Middle East - Travel Bulletin · 2015. 12. 2. · between May 1 and June 30, 2015. Alternatively,...

Take a step in the rightdirection by highlighting

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Middle East

October 10 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,891 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

bulletin briefingElite reflects on itsoverseas conferencein Seville

conference updatenews from The TravelNetwork Groupconference in Split

escorted tripsoperators add newtours & itineraries to2015/16 programmes

10 2313this week

greece & cypruswe chat to the new chair of the CTO to find out what thepriorities are for Cyprus tourism

16

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FLIGHT FRIENDS...The Dominican Republic Tourist Board recently hosted a group of agents and operators on a fam trip inpartnership with British Airways and AMResorts to promote the carrier's new direct flights this month from Gatwick. Picturedtaking in the sights of Casa de Campo are, from the left: Derek Dunne, Travel Counsellors; Ben Scaife, Kenwood Travel; ScottOwens, Tropical Sky; Helena Barber, Hayes & Jarvis; Gustavo Candelario, Dominican Republic Tourist Board; Kayley Swift,Perfect Weddings Abroad; Emily Scaife, Touchdown Travel; and Erick Beltre, Ministry of Tourism Dominican Republic.

This Week3 news

survey reveals younger Britsare becoming moreadventurous

8 notes from normantonSandy is excited about herupcoming fam trip toHalkidiki

9 agent bulletinthe latest bookingincentives, training updates& agent offers

10 bulletin briefingElite reflects on its overseasconference in Seville

11 puzzle bulletinplay Su Doku for yourchance to win a £50 M&Svoucher

13 conference updatenews from The TravelNetwork Group conferencein Split

14 conference updatetopics on the agenda at theElite Travel Group conference in Seville

16 greece & cypruswe chat to the new chair ofthe CTO to find out what thepriorities are for Cyprustourism

19 middle easttake a step in the rightdirection by highlighting dealsyour clients can't refuse

23 escorted toursoperators add new tours &itineraries to 2015/16programmes

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3www.travelbulletin.co.uk October 10 2014

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GONE ARE the days of holidaying for a suntan, young people today are looking to pushthemselves to the limit and make life-changing decisions through travel, accordingto new research from All Nippon Airways(ANA). To celebrate the 25th anniversary of its

London to Tokyo route, the airline looked atBrits’ travel habits now compared to 25 yearsago. The younger generation today seekenriching, immersive experiences withdestinations such as Tokyo and Beijing triplingin popularity over the last quarter of a century.This year, 42% of travellers in their 20s areeager to explore Asia versus 15% of thegeneration before them.Young people are also using their travels to

do more than just recharge their batteries,with 41% claiming to have made a serious lifechange. After a trip abroad, almost one in five(19%) have gone on to move to the countrythey visited or change jobs (8%), while 14%have been inspired to break up with a partneror declare their love for someone.As part of these life-changing experiences,

young people are now more keen than everbefore to enjoy new cultures and cuisines with72% claiming this heavily influences theirchoice of destination. The younger generationare seeking authentic, local cuisine, with thetop foodie destinations being Rome, New Yorkand Tokyo. In contrast, their parents’generation played it safer when travelling intheir 20s, more likely to choose a destination

with a similar culture (8%). Interestingly,locations for films and TV shows have alwaysinfluenced booking habits with one in ten(10%) travellers from both generationsinspired to visit places they’ve seen on screen.With air travel increasingly accessible over

the past 25 years, the survey found that we’vebecome a nation of young jetsetters with theaverage age of first time flying halving from 20years old to ten. We’re also travel addicts, withthe amount of holidays we take as a nationdoubling – 8% of those under 30 admit theytake a trip abroad between five and ten timesa year compared to more than half (51%) ofthe generation before taking just one foreignholiday a year when in their 20s.Meanwhile, other findings revealed that

Brits are keen to share their travelexperiences, with those in their 20s the mostsnap happy on holiday. The youngergeneration confess to uploading an average of25 pictures to social media compared to sevenfrom the older generation. This perhapsexplains why 14% claim Wi-Fi is an importantconsideration of choosing a destination,versus only 1% of their parents’ generation. Julie Murphy, the airline's area country

manager, UK & Ireland, said: “Since westarted flying to and from the UK in 1989,we’ve seen a huge increase in interest inAsian destinations. Japan is famous for itscuisine and service and it’s encouraging tosee young people looking for real, authenticexperiences from their holidays."

ANA survey reveals young people reject two-weektraditional holiday for challenging, immersive experiences

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CRUSADER HOLIDAYS, whichoffers holidays to both the UKand Europe, has announcedthe launch of its 2015brochure which features newdestinations includingNorway, the Baltic States,Ilfracombe and Hastings. Several new British tours

and holidays, such as themedholidays to the ChelseaFlower show with a visit toKew gardens included and afour- or five-day holidaycalled Splendours of Sussexvisiting the best gardens thatregion has to offer, are being

highlighted. Also included isa specialist foodie weekendcalled Taste of Lancashire,where travellers will get tosee how a traditional hot potis put together and then enjoya fish and chip supper. Forclients wishing to head overthe Northern borders, thereis now a Whiskey trail holidayin Scotland based inPitlochry, visiting some of themost famous distilleries inthe region with samplingopportunities. On the European front, the

Baltic States tour is a 12-day

itinerary visiting sixcountries includingLithuania, Latvia, Estonia,Finland, Sweden andDenmark, and includesguided tours of cities such asRiga, Tallinn, Copenhagenand an overnight cruise onthe Silja Line ferry fromHelsinki to Stockholm. Val Mott, the operator's

director, said: "We are goingto countries we haven’tvisited before and believethat these new additions willbe hugely popular with ourloyal customers and new

ones alike. Where possible,we have looked to improveupon all of our existing tripsafter receiving customerfeedback to ensure ourcustomers have the bestholidays possible. Thebrochure has a new frontcover design and afterproviding our drivers withcameras to take on the tours,we have managed to give it amore personal feel withphotos of happyholidaymakers."For more information call01255-425453.

MARITIM HOTELS has reinforced itspresence in Mauritius with the openingof a second hotel on the island.Complementing its five-star Mauritius

at Turtle Bay Hotel in the North West,the new four-star property is known asMARITIM Crystals Beach Hotel and islocated on the East coast of the island inBelle Mare on a half mile stretch ofsandy beach.The hotel features 181 luxurious

rooms, all of which offer sea views.Guests can choose from four categories;Comfort, Superior, Deluxe Family andJunior Suite, and all rooms are equippedwith a bathtub, shower, separate WC,air-conditioning, hairdryer, TV, IPTV

system, internet access, safe, minibarand tea and coffee-making facilities.The hotel also features a choice of

eateries and two bars, one of which islocated directly on the beach. A range ofleisure and recreation facilities areoffered including a swimming pool,complete with whirlpool and toddlerareas, which overlooks the tropicallagoon and a comprehensive selection ofland and watersports activities includingbeach volleyball, aqua aerobics andboating.Other onsite facilities include a kids'

club for children aged three-12, a fitnesscentre, wellness and beauty centre,conference room and boardroom.

PREMIER HOLIDAYS has put together adedicated Thailand campaign inconjunction with the Tourism Authority ofThailand (TAT) and Thai Airways toencourage 2015 client bookings. Thecampaign showcases new and exclusiveadded-value offers for both families andcouples from £999 per person and from£619 per child, offering savings of up to£1,270 per couple.Clients are offered the opportunity toexperience the best of the destination,with iconic beach locations such asKrabi, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Koh YaoYai combined with cultural experiences,such as Elephant Hills in the ThaiRainforest, and bustling city hubs,Chiang Mai and Bangkok. As examples, clients who want to

experience the best of both with a cityand beach offer can spend ten nightsexploring Bangkok and the tranquilisland of Koh Yao Yai from £999 perperson, including breakfast at Koh Yao

Yai Village and a complimentaryBangkok city tour. The deal is based ontwo adults sharing and offers a saving ofup to £890 per couple, valid for travelbetween May 1 and June 30, 2015.

Alternatively, families can spend tennights in Phuket at the three-starKantary Bay Hotel, sharing a twobedroom suite from £1,249 per adult and£619 per child, including breakfastthroughout. The offer is based on twoadults and one child sharing, offers asaving of up to £560 per couple and isvalid for travel between April 16 andJune 21, 2015. Prices are based on flights from

Heathrow with Thai Airways and includetransfers. All offers are subject toavailability, and each can be tailormadeto suit clients’ requirements includinghoneymoon and family offers. Agents can request or download a

copy of the operator's Thailandcampaign poster fromwww.trade.premierholidays.co.uk Agentsare also being offered an incentive,earning between £25-£150 per Thailandbooking, dependent on the bookingvalue.

MARITIM Hotels reinforces presence in Mauritius with second property launch

Crusader Holidays adds new UK & European options to 2015 brochure edition

www.travelbulletin.co.ukOctober 10 20144

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Premier teams up with TAT & Thai Airways to launch dedicated campaign

Maritim Crystal Beach Hotel

Pictured launching thenew campaign is the

operator's CarlyCharteris (left) with

Emma Smith ofTraveltime, Henley on

Thames.

