Latest news with #Luxor
Associated Press
11 hours ago
- Associated Press
Memphis Tours Unveils 2025 Egypt Travel Experiences: Journey Through History and Luxury
Memphis Tours launches 2025 Egypt tours where you can get ancient wonders, modern comforts and different landscapes in one trip. The new collection offers experiences across Egypt, combining heritage, discovery and luxury in a way you've never seen before. You get to enter some of Egypt's most iconic sites in unique conditions that offer privacy and depth. They get you into the inner chambers of the Great Pyramid of Giza, a part of the monument that's usually closed to the general public. You also enter restricted tombs on Luxor's West Bank, where the wall paintings and centuries-old artifacts are still intact. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo opens its doors after hours, so you can have a quieter and more personal appreciation of its world-famous collection. Each destination is led by certified Egyptologists who will take you beyond the surface. These experts will provide historical context, decipher hieroglyphics, and answer in-depth questions so you absorb meaning as well as spectacle. Instead of just looking at monuments, you'll get to know their meaning. The Nile River, Egypt's lifeblood, still defines the country's soul and is at the heart of Memphis Tours' experiences. You'll travel on luxury cruise ships with panoramic windows, elegant dining rooms, and private suites. These ships are like a floating hotel and a cultural salon combined. Daily shore excursions will take you to temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo, then to Aswan, where the pace slows down and the landscapes change. Onboard briefings and evening talks will help you understand what you see throughout the journey. Beyond the Nile Valley, Memphis Tours includes routes into the vast and less-travelled Western Desert. White Desert expeditions will introduce you to surreal chalk formations, sculpted naturally into abstract shapes that look like animals and towers. Hot springs and secret oases are along the way, prehistoric rock art is thousands of years old. Local Bedouin will feed you and tell you stories, give you a glimpse into a life adapted to the desert. These carefully managed desert trips are about exploration, not exploitation, and are grounded in cultural respect and environmental awareness. In Egypt's living communities, Memphis Tours includes experiences that connect, educate, and sustain. You'll sit down with Egyptian families for home-cooked meals, watch artisans preserve ancient crafts in local workshops, and walk through active excavation sites with working archaeologists. These programs help you appreciate modern Egypt as much as ancient Egypt and ensure tourism benefits the economy and cultural preservation. Families find thoughtfully designed itineraries for all ages. Younger guests get customized programming that includes camel rides near the Giza Plateau, treasure hunts in temple courtyards, and museum visits that present Egypt's history as a storybook, not a textbook. They pace, content and logistics to suit families with children so learning occurs naturally and memories last forever. They also offer committed photography tours in the 2025 lineup. Such programs provide early morning and sunset access to monuments and temples so that you can photograph without the crowds. You'll be assisted by expert photo guides who will teach you about angle, framing, and timing. These trips combine artistic expression with technical improvement, so you'll get great images and improved skills. For those who want a more exclusive experience, Memphis Tours offers itineraries defined by comfort, discretion, and service. Stays at Egypt's top hotels, including the legendary Old Winter Palace in Luxor and 5* properties along the Red Sea coast, mean you'll be in the best hands. Private vehicles, expert guides and flexible itineraries mean every detail is tailored to you. Some guests enjoy rooftop dinners near the pyramids or private viewings of select exhibits, arranged on request. Every aspect is tailored to your interests and highest standards. The Red Sea is a new destination in the collection. Divers and snorkelers explore coral reefs untouched by development. Guided ocean explorations reveal species' diverse environments under the crystal clear waters. Then, return to coastal resorts where beach peace co-exists with luxury. Spa therapy, wine tasting and cultural tours finish the coastal experience, balancing nature and relaxation. Memphis Tours has sustainability at its heart. Each tour is designed to preserve archaeological sites, support local economies and environmental