Latest news with #NicholasSmith
Business Insider
01-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
European travel to the US slowed down this year — but travel companies say a summer rebound is already underway
Despite political tensions and growing anti-American sentiment, US travel is holding steady among European tourists — especially when prices drop. From January to April, several major travel platforms observed a slowdown in European bookings to the US. Thomas Cook reported a dip that exceeded typical seasonal fluctuations. "We did observe a softening in bookings to the US between January and April this year — a dip that goes beyond the usual seasonal adjustments," Nicholas Smith, holidays digital director at Thomas Cook and eSky Group, told Business Insider. However, by May, things began to shift. Smith said aggressive pricing strategies, including hotel rate cuts of around 25% and deposits of just over $1, triggered an uptick in bookings. "This has, in turn, helped stimulate demand, particularly among UK travelers adept at spotting good deals," he said. "We expect this rebound to continue into the summer months." Other travel firms echoed that optimism. TravelPerk, which serves business and corporate travelers, said bookings to the US from Europe rose 1% year over year in April, while US to Europe bookings climbed by 14%. Cancellation rates remained stable at 7 to 9%. Etraveli Group, which analyzed bookings through April, found that while demand for flights from the EU to the US declined by 7%, overall trip orders to the US from Europe jumped 19.5% year over year. However, bookings to other intercontinental destinations grew even faster, up 24.3% overall, 29% for Africa, and 25% for Asia. Shorter intra-European trips surged by 29%. Tariff backlash These shifts are unfolding against a politically charged backdrop. President Donald Trump's escalating trade war, with tariffs on EU imports swinging from 20% to 10% and now potentially rising to 50%, has triggered grassroots consumer backlash across Europe. Apps like Brandsnap in the Netherlands and Detrumpify in France are helping Europeans identify US brands to avoid in supermarkets and online. In Denmark, major retailer Salling Group labelled European-made products with black star labels, while Norway's largest oil bunkering operation company, Haltbakk Bunkers, made headlines for briefly refusing to refuel US Navy ships. Meanwhile, high-profile American brands like Tesla and Coca-Cola are already seeing a fallout. Tesla's sales in Europe dropped by 46% between January and April, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, and McDonald's reported a global sales dip linked to "anti-American sentiment," especially in Northern Europe. This behavior may reflect more than a passing political reaction. In its March Consumer Expectations survey, the European Central Bank found that 44% of about 19,000 respondents preferred to switch away from US brands, regardless of tariff levels. The bank warned that this suggested a "possible long-term structural shift in consumer preferences away from US products and brands." It may not be a long-term shift French hotel giant Accor added to the concerns last month. CEO Sébastien Bazin told Bloomberg that summer bookings to the US from Europe were down 25%. Yet, travel industry analysts cautioned against assuming this signals a long-term shift. "While there is evidence of a temporary slowdown at this stage, the combination of price adjustments and strong interest in iconic US destinations suggests the market is poised to recover momentum," said Smith of Thomas Cook. Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of the European Centre for International Political Economy, told BI that politics isn't the only factor deterring travelers. "Some of it is a genuine disinclination against spending your holidays in the US," he said, "but much of it is the fear of harassment at the border."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- BBC News
Nottingham primary schoolteacher used crystal meth at weekends
A "talented" former assistant head teacher has admitted using crystal meth during his time at the Smith, who worked at Southwark Primary School in Basford, Nottingham, used methamphetamine between 2020 and 2022 in a social group setting at Smith, who resigned from the school in October 2022, told the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) he has since moved to London and stopped taking the drug.A TRA panel found him guilty of "unacceptable professional conduct" but ruled a classroom ban was not "proportionate" or "in the public interest". Crystal methamphetamine is a strong and highly addictive manmade drug that affects the central nervous system. There is no legal use for Smith had started at Southwark Primary in 2016 as a teacher before being promoted to assistant head in a year later he began using the drug "at weekends only, in a social group setting" the hearing was told. 'Extremely talented' He took a period of sick leave in 2021, after informing the school, and an action plan was put in place allowing him to return to was no suggestion his drug use impacted his "appearance of professional behaviour", the TRA hearing was praised Mr Smith as "extremely talented" and "a great role model for a lot of other teachers".He was again off work following a relapse in January 2022, and resigned in October of that 2023, Mr Smith has been working as a teacher at a primary in Tower current school is aware of his previous use of "hard drugs", the panel was told.
