A Magical Outcome for the Warner Bros Studio Tour at BYTA 2017

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A Magical Outcome for the Warner Bros Studio Tour at BYTA 2017

There arent many students who have failed to be entranced by the boy wizard Harry Potter. As a result, the Warner Brothers Studio Tour has long been a highlight of many school trips to London. Last month The Warner Bros Studio Tour Making of Harry Potter has won no fewer than two British Youth Travel Awards.
The British Youth Travel Awards recognise visitor attractions which provide exciting, valuable experiences with an educational slant. For this reason an award for the Harry Potter exhibition from the BYTA suggests it is the perfect choice for teachers looking for exciting things to do on school trips to London.

More Gongs for Harry

At its award ceremony in December, the BYTA recognised the Warner Bros. experience with two major awards: Best Leisure Product and Best Use of Social/Mobile Media.

Best Leisure Product

According to the BYTA, the award for Best Leisure Product recognised the innovation and positive educational focus of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour The Making of Harry Potter. The tour allows students to look behind the scenes at the sets and technology which went into making the successful film franchise. As part of its school tour the Studio offers a free one-hour lesson based on current curricula, taught by qualified teachers. Subjects offered include Art & Design, Business, Film & Media and English.

Best Use of Social Media

The second award was given to the Studio for its inventive social media teaser campaign Follow the Spiders. The campaign was said by the BYTA to have effectively used social media to engage prospective visitors. The teaser campaign featured a video on Twitter of spiders scurrying across the screen with the words follow the spiders. At the same time it published a selection of Instagram posts which, when put together, made a close-up of a spiders face. Fans of the book were attracted by the image and the well-known quote, which was given as a clue to Harry by Hagrid in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Definitely not one for anyone who (like Ron Weasley) suffers from a fear of spiders, the campaign was to promote a new attraction on the tour which will open in March. The Forbidden Forest will be a new part of the tour that includes a forest of 19 trees, a chance to meet (and bow to) Buckbeak the hippogriff and, of course, Aragog the giant spider-like acromantula. Students will be able to control the weather through special effects and see the detail that went into making the Hippogriff and other memorabilia from the films, including a set of Hagrids clothes.

The two awards together recognise the work by Warner Bros. to make the Harry Potter Studio Tour an entertaining day out for children and a great educational experience. The combination of fun and education make the tour the perfect choice for teachers looking for unique destinations to engage students on school trips to London.

Author Plate

John Gardiner is the Managing Director of The School Travel Company, a tour operator specialising in educational travel for school and youth groups. Whether youre planning school trips to London, New York or Indias Golden Triangle, you can trust both the educational and economic value of their itineraries, whether ready-made or specifically designed to suit the needs of your group.

A Guide to the Fitbit Wireless Activity Tracker

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A Guide to the Fitbit Wireless Activity Tracker

Its a simple fact that most of us dont get enough exercise. According to one piece of research published by the U.S. Department of Human Health Services, less than five percent of adults participate in 30 minutes or more of daily physical activity.

A sedentary lifestyle can lead to various health risks such as an increased risk of cancer, obesity, and heart disease.

The makers of the Fitbit wireless activity tracker understand the importance of a good workout. Thats why theyve created a line of smart, easy to use fitness trackers for everyday use.

Yet there are so many models to choose from, how can you make sure youre getting the best tracker? And for that matter, what does each model do to justify its premium price?

Both are fair questions which this article aims to answer. Heres a quick guide to the world of Fitbit wireless activity trackers.

Types of Fitbit Wireless Activity Tracker

Picking your first activity tracker can feel a bit overwhelming. There are about a dozen different models out there, and not all are worth your time and money.

Here are the three most popular models of Fitbit tracker and the advantages and disadvantages that come with them.

Fitbit Charge 2

The Charge 2 is perhaps the most popular model on the market. And a few minutes with the device will show you exactly why thats the case.

Think of it as a half-step between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch. Its stylish, but its also practical.

It features a comfortable, easy to wear band. For the most part, the band doesnt irritate skin, though if youre uncomfortable, you can always adjust it.

The Charge 2s display is perhaps its highlight. This is the most feature-rich model on the market, and choosing between modes and options is easy thanks to its high-quality display.

Battery life leaves a bit to be desired, lasting on average between four and five days. A search of Fitbit Charge not charging also shows that its first run had a few issues.

Fitbit Blaze

Though maybe youre in the market for something that truly resembles a smartwatch. If thats the case, the Blaze is a great option.