stewardship. Vehicles follow fuel efficient protocols, visits to heritage sites follow strict preservation guidelines and all programs aim to generate economic opportunities for Egyptians. By putting sustainability at the forefront of what they do, they protect Egypt's cultural heritage and your place in it. They designed their 2025 programs with flexibility and variety in mind. Tour types range from group tours for social discovery to private tours for comfort and independence. Packages include accommodation, transportation, an expert guide, entrance fees, and most meals. Early bird discounts are available until March 31, 2025. Corporate groups, schools, and extended families get personalized pricing and logistical support. Plan your trip with ease on their website, where you can find detailed itineraries, FAQs, and personal consultation tools. Choose from experiences by length, destination, theme, and service level. Whether you're looking for history, nature, family bonding, or luxury retreat, they have a portfolio to match every interest with care and precision. About Us Founded in 1955, Memphis Tours is the first and oldest private tour operator in Egypt. We have offices in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan and a team of certified Egyptologists, travel planners and experienced guides. Our reputation is built on quality, integrity and our ability to adapt to the changing needs of global travelers. By combining local knowledge with global service standards we create meaningful travel experiences that respect Egypt's heritage and welcome the world to come and explore it. Media Contact Company Name: Memphis Tours Contact Person: Soha Elshafey Email: Send Email City: Cairo Country: Egypt Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Memphis Tours Unveils 2025 Egypt Travel Experiences: Journey Through History and Luxury
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How Bitcoin's boom-bust cycles are changing
Bitcoin price has long followed a familiar rhythm: every four years, a halving slashes the new supply of coins, setting off a bull run. Then, when the price gets too frothy and sentiment a pinch too euphoric, traders take profit and the price nosedives into a bear market. That playbook is now dead, according to Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise. But not everyone agrees with him. 'The forces that have created prior four-year cycles are weaker,' Hougan said on X on Friday. 'The halving is half as important every four years, the interest rate cycle is positive for crypto, and blow-up risk has attenuated.' For Hougan, the structural forces behind Bitcoin's classic boom-and-bust cycles — like the halving's impact on supply — are weakening. Meanwhile, a new macro and regulatory environment is working in Bitcoin's favour. The ETF boom The launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US in January 2024 kicked off a multi-year inflow trend that could reshape the entire asset class, said Hogan. And institutions are only just beginning to pile in. Pension funds, endowments, and national wealth platforms are still onboarding. At the same time, regulation is gaining clarity, Wall Street is laying infrastructure, and billions in capital are entering the space — fuelled by legislative breakthroughs like the Genius Act passed earlier this month. And that's not to mention the frothy Bitcoin treasuries, which have been on a shopping spree like none other. According to in the past 30 days, 22 public companies have joined the 138 that already held Bitcoin as a reserve asset. The total is now 160 and counting. 'The long-term pro-crypto forces will overwhelm the classic 'four-year cycle' forces,' said Hougan, 'and they don't sync with halving cycles.' New territory But some disagree. 'I think the exact opposite is true,' Nick Hansen, CEO of Bitcoin mining outlet Luxor, told DL News. 'When we're in the depths of a bear market, the treasury companies are not going to operate like die-hard bitcoiners that continue to stack bitcoin.' If Bitcoin suffers a 50% drawdown, treasury companies will be hard pressed to find capital like they do today, explained Hansen. They also have operational costs, and could face shareholder pressure to liquidate their holdings if their shares plummet alongside the Bitcoin they hold. And that's not to mention the potential for Bitcoin ETF holders to start selling, which 'would further decimate the price,' he said. The muted loop Some agree with Hougan, but take a more tempered approach. 'I'm somebody who thinks it's intact, but it's going to be muted,' James Seyffart, an ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence said on the Kyle Chasse podcast on July 24. 