Border Agency Staff To Strike

Now that the bus drivers have accepted their Olympic bribe, step forward Border Agency staff and others who also want a share of the Olympic pie.

Thousands of staff at the Home Office have voted to go on strike. Dates have not been set, however there is the prospect of strikes affecting the London 2012 Olympic Games, because Border Agency staff are involved.

The question is, if Border Agency staff do go on strike, will the hapless passengers arriving at Heathrow notice any difference?

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Heathrow The National Disgrace of Olympic Proportions

This time last week I wrote the following about our national disgrace of an airport that is Heathrow:

"It seems that Heathrow is in meltdown yet again and, despite the media firestorm over April's clusterfuck, ministers and those in charge of passport checks etc have not yet learned their lesson."

One week on and things at Heathrow are still no better, as Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, can attest to. He paid Heathrow Terminal 4 a visit today and was less than impressed with the ongoing clusterfuck.

The Telegraph reports that Vaz said people were left “stacked” in corridors at 7am:

"I was appalled by the length of queues in the immigration hall this morning

It is now two months since the Immigration Minister promised additional resources and better management. 

The worst aspect was that half of the immigration desks were simply not opened even though the Border Force had prior knowledge of all flight arrivals. 

This creates additional security pressures with luggage piling up in the baggage hall.

We had people waiting in the corridors at the busiest international airport in the world.”

To add to the humiliation, BAA claim that the Border Force yet again failed to meet its 45 minute maximum waiting time target for passengers from the European Economic Area (the EU plus Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway).

It is quite clear that Heathrow will not be able to cope during the Olympics, therefore those who can change their travel plans are strongly advised to avoid London airport at all costs during the games!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Olympic Damp Squib

The Independent reports that the hoped for Olympics greedfest (hoped for by those with their snouts in the trough) has not materialised, and that the forthcoming Games look like turning into a financial damp squib.

"Hotel prices have been slashed, and thousands of tickets remain unsold. Olympic package holidays are being flogged at half price and flats near the stadium languish unrented. It looks like the Olympic bubble could well have burst. 

With a surplus of top-end tickets and VIP packages, ticketing and travel companies have slashed prices in a last-minute effort to fill spaces."

This comes as no surprise whatsoever, as in February I wrote:

"Locog have had to publicly humiliate themselves (not for the first time) by admitting that they had overestimated the number of rooms needed by officials, media, sponsors and assorted freeloaders for the coming games.

By how much did they overestimate the demand?

By a staggering 20%!

Locog have had to hand back 120,000 of the total 600,000 nights booked for the Olympics.

Needless to say this 20% reduction in bookings has given the greedy hotel industry a well deserved kick in the goolies.

Tour operators are now panicking and have warned that the newly available rooms will not boost visitor numbers.

For why?

- the vacancies have come too late
- tourists have been put off by the naked greed of the hotel operators
- tourists have been put off by the transport/travel chaos expected in London during the games

It is estimated that up to one million beds will go unsold over the Olympic period, costing the tourism industry around £3.5BN.

Now who was it who said that the Olympics would be a boon to tourism?

Oh yes, Locog!"

My advice to any tourist brave enough to endure the chaos of London during the Olympics is to negotiate hard with the hotels (who are desperate for business), don't let the greedy bastards get away with overcharging you for a shoddy room and lousy service!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Heathrow Cover Up - A National Disgrace

As loyal readers and hapless Heathrow passengers know, Heathrow's ability to process passenger arrivals in a speedy and efficient manner has collapsed.

This of course could not come at a worse time for the government, as with the Olympics (and Diamond Jubilee) just around the corner the country will be at the centre of the world's media eye just when large numbers of tourist/visitors are expected to pass through Heathrow.

Faced with this collapse of efficient arrivals' processing at Heathrow it seems that, according to the Telegraph, the powers that be within the failing UK Border Agency (UKBA) are trying to cover up their failure.

On Saturday BAA, the owner of Heathrow, tried to issue a leaflet apologising to passengers for the “very long delays” and saying people entering the country “deserved a warmer welcome”.

The leaflet suggested that passengers should complain to the Home Office.

Unfortunately for BAA, Marc Owen the director of UKBA operations at Heathrow, told BAA the leaflet was “inappropriate”.

He made threats to BAA:

“The leaflet is not all right with us. It is both inflammatory and likely to increase tensions in arrivals halls especially in the current atmosphere. 

It is inappropriate in that it is not for you to display how to complain on our behalf. 

Please refrain from handing out [the leaflets] or I will escalate [the matter] with ministers who are likely to take a very dim view. I know there are copies in the hall and your troops are ready with them.”

