A passenger arrives at the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport in southern England.Luke Macgregor
At the airport
London's Gatwick airport has credited a seven-year-old boy with co-designing a new children's security walk-through. As a thank you, Ross Sandwell got to cut the ribbon to open the airport's 19-lane security zone. The youngster's classmates also contributed layout ideas. Children now enter security through a 2.4-metre-high castle and meet their parents at the other end. Two security lanes are reserved for families and for passengers with reduced mobility. The design is intended to reduce stress.
On the job
Canadians, Americans, Japanese and Koreans are among the world's most vacation-deprived people, according to a 20-nation survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Expedia. Albertans suffer the most in this country, using only 15 of their 20 vacation days. Residents of the Prairies take all 20 days they earn, while those in Ontario and B.C. earn and use 15. Lucky Europeans earn 25 to 30 days and take them all. The survey also noted that 62 per cent of Canadians phone or e-mail the office while on vacation.
With the grandkids
Bringing the kids and grandkids is one of the hottest trends in leisure travel, according to research by the upscale Preferred Hotel Group. The reasons: Families are often spread out geographically; work is impinging on evenings and weekends; and boomers have the money, health and time for travel. The typical multigenerational traveller takes 4.4 trips a year – 22 per cent more than other vacationers. They are also more likely to travel internationally. The trips often centre around a birthday, anniversary, family reunion or wedding.
Sources: Gatwick, Expedia, Preferred Hotel Group
Special to The Globe and Mail