'If you think of it like a rollercoaster, the amplitude won't be as bad.' The hallmark boom-and-bust swings — like Bitcoin's 80% crash in 2018, or its post-all-time-high dive in 2022 — are now being tempered by a maturing investor base, a growing roster of institutional allocators, and a more permanent class of buyers. Indeed, traditional volatility cycles, driven by speculative hype and harsh corrections, are being dampened by new forms of capital. 'Institutions are coming in, more stable money, more forced buyers like Bitcoin treasuries,' he said. 'Instead of 80% drawdowns, maybe we see 50%.' One open tap? Financial advisors buying Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. Bitcoin ETFs buyers are relentless, even in the face of geopolitical tension. These now hold 1.2 million Bitcoin worth about $147 billion, according to a Dune Analytics dashboard. Seyffart explained that these wealth managers make up the bulk of spot ETF buyers, and have been allocating up to 5% of client portfolios. But those weights can balloon fast. What happens when Bitcoin's price rises and their allocations swell to 10%? 'Maybe they're not ready for that,' he said. 'They're going to sell.' Supercycle theory Talk of Bitcoin escaping its boom-and-bust fate isn't entirely new. In fact, former Kraken executive and long-time Bitcoiner Dan Held has been championing a 'super cycle' thesis since 2020. That's the idea that Bitcoin would eventually break free from its four-year halving rhythm and enter a prolonged, parabolic expansion driven by unprecedented global demand. Held argued that a unique mix of macro conditions — institutional interest, rampant money printing, global instability, and rising distrust in fiat — would combine to create a once-in-a-generation bull run with no dramatic bust on the other side. 'Never before has Bitcoin had so many tailwinds at once,' Held wrote at the time. 'This cycle could be the one that breaks the pattern.' But that theory hasn't fully materialised. Bitcoin peaked in late 2021, then collapsed more than 75% during the 2022 bear market, mirroring previous cycles almost exactly. Still, even believers in the four-year cycle reckon the Bitcoin economy is evolving. Fast. 'The funnel for institutional capital is completely full right now with more trying to get in,' Hansen told DL News. 'Where we go from here is new territory, for sure.' Pedro Solimano is DL News' Buenos Aires-based markets correspondent. Got at a tip? Email him atpsolimano@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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The Independent
21-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Is a solar eclipse happening in August? Yes, but not next month
Reports of a solar eclipse on 2 August have been spreading across social media, supported by stories in several news outlets. But while excitement has centred on the celestial spectacle taking place next month, hopeful sky gazers will actually have to wait another two years to witness it. The total solar eclipse will see the Moon pass directly in front of the Sun in 2027, casting a shadow across large parts of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Another total solar eclipse will happen before that, on 12 August 2026, passing over Western Europe. The path of totality for the 2027 eclipse, where the Sun will be completely blocked from view, begins in the North Atlantic before arcing over the Mediterranean and finishing in the Indian Ocean. Luxor in Egypt sits in the middle of the path, which will see the longest totality of six minutes and 23 seconds. The last time a totality lasted this long on land was in 1991 – and the next time will not be until the year 2114. Nasa advises anyone hoping to see the solar eclipse to choose a viewing location based on the weather, rather than how close it is to the path of totality. 'It's much more important to watch the weather forecasts a day or two before the eclipse and choose a location with the best chance of a cloud-free sky during the eclipse,' the US space agency wrote in a blog post. 'Good weather is the key to successful eclipse viewing - better to see a shorter eclipse from clear sky that a longer eclipse under clouds.' Anyone not directly under the path of totality will still be able to see a partial eclipse on 2 August 2027, which will be visible from as far north as Iceland and as far south as Madagascar.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Hilton Adds More Hotel Brands, Luxury Cruise And New Dining Options
