Travel Bulletin 20th April 2012

Operators launch newproducts as demand

for destination returns

Egypt

April 20 2012 | ISSUE NO 1,775 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

agent bulletinfind out what’s in store forTaurus this month

renato fantoniagony uncle Renato aims tosolve a leadership dilemma

accommodation-only

a round-up of the latest operatoradditions to programmes

trainingRichard English explains how tostop being an “order-taker” andstart being a salesperson

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A RIVETING READ...five lucky UK sales staff were treated to a week experiencing Samoa, the Treasured Islands ofthe South Pacific and participated at the Samoa Tourism Exchange 2012. Pictured enjoying a quick read of TravelBulletin while on Savaii, the second largest island in Polynesia and one of the first islands to see the sunrise ofeach day are, from the left: Sammy Pryce, Travelbag; Nicola Michael, Wexas; Lucy Ashton, Austravel; Jill Weymes,Travel 2; and Gemma Wilson, Cox & Kings.

This Week

3newsa round-up of the latestindustry developments &new products

7cruising is ACEJo Rzymowska from RCLCruises looks at theevolution of cruising

8 at home with eileenwhat has homeworker Eileenbeen up to lately?

9 agent bulletinfind out what's in store forTaurus this month

10 W-AITO-Go!news and views from AITOAgents

11 puzzle bulletinplay Su Doku and you couldwin a £50 M&S voucher

12 agent reviewfind out what one agentthought of a Vietnam fam

13 renato fantoniagony uncle Renato aims tosolve a leadership problem

14personality bulletinwhich agency salesexecutive would love a roomfull of cake?

15traininghow to stop being an “order-taker” and start being asalesperson

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3www.travelbulletin.co.uk April 20 2012

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A STRONGER pound means more cash inhand for people visiting European citiesthis spring according to the 2012 PostOffice Travel Money City Costs Barometer.And nowhere is the gain so marked as inBudapest, where a sterling rise of 19.5%since last spring has made the Hungariancapital one of this year’s bargaindestinations.

Budapest was second only to Riga inthe survey of 23 city break destinationsacross Europe and the US. The Latviancapital was best value for the second yearrunning in a clean sweep that saw fiveEastern European cities top the ratings.At £121.47 for meals and drinks,sightseeing, travel and accommodation,Riga cost just 40% of the total price forten items surveyed in Stockholm, themost expensive European city at £298.27.New York was the highest-priced overall(£331.33).

Prague dropped from second to fifthplace in the annual survey, and although itremains one of the best value city breaks, a7.2% rise in prices made the Czech capital11.6% more expensive than Budapest, at£144.88 compared with £129.72.

The company's head of travel money,Andrew Brown, said: “This year’s CityCosts Barometer shows clearly how theprices tourists will pay on a city break areinextricably linked to the value of sterlingagainst individual currencies. In Budapestlocal prices are level with those a yearago but costs for UK tourists have fallenand this is the result of a 19%strengthening of the UK pound againstthe Hungarian forint.

“However, rising local costs can easilycancel out the benefit that comes from animproving pound and that is exactly whathas happened in Prague. Even though UKholidaymakers can expect to receive over7% more Czech koruna for their poundsat the moment, higher costs in the Czechcapital mean that prices have actuallyrisen by more than 8% – making a visit toBudapest significantly cheaper.”

In third place Tallinn was cheapest inthe eurozone (£134.83) with prices down5.1% year-on year. Historically, priceshave risen when countries join theeurozone but tourist costs in Tallinn are14.5% lower than when it had its owncurrency (kroon).

The other eurozone cities surveyedwere significantly more expensive thanTallinn by between 35% (Dublin) and 87%(Bruges). However, despite rising prices,Dublin (+8.3%) and Lisbon (+22%) remainin the top ten cities. So does Berlin,where a 2.7% fall in hotel prices has keptcosts relatively low.

Four new cities were surveyed by PostOffice Travel Money this year. Belfast wasthe lowest-priced (£172.80), coming inbehind the five Eastern European capitalsin sixth place, just beating Dublin(£174.15). Istanbul also features in the topten with a spending total of £188.64 whileVienna (£196.64) and Dubrovnik (216.45)were cheaper than traditional favouriteslike Paris (252.88), Amsterdam (£241.49)and Rome (£234.90).

Brown said: “The strengthening of the

● continues on next page

24accommodation-onlya round-up of the latestprogramme additions

27egyptoperators launch newproducts as demand fordestination returns

17focus usathe latest offers & savingsplus new product launches

Post Office reveals city trips that won't break the bank

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UK pound against European currencies is good news forpeople planning city breaks because spending costs willbe lower than they would otherwise have been. That iswhy we recommend keeping a close eye on exchangerates and matching these with individual city costsbefore choosing which capital to visit.

“Money can also be saved by getting a Post OfficeTravel Money Card Plus and loading it with cash whenthe pound is performing well. It is a chip and PIN-enableMastercard and a safe and secure way to carry money,which is a real consideration on a city break.”For more information on the survey visitwww.postoffice.co.uk/cityreport2012

LIVE PERFORMANCES from Rob Roy Collins, the man whocan escape from a padlocked chain, Chris Cross, acontortionist who can bend his arms any way imaginable andSpikey Will, the man of danger who lies in between two bedsof nails and asks a member of the audience to stand on topon him for ten seconds, are just a handful of liveperformances taking place this spring at Ripley's Believe Itor Not! in London.

Home of more than 700 curiosities from all around theworld, visitors to the attraction can check their heightagainst the world’s tallest man, take a peek at realfossilised dinosaur eggs or lose their friends and familyin the Mirror Maze. The performances will be appearingat the attraction every half an hour from 12.00–18.00from April 20-22 and April 27-29.

The attraction is open seven days a week, 365 days a yearfrom 10:00 until midnight and prices start from £26.95 per

adult and £21.95 per child, including entry to the MirrorMaze and the brand new LaseRace. Ultimate Explorerfamily tickets are available for £87.95, based on twoadults and two children. For more information visit www.ripleyslondon.com

ABTA launches joint admin scheme ABTA HAS launched the ABTA-ATOL Joint AdministrationScheme (ABTA-ATOL JAS) to provide members with a cost-effective process to comply with the new ATOL regulations. Thescheme enables members to apply for an ATOL licencethrough ABTA with lower fees and is ideal for smaller andmedium-sized travel businesses. Any ABTA member with anATOL turnover of less than £1.5m will be eligible to apply whilemembers applying for an ATOL for the first time will beimmediately eligible for the scheme. Those members with anexisting ATOL will be able to apply to opt-in to the schemefrom their next CAA renewal date in September or March 2013.For more information visit www.abta.com

Live performances this spring at Ripley's Believe It Or Not

Escape artist Rob Roy Collins

www.travelbulletin.co.ukApril 20 20124

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SOFITEL HAS launched its first property in India, the SofitelMumbai BKC, located in the city’s business district, the BandraKurla Complex. Featuring a contemporary architectural style,the hotel features six bars and restaurants, nine rooms formeetings and events, a spa, fitness centre and swimming pool.

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Free transfers & insurance from VoD TO COINCIDE with the launch its summer 2013 brochure,Voyages of Discovery is offering passengers a 10% discounton their 2013 summer cruise plus free insurance forbookings made by May 31. Guests choosing a higher gradecabin will also receive a free chauffeur service to theairport or port. The 2013 programme sees the line'sDiscovery ship visit 15 new ports of call while Voyager, thesecond and newly added ship in the fleet, will embark onits first summer season, sailing to 12 new ports of call.

Fares start from £799 per person, based on the IconicIberia 11-day itinerary departing from Harwich onSeptember 15. Prices include parking at the port orselected coach transfers for no-fly cruises, flights (ifapplicable), transfers, gratuities & service charges, mealsand entertainment and a guest speaker programme. Call 0844-822 0820 or see ww.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk

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New tourism drivefrom Visit YorkA NEW marketing drive toencourage tour operatorsand travel agents to sellYork and its new City Passhas been launched by VisitYork.

The new look York Passoffers purchasers free entryto more than 30 visitorattractions plus exclusiveoffers at restaurants andmoney off theatre ticketsover one, two or three days.

It can be purchased atwww.yorkpass.com andspecial travel trade ratesare also available. Pricesstart at £34 for a one-daypass and in total the passprovides free entry to morethan £220 worth ofattractions, and comescomplete with a 72 pageguidebook with maps.

Group Travel Guide from GreatdaysGREATDAYS, THE Cheshire based wholesale tour operator haslaunched its 2013 Group Travel Guide.

The 180-page brochure features more than 300 ideas forgroup tours, of which 80 are new for 2013 and many of whichare exclusive.

New UK tours include ‘The Three Detectives’ which visitsstory and movie locations of Morse, Midsomer Murders andSherlock Holmes with two nights in Buckinghamshire; the‘Fab Four’ for an evening at The Cavern Club and reliveLiverpool in the '60s; a new ‘Seven Wonders of Scotland’ tourwhich visits Edinburgh, the Forth Road Bridge, the FalkirkWheel, a Whisky Distillery and Loch Lomond; and a seven-day‘Reel Ireland’ option where guests can watch a movie eachnight and the next day see the filming locations including,Braveheart, Into the West, Moby Dick, Ryan’s Daughter, Farand Away and Angela’s Ashes.

New European tours include a 'Taste of Flanders' based inGhent, where guests can experience a brewery, chocolatefrites, Belgian Frites, Belgian coffee and cake and a traditionalBelgium dinner in a historical quayside warehouse. The 'OtherParis' tour takes guests off the tourist track to old canals andunderground waterways, while an ‘Alternative Amsterdam’ tourtakes visitors to Amsterdam’s little known castles ofMuiderslot and Naarden.For more information call 0161-928 3242 or visit www.greatdays.co.uk

HILTON HOTELS are now available for agents to book through Superbreak. In total, 104properties across the UK are now featured including the Doubletree and Hamptonbrands and they can be booked in conjunction with elements such as rail, theatre andattractions. To celebrate, Superbreak is offering agents the chance to win a trip toLondon with overnight accommodation, return rail, dinner and wine.

Any agent making a Hilton booking by April 30 will be entered into a prize draw towin an overnight stay at the Hilton London Olympia hotel, dinner and a bottle of winefor two at the Axis Bar and Kitchen at the Hilton Islington hotel plus rail travel. For more information visit www.superbreak.com/agents or call 0871-221 4444.

Hilton booking incentive from Superbreak

newsbulletinLIVING IT UP IN LEVI...Inghams took a group ofeight agents to Lapland toexperience snowmobilesafaris, huskey rides andreindeer treks. Picturedenjoying skiing in Levi are,from the left: Emma Buckle,Travel Counsellors;Charlotte Yeomans,Inghams; Kerenina Bleich,IGLU; Sarah Busby, AscotTravel; Brian Laurie,Semple Travel; and MichaelEyles, Inghams.

Tweets of

the WeekWho’s saying what

on Twitter...

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AITO Save up to £674 pp on alast-minute trip to theGambia with AITOmember The GambiaExperience!http://bit.ly/HFHRQz

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

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AVALON WATERWAYS has announced the launch of an additional two new ‘suite’ shipsinto service in 2013, the Avalon Artistry II and Avalon Expression which are in additionto its latest suite ships Avalon Vista and Visionary (2012) bringing the total of suiteships to five.