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RAILTRAIL TOURS, an independent touroperator which has been offering groupholidays by rail for 35 years, is keen toextend its brand awareness by seeking towork with agents. The company's owner, Dave Felstead,

said: "The company has grown significantlyover the last few years and we now have avery loyal customer base. We would like tofind a select number of agents whounderstand our product and would like toactively sell our holidays and areencouraging agents to get in touch to findout more." The operator's commercial manager, Rob

Carroll, said: "Our 2015 brochures featurethe tried and tested high quality railholidays our customers have grown to love,plus a number of exciting new itinerariesincluding one new UK tour and six newcontinental ones. We have also introduced anew Railtrail Signature Tours brochure,offering stays in the kind of accommodationnot normally found in group travel such as a14th century castle, a Victorian castle, anIrish country mansion, a chateau near Paris

and even a former priests' college in Bonn,where the tour includes a classical musicrecital in the hotel's own Gothic church."Booking is relatively simple. As a rail

booker, we organise packages from everyUK mainland station and the prices aretransparent in the brochure. Agents willreceive 10% commission and, onceregistered, will have access to an agents'log-in section on our website."For further information call 01538-382323,email [email protected] or visitwww.railtrail.co.uk

AGENTS WHO have clientswho are fans of fine diningcan suggest a trip across theEnglish Channel to theislands of Jersey andGuernsey with CondorFerries, to take inTennerfest, an annual foodevent offering fixed pricemenus from £10 per person. Now in its 17th year, the

event - which runs untilNovember 11 - bringstogether more than 200restaurants across Jerseyand Guernsey for a

gastronomic extravaganza,celebrating the best localproduce and innovativecooking.Visitors will have the

opportunity to meet localchefs and take their pickfrom a range of cafés,bistros, gastro pubs andtraditional seafoodrestaurants.Alicia Andrews, sales and

marketing director atCondor Ferries, said:“Tennerfest is a fantasticinitiative that has always

proved popular with ourguests, and is a perfectreason to head for theChannel Islands thisautumn. Whether you’regetting your first taste ofChannel Island cuisine orare a regular visitor, we lookforward to welcoming guestson board for a real taste ofthe Islands.”Prices start from less than£50 per person for a car andtwo passengers each way.For further information visitwww.condorferries.com

Pictured showcasing the new 2015 brochure andkeen to talk to agents are Railtrail Tours' RobCarroll (left) and Dave Felstead.

Grenada welcomesBritish Airways'summer 2015

scheduleTHE GRENADA TourismAuthority (GTA) haswelcomed the new 2015British Airways summerschedule, reasserting itsaim to further build onthe 16% year-on-yearincrease in UK visitorsexperienced in the firsthalf of 2014.From March 31, 2015

the twice-weekly servicefrom Gatwick to Grenadawill operate via Antiguaon Tuesday, and continueto operate via St Lucia onSunday. Sharon Bernstein,

general manager of theGTA, said: "With fourflights each week, twowith British Airways andtwo with Virgin Atlanticand a diverse range ofhigh qualityaccommodation, Grenadacontinues to be the idealisland for those seekingan authentic Caribbeanholiday."Agents can call the GTAon 020-8328 0644 to findout more.

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Independent operator Railtrail Tours launches to the trade

Promote a culinary getaway this autumn with Condor Ferries

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VISITOR ARRIVALs to Indonesia from the UK are set to risefurther following the announcement by three carriers of extraairlift to the world’s largest archipelago. Garuda IndonesiaAirlines, Royal Brunei Airlines and Oman Air are all capitalisingon the popularity that Indonesia is enjoying among the Britishtraveller, giving tourism to the country an extra boost.Garuda Indonesia, the national carrier of Indonesia, launched

a direct service from Gatwick to Jakarta via Amsterdam lastmonth, while Royal Brunei Airlines recently launched a servicefrom Heathrow to Bali, capitalising on the increasing popularityof the popular holiday island. The carrier now offers four flights

a week to Bali on an Airbus A319 narrow body aircraft.Holidaymakers will also be able to combine their trip toIndonesia with a stop off visit in Brunei upon their return trip. Finally, from December Oman Air will be expanding its

service into Asia, with the introduction of its new Heathrow toJakarta via Muscat route. From December 12, three flights perweek will run with a fourth to be added in January 2015.The increased airlift follows increased visitation from the UK

to Indonesia, with an increase of 8.9% so far in 2014 on the backof an increase of 7.83% the previous year.For information on Indonesia visit www.tourism-indonesia.co.uk

THE TRAVEL Network Group has announcedto its members that they can now receive fullonline marketing, including social media andwebsite management, giving them access tosuperior technologies, online expertise andknow how through a deal signed with NetEffect.Currently, members of the group are able to

leverage the group's websites, includingWorldchoicetravel.co.uk,myholidayexperience.co.uk; andthecruiseclub.co.uk. Now if a member wantsto increase their online presence beyondhaving access to these sites, through acollaboration between The Travel NetworkGroup and Net Effect, they can have their ownbespoke website designed for them as well asreceive increased assistance with SEO andPPC on their existing websites. The website will be branded with the

independent agent’s look and feel, includetheir social media channels and feature all thegroup's marketing campaigns, tools andmaterials. A major new feature will alsoinclude Net Effect LateCards software, whichwill deliver the group's Deal ++ offering, givingmembers up-to-date pricing on negotiatedproducts, maintained content and the fullsuite of online marketing pieces all centrallymanaged by the group.

The Deal ++, introduced to members lastyear, is a unique proposition created by thegroup's marketing and commercial teamswho work with business partners to obtain aunique product offering, only available to thegroup's members, thereby giving them addedvalue and the ability to provide a uniqueoffering for their customers. These offersinclude room updates, transfers, special carparking rates and other add-ons.Deal ++ now has a new home within the

marketing portal that The Travel NetworkGroup launched in July this year, andmembers can now download the deals foruse in their windows, social media and localmarketing activities.Si Prentice, group marketing director of

The Travel Network Group, said: “We areworking with Net Effect technology to createan online proposition for members that issecond to none. Members who participatewill be able to choose their own look and feelto their individual sites from severaltemplates and all the content, includingpackaged deals and marketing offers – aswell has a huge range of marketingmaterials - can be sent to members'websites electronically. We can even integratetheir social media activities.(Conference update - page 13)

New digital age for Travel Network Group members

Predicted rise in UK visitors following launch of new flights to Indonesia


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PORTUGAL PARTY...A group of travel agents were taken on a fam trip to Portugal’s little-known Alentejoregion, hosted by Sunvil Discovery. Agents enjoyed gastronomic delights, wine tasting and culturalexperiences, including a visit to the lofty fortified village of Marvao (pictured) on the four-night trip. Pricesstart from £630 per person, based on two sharing, for a seven-night Pousadas of the Alentejo fly/driveitinerary to the region, including breakfast accommodation, flights and car hire. Taking in the village sightsare, from the left: Sue John, Sunvil; Maggie Rogers, Travel Wallet; Abi Nicholson, Sunvil; Angela Wilkes,Eton Travel; Sandra Lovett, Belper Travel; and Maria Rabiasz, Tony Sheldon Travel. For more information call 020-8758 4722 or see www.sunvil.co.uk

Tweets of

the WeekWho’s saying what

on Twitter...

@WaltDisneyWorld Delicious Halloween-themed treats can now befound at Walt Disney WorldResort! Which ones willyou try?http://bit.ly/1ry5h0L

@VisitEngland A sporting victory followedby a night on the toon!Your rugby trip to#Newcastle will beunforgettable in 2015.http://ow.ly/CfioE

@IliosTrv Are you a chocolate lover?Visit #Perugia and take afull immersion in the#EurochocolateFestivalheld between 17 – 26October!

@HolidayExtras How to take mind-blowingtravel pics for Instagramhttp://buff.ly/1rI66nD

@WeGiveUTheWorld Have you seen ourrevamped #SpecialOfferspage? You can now searchfor offers in locationsyou're interested in!

Follow us on Twitter!http://twitter.com/

TravelBulletin


www.travelbulletin.co.uk

CLIA UK & Ireland introduces digital cruise Brochure Rack

CLIA UK & IRELAND has launched a unique digitalBrochure Rack, bringing more than 90 cruise linebrochures to agents’ desktops.The new launch provides information from more than

60 ocean cruise lines with agents able to download,search and share with customers the e-brochures, someof which are only available via the Brochure Rack. Software service provider, Widgety, has created the

Brochure Rack which initially is exclusively available toCLIA agent members. The search programme allows agents to look for

specific information across the entire Brochure Rackincluding filtering by company, the name of thebrochure, the year and geographical regions. The digitaloffering is readable and downloadable on PCs andmobile and tablet devices and the high downloadablespeed means that a 196-page, full colour brochure canbe ready to read in five seconds. The association's director UK and Ireland, Andy

Harmer, said: “Brochure Rack is an invaluable toolwhen selling cruise holidays. Agents have never beforehad such access to cruise brochures all on one websiteand all searchable within a matter of seconds allowingour member travel agents to instantly share relevantpages with their customers either in store or via emailor on social media."This is the perfect solution for travel agents as it

gives them access to the cruise lines most up-to-datebrochures, providing relevant information with highquality photos and imagery, and all within a matter ofseconds." For further information visit www.cruiseexperts.org

DO THE SHUFFLE...Innsbruck Tourismus ran a competition inconjunction with Travel Bulletin to give agents the chance to win aiPod Shuffle by correctly answering questions about the capital ofthe Alps. Pictured is the winning agent with her prize, Fran Halefrom Bath Travel in Bournemouth.

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020 3027 9793

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by SANDRA MURRAYin Normanton, Yorkshire

To respond to any of Sandy’s comments email

jill. [email protected]

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WELL, I’M back from my holiday to Gouves - stayedat the Kaissa Apts/htl again. Managed to get theboy cat (Tiger) speyed this time. I took him to the

vet in a carrier and he was very good. Pantelis the vet atStallis told me to go for a walk for an hour and when I gotback I nearly had a fit. The first thing I saw was Tiger laidon the floor in a cardboard box – I thought he was dead!But Pantelis was quick to say “It ok – he sleeping, onlysleeping.” Phew! The restaurant attached to the Kaissa isopen year-round and staff there have always fed the catsfrom the Apts so that is good. Yanni, the lovely owner, hassaid it was ok for me to leave some bags of cat food aswell for the staff to feed them. In return I have promisedto write to the Greek Minister of Tourism about trying tolimit all the all-inclusive hotels that are around as it has adramatic affect on local restaurants. I can understand hisworry and as I have said before, it is not necessary inGreece – surely it is nice to visit local restaurants andmeet the locals. Even though I was on HB, I went out andate in the local restaurants and The Paradise and AnfieldBar/Restaurant are still my favourites - the people arelovely and are so pleased to see you again, it is likevisiting friends/family.So excited - have only been back a few days and I will

be going off on a fam trip to Halkidiki organised by SandraBruce of Sandy Beach International. Her company looksafter fantastic properties like 5*Mykonos Grand, 5*Petasos Beach Res & Spa and she represents theHalkidiki Tourist Office, so I think it will be a bit different -I will let you know how I got on when I get back. Anenormous tomb has just been discovered in NorthernGreece dating to the time of Alexander the Great ofMacedonia – it is the largest site to be discovered. We aregoing to visit King Phillips Tomb father of Alexander theGreat - wonder if I will see any cats!“Friends are like balloons, once you let them go you

might not get them back’ and ‘Life is too short to wake upwith regrets...so love the people who treat you right –forget about the ones that don’t”.