Hospitality Net
12-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Nicholas Smith has been appointed Vice President at Minor Hotels
Minor Hotels, a global hospitality group that owns and operates over 560 properties in 58 countries, announces the appointment of hotelier Nicholas Smith to its Asia regional leadership team as Vice President of Operations. In this role, Nicholas is responsible for overseeing and strengthening the group's fast-growing portfolio in Asia and leading and mentoring a team of experienced leaders across Asia. Nicholas brings more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to Minor Hotels. He developed his operational expertise at the Shangri-La Group, joining the group in 2008 as a Food & Beverage Manager in Malaysia. Over 15 years, he served in multiple senior leadership positions, including residence, hotel, and general manager roles at Shangri-La and Kerry Hotels properties in China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Most recently, Nicholas was Vice President of Food & Beverage and Operations for MEIA (Middle East, India, Indian Ocean, Europe, and the Americas), where he oversaw the performance of 17 of the group's properties. Nicholas's career also includes roles in food and beverage and event management roles with the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and Savoy Group in London and the United States, and leading the launch of Sindalah Island, NEOM's first luxury island and yacht club destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A British national, Nicholas holds a bachelor's degree in hotel and catering management from Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK.
1News
08-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Lord of the Rings says Australian burger chain name shall not pass
In a battle between a fantasy book franchise and an Australian vegan fast-food chain, who will be named "Lord of the" courtroom? The rights holder of the Lord of the Rings novels and films, Middle-earth Enterprises, has launched another attack to take its precious title. It follows an unsuccessful bid in March, where the franchise attempted to block an Australian vegan hamburger chain from trademarking the words "Lord of the" in its name. Lord of the Fries has been selling items under its name since 2004 and sought to offer plant-based macaroni and cheese under the trademark in 2022. The franchise was in New Zealand from 2016 until last June when its franchisor, Chip Lord NZ, went into liquidation. The case came before a registrar of trademarks in the federal government agency, IP Australia. Middle-earth argued it had been successful in other similar trademark applications made globally, and used the mark to sell various items including boardgames, clothing and toys. But Lord of the Fries said there were many examples of similar marks including Lord of the Pies and the business operated as a niche in an entirely different reputation to the Middle-earth franchise. The registrar delegate, Nicholas Smith, found the names were not deceptively similar and that Middle-earth had cherry-picked evidence in suggesting the connection. The matter has since been escalated to Sydney's Federal Court, after Middle-earth's lawyers filed an appeal against the IP Australia decision on March 25. The grounds for appeal were many and varied, the franchise's lawyer Shauna Ross told Justice Michael Lee. "My client's case is that Your Honour find the mark should be refused," she said today. The grounds for appeal included that Lord of the Fries does not own the trademark and that the IP Australia decision was adverse to Middle-earth, who is the true owner of the mark, Ross said. Justice Lee ordered both parties attend a mediation before June 20. If the case is not resolved through mediation, Justice Lee said he would assign the matter to a referee, who would then prepare a report for the decision. "The reality is, I don't have time to look at this matter this year," he said. Lord of the Fries and Middle-earth Enterprises have been contacted for comment.
Perth Now
08-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Lord of the Rings says burger chain name shall not pass
In a battle between a fantasy book franchise and a vegan fast-food chain, who will be named "Lord of the" courtroom? The rights holder of the Lord of the Rings novels and films, Middle-earth Enterprises, has launched another attack to take its precious title. It follows an unsuccessful bid in March, where the franchise attempted to block an Australian vegan hamburger chain from trademarking the words "Lord of the" in its name. Lord of the Fries has been selling items under its name since 2004 and sought to offer plant-based macaroni and cheese under the trademark in 2022. The case came before a registrar of trademarks in the federal government agency, IP Australia. Middle-earth argued it had been successful in other similar trademark applications made globally, and used the mark to sell various items including boardgames, clothing and toys. But Lord of the Fries said there were many examples of similar marks including Lord of the Pies and the business operated as a niche in an entirely different reputation to the Middle-earth franchise. The registrar delegate, Nicholas Smith, found the names were not deceptively similar and that Middle-earth had cherry-picked evidence in suggesting the connection. The matter has since been escalated to Sydney's Federal Court, after Middle-earth's lawyers filed an appeal against the IP Australia decision on March 25. The grounds for appeal were many and varied, the franchise's lawyer Shauna Ross told Justice Michael Lee. "My client's case is that Your Honour find the mark should be refused," she said on Thursday. The grounds for appeal included that Lord of the Fries does not own the trademark and that the IP Australia decision was adverse to Middle-earth, who is the true owner of the mark, Ms Ross said. Justice Lee ordered both parties attend a mediation before June 20. If the case is not resolved through mediation, Justice Lee said he would assign the matter to a referee, who would then prepare a report for the decision. "The reality is I don't have time to look at this matter this year," he said. Lord of the Fries and Middle-earth Enterprises have been contacted for comment.
