Google’s Outsize Impact on the Travel Industry and 7 Other Top Digital Stories This Week
Google's influence on the rest of the travel industry cannot be understated. Russell Harper / Skift
Skift Take: In digital news this week, Google is so omnipresent that even a small tweak to the way that its searches work can have an impact on the rest of the travel industry. Plus, Skift talks with Booking.com's new chief marketing officer about his hopes for the company.
Loyalty Prime Raises Funding for Subscription-Based Tech: Travel Startup Funding This Week
An image of The Sagamore, a property that belongs to Sagamore Preferred Hotels Group. Loyalty Prime, a startup that creates enterprise software to run loyalty programs, has raised $5.4 million (€5 million) in Series B funding, and the service is used by Preferred Hotels Group. Preferred Hotels Group
Skift Take: Several travel companies, such as Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Frankfurt Airport, have used the services of Loyalty Prime, a startup that builds next-generation software for running loyalty programs. Loyalty Prime's new funding is part of a wave of investment that we expect to see in loyalty tech companies.
Expedia Versus Airbnb’s Industry Recovery Plans and 10 Other Top Coronavirus Travel Stories This Week
A Chinese traveler at an airport May 27, 2020. Expedia Group launch a recovery plan to stimulate travel demand. Adobe
Skift Take: In our coronavirus-related stories this week, Skift covered Expedia Group's industry recovery plan, the United Airlines CEO's hopes to avoid bankruptcy, hotel rate negotiations with corporate travel agencies, and what 100,000 coronavirus deaths in the U.S. means for the future of travel.
An outbreak of human coronavirus, a virus causing respiratory illness in people, was detected in China in December 2019. It is rapidly spreading throughout the world, affecting 25 countries on five continents. Here is everything you need to know about the new coronavirus.
This is a developing story. This piece was last updated on February 21, 2020.
There are seven types of human coronavirus known in the world, including the infamous SARS and MERS, which had outbreaks in 2003 and 2012-2013. The new coronavirus, or novel coronavirus, is scientifically named Covid-19. It is the first time scientists have encountered this particular coronavirus, which causes respiratory illnesses.
Where did the coronavirus outbreak start?
Photo: Google Maps
The coronavirus was first detected in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, at the end of December 2019. It is believed that the virus started from an animal source from the Wuhan live wildlife market and is currently being passed from human to human. The exact source of Covid-19 is currently unknown, but some studies have revealed that it may have originated in bats.
How can one be infected by the new coronavirus?
Like many other respiratory illnesses, the new coronavirus is believed to be transmitted from human to human by respiratory droplets when one sneezes or coughs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus can also be contracted from touching infected surfaces or objects, but this is not the main way the virus spreads.
What are the symptoms of the new coronavirus?
Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The new coronavirus can cause pneumonia or bronchitis.
Is the new coronavirus dangerous?
The new coronavirus can cause severe pneumonia and bronchitis. People with cardiopulmonary or cardiovascular diseases, weakened immune systems, children, and elderly people are the most at risk.
According to a study by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the recovery rate of people infected by the new coronavirus is encouraging; only 2.3 percent of those infected have died.
Can the new coronavirus be treated?
Being a new virus, there is currently no treatment or vaccine against Covid-19. The only thing medical professionals can currently do is alleviate the symptoms of the patients infected.
How to prevent being infected by the new coronavirus
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC recommend that you:
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and wash your hands afterward
Throw all used tissues away, and wash your hands after use
Do not touch your eyes, mouth, or nose with unwashed hands
Avoid contact with anyone who coughs, sneezes, or has a fever
To prevent others from getting infected:
Stay at home if you feel ill, and avoid contact with others
Thoroughly wash the objects and surfaces that you may have touched
Where is the new coronavirus now?
The following countries have identified cases of the new coronavirus:
China (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan)
Malaysia
Japan
Nepal
Singapore
Thailand
Cambodia
Philippines
The Republic of Korea
Sri Lanka
India
Vietnam
Australia
United Arab Emirates
Iran
Egypt
France
Belgium
Germany
Finland
Italy
United Kingdom
Sweden
Russia
Spain
United States
Canada
How many people have been infected by or died from the new coronavirus?
As of February 21, 2020, the WHO reports 76,769 confirmed cases, 75,569 of which are in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. There are 1,200 confirmed cases detected outside of China.
The death toll currently amounts to 2,247. Of that, 2,239 have occurred in Mainland China, one in Taiwan, two in Hong Kong, one in Korea, one in Japan, one in the Philippines, one in France, two in Iran, and two located on the Diamond Princess cruise ship currently quarantined in Japan.
What is being done to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus?
In the US
United States citizens who have been in Hubei province in the past 14 days will be quarantined for two weeks at military bases around the country.
US citizens who have traveled to mainland China in the past 14 weeks will undergo a health screening procedure at the airport. They may also be asked to quarantine themselves at home.
All flights to the US who have at least one passenger who has traveled to China in the past 14 days will be redirected to 11 airports to facilitate health screening and quarantines. The same goes for all flights from mainland China. The 11 points of entry are:
–San Francisco International Airport
–Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
–Hawaii’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
–Chicago O’Hare International Airport
–Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport
–Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
–Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
–Detroit Metro Airport
–John F. Kennedy International Airport
–Newark Liberty International Airport
–Washington Dulles International Airport
Non-resident foreign nationals who have visited mainland China in the past 14 days will be denied entry to the US.
