No.1 Traveller opens at Birmingham Airport

Last Monday afternoon made my way to Birmingham Airport with my passport in hand.

Some of the destinations I could have jetted off to...

I made my way to the the rendezvous point and handed over my passport, but I wasn't about to board a plane,  I was going to the opening of Birmingham Airport's sparkling brand new  No.1 Traveller lounge which promises travellers an up-scale pre-flight experience. 

I couldn't wait! 

At the entrance to the lounge guests are greeted with a wall of Rosemary.

Here's a panoramic view of just one part of the lounge. Behind me was the dining area and to my left a very well stocked bar.

This lounge is the largest within Birmingham Airport. The windows look out over the run way so you can chill out and watch the airport action as you wait for your flight.

And there is a mezzanine level too! One of the things I tend to naturally check out is the easy access to power supply and you will never be short of somewhere to charge your phone or laptop. They have power points on the walls, by the chairs, on the floor. Great planning there!

Want to get into work mode or have a meeting. Step into the office space! And if you want a more private area to have a meeting there is actually a meeting room you can use as well. 

 

Part of the the dining area. Complimentary food and drink are included in the price of entry into the lounge. 

For example, at breakfast you can chose from a range of pastries, cereals, fruit salad and granola. 

At lunchtime there is salads and soups, bread, cheese, cakes, and fruit, and served all day are sausage or bacon rolls, poached egg pot and Welsh rarebit. I tried the fresh fruit salad and it was the freshest and nicest I have ever tasted, and I saw the bacon roll and poached egg pot being served and they looked amazing. 

And not forgetting that there are complimentary drinks too! Take your pick - tea, coffee, juices, soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits! 

Set your laptop up and you are good to go with fast, free wifi included too. 

The bowler hats again, just because...they are bowler hat lamps!

Councillor Ken Hawkins, the Mayor of Solihull attended the official opening. The new lounge has created 20 new jobs for the area. 

It's not often a girl gets a chance to don this much bling, and Ken was kind enough to obliged. Just for a minute though!

It's hard to say what my favourite thing about the new lounge is. It's been so well designed. 

Would I go book into the lounge next time I catching a flight? Yes! In fact, what I think I might well do is arrive even earlier to the airport so I can enjoy spending longer in there - it's really that nice! 

The lounge is open to anyone. All you do is book the lounge online for £22.50 or pay £27.50 on the door. Note the dress code. I think it provides really good value for money too. If you are waiting at the airport you could easily spend the cost of entry to the lounge on food, drinks and magazines/papers etc. I'd say check into the lounge and really relax whilst you are waiting to jet off. The trouble is, you might get too comfy and miss your plane! :) 

No.1 Traveller website and twitter

Birmingham Airport website and twitter 

Say hello on twitter @karenstrunks

Midlands Media Awards 2012

I had a great reason to get glammed up last week - The Midlands Media Awards!

I can't believe this is the 4th year I've attended the event, the first time was in 2009 when I was finding my feet with my photography career and had just started the 4am Project. 

The Midlands Media Awards is one of the highlights on the Birmingham Press Club's events calender, it's sponsored by Birmingham Airport.

And a big Thank You to Birmingham Airport for inviting me as their guest. It was great to see the team again and I was over the moon with having (I think!) the best seat in the house!

I made a Quick Video Of Ed James from Heart FM opening the awards.



Well done to all the winners! I hope next year the Press Club will have a 'Best Hyperlocal Website' category! :)

Storify of some twitpics of the awards winners of the night.

Winding down for the rest of the year

Or that was the plan. But it hasn't really work out that way. It's my own fault. I find it hard to slow down. Besides, what would I do if I wasn't doing the things I love?

Having said that I've blocked out 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year and there's NOTHING in my diary! And I have the best intentions of keeping it that way. No schedule. No appointments. No commitments. No nothing. Looking back this year, I've only had one week off and even then I was away somewhere or other. I'd like to think I'll spend my two weeks off chilling at home and watching films and pottering about. Let's see what happens with that idea, ha!

A quick blast of some of the highlights of Nov and this month so far.

Fierce Earth Course.

This was 2x two days away at the Stratford Manor Hotel (4 stars! yay). I could write a years worth of blog posts about this course I'm sure. If Fierce Earth run the course again, try and get on it. Before I went on it, I asked an attendee from a previous Metapod course what they thought of it, and would they recommend it - "It's changed my life!" they responded. What a testimonial! But do you know what, I can understand it. It's helped me shape a sharper picture of my work, ideas and business. Things that have been milling around in my mind for the past year are now taking shape with more clarity and focus. If I could do the course again, I would.

talk about local 

Myself and Nicky delivered a workshop on hyperlocal blogging in Evesham which went really well and all the participants were up and running by the end of the day. We also had a big team visit to That London. We are quite geographically dispersed as a team, and while it's great to be able to work from anywhere, it's always fab to get together offline too.

York

I've already blogged about a ace weekend I had in York with my mum. We are aiming for a weekend away together in Canterbury next year!

