Things to consider when choosing a travel agency
EditorialRoom 14th July 2024
So, you’re planning your long-awaited holiday? Traveling is an exhilarating adventure but can also be a complex and overwhelming process. The first step is to find a reliable travel agency that can offer best service, value, and support for your travel needs. Just follow these tips to ensure your journey will be stress-free and more enjoyable. Seek out local businesses There’s no substitute for the personal touch, so if possible, stay local. They speak your language and you can check if they have all the necessary legal accreditations and certifications with the appropriate government authorities before moving forward. Plus you support small businesses in your communities. Think about your destination Another way to find a travel agent is to seek one out based on where you want to go. You’ll likely want to work with an agency that even if they have never gone on a personal vacation in your
Read MoreHow to land a new job you want
EditorialRoom 12th July 2024
Feeling unfulfilled and unmotivated at work? Looking to land a new role? Your success depends largely on hiring trends and the economy but with the right preparation your dream can become your reality. Job hunting can be challenging and time-consuming but regardless of where you’re applying, there are certain things you can do to increase your chances of getting hired. Lean On Your Network Not all jobs are made public. Utilise your network, let friends, ex-colleagues, family know that you’re looking for a new position. Do your research Learn all about the company and position you’re applying for, and then learn some more. Delve into the company’s culture, values, and reputation. Understand their mission and vision to ensure alignment with your own goals and values. Update your resume Don’t use the same resume for all jobs. Different roles will require different skill sets, so brush it up. The more you
Read MoreTop tips to sell your property faster
EditorialRoom 11th July 2024
Selling a house is a major undertaking and can be surprisingly time-consuming. It requires planning, paperwork and, yes, money. So it makes sense to stay organized, especially if you have no experience as a home seller. Here’s our selling checklist with everything you need to know to avoid mistakes. Keep your emotions in check It can feel like an invasion of privacy when strangers open your closets and poke around. Distance yourself from the emotional aspects of selling the property and stay focused on the business aspect. Do your research Before you sell your house, get to know the local market inside out and get your property valued properly to save time and money. Then set a competitive asking price. Remember buyers will probably try to negotiate a discount. Choose a real estate agent It’ll cost you in commission, but agents have more experience negotiating home sales, are familiar with
Read MoreTourism receives €572 bn GVA across the EU in 2019
EditorialRoom 25th April 2023
In 2019, the last year before the Covid-19 heavily hit the tourism sector, the gross value added (GVA) directly generated by tourism amounted to an estimated €572 billion, or 5% of the total gross value added in the EU economy, according to Eurostat. Among the countries for which data are available, the highest shares of tourism in total gross value added were observed in Croatia (11%), Portugal (8%), Spain (7%), Italy (6%) and Austria (5%). In absolute terms, the highest tourism direct gross value added was generated in Germany (€124 billion), followed by Italy (€100 billion) and France (€87 billion). Based on 2020 data for around half of the EU countries, total direct gross value added dropped by €184 billion ( 32% compared with 2019) during the first year affected by the pandemic, causing a decrease in the share of the tourism sector in the economy (-1 percentage point; pp).
Read MoreUK housing market still cautious RICS says
EditorialRoom 13th April 2023
House prices in the UK are expected to continue to drop despite surveyors’ expectations that the housing market will stabilise over the next 12 months, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ (Rics) monthly survey has shown. The study which measures the proportion of surveyors reporting new buyer inquiries against those saying they fell, shows a score of -29% for surveyors reporting a fall in demand in March, almost flat on the -30% recorded in February. A minus score means there was a higher proportion of surveyors reporting a fall than a rise. The survey findings also show agreed sales slipped to -31%, down from -25% in February, although still less negative than the -43% reported last October in the wake of Liz Truss’ disastrous mini-budget. Near-term expectations point to sales remaining under pressure over the next few months, returning a net balance of -29%. Nevertheless, this is less downcast than
Read MoreSales of luxury homes drop 28.1% in the U.S.