Notes from

Normanton...

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

WEBSCLUSIVES� Win a Scandinavian Hamper, courtesy of Taber

Holidays. Enter today atwww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

� Win a pair of match tickets to the Liverpool v ChelseaPremier League match on Sunday 8th November,courtesy of Barbados Tourism Authority. Go towww.travelbulletin.co.uk/travelgym to enter.

� Win an iPad Mini, courtesy of Tourism Vancouver. Goto www.travelbulletin.co.uk/travelgym/destination-training to find out how

� Win a Kindle Fire HD, courtesy of Visit Gibraltar. See www.travelbulletin.co.uk/travelgym/destination-training for details on how to qualify.

All this and more at:

www.travelbulletin.co.ukThe home of the web savvy travel agent

Go

Newsbites� LUFTHANSA HAS relocated its flight operations to thenew Terminal 2: The Queen‘s Terminal at HeathrowAirport. The move is the latest phase of the process tobring all Star Alliance members under one roof forthe first time in Heathrow and sees Lufthansa joiningUnited Airlines, Air Canada, Air China and ANA - thefirst airlines to move into the new terminal when itopened in June.

� W LONDON – Leicester Square has launched a luxurycoffee table book – The Glamour of Leicester Squarewhich showcases Leicester Square's regeneration andtransformation over the last 75 years, celebrating thethe rich heritage and indelible link with the filmindustry. The book retails at £35 and is available atwww.whotelsthestore.com

� BUILDING ON the success of its existing relationshipswith Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Holidays,No.1 Traveller has announced a new partnership withVirgin Atlantic’s domestic carrier, Little Red. All VirginAtlantic Upper Class, Flying Club Gold and Little Redfull fare passengers flying from Edinburgh can nowaccess No.1 Edinburgh, which opened in May.

� WET ‘N Wild Orlando is offering visitors a 'Buy a day,get the rest of 2014 free' offer for $36 plus tax forboth adults and children. The offer is available until December 31 atwww.wetnwildorlando.com


� YOUR CAR Hire is giving agents the chanceto win a luxury Bucks Fizz BreakfastHamper (including zesty fruit preserves,croissants, smoked salmon and Buck’sFizz) when they make two bookings withthe company this month. Agents areautomatically entered into the prize drawand every two bookings qualifies for oneentry into the draw. For details seewww.your-carhire.com

� TRAVEL 2 has teamed up with keypartners to highlight the variety ofexperiences available to make the most ofa two-week break Down Under. Tocelebrate the new campaign (‘Australia:Take it off your wish list and put it on yourshopping list’), agents can get their handson one of five gourmet Australian food anddrink hampers. For a chance to win,agents need to make a qualifying bookingto Australia (by October 31) consisting ofEmirates flights and a minimum of sevennights’ ground arrangements. Agents willreceive a second entry in the prize drawfor any ground arrangements booked withone of the operator's campaign partners,APT, AAT Kings, AVIS and THL (Maui andBritz). The company is also giving agentsthe chance to win one of ten sets of two'fun day out' tickets, worth £100 in its newcampaign (‘Discover South Africa, aDestination of Experiences’) with SouthAfrica Tourism and South Africa Airlines.Agents can choose from tickets to the zoo,4x4 off road driving experiences and winetasting. For a chance to win agents shouldmake a booking by October 31 to SouthAfrica that includes a minimum of seven-night ground arrangements. Bookingsthat include flights with South AfricanAirways provide two entries.

Agent trainingSKI INDEPENDENCE is giving agents the chanceto get their hands on an iPad mini when they signup for the 'Vancouver Specialist Program' andcomplete the training programme by November30. Agents can sign up at www.tourismvan-couver.com/vsp using the code: SKIVAN

Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean Internationaland Azamara Club Cruises have announced thattheir online training programme, Cruising forExcellence will be available on smartphones andtablets, offering agents a more flexible trainingsolution. The new launch will enable agents toaccess training modules from home, on the go,or just more conveniently at work. For detailsemail [email protected]

RACY LADIES...Staff from Mundy Cruisingenjoyed a day at the races last month,thanks to Crystal Cruises’ Seahorse Stakesbooking incentive, which runs until theend of the year and sees agents work theirway around a racetrack with prizesawarded as bookings increase. Any UKagencies achieving the ultimate goal of 25bookings within the incentive period arerewarded with a private box at the racesfor up to 16 people. Pictured enjoying theday at Lingfield Racecourse are, from theleft: Jodie Fawkes, Hayley Grubb, BeckyHughes and Eleri Parry, all MundyCruising.

Booking incentives

Agent Offer TO CELEBRATE the launch of Busch Gardens’ new335ft tall face-down drop tower ride, Falcon’s Fury,SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is offering agentsthe chance to win afternoon tea at The Shard inLondon. To enter the draw, agents need to completethe training course atwww.seaworldparksagents.co.uk by November 15and answer a question about Falcon’s Fury. Eightagents will be chosen at random and winners will benotified by December 1.


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S03 TB1010 2014 News 3_Layout 1 10/8/2014 2:40 PM

IAM SURE that there are many who are envious ofthe lifestyle led by Simon Reeve – the adventurerwho presents so many fascinating programmes on

the BBC. For those of us who were weaned on therather genteel ramblings of the perma-tanned JudithChalmers and John Carter on ‘Wish You Were Here’or the more sedate efforts of Cliff Michelmore, FrankBough and the much-lamented Jill Dando on‘Holiday’ on BBC, the trips undertaken by SimonReeve are much more challenging and are plainly nottraditional ‘holiday’ programmes.It was my pleasure to interview him at our recent

conference in Seville and what an interesting guy he is.Having now visited more than 120 countries on his travels,he is in an enviable position to assess where in the world isthe most idyllic spot for a holiday: it perhaps did not comeas a surprise that he chose the Maldives! And his leastfavourite? Again, not surprisingly he chose Somalia, but Iam sure that this is a destination which none of our clientshave ever requested!It was also interesting to hear Simon Calder’s take on the

state of the airline industry. This was the second yearrunning that we had invited Simon to attend ourconference. Whereas last year there seemed to be a senseof animosity amongst the delegates towards him for havingmade a statement that he could find peak season holidaysfor £300, this year he won attendees over for immediatelychallenging the CAA as to whether they might considerrelaxing the £2.50 ATOL Protection Contribution in light ofthe considerable surplus now being generated in the AirTravel Trust Fund – likely to be near to £100m in the not toodistant future. Having originally been set at £1.00 pertraveller, it was quickly raised to £2.50 so is there anylikelihood that it could be reduced again fairly soon? Aswith so many public bodies and large organisations, italways seems to be the case that prices can be put upmuch quicker than they come down!Seville is a beautiful city and is a worthy destination for a

city break. Such a city deserves better direct flightconnections from the UK, so it is good news that BritishAirways will be starting up flights from next March. With somany British tourists choosing only to visit the coastalresorts of Andalucia, it remains such a shame thatrelatively few venture inland. What a fascinating holiday canbe had by combining visits to Granada, Cordoba and Seville,let alone including the sherry capital of Jerez! Many of our

conference delegates were spoilt by Tourism Andalucia ona four-day tour of the region with the itineraryconcentrating on the varied food and wines of the region: Ihad to remember that the travellers all worked in the travelindustry so their needs were well looked after!Many of us remain concerned about the apparent woes

of Monarch! I have flown many times over the years withthem and I can honestly say that I have never had a badflight with them. They have a good reputation forpunctuality and their service levels do exactly what it sayson the tin. The difficulty they have always had is aperception of whether they are a no-frills airline, a charteroperator or a scheduled carrier. They have never reallymanaged to sort this out and it is sad that part of therescue plan for them by the investment firm GreybullCapital will mean routes are cut and jobs are lost. Thetravel trade has remained fairly loyal to them over manyyears and it will be interesting therefore to see the finaldirection that they will take.The spectre of terrorism sadly remains to taunt all of us

involved in this industry. The appalling beheadings ofinnocent British and American journalists and aid workersby Islamic State (ISIS) is a constant reminder of how fragileworld peace is and how quickly things can escalate. Suchincidents can play havoc with tourism to the Middle Eastand at the moment, there seem to be no quick and easysolutions. Can we rely on our politicians to sort it out andquickly?

Industry Insight by...

Neil W Basnett, chief executive of Elite Travel Group, reflects on the group's overseas conference in Seville...

bulletinbriefing

"It was interesting to hearSimon Calder’s take on the stateof the airline industry...he wonattendees over for immediatelychallenging the CAA as towhether they might considerrelaxing the £2.50 ATOLProtection Contribution"


S03 TB1010 2014 News 3_Layout 1 10/8/2014 11:53 AM

puzzlebulletin


Where Am I?

Well known cove on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset.

Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the

3 x 3 squares contains the digits 1-9.Once you have completed the puzzle, simply identify the numbers that relate

to the letters, A, B, C and D then e-mail the solution, with your name,

company name, and full postal address plus phone and ABTA number if

applicable to:

[email protected]

Closing date for entries is Thursday, October 16th. Solution and new puzzle

will appear next week.

The winner for 26th September is Rebecca Labron, Thomas

Cook Bishop in Auckland.

