WILD RIDE ON TOURISM'S NEWEST TECH WIZARDRY

Now here's a travel evolution - launched today in Vancouver.

Ever dreamt of jumping in a helicopter pilot seat and soaring over some of this province’s finest glaciers, rivers, waterfalls and forests… in your pyjamas? Well now's your chance -- virtually.

The Vancouver-based northStudio360 has just developed an interactive, 360-degree helicopter video of some of BC’s most visually-stunning landscape. These techno wizards have created a web-based video by using a custom-built rig to which they strapped six cameras to a pole and hung it out of a helicopter while flying over a 150 km track of stunning coastal mainland. To finalize the product, northStudio360 used their proprietary video merging software for a seamless flying experience.

"Until now, 360 video really gave only a ground level look at our world. We’ve literally taken this technology to new heights," said Ryan Whitehead, president of northStudio360. "We teamed up with Nimmo Bay Resort, one of North America’s top heli-adventure destinations, to showcase the wild West Coast. With the push of a button, you’re in the pilot’s seat: fly inches off the surface of a river or soar over rugged mountains, it’s entirely up to you."
Due to improvements of internet and processor speeds in the past few years, it’s now possible to deliver higher quality 360-degree video to the public and with much more dynamic views, creating new opportunities for those in the tourism and advertising sectors. In the near-future, northStudio360 plans to create videos where users can stop the footage, insert location tags (Geotag) and upload vacation photos.
　
To experience the software first-hand, visit http://www.blogger.com/www.nimmobay.com/media/360-video/360-video-adventures

And get set for a wild ride!

LOVE the Loden Vancouver

When it opened last year, Loden Vancouver was set to rival Opus for trend-setting chic. Well, Loden has just won a greatly coveted International Star Diamond Award so it's mission accomplished!

The Award is the most prestigious emblem of achievement offered by New York based American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (AAHS). Loden Vancouver is the only hotel in Western Canada to receive this award, and joins the Diamond ranks of worldwide properties including: Hotel Plaza Athenee, New York; Le Place D'Armes Hotel & Suites, Montreal; The Dorchester, London; The Ritz Carlton, Hong Kong. That’s pretty good company by anyone’s standards.

Congratulations to the Loden Vancouver team; I know them to be among the most professional in the business. The award is well deserved. Check them out the next time you’re in Vancouver (604-669 5060 or toll free 866- 332 1673).