Graduate by Hilton is one of the newest brands in the Hilton portfolio. Representing many of these college-town hotels, Hilton has put together its own marching band, consisting of accomplished student musicians from college bands across its network of properties. Hilton Hilton is one of the world's biggest hospitality companies, and its evolution as a brand continues to follow the trends of the traveling public. Younger and more varied demographics are looking for differentiation in design and price point, as well as attention to what is important socially from sustainability to the needs of the neighborhood where hotels are located. To meet that interest, Hilton continues to roll out new offerings, brands and even a new cruise on the Nile. Many of these updates and initiatives were unveiled this spring to travel advisors and industry leaders at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The hospitality brand is known for innovations in hospitality. It launched the first multi-hotel reservations platform in 1948 and the first airport-hotel concept in 1959. And this year, it continues to expand its offering. A cabin rendering aboard the new Waldorf Astoria Nile River Experience debuting in 2026 Hilton In a surprise move, Hilton will launch a Nile River sailing under its Waldorf Astoria brand. Starting next year, passengers can take four-to-six night journeys to visit Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, among other famous ancient Egyptian landmarks. Named the 'Waldorf Astoria Nile River Experience,' the five-deck, 29-cabin ship will mirror the upscale experience found at its namesake brand's hotels around the world. And brand-loyal Waldorf Astoria guests can expect the same amenities you might find in a land-based hotel, including a spa, restaurants serving local fare and even Peacock Alley (the luxe lounge with signature clock unique to each destination at every Waldorf Astoria). The sailing will be operated by a third party, 'Middle East for Nile Cruisers,' but will follow the same high standards for which the brand is known. And travelers can earn and redeem their Hilton Honors points for the trip. Building partnerships with relevant brands 'Stay Like McLaren Racing' suite at The Trafalgar St. James London, Curio Collection by Hilton Hilton Like many travel brands, Hilton has been leaning heavily into the travel partnership space. This means that Hilton is looking to tie up with brands that its Hilton Honors members find relevant, which adds value to the program. One of those recent partnerships is with McLaren Racing. Hilton Honors members could bid their points to attend popular racing events, and they could even stay in a McLaren-themed hotel suite at The Trafalgar in London during the British Grand Prix. These types of tie-ups have only grown since the pandemic when hotel stays were down. 'Hotel brands looked to form new partnerships to engage with customers even when they were not staying in one of their rooms,' says Ryan Smith, news managing editor for AutoCamp Joshua Tree National Park Hilton New to Hilton Honors is AutoCamp where guests can stay in glamping-style accommodations like Airstream vans, cabins and tents while earning and redeeming Hilton points. Locations are in or near national parks and help Hilton to tap into the growing demand for outdoor experiences, especially in summer. 'Hilton is increasingly seeking partnerships that allow them to expand their portfolio without the costs or timeline associated with building hundreds of new hotels,' adds Smith. The main reception and amenity area for AutoCamp at Zion National Park Hilton Cross-brand partnerships like these, says Smith, help hospitality companies and their loyalty programs to become more like 'lifestyle brands' rather than just hotels to consumers. Other partnerships are designed to appeal to peoples' interest in health and wellness like dedicated sleep stories available to guests via meditation app Calm and in-room fitness content from Peloton. 'Alliances between lodging brands and other established consumer trademarks allow for cross-promotion and the ability to leverage each other's marketing channels and customer bases to increase visibility and expand reach to wider audiences,' says Daniel Lesser, president and CEO of LW Hospitality Advisors. 