China Eastern Airlines has suspended all direct flights to the US.
Delta Air Lines has suspended all flights between the US and China until April 30, 2020.
American Airlines has canceled all flights to mainland China and Hong Kong until April 24, 2020.
United Airlines has suspended all its flights between the US and mainland China until April 24, 2020.
Around the world
While the International Olympic Committee has not made any recommendations regarding the possible cancellation of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games, Reuters reports that some sporting events in the country have been canceled and that Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto has demanded that anyone who feels ill does not attend the Olympic torch events that are starting on March 26.
Starting Thursday, February 20, 2020, Russia is barring most Chinese citizens from entering the country. This ban includes tourist, private, student, and work visa holders.
North Korea, which previously banned all foreign tourists from entering the country, is now imposing a 30-day quarantine on returning foreigners and nationals. Flights and train services with neighboring countries are suspended. There are currently no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in North Korea.
The cruise ship Diamond Princess carrying 3,700 passengers has been quarantined in the port of Yokohama in Japan since February 3, 2020. As of February 19, 2020, passengers who are testing negative and show no symptoms have been released. More will be allowed to leave in the coming days. There are 634 confirmed cases on the ship, all of whom will be transported to hospitals. Passengers who shared cabins with confirmed cases will remain on board for now.
Airbnb has suspended all its Beijing bookings until May 1, 2020.
As of Thursday, February 13, 2020, the village of Son Loi, in the province of Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, is under a 20-day quarantine. The community of 10,000 is home to 11 of the 16 coronavirus cases in Vietnam, according to Reuters.
Several nations, including New Zealand, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, and Iraq are now denying entry to non-resident foreign nationals who have traveled to mainland China recently.
Airlines, including Air France, Air Canada, British Airways, and Finnair, have canceled all their flights to mainland China. Others, such as Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and El Al have canceled select routes.
Cruise company Royal Caribbean is canceling select cruises and has said it would deny boarding to anyone who has visited mainland China and Hong Kong in the past 15 days.
China has suspended all group tours going abroad and the sale of flights and hotel packages since January 27, 2020.
As of January 23, 2020, nobody in the city of Wuhan is allowed to leave. Train stations and airports are closed. City buses, subways, ferries, and shuttle buses will not be operating until further notice. All other major cities in the Hubei province are on lockdown, and the whole province is quarantined from the rest of China. People entering are screened for coronavirus.
Chinese authorities have issued a ban on all wildlife trade. The source of the new coronavirus is allegedly linked to the live wildlife market in Wuhan.
In several regions and provinces of China (Guangdong, Anhui, Zhejiang, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hebei, Jiangxi, and Inner Mongolia, as well as Shanghai and Chongqing, according to Reuters), schools are closed until further notice.
In China, the Lunar New Year holiday has been prolonged to keep people at home. Schools are closed until further notice.
The Forbidden City in Beijing, parts of the Great Wall, and Shanghai Disneyland are closed to prevent the spread of the disease.
Travel in and out of the Chinese capital of Beijing is limited.
Mongolia has closed its border with China, and schools in the country are closed until March 30.
Taiwan and South Korea have asked their citizens not to visit Central China.
North Korea is banning all foreign tourists from entering the country.
In Hong Kong, schools are closed until March 16, 2020. All rail service to mainland China is suspended and half the flights have been canceled.
Hong Kong and Malaysia are denying entry to visitors coming from the Hubei province.
The CDC is warning travelers to avoid all non-essential travel to China. It has also issued a travel notice about Japan, putting the country at “Watch – Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions”, the lowest of three possible travel warnings, saying “At this time, CDC does not recommend canceling or postponing travel to Japan”.
Travelers who have visited Hubei Province in the past 14 days and are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus are asked to avoid all contact with other people and to seek immediate medical help.
Ask any Brit what their favorite takeaway spot is and they’re sure to mention Nando’s. Ask them about the origins of Nando’s menu, and they’ll probably say Portugal. It’s a reasonable answer. Its logo is the Rooster of Barcelos, a famous Portuguese symbol. The food is seasoned with Portuguese spices and Portuguese bread rolls are among the restaurant’s many sides. However, to label Nando’s a product of Portugal isn’t strictly true. Nando’s was in fact born in Johannesburg, South Africa, making this beloved fast-casual spot a mashup between Portuguese and African cuisines. Here’s everything you need to know about the origins of Nando’s, and its effort to celebrate and support South Africa.
The complex origins of Afro-Portuguese cuisine
Portuguese cuisine has long been a vital part of Africa’s diverse culinary landscape. In the 15th century Portuguese explorers began their expedition around Africa in search of gold and black pepper. In the early 1500s, Portugal colonized Guinea-Bissau in West Africa and Angola and Mozambique in the south. Tragically Portugese colonial rule resulted in the brutal enslavement of many people native to these countries. While slavery was officially abolished in Africa in 1869, Portuguese colonial rule would continue until 1975.
After Angola and Mozambique gained independence, many Afro-Portuguese people once living in these countries immigrated to Brazil or Portugal but a significant number of refugees also made their way to South Africa. Today, South Africa is home to the largest African Portuguese population in the world. As their community grew, Afro-Portuguese restaurants began to pop up in these areas serving dishes that were popular in their home countries such as prego (steak rolls), espetada (kebab) and, of course, peri-peri chicken.
