London Wine Week 2014

London Wine Week starts on Monday - it’s time to start planning!. When you're not using your wristband to enjoy £5 glasses of wine on the self-guided Wine Tours, book into one of the London Wine Week events. Here's a pick of the best:

7-Day Challenge to Live Like You!

In support of World MS Day, Novartis announced today the launch of the 7-Day Challenge to Live Like You for people with MS.

Using wearable technology or accessing personal online systems that people use on a daily basis, including calendars, social media channels and fitness trackers, people with MS are invited to track their activities for seven days and gain valuable insights into what works best for their lifestyle.

This year's World MS Day campaign focuses on 'access'. Importantly, the topic of access spans beyond access to treatment in MS. Increasingly, there is a need for access to relevant and personalized online information that allows people to utilize available tools in order to make adjustments that can help them to manage their MS in a way that best suits their lifestyle.

Access For Disabled

A mother of three suffering from Motor Neurone Disease, a progressive disease which attacks the nerves of the brain and spinal cord, has founded a brand new charity to tackle the ever growing need for better facilities for the physically disabled in the UK.  The Association for the Independence of Disabled People (AID) aims to improve the life of the disabled with better access in public buildings and on transport and there are plans to launch an annual ‘Disabled Day’ to raise national awareness.

 

Food Glorious Food! #Devon

Feeling hungry and want to experience new tastes? Head to Devon this weekend for a food festival fiesta!

Mobilty Insurance Firm Created

An Insurance firm has been created as a direct response to disappointment with the range and quality of mobility equipment insurance products currently available.

Mark Effenberg ‘s son has cerebral palsy and uses powered mobility equipment so he developed Blue Badge Mobility.

The company will provide policies covering use, protection and liability relating to scooter, wheelchair and home equipment, and will price-match like-for-like policies currently on the market. Other care-related insurance products will be launched throughout 2014 - all aimed at people who want to remain independent and receive care at home, and for those that care for them.

Typical guideline premium prices will be £24 a year for wheelchair cover, and from £59 for electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

"We simply do not have the overheads of the big insurers - and that means we can pass on cost savings to customers," said Mark.

All Britain's Are Scaredy Cats?

Nearly two thirds (64%) of British adults perceive themselves to be a fearless adventurous type of person. However, a new study by Travelodge has revealed we’re actually a nation of scaredy cats, as only 29% of Britons has actually had the courage to take on an adventurous activity.

In response to this misconception and to celebrate it’s new ‘Get Up & Go’ campaign, Travelodge has commissioned the UK’s first series of interactive 3D adventure postcards. This offers Britons a unique opportunity to be photographed doing an adventurous adrenaline rush activity but with two feet firmly on the ground.      

The postcard pictures have been created using 3D street art, which is an optical illusion designed to trick the mind into believing that a two dimensional painting is a three dimensional object. This is created by using the laws of diminishing or expanding perspective which tricks the mind and creates the illusion of depth and height within a picture.

 

The 6m x 3m x 2m bespoke floor to wall 3D interactive picture postcards are being trialled at Britain’s busiest railway station, London Waterloo today, Thursday 22^nd May 2014, from 6am to 7pm. Members of the public will be given a unique opportunity to be photographed abseiling down the iconic White Cliffs of Dover which represent a drop of 350ft and also be captured jet skiing along one of the world’s most famous rivers, The Thames against the iconic London skyline.

Modern Marco Polo 2014 Found

A global search has led to one lucky recruit landing their dream job and becoming the Modern Marco Polo.

After a worldwide campaign, 26-year-old London man Liam Bates has been named as the new ambassador for the city of Hangzhou in China. He follows in the footsteps of legendary Italian traveler Marco Polo, who visited Hangzhou in the 13th Century.

Liam has secured a €40,000 salary and will spend a year promoting Hangzhou on social media, with the aim of encouraging more visitors to the city in south eastern China. He was crowned the Modern Marco Polo at a lavish ceremony on the banks of the Grand Canal in Hangzhou at the start of his own personal 19-day tour of the city and surrounding area. The tour will include a four-day trip along the canal and activities based around topics such as tea, silk, traditional medicine and the art of sigillography (seal carving).

 This is the first time that a global recruitment campaign has been held to find a foreign ambassador for a Chinese city. The “Be the Modern Marco PoloProgram” was launched by the Hangzhou Tourism Commission’s Facebook page in March 2013 and subsequently attracted 26,000 applications from hopefuls wishing to get the chance to learn more about China and its cultural highlights.

 The campaign included a Hangzhou quiz and Travel Gear challenge, as well as four online experience sessions connected to Hangzhou and China: My Chinese Name, My Chinese Menu, My Chinese Costume and My Chinese Love Story. Candidates had to complete a minimum of three challenges and were also required to submit their CVs to apply. After short listing five candidates, each of whom posted their own video on social media and outlined their plans for the job, it was Liam who was chosen to represent Hangzhou.The success of the Modern Marco Polo campaign led to Hangzhou being the most Googled destination in China in 2013.