The new ships will feature two full decks of Panorama suites with wall-to-wallpanoramic windows that open to create ‘open air balconies’ and, according to thecompany, Avalon Panorama suites (200sq.ft) and Royal suites (300sq.ft) offer the mostspacious river cruising on European rivers – 30% larger than the industry standard. For more information call 0800-668 1801.

Avalon announces delivery of new 'Panorama Suite' ships for 2013

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FRED OLSEN Cruise Lines has launched a dedicatedpackage - the ‘Retirement Celebration’ - bookable onany cruise, departing from January 2013. The newaddition is aimed at guests celebrating retirement andincludes Champagne and canapés served in the cabin, agreetings card and a celebration cake.

Prices lead in at £45per person and the package mustbe booked at least 28 days prior to departure.

Full information will be published in the line'sWorldwide Cruises 2013-14 brochure, due to belaunched in June.For more information visit www.fredolsencruises.comor call 01473-742424.

RSSC unveils new 2013 itinerariesREGENT SEVEN Seas Cruises is accepting reservationsfor its new summer/autumn 2013 sailings featuring newports of call and a range of extended voyages in Europe,North America and South America. To further boost itsall-inclusive offering, the line has introduced a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay included on all of its 2013sailings. Guests booking Penthouse suites or higher onMediterranean and Northern European sailings areoffered free Business Class upgrades.

Highlights of the new 2013 collection include portcalls to Ajaccio and Porto Vecchio (Corsica), Arrecife(Lanzarote) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tenerife),extended voyages in Scandinavia, the Mediterranean,South America and a 24-night Amazon voyage, roundtripfrom Miami, as well as sailings combining Alaska, NewEngland and the Panama Canal.

The company's managing director UK & Europe,Graham Sadler, said: “Our 2013 summer collectionoffers an outstanding array of some of the world’s mostpopular destinations. Our new one-night pre-cruisehotel stay makes for a more leisurely start to our cruiseholidays, easing the rush to get from the airport to theship and, together with our new longer voyages and all-embracing range of free shore excursions we offerfantastic opportunities for guests to fully immersethemselves in the culture and lifestyle of these diverseregions at outstanding value.”

As examples of prices, a seven-night Baltic Highlightscruise on Seven Seas Voyager, departing on August 13,2013, costs from £3,499 per person, while a 24-nightCaribbean and Amazon itinerary on Seven Seas Navigator,departing on November 29, 2013, leads in at £6,769. For more information or to book call 02380-682280 oremail [email protected]

Fred. Olsen launches dedicated‘Retirement Celebration’ package

Fred. Olsen's Balmoral


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SEA SEMINAR...Hurtigruten took 28 agents from around theUK to Norway last month to experience its coastal voyageproduct as part of its Seminars at Sea programme. Picturedenjoying the sights and sounds are the group of Scottishagents, from the left: Emma Custerson, Alba Travel inInverness; Kirsten Pritchard, The Cruise Specialists, Larbet;Danny Giles, Hurtigruten; Deborah McGlashan, Jimmy MartinTravel in Edinburgh; Amanda Weymouth, Border Travel inDumfries; and Claire Taylor, The Cruise Specialists in Larbert.

The Mighty Mississippi with Trevor McDonald

on Tuesday 24th April at 21:00 on ITV1

Trevor McDonald ventures 2,500 miles up the mightyMississippi River to examine how this magnificentwaterway has played a central role in the most dramaticevents in American history. In this episode he concludeshis tour as he travels through the Midwest, taking in StLouis and Minneapolis.

Ones to WatchA pick of the top travel programmes

you don't want to miss...

Thomson welcomes Des O’Connor DES O’CONNOR, star of ‘The Des O’Connor show’ andcabaret entertainer, will be holding a one-off ‘AnAudience with…’ event on the Thomson Celebration thisSeptember.

Guests on the Egypt and the Holy Land Cruise onSeptember 17 will be able to see Des’ show where he’lltalk about his life in showbiz, along with some musicalaccompaniment. Audience members can also post theirquestions to Des and there will be time for autographsat the end of the show.

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Summer river cruising with Hebridean Island Cruises

HEBRIDEAN ISLAND Cruises has issued a dedicatedRiver Cruises programme – new for this year.

The line's Royal Crown will set sail on the Rhine ontwo itineraries this June, focusing on the history andculture of Europe.

A seven-night Cities of the Rhine cruise leads in at £2,545per person, based on two people sharing an outside cabin. Itdeparts from Cologne and calls at Mainz, Mannheim, Rastatt,Strasbourg and Speyer before returning to Cologne. The priceis based on a June 9 departure.

A seven-night Castles of the Rhine cruise costs from£2,545 per person, based on two people sharing an outsidecabin on a June 16 departure. The cruise departs fromCologne and ports of call include Konigswinter,Ruedeshiem, Cochem, Koblenz and Dusseldorf. Price isbased on a 16 June departure.

All cruises are fully inclusive, including alcoholic andnon alcoholic drinks, shore tours, taxes and gratuities, aguest speaker programme and travel to and from the UK. For more information or to book visit www.hebridean.co.ukor call 01756-704704.

HOLLAND AMERICA Line (HAL) is promoting a 12-nightMediterranean cruise, sailing from Barcelona to Venice,from £999 per person.

The Mediterranean Tapestry cruise on MS NieuwAmsterdam departs London on May 24 and takes in thewalled city of Dubrovnik; Corfu, Katakolon (Olympia) andNafplion in Greece; Messina in Sicily and the city of Romefrom the port of Civitavecchia.

Highlights of the cruise include a tour to Florence fromLivorno, a visit to Monte Carlo and a night in Venice.

Prices include flights and transfers and guests bookingan ocean view stateroom (from £1,219 per person) areeligible for a free upgrade to a spacious stateroom with itsown private balcony.For more information call 0845-351 0557.


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Cruising is

AFACT OF life is that you start to think everythingwas better ‘back in the day’. But in actual fact, thetruth is often very different to how we remember.

Stumble across old pictures and you’ll be horrified atwhat you used to wear or how you styled your hair.

Things move pretty quickly too. There’s beenmassive change over just the last 13 years. Jump in atime machine back to 1999 and Martine McCutcheon isnumber one in the charts. Who’d have thought thatwas possible?

Similarly unthinkable is the scale of the UK cruisemarket back then. Cruising accounted for just one inevery 26 package holiday at the turn of the century – nowthe figure is one in eight. That’s 1.7million Brits who tooka cruise holiday last year.

Key to this success is the incredible variety of cruisebrands and experiences on offer. Cruising really has‘grown up’, becoming an enviable holiday choice forpeople of all ages and pretty much all budgets. And it istravel agents who have helped power the expansion ofthe market, seizing the sales opportunity.

Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean International,Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises havebeen instrumental in the market growth in the UK.Huge investment in ships with ever-more innovativeon-board facilities, a wider choice of itineraries andmore sailings from UK ports keeps excitement highamongst consumers and is a great way of driving ‘newto cruise’ customers.

But we know that retailers need tools to help themconvert, which is why we provide extensive resources forour trade partners into making sure you can sell aseffectively as possible – our award-winning Cruising forExcellence online training, targeted incentives, greatvalue promotions and point of sale.

Signs are that 2012 will continue to see growth in thecruise industry, though a tough economy means the rateis slowing to a more modest level. Nobody should be putoff by the challenge. In a year when holidaymakers – andespecially families – are hunting out value and don’t wantto take any chances with their holiday choice, savvyagents will be tapping into the incredible possibilities ofcruise. There are some great offers at the moment,including the new ‘Don’t Wait’ campaign from RoyalCaribbean International which helps agents pushrelevant regional departures for great prices, and strongearly booking incentives for all 2013 bookings.

by Jo Rzymowska,associate vice president& general manager ofRCL Cruises Ltd

HAL offers 12-night Med fly/cruise from £999

MSC unveils maiden voyages in Red SeaMSC CRUISES has introduced the Red Sea as a newdestination for the 2012/13 winter season.

On November 2, MSC Armonia will depart from Venicefor a nine-day/eight-night cruise, arriving at her newhomeport in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt just over a week later.En-route she will travel from the Mediterranean Seathrough the Suez transit canal to the Red Sea, withscheduled stops in Ancona, Italy; Heraklion, Greece andMarmaris, Turkey arriving in Egypt on November 10.

From then through to April 6, 2013, the vessel has a fullschedule of 21 eight-day/seven-night cruises, departingevery Saturday from Sharm el Sheikh, with scheduledstops in Safaga, Egypt; Elat, Israel; Aqaba, Jordan andSokhna Port, Egypt.

The Red Sea will bid farewell to Armonia on April 6,2013, when she starts her ten-day/nine-night return cruisefrom Sharm el Sheikh to Venice. Scheduled stops areSokhna Port, Egypt; Limassol, Cyprus; Antalya, Turkey;Rhodes; Heraklion, Greece and Kotor, Montenegro.For more information see www.msccruises.co.uk or call 0844-561 1955.

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with Eileen...At home

What has homeworker Eileen

has been up to this month?

IALWAYS contact my clients when they return home towelcome them back and check that all went well, and it’salso a great opportunity to get feedback on their trip.Yesterday, I called one of my most discerning clients who

had recently returned from an Easter break in Nice. He saidhe’d had a great time and thought the location was great andthat the staff and service were very good. It was music to myears! Thanks to Kirker for the hotel recommendation - I canalways rely on you.

I had a surprise a few weeks ago when I received a letter(or should I say package) from clients I’d booked last year ona 9 week tailor-made tour of Australia. After they returnedhome, I’d contacted them and was pleased to hear all thearrangements had gone smoothly and they’d had a greattime. They said they’d give me more feedback on their trip ata later date. I’d thought no more of this until a packagearrived which contained no less than 40 pages of A4 papergiving a blow by blow account of their trip. It was extremelydetailed and even included what they’d had to eat each day - Ireally wasn’t expecting that!

Had a call recently from one of my regular clients askingfor my help. He asked if I could check my files to see if I had aholiday booked for him during February 2008. I checked andthere was no record of any booking. He was adamant that hehad had been away at that time and asked if I could help himout by putting something in writing to that effect as it wasimportant for him to prove he was out of the country at thattime. I said unfortunately I couldn’t help as doing so wouldundermine my integrity and also that of my company.

I thought that was the end of it but a few days later theclient’s solicitor contacted me asking for further assistance.Bank statements showed there were travel related paymentsmade around those dates and the client was certain that hehad been away in Florida. I checked once again and found thepayments mentioned were for a holiday I booked for the clientin December not February. Then I had a great idea, I checkedmy recorded phone calls around February 2008, whichindicated that the client was away at that time but in Mallorcanot Florida and that he had booked this himself.

The solicitor was extremely impressed with the informationI’d provided. So much so that he came back to me again to askif I had records of easyJet’s flight times to Palma for February2008. Come on, I know I’m good- but I’m not that good!

by EILEEN SAUNDERS of Travel Counsellors To respond to any of Eileen’s comments email

[email protected]

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WEBSCLUSIVES

● Brochure of The Week: Great Rail Journeys'

‘Winter, Christmas & Spring 2012/13 Holidays byRail’ brochure, features over 50 tours acrossEurope, Canada, USA. Includes short breaks,Christmas markets, Spring Carnivals and NewYear celebrations.

● Missed Travel Bulletin’s ‘All About North Africa’

2012 Supplement? You can still catch it in digitalformat on www.travelbulletin.co.uk . An essentialguide to selling travel and tourism in this region,with special features on cultural escapes, beachholidays and niche travel.