Peri-peri chicken in particular has sparked much debate over its origins. Some say that the Portugese brought the African bird’s-eye chilli, or peri-peri pepper, to Mozambique from Brazil. Others say it actually first discovered in Zambia and Zimbabwe and brought back to Portugal. While we may never know the exact origin of this spicy capsicum, we do know that it flourishes in a Mozambican climate and is an integral part of African cooking.
Peri-peri chicken does not only predate Nando’s, it is the reason that Nando’s exists. It is a dish that is neither intrinsically Portuguese nor African yet its significance in both cultures is undeniable. The story of peri-peri chicken’s global takeover begins with two friends looking for a bite to eat.
Back in 1987, two pals visited Chickenland, a so-called “dodgy” takeaway spot in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville. At that time, South Africa was deeply segregated and it was not common for non-Portuguese people to visit this neighborhood. Mozambique-born Fernando Duarte (who is white) introduced his friend, Robert Brozin, a Jewish South African man, to the delights of Portuguese cuisine and Brozin soon fell in love.
Brozin became obsessed with the combination of chicken marinated in peri-peri sauce at Chickenland and knew that the world had to taste this glorious dish. Eventually, Brozin and Duarte bought the little restaurant and renamed it Nando’s, after Fernando’s first-born son. In 1993 the Nando’s chain expanded to the UK and as of 2017, there are over 1,000 Nando’s locations in 35 countries. Nando’s became a celebration of both the Afro-Portuguese community and of South Africa as a whole.
In Portugal, piri-piri chicken (as it is spelled there) is a popular dish, but far less chili is used to season it, making it a much milder version than you’ll find in South Africa. To make Nando’s signature peri-peri sauce, the spicy pepper is infused with salt, garlic, lemon, onion, oil, and vinegar. The chicken is then marinated in the sauce for 24 hours, flame-grilled, and served at your desired spice level.
Another beloved spicy dish in the southern region of Africa is peri-peri chicken livers, usually served with bread to soak up all those glorious peri-peri juices, as well as garlic soaked Mozambican peri-peri prawns.
There were, of course, a few challenges for Nando’s before it became the globally recognizable brand it is today. At the time of the restaurant’s inception, South Africa was in political turmoil under the apartheid regime. The founders had little money and no restaurant experience, all they knew was that they loved peri-peri chicken. Thus began the start of Nando’s trademark advertising, which was and continues to be rather controversial.
The aim of Nando’s advertising strategy was not only to highlight its product but to challenge perceptions of South Africa and to speak to current events in a humorous, tongue-in-cheek fashion. It worked. Nando’s advertising has been both criticized and praised for being fearless in tackling taboo subjects around race, religion, politics, and sex. Many of its advertisements have been banned, including one tackling xenophobia, another featuring a puppet modeled after the African National Congress Youth League then-president Julius Malema, and one mocking Robert Mugabe and other well-known dictators.
Nando’s consistently addresses pertinent social issues in South Africa. According to Doug Place, chief marketing officer for Nando’s South Africa, the company is so involved in the country’s politics because no one “loves South Africa like we do.”
Nando’s partnered with the Harambee foundation which aims to solve the youth unemployment crisis. The company is also committed to supporting African designers and artists. In 2018 Nando’s launched “Portal to Africa,” a curated online shopping platform that connects its designers to the interior decorators of Nando’s restaurants around the world. It also hosts the Nando’s Hot Young Designer Talent Search which offers designers an opportunity to showcase their designs with Nando’s and to enter into a year-long mentorship program.
The company is also interested in improving global health. In 2007, Nando’s executives teamed up with South African explorer and philanthropist Kinglsey Holgate to distribute mosquito nets in malaria-endemic regions of Africa. The company has since secured a leading role in the United Against Malaria partnership, launching a bracelet campaign that aims to raise $1 million for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
The next time you eat at Nando’s, remember this fast-casual chain is about more than just delicious chicken: It’s also a celebration of complex African cultures and cuisines, operated by an organization that champions Afro-Portuguese people and their history.
RV and Outdoor Recreation Companies See a Boom in Bookings
Enney Ranch is an 850-acre cattle and grain ranch in Paso Robles, California, which is open to guests who book tents via Tentrr, an online service. Tentrr
Skift Take: The great outdoors is appealing to many people who have been cooped up under stay-at-home restrictions. It's no wonder that several booking services for camping and related services are reporting growth.
Trip.com Group’s Venture Arm Bets on GreenCloud Hotel Tech: Travel Startup Funding This Week
The Wuhan Narada Grand Hotel, part of the Narada Group, a chain that uses the services of GreenCloud, a hotel tech company that has raised another round of funding. Narada Group
Skift Take: Travel startups that have raised fresh funding include GreenCloud, a hotel software firm, Bobobox, a pod hotel brand, React Mobile, a maker of panic buttons, and Cabana, a luxe camper-van firm.
Tripadvisor’s Executive Shake-Up and 14 Other Top Digital Stories This Week
Tripadvisor is restructuring in an effort to remain competitive in an increasingly crowded field. Shutterstock
Skift Take: Tripadvisor — in a fight to maintain its share of the travel market — is beefing up Viator and will start treating the tours-and-activities booking agency as its own brand. Plus, after years of criticism for prioritizing its own travel products above others, Google is changing the way it monetizes its flight search.
