QMII chairs “collapsing” under the strain
The cruise ship owner Cunard has denied reports that obese American passengers are to blame for chairs being damaged on board the Queen Mary II. According to the Daily Mail, which reports the story under the headline “Avast behind!”, dozens of seats on the cruise ship, which was only launched in January, have been taken away to be repaired. Asltom Chantiers, the company that provided the fixtures and fittings on the sumptuous liner, says the chairs “buckled” under the weight of larger passengers. A spokesman is quoted as saying: “There are some things that need to be changed or replaced. For instance, there are some problems with the chairs because some of our passengers are heavier than we imagined. It’s not an English problem – it’s more American.” And a former crew member reportedly added: “Most of the passengers are American. And we do have 10 restaurants on the ship, so if they are big when they get on, they are even bigger when they get off.” A spokesman for Cunard, however, was somewhat more diplomatic: “The idea that problems are being caused by overweight Americans is entirely speculatory. We do get some large passengers but we do get people of all shapes and sizes.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026