September 26 Solution: A=7 B=2 C=5 D=9

�A

�B

�C

�D

Number: 038

Travagrams

Across 1. Operator specialising in river cruises (6)3. Jane Austen novel (4)7. Etosha National Park is located in

this country (7)9. Norwich international airport code (3)10. The Tivoli Gardens are a popular tourist

attraction in this city (10)13. Iconic San Francisco bridge (6,4)15. Avignon airport code (3)16. Barbadian singer, actress and fashion

designer (7)18. Type of transport (4)19. English rock band celebrating 50

years in the business (3,3)

Down 1. Stars recently flocked to this city for George

Clooney's wedding (6)2. Netherlands flag carrier (3)4. Name of Cape Verde international airport,

Nelson ___ (7)5. Major car hire company (4)6. The oldest city in Georgia, USA, sounds like

grassland (8)8. Popular Costa Blanca resort (8)11. US state capital, named for a bird which

rose from the ashes? (7)12. Foot-powered boat, found at the seaside (6)14. Currency of Thailand (4)17. Celebrity magazine, sounds current (3)

Where Am I?

Fill in the crossword to reveal the mystery location highlighted by the green squares.

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 26

Crossword

Su Doku

Num

ber:

038

This tour operator started life in February 1974 when two friends gottogether to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam.

Charles Darwin made this archipelago famous.

Sued Ox

A Lasagna God Slips

Can you solve the following anagrams to decipher the destination & tour operator?Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle

imag

e cr

edit

: Ric

hard

Szw

ejko

wsk

i

S03b TB1010 2014 Puzzle Page_Layout 1 08/10/2014 11:01


newsbulletin

SMALL LUXURY Hotels of the World (SLH) has launched'Private Residences by SLH', a new collection of exclusive-use villas, chalets and estates, all hand-picked with tenrooms or less.

The launch has been developed on the back of increasingdemand for high value multiple room bookings, with anemphasis on privacy and exclusivity. Its aim is to offerguests the ‘best of both worlds’ – the personal service of asmall luxury hotel with the private space of an exclusive-usevilla, ski chalets, estates and yachts, offering five-starservices and facilities.

In an annual survey undertaken by the company andcompleted by more than 13,000 SLH Club membersworldwide, privacy and intimacy was identified by more thana quarter (25.7%) of respondents as the most important

factor when booking a luxury holiday. Over the past fewyears, SLH has seen clear indication that luxury is trendingtowards exclusivity and privacy.

According to Paul Kerr, CEO for SLH, there has been aclear indication that luxury is trending towards exclusivityand privacy. He said: “In 2013 we saw a significant increasein the number of small hotels applying to join the brand –this was another indicator of a growing trend. In 2014, wehave already seen a 27% increase year-on-year in thenumber of exclusive-use hotels (less than ten rooms)wanting to join SLH. There is clearly a demand for this typeof property which has led the way for the launch of PrivateResidences by SLH."For further information visithttp://privateresidences.slh.com

Small Luxury Hotels of the World launches 'Private Residences by SLH'

Innstant Traveladds major USsports events toportfolio INNSTANT TRAVEL, theonline wholesale divisionof Innstant Group, hasannounced a new additionto its selection of onlinetickets of major USAsports events such asNFL, NBA, NHL andFormula 1.The new options mean

that agents can offeradditional services to theirclients visiting the States. The company's CEO,

Darryl Ismail, said: "Weare delighted to launchthis exciting new productin the UK as we knowalready that many of ourclients around the worldhave been looking forwardto its launch. Our focus isto deliver an easy, fast,reliable solution with acompetitive productselection based onpopular events."

Darryl Ismail



TTNG announces database segmentationplans for members IN HIS opening speech to delegates, the TTNG's managingdirector, Gary Lewis, highlighted the group's main aimsgoing into 2015 which included the marketing aims ofintroducing regionalisation, splitting the UK into fourmarketing areas and developing new marketing services.

He said: "I am massively impressed with what we havedone with marketing but it's just the start of our journey.With big data out there, it's important to invest in databasesegmentation so that we can help you understand the dataof your customers. This in turn helps us have an advantageof driving customers to your shop or office. As we do nothave the skills set to do this on our own, we have enteredinto a joint venture with a data specialist business todeliver this to our members."

Predicting buying habits will giveagents the edge IN A session entitled 'The Power of Prediction', investor andconsultant Andy Owen Jones, told delegates that he backedTTNG's plans to switch from generating lots of offers tounderstanding how to match those offers to customersthrough its database segmentation plans, saying that travelis changing from being 'offer driven' to 'desire and wantdriven'.He outlined how data can be predicted by looking at

statistics and offered practical ideas and examples on howagents can capture data to use it to their advantage. He said: "The people who focus on the customer more

than the offers are the ones who will win", giving theexample of shops and supermarkets putting beer next tonappies on shelves in the evening, to appeal to dadspicking up supplies. He also said that it's important that agents redefine who

their customers are, including those who not only bookedon their website but also those just visiting. He said: "99% of people who go on travel websites do so

without booking and they disappear. But they don'tdisappear without telling you lots of information aboutthemselves and with this information you can start tocategorise people depending on their behaviour and startto predict what that person will want."Knowing this type of information gives agents a

competitive advantage in being able to pull up holiday ideasappropriate to their clients - even if they've never made abooking."In practical terms, Owen Jones suggested that agents

introduce live chat on their websites to capture peoplebrowsing and also suggested offering free Wi-Fi to clientsto gain an insight into their search patterns while theybrowse online on their mobile devices in the shop. Concluding, he said: "Moving away from price is the

single best thing you can do. Try to get your clients out ofthe mindset of looking for the cheapest thing and look atpresenting holidays based on interest, suitability andrelevance."

TTNG'S GROUP commercial director, Martin Andrew, tolddelegates that it had been a challenging year for theindustry, with the market forecast for the season end downby -2%.

But on a brighter note, he said that it wasn't 'all doomand gloom' and positive factors such as an increase in theaverage spend, the growth of package holidays, thecontinuing trend for all-inclusive and most importantly, areturn in people booking through travel agents, all lookedto a brighter future.

He said: "People completely understand the value oftravel agents. The outlook is positive, with summer 2015bookings already up 9%, which is the best since 2008, andthe fact that consumers still see a holiday as an essentialnot a luxury."

Consumers 'appreciate value of travel agents'

SPLIT DECISION...Choosing from a variety of ice-cream flavourson a city tour courtesy of Kirker Holidays are, from the left:Johanne Wishart and Pam Jackman from Travel Dream in Surrey;

conferenceupdateThe Travel Network Group (TTNG) held its 'Obsession' conference inSplit, Croatia last week, offering a selection of motivational speakers,news on business developments and ideas, plus plenty of networkingopportunities...by LAURETTA WRIGHT

InBrief� THE TRAVEL Network Group announced at the conferencethat it has joined the Institute of Customer Service (ICS).

� RETAIL EXPERT Clare Rayner offered advice to delegateson achieving retail success, outlining ten steps fordelegates to follow. These included defining your goal andmission; deciding your positioning; identifying your idealcustomer; creating your range plan; and implementingyour pricing and promotional policy. She told delegatesnot to compete on price but to compete on service by goingthe extra mile with gestures of information, advice andhelp, citing the example of agents offering to print clients'e-tickets and posting them out to them.

� MEMBERS WHO use the group's Honeycomb system willsoon have access to thousands of villas, apartments,condos and chalets through a new partnership withholiday rental XML specialist Pathway GDS.


THE SPANISH National Tourist Office(SNTO) aims to change the holidayhabits of UK visitors to Spain.Speaking at conference, Enrique Ruiz

de Lera of SNTO, in a presentationcalled 'Strategy for the UK market',said: “What we are trying to do ischange the mentality of the UKtraveller”.SNTO brand reposition analysis

conducted in 2009 showed that whilethe brand is well established, it isgradually losing its strength and is notas innovative as others. Sun and Beachtourism takes over the holiday image ofthe country with little differentiationbetween coastal destinations.Meanwhile, research shows that 60% of

UK tourists to the Canary Islandscouldn’t name the island they were on.Ruiz de Lera said there is a need to

reposition Spain for a youngergeneration, and as a premium, unique,and aspirational destination with theaim of increasing profit from the UKtourism market by 15%.He said: “The UK market currently

generates 1% of Spain�s GDP, so forus it's absolutely key for survival.”The tourism board�s marketing

plan, spanning 2012–2016, has 80products in five categories – Relax ,Discover, Enjoy, Hear and Meet – withten products for the UK includinggastronomy tours.Ruiz de Lera said: “I don�t see

enough gastronomic tours being sold inthe UK and I think Spain is veryunrepresented here.”He also urged delegates to sell more

city break destinations rather than justBarcelona and Madrid, as many arewell connected to airports such asBilbao and Seville. He also highlightedthat agents had the opportunity to tapinto the flight and drive market in Spainwhich he said very few people areselling. He said: "We urge agents andoperators to create and selldifferentiated product and provideexperiences as the biggest challenge isto educate and counsel the consumer.”For more information visitwww.spain.info

The Elite Group conference was recently held in Seville, Spain with the tagline IndependentMatters. Here follows a round up of news from the event by JILL SAYLES


conferenceupdate

IN A session called Rebalancing ATOL, David Clover fromthe CAA told delegates that the CAA is consulting on fourmain changes.These are: 1. Withdrawal of the Small Business ATOL (SBA)

scheme.2. Adoption of risk-based financial assessments for

ATOL holders (£5million).3. Introduction of revised assurance reporting

arrangements (with ICAEW).4. The development of online self assessment

facilities.Clover said the changes would allow the organisation

to look more closely at the financial stability of SBAs andthat in a sample of ten SBAs, about a quarter of themwere over their expiration. He also said that the newonline facility will be fully functioning within the nextyear.He continued: “We are in listening mode and I mean

that as a genuine point. We will listen and take on boardwhat the industry says. As a regulator, we have to look ata broader view and look at solutions. We are conscious ofthe concerns that ATOL holders have.”

ATOL changes proposed by CAAELITE TRAVEL Group's chief executive, Neil Basnett,told delegates that the message of the organisation isone of 'Unity' with companies hoping to come back tojoin the consortia. It currently has 70 members, butlost two members this year - Villa Parade which is nolonger trading and Roy Cox Travel.