What’s Behind Barry Diller’s Patient Approach to Expedia?
Barry Diller, chairman and chief executive officer of IAC/InterActiveCorp and chairman of Expedia Group, spoke during the WSJ D.Live global technology conference in Laguna Beach, California, U.S., on October 17, 2017. Diller has been making changes at Expedia Group. Patrick T. Fallon / Bloomberg
Skift Take: It increasingly looks like what we expected will happen will come true: Chairman Barry Diller is likely to make Expedia Group's acting boss Peter Kern the permanent CEO. It's very probable, too, that Diller is shopping the online agency giant to potential buyers. But who would buy?
Wex Buys Enett From Travelport for $1.7 Billion in a Travel Payments Mashup
A shot of Melissa Smith, Chair and CEO of payments company Wex, while speaking during a Ted Talk. Smith led the acquisition of eNett, a travel sector payments company. Wex
Skift Take: With this deal, Wex now becomes a powerhouse in assisting business-to-business travel payments worldwide. The deal also gives cash to seller Travelport, which might use the money to expand its airline tech offerings.
Seattle Museum Month: The Arts & Culture-Lovers Tour
Seattle Museum Month, February 1-29, offers Seattle visitors staying in one of our 60+ partner hotels an unbeatable value: 50% off admission at 41 museums, including many of Seattle’s most popular attractions.
You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums at seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.
Today’s topic is: arts & culture immersion! Here are some of my suggestions if you enjoy art.
Seattle Art Museum, or SAM, has been the center for world-class visual arts in the Pacific Northwest since 1933. In the heart of downtown Seattle, light-filled galleries invite you to wander through permanent collections and special exhibitions. SAM’s diverse holdings include Asian, African, Islamic, European, Oceanic, American, modern and contemporary art, and decorative arts and design. Visitors especially enjoy the remarkable Native American galleries and the charming Porcelain Room.
Opening mid-month is the newly renovated Seattle Asian Art Museum. Housed in a beautiful art deco building in Volunteer Park, the expanded Asian Art Museum breaks boundaries to offer a thematic, rather than geographic or chronological, exploration of art from the world’s largest continent. After a (free, but already sold out) grand opening weekend on February 8 & 9, SAAM will begin accepting Seattle Museum Month passes on February 12.
Olympic Sculpture Park is SAM’s free outdoor art experience. In summer, it’s packed with dog walkers and joggers and strollers (both kinds) but in winter you can enjoy the art with more solitude. The collection includes large works by Richard Serra, Roxy Paine, Jaume Plensa, Louise Bourgeois and Alexander Calder. It might be brisk weather in February, but you might also enjoy some beautiful clear views of Elliott Bay and the snowcapped Olympic Mountains.
One of Seattle’s top visitor attractions is also one of its most artful. Located at Seattle Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass is bursting with color and light and offers a comprehensive look at the work made by Dale Chihuly, one of the world’s living glass art masters. It never fails to delight with its rooms upon rooms of glass, impressive suspended sculptures, and colorful garden.
Art enthusiasts will also want to plan short trips east, to Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM), and south to Tacoma, for the Museum of Glass and the Tacoma Art Museum (TAM). A center for craft and design, BAM is currently presenting multiple exhibitions ranging from large scale canvases by painter Nicole Gordon, to more than 200 pieces of jewelry created by 60+ artists inspired by Burning Man. In Tacoma, in addition to interesting special exhibitions, a highlight of visiting the Museum of Glass is the chance to watch glass artists at work in the Hot Shop Amphitheatre, located inside the 90-foot tall steel cone. Tacoma Art Museum offers an outstanding and diverse collection emphasizing art and artists from the Northwest and broader western region, including the Benaroya Collection, hailed as one of the most prestigious private collections of glass art in the United States. (And if you consider automobile design through the ages as its own unique art form, don’t miss the nearby LeMay – America’s Car Museum.)
From the Seattle waterfront, a 30-minute ferry ride to Bainbridge Island (walk on as a foot passenger for ease and savings) and a short stroll will bring you to BIMA, the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Admission is always free, but even without the promise of saving on your admission cost this small gem of a museum is a worthy excursion for an engaging look at the art and craft of the Puget Sound region, in an impressive LEED Gold building. An onsite café is great for a lunch break, or walk a bit further into town for numerous tasty choices. The ferry ride is another iconic Northwest experience, offering fantastic views of the Seattle skyline and Elliott Bay.
Also free, the Frye Art Museum is another gem, located just east of downtown Seattle. Established in 1952, the museum is now known for contemporary art exhibitions that explore the issues of our time, and thought-provoking programming.
And not least, Washington state’s oldest art museum, the Henry Art Gallery, beckons you to the University of Washington campus. Don’t let its age fool you, the Henry specializes in presenting world-renowned contemporary artists and nurturing emerging talent. My tip: don’t miss Light Reign, the Skyspace by acclaimed artist James Turrell. This immersive installation is one of my favorite contemplative spots in the city.
Learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com and watch this space for more posts with suggestions for history & heritage buffs, families, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences. With 41 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest. See you in February!
Banner image: Seattle Asian Art Museum
The post Seattle Museum Month: The Arts & Culture-Lovers Tour appeared first on Visit Seattle.