For good measure he also told BAA to stop passengers taking pictures of the queues in the arrivals hall.

The Daily Telegraph also has in its possession emails from within UKBA detailing the extent of the chaos.

It is quite clear that the current procedures being used at Heathrow to process arrivals are failing, and most certainly will not cope with the forthcoming Olympics.

This is a national disgrace!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Heathrow Clusterfuck

Earlier this month I wrote the following:

"Heathrow believes that its temporary Terminal 6 will be able to cope with the departing Olympics VIPs after the Games.

All very well, if you are a departing VIP. However, what of those coming to the UK before and during the Games?

It seems no one running Heathrow has thought of that. Step forward Culture Select Committee chairman, John Whittingdale, who has pointed out the elephant in the room and said that not enough thought seemed to have been given to ways of coping with long queues at immigration.

Seemingly, the much maligned and inept UK Border Agency (UKBA) is whining that it has insufficient money to open all of its passport stations.

Mr Whittingdale is quoted by the BBC as saying that MPs:

"did not leave the briefing confident that Heathrow was ready to cope with the arrival of a huge number of competitors, Olympic family and visiting tourists in timely fashion.

We understand that significant preparations have been made to accommodate unusual sporting equipment, special lanes for the Olympic family, welcoming arrangements for competitors and additional Olympic ambassadors.

However, far less thought seems to have been given to the issue of how to deal with long queues at immigration.

The UKBA (UK Border Agency) representative suggested that there was insufficient funding to ensure all passport stations would be open.

While visiting tourists will understand that the Olympics is a busy time, if the wait (at immigration) is in excess of an hour it may deter tourists from returning. The second impact may be that planes cannot unload their passengers into the terminal due to capacity being exceeded. This would lead to circling in the air, planes being left on runways or planes blocking gates."

In other words, Heathrow will be more of a shambles than ever during the peak travel season."

It seems, as news reports of 3 hour delays at Heathrow immigration show, that the shambles is already upon us.

Figures obtained by the Daily Telegraph, covering the first two weeks of April, have revealed the extent of the chaos faced by people flying into Heathrow.

Immigration Minister Damian Green was told he will have account for the chaos when he appears before the Home Affairs Select Committee and explain the chronic queues that are doing "huge damage" to Britain's reputation.

There are fears that the problems are tarnishing the UK's image, particularly with the London Olympics only three months away.

Heathrow is a clusterfuck, by anyone's standards!


Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Heathrow Olympics Chaos Predicted

As I noted earlier this month, Heathrow believes that its temporary Terminal 6 will be able to cope with the departing Olympics VIPs after the Games.

All very well, if you are a departing VIP. However, what of those coming to the UK before and during the Games?

It seems no one running Heathrow has thought of that. Step forward Culture Select Committee chairman, John Whittingdale, who has pointed out the elephant in the room and said that not enough thought seemed to have been given to ways of coping with long queues at immigration.

Seemingly, the much maligned and inept UK Border Agency (UKBA) is whining that it has insufficient money to open all of its passport stations.

Mr Whittingdale is quoted by the BBC as saying that MPs:

"did not leave the briefing confident that Heathrow was ready to cope with the arrival of a huge number of competitors, Olympic family and visiting tourists in timely fashion.

We understand that significant preparations have been made to accommodate unusual sporting equipment, special lanes for the Olympic family, welcoming arrangements for competitors and additional Olympic ambassadors. 

However, far less thought seems to have been given to the issue of how to deal with long queues at immigration.

The UKBA (UK Border Agency) representative suggested that there was insufficient funding to ensure all passport stations would be open.

While visiting tourists will understand that the Olympics is a busy time, if the wait (at immigration) is in excess of an hour it may deter tourists from returning.

The second impact may be that planes cannot unload their passengers into the terminal due to capacity being exceeded. This would lead to circling in the air, planes being left on runways or planes blocking gates."

In other words, Heathrow will be more of a shambles than ever during the peak travel season.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Great Escape

Travelex estimates that approximately four million Britons will leave the UK in the five days leading up to the Olympic Games in July.

Many want to escape the visiting crowds and blanket television coverage, as well many just hating sport per se.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympics Greed - Greedy Hoteliers Get Their Fingers Burned

In August last year I wrote the following:

"How "refreshing" to read that, despite the ever worsening global financial situation, the hoteliers of London intend to screw every last penny from visitors to London next year during the Olympics.

The Telegraph reports that London hotels intend to treat tourist as prostrate milch cows eg:

- A double room at the Sheraton Park Tower, in Knightsbridge, this month costs £209 a night. The price quoted for a stay in August next year is £605.