If the Charge 2 was a half-step between tracker and watch, leaning in favor of fitness tracker, the Blaze leans the opposite way.

In fact, its design is quite similar to that of the popular Apple Watch.

However, the Blaze does have its share of issues. Namely, its a little too cumbersome for its own good. Its rather wide, as Cnets review pointed out.

If youre not worried about weighing down your wrist, youll find an adequate tracker with a lengthy, five-day battery life.

Fitbit Flex 2

Last but not least is the Fitbit Flex 2. A quick glance illustrates that its quite a bit different than its siblings. Theres virtually no display present whatsoever, but thats actually its selling point.

The Flex 2 is for those who want a no-frills Fitbit wireless activity tracker experience.

Its easy to get distracted by constantly checking your steps or your heart rate. The Flex 2 eliminates this issue with its minimalist design.

Best of all, its water-resistant, a feature it holds above its siblings heads.

If youve never purchased an activity tracker before and want a simple experience, we recommend the Flex 2.

What Can a Fitbit Wireless Activity Charger Do?

Having explored the three most popular Fitbit models, lets get into what youre really here for, the features.

While there are slight variations from model to model, each of the features below are present in all three models.

Connect to Your Phone

No matter what model of Fitbit you choose, youll get access to the Fitbit mobile app. Think of it as a centralized hub for all of your activities.

This easy to use app syncs with your device via a Bluetooth connection. Admittedly, sometimes it takes a little longer than expected to sync, but it always gets the job done.

A quick tour of the UI illustrates that everything youd want can be found on the dashboard.

You can keep track of your steps, weight loss, sleep, and even water intake all from the homepage.

However, there are a ton of great features tucked away within the apps interface.
For instance, the Fitbit app doubles as a calorie tracker akin to MyFitnessPal or LoseIt!.

You can also set alarms and tinker with display options without meddling with your display.

Track Sleep

A good nights rest is as important as a big workout. Make sure youre getting both thanks to your Fitbit wireless activity tracker.

Since most people wear their device like a watch, Fitbit included sleep tracking software so users can make sure theyre catching enough Zs.

Its a surprisingly effective feature thats even capable of recognizing when youre taking naps as opposed to a full nights rest.

Display Phone Notifications

Truth be told, we could all use a bit of time away from our phones. But most of us are worried about missing important texts or calls.

Your Fitbit device finds a happy medium, displaying SMS notifications and sending call alerts.

A gentle buzzing informs the user that he or she has received a notification. You can even see who is texting or calling, as well as read the first few words of their text message.

Track Activity

Finally, yes, your Fitbit is primarily an activity tracker.

For all of the bells and whistles it includes, its primary function is something it does quite well.

You can track your daily distance and step progress, and in the case of the Charge 2, even route your workout via GPS.

For those who dont get enough steps in during the workday, theres a fun option to set hourly reminders to get up and walk. It may sound intrusive, but its actually a fun way to gamify exercise.

Find a Fitbit That Fits

Clearly, there are tons of great reasons to purchase a Fitbit wireless activity tracker. Theres a model for every lifestyle, so find the one that suits you best.

For other great content on health, marketing, and more, dont forget to check out the Article City blog.

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A Fun, Magical & Educational Experience at the Making of Harry Potter

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A Fun, Magical & Educational Experience at the Making of Harry Potter

Visiting the Warner Brothers Studio to enjoy the Making of Harry Potter tour may not sound like a place for a valuable learning experience, but you might be surprised. You will struggle to find school trips to London that are more fun, engaging and valuable than this insightful tour where young minds can immerse themselves in the world of the beloved movie series whilst also benefitting from unique learning experiences in English, Art and Business Studies.
Tour

Of course, school trips to London to visit the Warner Brothers Studio are incomplete without the captivating Harry Potter tour. Both teachers and students will be thrilled to walk through the breathtaking sets of magical places like Diagon Alley, the Forbidden Forest and the Great Hall. In addition to this, your students can view all kinds of recog-nisable props, animatronic creations and costumes and even ride a broomstick!

Educational Experiences

The tour is a great way to whet your pupils appetite for the insightful educational expe-riences on offer here. These are four one-hour lessons which brilliantly link the Harry Potter series with the national curriculum. This helps to keep the students engaged and enable them to see what they are learning in the classroom put into practice in the real world.