All this and more at:

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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S02 TB2004 News 1_Layout 1 18/04/2012 12:22

Agent offersPREMIER HOLIDAYS has launched a ‘bestdressed window’ competition to helpagents promote their Summer in theStates campaign, which highlights bothself-drive and coach tour packages. Theoperator has teamed up with SeaworldParks and Entertainment, KimptonHotels and various tourist boards

including Memphis, Nashville, DiscoverNew England and Kissimmee to promotea dedicated USA campaign and exclusivepackages. To promote USA sales, theoperator will be asking agents to send aphoto of their USA-themed shop windowto [email protected] the winner will be picked at the endof April and will receive a hamperincluding wine, chocolate and variousother treats. The company is alsooffering agents up to £50 in vouchers forbookings which include seven nights’accommodation with flights for twoadults. For bookings comprising three tosix nights’, accommodation with flightsfor two adults agents can earn £25 invouchers per booking.

For details seewww.trade.premierholidays.com or call 0844-937444.

JEBEL ALI International Hotels is givingaway a week's all-inclusive holiday tocelebrate the recent success of itsTravel Agents' Facebook page. Theonline group started last November andthrough a variety of special offers,giveaways and referrals, has grown tomore than 500 members. To mark theoccasion, the company is giving oneFacebook member the chance to taketheir family (two adults and two childrenunder 12) to the Jebel Ali Golf Resort &Spa, the company’s signature five-starbeach property including flights. Allcurrent members of the group are inwith a chance to win as well as anytravel agent who join before the end ofApril. The prize draw will take placeduring ATM in early May.For details seewww.facebook.com/groups/JAI.TT

STREETS AHEAD...Premier Holidays' competitionwinner, Ruth Streets from Bath Travel in Hythe,won a seven-night stay at the Meridien Khao LakResort in Thailand, as part of a competition sheentered with the operator, in conjunction with thePremier Prestige 2012 brochure launch. Picturedcelebrating her win is the operator's David Carlow.

It’s in thestars…What’s in store for Taurus?

DESPITE SOME problems that need ironing outin your personal life, you're on top form thismonth. Your optimism, fun outlook andenthusiasm for new projects and experiencesmeans that life is ticking along nicely. Staypositive and remember to be patient when itcomes to sorting out the small issues.

Lucky day: Monday

Lucky number: 24


agentbulletin

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WE ARE already more than halfway through April –so nearly a third of the way through the year. I amnot sure where 2012 has gone, but it is clear that

we now need to make certain that our marketing plans forthe next four months are brilliantly co-ordinated if we areto meet the budgets that we set for the year. My recentsurvey of independent agents and operators (carried outunder laboratory conditions in the bar at the last AITOGeneral Meeting) indicates that bookings for the yearstarted well and, although the overall average seems tobe about 5% up on last year, it remains unpredictable, andwe will need to peddle fast to maintain momentum.

With political and financial concerns still firmly on theagenda in both the domestic and global arena, anduncertainty about what impact the Olympics will have onsummer bookings, it is going to be tricky to predict, hardwork and no doubt fun… We should remind ourselves thatwe are all fortunate to be selling pleasure for a living andspare a thought for estate agents, bankers and widgetmakers – they are all having an equally challenging time,but for some reason just don’t get the same buzz as we dowhen they complete a transaction!

Before we finalise our plans for the remainder of theyear, are there any positive signals out there that we needto weave into our strategy? One factor that will certainlyhelp is the recent strength of the Pound Sterling againstthe Euro – it underpins the perception in the consumer’smind that travelling to the Eurozone will make spendingmoney go further. It may be more about perception thanreality, but it is without doubt a very positive factor, and agood way to remind customers that the unpredictablecold, wet weather isn’t the only reason to head abroad ifthey want a decent summer holiday (eat your heart outStephen Fry et al, who are trying to persuade us to stay athome).

Another recent ray of retail hope was the reportedresults from the John Lewis Partnership –that well-respected barometer of the UK high street. It announced a28% year on year increase in early April sales, and madean optimistic statement about prospects for the rest of2012. So what can we learn from its experience, and howcan we translate this into our own businesses? Overall,analysts seem to agree that one key factor is John Lewis’decision to focus on their ‘affluent customer base’. I knowit takes time to adjust the focus of your business but, ifyou aren’t already doing this, you need to start now. I havealways admired the John Lewis strapline ‘Never

knowingly undersold…’ which brilliantly captures theclient’s attention to reassure them about value for money,and yet does NOT say ‘pricematch’ (which is a crude wayof saying ‘we can be even cheaper’). Underpinning yourappeal to an affluent customer is vital in a competitivemarket – and John Lewis has a world-class reputation inachieving success in this area. It understands that affluentcustomers need reassurance on the quality of the productand service just as much as price, and that they shouldspend less time on consumers for whom price is the keyfactor – these customers waste time and are betteradvised to head home to surf the internet so they can DIYtheir holiday.

One other sound bite that caught my eye in the mostrecent Weekend Financial Times (a surprisingly good readif you have never tried it) related to how consumersbehave in the current market: “The response to austerityis a complex one. People trade down…but also buy stuffwhich is more expensive if it is considered to be betterquality.” The article went on to say that whilst customersremain thrifty, the onus was on retailers to “offerdistinctive product ranges to encourage spending.”

For those operators and agents who are already part ofthe AITO family, that’s a familiar ethos and one that ismusic to our ears. If you aren’t yet promoting AITOoperators, the good news is that it is only April – there isstill plenty of time to join to make a difference in 2012. Ifyou are quick you will be able to attend the AITO Madeiraconference in June when you can rub shoulders with someof the most distinctive and successful operators andagents in the UK travel industry….and I shall be there too!I hope to see you there.

Why agents should be turning their attention to their affluent customer base

To respond to any of Ted’s views email [email protected]

opinionbulletin

W-AITO-Go!by TED WAKE

Deputy chairman, AITO Specialist Travel Agentsand director, Kirker Holidays

S03 TB2004 News 2_Layout 1 18/04/2012 11:16

puzzlebulletin


Where Am I?

Andalusian city famous for oranges

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, April 26th. Solution and new puzzle will

appear next week.

The winner for 6th April is Jeni Conetta, First Choice in

Kent.

April 6 Solution: A=8 B=5 C=7 D=1

➠A

➠B

➠C

➠D

Number: 061

Travagrams

Across 1. Hotel and resorts chain (8)6. Roman god, counterpart of Helios (3)8. Portuguese resort (7)9. You can enjoy mud baths and thermal

springs on this Italian island (6)10. Popular Florida resort, ___ Beach (4)12. Castles built on the beach (4)13. Flows through New York (6)15. City and province in Abruzzo (7)16. Seattle airport code (3)17. California home of SeaWorld (3,5)

Down 1. Sir Trevor is exploring this Mighty river

on TV (11)2. Airline of Spain (6)3. Famous London gallery (4)4. The highest Mount in Africa (11)5. US state, borders 1 Down (8)7. A monster lake in the Highlands (4,4)11. They operate the most famous ocean

liners in the world (6)14. First name of comedian and host of

You're Fired (4)

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 30

Crossword

Su DokuWin a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle

Num

ber:

061

You’ll be treated like royalty when you sail with this cruise line

The name of this F1 driver is shared by this capital city

A Barbarically Entertain Onion

Math Lion

Can you solve the following anagrams to decipher the destination & tour operator?

S03 TB2004 News 2_Layout 1 18/04/2012 11:16

Contiki adds Costa Rica & Ecuadoroptions to South American toursBUILDING ON the success of its inaugural South Americaprogramme, Contiki has announced the addition of CostaRica and Ecuador to its 2012/13 Latin America brochure,bringing the total number of itineraries featured to 11 acrosssix countries.

New to the brochure is an 11-day Galapagos & Ecuador tourfrom £1,799 per person, based on twin share. Highlightsinclude visiting the waters of the Galapagos and taking part ina range of activities, such as snorkelling amongst sea turtles,a ‘Panga’ boat ride to spot the famous Galapagos penguin andtaking in views of the Ecuadorian Andes from the Devil’s NoseTrain. The itinerary includes internal flights and transfers.

Also new is a 12-day Costa Rica Unplugged tour, whichcosts from £1,259 per person, based on two sharing. Theitinerary takes in jungles, rainforests, beaches and coffeeplantations and features two overnight stays at a Jungle Lodgein Tortuguero and a Rainforest Lodge in Sarapiqui. Highlightsinclude a sunset cruise in Tortugero and rafting or abseiling inSarapiqui while with the operator's Explore More optionalactivities, travellers can also opt to try canyoneering, coastalkayaking or zip-lining through the rainforests. For more information visit www.contiki.co.uk andwww.onestoptouringshop.co.uk or call 020-7468 4335.

GRJ & Treyn launch 2012/13 brochures GREAT RAIL Journeys and Treyn have launched their winter,Christmas and spring brochures for 2012/13. Great RailJourneys features 54 tours including three new ones for2012/13 and Treyn includes a total of 32 with two new tours.

Both brands’ programmes include popular winter tours,from Switzerland’s ‘Glacier Express’, to southern France’s‘Côte d’Azur & Nice Carnival’. There are three new tours fromGreat Rail Journeys including new Christmas Markets tours to‘Colmar & the Black Forest’, ‘Hanover, Hamelin & Bremen’and ‘Heidelberg & Frankfurt’, with overall prices leading in at£265 per person for a ‘Manchester Christmas Markets’ tour.

Two new winter tours for Treyn include: ‘Oberammergau &the Austrian Alps’ and ‘Frankfurt & Heidelberg ChristmasMarkets’. Overall prices lead in at £275 per person for a five-day ‘Festive Markets of Yorkshire’ tour.For details see www.greatrail.com and www.railholidays.com

agentreviewVictoria Firman from STA Travel in Portsmouth went on a

seven-day fam trip with G Adventures to sample a 'Roam

Vietnam' overland tour. Here's what she thought....

Victoria receives a £10 Love2Shop voucher for her review.

If you'd like to take part and receive a free Love2Shop

voucher please email [email protected]

or call 020-7834 6661 with your name and contact details.

First impressions ..............................10/10

We were amazingly well looked after from the moment thetrip started. On arrival, we were welcomed by our smiley GAdventures’ leader and CEO, chief experience officer, Conand whisked off for a quick freshen up and then a deliciousVietnamese meal - and a few much needed beers.

Comfort ............................................10/10

All the hotels were comfortable, perfectly located and of amuch higher standard than I expected on a budget-styletrip. G Adventures puts a lot of thought into providingaccommodation that is in the thick of the action, whilstbeing safe and peaceful enough to get a good night's rest.

Quality ..............................................10/10

The quality and thought put into the tour was exceptional -we stayed in comfortable hotels which were all locallyoperated which was lovely. We had lots of free time whichallowed us to branch out and wind down individually.

Affordability ......................................10/10

This was a fam trip so I did not personally pay, however Iwould not hesitate to book this or a similar tour at fullprice, as it offers amazing value for money for what isincluded. I do not think it would be possible to see and doeverything we experienced any cheaper and I feel a lotwould be missed without such a knowledgeable guide.

Service ..............................................10/10

Amazing service from everyone involved and everyonemade a real effort to make sure we were having a greattime and that we were comfortable throughout.

Good to know ............................................Vietnamese food is some of the most delicious I've tried,and very healthy so make sure you try it all!

