Team OVRP

Children try their hand at pottery making during the 2011 Korea Travel Expo. (The Korea Tourism Association)

Held just before the Lunar New Year holidays, the 2012 Korea Travel Expo will be offering special gift and travel ideas for visitors, the Korea Tourism Association said.

Some 400 local government organizations, travel agencies and related groups are participating in the largest travel expo in Korea, held under the theme Artistic Landscape of My Country this year. The Jan. 12-15 event will be held at COEX in Samseong-dong, southeastern Seoul with the opening day broadcast live on TV.

Aimed at drawing more people to local travel destinations, this years expo will also present some 1,000 different kinds of local products that can also be excellent gifts for relatives during the Lunar New Year season.

The products, offered at reasonable prices for expo guests, include rice, sweet potatoes, corn and traditional Korean liquor, as well as handcrafted accessories and ornaments.

Event organizers expanded the amount of products being offered during this years event four-fold compared to the previous year, expecting more people to buy gifts during the season.

One of the biggest tasks for the tourism industry this year will be creating a fair and reasonable tourism culture, Nam Sang-man, chairman of the association, said during a New Years conference last week.

We must come up with more ways to offer travelers local products at reasonable prices via direct transactions both for the sake of travelers and the local merchants, he said.

Also, during the four-day expo, travel agencies will offer visitors practical tips such as ideal destinations in Korea to visit for budget travelers or those with little time for vacation.

The expo will also offer performances from different regions of the country such as jultagi, or tightrope walking, and talchum, or mask dance, organizers said.

At least 100,000 people are expected to visit this years expo, which is the ninth consecutive event, the KTA said in a press release.

The event is open from 10 am to 6 pm Admission is 5,000 won for adults and free for students and children. For more information, visit www.naenara.or.kr or call (02) 6000-8133.

By Shin Hae-in (hayney@heraldm.com)

With the new year upon us, I turned to two close observers on opposite sides of the business travel industry to predict what road warriors will see in 2012.

In one corner we have Lane Dubin, deeply invested in business travel as a vice president and general manager for American Express Global Business Travel. In the other is Chris McGinnis, a travel consultant, blogger and observer based in San Francisco. Their predictions:

Lane Dubin

Airlines: As companies keep investing in business travel and growth, airlines will continue catering to the business-travel market with ancillary services, such as in-flight Internet, more legroom and preferred boarding, that are of interest to the business traveler needing to get work done en route. Rates will rise to meet the continued demand.

Hotels: Hotels traditionally have followed the ancillary fee system and now are charging for amenities that make a difference to the business traveler. This means road warriors could increasingly be paying additional fees for the services that allow them to be productive while theyre away. In 2012, hoteliers likely will focus more on total revenue rather than on occupancy levels, and as a result they may be more willing to accept lower room volume at higher room rates. This translates to hotel rates likely getting a little more expensive this year.

Rental cars: Competition in the rental car market remains stiff, so rates will likely remain flat or even decrease slightly. Businesses also likely will continue to pursue the relatively new trend for negotiating longer-term contracts as long as three years in exchange for discounted rates.

Miscellaneous: Mobile technology is going to be a continued focus in 2012 as companies look to make traveling employees more productive, create utility on the road, and help enhance control and compliance during business travel.

We also expect that companies will be challenged to think strategically about how they continue to invest in travel, to grow their business, in the face of flat travel budgets and rising prices.

Chris McGinnis

Airlines: There will be a growing gap between frequent business travelers (who will get better seats, shorter lines, earlier boarding, more access to clubs and fee waivers) and low-fare vacation travelers, who will see more fees and poorer back of the plane service.

Hotels: Hotel prices in large coastal cities such as San Francisco, New York, Boston or Washington, where demand is growing fastest, will continue to creep up. However, hotels in smaller, secondary or tertiary markets that are still struggling to recover will offer better deals and probably better service because they are hungrier for the business.

Rental cars: More business travelers will be turning to rental cars since airlines are abandoning service to smaller cities. They will fly to the nearby larger city and then drive. Nonetheless, the increased demand wont increase rates much in this highly commoditized market where there are too many cars chasing too few renters.

