Nkodas Travel site

Archive for February, 2010

Did you know that 85% of web users rely on search engines to locate hotel information? This may not come as a surprise to you, as we all know how effective search engines are and how useful they are in looking for information.

There is no doubt that search engines have become the market makers of the Internet and an effective way of promoting hotels online. They connect travelers and hotels from all over the globe, and enable them to find exactly what they want, when they want it. Various search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN give travelers easy access to 1000’s of hotel websites online, making it convenient for them to look for hotels. But in order to target a specific audience who are only looking for hotel accommodation and are interested in getting the best hotel deals online; Hotel Search Engines have entered the market.

What are Hotel Search Engines?

Just as how Google and Yahoo search engines are capable of searching for anything and everything on the face of this earth, Hotel Search Engines are specifically built for the Hotel Industry. All the traveler has to do is log on to any of the Hotel Search Engines and enter the destination he wishes to visit. He then gets a list of hotels to choose from. Not just that, he can also compare rates, amenities and images provided by the hotels. Hotel Search Engines greatly benefit the traveler by offering him the ideal accommodation for his trip.

By listing your hotel website on any of the popular Hotel Search Engines you can drive ‘qualified traffic’ and not just ‘traffic’ to your website. This helps enhance your business opportunities to a great extent and create a greater probability of travelers visiting your website. Hotel Search Engines help maximize your presence on the Internet to a very focused audience at an economic cost and reach out to millions of accommodation searchers online.

Through Hotel Search Engines travelers can view your hotel details and directly visit your hotel website for reservations. This way you can build your property’s brand on the web and increase the number of bookings you generate from the Internet.

Things have changed dramatically in air travel in the last few years as far as India is concerned. Once upon a time flying was possible only for privileged few but that scenario is now a thing of the past.

Air Deccan has spearheaded the transformation of converting air travel into an affordable option for the huge middle class of our country. Air Deccan started its service in August 2003 and just in 4 years there and today there are at least another half a dozen low cost carriers crisscrossing the Indian skies. The notable of them are Spice Jet, Go Air and Indigo.

The low cost carriers has not only become a boon for the middle class but it has also helped air passengers across the board as full service airlines have been compelled to reorganize their pricing structure and stay attractive for passengers who are constantly looking for better deals. So therefore the market is flooded with lots of offers from leading full service carriers like Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Kingfisher and Indian. They range from credit card cash back to free hotel room to fly your spouse free and what not.

Despite the rise of aviation fuel over the years the average ticket price has gone down. The full service airlines are also offering early bird discounts to optimize capacity utilization. Many a times if you book early at least a month in advance you may get cheaper price in Jet Airways than that of Air Deccan.

So far so good for consumers but will the party last? The answer lies how far the low cost airlines can position themselves as dependable for the purpose of travel. Air Deccan has publicly proclaimed several times that their competition is with the railways and not other airlines which is definitely very tempting to the budget travelers.

But the general experience with the leading low cost carrier is not always so positive. There are numerous reviews and blogs written by passengers in product review websites which tells horrible experiences of people who took a flight with this airline and this kind of feedback is not only Air Deccan specific but also abundant for other low cost carriers. The consumers are not complaining for the catering or the lack of attractive female cabin crew but for basic facilities and requirements that they expect from an airline.  Read more...

Australia has a reputation for providing the world with legendary sports men and woman, world class facilities, sporting technology and arguably the worlds number one development base. With Australia being a first world nation and a country with such a solid financial base; it is interesting to look at government funding in sport and recreation activities.

The ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) conducted a study for the financial year of 2000/2001 into government funding in sport and recreation activities. In this study there were various conclusive results that were found.

Government funding for sport and recreation activities is split into three different sectors, National (Australian Commonwealth) Government funding, State-Territory Government funding and Local Government funding. In the research study of the financial year of 2000/2001 by the ABS it was found that the total expenditure for sport and recreation activities was $2,124.2 million. Of this figure National Government contributed $198.9 million, State and Territory contributed $875.2 million and Local Government contributed $1,050.1 million.