'These types of collaborations can inspire an emotional connection between their brand and consumer identities.' Individual hotels, too, are getting creative. Tempo by Hilton Times Square has a new literary tourism package that includes complimentary best sellers chosen by independent East Village bookstore Book Club Bar and several literary-inspired cocktails at the hotel's Highball Lounge to enjoy during their stay. Adding brands to its well-known portfolio Hampton by Hilton partnered with Paris Hilton for a limited-time Sparkling Strawberry Hampton Waffle in 2024. Hilton Its hotel portfolio includes iconic brands from luxury names like Waldorf Astoria to mid-scale hotels like Hampton by Hilton, now the largest hotel brand in the world with more than 350,000 rooms in 43 countries. Hampton was the first hotel in its category to offer complimentary breakfast, a move other hotel chains in that price point have since followed. So prolific is its Hampton brand that it has more hotels than any other in the Hilton portfolio. Part of what made it popular with consumers was its breakfast, which over recent years has been upgraded to include things like Chobani yogurt smoothies, egg white frittatas and more flavors for its cult-like favorite, make-it-yourself waffle machine. Last year, it even partnered with Paris Hilton to add a limited-time sparkling (with edible glitter) strawberry waffle to its lineup, which was also available for purchase to take home. The lobby lounge of a Graduate by Hilton hotel Hilton One of the newest brands for Hilton Honors members is Graduate by Hilton with properties in college towns across America. Its differentiating factor of academia and college sports-inspired design is bespoke to each campus. There isn't any other hospitality brand that uniformly follows a similar design model. And some of its existing brands like Tru and Spark by Hilton are expanding outside of the U.S., especially in Asia and the Middle East. This year alone, 14 Tru by Hiltons will open in Vietnam, bringing the total number of Hilton Honors hotels in its pipeline there to 29. According to travel industry website Skift, this is part of Hilton's strategy to grow its footprint in the profitable segment of mid-market hotels. (l to r) Mohammed Almusbahi, director, Al Musbah Group, and Amir Lababedi, managing director, Development, Middle East & North Africa, Hilton. The hospitality brand will have 100 open or in-pipeline properties in Saudi Arabia this year. Hilton This year, Spark by Hilton will make its Middle East and Africa debut in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, where Hilton will eventually have 100 properties in the kingdom. 'Hilton's expertise in both luxury and lifestyle, paired with its track record in scaling brands, makes for an exciting opportunity.' -Sydell founder and CEO Andrew Zobler NoMad Hotels, one of the brands from hotel developer Sydell Group, will open a new property in Singapore by early 2027, bringing the newly added Hilton brand's presence to southeast Asia. Hilton acquired a controlling interest in Sydell last year and has plans to expand the NoMad lifestyle brand to as many as 100 properties worldwide. Canopy by Hilton has made its debut in South Africa with Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof this summer with most rooms facing Table Mountain, Lion's Head or Signal Hill. Hilton food and beverage upgrades Known for the invention of famous menu items like the piña colada (created at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan) and the Waldorf salad (created at Waldorf Astoria New York), Hilton's culinary programming continues to evolve. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Robert De Niro's Nobu brand have opened restaurants at two Hilton-family hotels this year including Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort in Maui and Hotel del Coronado in southern California (part of Hilton's Curio Collection and LXR Hotels & Resorts brands). The regional menu at DoubleTree's new piebird concept restaurant Hilton A new dining concept is coming to DoubleTree by Hilton hotels with the inauguration of 'piebird,' its new Americana-style restaurant that will begin opening at numerous DoubleTree properties. The first two that will open will be at the brand's hotels in Nanuet, New York this fall and Asheville, North Carolina by the end of next year with more to follow. On the menu are dishes like chicken pot pie, tomato jam grilled cheese, biscuits and gravy, and regional dishes that lean into local options from Tex-Mex to southern comfort food. And when it comes to food and sustainability, the Green Breakfast program from Hilton, which is now in place in more than a dozen hotels across the United Arab Emirates, is a meaningful change that could revolutionize the problem of restaurant food waste. It was originally tested during the extensive 'iftar' evening buffets served at hotels during Ramadan. Gentle signage reminds diners to take only what they can eat to help avoid food waste. Hilton While maintaining creative buffet presentations, some areas replace large serving dishes with individually plated portions by using artificial intelligence to determine the best serving size. Guests can take as many as they like, but typically