Miscellaneous: While in-flight Wi-Fi has been a largely American experience, airlines in other countries will adopt newer systems based on satellite technology that enable travelers to log on over land and, more important, sea for international flights.

Do you have ideas for Business Class about the latest in business travel? Write to Josh Noel at jbnoel@tribune.com. Include Business Class in the subject line.

Alta Sierra Ski Resort in California is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Alta Sierra Ski Resort, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.

The BasicsNestled in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Alta Sierra Ski Resort sits about an hours drive away from Bakersfield, which is home to the resorts closet airport. Right in the heart of the Sequoia National Forest, Alta Sierra lures visitors with 80 acres of skiable land and low prices for lift tickets and equipment rental. Prior to 2006, the resort was named Shirley Meadows.

The MountainShirley Peak at Alta Sierra reaches 7,100 feet high at the summit. The vertical drop at the park runs 400 feet down the mountain. Annual snowfall at Alta Sierra can reach up to 80 inches. The resort also has snowmaking capabilities to help Mother Nature along as needed. Opening and closing dates at the resort largely depend on snowfall amounts, but the park typically opens in mid-December and runs through March.

Trails And LiftsThe mountain at Alta Sierra has eight groomed trails, two of which are designated for beginners. Four trails are designed for intermediate skiers, and the remaining two are appropriate for advanced skiers. Advanced skiers can also try out an additional four ungroomed black-diamond trails. Visitors can use one of the resorts two chairlifts to get up the mountain. Alta Sierra also features a terrain park and a snow tube area.

In The NewsShirley Meadows Ski Resort opened in the early 1980s. In 2003, a group of businessmen brought the property, intending to keep local skiing alive in the Bakersfield area. In 2006, the group changed the name of the resort to Alta Sierra to indicate major changes at the resort, including the addition of snow machines and upgraded rental equipment. Buildings at the resort were upgraded and renovated in 2007 and 2008.

CostAlta Sierra prides itself on being an affordable ski destination. Full-day lift tickets for skiers 13 and older cost $40, while kids 4 to 12 pay $30 for tickets. Visitors can buy lift tickets in packages of six for $210. Season passes are available for $340 for adults 13 and older. College students and military personnel receive a 20-percent discount on lift tickets at Alta Sierra. Ski and snowboard equipment costs $30 and $35 per day to rent, respectively. One-hour private lessons for skiers age 5 and younger cost $35. Skiers 6 and older pay $65 for each hour of private lessons.

Apres-SkiWhen its time to take a break from the snow, skiers can head into the Alta Sierra warming hut. Visitors warm up with hot coffee and hot chocolate. The hut serves simple lunches, offering hamburgers, hot dogs, soups and salads. Outdoor seating around two fire pits is also available.

WATCH: Alta Sierra

Snowboarders try their best to jump a pole during a 2011 ollie contest at Alta Sierra.

• Vayama.com, an online travel agency which caters to international traveling, listed twelve popular international travel destinations for 2012.

A high-speed rail project approved by the British government yesterday is seen by ministers as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the way people travel in Britain.

“I drove there with three buddies and we knew going in that it would be cold,” he said. “I’ll never feel cold like that again.”

Legg said Giants fans should also prepare themselves psychologically for the Packers fans.

“They’re actually nice,” he said. “There are no nicer fans than those in Wisconsin.”

Legg recalled how they were a lonely island of blue amid a sea of Packer green and gold when place kicker Lawrence Tynes booted the 47-yard game-winner that silenced the crowd.

“Other than us cheering, it was pure dead silence,” Legg said. “I looked around and it was like all the life was drained out the stadium.

“Then, as we were leaving, the Packers fans started telling us, ‘You outplayed us’ and ‘congratulations’ and ‘good luck with the Pats.’ It was really special, the complete opposite of what we expected to hear.”

While the forecast high for Sunday’s game is a relatively balmy (for Green Bay) 22 degrees, Legg recommends “dressing in lots of layers.”

And to expect the Giants to topple the Super Bowl champs.

“I think if the defense plays the way it has, they can shut the Packers down,” he said.

Legg won’t be making the trek to Green Bay this year, but more than 100 fans have already plunked down between $1,600 and $1,900 for a chartered trip to Cheesehead Land.

