New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has unveiled plans to transform the waterfront on Staten Island with the construction of the world’s largest Ferris wheel.

A new retail complex and hotel, built on sites adjacent to Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George, also form part of the proposals.

The New York Wheel will be built just to the north of the ballpark and be 625 feet tall – 84 feet higher than the Singapore Flyer, currently the tallest Ferris wheel in the world.

The New York Wheel will be comprised of thirty-six capsules, each able to carry up to 40 passengers with a max capacity of 1,440 people per ride.

The wheel is expected to welcome as many as 30,000 riders per day during peak season and an estimated 4.5 million visitors per year.

The mayor also announced plans by BFC Partners to construct Harbor Commons, a 350,000-square-foot retail complex featuring 100 designer outlet stores and a 120,000-square-foot hotel on the site to the south of the ballpark.

Together the projects will generate a $480 million private investment, and create over 1,200 construction jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs.

“Our Administration has made major investments all along the North Shore of Staten Island, because we know this area is full of potential for economic growth,” said mayor Bloomberg.

“But this newest plan is the most exciting of all. The New York Wheel will be an attraction unlike any other in New York City – even unlike any other on the planet.

“It will offer unparalleled and breathtaking views, and is sure to become one of the premier attractions in New York City and the latest exciting addition to our newly revitalised waterfront.”

The two development sites are located steps from the Staten Island Ferry in St. George, and are currently used as parking for the Richmond County Bank Ballpark and the St. George Ferry Terminal.

At the base of the Wheel will sit a 100,000-square-foot terminal building, which will include various commercial uses, such as retail, restaurant, and theatre space, as well as exhibitions about New York City history, alternative energy and environmental sustainability.

Construction plans for the Wheel and terminal building will strive for Platinum LEED certification, the highest rating of sustainable building.

Both New York Wheel and BFC Partners will enter into 99-year leases.

Combined the two parties will pay $2.5 million per year in rent to the city, with additional participation rents once certain ridership and gross revenue milestones are reached.

Jet2holidays has launched a range of weekend packages due to new flights serving Marrakech, Iceland and St Petersburg from the UK.

Discovery Weekends, from Jet2holidays, will include direct flights, transfers and 3-5 star hotels departing in April and May 2013 from Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Edinburgh airports.

Leeds Bradford and Newcastle airport will offer breaks to St Petersburg, Iceland and Marrakech while Edinburgh will only offer St Petersburg and Iceland.

Flight only to Iceland and Marrakech will also be available from the three airports with Jet2.com.

Steve Heapy, chief commercial officer, said: “Following the success of our hugely popular New York shopping trips, feedback from customers was that they wanted more of these special three night weekend trips.

“We are thrilled to add these fab destinations for our customers direct from their local airport for a great value price.”

Princess Cruises’ newest ship will feature a water and light show with dancing fountains, the latest of several new amenities to be featured on the vessel’s top deck.

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess will put on an interactive sound and light show featuring a computerized fountain with 85 water jets, shooting streams of water 33 feet into the sky. It will take place on the island Princess previously revealed would be built between two pools on the vessel’s top deck.

The light and water show is the latest feature Princess has revealed about its upcoming newbuild’s pool deck. The vessel will also have a glass-bottomed “SeaWalk” that will extend more than 28 feet off the side of the ship and 17 decks above the ocean , and its signature “Movies Under the Stars” pool-side movie screen will be 30% larger.

“We’re placing even more emphasis on our outdoor entertainment options with this new ship,” stated Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises’ executive vice president. “With all of these exciting features on the top decks, passengers will truly enjoy their time under the sun – or stars.”

Currently under construction in Italy, the 141,000-ton vessel Royal Princess is scheduled to debut in June 2013 as Princess Cruises’ largest ever ship, and its first since 2008.

Written by Johanna Jainchill (USA Today)

New ATOL Certificates have come into force and will now be given to anyone buying a holiday protected by the ATOL scheme.

Announced by aviation minister Simon Burns, the scheme is designed to better protect holidaymakers from losing out if their travel company fails.

Anyone who books an ATOL-protected holiday or flight will immediately get an ATOL Certificate confirming the details of the booking and their level of protection.

It is designed to make clear to UK holidaymakers in a simple, straightforward way how their holiday is financially protected.

With holidays protected by the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing scheme passengers get either a full refund or repatriation if they are already abroad when their holiday company becomes insolvent.

Burns said: “The internet has made booking a holiday easier but that can lead to a lack of clarity on the important matter of what happens if the holiday company runs into trouble.

“The ATOL Certificate will give peace of mind to millions when booking their holiday.

“Whether on a computer, the phone or in a travel agent, holidaymakers will not only complete their booking but also receive a certificate removing any doubt over their level of cover.

The Civil Aviation Bill currently going through parliament includes a clause which could enable the transport secretary to make further changes to the ATOL scheme in future.

This could mean holidays sold by airlines and holidays arranged on an ‘agent for the consumer’ basis being brought into the scheme.

“I want this certificate to become a standard travel document that families will expect alongside their flight tickets and holiday details,” added Burns.

The ATOL Certificate is the final stage of reforms introduced on 30th April to modernise the scheme, including bringing Flight Plus holidays into the ATOL scheme and returning it to financial self-sustainability.

Deirdre Hutton, chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, said: “It’s been clear for some time that people are confused about holiday financial protection, and consumers have told us that they want more clarity about how their holidays are protected.

“The introduction of the ATOL Certificate will mean that people can clearly see on one standard document what is protected, who is protecting it and what they should do if their company fails.

“It’s a change in the scheme that will make simple what currently can seem very complex: with the certificate consumers have protection, without it they do not.”

Eurostar is being forced to suspend services to Brussels due to a planned 24-hour general strike in Belgium from tomorrow night (Tuesday).

The Channel Tunnel passenger train operator said services will not run to and from Brussels between 10pm tomorrow and 10pm on Wednesday.

The industrial action is expected to cause “major disruption” across the Belgian rail network, Eurostar warned.

Services through the Channel Tunnel to Brussels will terminal at Lille Europe station in France, where a special timetable will run on Wednesday

Eurostar is offering refunds or ticket exchanges free of charge, subject to availability on alternative services.

Additional information will be posted on the company’s website at Eurostar.com as it becomes available.

Eurostar services to and from Paris and Disneyland Paris during this period will not be affected, the company said.