Speaking about Elite's relationship with Advantage,Basnett said that they worked well together for thebenefit of members.

Sales for the consortia were up 20% by the end ofFebruary this year compared with the same period lastyear. Basnett said: "Figures at the end of July were upby 10% on 2013. Although sales growth didn't continueat the same rate, it has been a good year and it's asign of confidence in the economy, with sales alsostarting well for 2015”.

He warned members that customers expect 'luxuryand cheap' when booking holidays, and that this hasbeen an issue for them. He said: "One only gets whatone pays for and this is often what the British publicforgets about. If our clients want something genuine,then I am sorry, but they are going to have to pay forit."

Elites message is one of unity

New Spanish National Tourist Office strategy for UK market

SALUD SEVILLE… pictured with Neil Basnett, chief executive, Elite TravelGroup (second from left) is Tim Basnett (far left); Derek Ketteridge, TourIndemnity (middle); Amanda Corbett, Seville Province Tourism; andHisham Mahmoud, Kirker Holidays.

S03 TB1010 2014 News 3_Layout 1 10/8/2014 2:46 PM

ONE OF the (many) great things aboutbeing a travel agent is the (occasional)opportunity to travel on an educationalor fam trip and discover new andexciting places to visit and stay –experiences which you can then sharewith colleagues and customers, writesPaul Scudamore. The same delight ofdiscovery applies to the likes of us onthe journalistic side of the travelindustry fence. And this year has seen aseries of fine “firsts” across thespectrum of cities, destinations andcultural connections.

For some reason, Greece has figuredprominently in the leading list of newlandings. For instance, there was a visitto Athens in March (the first for some30 years or so) and what a revelation –how the city has changed. TheParthenon on the sacred rock of theAcropolis maintains its magnificentvantage point over the city, whichseems to have been transformed into athriving and depression-defyingmetropolis where pedestrianisedstreets and the labyrinthine Plaka areaof hundreds of small shops, cafes,restaurants and bars appear to havecollectively ignored the economic woesof the country. A recent return visitconfirmed that the hordes of visitors arevoting with their feet (and euros) in theirfascination with this city of culture.

One of the greatest additions tothe city in recent times has been themagnificent New Acropolis Museum,opened in 2009 at a cost of�130million and a triumph ofdesign and imagination, with its sizeand angle mirroring that of theactual Acropolis which overlooks themuseum site, a short walk away.When the site was chosen, andground works began, they revealedan ancient Athens, with the remainsof private houses, bathhouses,shops, workshops and roads. Thearchaeological importance of thediscovery meant excavations had toproceed as construction went ahead,and the result is that as visitors(some 10,000 a day) enter themuseum they walk over a glass floorto peer down into the city’sfascinating past. Entrance to themuseum is €5 while the Acropolisitself costs €12 – and both worthevery cent.

Worth emphasising to potentialclients visiting Athens is that it isvery much a walking city, although ithas an efficient Metro system toreach further afield and from oneside of the city to another. And forshoppers, all the major brands arethere (including M&S).

Away from the hubbub of city

centres, such as Athens andThessaloniki, Greece has its hugechoice of islands connected by air orferry. Santorini is one of the mostpicturesque, with its white and blueclifftop towns such as Oia, and Fira. Itis hugely popular with newlywedJapanese couples who travel in theirhundreds purely to get theirphotographs taken. The islandoccupies the largest side of a volcano,with three other islands completingthe volcanic ring. Santorini is alsofamous for its wines (there are 42grape varieties and 13 wineries), withthe stubby ball-shaped vines designedto protect them from the strong windswhich affect the island. It is not a lushand green haven. For history buffs andthose clients interested inarchaeology, agents can recommend avisit to the Aegean “Pompei” ofAkrotiri in the southwest of the island,where excavations continue to this day.

Getting to other Cyclades islandsfrom Santorini is easy with fast andregular ferry services to, for instance,Sifnos or Milos, where the statue ofAphrodite of Milos was discovered atFilakopi, said to be by a farmer whohauled it up from the undergrowth andbroke off her arms.

It is now in the Louvre in Paris, andbetter known as the Venus de Milo.

Going Greek to discover the delights of ancient and modern Athens

greece&cyprus

Athens


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S04 TB1010 2014 Greece and Cyprus_Layout 1 08/10/2014 11:54

COSMOS HOLIDAYS has launched its2015 Greece programme with anexpanded range of properties exclusiveto the operator in the UK, newly featuredresorts as well as new Dream Weddinglocations.Newly featured hotels and apartments

include the three diamond ratedZephyros Hotel in Skala, the ElpinikiStudios & Apartments in Skiathos as wellas the Mavrikos Hotel & Apartments inZante.New resorts include Poros in

Kefalonia, which offers a bustlingharbour area and peaceful beacheswhere a seven-night stay at the OceanisHotel is available from £509 per person.Polychrono in Halkidiki is featured for the

first time with its Old Town and prettybeaches, where a seven-night stay at thetwo diamond rated Nemo Aparthotelcosts from £555. An expanded range of ‘Dream

Wedding’ locations includes the island ofLefkas and the mainland Pelion regionwhich is in addition to the existing choicein Rhodes, Kefalonia, Zante, Skiathos andSkopelos. Wedding locations includebeaches, authentic chapels andtraditional town halls, and prices lead inat £389 for a civil or church wedding inRhodes. An increased choice of flexible single ortwin-centre holidays are also availablecombining weekly flights to well-knownGreek destinations with island ferry

travel to thelesser knownislands.Customerscan choose asingle ortwin-centreholiday with aflexiblenumber ofnights in aresort orisland basedon seven or14-nightdurations. For details see www.cosmosagents.co.ukor call 0843-227 0965.

Athens to receive27km bike lane

BY THE end of 2015, a 27kmbicycle lane should berunning through the streetsof Athens, according to arecent announcement byGreek environmentminister, Yiannis Maniatis,and Athens mayor, GiorgosKaminis. The environment minister

said the bicycle lane willstart from the northernsuburb of Kifissia, passthrough the city centre andend in Faliro in southernAthens. The first phase ofthe bicycle lane will startwith the construction of an11km section between Gaziand Faliro. A contract hasalready been signed for thecreation of the Gazi-Falirosection under a budget of�2.2million.

greece&cyprus

Travel 2 is promoting The Grecotel Amirandes, a resort in Crete that offers lagoon pools, threesandy beaches including a reserved villa beach area, eight restaurants and an Olympic sized

swimming pool. The hotel offers a choice of upgrades to include private gyms, individual pools,home cinemas and state-of-the-art bathrooms with colour therapy whirlpool baths. A seven-night stay at the five-star resort costs from £819 per person based on travel until the end of

this month. It includes flights, breakfast accommodation and transfers.

Cosmos Holidays boosts Greece portfolio with new resorts & properties

InBrief� CLASSIC COLLECTION Holidays has introduced the four-star PalmBeach Hotel & Bungalows to its Cyprus programme for 2015.Rooms are available from £91 per room, per night, based on twopeople sharing a twin garden view room including breakfast. For details see www.palmbeachhotel.com

� EXODUS IS promoting an eight-day 'Walking on the Greek Islands'trip from £999 per person including flights from London, breakfastaccommodation and a tour leader throughout. The first departure ison October 26 and the week starts in Athens, before heading toParos, Santorini and Naxos. For more information visit www.exodus.co.uk or call 0845-863 9601.

�THE NEW Ikos Resorts brand currently features two Greekresorts, Ikos Oceania (previously Oceania Club) which will re-open in March 2015 after a soft refurbishment and a new hotel,Ikos Olivia, which will open its doors for the first time in May2015, situated in Halkidiki Greece. A seven-night holiday to thefive-star Ikos Oceania in Halkidiki costs from £759 per personincluding an early booking discount of 30% if booked beforeFebruary 28, 2015. The price, which is based on a May 2departure, includes accommodation on an all-inclusive basis in asuperior double room with a sea view, private transfers andflights from Gatwick.To book or for details see www.ikosresorts.com



Following the appointment ofa new chair to the CyprusTourism Organisation, wecaught up with Angelos to findout what the priorities are fortourism to Cyprus...

Q: How have UK visitor statisticsperformed for Cyprus over the last12 months and are these figures inline with your targets? A: We have seen an increase in

arrivals from the UK – the lateststats, including August, show a 2%increase in arrivals in the first eightmonths of the year. Even more encouraging is theincrease in the average expenditureper visitor. (There has been anincrease in revenue from tourismoverall of 11.6%). Based on earlybooking trends, we expect that theUK will perform even better nextyear.

Q: What does your currentcampaign highlight and who,specifically is it aimed at? A: Our promotion emphasises the

variety offered by the island whichappeals to a wide audience,including families, adventureseekers and sports enthusiasts. We

are also highlighting the healthygastronomy of Cyprus, positioningthe island as a ‘gastronomicheaven’. Even more important is ourrenowned healthy, mild winter(November-April).

Q: What are your priorities fortourism to Cyprus?A: Our priority in the UK is to

build upon our relative advantage asa tourism destination - good qualityhotels, state-of-the-art airports,modern highways, the cleanestbeaches in the Med, but alsospecific to the UK is the fact that allCypriots speak English and we driveon the same side. Cyprus hasproved to be particularly popular forweddings and honeymoons with UKcouples and we also have excellentgolf courses and spa hotels ofdistinction. In addition, we workclosely with the Travel Foundation inthe UK to develop our rural productand to promote sustainable tourism.

Q: Have you noticed any trendsemerging with UK visitors? A: We have been successful in

attracting younger people enjoyingactivity holidays such as cycling andmountain biking; older couplesfollowing our excellent walking trails– tour operators have increased thenumber of hiking and cycling toursthey offer to Cyprus during the offpeak months. We are also promotingour first class wine routes.