Art & Design: This workshop reveals the design and creative process for the magnificent props, costumes and sets that they saw earlier and is a highly inter-active lesson available from KS2 to KS5.

Business Studies: The filmmaking business is one of the most lucrative industries and the Harry Potter series is one of the biggest movie franchises of all time. This fascinating workshop reveals the business side of the work that goes into making a successful film, including the filmmaking, production, marketing and much more.

English: J.K Rowlings book series has proven to be one of the most popular pieces of fiction in modern times and is adored by children and adults around the world. This workshop encourages creative writing ideas and helps students to bring their ideas to life. Who knows, maybe they will come up with the next big idea!

Film & Media: Everyone loves film, but not many pupils fully realise the incredible amount of work that goes into the complete process. This workshop provides a unique insight into various aspects of how a film is made and marketed. This val-uable experience often inspires students and helps them to find a particular area of the process that they have an interest in.

School trips to London to visit the Warner Brothers Studio can be a wonderful treat for your students, but also prove to be a hugely valuable educational experience. In addition to immersing themselves in the Harry Potter universe and getting up close to various props and sets, they will gain a look behind the curtain to reveal knowledge about the film series which can be translated into what they are learning in the classroom.

Author Plate

John Gardiner is the Managing Director of The School Travel Company, a tour operator specialising in educational travel for school and youth groups. Whether youre planning school trips to London, New York or Indias Golden Triangle, you can trust both the educational and economic value of their itineraries, whether ready-made or specifically designed to suit the needs of your group.

A Fascinating Jungle Safari Tour In Zambia

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A Fascinating Jungle Safari Tour In Zambia

Zambia home of the world famous Victoria Falls and fascinating 13 century stone walled city. Although there is political unrest can visit the country but it is prudent to be cautious. In areas such as Lake Kariba, Mana Pools and Hwange there is plenty of wildlife and scenic beauty to take pleasure in. You must see is the Gonarezhou National Park and the cliffs Chilojo.

Zambia is also said to be as "the real Africa"and recognized as one of the safest countries in the world to visit. It is the home of Victoria Falls, the wild Zambezi River, and a profusion of birds, wildlife and the pulsatile nature. The people of Zambia are welcoming and live in peace and harmony. The fauna is exceptional and some of the best land safaris are available in the safari companies. The country is also blessed with 17 magnificent waterfalls and a wealth of flora and fauna. The Victoria Falls are spectacular, the columns of spray can be seen from miles away, and the Victoria Falls Bridge offers a magnificent view both down the throat of one side and through the falls on the other. For a real thrill that can be seen from the air. Fixed wing ultralight flights are available.

Wildlife commonly seen leopards, lions, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, giraffes, monkeys, along with abundant bird population believes that at least 740 thrill any enthusiast of the birds. There are several options for safaris, hiking, canoeing, elephant, horse and open vehicle to name a few.

If you remember something on your agenda the best place for a wide range of crafts and curios during your Zambia tours is the Victoria Falls Mukuni Craft Village. You may get various crafts works from intricate animal carvings in stone or wood or the beautiful malachite, masks, drums, sticks, jewelry and more. Vendors are usually happy to trade for things like t-shirts, batteries, shoes or anything else. In July of each year the Leya people participate in the ceremony Lwiindi. Locals believe that the spirits of their ancestors still live in the gorge of the falls and during the Lwiindi offer sacrifices to them for the rain.

During your travel to Zambia dont forget to visit Mosi O Tunya National Park is located along the upper Zambezi and Victoria Falls as offering a home to numerous species of antelope, zebras, giraffes and white rhinos recently acquired one of whom gave birth in the park in 1994. Take a pleasant drive through the park in a couple of hours and almost all species closely you can see there are no predators, they are very relaxed and afford some excellent photo opportunities.

There is a wide range of high-action activities in safari tours in Africa in Zambia. Not only this you can enjoy deep in the desert river rafting, Bengi in the deep gorge below the Victoria Falls, abseiling, canoeing safaris, tiger fishing and beautiful sunsets in Africa.

Author's Bio: 

The author is the expert writer having vast experience about the travel industry. Currently he is writing on various topics related to travel industry like tours to Nepal, vietnam travel, shanghai travel guide, xian terracotta warriors, safari tours in Africa and others.

A Day At the Top, Burj Khalifa

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A Day At the Top, Burj Khalifa

Its a modern building that has aroused so much curiosity not only locally but around the globe-Burj Khalifa. The worlds tallest building that hosts At The Top, an observation deck on level 124 and 125 which is an immensely popular attraction that welcomes more than 5,000 visitors a day.