Overall scoring:........

newsbulletin


FLORIDA FRIENDS....60 agents from across the North East joinedCosmos Holidays and a host of its Florida partners in Newcastle lastmonth to mark the operator's new Newcastle to Florida programmeand highlight the parks and attractions available in resort. WaltDisney World Florida, Universal Orlando Resort, Visit Orlando,Seaworld Parks and Entertainment and Newcastle InternationalAirport supported the evening and a range of prizes were available foragents. Pictured, from the left is Neil Garner, head of product forFlorida, Monarch Travel Group; Alison Cutler from Horncastle Travel,Newcastle - who won a week's holiday for two to Florida includingflights, accommodation, car hire, Universal, Sea World and Disneytickets; and Gary Anslow, Monarch Travel Group’s sales director.

1010/

S03 TB2004 News 2_Layout 1 18/04/2012 11:16

Ionian & AegeanIsland Holidaysteams up withAegean AirlinesIONIAN & Aegean IslandHolidays has announced anew working partnershipwith Aegean Airlines whowill be flying the Greekflag on its Manchester–Kefalonia routethroughout this summer.

The carrier, which is amember of the StarAlliance, will commenceflights on an Airbus A320carrying 168 passengerson a weekly rotation for 23weeks from May 5.

Service includescomplimentary in-flightmeals and beveragesincluding wine or beer andprioritised check-in andboarding. For more information or to book visitwww.ionianislandholidays.com

Viking launches 2013 holidays

VIKING RIVER Cruises haslaunched its 2013 brochure,in print and online, whichfeatures information on thenew Viking Longships and itsnew route sailing Portugal’sRiver Douro.

All the company's 2013holidays across Europe,Russia and Asia are on salewith an early bookingdiscount, offering a saving of£1,000 per person on almostevery cruise if passengersbook before June 30.

Itineraries include RhineDiscovery and Elegant Elbeas well as the new Douro,River of Gold, Portugal’sDouro River where guestswill experience villages andhistoric cities as well as atwo-night hotel stay inLisbon. For more information call020-8780 7995 or visitwww.vikingrivercruises.co.uk

newsbulletin


If you have a question for Renato, email him at [email protected]

Agony uncle Renato Fantonisolves a dilemma on

leadership

Renato...

Hi Karl,

It seems that what was missing from the meeting wasleadership. Here are some clues of how to get it and how tomake it work.

Decide if you are an organiser or a leader and avoid beingboth. If you are an organiser (you are great at sorting outdetail and enjoy being hands-on) there’s no shame inselecting someone else to lead.

If you are a leader you’ll choose the right assistants toallow you to take a constant, almost aloof, overview. You’llbe the available point of reference and inspiration. If youbecome embroiled with detail, they’ll never find you whenyour wise words are needed and your players will thinkyou’re missing in action.

Every meeting/gathering/event needs to have both itsofficial and unofficial reasons made clear.

An ‘official reason’ would be something like “I’m here totell you what your role is, to explain your responsibilities andto help you provide support to your colleagues”. This providesdelegates with a road map and gives clues as to what theywill learn by the end of play.

The ‘unofficial’ yet equally vital reason is to providemotivation. It is so important to inspire the group at an earlystage in the gathering. One of your agendas is to turn a bunchof carefully selected but diverse individuals into a team. Youmight already be inspired or you may need to dig deep tocreate your motivation but either way, it has to be real. It canbe as simple as ‘we are going to be the team of guides thatmakes the biggest number of tourists happy’. Once you knowwhat it is, transmit it with passion.

Once the ‘official’ tasks have been distributed, spend lotsof time in ensuring that each person truly understandshis/her own role. Challenge, support, ask and answerquestions. This is a deeply functional part of your planningprocess so don’t begin doing it until everyone is secure.When you’re finished, do it again! People have differentlearning styles, some like reading, others being explained toand others need diagrams. Don’t leave anyone out becausethat will create a weak link from the start.

Good luck with raising the bar!

Dear Renato, I am a London city guide. I recently attended a meeting withother selected guides ahead of the Olympics this summer. The meeting was a shambles! All they did was give us ecolog-ically unsound piles of paper and split us into groups todiscuss them. All I remember is that somehow I was asked tolead a sub-group of 15 people at the next meeting in afortnight. How can I make it effective? Karl -Canterbury

Ask

ATTRACTION WORLD has added City Sightseeing Bus Tours in afurther 28 cities in 11 countries – including Las Palmas de GranCanaria. Guests can hop off at the Playa de las Canteras, whereswimming, diving, surfing, football and a variety of water sportscan be found or spend an evening at the Auditorio Alfredo Krauss –a concert hall overlooking the sea, located on Las Palmas de GranCanaria’s northern beach. Tickets are valid for 24-hours and arefully commissionable to agents. Prices lead in at £15 for adultsand £7 for children aged five-15.For details see www.attractionworld.com or call 0871-700 8888.

S03 TB2004 News 2_Layout 1 18/04/2012 11:16

What's your earliest childhood memory?Drinking milk and eating a biscuit atnursery – not very exciting butinteresting that it involved food!

Where was your last work-related trip? The Gambia. I took a group of agentsover there and showed them around.I’m not going to lie, it was a lot of fun!

If you were a celebrity who would you choose to be and why?Beyonce – because that girl can sing!

What three words would yourfriends use to describe you? Funny, friendly and outgoing.

What have your travels taught you?That there is so much still that I am yetto discover!

What is the best advice you recall?Seize the moment; don’t letopportunities pass you by.

If you could have a room full ofany one thing, what would it be?Cake, I love cake. Any cake will do, justlots of it.

If you could change three things inthe industry, what would they be?Cheaper travel prices so everyone hasthe chance to go abroad. Stop bigcompanies swamping the market withtheir ridiculous prices which makes lifetough for all the other operators tocompete. Make flying morecomfortable and still affordable.

Who has been the biggestinspiration/influence in your career?No one person in particular however Ido admire Richard Branson and all thathe’s achieved.

What's your favourite city and why?New York. I love the hustle & bustle,the architecture and the fact that it isexactly how you see it in the films. PlusI went to see the Gospel choir in achurch in Harlem which was incredible!

If you were not doing this job,what would you be doing?Social work.

If you had a super power what would it be and why? To zap any unwanted fat from mybody to enable me to eat what I want!

What was your nickname at school and why?Gilly Willy, Silly Gilli, Giller, Giles…therewere a few!

Gillian SealeyThe agency sales executive of Serenity Holidays

who loves her cake and is a fan of Richard Branson

What item do you always takewith you when travelling?Photos of the kids…and my eyelashcurlers!

What's your favourite airline and why?Virgin – It’s a little bit glamorous.

How do you deal with stress?A large glass of red wine always helps,or if I’m feeling energetic, I go for arun. Unfortunately neither of thoseare practical at work so in thatinstance it would be deep breaths anda lot of muttering under the breath!

Is there anything that you dislikeabout the travel industry?Mainstream operators that don’t seemto care about the destination or theirclients, it’s just bums on seats tothem.

What special skill do you have?I like to bring a sense of fun to workactivities and get on with people at alllevels. I’m on the work events team,so I’m used to organising fun eventsand fund raising.

How do you cope with theadvances in technology?Ha ha, I get by. I keep up to date withwhat I need to know and the restgoes over my head.

What’s your favourite movie of all time?Dirty Dancing – you can’t beat a bit ofPatrick Swayze.

If your life was turned into a movie,which actor would play you?Kate Winslett.

What do you love about your job?The travelling of course and the peopleI work with.

Career path● Seven years with Serenity

Holidays within marketing(marketing executive). Had twobabies during this time

● Two years at South DownsCollege within marketing

● Two years at Petersfield Postwithin advertising sales

"My favouritemovie? Dirty

Dancing – you can’tbeat a bit of Patrick

Swayze"

personalitybulletin


S03 TB2004 News 2_Layout 1 18/04/2012 11:16

ONCE YOU have finished your sales investigation andcome up with a holiday solution for your customer,then you’ll need to sell it. Let’s use Venice as an

example and say you’ve chosen the Best Western Hotel SanMarco. Well, you could just say, “The Best Western HotelSan Marco is available and that would cost you just under£2,000 for the two of you. Would you like that?” And youmight well get a sale just by doing that – especially if yourcustomers have done some research in advance andalready know that this was the hotel they wanted.

But, although it’s nice when customers come in knowingexactly what they want and you can find it easily, it doesn’thappen all the time. Not all customers know exactly whatthey want and, of course, there will be many times whenyou can’t find availability that meets your customers’ firstchoice. Maybe these customer really wanted The ResidenceCorte Grimanis and the Best Western San Marco was thenearest you could find. It is at times like this that you stopbeing an “order-taker” and start being a salesperson.

The ears have it

Once you are in the situation of having to sell an alternativeproduct, it’s all too easy (since of course you almost certainlywon’t have been to the San Marco – or maybe even toVenice) to start reading the description from the brochure orthe system. And what’s wrong with that? It’s wrong becausethe words in the brochure or on the screen are written forthe eyes – and your customers are listening with their ears.So you must translate for them. Take a look at thisdescription of the Hotel San Marco, taken from a brochure:

“Housed in a building that dates back to 1807, this four-storey hotel comprises a total of 56 rooms, which includes4 junior suites. Amongst the facilities count a foyer with a24-hour reception desk, a safe and a lift in addition to abar, a breakfast room and an air-conditioned restaurant.Room and laundry services are available and, on paymentof an additional fee, it is possible to gain access to theInternet.”

Because we are so used to reading these kinds ofdescriptions we think nothing of them – but reading thisout to your customer is just boring. Say you’d actuallystayed there and were talking to a friend to describe thishotel, would you say, “Our hotel was housed in a buildingthat dates back to 1807, and it was a four-storey hotelcomprising a total of 56 rooms, which included four JuniorSuites”.

Of course not – you would say something like, “Oh, it wasoldish – but not all that old by Venice standards – it wasbuilt in 1807. Not too big, either – only four storeys and just56 rooms – so quite cosy really. They have some really niceJunior Suites as well which are just that bit better than theordinary rooms.”

By turning the written word into the spoken word you aremaking it live; making it exciting; making it real.

Sell the dream

In your sales investigation you will have found out yourcustomers’ needs – both material (when, where and how

by RICHARD ENGLISH

It’s the way you tell ‘em


training

● continues on next page

S04 TB2004 Training_Layout 1 18/04/2012 11:17

BRIGHT (Bringing Real Information & Guaranteed High Quality Training) has started its ten-year anniversary year with a full programme of training events planned around the UK.

Bright members headed to Scotland for two training events in Glasgow and Edinburgh lastmonth, while this month's events have already included Oxford and Ascot and next monthevents will take place in Swindon and Cornwall.

Chairman, Hisham Mahmoud of Kirker Holidays, said: “We’ve made an excellent start toour anniversary year with a very positive response to our training events. As the Queencontinues her Jubilee tour, we too are looking forward to travelling around the UK on ourtenth anniversary tour of the UK."

The Swindon event takes place at Best Western Blunsdown House Hotel on May 15, whilethe Cornwall event is planned at Lanhydrock Hotel & Golf Club in Bodmin in May 16.