Birmingham Youtube Gathering


A couple of weeks ago I popped along to my first youtube meetup. It was really well attended (over 50!). It was held over the Saturday and Sunday, but I just went on the Saturday afternoon. If you love youtube and love meeting up offline watch out for the next one in 2012. Keep an eye on @chapperztv @jordanngv @gordycamp as they are the organisers. If you can't see my video here, pop over to youtube



Birmingham Social Media Cafe

I held the last Birmingham Social Media Cafe event of 2011. Christmas is in the way of this month, but the cafe is back on 27th January! If you haven't been before, please come along! It's held on the last Friday of every month and it's for anyone with an interest in social media, whether you use it for work or play. It's a great place to meet people offline, make new friends and connections. It's also a really casual and friendly event. You can follow BSMC on twitter @birminghamsmc and join the 500+ member facebook group too! Meegloo is sponsoring coffees in January. Check it out - it's a fab, free, social media app for your iphone, ipad or ipod. If you or your company would like to sponsor coffees (up to £200) at a social media cafe event next year, just give me a shout. It's a great way to reach the social media community in Birmingham!

Birmingham Airport's Christmas Drinks

My first Christmas 'do' of the season! It was held at Hotel Du Vin in the city centre. I've done some social media reporting for the airport on my press trips so it was really nice to get an invite to the night. There was a mix of airports, airlines, media peeps, press and travel bloggers there and it was a fab night out.

Fierce Earth's Christmas drinkies

As this post is a bit devoid of photos - The People's Shop festive window display!

And that brings us up to last night! This get together was for all the peeps that went on the Metapod course this year and was held at The People Shop in Kings Heath. I had my first mulled wine of the season and it was lovely to catch up with peeps and get an inspiration fix.

This week coming is nice and varied. Sunday lunch with a friend. A meeting about Birmingham and mapping city council service request data. A twitter Secret Santa meet up. A day delivering social media training.

In the meantime I'll leave you with one of my fav Christmas songs! Christmas doesn't officially start until my friend Midge posts this video! :)

Prague Press Trip - Day 2 - Walking Tour, Dining Al Fresco and The Augustine Hotel

After a good first nights sleep in Jalta Hotel and a hearty breakfast, I wrapped up warmly and met our tour guide for a 2 hour walking tour of Prague City which Czech Tourism had arranged for our group of travellers. Conveniently our tour started on Wenceslas Square. This is how it used to look in the olden days.

What our tour guide didn't know about Prague! As we walked through Wencenslas Square she pointed out various buildings, all of which had a story to tell.

I particularly liked the decorations on the buildings.

And I even learnt about the Czech Cubism movement that was particularly active between 1910-1914. And there is even a cubist museum in the heart of the Old Town where you can learn about the movement and see examples of the work, and there is a shop where you can buy original and reproduction pieces.

We wandered the cobbled streets and reached Charles Bridge. As you would expect, this is a particularly tourist laden area!

Hello! :)

The bridge is lined with little stalls selling photographs, drawings and jewellery.

It is also lined with about 30 statues!

This chap below is John Of Nepomuk and he is a saint. In 1393 he was thrown off the bridge to his death as order by King Wenceslas!

We stepped down from Charles Bridge and wandered a little further across another bridge. The railings on the bridge were adorned with hundreds of locks, many of which had love hearts and initials carved into them. Peering through the railings there was a little golden imp guarding the water way.

A little further was a wall covered in graffiti, and I think is known as the John Lennon Wall. Most of it was done in tribute to John Lennon, though after seeing this, it is suprising to hear that Mr Lennon never actually visited Prague.

After building up quite an appetite with a few hours walking around the city, it was time for a spot of lunch. We went to Kampa Park which is just at the foot of Charles Bridge on the 'other side' (not the Old Town side!).

Despite it being a bit chilly we opted to dine outside. The restaurant had thoughtfully provided some blankets which we put over our knees!

This was our view.

I selected a salad of seared tuna, with mango, tomato, avocado, spinach and sea weed. My fellow travellers were more sensible and had something warm!

Hurrah! Al fresco!

After lunch we went our separate ways, and I took a stroll through the narrow cobbled streets and did a good deal of window shopping.

A night out had been arrange for us, so I took the chance to have a little nap before the evening began, and I know I wasn't the only one to do that!

We had been invited to dinner at The Augustine Hotel. I bought a new dress just for the occasion!

A coach collected us from the hotel and about 10 minutes later we had arrived at The Augustine.

I believe it's a 5* hotel. And it deserves every star. Very impressive! I really want to stay here on my next vist to Prague *hint* ;)

It has 101 bedrooms and 16 suites. It used to be a monestary and the monks used to brew their own beer here. There are still some monks living on the site.

We had a champagne reception. I could really get used to this treatment!

John Morris, Head of Industry Affairs at Birmingham Airport, me, and Julian Carr, bmibaby's Managing Director.

Some of us took the opportunity to have a little tour of the hotel and it's rooms.