Q: What developments have takenplace over the last year? A: The Limassol Marina has been

completed – this luxury developmenthas 650 berths, a choice ofrestaurants and bars, as well asupmarket residences. A new 69kmcycling route starting from LimassolMarina and ending in Platres in the

Troodos mountains, with panoramicviews, has been completed and fivenew marine parks have beencreated most recently, to add to theexisting 200 dive sites, offering morechoice for divers to explore ourmarine life and wrecks. In Larnaca,the new Piale Pasha promenade hasbeen completed. This is the newseaside promenade connecting thecosmopolitan Foinikoudes (PalmTrees) Promenade with the FishingShelter and the trendy Mckenziearea. It has a pedestrian road andcycling lane.

Q: What is your advice to agentsselling Cyprus?A: Cyprus is well known as a sun,

sea and sand destination offeringquality accommodation. With one ofthe healthiest climates in the world,we believe that agents could offerthe island as a winter destination toclients, not only highlighting wintersun but also the wide range ofactivities on offer such as golf,hiking, cycling, diving. Weddings andhoneymoons have provedparticularly popular due to thesimple procedures that are requiredand the choice of wedding venues,not to mention the competitiveprices, while our rural tourismproduct is continually beingupgraded to allow discerningtravellers to experience the ‘realCyprus’ and interact with locals inthe hillside villages – ideal forfly/drive holidays. For coupleswishing to chase away the winterblues, they can ‘chill out’ in some ofthe award-winning spas and wineand dine on delicious, healthyCyprus cuisine and local wines,produced by the boutique wineriesdotted around the island. Cyprusoffers a quality holiday experience ina relaxed environment.

Q&A with Angelos Loizou, chairman of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation

greece&cyprus

PLANET HOLIDAYS andWeddings reports thatSantorini is continuing tosee an increase in UKvisitors and has added newproduct to its portfolio forthis year. This includes the five-star

Mystique in Oia which offers32 luxury suites and villaswhich feature facilities suchas a mini-bar, flat screen TV

and CD/DVD player. Pricesfor a seven-night breakfaststay in an Allure Suite leadin at approximately £1,717per person, based on travelthis month, includingtransfers and flights fromGatwick. Also new for 2014 is the

five-star Gold Suites inImerovigli, a member of theSmall Luxury Hotels of the

World, featuring 14 suitesand the four-star AlesahneBeach Hotel on the beach ofKamari, with 28 rooms.Meanwhile, for the budget

conscious, options includethe three-star DimitrisStudios with 22 studios, thetwo-star-plus Limnes Villaswith 23 units, the two-star-plus Alexandra HotelApartments with 55 rooms

and the three-star Blue SeaHotel & Studios. Pricesstart from £700.12 perperson based on two adultsstaying for seven nights inself-cateringaccommodation this month,including flights andtransfers. For more information call01438-841270 or seewww.planet-holidays.co.uk

Planet Holidays and Weddings adds new product to Santorini programme




BRITISH FAMILIES visiting Jerusalemcan now enjoy self-guided tours andactivities at the Old Yishuv CourtMuseum in order to discover the wayof life in the Old City of Jerusalemmore than 100 years ago.The self-guided tours are included

in the general admission price of themuseum, which is situated in a 500-

year old house in the Jewish Quarterof the old city. Visitors to the museum will be given

a glimpse into the way residents ofOld Yishuv used to live in the 19th and20th centuries, and what life was likebehind the ancient city walls. The interactive museum also offers

children the chance to solve problems,

learn how to darn socks, wringwashing and play games that wereonce popular amongst the children ofthe village. For more information and openinghours visitoymuseum.datinet.co.il/21.htm andfor more information on Israel seewww.thinkisrael.com

Anantara Dubai offers four nights from £875

AGENTS CAN now highlight a four-night stay at theAnantara Dubai, The Palm to their clients from £875per person, offering a saving of up to £1,130 percouple. Guests can glide into a turquoise lagoon pool from

the steps of their room, indulge in a sensuous massageat the Anantara Spa and tuck into spicy Thai cuisine atthe Asian inspired resort on The Palm.The package includes four nights' half-board stay in

a Premier Lagoon Access room, flights and transfers. The deal is valid for bookings by October 31 for travel

between May 24 and June 30, 2015. Supplements costfrom £220 per person for travel between January 11-31with breakfast.For more information see www.emiratesholidays.co.uk or call 020-7590 1450.

middleeast

ROTANA’S LATEST five-star property is set to redefine the coast ofBahrain by the end of next year with its unique architecture.Developed with leisure, corporate guests and families in mind,ART Rotana will feature 311 luxurious rooms and suites, extensivebanqueting and conference facilities, a private beach, threeswimming pools and a children’s waterpark. The new property isscheduled to open in December 2015.

Dubai unveils expansion plans for‘world’s biggest airport project’THE EXPANSION of Dubai World Central Al MaktoumInternational Airport, which handled its first passengeraircraft in October 2013, is set to begin by the end of thisyear.The first phase of the development will involve building

terminal and runway facilities to cater for up to 120million passengers per year, as well as up to 100 AirbusA380 superjumbos at the same time. The first phase isexpected to take six to eight years to build.

The airport will eventually have capacity for 220 millionpassengers when the second and final phase iscompleted.The airport is currently used for passenger flights by

carriers including Qatar Airways, Gulf Air and Wizz Air.The emirate’s current major airport is Dubai

International, which handled more than 66 millionpassengers last year and this is expected to increase to100 million by the end of 2020.

Jerusalem's Old Yishuv Court Museum offers self-guided family activities

S05 TB1010 2014 Middle East_Layout 1 08/10/2014 12:37

QATAR'S MUSEUM of Islamic Art, which is home to oneof the largest collections of Islamic Art in the world, ishosting a special exhibition looking at the importance ofhistoric artwork collection, and how collection practicesshape modern understanding of artistic and culturalconnections throughout the Islamic world. The exhibition will feature a number of objects that

have never before been on display, giving an opportunityto learn about undiscovered historic connections, thebiography of the pieces, and how they are conservedwithin the museum. Varying displays will be running until February 2015.

For more information visit www.mia.org.qa/en/boc

ABU DHABI, capital city of the UnitedArab Emirates (UAE), will be the startand finish of the first, round-the-worldsolar-powered flight, which Swiss co-founders and pilots Dr. BertrandPiccard and André Borschberg areplanning to undertake with SolarImpulse 2 in March next year.

The team will be hosted by AbuDhabi and Masdar, the emirate’srenewable energy company and Solar

Impulse host partner, for two monthsat the start of January for testing andtraining before the start of the flight.

The round-the-world tour isexpected to take 25 flying days overfour or five months. Solar Impulse iscurrently finalising the stages afterAbu Dhabi, and looks to makestopovers in Asia, the United Statesand in Southern Europe or NorthAfrica, before returning to the UAE

capital in July next year. Some flightsover the Pacific and the Atlantic willlast five to six days, a feat madepossible by Solar Impulse 2’s ability tofly without fuel.

On its circumnavigation of the globe,Dr. Piccard and Borschberg, will taketurns flying the aircraft. They will havewith them six oxygen bottles, aparachute, a life raft and food andwater for a week.

Qatar Museum of Islamic Art hosts historicartwork collection exhibition


middleeast

THE MARRIOTT Marquis CityCenter Doha Hotel hasopened in Doha‘s West Baydistrict, growing the list ofhigh end hotel investment inthe city.

Three hotels - theRenaissance Doha, Courtyard

Doha and Marriott ExecutiveApartments Doha – havemerged to be rebranded asthe hotel, becoming the firstMarriott Marquis propertyoutside of the US and theseventh Marriott Marquisglobally.

The property features 577guestrooms ranging fromstandard deluxe rooms toPresidential suites. Amenitiesinclude a rooftop pool, teninternational restaurants, a24-hour fitness centre, twoexecutive lounges and 17meeting rooms.For more information onaccommodation and otheractivities in Qatar visitwww.qatartourism.gov.qa

PREMIER HOLIDAYS has introduced thefour-star Vida Downtown Hotel in Dubaito its 2015 Faraway brochure. The company is offering an early

booking room discount of up to 15% fortravel between January 11 and December26, 2015, and can also offer free regional

add-on’s with Etihad from Scottishairports Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgowand Inverness (all via Manchester) to aselection of destinations such asAustralia, Vietnam and Thailand, withshort connections via Abu Dhabi.Travel agents can also benefit from

the company's agent incentive, earningbetween £25-£150 per Middle Eastbooking, depending on the bookingvalue. For further information or to book visitwww.trade.premierholidays.co.uk or call 0844-493 7542.

Premier Holidays offers early booking saving for new Dubai property

FAIRMONT THE Palm is promoting rates from £320 per night for aFairmont View room on a bed-and-breakfast basis. The hotel islocated near to some of the city’s best shopping including the Mallof the Emirates, Marina Mall and The Dubai Mall as well as someof Dubai’s most renowned golf courses. Home to 381 rooms andsuites, the property offers seven restaurants and bars, a privatebeach with a butler service and cabanas, a swimming pool, plusnumerous watersports on offer. For details see www.fairmont.com/palm-dubai

Five-star Marriott opens in Qatar

Doha

Abu Dhabi is host city for first round-the-world solar-powered flight in March 2015


MANDARIN ORIENTAL Hotel Group hasconfirmed that it will manage a luxuryresort in Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach areawhen it opens in 2017. The resort, which is currently under

development and will mark the group’sdebut in the Middle East, will feature

200 rooms and suites and 12 over-water villas accessible via a privatebeach, and with its own infinity pool. The hotel will include nine

restaurants and bars, including asignature pier-top restaurant withdocking facilities for private yachts, as

well as a poolside restaurant, twobars, a lobby lounge and a MandarinOriental Cake Shop. The resort willalso offer several function rooms,including a 525sq.m ballroom, a2,800sq.m all-inclusive spa and abeach club.

INVESTMENT CORPORATION of Dubai(ICD) and Kerzner InternationalHoldings Limited (Kerzner), aninternational developer and operatorof destination resorts and luxuryhotels, have unveiled plans to enhancethe landscape of Dubai with The RoyalAtlantis Resort and Residences. Features of the new project will

include a $1.4billion investment in theresort expansion and amenities; nearly800 new guestrooms and suites; and250 luxury residences providingexclusive doorstep access torestaurants and entertainment, aswell as resort experiences.The Royal Atlantis Resort will stand

46 storeys tall and will feature oceanand Palm views, allowing guests tofeel that they are floating between the

sky and sea. A new Sky Pool will soaralmost 90m above The Palm, offeringDubai city views.