Meanwhile, anniversary celebrations will culminate in a sponsored 10km run for charity onOctober 20, followed by a celebratory lunch at the Richmond Gate Hotel. Members of Brightand agents will take part in a 10km run in Richmond Park, to raise a minimum of £50 each fora nominated charity, The Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Chester. To book a place at the training events or more information [email protected] or see www.brightconsortia.com

New training coursefrom IntouristUK

INTOURISTUK HASlaunched a new agenttraining course in co-operation with OnlineTravel Training.

The course consists offive modules and has beendesigned to allow agents toincrease their product anddestination specificknowledge for the operatorand Russia as a whole,enabling agents to sell theproduct with confidence.

The five modulesinclude an outline of thecompany's products,services and destinations;city breaks with a focus onMoscow and StPetersburg; river cruisingroutes in Russia andbeyond; Trans Siberian andluxury travel; and Russiantourist visas.

The first 100 agents tocomplete the course willreceive a real RussianMatryoshka Doll key ringand all agents thatcomplete the course beforeMay 31 will be entered intoa prize draw to win one offive bottles of premiumRussian vodka. For more information visitwww.intouristUKetraining.com

Bright announces May events and anniversary celebrations


training

TOURISM WESTERN Australia is running its first training roadshow in five years this month and limited places are still available. Agentscan learn more about the state, which is home to the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef, the world’s longest fringing reef and the famousMargaret River wine region. Destination experts plus a small number of tour providers and accommodation operators will provide insightsinto the best itineraries, new hot spots and selling tips. There is also the chance to win a place on a fam later this year. Events are beingheld in London on April 23, in Manchester on April 25 and in Glasgow on April 26. To register visit www.waroadshow.com/register

they wanted to go) and their human needs(why they wanted to go there) and it is nowthat you can really use your findings to sellthe product. OK, you have managed to getthem a hotel in Venice for the time theywanted to travel – but it’s not the hotel theywanted. Now you must look at their humanneeds and show them how your holidaysolution meets those needs.

And the way you do that is again by theuse of the correct language – which isanother reason why reading out brochuredescriptions is not a good thing, In thebrochure or online description there will behundreds of facts and figures about the hotel– and here are just some that the brochuretells us that the San Marco has:

Bathroom, shower, bath, hairdryer, directdial telephone, satellite/cable TV, internet

access, minibar, tea/coffee, ironing board,double bed, central air-conditioning, centralheating, safe, air-conditioned in communalareas, reception area, 24hr check-in, safe,lifts, bars, breakfast room, dining room, air-conditioned restaurant - non-smoking area,public internet WLAN access point, roomservice and laundry service.

All facilities and features that will appealto somebody, but it’s a fair bet that there’snobody who will want them all. And it’s yourjob to sell the product by explaining justwhich facilities are right for your customersand how and why they are right. And that iswhat we call “selling the benefits” – andyou’ll find out all about that in my nextarticle. ✦

For more information about this, or any otheraspect of training, contact Richard English on01403-710371 or email [email protected]

● continued from previous page

S04 TB2004 Training_Layout 1 18/04/2012 11:17


Florida Preview brochure from FunwayFUNWAY HOLIDAYS gas launched its Florida Previewbrochure which features a selection of deals and discountsahead of its full 2013 programme.

As an example, a seven-night stay at the four-starDisney’s Port Orleans in Orlando, including flights withVirgin Atlantic, a free Quick Counter Service Plan, Disney’sseven-day Premium Ticket and free Magical Expresstransfers, leads in at £1,125 per person, based on travel inJanuary next year.

The company's US product manager, Casey Hurford, said:"We are delighted to launch our Florida Preview to giveagents a sneak peak at our fantastic deals. It may be smallbut it is packed with exciting offers such as the hugelysuccessful Disney free dining and 14 for seven ticket offers.As a thank you to our agents for booking with us, we have arange of fantastic incentives to give away and there is alsothe chance to win a place on our Orlando mega fam." For details visit www.funway4agents or call 0844-557 0626.

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO Resort has opened a themed miniature golfexperience – Hollywood Drive-In Golf at Universal CityWalk.Featuring two 18-hole courses based on classic drive-in erahorror and sci-fi movies, the new venue offers the chance forfamilies to tee off through the open mouth of a giant space wormor the basement laboratory of a towering haunted house. The newattraction is open daily from 08:00 to 02:00 and admission rates toplay one course are $13.99 plus tax for adults and $11.99 plus taxfor children (ages three to nine). For details visit www.universalcitywalk.com

usa

THE SAN Francisco TravelAssociation (SFTA) reportsthat San Franciscowelcomed 16.35millionvisitors in 2011, anincrease of 2.7% from theprevious year, and thatthese visitors spent$8.46billion - up 9.8% on2010.

The tourism industrygenerated $526million intaxes for the city, up 8.6%from the previous year andin 2011, there was anaverage of 129,499 visitorsin San Francisco each day,with visitor spending

equating to $23.19milliondaily, including spendingrelated to meetings andconventions.

The SFTA's presidentand CEO, Joe D'Alessandro,said: “Our economicrecovery continues but wehave a way to go. We canlook forward to the eventsof this year that will drivesignificant leisure travel,as well as the strongconvention bookings tokeep the momentumgoing.”For more information visitwww.sanfrancisco.travel

SFTA releases 2011 economic impact figures

S05 TB2004 USA_Layout 1 18/04/2012 11:28

THE LOS Angeles Convention and VisitorsBureau (LA INC.) has changed its name to theLos Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.

The board's president and CEO, MarkLiberman, said: “We spent a great deal of timediscussing the merits of reframing ourorganisation’s name to make it moreconsistent with our strategic goal of capturingmore convention, meeting, and leisure tourismbusiness.

“Our former name, LA INC., did notreference the industry that we serve, nor did it

clearly delineate our Los Angeles geography toour growing number of international visitors.”

Don Skeoch, the board's chief marketingofficer, said: “With an estimated 43million totalvisitors, Los Angeles presently ranks thirdbehind Orlando and New York City as one ofthe country’s leading tourist destinations.

“In 2012 we anticipate establishing a newrecord for tourism in the City with nearly45million visitors.”For more information visitwww.discoverlosangeles.com

VACATIONS TO America, which offers anextensive range of fly/drive, escorted andtailor-made tours, has introduced newescorted tours to its programme this yearthat offer travellers exclusive behind-the-scenes access, enabling them to connectwith local historians, cowboys, chefs, film-makers and park rangers.

As examples, highlights of a seven-nightNew Orleans: Bayous and The Big Easyoption include a cooking demonstration atthe New Orleans School of Cooking, anexclusive jazz experience at Preservation Halland a horse-drawn carriage ride through theFrench Quarter. Guests will visit and learnabout the history of Shadows-on-the-Teche,a grand former sugarcane plantation duringthe slave trade, as well as have the chance tomeet volunteers and community organisersin the Ninth Ward for an insight into theHurricane Katrina recovery effort.

The trip includes seven nights’accommodation, flights, 16 meals andtransfers, and costs from £2,445 per person,based on two sharing.

A seven-night America's Canyonlands tourexplores three of the US’ canyons acrossArizona, Utah and Nevada – Grand Canyon,Bryce Canyon and Zion - including off-roadadventures to explore areas that are hiddenfrom most visitors.

Highlights include a talk by a localgeologist about the Grand Canyon’secology, a private dinner cruise on LakePowell and a 30-minute flight to seeRainbow Bridge – the world’s largestnatural arch.

The trip starts in Phoenix and ends inLas Vegas and includes seven nights’accommodation, flights, ‘flightseeing’ tour,17 meals and transfers, and costs from£2,995 per person, based on two sharing.

Meanwhile, a five-night New York FamilyFun in The Big Apple option allows gueststo take in ‘must-see’ sites and exclusivebehind-the-scenes access to the city.

Highlights include a Broadway theatreworkshop and tickets to see Spider Man:Turn Off the Dark, a foodie walking tour ofLittle Italy and Chinatown, a visit to theWorld Trade Center site to hear an NYPDofficer share his experiences and anexpert-led tour of the American Museumof Natural History.

The trip includes five nights’accommodation, flights, ten meals andtransfers and costs from £2,478 perperson, based on four sharing family room. For more information visitwww.vacationstoamerica.com, call 01582-469777 or [email protected]

Family savings of upto £300 from CarrierCARRIER, WHICH reportsan increase in demand forCalifornia touring holidays,is offering a family deal atthe Ritz-Carlton OrlandoGrande Lakes in Florida,where guests staying foreight nights pay for six andreceive complimentarybreakfast, complimentarymeals for children and asavings card.

The offer is valid untilJanuary 1 next year andprices lead in at £1,175 peradult and £640 per childaged two to 18 years,offering a saving of up to£300 per family. The price isbased on departuresbetween August 20-22.

The company is alsopromoting a range ofsavings across the US, suchas a 14-night road trip,Coastal California, whichtravels from Los Angeles toSan Diego. Prices lead in at£2,995 per person and offera saving of up to £770 percouple. The price, based ondepartures between May14-16, includesaccommodation and carhire. For more information call0161-492 1356 or visitwww.carrier.co.uk

Behind-the-scenes tours from Vacations to America

Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau unveils new name


usa

GO FISHING Worldwide is offering a new package for fishing enthusiasts to West Virginia which leadsin at £995 per person. The package is based on two sharing and includes flights to Pittsburgh, sevendays' Economy car hire, seven nights' bed-and-breakfast in Elkins and a day's guided fishing in theMonongahela National Forest. Additional guiding can be arranged and licences are not included butcan be purchased locally. For details call 020-87421556, email [email protected] or visit www.gofishingworldwide.co.uk

Cosmos Holidaysoffers free

Universal ticketsCOSMOS HOLIDAYS isoffering free Universaltwo-park Bonus ticketswhen booking anyOrlando package holidayfor this summerdeparting from eitherNewcastle or Cardiffairports.

The offer represents asaving of up to £360 for afamily of four or up to £95per person and isavailable on newbookings made beforeApril 30. For more information call0871-423 8518.

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Eight Las Vegas Resorts. One call.

Experience non-stop action at eight resorts along the world famous Las Vegas Strip.

For more information:CaesarsTravelAgents.com

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NEW YORK City may be the obviouschoice for British shoppers keen to bagbargains on Fifth Avenue that arecheaper than London’s Oxford Street orKnightsbridge. However, Hayes & Jarvissays that agents should advise theirclients that they can slash more offthose same bargain items by planning acity break to US cities where lower salestaxes - or no sales tax at all – can makea big difference to the bottom line.

New York remains the most popularchoice for Brits keen to snap upbargains on designer goods, and recentresearch by Post Office Travel Money forits Christmas Shopping Guide surveyshowed that British travellers can saveas much as 62% in New York comparedto London, with the best savings

available on items like designer jeansand UGG boots. Holidaymakers whoalso know their taxes can save evenmore money while in New York asclothing and footwear under $55 arezero-rated for sales tax. However, withlower sales tax than New York and tax-free clothing priced under $175, Bostonmay be a better choice for shoppershoping to stretch their dollars further ona US spring shopping break. The PostOffice Travel Money’s shopping guidefound that designer items like women’s‘7 For All Mankind’ jeans, men’s ‘TrueReligion’ jeans and Ray Ban ‘Aviator’sunglasses were all cheaper in Bostonthan the Big Apple.

The operator says that budget-conscious shoppers can do even better

in New Hampshire, thanks to its zero-rated sales tax and the companyrecommends staying in the heart of theWhite Mountains at North Conway,which offers a range of tax-freedesigner and outlet stores, with theNorth Conway Grand Hotel rated thebest base.