They were AMAZING! What luxury! Apparently a lot of movie & music stars stay here when visiting Prague and I'm not surprised.

We then went to the Brewery Bar which is like an underground cave, but MUCH nicer! We stayed here until about midnight enjoying the gorgeous buffet. The chef even accomodated my wheat/diary free diet. It was a very nice evening and a good chance to meet my co travellers.

A few of us shared a taxi back to the hotel, but the night was still young! I just had to treat myself to a cocktail (a Manhattan) before retiring! ;)

Prague Press Trip - Day 1

Multiple alarms where needed for my early start to Day 1 of my press trip to Prague!






I hadn't quite finished my packing from the night before, 6 pairs of shoes, 6 outfits, and the rest of my haul needed for 48 hours in Prague! I wonder if I will ever learn to travel light? ;)




Birmingham Airport had kindly allocated an airport parking space for me. This is the first time I have parked at an airport, normally relying on lifts or taxi's to and fro. However, getting myself to the airport and not having to worry whether a taxi would turn up on time (taxi's have failed me before on airport trips!) made it for a much more relaxing start to the weekend.




I found a nice space for Bumble (yes, that's my car's name!), said my goodbye's to her and headed for the bmibaby desk to meet my fellow press trippers. I made it there spot on the meeting time of 8am with only one traveller there before me!

Ten minutes later and the whole group had arrived, about 28 of us altogether! It was quite an impressive mix of people from the world of newspapers, tv, radio, pr. Introductions were made and lots of "good mornings".

I was asked quite a few times.... "And who are you writing for?"


"Um...me!"



We were also greet by Naomi Bustin from bmibaby and Rick Wheeldon from Mere PR who were looking after the group for the weekend and making sure everything ran to plan.



Justine Hunt from Birmingham Airport came and greeted us too, and within minutes a bmibaby desk had opened up just for us!



Did I tell you this was a VIP weekend? Oh yes!







With our luggage smoothly checked in, Justine escorted us through airport security. I forgot myself and was just about to take a photo, when an attentive security guard stopped me just in time!


Birmingham Airport is having a make over right now. Not only have they done away with Terminal 2, and just made it one terminal now (which does make it easier for travellers), they have really improved the security check in area.


I'm sure they won't mind me saying that the previous security area was a bit cramped and a bit hard on the eye, lit by artificial light. Now, however, it's been opened right up, with a wall of windows letting in tons of natural light along the length of approx 15 security check in points. It's much roomier too, so even if there are queues, you won't feel squashed in the area.



Not only that, but there is going to be a big brand new duty free shopping area too!









Justine took us through to the Executive Area. This is a much more comfortable waiting area which free drinks on offer (including alcohol!), sweet and savoury snacks, and a wide range of newspapers and magazines.









After a few minutes relaxing I soon remembered that the duty free shops were near by!

Prada baby!



It wasn't long before the group was gathered up and taken to our bmibaby plane. As VIP-ers we were the last to board.

Our bmibaby pilots Alex and Mike obliged my photo request!

Just over two hours later and we had landed safely in Prague Airport.

We were then escorted into the VIP area of Prague airport and given a short presentation, and provided with a lunch time buffet.

I then took the opportunity to explore the VIP area!

It was very nice. Quite sophisticated.

We were also given a press pack with facts and figures about the airport, and it included this lovely compass! I've given it to my step dad as a gift as he appreciates a really nice compass.

Czech Tourism provided a lovely big coach to take us to our hotel on Wenceslas Square. I took a seat at the front as I wanted to take all the scenery in en route.

John Morris, who is Birmingham Airport's Head of Government & Industry Affairs took to the mic and welcomed us to our weekend in Prague.

I captured some of the journey through the countryside, suburbs and Prague city centre and made a short video.

At around 4pm we arrived at our hotel for the next 2 nights. The Jalta Hotel is a 4*boutique hotel right in the middle of Wenceslas Square in the heart of Prague city.

I was really impressed with the check in. When nearly 30 of us arrived, I took a seat in the reception area and settled down for about a 30 minute wait to check myself in. But there was no time to get comfy, within about 10 minutes we all had our room keys!

When I checked in the first thing I question I asked was about the wifi. Was it free? Was it fast? Yes and yes. I have to say, this was the best free wifi I have experienced in a hotel. What a refreshing change!

And so with that, I checked in, and before I even opened my suitcase I recorded a video tour of my hotel room, with a balcony view over Wenceslas Square!

I had time to sit down and chill out, and get online and tweet of course. Then I took a walk to Charles Bridge with John Morris and his wife.

It was a bright and crisp in the early evening with the sun getting ready to set. We wandered along the cobbled streets (not great for high heels ladies!), got a little lost on the way, and took in what Prague had to offer.

I stopped to take a few photos when we got to Charles Bridge and said goodbye to John and his wife and meandered back in the direction of the hotel, and promptly got lost! But in a city like Prague it's nice to get lost....

I sourced a nice dinner, and then picked up a treat....

...and settled into my hotel room for the night in readiness for my first full day in Prague :)

Thank you to...