Seattle Museum Month, February 1-29, offers Seattle visitors staying in one of our 60+ partner hotels an unbeatable value: 50% off admission at 41 museums, including many of Seattle’s most popular attractions.
You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums at seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.
Today’s topic is: family fun! Here are some of my recommendations if you have kids in the mix.
New for 2020 is the Burke Museum. Re-opened in late 2019 in a newly constructed, purpose-built facility, the new Burke is a brand new kind of museum experience, making the research and scientific discovery accessible to visitors. With amazing fossils, dinosaur bones, minerals, cultural artifacts, and an engaging team of scientists and researchers to welcome you, the Burke is a must-see!
Seattle Aquarium delights visitors young and old on the Seattle waterfront. A leader in hands-on marine experiences and conservation education, the Aquarium makes learning about Puget Sound and our world’s one big ocean fun and engaging. Daily diver shows in the Windows On Washington Waters exhibit introduce the fish that you can find in our Washington waters. Wearing specialized masks, the divers are able to talk back and forth with Aquarium interpreters on the outside of the exhibit, and answer your questions. From February 15-23, don’t miss Octopus Week, a particularly fun time to learn about one of the coolest creatures in Puget Sound, the giant Pacific octopus.
From the waterfront, you can walk on a Washington State Ferry for a 30 minute crossing to Bainbridge Island, where a short stroll up from the dock leads you to Kids Discovery Museum, which is geared for little ones from 6 months to 8 years. If the ferry ride isn’t part of your plan, you’ll also find hands-on fun and discoveries for kids ages 10 months to 10 years at Seattle Children’s Museum, located at Seattle Center, and reachable by a quick ride on the Monorail from downtown Seattle.
Also at Seattle Center, Pacific Science Center has been a favorite spot for generations of Seattle families since 1962. Programs and exhibitions here cover a broad range of ages and interests, such as a focus on current innovation, data, Virtual Reality immersions, the Tinker Tank and the Tropical Butterfly House.
Also at Seattle Center, the colorful Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is eye-popping inside and out, and will thrill older kids and their parents too. Music fans can dive deep into exhibits on Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Jimi Hendrix, while fans of Harry Potter or The Wizard of Oz will delight in Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic. Sound Lab offers the chance to actually play and make music in soundproof rooms, while Indie Game Revolution offers an immersion into contemporary video game culture. Maybe zombies, vampires and other things that go bump in the night are more your speed? Then Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film is for you! (Note that this one is for the age 13+ crowd, due to high scare factor & graphic content.) If all that isn’t enough, MoPOP is currently presenting a World Premiere exhibit with Minecraft: The Exhibition. The immersive exhibition brings the virtual landscape of Minecraft to life through full-scale creatures, scenic backdrops, a day-night lighting cycle, dynamic audio effects, and a gallery score designed for players and non-players of all ages. Note: the Minecraft exhibit is not included with regular museum admission but is available to Seattle Museum Month pass holders for a small upcharge.
A few minutes north of Seattle Center is Woodland Park Zoo, another perennial favorite for all ages. For 118 years the Zoo has been an urban oasis and is now a leader in animal conservation efforts. Its 92 acres are divided into bioclimatic zones, featuring natural habitats ranging from humid tropical rain forests and coastal deserts to temperate rain forests like those of the Pacific Northwest, housing a wide range of interesting animals.
I hope you still have energy to spare, because you’re in for another treat: Seattle has a pinball museum! The Seattle Pinball Museum offers about 50 playable games from the 1960s to the present. Your admission allows you unlimited play, although please note that kids must be 7 or older to play the games and must be supervised by an adult. One tip: this can be popular and crowded, so my advice is to choose a non–peak time for your visit if possible, so you can enjoy the games and maybe even talk with the owners, who are passionate pinball fans.
If you haven’t filled up on snacks at the Pinball Museum, you’re in luck because you’re right in the Chinatown-International District, home to delicious dumplings and noodles to finish out your busy day of museum hopping. Fuel up, tomorrow’s another day!
Learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com and watch this space for more suggestions for arts & culture lovers, history & heritage buffs, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences. With more than 40 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest. See you in February!
Banner image: Burke Museum
The post Seattle Museum Month: Fun for the Whole Family appeared first on Visit Seattle.
Dogs are part of the family, and as that group dynamic has evolved, it’s only natural that our vacationing style has too. More of us are traveling with pets, and to meet this demand, hotels around the world are not only catering to this market, but they’re also creating a whole new genre of doggy-lux. Embroidered blankets at Le Meurice in Paris, designer leashes and collars at London’s exclusive Rosewood Hotel, and an entire VIP dog floor at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco have raised the bar in dog-friendly hospitality. Instead of spending on a kennel, owners can splash out on the VIP treatment and make memories with the whole family. So if your best mate deserves a vacation as much as you, we’ve rounded up 12 of the best hotels around the world for you and your dog.
English ex-pats Susie and Nick, and their pups Dexter and Roxy, have created The Dog House, a welcoming B&B for dogs, their owners, and anyone who wants to hang out with their pups. With sophisticated open-plan rooms without extra cleaning fees, dog treats and bowls, a welcome pack highlighting local dog spots, and even some local Belgian dog beer in the fridge, this is a great place to settle in for a few nights.