AGENTS CAN become anexpert on Qatar and join theQatar Tourism Authority's(QTA) Tawash TrainingProgramme to be in with a

chance of winning one of 50traditional Qatar pearls or aplace on an inaugural Tawashfam trip.The first 50 agents to

complete the programme willwin a traditional Qatari pearland all agents who haveregistered and completed theprogramme by October 31

will be in with the chance toexperience Qatar forthemselves on a fam trip.For more information visitwww.tawashqatar.com

The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences sees $1.4billion expansion investment

Mandarin Oriental confirms management of luxury resort in Dubai for 2017 launch

www.travelbulletin.co.ukOctober 10 2014 22

middleeast

CORINTHIAN TRAVEL hasadded an 11-day EmiratesExplorer tour, which leadsin at £2,295 per personexcluding flights. Travelling through six of

the UAE’s sevenSheikhdoms and the remoteOmani province ofMusandam, the EmiratesExplorer is a private tourthat has been designed toshowcase the diversescenic, cultural, historic andiconic modern attractions ofthe lower Gulf. Starting in Dubai, guests

will discover the emirate’shistory, as well as itslandmark architectural andengineering achievements.A drive along the so called‘Pirate Coast’ will then takeguests to Oman’s wildMusandam peninsula whichis noted for its deep inlets,

craggy peaks and bayshemmed in by sheer cliffs.Here, visitors will explore

the scenery both by dhowcruise and 4WD vehicle,before visiting the historicalsites and museums in thelaidback emirates of Ajmanand Sharjah. Concluding thetour are two nights by thesea in Abu Dhabi.The company's managing

director of North Africa andMiddle East, Hugh Fraser,said: "The Gulf States areknown for their excellenthotels, fine winter climateand warm hospitality andare easily accessed on non-stop flights from a numberof UK airports. The peggingof the UAE dirham to the USdollar and a stronger poundmeans that your money nowgoes further in the regionthan it used to.

“The majority of visitorsto the Gulf States arelooking for beach holidayscombined with a little softadventure (dune and wadibashing) or takingadvantage of some of thenotable shoppingopportunities. “A commonly ignored

niche market whenpromoting the Gulf Statesis the cultural traveller. Theregion is rich with futuristicarchitecture and iconic

state-of-the-artengineering masterpieces.Taking a trip out to one ofthe northern emirates suchof Fujeirah, Ras AlKhaimah or Oman’sMusandam peninsula willtake you into the heart oftraditional Arabia. Here arequiet wadis, smallfortresses, stunningmountain scenery and finebeaches.”For more information [email protected]

n H1 sT

11-day Emirates Explorer tour from Corinthian Travel for £2,295

Qatar Tourism Authority launches Tawash Training Programme with prize incentives


TRAVEL INDOCHINA haslaunched its 2015/16 previewbrochure featuring reducedprices across its range ofescorted Small GroupJourneys, early bird savingsand an incentive deal fortravel agents to win twotickets to Vietnam orIndochina. The new, eight-page

brochure showcases theoperator’s top-selling SmallGroup Journeys to Asia. Tomark its launch, travelpartners can offer earlybooking customers savings ofup to 10% per person on the

company's entire Small GroupJourneys programme. Thisincludes more than 70itineraries across 11 countriesand many cross-border trips,with more than 1,000guaranteed departures tochoose from.Among the offers available,

customers can experienceVietnam’s diversity on theoperator’s 11-night ‘VietnamInsight’ journey, with air-inclusive prices starting fromjust £1,830 per person,representing an early birdsaving of £260 per couple.Alternatively, a 13-day ‘Burma

Revealed’ journey reveals thehighlights of the destinationand comes with an early birddiscount of £300 per couple,with prices leading in at£2,895 per person.The early bird discounts

include air travel with VietnamAirlines and Qatar Airways,plus the combined advantageof local English-speakingguides and a Western tourleader, based on a minimumof seven travellers. They areavailable on all bookingsmade by October 31 for travelbetween March 1 andDecember 31, 2015.

As an added salesincentive, the company isoffering agents the chanceto win two tickets toVietnam or Indochina withVietnam Airlines. Runninguntil October 31, everyagent who books groundarrangements includingflights with Vietnam’snational carrier will beentered into a prize draw towin two air tickets or one often £15 Love2Shopvouchers.For more information visitwww.travelindochina.co.ukor call 01865-268944.

PREMIER HOLIDAYS has introduced aselection of new, privately escortedtours to its 2015 Faraway brochure;incorporating the best aspects of Asiainto several itineraries.As examples, a ‘Spirit of Laos’ tour

is available to book from £2,299 perperson and takes guests through Laosover nine nights, with stops in LuangPrabang, Tad Lo, the 4,000 Islandsarea and Vientiane. Highlights includeexploring temples, waterfalls, ancientruins and forest trails. A new, 14-day ‘Heritages of

Cambodia & Myanmar’ escorted touris also being offered and costs from£2,999, covering some of the mosticonic areas of Indochina and Burmasuch as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap,Yangon, Bagan and Mandalay. Guestscan take in landmarks such as WatPhnom - Phnon Penh’s oldest shrine,the Royal Palace, the ancient city of

Siem Reap, the Bayon ruins and thetemples of Angkor. Both of the privately-escorted tours

by air-conditioned car are based ontwo adults travelling, and includeflights, private transfers betweenhotels, three-star accommodationwith breakfast, all sightseeing,entrance fees and the assistance of anEnglish speaking guide. Departuresoperate daily and visas are excluded. Alternatively, clients who wish to

experience Sri Lanka’s highlights canopt for a ten-day ‘Colonial Ceylon withSafari & Riverboat’ escorted tour,starting from £1,899. The new, hand-picked tour incorporates stops suchas Colombo, Udawalawe, YalaNational Park and Galle, withexclusive riverboat accommodation onboard the riverboat Yathra by Jetwing.Guests can take part in a guidedwalking tour of Colombo, visit a gem

mine in Ratnapura, interact withelephants at the Elephant TransitHome rehabilitation centre inUdawalawe, enjoy wildlife spotting ongame drives through Yala NationalPark, visit the Galle Fort worldheritage site and sail along theDedduwa River on board the riverboatYathra by Jetwing.The privately-escorted tour by air-

conditioned car operates daily fromNovember 1 and includes flights;private transfers, all sightseeing,breakfast accommodation and anEnglish speaking guide. Meanwhile, agents can benefit from

a booking incentive to earn between£25-£150 per inclusive escorted tourbooking, dependent on the bookingvalue.For further information or to book seewww.trade.premierholidays.co.uk orcall 0844-493 7542

www.travelbulletin.co.uk October 10 2014

TABER HOLIDAYS has added a new ‘Icelandic Cuisine and Culture’ tour to its portfolio, available as a five- or seven-night break. Theescorted tour combines the flavours of Iceland with cultural treats, soft activity and Northern Lights. Food lovers will enjoy Icelandiccheese tasting, have the opportunity to boil their own egg in a hot spring, try hot steam baked bread, sample some local beer and enjoy aseafood feast at a Viking Museum, as well as sitting down to gourmet dinners every evening. Visits to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa,the Langjökull Glacier, the Gullfoss Waterfall and Iceland’s famous ash-cloud volcano, Eyjafjallajökull, are all included. Prices start from£1,711 per person which includes flights from Gatwick, transfers, a guide and breakfast accommodation. The tour departs weekly untilMarch 29, 2015. For details call 01274-875199 or see www.taberhols.co.uk

Travel Indochina issues 2015/16 preview brochure plus agent booking incentive

23

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Premier Holidays adds private escorted tours in Faraway brochure

S06 TB1010 2014 Escorted Trips_NEW_Layout 1 08/10/2014 14:47

EXPLORE HAS unveiled five new toursfor its 2015/16 Family Adventurescollection in destinations includingTunisia, Iceland, Cambodia, Croatia andPeru.The collection now offers guaranteed

departures on all family tours andincludes transfers for all customerswhether they have booked their ownflights or booked flights throughExplore.The operator's new Intergalactic

Tunisian Family Adventure offers anideal option for families looking for aunique travel experience. The nine-daytour combines authentic activities suchas glass blowing, learning how to cooka traditional Bedouin meal andspending the night in a convertedtroglodyte cave dwelling, with the mainhighlights of Tunis, Port El Kantaouiand Djerba. Families will also visitsome of the famous Star Warslocations, challenge themselves with an

aerial adventure rope course and pay avisit to Tunisia’s largest water park.Suitable for children aged five andover, the tour costs from £1,095 peradult and £1,019 per child, to includeflights; eight nights’ hotelaccommodation on a bed-and-breakfastbasis; eight other meals; transport; andthe services of a tour leader, driver andlocal guides.For families in search of winter

landscapes, the operator's new WinterIceland Family Adventure offers aneight-day exploration of snow-coveredglaciers, with visits to The Blue Lagoon,the Gullfoss waterfall and steaminggeysers of Iceland. Families can alsoexperience a Richter six earthquake inan earthquake simulator, travel on anadventurous husky safari and searchfor humpback whales during a whalewatching trip. Suitable for childrenaged eight and above, the tour costsfrom £1,739 per adult and £1,485 per

child including flights; three nights’hotel and four nights’ guesthouseaccommodation on a bed-and-breakfastbasis; transport and the services of atour leader and driver.Carl Burrows, the company's sales

director, said: “The new collectionrepresents fantastic value for money.We’ve worked closely with all oursuppliers to ensure that we can makegreat price savings, without having tocompromise on quality. In addition tothe 5% launch discount which agentscan take advantage of, we don’t offeronline discounts so we can guaranteethat agents won’t be undercut by theweb or our call centre. Agents areencouraged to contact Philippa Baines,our trade sales manager if they wantany help or support with sellingadventure travel.”For further information or to book visitwww.explore.co.uk or call 0844-0499 0901.