Another tax haven is Philadelphia,where holidaymakers can benefit fromtax-free shopping on clothing and shoes.The operator says that the Crowne PlazaPhiladelphia Hotel is a good city breakbase as the shopping hubs of WalnutStreet, Main Street Manayunk, Old Cityand the Third Street Corridor are just astone’s throw away.For more information call 0871-200 2211or visit www.hayesandjarvis.com/agents

Florida's PinellasCounty announces

a boost in visitor figures

FOLLOWING THE latestVisit Florida figuresindicating record visitors tothe state last year, officialstatistics from PinellasCounty show Florida's westcoast has also seen a boostin holidaymakers.

Pinellas County,bordered by the Gulf ofMexico to the west andTampa Bay to the east,attracted a total of 584,442UK visitors to the area lastyear, up 2.7% compared to2010.

Venessa Alexander, VisitSt. Pete/Clearwater’s UK-based director, said: “TheUK market has always beenreally important to Visit St.Petersburg/Clearwater andwe’re really pleased to seethat the ongoing hypearound APD rates hasn’tknocked consumerconfidence.

“As a popular twin-centre destination just 90-minutes’ drive fromOrlando, it’s great for us tosee tourism in Floridabooming and the Brits keepcoming back.” For more information visitwww.visitstpeteclearwater.com

JET2HOLIDAYS HAS announced the return of its New York Christmas Shopping Breaks from EastMidlands, Leeds Bradford International and Newcastle airports.

The three-night breaks are available for £699 per person, including flights, 10kg hand baggageand three-star hotel accommodation.

Clients can secure their festive weekend package holiday to the city for a deposit of £60 perperson and Jet2.com's flights are available from £415.89 per person, including taxes on selecteddates in November and December.

Steve Heapy, the operator's managing director and chief commercial officer of Jet2.com, said:“We are thrilled with the continued success of our New York shopping trips allowing customersacross the north of England to enjoy the convenience of this direct service to the Big Apple. Werecognise times are tough so want to make it as easy as possible for people to secure and planahead for this much anticipated break, hence launching these trips even earlier.

“There really is no place quite like New York in the run up to Christmas. Whether it’s skating inCentral Park, treating the kids in FAO Schwarz, soaking up the atmosphere in Times Square ortaking in a Broadway show, I’d encourage people to book now so they don’t miss out on a magicaltrip of a lifetime direct from the region.”

Shopping breaks from East Midlands depart on November 15, returning on November 18, andfrom Leeds and Newcastle airports to Newark Airport for two shopping weekends on November29, returning on December 2 and December 6, returning on December 10.

Jet2holidays’ New York festive shopping trips now on sale

usa

FFESTINIOG TRAVEL is offering an 18-day USA Canyons & Railways escorted tour that takes travellerson a journey through the landscapes of Western USA, travelling on some of the country’s pioneeringrailroads to take in canyons, valleys, deserts, ridges and National Parks. Departing on September 6,prices lead in at £3,835 per person, based on two sharing and include flights, Amtrak rail journeys,overnight accommodation on one Amtrak train (standard roomette), room-only hotel accommodation,some meals, rail journeys as per the itinerary, transfers and the services of a tour leader throughout.For details call 01766-772030 or visit www.ffestiniogtravel.com

Hayes & Jarvis highlights spring shopping break savings in New York

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GOVERNORS ISLAND will open for thesummer season on Saturdays, Sundaysand holiday Mondays from May 26 toSeptember 30. The island, a formermilitary base off the southern tip ofManhattan, is now owned by the City ofNew York and is a popular day-tripdestination for visitors. The island isaccessed via a free ferry service fromLower Manhattan with a journey time often minutes.

The island hosts a series of events

throughout the summer season.Previous events have included art andsculpture exhibitions, food festivals,live music concerts and family events.The island is best explored on foot or bybike, with bike rental locationsavailable on the island. For details see www.govisland.com

Meanwhile, visitors to New York willbe able to enjoy outdoor concerts byone of the city’s most famousorchestras for free this summer. New

York Philharmonic Concerts in thePark, presented by Didi and OscarSchafer, returns for its 47th seasonwith six free concerts across all fiveboroughs of the city between July 11-17.

All outdoor performances begin at20:00 and the concerts in Brooklyn andManhattan will be followed by fireworksdisplays. For more information visitwww.nycgo.com

TRAVELLERS CAN now experience the freedom of the openroad and camping in the national parks without the hassleof arranging accommodation or camping gear, with thelaunch of Intrepid Travel's range of self drive adventures.

The operator's itineraries arm travellers with a kit ofcamping gear, maps, local advice and national park passes,for them to explore America's classic highways, iconiccities and vast landscapes.

A broad range of vehicles are offered, from compact carsto sedans and seven seater vans, as well asaccommodation options and self-selected activities.

The company's general manager, global sales, JamesThornton, said: "We are now offering travellers a real pointof difference with not only a choice of vehicle but also highquality camping gear, insurance and in-depth itinerariesbased on local knowledge, which you won't get when hiringa car independently.

"We believe these trips will fulfil the needs of a widerange of people who want to experience North America andwe look forward to expanding the self drive adventuresrange in the future."

The new itineraries currently include The GreatOutdoors, a 13-day trip from San Francisco to Los Angelesthat covers Yosemite, Joshua Tree and Zion National Parksand leads in at £570 per person; a six-day Coastal Cruisealong Highway 1 from Los Angeles to San Francisco from£295 per person; a 16-day Southwest Adventure thatshowcases the deserts, mountains, lakes and cliffs that theSouthwest is known for, with prices from £625 per person;and a nine-day Southwest Loop from Las Vegas from £410which takes in national parks, quirky towns and Navajoheritage. For more information visit www.intrepidtravel.com

ATTRACTION WORLD has introduced five new culinary tours inNew York, which aim to highlight the best foods for visitors,with plenty of tasting stops and all tours fully commissionableto agents.

A Lower Eastside Artisan Food Tour costs £31 per adult and£21 per child and explores one of the trendiestneighbourhoods in New York, where guests can learn aboutthe area’s immigrant history while tasting foods influencedfrom all corners of the globe.

A Flavours of New York Tour costs £31 per adult and £21per child and takes place in the heart of the student-filled EastVillage and includes at least seven different tasting stops.

Nolita – A Bite of Ethnic New York Tour leads in at £33 peradult and £21 per child and offers guests an insight into howfoods such as New York’s best cheesecake are made and whatto look for when buying them. Guests also have theopportunity to meet the purveyors and chefs.

A Beer, Cheese and Chocolate Tour of Upper West Sidecosts £40 and offers an indulgent afternoon of chocolate,cheese, beer tasting, and decadent desserts on a leisurely,easy walking tour of Manhattan's Upper West Side, while aChocolate, Wine and Dessert Tour of Upper West Side alsocosts £40 and discovers some of the newest, best and coolesteateries, shops and restaurants in Manhattan while eating andlearning about desserts and wines. For more information visit www.attractionworld.com or call 0871-700 8888.

Intrepid Travel launches self-drive adventures

Governors Island Manhattan announces summer opening dates and series of scheduled events


usa

VISITORS OF Mariposa County, home of Yosemite National Park,can experience nature at its best this spring as the towncelebrates its Annual Butterfly Festival. The event takes placefrom May 4-6 and features live butterfly releases, parades, artand artisan shows and live entertainment. For details see www.homeofyosemite.com

Attraction World adds five new culinarytours in New York

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Visit www.attractionworld.com today

*FREE transport offer applies for booking made in April 2012. Prices correct at time of going to print. Subject to change at any time. LEGOLAND, LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and Knob confi gurations, the Minifi gure and LEGOLAND are trademarks of the LEGO Group. (c)2012 The LEGO Group. LEGOLAND IS A PART OF THE MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS GROUP.

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S06 TB2004 Accommodation Only_Layout 1 18/04/2012 11:30

HOTEL PORTAL, HRS, has calculated that the average dailyrate for one-star hotels in the UK decreased by as much as10% between 2010 and 2011 for corporate travellers. Two-star properties decreased by just 3%, but three-star hotelssaw the greatest decrease with prices changing from £76.20in 2010 to £65.81 in 2011, a change of 14%.

The company works with more than 30,000 companiesworldwide to provide accommodation in 250,000 propertiesacross 180 countries. Analysing UK bookings made by UKcorporate travellers, it was also noted that during the sameperiod, four-star hotels saw an increase in their averagedaily rate from £91.52 to £103.13 (13%) as an increase intravel demand meant hoteliers could increase their prices.

Jon West, the company's managing director UK & Ireland,

said: “The flurry of events taking place in London this yearwill lead to an increase in prices during the majority of 2012as hoteliers try and maximise rates and profits. However, webelieve this higher demand will not materialise and roomswill be available in London over the period.

“The three-star category will continue to offer good value,driven by the aggressive acquisition and growth strategy bythe Premier Inn Group. However, across chain groups wepredict an overall increase of 8% for hotel prices.

“Corporates will continue to move away from the top endbrands and those who have a proactive programme willmove towards independents rather than chains. Theseindependents need to compete against aggressive marketingand comparison website activity by offering reductions.”

Britain’s budget hotels cheaper for business travellers according to hotel portal HRS

PIERRE & Vacances is looking toencourage visitors to take advantage ofthe local area on their next holiday withnew regional discovery excursions forthe summer season.

The hands-on adventures includelearning to make soap in Provence,visiting a dairy to make goats cheese inthe Ardeche or making honey with abeekeeper in the south of France.

The holidays are part of a revamp forthe company’s Holiday Village brandwhich also sees refurbished apartments,more free activities, a la carte servicesand a revamped kids' club.

The operator has 13 Holiday Villagesacross France and Spain located nearbeaches, golf courses or nature

reserves. Accommodation ranges fromstudio apartments to three-bedroomhouses, with prices starting from £450for a seven-night stay in a two-bedroomapartment sleeping up to seven peopleat Port du Crouesty.

The company's UK & Ireland salesand marketing director, Cathy Rankin,said: “We want families to really enjoytheir summer breaks – both with thegreat onsite facilities, but also by takingthe time to experience the local area,whether it be on one of our new regionaldiscovery days, or by hiring a bike andexploring the region.

“We all know that no two children arealike and so we’ve also looked to revampour kids' clubs too, enabling children at

our Holiday Villages to choose a clubtailored to their own interests.”

An example of the company'srevamped resorts is Belle Dune in NorthPicardy. The houses and apartments arebuilt in the 20th century style of thePicardy region around a large lake.Guests have access to indoor andoutdoor swimming pools, pedalos,sailing on the lake, a petting farm, kids'clubs and the nearby beach is accessibleby foot or on a miniature train.

New for this year is a VIPaccommodation range, regional activitiesand themed kids' clubs, with pricesstarting from £65 per child per week. For more information call 0870-026 7144or visit www.pierreetvacances.co.uk

HALF MOON Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica is promoting a 'pay seven nights and get seven nights free' offer for summer. Prices leadin at £1,189 per person and are based on two adults sharing a superior room on a room-only basis for bookings made by November 15and holidays completed by December 20. For details see www.halfmoon.rockresorts.com


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Regional discovery excursions for families from Pierre & Vacances



See the Red Hot Chilli Peppers withGetabed.co.uk

GETABED.CO.UK IS celebrating its beach deals by givingagents the chance to win tickets to see the Red Hot ChilliPeppers in June. The company has a total of eight tickets togive away at either Knebworth or Sunderland.