take only what they think they can eat, helping to avoid waste. In other areas, signage along the buffet and in the restaurant helps to provide 'behavioral nudges,' which also helps consumers feel like they are part of eco-friendly and social change. Over the years, Hilton's breakfast research showed that bread and pastries represent one of the largest portions of food waste. Other items most commonly left over include porridge, congee, sambar, shakshuka and baked beans. It was inspired from the brand's Green Ramadan program, where its traditional iftar buffet dinners are grandiose affairs. Scaled across 45 hotels in 14 countries in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, it brought about a 20% reduction in food waste. 'Through this pilot project, we were able to learn and gather data on consumer behavior so we can build awareness and take meaningful action scalable at hotels and across the industry. We hope this initiative will inspire the sector to source locally and reduce food waste.' -Emma Banks, vice president, F&B strategy & development, EMEA, Hilton Today, Hilton has achieved a 62% reduction in pre- and post- consumer food waste (the equivalent of more than 400,000 meals), which has kept almost 726 tons of CO2e emissions from entering the environment. Some of the dishes crafted using zero-food-waste recipes at Hilton properties in the UK. Plans are in place to scale this across other hotels in the future. Hilton It has also developed a new zero-waste food menu starting at four hotels in the United Kingdom. This involved repurposing leftover food from buffets like pastries, fruit and coffee beans to make tasty puddings or pickling fruit and vegetables. Many of the restaurants' sauces and stocks were made using vegetable stalks, trimmings, peelings and bruised fruits that are not attractive enough to display. The newly designed cocktail lounge attire for staff at Waldorf Astoria New York Hilton Even hotel staff are seeing exciting changes. The newly reopened Waldorf Astoria New York worked with British designer Nicholas Oakwell to rethink what an iconic hotel uniform should look like. His designs mix contemporary boldness with retro style, which are sure to make these some of the most head-turning hotel uniforms in town. After all, this is the hotel where room service was first invented in the 1930s. And that's a fitting update for such a key market like New York where Hilton can show off its latest moves to a global audience. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes 20+ Top Miles, Points And Travel Deals For The New Year By Ramsey Qubein Forbes 5 Ways Andaz Celebrates Youthful Luxury Through Individuality And Local Culture By Ramsey Qubein Forbes Meliá Grows Luxury Portfolio With Historic Hotels And Rafa Nadal Lifestyle Brand By Ramsey Qubein
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
France v Wales: Women's Euro 2025
Update: Date: 2025-07-09T18:06:44.000Z Title: More on the Wales bus crash. Content: Update: Date: 2025-07-09T18:06:40.000Z Title: Content: Shep-en-Isis has lain in a glass coffin there for more than 200 years after being removed from her tomb on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor and, eventually, gifted to the north-eastern Swiss city. Just lately, though, there has been quite an argument about whether she should leave her adopted monastic home and be returned to Egypt. Louise Taylor takes a look at Wales's chances. Update: Date: 2025-07-09T18:00:00.000Z Title: Starting lineups Content: France: Peyraud-Magnin, Samoura, Sombath, Toletti, Geyoro, Malard, Majri, Diani, Bacha, Mateo, N'Dongala Subs: Lerond, Picaud, Lakrar, De Almeida, Karchaoui, Katoto, Gago, Baltimore, Jean-Francois, Mbock Batty, D Cascarino, Bogaert Wales: Middleton-Patel; Woodham, Evans, Green, Holland, James, Barton, Fishlock, Rowe, E Morgan, FF Morgan Subs: Clark, Soper, Ingle, Roberts, Cain, Ladd, Hughes, Estcourt, Joel, Powell, Jones, Griffiths Update: Date: 2025-07-09T18:00:00.000Z Title: Preamble Content: This is the moment for Wales, they need something here to stay in the competition. They were brushed aside by the Netherlands and then their team bus crashed, forcing training to be cancelled. Obviously reaching this tournament is an incredible achievement for the Welsh but what an historic moment it would be to get points on the board. France, on the other hand, want qualification for the knockout stages done and dusted tonight. They will want six points on the board going into a final game against the Netherlands. France were the better side in their opening victory over England and a similar performance here would make them a very difficult opponent for the Welsh. Kick-off: 8pm BST/9 CET