What to Expect

On the ground, visitors interact with Burj Khalifas large interactive model before making your way to an immersive video tunnel

Like any major attraction, expect queueing if you havent already booked your tickets online in advance. As you wait, enjoy interactive displays for more information about the tower

The visitor experience from the ground to the observation deck includes a series of interactive multimedia presentation showcasing the history of Dubai and the construction of the tower.

Finally on Level 124, there are high resolution screens embedded around for visitors to gaze down and have a close up glimpse of the opulent Dubai

An audio tour is availed detailing the engineering and architectural process of the structure

If youre heading to At the Top, SKY you wait at an exclusive lounge at ground floor and youre offered traditional coffee and dates before heading to a VIP elevator to make your way up

At the Top, SKY can only host 20-30 people at any one time which makes it a more relaxed experience

I know like most people you dont expect to get aid getting views atop worlds tallest tower, right? Well, Dubais weather is tricky and this combined with the significant distance from the ground, potential visibility problems may arise. To address this, custom-designed state of the art telescopes help complement the views. They allow for more closer look of the city in real time.

The setting At the Top, SKY screams luxury from the combination of high end interior design and sophistication that makes the guests feel appreciated and on top of the world.

At the Top, SKY on level 148 guests are welcomed with dates and coffee and offered the most optimal views of the city and beyond

On level 148, guests are taken on an interactive tour of Dubai. The Kinect motion controls and floor to ceiling parabolic screens take you on a journey into Dubais four most iconic locations including Al Fahidi district of Old Dubai, the desert, a Mosques interior and the Ultra Modern Dubai Marina neighbourhood. For each of the locations, guests can interact with the video for a more intimate experience with graphics and sounds.

Helpful Tips

Book early on in advance online. Its easier and convenient

While at the observation deck, its an opportunity to take cool photos of the landscape, ocean and the city

Utilize the state of the art telescopes for a real-time experience of the views

Dont forget to utilize the outdoor observation deck for unlimited views and a breeze that you may never experience on ground

Burj Khalifa opens from 8:30-11:00pm
Fun Facts

Burj Khalifa tower stands at 828m

It took over 110,000 tonnes of concrete and 22 million man hours to completion

The structure has over 31,000 tonnes of steel which if laid end to end would stretch a quarter way around the world

The exterior of the structure is clad with about 26,000 glass panels which gives it the mirror finish.

It takes upto 36 men to clean Burj Khalifas window panels

It takes approximately 1 minute to travel from ground floor to At the Top, level 124. Thats a staggering speed of 10 metres per second

At the Top includes level 124 and level 125 at 452 metres. Please note, At the Top isnt really the top because its only about halfway up the building. The top of Burj Khalifa is on 163rd floor but not accessible to the public

The luxury lounge SKY, level 148 is at a height of 555 metres

Types of Tickets

To go to At the Top, several factors affect the ticket price including:

The observation deck you choose

The time of day you want to visit. Prime hours for At the Top are between 3:30pm-6:00pm which is also sunset

At the Top observation deck tickets get booked quickly. To secure a slot, book your tickets online in advance

What more could you ask for than enjoying 360 degree views of stunning Dubai from the vantage point-At the Top. Book your ticket online in advance at itickets.ae and you dont have to wait a month for confirmation. You get instant confirmation and you get a host of other benefits including amazing discounts.

Author's Bio: 

Dalphine Wanjiru is a passionate content writer with over 6 years writing experience across different industries and currently working as a content marketer at itickets.ae. When Im not writing, Im At The Top Burj Khalifa enjoying the spectacular views beyond.

A Conversation About Conservation

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A Conversation About Conservation

Although the subject of wildlife conservation is fairly high profile, with gap year placements and volunteer tourism holidays becoming more and more common, there are still many projects around the world that are struggling to maintain enough funding and manpower to survive. So, once you decide that a wildlife conservation holiday is what you want to do, how do you choose where to go, and who to save? Is any one animal more important than another? Is any one in greater imminent danger than the rest? What an agonising decision to make! In order to weigh everything up, wouldn't it be great if you could have a chat with each of the animals and let them plead their case...