To be in with a chance of winning, agents should make abeach booking with the operator before the end of the month.

Superbreak adds new Travelodge properties to portfolio SUPERBREAK HAS added seven new Travelodge propertiesto its portfolio of hotels in the UK, to take the total numberof Travelodge properties featured to 144.

Two new hotels are featured in Wales and five inEngland, with prices leading in at £23 per person per night.

They include Bradford Central Hotel from £23.75 perperson per night, Cardiff Atlantic Wharf Hotel from £30.50,Cardiff Central Queen Street Hotel from £30.50,Huddersfield Hotel from £23, Manchester Upper BrookStreet Hotel from £24, Manchester Salford Quays Hotelfrom £24 and Manchester Central Arena from £24.For more information visit www.superbreak.com/agents or call 0871-221 4444.

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MALLORCA FARMHOUSES is highlighting its property Aljup de Son Amer, set on the outskirts of the village of Es Llombards. The recentlyrestored one-bedroom stone-clad cottage is located within walking distance of local tapas bars, a bakery, restaurants and shops andfeatures an open-plan kitchen and an en-suite double bedroom with stairs to a small mezzanine. Other features include a private pool anda shaded dining terrace with barbecue area. Prices lead in at £630 per week or £315 per person, based on two sharing and includes astarter pack and maid service. Flights are excluded and car hire is recommended as essential - see www.rhinocarhire.com For more information or to book visit www.mallorca.co.uk or call 0845-800 8080.

MOVENPICK HOTELS & Resorts’ new property in Bangalore, thefive-star Hotel & Spa Bangalore, features 182 rooms and islocated 30 minutes from the airport. The property offers avariety of dining experiences; seven meeting rooms with anoutdoor venue for up to 500 people; and the Sohum Spa, aspecialist Ayurvedic spa and wellness facility with eighttreatment rooms and a selection of treatments inspired byAyurveda, and incorporating some Oriental and Europeanhealing techniques. The hotel also offers a fitness centre withviews of the city and dedicated meditation and yoga rooms. For details see www.moevenpick-hotels.com


TRAVELPORT HAS revealedthe ongoing growth in theuse of its TravelportRooms and More hotelbooking engine in the UK,adding more than 50agencies so far this year.Customer feedback hasindicated that agents valueits breadth of content, easeof use and opportunity toearn new revenue with UKbookings increasing onaverage 17% each weekthis year.

The company's regionaldirector UK & Ireland,Simon Ferguson, said:“Travelport Rooms andMore has become avaluable accommodationsource and hotel bookingtool for leisure travelagents since its launch inJuly 2011,” said SimonFerguson, RegionalDirector, UK & Ireland. “Ina tight market, travelagents need extra supportfrom their key suppliers.”

Zara Skirvin from S&NPickford said “We havebeen using TravelportRooms & More for the lastfew months and find it agreat tool. It is very simpleto use and the ability tofilter results makes findinghotels in certain areas orwith specific amenitiesvery easy. Being able tosearch multiple supplierson one page saves us timeand enables us to sourcethe best price quickly.”

Additionally, for themonth of April, Travelportis offering a specialpromotion, whereby anyUK travel agent whomakes more than 10bookings in Rooms andMore can earn double theirusual commission *.For full terms and conditionsplease refer tohttp://www.travelport-communications.com/roomsandmore/doublecommission

A&K adds newvillas in Sardinia ABERCROMBIE & KentVillas has announced theaddition of nine new villasin Sardinia to its existingItalian portfolio of villas inTuscany, Amalfi Coast,Umbria and cityapartments in Florence.

The villas range fromsimple but charming littleboltholes to the moreluxurious villas withrolling gardens down to aprivate beach. All comewith the option of a chefwho will cook up Sardinianfeasts using fish caughtthat day and local produce.

As examples of prices,Bentu de Sole, situated onthe peninsula of CapoCoda Cavallo, 350m fromSalina Bamba Beach,leads in at £206 perperson per week, based on24 sharing. The villa offerstraditional Sardinian décorcombined withcontemporary twists and aprivate pool and barbecuearea.

Domus de Janus,literally meaning ‘Fairy-House’, is a 65sq.m villawith sea views and aprivate pool and leads in at£160 per person per week,based on four sharing,while Antunna de Linna,which features its owninfinity pool, costs from£394 per person week,based on 12 sharing.

The company's head ofmarketing, Claire Allen,said: "We are thrilled tohave nine villas in Sardinia– the turquoise waters andsandy beaches, togetherwith the amazing variety ofactivities, fascinatinghistory and wildlife on theisland make it a perfectfamily holiday. We havehandpicked our villas sowe have something foreveryone: ranging fromtwo-bedroom properties tolarger private homes idealfor two families."For more information visitwww.akvillas.com or call0845-618 2205.

Jumeirah Port Soller

Travelport Roomsand More reportsagent bookings up by 126% in first quarter


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INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS Group (IHG) has opened its secondhotel in Scotland, Hotel Indigo Edinburgh. The 60-room propertyis situated minutes from some of Edinburgh’s most famousattractions including Edinburgh Castle, the souvenir filled RoyalMile in Old Town and the popular shops on Princes Street.

JUMEIRAH HOTELS & Resorts is to open its first Europeanresort, Jumeirah Port Soller Resort & Spa, in Mallorca onApril 24.

The new five-star Spanish resort comprises 120-guestrooms and suites, all with a private terrace orbalcony, located on eight separate outbuildings.

A free fifth night's stay is offered when clients stay forfour nights when booked through selected operators forstays between April 24 to June 30 and from September 14to December 20.

The offer includes breakfast, free Wi-fi in all areas androoms, use of the kids' club, access to the resort's spa anda free shuttle service to Port Sóller.

Set in the Tramuntana Valley on the northwest of theisland, the area is a popular choice for trekking, cycling,Nordic walking and watersports, as well as for lovers of artmuseums, botanical gardens and the region’s richarchitectural heritage.

The resort itself features three outdoor swimming pools,two restaurants, four bars with al fresco dining, functionrooms, spa and fitness club.

In the coming six months, the company expects to openJumeirah Bilgah Beach Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan;Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, Kuwait; andJumeirah Creekside in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.For more information visit www.jumeirah.com

Jumeirah’s first European resort opens this month



TO CELEBRATE the launch of its newWorldwide Family Adventures 2012brochure, Intrepid Travel is offering up to25% off child places on more than 60 holidaysthat are suitable for the whole family. There is25% off for one child travelling with one adultand 25% off for a second child if two adultsare travelling. All other children under age 11can receive a 5% discount. As an example, aten-day Egypt Family Discovery option leadsin at £730 and includes the Pyramids of Giza,a cruise down the Nile on a felucca andvisiting the tombs in the Valley of Kings.Bookings must be made by May 31 for travelby October 31, using promotional code 8997(25% off) or 8950 (5% off). There's a 15%discount for travel from November 1 to May31, 2013 using promotional code 8950.

OLYMPIC HOLIDAYS isfeaturing two five-starresorts this summer forthe first time this year: theMarriott Beach Resort andthe Stella Di Mare BeachHotel & Spa, both in Sharmel Sheikh.

As an example of prices,a seven-night bed-and-breakfast stay at Stella DiMare Beach Hotel & Spaleads in at £549 per personin June, sharing a Comfortroom. The price includesflights from Gatwick andtransfers.

The operator says thatprices in the destinationare now more affordablethan ever.

The company'scommercial director,Photis Lambrianides, said:"There has never been abetter time to chooseEgypt's Red Sea Riviera fora holiday. People will beamazed when they seewhat they can get for theirmoney. This is the besttime to choose a Red Seaholiday as the value factorhas never been greater."

The company says thatwhile late sales remain thetrend, Egypt business isholding up well, despitethe political problems inthe Arab world that havehit tourism to the region asa whole.

Lambrianides said:"There's an amazingspread of offers from thetop hotels down in allresorts. Deals from thelikes of the Savoy Sharmand the Hiltons have madeRed Sea prices moreaffordable than ever.

"The Hiltons — SharmDreams, Sharm Waterfallsand Shark's Bay Resort —are doing really well for usright now, as is the Savoy,a stylish five-star property.

"People will still bookthe Red Sea if the price isright. The demand is stillthere, despite the recentevents in Cairo, and I'moptimistic generally abouttake-up for 2012."For more information call 0844-499 4449 or visitwww.olympicholidays.com

Olympic expands accommodation options with two five-star resorts in Sharm el Sheikh

egypt

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CARRIER IS promoting a selection of packages to Egypt thatinclude accommodation savings.

As examples, a seven-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton inSharm el Sheikh leads in at £785 per person, offering asaving of up to £385 per couple. The offer includesbreakfast, private transfers and flights from Luton and isvalid until April 30.

Guests staying seven nights at the Four Seasons Resort,

also in Sharm el Sheikh, pay for six in a new offer that isvalid until September 29. It also includes US$300 per roomper stay, offering a saving of up to £415 per couple.

Prices lead in at £1,145 per person based on a May 14departure including breakfast, private transfers and flightsfrom Luton.For more information call 0161-492 1357 or visit www.carrier.co.uk

ENCOUNTERS TRAVEL is offering up to 30%off some of its small group adventure toursin Egypt when booked by April 30, withprices starting from £276 per person fornine days.

The tours offers a mix of history, culture,architecture, popular sites, year-roundsunshine, sandy beaches and coral richwaters for relaxation and snorkelling. Theyalso combine four-star hotelaccommodation with the occasional nightsomewhere unique, such as on an overnighttrain or a traditional felucca boat along theNile, where guests sleep on an open-decksailboat under the stars.

New for this year the company is offeringa new ‘facilities boat’ to accompany itsfelucca cruises along the Nile. The facilitiesboat houses toilets, showers and offerstraditional Nubian massages on the topdeck. Guests booking before April 30 cansave up to 30% on selected tours for travelat any time this year.

Options include a nine-day NubianAdventure tour from £276 per personincluding the discount. The tour includesvisits to the Pyramids in Cairo, the

Philae temple in Aswan, the rock temples atAbu Simbel, Luxor, the Valley of the Kingsand a short cruise along the Nile Valley.

A 14-day Nubians & Beaches tour leads inat £416 per person including the discountand includes all the major sites includingthe Pyramids, the Philae temple in Aswan,the rock temples at Abu Simbel, Luxor, theValley of the Kings and a short cruise alongthe Nile Valley, finishing with a four-nightstay on the golden beaches at Dahab.

An eight-day Siwa Explorer tour costsfrom £412 per person, including the 30% offand is an ideal trip for travellers returningto Egypt or for those wishing to explore thelesser visited sites northwest of Cairo takingin Alexandria, El Alamein and the ruggeddesert landscapes close to Siwa Oasis.

Prices exclude flights, which areavailable on request and all toursinclude transfers and a fullyqualified Egyptologist guidethroughout. For more information visitwww.encounterstravel.comor call 0800-088 6002.

Audley adds newtours in EgyptAUDLEY HAS launched anew North Africa & theMiddle East brochure, witha focus on Jordan,Morocco, Oman and Egypt.