Cost: From $340, two-night minimum Where: Verversdijk 4, Brugge, Belgium
You must have a dog to stay at this chalet-style Austrian hotel set high in the alps. Not only are all the rooms set up for dogs with large beds and over 130 types of dog food, but there’s also a huge fenced outdoor play area and doggy pool. After your pup has played outside all day, get them cleaned up for in the dog bath complete with brushes, hairdryers, and dog shampoo. And to top it off, in winter you can leave your dog with the in-house sitter while you hit the ski slopes.
Cost: From $190 per night Where: Marktstrasse 25, Rauris, Austria
In the tiny town of Oberammergau in southern Germany, dogs truly are the guests of honor. Absolutely nothing a dog could want has been forgotten. Included in the nightly price is access to three large sports halls, underwater treadmills, a dog swimming pool, fridges, beds and bowls, showers, and towels all for your pup. Plus you can book on-site physiotherapy, massages, and agility sessions for your pup. Human needs haven’t been ignored, with spa treatments, massages and saunas available, bike hire, plus a four-course evening meal served in the dining room.
Cost: From $160 per night Where: Dorfstraße 1, Oberammergau, Germany
The godfather of dog-friendly hotels, the palatial Le Meurice has been welcoming pets for over a century, even playing host to Salvador Dali and his ocelots on occasion. These days all dog guests receive an engraved dog tag, a plush blanket with their name embroidered on it, plus the standard treats, bowls, beds and dog menu. The concierge is also on standby to walk your dog through the nearby Tuileries Garden.
Cost: From $1157 per night Where: 228 Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France
At the ultra-trendy Pineapple hotels, any size of pets can stay for a fee of $25 per night. If you choose to upgrade to the pup pack, comprised of a dog bed, treats, food bowls, and waste dispenser, the daily fee is only $12.50. They have hotels sprinkled throughout the US in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston, Seattle, Portland, and San Diego.
At Rosewood in central London, it’s all about five-star luxury for you and your pet. The hotel has been welcoming pets since 2013 with comfy beds, treats, and no extra charges. And they’ve recently taken it to the next level, creating a bespoke one-night Canine Package that includes a designer Barbour bed, collar and leash, homemade ethical dog food, dog-grooming from celebrity groomer Jamie Griffen, concierge dog-sitting, and a comprehensive dogs guide to London.
Cost: From $2700 per night for the Canine Package Where: 252 High Holborn, Holborn, London, United Kingdom
In 2019, the Atholl Arms was voted the #1 Pet-Friendly Hotel of the Year in the Scottish Hotel Awards. Here, dogs are welcomed in the lounge, bar, and meeting place. Not only do they offer doggy welcome packs including mats, towels, bowls, and treats, but they’ve also partnered with local dog groomers and offer dog walks in the surrounding woodlands. Best of all, half of the nightly $20 dog fee is donated to Pepa’s Pet Cancer Foundation, supporting pets struggling with cancer.
Cost: From $100 per night Where: Bridgehead, Tay Terrace, Dunkeld, United Kingdom
For those looking for a staycation with their pup, Regent Hotel in Singapore has created a signature Pet Staycation Package for pets under 15 kilograms. A welcome gift box includes a chew toy, treats, microfibre towel, pet bed, water, pet food, hand sanitizer, and gentle dog shampoo, plus a special pet menu. When it’s time to stretch your legs, the nearby Botanic Gardens offers a range of easy on-leash trails.
Cost: From $230 for the Pet Staycation Package Where: 1 Cuscaden Rd, Singapore
Recently voted the #1 pet-friendly hotel in Ireland, Twelve Hotel is doggy heaven. You can pack light as they will appoint your suite with everything your pet might need: beds, bowls, leashes, toys, treats, doggy bags, and towels. To top it off, not only can you order room service, but your dog is also offered a dedicated menu. A map of the nearby woods and beaches will ensure your morning walks explore the best the area has to offer. There are no extra charges, but the hotel will take a security deposit, and it limits one dog per room.
From $160 per night Where: Barna Rd, Freeport, Galway, Ireland
For those traveling to San Francisco, Hotel Nikko is ready to welcome your dog with open arms with a dedicated VIP (Very Important Pet) floor and a large terrace with a grassy pet run. The nightly $50 fee (for small pets) includes a dog bed, bowl, and treats. Plus, resident mascot Buster is on hand to play with your pup in the best dog-friendly spots in the city.
Cost: From $209 per night Where: 222 Mason St, San Francisco, United States
With a complete pet program, Loews could never be left off this list. Personalized bedding, leashes, collars, water bowls and placemats, dog treats and toys, plus a complete guide to dog-friendly walks and restaurants are all on offer at their Montreal hotel. When it’s time to settle in for the night, you can even call the gourmet room service menu for dogs developed by the hotel’s executive chef.
Cost: From $135 per night Where: 1425 Rue de la Montagne, Montréal, Canada
At Pier One, you can swing open your doors and begin your morning stroll directly under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A maximum of two small dogs are allowed in each room, and for $60 per pet, your dog will get a comfy dog bed, food, and water bowls. And if you’re feeling extra generous, splurge on a stocked mini-bar with dog-friendly snacks. After a day exploring Sydney, you can relax on the outdoor terrace at sunset with your pup and take in the magnificent views of the harbor.