- A night at the West London, in Leicester Square, costs around £290 this August. The same room during the Games will cost just under £540.

- The Berjaya Hotel in Kensington, goes for broke and intends to increase some of its room rates by a factor of 10. Rates typically range from £89 to £199. For every day of the Olympics, the price is £999 a night.

As noted many time before on this site, the Olympics are not about sport but are in fact about money.

Given the ongoing financial turmoil, it is to be hoped that these greedy hoteliers get their fingers well and truly burned for their naked opportunism."

I am therefore very amused to see that those hotel operators who thought that they would make a quick buck out of the London Olympics have had their fingers well and truly burned.

Locog have had to publicly humiliate themselves (not for the first time) by admitting that they had overestimated the number of rooms needed by officials, media, sponsors and assorted freeloaders for the coming games.

By how much did they overestimate the demand?

By a staggering 20%!

Locog have had to hand back 120,000 of the total 600,000 nights booked for the Olympics.

Needless to say this 20% reduction in bookings has given the greedy hotel industry a well deserved kick in the goolies.


Tour operators are now panicking and have warned that the newly available rooms will not boost visitor numbers.

For why?

- the vacancies have come too late
- tourists have been put off by the naked greed of the hotel operators
- tourists have been put off by the transport/travel chaos expected in London during the games

It is estimated that up to one million beds will go unsold over the Olympic period, costing the tourism industry around £3.5BN.

Now who was it who said that the Olympics would be a boon to tourism?

Oh yes, Locog!

My advice to any tourist brave enough to endure the chaos of London during the Olympics is to negotiate hard with the hotels (who are desperate for business), don't let the greedy bastards get away with overcharging you for a shoddy room and lousy service!


Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Thomas Cook

 Given that Thomas Cook is the "Official Provider of Short Breaks to The Olympics", its possible demise (see "The Thomas Cook Affair") will negatively impact the London 2012 games.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Pillock

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt sis so convinced that the London 2012 Olympics will remain within his view of what the budget is (£9BN), that he intends to spend £300M of that money on something else.

On what?

Telling Londoners to leave London and go on holiday in the UK!

Aside from the fact that is is a completely absurd waste of money, Hunt is rather deluding himself about the budget:

1 The current "budget" is in fact £12BN (if you include the running costs).

2 The original budget was around £3BN (£12BN is hardly "within budget" is it?).

3 We are in a recession.

This is a totally daft idea, and a scandalous waste of money!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Olympic Greed

How "refreshing" to read that, despite the ever worsening global financial situation, the hoteliers of London intend to screw every last penny from visitors to London next year during the Olympics.

The Telegraph reports that London hotels intend to treat tourist as prostrate milch cows eg:

- A double room at the Sheraton Park Tower, in Knightsbridge, this month costs £209 a night. The price quoted for a stay in August next year is £605.

- A night at the West London, in Leicester Square, costs around £290 this August. The same room during the Games will cost just under £540.

- The Berjaya Hotel in Kensington, goes for broke and intends to increase some of its room rates by a factor of 10. Rates typically range from £89 to £199. For every day of the Olympics, the price is £999 a night.

As noted many time before on this site, the Olympics are not about sport but are in fact about money.

Given the ongoing financial turmoil, it is to be hoped that these greedy hoteliers get their fingers well and truly burned for their naked opportunism.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"

Tourism To Fall

Despite the recent hype from Visa (predicting an alleged financial benefit to the economy from the 2012 Olympics), more realistic views are that the economy will take a negative hit as tourism will in fact fall.

The Independent reports that London & Partners (the official agency behind promoting tourism for London) has admitted that the 2012 Olympic Games could lead to a fall in visitors to London 2012.

For why?

People do not want to come to a city with over-crowded transport, a lack of/high prices for hotel rooms, and which resembles a building site.

Who blames them for not wanting to come?

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Great Deterrent

The Tourism Minister, John Penrose, has said that hosting the Olympics in 2012 may well put tourists off from coming to Britain.

Penrose is of the view that normal tourists will assume that the country is either full or "closed" during this period.

He is right in so far as he goes. However, the real deterrents to tourists during this period are:

1 The rip off prices and lousy service of London's restaurants, hotels, bars and tourist destinations.

2 London's lousy transport infrastructure.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Tourism Slump Expected

Despite the hype over the benefits of London hosting the Olympics in 2012, the professionals in the tourism industry are not convinced.

The European Tour Operators' Association (Etoa) has published a survey of inbound buyers' forecasts.