Leger announces new Luxuria coach LEGER HOLIDAYS has announced it will be launching a newdesign of coach next year, which will be the first of its kindto be used by a holiday company in the UK.The company's new Luxuria coach puts passenger

comfort at the forefront and seats a maximum of 31 in rowsof three, to offer wider seats and extra leg room.The armchair-style seats, some facing into tables, also

feature retractable calf rests, personal touch screen TVs,and plug and USB points so passengers can keep gadgetsfully charged. Holidays travelling by Luxuria can now be booked, and

are available on selected holidays from March 2015. Ashley Dellow, the company's head of retail sales, said:

“We are the very first company in the UK to introduce thisadvanced style of coach for scheduled holidays and so thisis being made specially for us. The coach will be ready forthe New Year and we’re already receiving a lot of enquiries,so we imagine places on Luxuria tours will go very quickly. "It really will take coach travel to the next level of

comfort, with innovative rows of a double and single seat,and some singles facing over a table. With a selection ofTV programmes, movies and music to enjoy on your ownpersonal TV, and spacious, armchair style seats, it reallywill make the journey one to remember.”For more information visit www.leger.co.uk

Explore unveils new tours in 2015/16 Family Adventures collection

www.travelbulletin.co.uk24

escortedtrips

October 10 2014

InBrief� TITAN HAS issued its 2015/16 Worldwide brochure featuring 23 newadventures in destinations including Arabia, the Balkans, Liguria andChina’s Yunnan Province, amongst others. Every holiday includes aVIP Home Departure Service as standard as well as a range of extrassuch as varied meal plans, included excursions, entrances and visits.

� RIVIERA TRAVEL is offering a 22-day 'New Zealand - Land Of TheLong White Cloud' escorted tour, with prices leading in at £3,999 perperson. The tour departs between October 2015 and April 2016 andhighlights include a two-day stopover in Singapore, a sightseeingtour of Auckland, an authentic farm stay and home cooked dinner, ahelicopter flight around Franz Josef Glacier and two nights inQueenstown. The price includes Singapore Airlines flights fromHeathrow or Manchester, breakfast accommodation in three- andfour-star hotels and a tour manager.

� TEN NEW holidays departing from stations across the UK in 2015 arefeatured in Diamond Rail Holidays' 2015 brochure, which offers atotal of 33 tours across Europe and beyond. New journeys includetravel on the Jungfrau Express and Lisbon, Porto and the DouroValley. All rail tours are fully escorted from London St Pancras byexperienced tour managers and include many excursions and meals.As an example, a ten-day Lake Bled and the Mountains of Sloveniacosts from £1,099 per person based on two sharing. For details see www.sellingrailholidays.com or call 0844-544 7581.

� SMALL GROUP tour specialist Back-Roads Touring has launched itsnew summer 2015 brochure, revealing a fresh line up of tours. For thefirst time, the company is also offering door-to-door return privatetransfers for all UK summer tours, with the addition of flights andprivate airport transfers in Europe for all European summer tours.New tours for next summer include Germany’s Romantic Back-Roadto Vienna, Mountains, Lakes & Valleys of Switzerland, Kent & Sussexand A Taste of Scotland with royal chef Carolyn Robb. For more information see www.backroadstouring.com or call 020-89870 990.

Luxuria coach


Savings of up to £250per person in ThomasCook's new brochure THE LATEST escorted toursbrochure from Thomas CookTours is now out, offeringmore than 60 tours acrossthe world and savings up to£250 person for bookingsmade before November 30. Prices for the new

2015/16 brochure start from£1,539 per person for aseven-day Tuscany andItalian Riviera tour thatincludes visits to some ofTuscany’s towns as well as atour of a winery.New for 2015 is a

programme of Spotlighttours – fully escorted citybreaks to US cities includingSan Francisco, New Orleansand New York, with pricesfor a six-day tour to NewYork starting from £1,879per person.

escortedtrips

SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS haslaunched its 2015 Britain &Europe programmefeaturing new tours anditineraries designed to givecustomers more reasonsto go.The brochure details

holidays which take infestivals, events, stunningscenery and exclusivebehind-the-scenes tours offilm locations and statelyhomes.Caroline Brown, the

operator's commercialdirector, said: “We’ve seenbookings increase in thelast year right across ourportfolio, and so ourstrategy of continuallyadding value to ourholidays is resonating withcustomers. In our 2015programme we’ve goneabove and beyond to giveour customers even more

‘reasons to go’ with us bylaunching new itinerariesthat give them the chanceto experience big events,enjoy exclusive tours andcommemorate importantanniversaries."Five new premium

Grand Tourer holidayshave been introduced forsummer 2015. Itinerariesinclude ‘Secret WarwickCastle & Stratford’ pricedfrom £384, which featuresan exclusive tour ofWarwick Castle; and‘Montreux & Swiss Riviera’priced from £929, whichincludes a stay in alakeside hotel andexcursions to Evian-les-Bains, Yvoire, Lausanneand Gruyeres. New European tours

include ‘Traditions of theTyrol’ in Austria, whichcosts from £649, and

features a folklore eveningand a visit to the localKirchberg Flower Festival;and ‘Lake Maggiore, Orta& the Borromean Islands’,from £929, which includesa stay at the four-starZacchera Hotel andincludes full day trips toLake Orta, the BorromeanIslands, Mount Mottaroneand Villa Taranto.Other additions to the

programme include anexpanded range of breaksfor independent travellers,new all-inclusiveitineraries and new four-day UK weekend breaks.Incentives include free

entry for agents into aprize draw to win £250 inHigh Street vouchers,while early bird customerscan save up to £100 percouple when bookingbefore November 14.

Shearings offers 'more reasons to go' with Britain & Europe launch.


Collette highlights new tours in 2015/16 brochure COLLETTE HAS issued its new brochure for 2015/16, offering 68 escorted toursacross 164 pages.New tours for next year include a 13-day Discovering Myanmar option, which

costs from £3,449 per person, with departures from November; an 11-dayWonders of Newfoundland option, with prices from £3,299 and departures inJune; and a 12-day Northern Spain: Landmarks, Culture and Cuisine tour, whichdeparts from May and costs from £1,869.Also new for 2015 are extra additions to the company's American Portfolio,

including new escorted city breaks to New York, New Orleans and San Francisco.There are also newly extended tours, such as the National Parks of America thatnow come with an optional Denver city break, with prices from £3,249 perperson.The company's programme of RHS Garden Holidays tours has also been

incorporated into the new brochure, providing a range of horticulturally themedtours across Europe and into Japan, the US, South Africa and New Zealand.The brochure also comes with savings of up to £250 per person on bookings

made by November 30.As with all of the operator's escorted tours, prices include many meals andexcursions, accommodation, the services of a tour manager and free door-to-door transfers from within 75 miles of a UK departure airport. For a copy of the new brochure visit www.trade-gate.co.uk and for reservations call 0800-804 8701.

Kuoni launches new Journeys brochure KUONI HAS launched a hand-picked collection of independent and escortedtours by road, river, rail and coach in its new Journeys brochure, previouslyknown as Escorted Touring.Escorted tours have been added in new destinations such as Highlights

of Northern Ethiopia, a gastronomic tour of northern Spain, Lucknow onthe Nepal & India Highlights and Jaffna on the Definitive Sri Lanka.With a growing demand for European touring, more options have been

introduced and new river cruises such as the European Gems cruise, ajourney from Amsterdam to Budapest and Jewels of the Rhone, whichtakes in the main highlights from vineyards to architectural monumentsand World heritage sites. For the first time, the company is offering two, one-off limited edition

tours featuring unique experiences - a photography tour of India withaward-winning photographer, Neil Buchan-Grant, and, for 2016, The GreatMigration, featuring a special expert host to be revealed nearer the time.For further information or to book call 01306-747008 or seewww.agents.kuoni.co.uk

We asked our staff thefollowing question this week:

Which shop/store areyou most likely to maxout your credit card?

Publisher: Jeanette [email protected]

Editor: Lauretta [email protected] Ltd

Assistant Editor: Jill [email protected] rid of my credit card years ago.

Contributing Editor: Paul [email protected] me old-fashioned, M&S. Call me cool, Apple.

Sales Director: Simon [email protected]

Advertisement Manager: Tim [email protected]' toy shops

Online Sales Manager: Nick [email protected] dull, but I suppose it would be a department storelike John Lewis.

Account Manager: Bill [email protected] Boss

Account Manager: Chris [email protected] Dutti

Account Manager: Matt [email protected] & Fitch New York

Senior Designer: Lee [email protected]

Assistant Designer: Tom [email protected]

Production: Favian [email protected]

Circulation Manager: Jim [email protected]

escortedtrips

Crossword:Across: 1. VIKING, 3. EMMA, 7. NAMIBIA, 9. NWI, 10. COPENHAGEN, 13. GOLDEN GATE, 15. AVN, 16. RIHANNA, 18.TAXI, 19. THE WHO. Down:Down: 1. VENICE, 2. KLM, 4. MANDELA, 5. AVIS, 6. SAVANNAH, 8. BENIDORM, 11. PHOENIX, 12. PEDALO, 14.BAHT, 17. NOW.

Highlighted Word: MANAMA

Travagrams: (top) Exodus (bottom) Galapagos Islands

Where Am I?: Lulworth

puzzlesolutions


Travel Bulletin is published by Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) Ltd - University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London,SW1W 0EX, Tel: 020-7834 6661 Printed by: Buxton PressSubscriptions are £125 p.a. £195 overseasISSN: 0956-2419

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TravelBulletin

InBrief� NEWMARKET HOLIDAYS has announced the launch of a 228-page brochure of ‘bestvalue’ escorted tours, covering destinations within the UK, across Europe, in the Americasand further afield, with departure dates through to early 2016. Tours range from a four-day break to Belfast and the Titanic Experience to an 18-day journey taking in the verybest of America’s Great National Parks, amongst a total of more than 60 inclusive,escorted holidays.


Middle East - Travel Bulletin · 2015. 12. 2. · between May 1 and June 30, 2015. Alternatively,...

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