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CNN
17 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Venice expects to rake in over $1.1 billion from Bezos-Sanchez wedding
Venice, Italy, can expect to reap a $1.1 billion reward from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's controversial, star-studded wedding, according to Italy's Tourism Ministry. The ministry said Friday that the event, which has been met with fierce pushback from some Venetians, could provide a boost of almost 68% of the city's annual tourism turnover. The three-day wedding, reportedly costing up to $55 million, has kept Venice hotels and other businesses busy. Despite the economic boost, protesters have rallied against the nuptials of Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the third richest person in the world, and Lauren Sanchez, a former TV reporter, with one banner reading 'No space for Bezos,' and a tarp from Greenpeace that read: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.' 'We need to abandon the controversy and focus on opportunities,' said Daniela Santanchè, the minister of tourism in Italy, in a news release. 'This is not just a private event, but a concrete driving force for the entire sector. Venice has all it takes to transform it into an opportunity for relaunch and promotion.' The 200 wedding guests include A-listers Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Brady and Kim and Khloe Kardashian. The more than $1 billion economic boost is about a quarter of what pop singers Taylor Swift and Beyoncé managed in the United States over their months-long tours. In 2023, Michael Grahn, then-chief economist of Danske Bank, cited Beyonce's 'Renaissance' tour as a contributor to inflated hotel and restaurant prices in Stockholm. The tour added more than $4.5 billion to the US economy, according to a 2023 analysis of concertgoers' spending by research firm QuestionPro. Taylor Swift's 'Eras' tour, which ran for nearly two years and hosted 152 concerts in 51 cities, wrapped up last December as the highest-grossing tour of all time. The tour's economic impact totaled roughly $5 billion in the United States, according to an estimate by QuestionPro. But that total only took into account direct spending, according to the US Travel Association, which estimates Swift's total impact likely exceeded $10 billion when factoring in indirect spending and when non-ticket holders make purchases outside of venues. The $1.1 billion coming from the Bezos-Sanchez wedding is more than the $1 billion Las Vegas generated from the 2024 Super Bowl. Italy has hosted other high-profile weddings, including in 2014 with Kim Kardashian-Kanye West in Florence and Amal Alamuddin-George Clooney in Venice.
CNN
17 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Venice expects to rake in over $1.1 billion from Bezos-Sanchez wedding
Venice, Italy, can expect to reap a $1.1 billion reward from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's controversial, star-studded wedding, according to Italy's Tourism Ministry. The ministry said Friday that the event, which has been met with fierce pushback from some Venetians, could provide a boost of almost 68% of the city's annual tourism turnover. The three-day wedding, reportedly costing up to $55 million, has kept Venice hotels and other businesses busy. Despite the economic boost, protesters have rallied against the nuptials of Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the third richest person in the world, and Lauren Sanchez, a former TV reporter, with one banner reading 'No space for Bezos,' and a tarp from Greenpeace that read: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.' 'We need to abandon the controversy and focus on opportunities,' said Daniela Santanchè, the minister of tourism in Italy, in a news release. 'This is not just a private event, but a concrete driving force for the entire sector. Venice has all it takes to transform it into an opportunity for relaunch and promotion.' The 200 wedding guests include A-listers Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Brady and Kim and Khloe Kardashian. The more than $1 billion economic boost is about a quarter of what pop singers Taylor Swift and Beyoncé managed in the United States over their months-long tours. In 2023, Michael Grahn, then-chief economist of Danske Bank, cited Beyonce's 'Renaissance' tour as a contributor to inflated hotel and restaurant prices in Stockholm. The tour added more than $4.5 billion to the US economy, according to a 2023 analysis of concertgoers' spending by research firm QuestionPro. Taylor Swift's 'Eras' tour, which ran for nearly two years and hosted 152 concerts in 51 cities, wrapped up last December as the highest-grossing tour of all time. The tour's economic impact totaled roughly $5 billion in the United States, according to an estimate by QuestionPro. But that total only took into account direct spending, according to the US Travel Association, which estimates Swift's total impact likely exceeded $10 billion when factoring in indirect spending and when non-ticket holders make purchases outside of venues. The $1.1 billion coming from the Bezos-Sanchez wedding is more than the $1 billion Las Vegas generated from the 2024 Super Bowl. Italy has hosted other high-profile weddings, including in 2014 with Kim Kardashian-Kanye West in Florence and Amal Alamuddin-George Clooney in Venice.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
URA Draft Master Plan 2025 will give residents more flexibility to choose ideal home: Analysts; Thailand approves $68.7m for 'half-half' travel campaign: Singapore live news
The Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Draft Master Plan 2025 will allow greater flexibility for residents in choosing their ideal home as amenities (and in some cases, workplaces) will be located closer to homes, said analysts. More green spaces, preserved heritage buildings, and access to waterfront and park views are being built into upcoming estates, with over 80,000 homes planned across more than 10 areas including Dover, Defu, Newton, and Orchard. Thailand has approved a 1.75 billion baht (S$68.73 million) budget for the "Half-Half Thailand Travel" campaign, aimed at stimulating domestic tourism during the low season from June to September. Announced by Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong on Tuesday (24 June), the initiative is part of a larger 115 billion baht stimulus package endorsed on the same day. The campaign is expected to generate approximately 35 billion baht in tourism revenue through an additional 2.67 million additional domestic trips, and create an estimated 40,000 jobs between July and October. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. Thailand has approved a 1.75 billion baht (S$68.73 million) budget for the "Half-Half Thailand Travel" campaign, aimed at stimulating domestic tourism during the low season from June to September. Announced by Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong on Tuesday (24 June), the initiative is part of a larger 115 billion baht stimulus package endorsed on the same day. The campaign is expected to generate approximately 35 billion baht in tourism revenue through an additional 2.67 million additional domestic trips, and create an estimated 40,000 jobs between July and October. The campaign will offer 500,000 subsidised room nights, with each participant eligible to book up to five nights – at least two of which must be in secondary cities. In addition to subsidised accommodation, travellers will receive a 500 baht cash coupon per booking, redeemable at participating restaurants and tourist attractions after their check-in. This is intended to encourage spending in local economies and promote less-visited destinations. According to Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the initiative should attract at least 100,000 Thai participants. For more on Thailand's 'Half-Half' travel campaign, read here. The Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Draft Master Plan 2025 will allow greater flexibility for residents in choosing their ideal home as amenities (and in some cases, workplaces) will be located closer to homes, said analysts. The latest draft masterplan, Singapore's land use development blueprint for the next 10 to 15 years, sees a major shift in how residents live, work, and play. Analysts say the plan has a stronger focus on creating an environment that fosters a healthier and more active lifestyle, supports the Republic's ageing population, and addresses the challenges of climate change. More green spaces, preserved heritage buildings, and access to waterfront and park views are being built into upcoming estates, with over 80,000 homes planned across more than 10 areas including Dover, Defu, Newton, and Orchard. Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at property agency OrangeTee Group, told The Straits Times (ST) that the plan enhances quality of life for Singaporeans by providing more homes with access to sea, river, and park views, as well as more parks and amenities. This means that Singaporeans will have a more diverse array of housing options to suit their needs, be they near the city centre, schools, parks or waterways. A key feature of the blueprint is its push to decentralise workplaces and ease pressure on transport systems by building business hubs and homes closer together. Areas like the one-north precinct, already buzzing with over 50,000 knowledge workers, could see thousands of new homes in Dover-Medway and Mediapolis. For more on the expert analysis on the URA Draft Master Plan 2025, read here. Thailand has approved a 1.75 billion baht (S$68.73 million) budget for the "Half-Half Thailand Travel" campaign, aimed at stimulating domestic tourism during the low season from June to September. Announced by Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong on Tuesday (24 June), the initiative is part of a larger 115 billion baht stimulus package endorsed on the same day. The campaign is expected to generate approximately 35 billion baht in tourism revenue through an additional 2.67 million additional domestic trips, and create an estimated 40,000 jobs between July and October. The campaign will offer 500,000 subsidised room nights, with each participant eligible to book up to five nights – at least two of which must be in secondary cities. In addition to subsidised accommodation, travellers will receive a 500 baht cash coupon per booking, redeemable at participating restaurants and tourist attractions after their check-in. This is intended to encourage spending in local economies and promote less-visited destinations. According to Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the initiative should attract at least 100,000 Thai participants. For more on Thailand's 'Half-Half' travel campaign, read here. The Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Draft Master Plan 2025 will allow greater flexibility for residents in choosing their ideal home as amenities (and in some cases, workplaces) will be located closer to homes, said analysts. The latest draft masterplan, Singapore's land use development blueprint for the next 10 to 15 years, sees a major shift in how residents live, work, and play. Analysts say the plan has a stronger focus on creating an environment that fosters a healthier and more active lifestyle, supports the Republic's ageing population, and addresses the challenges of climate change. More green spaces, preserved heritage buildings, and access to waterfront and park views are being built into upcoming estates, with over 80,000 homes planned across more than 10 areas including Dover, Defu, Newton, and Orchard. Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at property agency OrangeTee Group, told The Straits Times (ST) that the plan enhances quality of life for Singaporeans by providing more homes with access to sea, river, and park views, as well as more parks and amenities. This means that Singaporeans will have a more diverse array of housing options to suit their needs, be they near the city centre, schools, parks or waterways. A key feature of the blueprint is its push to decentralise workplaces and ease pressure on transport systems by building business hubs and homes closer together. Areas like the one-north precinct, already buzzing with over 50,000 knowledge workers, could see thousands of new homes in Dover-Medway and Mediapolis. For more on the expert analysis on the URA Draft Master Plan 2025, read here.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Umrah visa applicants now required to upload hotel bookings via Nusuk Masar
RIYADH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that confirmed hotel bookings through the Nusuk Masar platform are now mandatory for all Umrah visa applicants for the 1447H (2025) season. The Ministry confirmed the new requirement on its official X platform, stating: 'To improve service standards and enrich the pilgrim experience, housing documentation through Nusuk Masar is now required for all 1447H Umrah visa issuances.' Under the new rules, all Umrah operators and agents are required to limit accommodations to hotels licensed and approved by the Ministry of Tourism. Contracts must be documented and uploaded via the Nusuk Masar platform to ensure transparency and quality assurance. The Ministry warned that failure to comply with the new requirement could result in visa delays, rejections, or financial penalties. It also emphasized that the Nusuk Masar platform serves as the central portal for managing all Umrah-related services, including hotel bookings, housing contract uploads, permit management, and access to multilingual travel materials. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
New York Post
17-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
China leads exodus from Israel and Iran as nations rush to evacuate citizens over conflict
China has begun evacuating its citizens from Iran and Israel as tensions grow in the region over the escalating bombardments in both nations. The Chinese foreign ministry called on its citizens to board chartered flights out of Iran and Israel on Tuesday following President Xi Jinping's call for a cease-fire between the warring states. 'Military conflict is not a way to solve problems, and the escalation of regional tensions is not in the common interests of the international community,' Xi said in his first public comment since the conflict broke out on Friday. Advertisement 4 Xi Jinping called for a cease-fire between Israel and Iran as Chinese citizens were flown out of both nations on Tuesday. KAZAKHSTAN'S PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images 4 A boy walks by the wreckage of an Iranian missile strike in Israel. Matan Golan/SOPA Images/Shutterstock China's evacuation order coincided with flights out of Israel for 139 people from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with the Tourism Ministry offering to help any foreigners coordinate flights out of the Jewish state. Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová confirmed that a plane carrying 66 Czech nationals landed in Prague on Tuesday morning after they were transported by bus to an Egyptian airport. Advertisement 'It was not possible to send the army plane straight to Israel,' the ministry said, due to the airspace closure around the Jewish state over Iran's retaliatory attacks. A Slovakia-bound plane carrying 73 passengers — mostly Slovaks, but also Poles, Czechs, Austrians, Slovenians and others — landed in Bratislava overnight, said Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar. 4 Slovakia charted a flight with 73 passengers out of Israel as many nations call for their citizens to evacuate. AP Advertisement 4 A man watches smoke billow over Tehran following an Israeli airstrike. BERNO/SIPA/Shutterstock Among the Slovak evacuees were five family members of diplomats working in Tel Aviv, officials added. Poland said Tuesday that evacuation flights for its citizens were in the works and set to take off on Wednesday and Thursday. Israel's Tourism Ministry said that there are about 38,000 tourists currently in Israel, with the agency working with the National Security Council and Transportation Ministry to coordinate flights out of the Jewish state. Advertisement Birthright Israel, a nonprofit that was overseeing 2,800 young adults visiting Israel, also facilitated the evacuation of 1,500 people — including hundreds of Americans — aboard a cruise ship bound for Cyprus on Tuesday. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis chartered four jets to pick up the Americans and fly them to Tampa, where they can return home. With Post wires
