For those travelling to France this year, Paris has recently launched the ‘Yes I Speak Touriste‘ app to help travellers with the language barrier. The free app features an interactive map, directing tourists to local hotels, shops or restaurants that have staff that can speak foreign languages. The application was created by the Paris tourist board and Paris area’s chamber of commerce and industry in a bid to ‘make the French more welcoming’ and encourage locals to communicate with tourists. With over 500 shops speaking a range of nine languages, the app should help tongue-tied tourists find their way around the city.
Jet Blue released the fifth instalment of its latest Flight Etiquette campaign this week to show travellers how not to behave at the airport. The short humorous clip exaggerates the rush to get onto an aeroplane and was launched on Jet Blue’s Twitter account along with the caption ‘we promise – the plane won’t leave without you’. The video covers a number of airport taboos such as; trying to get on the plane before your row is called and blocking other passengers. ‘¨’¨Apple Pay launched in UK this week offering users the chance to pay for items with their iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple iWatch. Users are required to add their payment card details to the platform and can then hold the handset on a card reader and use the iPhone’s fingerprint scanner to make payment. The #ApplePay hashtag has seen a mixed response on Twitter, with some users praising the new service and others complaining that their banks’ are not compatible with the service. More than 250,000 shops and services across the UK now accept payment through Apple Pay including; Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Transport for London.
And finally, a recent survey has suggested that we are easily influenced by social media when it comes to travel plans. It says 49% of us have altered travel activities based on social media posts, however word of mouth still remains the number one influencer, as 51% that they like to get thoughts on where to go, stay and eat on trips from social media.