In Egypt the reopeningof the Old Cataract Hotelin Aswan after four yearsbeing refurbished makesit now possible to do atour based solely atheritage properties. Anine-day tour combiningthe Mena House in Cairo,the Old Winter PalaceHotel in Luxor and the OldCataract Hotel in Aswancosts from £2,950 perperson. Guests can alsotake a Nile cruise on therestored SS Sudan,originally built in 1880 andused for the film Death onthe Nile.

The operator is alsooffering a short loop ofaround five days fromAlexandria to Siwa and onto Cairo. Alternatively, a14-day Desert Circuititinerary leads in at £3,160per person.

The company has alsoadded a full guide to NileCruises in its brochure,offering a range ofdifferent boats to suit alltastes and budgets.Company recommendationsinclude the HadeelDahabiyya boat which haseight cabins combiningtraditional style andmodern luxury. A sevennight cruise on the HadeelDahabiyya plus one nightin Cairo or the Nile Valleycosts from £1,900 perperson.For more information call01993-838400 or visitwww.audleytravel.com

Savings of up to 30% off small group tours with Encounters Travel

Philae Temple Felucca on Nile Luxor Temple

Carrier highlights accommodation savings across selection of packages


egypt

S07 TB2004 Egypt_Layout 1 18/04/2012 11:40

THE RED Sea destination of El Gouna has reported a 100%occupancy rate for the Easter period, with generaloccupancy outside of the long weekend remaining at 65%.

Mayar Abdel Aziz, vice president of marketing forOrascom Development, said: "We are thrilled to share thenews that all 17 of the hotels in El Gouna report theyreached capacity for the Easter long weekend, with plenty

of families and young couples booked for a springgetaway to make the most of El Gouna’s year-roundsunshine. We expect leisure and sporting activityproviders in El Gouna also reaped the benefits of theoccupancy figures." For more information on the destination visitwww.elgouna.com

egypt


El Gouna reports Easter sell-out and general occupancy rates at 65%

Egypt named diving destination of the yearEGYPT HAS been named diver Destination of the Year 2011 atthe DIVER Awards ceremony, which took place at the Novotel,London ExCeL at the end of last month.

Omayma El Husseini, director UK, Egyptian State TouristOffice, said: “We are delighted to hear that Britain’s divershave again voted for Egypt. Egypt’s strong diving offer, year-round climate and historical importance have always provideda diverse holiday for any age group.

“Egypt has gone through recent political changes, howeverthis is the first time this has happened in over 30 years and thecountry is already settling back in. Everything is still verypositive.

“The affinity Egypt has with the UK tourism market hasalways been strong. Winning the Destination of the Year Awardis a great sign of trust in Egypt as a hot spot for divers and alltourists alike.”

DISCOVER EGYPT has relaunched itsWebsite combining both Egypt andJordan products for the first time andhighlighting new travel deals.

The operator, which offers Nilecruises, city stays in Luxor, Cairo andAlexander, beach holidays in the RedSea as well as tailor-made itinerariesto both Egypt and Jordan, has madenavigation easier, with each sectionhighlighting the best deals on offer ineach category and the look of the sitehas also been improved usingphotography.

Agents looking to offer their clientsthe best deals also benefit from anew special offers page which isregularly updated. At the moment

these include a discount of up to 50%for the second traveller on selectedNile cruises until April 2013 and halfprice single cabin supplements onselected Viking Nile cruises until nextApril.

The site also features a range oftailor-made suggestions split up into12 different categories, includingLuxury Holidays, Honeymoons,Special Interest Holidays, CityBreaks, Desert & Oasis and Golfingand Diving.

One of the cheapest dealscurrently being advertised is a seven-night all-inclusive stay in Sharm elSheikh from £549 per person, withaccommodation at the five-star

Rehana Royal Beach Resort on anall-inclusive basis.

The price includes flights fromGatwick and transfers and the deal isvalid for travel from April 26 untilSeptember 30.

Nile cruises currently lead in at£849 per person, with a secondtraveller going for £424.50 on thefive-star Viking Princess, includingflights from Gatwick, a full boardseven-night cruise with ten guidedexcursions and transfers.

The price is available for travel onApril 23 and on weekly departuresfrom September 10 until October 22.For more information call 0844-8800461 or visit www.discoveregypt.co.uk

Discover Egypt launches new-look Website with special offers page

Mosaic offers $50 per night room credit MOSAIC HOLIDAYS reports slow but steady demand forclassical Egypt and says that while total client numbers toEgypt have been down over the last two years, agentsbookings to Egypt, have risen by more than 40% per person.

The operator's managing director, Sabina Shaida, said:“We’ve had a positive response from agents booking highvalue classical Egypt holidays, and are reassuring themregarding Cairo."

Meanwhile, the company is offering US$50 per room pernight for the first six nights to spend at the deluxe ourSeasons Resort Sharm el Sheikh for stays between May 13-October 25, which can be spent on resort extras. For details visit www.mosaicholidays.co.uk or email [email protected]

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Anatolian sees steady growth in Nile cruising ANATOLIAN SKY, which is selling Egypt and Morocco for the second year,reports that it has seen an increase in Nile cruising.

The company's managing director, Akin Koc, said: “We have been seeing asteady growth in interest in Nile cruising, but now bookings for Egypt are reallystarting to come in. We have not seen Egypt on the news recently and this ishaving a positive effect on people’s confidence in booking travel to thedestination.”

The operator features a range of flexible holidays to the destination - fromNile cruises and cruise and stay itineraries to Cairo and Luxor breaks and beachholidays on the Red Sea.

Throughout this month the operator is also running a booking incentive foragents, where for every booking made, agents receive a £10 Love2Shop voucher. For more information visit www.anatoliansky.co.uk or call 0844-273 3585.

We asked our staff the following question:

What was your last dream about?

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: Wyndeham Grange Limited - Travel Bulletin ispublished weekly and distributed to every ABTA, TTA &GTG agent.

Subscriptions are £105 p.a. for touroperators and others, plus additionalABTA, IATA copies.

Overseas subscriptions by air mail:£155

ISSN: 0956-2419

Publisher: Jeanette [email protected] can't remember, I was asleep!

Editor: Lauretta [email protected] was fighting a bush that was shaped like a dog. I rememberwinning by chopping its tail off with a hedge trimmer.

Assistant Editor: Jill [email protected] crowd gathered in a field to watch Craig Charles do a hotair balloon ride. I was given some sparklers and tossed themover my shoulder when I thought they had burned out. Theylanded on the hot air balloon ropes, setting it on fire!

Contributing Editor: Paul [email protected] Windsor was working at the check-out inSainsbury's, knew me, and asked me to help her go on herbreak, picked up her white stick and held on to my arm as Iled the blind dear away. Weird or what.

Sales Director: Simon [email protected] my dream my daughter got out of bed and my son turnedthe TV off - that's what gave the game away!!

Advertisement Manager: Tim [email protected] lottery, they did not come in!

Online Sales Manager: Nick [email protected] Terry hassling me for money to catch the last train toHampton Wick. The cheek of that man!

Account Manager: Bill [email protected] keep dreaming that I am buried alive in a coffin with only atorch and a long peice of piping. I am not sure how deep Iam but have to try and get air

Sales Executive: Chris [email protected] Millwall won the FA Cup

Design: Genaro [email protected] don’t dream or i just don’t remember them

Assistant Layout Design:Nicky [email protected] was stuck in a huge airport trying to find the check-in

Production: Jeremy Walters [email protected] happens in Dreamland stays in Dreamland!

Circulation Manager: Jim [email protected]

Crossword:Across: 1. MARRIOTT, 6. SOL, 8. ESTORIL, 9. ISCHIA, 10. PALM, 12. SAND, 13. HUDSON, 15. PESCARA, 16. SEA, 17. SAN DIEGO. Down:1. MISSISSIPPI, 2. IBERIA, 3. TATE, 4. KILIMANJARO, 5. ARKANSAS, 7. LOCH NESS, 11. CUNARD, 14. DARA.

Highlighted Word: RHODES

Travagrams: (top) Royal Caribbean International (bottom) Hamiltion

Where Am I?: Seville

puzzlesolutions


Audit Bureau ofCirculations -

Business magazines

Classic Nile & El Gouna option from £1,139 from ShearingsSHEARINGS IS offering a combination of a river cruise along the Nile and anall-inclusive seven-night stay in El Gouna, giving customers the chance toexplore the ancient treasures of Egypt.

Highlights of the 15-day holiday include a trip to the temples of Karnakand Luxor, a chance to explore Aswan and the High Dam and a Felucca tripalong the River Nile.

The price includes seven nights' all-inclusive accommodation, sevennights' full board accommodation on the Nile cruise, sightseeingexcursions, flights and resort transfers.

Departure dates run up to December. For more information call 0844-824 6351 or visit www.shearingsagent.com

DISCOVER EGYPT has announced a special seven-night package at the newlyrenovated five-star Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa for £699 per person. The priceincludes flights from Gatwick (Monday departure) and an upgrade to a Nile viewroom for travel from May 7 to September 24. Flights from Manchester cost asupplement of £40 per person and Heathrow flights are from an extra £99. For details see www.discoveregypt.co.uk or call 0844-880 0461.

egypt

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Best advice We believe that there is no substitute for experience and local knowledge. That’s why our travel advisers regularly visit our resorts and hotels to ensure they can answer your questions with facts, not guesses.

Best value We only sell holidays to Egypt. That lets us build strong relationships which we can use to get the best deals for you; not just better prices, but better quality too. Our holidays also include more in the price, with free transfers, in-fl ight meals on many fl ights, and a generous luggage allowance as standard.

Best accommodation Our hand-picked selection of predominantly 4 and 5 hotels has been vetted personally by our team for quality, service, location and value.

Best experiencesIn relaxing surroundings and with all inclusive service, it’s all too easy to forget about life beyond the pool. But Egypt can offer so much more. Our extensive range of excursions, cruises, tours, and cruise and stay holidays ensure you get to experience Egypt’s many treasures.

Best operator to North Africa We’re not just saying that: we were voted it in the 2011 British Travel Awards, plus a silver award for best small tour operator of the year. Try our award winning service for yourself.

ABTA No.Y2507

Experience Egypt with the Egyptian experts

Visit redseaholidays.co.uk/agent Call today on 0845 072 2477Scan me for more information

Enjoy the many faces of Egypt with Red Sea Holidays. We only sell holidays to Egypt that’s why we’re the Egyptian experts.

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2013 Preview Brochure - On Sale Now!

Danube Maine Moselle Rhine Rhône Seine Yangtze Mekong

Book by 23 May ’12 and save up to £1500 per couple

New suites ships Avalon Artistry II & Avalon Expression launching 2013

Choose from eleven cruises on the Rhine, Danube, Rhone rivers and Dutch Waterways

Priced from £1,145 per person for an 8 day luxury Rhine cruise - Amsterdam to Basel

Luxury EuropeanRiver Cruises

All air-inclusive packages are protected by ATOL. AvalonWaterways is a trading name of Cosmos Coach Tours Ltd; Registered in England No. 1175122. Registered Address: Avalon Waterways (trading name of Cosmos Coach Tours Ltd), Prospect House, ProspectWay, London Luton Airport, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 9NU. *Lead in price is based on the departure marked with an asterisk on each itinerary. These offers apply to new bookings only, are subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. AvalonWaterways reserves the right to withdraw offers at any time.

For details of the early booking offers on 2013 Avalon cruises or for brochures call 0800 668 1865 or contact

[email protected]

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Travel Bulletin 20th April 2012

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Transcript of Travel Bulletin 20th April 2012