Cost: From $590 per night Where: Walsh Bay, 11 Hickson Rd, Sydney, Australia
In a city where everyone travels with their dogs at all times, it’s no surprise that even one of the most luxurious hotels in Santa Monica is extremely dog-friendly. At the Fairmont Miramar, you can order the “Dog Be With You” package, which means your dog will get its own bed, a collection of toys, treats, and a dog bowl — which dog owners know is one of the most annoying and messy things to pack. Best of all, your dog can get in on room service with you. Choose between chicken, beef, or salmon entrees, featuring other healthy ingredients like organic brown rice, free-range scrambled eggs, potatoes, peas, and carrots. You can even get a luxury dog tag made at the Atelier jeweler downstairs if you want to give your pooch the true LA treatment.
Cost: $549 a night Where: 101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
HBO Max launched this week, adding to its catalogue nearly every movie made by legendary Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli. Now is the perfect time to binge these classic films, which are infused with magic and adventure, and celebrate the immense power of the imagination to bring not just joy but also refuge from fear and loneliness. The grand cities in which these tales take place might be fictional (in most cases), but their foundation is multicultural, drawing from the architecture and fashion of cities all over the world.
Hayao Miyazaki is notoriously anti-war. Most Studio Ghibli films speak out against violence and, in particular, the trauma and heartbreak it inflicts on children. Some of these films do have a distinct sense of place: Grave of the Fireflies, directed by Isao Takahata, who co-founded the animation studio with Miyazaki, for instance, follows a pair of orphaned siblings in Kobe, Japan, as they attempt to survive after their home is firebombed during World War II. Perhaps the most famous Studio Ghibli film, My Neighbor Totoro, the story of two sisters who befriend a friendly forest spirit after their mother falls ill, takes place in Tokorozawa, Japan. And the setting for Princess Monoke is allegedly the Shiratani Unsuikyō forest, a World Heritage site on Yakushima island.
All Studio Ghibli films are also rooted in a distinct Japanese aesthetic. One aspect of that overarching aesthetic is of course kawaii, the Japanese concept of cuteness, into which Totoro neatly falls with his fluffy, squishy body and perfectly circular eyes. Totoro is the best example, but Calcifer, the blob-like fire demon with the high-pitched voice that powers Howl’s titular moving castle, could be considered kawaii. So could Jiji, the black cat companion who steals the show in Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Wabi-sabi, the Japanese aesthetic principles that celebrate imperfection, impermanence, simplicity, and intimacy, among other concepts, might also be a guiding force behind Studio Ghibli films.
In his book The Japanese Art of Impermanence, Andrew Juniper writes, “If an object or expression can bring about, within us, a sense of serene melancholy and a spiritual longing, then that object could be said to be wabi-sabi.” The bouquet of pink flowers gifted to Chichiro when she moves away from home in Spirited Away (inspired by the deities of Shinto and Buddhist folklore and replete with Meiji period architecture), which she clings to as a reminder of her old friends, and the red radio that Kiki’s father gives her before she leaves home seem to nod toward the principles of wabi-sabi. Both are simple but treasured items that reflect the fleeting nature of childhood, significant transitions in the lives of the characters, and the intimate bonds between loved ones that are tested throughout both films.
The way that Studio Ghibli films interpret home also seems to fit into this philosophical worldview: Wabi can sometimes be defined as “rustic simplicity,” which also connotes solitude. Consider the painter Urusla’s home in the woods in Kiki’s Delivery Service, where she communes with nature and contemplates her artwork. Or Howl’s castle, a steampunk multi-level home constructed from steel, wood, old tires, and metal cranes that walks on stilts, belching black smoke from multiple smoke stacks. It embodies transience and imperfection because it is made from found, moving parts cobbled together to make a whole. As Richard Powell writes in his book Wabi Sabi Simple, “nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.”
The philosophical and spiritual principles that guide Japanese culture are an essential part of the formula that makes Studio Ghibli films so masterful. However, the animation house has a distinctly international view point, imbuing many of its films with a pan-European atmosphere.
The opening scenes of Howl’s Moving Castle, for instance, evoke World War I-era Europe: Broad shouldered soldiers in starched uniforms sporting handlebar mustaches march through the streets, conjuring up images of perhaps French, German, or even Austrian soldiers. The architecture feels more Parisian — a canal runs through the neighborhood where the protagonist, Sophie, mends hats for a living. Meanwhile, the high-collared, floor-length dresses and sun hats worn by the women characters would place the film somewhere in the 1870s — long before World War I. That the story itself is based on a book by Welsh writer Diana Wynne Jones adds another layer of complexity.
Howl’s Moving Castle, in other words, moves through cities, cultures, and timelines like Howl himself moves between realms with his magic doors.
In addition to the clear homages to Europe in Howl’s Moving Castle, the setting for Kiki’s Delivery Service draws from European cities near water. Miyazaki researched the film by traveling to Sweden. The resulting fictional city of Koriko is a mashup of Lisbon, Paris, San Francisco, Milan, and Stockholm. Miyzaki later said the seaside town is bordered by the Mediterranean and Baltic seas. Notably, the film takes place in an alternate universe in which World War I and World War II never took place.
A lesser known, but equally enjoyable Studio Ghibli film, Porco Rosso, follows a once-human Italian fighter pilot who was transformed into a pig during World War I. The story contains a sequence in Milan, and Porco Rosso’s hideout is supposed to be on the Croatian shoreline, while much of the in-flight action takes place over the Adriatic Sea.