The package Big Blue Travel offering includes a private tour of historic Lambeau and a game-day “catered indoor tailgate party with unlimited beer.”

Emphasis on the “indoor.”

Big Blue Travel’s Michael Martocci said the fans he has spoken with have no doubt that the Giants of 2012 are Super Bowl-bound once more.

“They believe,” he said.

csiemaszko@nydailynews.com

NEW DELHI, Jan 11 (Bernama) — The Indian Government has ruled out barring Salman Rushdie from visiting the country in the wake of a demand by a top Islamic seminary to cancel his visa even as the controversial author said he does not need a visa to come to India.

Official sources said Tuesday the 65-year-old Rushdie holds a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card which entitles him to visit this country without a visa, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

The sources said since PIO card guarantees any such person hassle-free travel without any document, Rushdie is not required to apply to any authority of the Government of India seeking permission for his proposed visit to attend a literature festival in the northwest Indian city of Jaipur this month end.

He had travelled to India in the past using PIO card. We have never stopped him. We have no intention to stop any PIO card holder to travel to his or her home country in future either, a source said.

Rushdie remained unfazed over the demand by Darul Uloom Deoband to block his planned trip to India and suggested it was misplaced.

Regarding my Indian visit, for the record, I dont need a visa, posted Rushdie on microblogging site Twitter after Deoband demanded that the Indian government cancel the authors visa as he had hurt religious sentiments of Muslims in the past.

Indian-origin Rushdie also has a British passport. Vice Chancellor of Darul Uloom Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani said Monday that the

Indian government should cancel his visa as Rushdie had annoyed the religious sentiments of Muslims in the past.

Rushdie had earned the wrath of Muslims worldwide due to the alleged blasphemous content in his novel The Satanic Verses which was published in 1988.

The novel, which was banned by India, had sparked outrage in the Muslim world, including a fatwa against him by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran, on February 14, 1989.

Sanjoy Roy, managing director of Teamworks Productions which is organising the Jaipur Literature Festival, said, A literary platform like the Jaipur festival provides a space for free speech in Indias best democratic traditions.

Salman Rushdie has attended several literary events and forums in India in recent years without incident.

This includes his attending the Commonwealth Writers Prize awards in 2000, and the Jaipur Literature Festival in 2007.

In plural societies such as ours, it is imperative that we continue to allow avenues for unfettered literary expression, said Roy.

— BERNAMA

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Alcatraz Media and Reserve123.com inspire travel and tourism worldwide with a brand new YouTube Channel

Atlanta, Georgia (PRWEB) January 11, 2012

Alcatraz Media, Inc. – the worlds largest provider of tours and activities, providing reservations for over 11,000 tours, attractions and activities in over 550 destinations and 85 countries – and its affiliate company, Reserve123, announced today that they are working with YouTube to power a new travel-specific channel within the worlds largest online video hosting site. Through this partnership, they intend to provide customers with exciting travel information and a robust visual library of tours and activities worldwide.

Visitors can select from multiple city-specific Playlists for a series of short video clips that explore some of the best tours and activities in London, Orlando, San Francisco, New York City, Zurich, and more. New videos featured include activities such as Hot Air Balloon Rides, Wine Country Tours, Helicopter Tours, Parasailing, Race Car Driving, Whitewater Rafting, Off Road Vehicle Tours, and much more. Visitors may also easily link to Reserve123s social media outlets via the custom logo hyperlinks at the top of their channel.

We are pleased to give our travel friends the opportunity to explore an extensive array of tours and activities easily within our new travel video gallery, said Lauren Henneberg, Multimedia Producer at Alcatraz Media, manager of the companys YouTube channel and video marketing. We are proud to partner with YouTube for our customers to enjoy a visual taste of what the largest tour provider in the world offers. It is our goal to create an engaging infusion of innovative technology and high-quality entertainment.

To view the Reserve123.com YouTube Channel, visit www.youtube.com/alcatrazmedia.