The Lovely Leopard

The secretive and elusive leopard has one obvious thing in his favour - his undeniable style and stunning appearance. No one in the jungle is a smoother character than he, but good looks alone are not enough to ensure the future of your species. So just how would our spotted hero convince you to come on a date to his wildlife conservation project? Firstly he would point out his unique beauty is not only virtually inimitable (except perhaps by his distant cousin several times removed, the cheetah), but extremely useful as well. He's not just a pretty face and his clever camouflage has enabled him to evolve into the jungles' most stealthy and cunning hunter. His reputation as an indiscriminate killer is unfounded, and in fact the leopard hunts only what he needs, so he would point out his attributes as a fair but firm team player. In danger from not only declining habitats but also from poachers for his prized coat, in perhaps his strongest argument of all, the leopard would remind you of how much more amazing that coat would look on the move, rather than on someone's floor...

The Excellent Elephant

Surely the gentle giant of the jungle wouldn't need to try too hard to convince you that he needs to be high on your list of wildlife conservation efforts? But he would be quick to trumpet about his stature as the largest living land mammal (that's if he's an African Elephant), and the fact that his most recognisable feature, his magnificent trunk, is one of the most adaptable tools in the animal kingdom. He uses it as a hand, a nose, straw, a duster, a digger and a signalling instrument! Anyone that versatile is surely a most valuable member of the jungle? With few enemies, the elephant lives as part of a stoic family unit and perhaps he would argue that as the nice guy of the jungle, he should be preserved to keep the peace with his firm but fair hand (errm... foot).

The Terrific Turtles

Not commonly thought of as endangered, the poor old turtle does indeed have to work very hard for his survival. In fact, Marine turtles are amongst the most threatened animals in the world. But if you met this cute, hardy fellow, surely his wildlife conservation project would be the one to win your heart? He would remind you that he was one of Nature's most self-sufficient creatures and, far from being a drain on the eco-system, in fact he carries his own home on his back! Not just tough on the outside, this robust little soldier has a heart like a hero, and he could stick his neck out by suggesting that if God helps those who help themselves... then he should be a prime candidate for your assistance!

2018 Facebook Changes Put Community First

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2018 Facebook Changes Put Community First

The Low-Down Facebooks Latest Changes and How They Affect Your Business

No doubt Facebook has dramatically changed how businesses are marketed online. With over 2 billion users Facebook offers exposure to a powerhouse of potential customers.

That's why when Mark Zuckerberg announced some big changes in January, it drew many concerns with business owners on how their posts will have a reduced visibility in their followers newsfeed.

Heres what you need to know and do about these changes:

The focus of the new changes is actually very holistic. Facebook is all about creating community. These changes are an attempt to help users find relevant content and to have more meaningful social interactions.

In a nutshell that means people want to see information from their family and friends. They don't want to be bothered with irrelevant posts from businesses, brands and media.

So how do you deal with Facebook's algorithm changes as a business?

QUALITY
First of all, you need to focus on quality versus quantity of content. Relevance takes on a whole new meaning now. Take time to create really juicy posts your audience can't resist.

Focus on what your ideal target market wants to receive from you. Will they be entertained? Educated? Inspired? Leave everything else out and only focus on those three things.

ENGAGEMENT
Engagement is everything. With every post your goal is to stir up a conversation. Ask for opinions. Get them to share their advice and stories.

Now more than ever you need to develop a tribe of people who love to be connected and can't wait to engage with you. Take advantage of Facebook Live being the hottest trend right now that typically generates a lot of engagement.

AUTHENTICITY
Don't try tricky posts that get people to comment and share on a post. Using tactics like clickbait and sensationalized fake news or other means to try and trick the algorithms are one of the reasons why these changes occurred.

Moreover, engagement bait tactics can get you in trouble. The Facebook algorithm can detect such tactics that try to coerce people to engage.

Instead, have the intention of sharing good content from your heart. Be authentic. Make your posts so amazing that people will naturally want to share them.

MUSIC
Facebook and Universal Music Group signed a deal to allow users to upload songs in videos. This means users can now share videos containing music from UMGs artists without having the videos removed due to copyright violations as they have been in the past.

So now you can we open up creativity, connection and innovation through music as you build your social media community.

In other words, rock out with your peeps! Now you can without copyright infringement by choosing songs by Universal Music Group artists.

In the end, the people who help, entertain, inform, and serve their communities will win. So stop worrying about marketing and focus on serving your fans and followers.

How would you like to learn how to use the power of Social Media and Online Marketing to build your business? Find out more about eVision Media's Social Media & Digital Marketing Academy here. http://www.socialmediagroupcoaching.com/