EditorialRoom 16th October 2022
Luxury U.S. homes purchases fell 28.1% year over year during the three months ending Aug. 31, 2022, according to a new report from Redfin, as rising interest rates, inflation, a tepid stock market and economic uncertainty are causing luxury buyers to back off. That’s the biggest decline since at least 2012, eclipsing the 23.2% plunge that occurred when the onset of the Covid-19 brought the housing market to a near standstill roughly two years ago, the real estate brokerage revealed. “High-end-house hunters are getting sticker shock when they see the impact of rising mortgage rates on paper. For a luxury buyer, a higher interest rate can equate to a monthly housing bill that’s thousands of dollars more expensive,” Fairweather said. “Someone who was in the market for a $1.5 million home last year may now have a maximum budget of $800,000 thanks to higher mortgage rates. Luxury goods are often
Read MoreEurozone sees fall in construction output
EditorialRoom 18th February 2022
Production in the construction sector in the eurozone dropped 4% in December 2021 compared to November, according to first estimates from Eurostat. In the whole of the European Union (EU), construction output was off 3.1% on a monthly basis, the statistical office of the bloc said on Friday (Feb. 18). Compared to December 2020, production in construction decreased by 3.9% in the Eurozone and by 1.8% in the EU. The annual average production in construction for the year 2021, compared with 2020, was up by 5.2% in the euro area and by 4.8% in the EU. Monthly comparison by construction sector and by Member State In the eurozone in December 2021, compared with November 2021, building construction decreased by 4.5% and civil engineering by 1.9%. In the EU, building construction decreased by 3.6% and civil engineering by 1.3%. Among Member States for which data are available, the largest monthly decreases
Read MoreSouth Korea Business Sentiment Index drops
EditorialRoom 27th January 2022
South Korea’s Business Survey Index (BSI) on manufacturing business conditions was 90 in January, down 5 points from the previous month, the Bank of Korea said on Thursday (Jan. 27). The outlook for the following month also fell by 2 points to 90. A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists. The fall is attributed to the prospect for sluggish demand in the electronic, video, communication equipment and metal processing sectors. The Business Survey Index (BSI) is compiled to grasp the business conditions for the current month and their outlook for the month following, by conducting surveys on entrepreneurs’ perceptions of them. A total of 15 items, including business conditions, sales and profitability, are surveyed at 3,255 corporations. In the non-manufacturing sector, the BSI on business conditions for January 2022 was 83, up 1 point from the previous month, and the outlook for the following month also rose by 4
Read MoreLabour market recovery slow and uncertain
EditorialRoom 18th January 2022
Global unemployment is expected to remain above pre-COVID-19 levels until at least 2023, according to the ILO World Employment and Social Outlook – Trends 2022. The 2022 level is estimated at 207 million, compared to 186 million in 2019. The WESO Trends report warns of the stark differences in the impact the crisis is having across groups of workers and countries. These differences are deepening inequalities within and among countries and weakening the economic, financial and social fabric of almost every nation, regardless of development status. This damage is likely to require years to repair, with potential long-term consequences for labour force participation, household incomes and social and – possibly – political cohesion. The effects are being felt in labour markets in all regions of the world, although a great divergence in recovery patterns can be observed. The European and the North American regions are showing the most encouraging signs
Read MoreHungary’s automotive production drops 15.1%
EditorialRoom 13th January 2022
Hungary’s output of automotive manufacturing, representing 23% of the country’s manufacturing output (having the largest weight) fell by 15.1% year-on-year in November 2021, a second estimate of the Central Statistics Office (KSH) showed. The decline was mainly caused by the fact that, due to the global semiconductor shortage, factories were working at lower capacity or on a one shift basis. The volume of motor vehicles manufacturing dropped by 11.5% while the manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles decreased by 21%. The KSH confirmed the volume of industrial production grew by 2.6% year-on-year in November 2021. Based on working-day adjusted data production rose by 2.1%. According to seasonally and working-day adjusted data industrial output was 2.9% higher than in October 2021. The detailed data also showed the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products accounting for almost 12% of manufacturing declined too, by 2.1%, due to the microchip shortage. On the
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