About Alcatraz Media amp; Reserve123:

Reserve123 is the affiliate site of Alcatraz Media, the worlds largest provider of tours and activities, welcoming over a million visitors per month. They provide reservations for more than 11,000 tours, attractions and activities in over 550 destinations and 85 countries. Alcatraz Media was formed in 1999 in San Francisco, California and is now headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company has assisted millions of customers with their travel plans, and maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. For more information, please visit www.Reserve123.com or call toll free at (800) 745-1925.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/1/prweb9094012.htm

MADISON ? As the first winter storm of the season heads toward Wisconsin, drivers have new ways to learn about hazards on state roads.

The states 511 Travel Information System has new tools to alert drivers to problems and has boosted server capacity to keep the website running during storms.

Drivers may want to check the system out this week, as meteorologists predict 5 to 8 inches of snow could hit Northeastern Wisconsin.

The 511 system can be accessed by dialing 511 or online at www.511wi.gov. It alerts drivers to current road conditions and hazards.

Its a great way to plan ahead and know whats on your route, especially if theres a planned lane closure or a detour, said Chris Quesnell, a traffic operations engineer for the state Department of Transportation. Its always good to have that little bit of knowledge before you make your trip.

Scott Berschback, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Ashwaubenon, said snow likely will start arriving in the area this evening.

The steadiest and the heaviest snow will be here on Thursday, he said.

Berschback said the storm is looking to be a prolonged light snowfall. But by the time its over Thursday night, totals could reach 5 to 8 inches, he said.

It will bring our first accumulating snowfall for all of Northeast Wisconsin, he said. It will be our first real taste of winter.

The 511 Travel Information System has been alerting drivers to road condition via its website since January 2009, but early on, users often werent able to access the full site during storms because there wasnt enough bandwidth to support heavy use.

Quesnell said the state took measures to prevent that from happening again.

He said the system originally ran on two servers. The state added three servers in 2009, and another three last year.

We drastically increased our capacity to handle extra usage for storms, Quesnell said.

The state has also added features to the system that give drivers more ways to access information. Drivers can now create custom profiles to tailor the information they receive.

Lets say I travel from Milwaukee to Green Bay frequently, Quesnell said. I can create that as my own profile.

Then, when I call the phone system, it will recognize my number just by caller ID. I can say the name of my Green Bay route and it will give me all of the traffic information on that route.

Quesnell said the system also now allows users to receive text alerts.

Its configurable by the days of the week that you want and the times of the day, he said. And then you can decide if you want winter road conditions, lane closures or traffic incidents (via text).

The state also recently added five regional Twitter feeds. Northeastern Wisconsin drivers can access information by following the Twitter handle @511WI_Northeast.

Theres a lot of traffic data out there, and theres a lot of new ways to get that data out to users, Quesnell said.

Full-time Youth Travel baseball in the Southwest Suburbs just got a little more competitive. In September, the Illinois Redbirds expanded their Travel baseball program to include 8U, 9U and 10U Teams.

“Illinois Redbirds baseball is based on the primary concept that kids truly enjoy the game of baseball through competitive play and a focus on continuous learning” said Greg Blaesing, Director of the Illinois Redbirds. “We began by working with kids at the 14U to 18U levels and decided it was time to expand the program to younger players.”

The Illinois Redbirds will be training at the Quarry Fieldhouse, an indoor training facility in Romeoville with a second location opening this Fall in Mokena. This gives the Redbirds two facilities to practice in throughout the Fall, Winter and early Spring seasons…months in Chicago that rarely allow for practice time outside. They will also put an emphasis on teaching their players proper baseball mechanics, utilizing the instructors from the Quarry Fieldhouse in many of their practices.

“I’ve been involved with other travel programs in area but felt that the Illinois Redbirds had the most to offer our young players” said Brian Tehako, Coordinator of the Illinois Redbirds Youth Program and Manager of the 10U Team. “When kids are able to build a solid foundation through effective training at such a young age, the advantages are seen throughout their time playing baseball as well as in other sports they’re involved with.”

“This is the first travel baseball experience many of our young players will have” said Dave Pajeau, Manager of the 8U team. “It was important to get our kids and families involved with the best program possible.”

With the winter months approaching and the weather beginning to take a turn for the worse, it’s nice to think about spring baseball and the opportunities that lie ahead for this new youth program. For more information on the Illinois Redbirds, you can visit www.illinoisredbirdsbaseball.com.