Etoa report that 68% of the 200 buyers surveyed expect an average 30% drop in visitors to London in 2012, compared with 2011.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Locog Snubs East End

The London 2012 Olympics organisers (Locog) have managed to ruffle some feathers again, this time they have upset Newham council over plans to change the marathon route.

Locog want to move the finish of the marathon from the stadium in Stratford, East London, to the Mall.

Seemingly Locog want to create the "best experience for spectators and athletics and to profile London".

All very well, but the games were sold to world, and to the people of the East End, on the basis of regeneration and leaving a legacy in the area in which they are being staged (ie Stratford).

By snubbing the area which is having to put up with the disruption of the preparation for the games, and indeed the disruption that the games themselves will cause, Locog are at the very least being insensitive to the residents of Stratford and the East End.

Paul Brickell, Newham Council's executive member for Olympics, is quoted by the BBC:

"The route comes out from Aldgate, through Whitechapel and Stepney and Bow to Stratford and that is a fantastic street with 1,000 years of history.

The stories about that street are incredible and I reckon any marathon commentator could make it really interesting for a world audience.

This is a golden opportunity for those residents to be part of the greatest show on earth for free, on their doorsteps.

If these plans go ahead there will be a lot of disappointed residents in east London."

Tourists, Olympic visitors etc should be given a different perspective of London, other than the standard image portrayed on postcards etc of the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace etc.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Greed Rears Its Head

Bloomberg reports that the 2012 Olympic Games in London are 'distorting' the market for hotel rooms in London.

Tom Jenkins, executive director of the European Tour Operators Association said:

"My members move about 20,000 bed nights in London every night in August.

At the moment, we can't book those bed nights for 2012. That's business that's gone. Once you scare that business away, it’s very difficult to reestablish that pattern."

Unsurprisingly, the London hotel industry cannot resist trying to stick its head as deeply as possible into the Olympics trough.

Doubtless racking up the rates, in the short term, may well provide the hotels with some extra income. However, in the long term the damage done to the hotel industry ("rip off merchants" being the operative phrase) and London's reputation as a tourist destination will be hard to repair.

Naked greed does nothing to help the reputation of the games, the hotel industry or London.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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The Irony

The Telegraph reports that despite, or rather because of, the 2012 Olympics there will in fact be a fall in the number of tourists visiting the UK during 2012.

One reason for the decline being the "rip off" prices charged by hotels and other tourist venues during the games.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Utter Bollocks!

The taxpayer funded national tourism agency VisitBritain has come up with advice, in the from of a guide, on how to interact with those travelling to the UK in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

Included in this nonsense are helpful gems, such as, not mentioning to Mexicans their nation's 1840s' war with the US.

What utter bollocks, and what a spectacular waste of money!

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Incredible Apathy

The CEO of Tavelodge, Grant Hearn, has told the Evening Standard that "the Government is showing incredible apathy" wrt encouraging tourism in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics.

That may well be so.

However, London hotels, restaurants etc could also help the tourism effort by not overcharging customers and providing service/facilities that are world class.

Sadly far too many hotels, restaurants and tourist venues in London are nothing more than rip off joints designed to fleece the hapless tourist.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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Illusory Boost To Tourism

Despite the hype spewed forth by the IOC and politicians as to the tourism benefits arising from hosting the Olympics, the reality is in fact very different.

That at least is the view of the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA).

The association have issued a report that states that the London 2012 Olympic Games may in fact have a "detrimental" impact on tourism in London.

The report notes that cities that host the games suffer a drop in tourism in the years around the event.

ETOA state that London will most likely see a fall of around 2.5 million visitors and a loss of £1.5BN of revenue.

The claims made by politicians, and those with a financial interest in the games, of a boost from the Olympics are "wholly illusory" according to ETOA.

ETOA used data from the past six Olympics to compile the report. All the host cities experienced a major disruption to their normal tourism market, and none showed any obvious signs of tourism growth.

Beijing experienced a fall in international visitor arrivals of 30% in the month before the games.

Sydney lost "significant ground" to other Australian and New Zealand cities.

ETOA Executive Director, Tom Jenkins, is quoted by the BBC:

"We have yet to have a games where tourism has not been disrupted, and disrupted in a way that causes real harm.

Even in the case of Athens, where they carefully restricted new capacity, there were considerable losses before and after the games both in the capital and throughout Greece."

The costs of these ruinous games clearly outweigh the benefits.

Question: Why on earth do cities still compete to hold them?

Answer: The egos of the politicians, and the money to be made by the vested interests (eg multi nationals) with no local stake in the city/country hosting them.

Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics

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