreds of thousands of sex workers in the country, but also tens of thousands of school-age children.

Areas such as Ukunda and Diani on the south coast, and Mtwapa, Kikambala and Malindi on the north coast, have become notorious for sex tourism.

On a recent Friday night in one of Diani’s beachfront resorts, we found half-naked and drunk girls, some of them teens, engaged in lively dancing contests deep into the night.

Aware of how young they look, they advertise their availability through their exposed clothing, heavy smoking and drinking. This, we are told, is the norm here since many sex tourists prefer ‘loose’ or ‘wild’ girls who are likely to do what they want.

Representing Phuket at the event were 28 tourism operators who were accompanied by Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) President Somboon Jirayus, PTA vice-chairman Phurit Maswongsa and a number of other officials.

PTA President Somboon Jirayus said: “Europe has always been a key tourist market for Phuket. Even though its economy still has problems, we believe that the region will continue to be an important tourist source market for us in the long run.

“We expect the EU economy to improve within two years, and at the same time Phuket Airport should be able to accommodate more direct flights from Europe. . . we are hoping that the Eastern European tourist market will expand.”

“We leased out a 180 square meter area to facilitate the 28 operators and promote tourism to the European market.”

PTA vice-chairman Phurit Maswongsa agreed, noting that European tourist direct sales prospects look promising.

“From ITB 2012, we’ve gotten confirmation from Thai Airways that there will be at least two more direct flights to Phuket by April,” he said.

Following their recent takeover of Air Berlin, Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, will be offering direct flight service to Phuket from Abu Dhabi after March 25, he noted.

Mr Phurit pointed out that direct flights between Copenhagen and Phuket, initially launched as a seasonal service, will now become a regular service available year round.

These developments are a testament to the effectiveness of our roadshow campaigns, he added.

Vice Governor Chamroen went on to point out that this was the sixth time Phuket has joined the ITB tourism trade fair.

“Each year the number of participating operators, including both hotels and spas, increases.

“In future events, we expect more marina and golf operators to join to add more diversity to our offerings,” he said.