The figure of $2,124.2 Million (2000/2001) also includes expenditure on the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. While other state and territory governments contributed funds to build facilities and host international athletes to compete and train, it was primarily the national and New South Wales state governments that contributed most to the event. The New South Wales state government contribution was $382.3 million, while the national government estimated figure was $71.8 million.

National government funding for the financial year of 2000/2001 was split primarily into four groups. Special events (including Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games) received $77.0 million (39%), Regulation and control received $39.7 million (20%), Administration/policy and planning received $29.8 million (15%) and Coaching and training (including Australian Institute of Sport) received $24.4 million (12%).

In the financial year of 2000/2001 the majority of state and territory government funding was received by the Special events category, however it must be noted that the majority of this was directed to the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Due to the A.C.T.(Australian Capital Territory) being the base for municipality functions for sports venues, grounds and recreation parks it was found that the A.C.T. had the highest expenditure rate per person of population of $185.4 million.

Local government funding was primarily directed towards recreation parks and waterways which received $587.4 million (56%); however venues and sports grounds also received a substantial portion with $410.1 million.  Read more...

For the entrepreneur finding a good source of funding for their business start-up is one of the most important aspects of any new money making venture. Most turn to willing investors or secure bank loans for this purpose but many fail to take advantage of what may well be the best alternative for the simple fact that it is free money that does not need to be repaid, unlike investors or banks.

Locating and securing government grants to start a business is one of the best ways for any cash poor entrepreneur to get started on their business venture. Every year the government gives away billions of dollars in free grant money for all manner of things including small businesses, education, health care issues, and in some cases debt relief. For the small business owner this money can be a boon to help start and grow their business without worrying about trying to pay back banks and investors.

Getting government small business grants aren’t as hard as some people make it out to be. By following some basic tips you can streamline the process by knowing what you need before beginning the application process. There is normally quite a bit of paper work to fill out so it pays to make sure you have all the necessary information before you get started. It is also important to realize that applying for and getting approval for a government business loan can take some time and there is not much you can do to speed up the process so it pays to be patient.

To successfully apply for and receive government small business grants you need to research the grant or grants you are interested in. Learn everything you can about the agency that is providing the grant, the required information they will need, how the approval process works and the timelines of everything from when the paper work needs to be submitted to how long the approval process takes.

There are two basic things that you need to do to ensure that your grant request will be taken seriously and increase the chances of approval. First make sure all the required forms are filled out accurately and completely. Up to date information is also a must and nothing sends your request to the shredder quicker then missing or incorrect information.  Read more...

The South African city of Cape Town remains in the radar screen of most tourists these days despite of the worldwide economic difficulties that cut into tourism and vacation budgets. This continuing popularity arises from the many tourist bargains that could be had in Cape Town. For instance, there are many B&Bs;, as well as self-catering establishments, where visitors on a tight travel budget could stay.

Touring Cape Town on their own even without the luxury of tourist guides is quite easy for visitors as the city is a friendly place for tourists. One can design an itinerary in order to maximize the places of visit especially if the time for the stay is limited. With an international driving license, it would be possible to rent a car and take a peninsula tour, driving along Champan’s Peak Drive, a narrow thoroughfare linking Hout Bay with Noordhoek which affords panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains nearby. Alternatively, a visitor could either hike up or drive to Signal Hill to enjoy fantastic sceneries offered by the City Bowl and Table Mountain.

The Cape Town visitor is also never far away from a beach because of the city’s unique coastal geography. Within a day, it is possible to visit several beaches, each offering its own charming atmosphere. Wallowing in warmer waters is ideal at False Bay. There tourist can swim at waters up to 10 °C than beaches at the Atlantic Coast. Cape Town beaches located along the Atlantic are have colder water because of the passing Benguela current which flows from the Southern Ocean. The water temperature difference notwithstanding, beaches at both False Bay and those at the Atlantic Coast are popular to locals and visitors alike.

The better developed beach resorts with cafes, bars and restaurants could be found on the Atlantic Coast area like those in Clifton and Camp Bay. Observing wildlife is another beach attraction which could be enjoyed at Simon’s Town’s Boulders Beach which is home to a colony of African penguins. For spectator sport, there could be a surfing competition or two to watch, particularly if the visitor’s stay is timed during the Big Wave Africa event which Cape Town hosts annually.  Read more...