Japan has of course served as muse to Studio Ghibli. Yet Miyazaki also pays homage to the buildings, homes, cars, even bakeries of European cities without losing his sense of what home and family should look and feel like. The artistry and magic behind these films is that they are imbued with a sense of timelessness in a fantasy world that is both inclusive and entirely distinctive. Studio Ghibli films transport you to a world that feels familiar, not just in its setting but in its feelings — of childhood and longing and love — but that will leave you tingling from the lasting spell they cast on your imagination.
On May 28, the Chinese government in Beijing signaled that it would press for and enforce new security laws in Hong Kong. Once enacted, which could happen as soon as June, Beijing will better be able to control the judicial system in Hong Kong, as well as curb anti-government protests and other civil liberties. Beijing deems the changes necessary to control dissent and threats to national security.
The move has been widely rebuked by foreign governments, including the United States and Canada, on both civil liberties and economic fronts. With far more relaxed visa requirements than the Chinese mainland and a capitalist economy that, by and large, speaks fluent English, the city is the initial point of arrival for many Westerners visiting Asia for the first time. By imposing China’s will on Hong Kong’s democratic freedoms, the laws threaten the integrity of the “One Country, Two Systems” policy put in place when Hong Kong was returned to China from Britain in 1997. Local protesters have once again taken to the streets in droves and have been met with force by Hong Kong police.
While the exact impacts of the security laws on residents and travelers likely won’t be known until mid-summer, here’s what we know so far.
Note: This story will be updated as developments occur.
How the announcement might affect visas for US and EU citizens
Currently, valid US passport holders can enter Hong Kong and stay up to 90 days visa-free. Early indicators show that tourists are unlikely to experience much in the way of immediate logistical changes. However, President Donald Trump’s announcement on May 29 that Hong Kong is no longer sufficiently “autonomous” from China, and any resulting tariffs, sanctions, or other actions taken could easily lead to tit-for-tat restrictions on trade, visas, and other established practices that currently flow freely between the US and Hong Kong. As of May 29, no visa is required for stays in Hong Kong for fewer than 90 days, while travel to mainland China still requires a visa before arrival.
If the US were to suspend or alter visa approvals for any segment of Hong Kongers, Hong Kong or Beijing is likely to do the same, meaning the standing “no visa necessary” policy for US citizens arriving in Hong Kong could be altered or invalidated altogether.
EU residents visiting Hong Kong are less likely to see impacts to travel plans in the coming months because Brussels has stated that it will not pursue action against Beijing.
“We will continue trying to put pressure on the China authorities in order to make them aware that this issue will affect the way we deal with some of the issues of mutual interests,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell at a press conference, as reported on by the South China Morning Post. “But there is nothing more on the agenda.”
How international flights and transportation could be impacted
Hong Kong is unique in that, because the city is a Special Administrative Region of China with independent visa policies and economic systems, all incoming and departing flights to Hong Kong International Airport are international flights. As such, all passengers must pass through immigration upon arriving. The process of flying into and out of the city is not expected to change, unless changes are made to the visa system.
The same is true for those arriving via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which connects the three cities via an oversea highway. Those arriving via ferry to Hong Kong Macao Ferry Terminal will also continue to pass through immigration on both sides and will be subject to any current visa requirements.
Shopping, dining, and lodging
As far as shopping, dining, and lodging in Hong Kong goes, the only major change would come if Hong Kong discontinued to peg the Hong Kong dollar to the US dollar, which has stood at 7.8 HKD to 1 USD since 1983. Trump may change this as part of any action taken due to the city no longer having its “autonomous” status. If so, the US dollar could more rapidly lose or gain value in comparison to the Hong Kong Dollar. The SCMP reported that Hong Kong does not need US approval to maintain the peg, however, making it unlikely that the cost of travel to Hong Kong from the US or the cost of expenses on the ground would change much anytime soon. Rather, due to decreased tourism numbers, flights and lodging could drop.
The on-the-ground experience
This is where a trip to Hong Kong is going to be noticeably different. The on-the-ground experience is likely to have a more tense vibe than it would have if you’d visited before June 2019 when the protests against an extradition bill — a months-long series of street protests that, despite resulting in the withdrawal of the unpopular extradition bill, have triggered this security law — began. Travel to the city has declined significantly since last summer. Because of its democratic sympathies and status as a global financial center, Hong Kong is among the world’s most international cities. It saw more than 65 million tourists in 2018, but the Wall Street Journal reported in September 2019 that the country had suffered a 41 percent drop in tourism numbers due to the protests.
Beyond far fewer tourists, visitors may also notice tension on the streets. Young protesters will continue their actions, at least in the short term, which means increased police presence in public places and in the city’s main commercial areas like Causeway Bay, Central, and Wan Chai. Keep in mind that while it’s important that tourists follow local law, travelers are not the cause of or primary target of either the increased police presence or of the coming national security measures. The city’s economy depends on an influx of Chinese mainland and international arrivals in addition to vibrant global trade markets. Because so many international companies base themselves in or do business in Hong Kong, including more than 1,200 from the US, change won’t happen overnight. But, for the mindful visitor, it can be tough to really enjoy a destination when even some of its residents may be experiencing persecution.
