Travel Bulletin 28th February 2014

Entice your clients with late deals & city break escapes

Short Breaks

February 28 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,862 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

bulletin briefingwhy agents should becapitalising on theirknowledge &expertise

event bulletincoverage of ourSouthern & East AfricaShowcase events inExeter & Chester

north africaEgypt focuses onpromoting resorts ofLuxor, Aswan & RedSea

13 3515this week

usa

NYC & Company celebrates50 years of Beatlemania

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ON THE ROAD...TCA Abu Dhabi's London Travel Trade Roadshow took place earlier this month at Jumeirah CarltonTowers in London and kick-started the tourist office's major push to target a further 12% increase in hotel guestnumbers this year, following a record 2013. Pictured with Anna Trim (third from right) from Trailfinders who won a placeon an Abu Dhabi fam trip are, from the left: Bianca De Silva, Alpha Tours; Kofi Mable, Etihad Airways; Nabeel Al Zarouni,Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority; Peter Edholm, Yas Viceroy; Anna Trim, Trailfinders; Simona Dobre, Anantara; andSteven Ophof, Ferari World Abu Dhabi.

This Week3 news

industry announcementsplus new deals to sell toclients

8 notes from normantonSandy has been keepingbusy attending industryevents

9 agent bulletinthe latest agent offers &training updates

11 puzzle bulletinplay Su Doku for a chanceto win a £50 M&S voucher

12 pix mixthe event in pictures fromthe Flanders–BrusselsTravel Forum

13 bulletin briefingwhy agents should becapitalising on theirknowledge & expertise

14 staff reviewfind out what we thought ofthe Cheltenham Park Hotel

15 event bulletincoverage of our Southern &East Africa Showcaseevents in Exeter & Chester

19 usaNYC & Company celebrates50 years of Beatlemania

25 short breaksentice your clients with latedeals & city break escapes

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Brits inspired by celebrity travel, reveals survey by Holiday ExtrasNEW RESEARCH by Holiday Extras reveals that many holidaymakers now aspire to acelebrity’s jet setter lifestyle, with Brits dreaming of holiday destinations that arefurther afield than ever before.

According to the findings, when it comes to our perception of the most frequentglobetrotters, sports personalities are top of the list with 29% picking Lewis Hamiltonas the most well-travelled celebrity of 2013, followed closely by Andy Murray and DavidBeckham (both 16%).

Whilst holidaymakers selected their destination wish list based on where TheBeckhams or Rooneys were last spotted, when it came to the personality they’d like tosit next to on the plane, good conversation was ranked above showbiz-status. Themajority of UK holidaymakers said that they’d prefer to sit next to national treasuresDame Judi Dench (36%) and Michael Palin (49%). A long-haul journey with the likes oftoday’s reality TV stars wasn’t such a popular choice, as 53% said they’d avoid travellingwith Jedward and 24% would steer clear of Kerry Katona. John McCirick was polled theleast desirable travel companion of all, with more than half (54%) saying that theywould give him a wide berth.

Meanwhile, the Italian island of Capri, once a hotspot for celeb sightings, has beenknocked off the top spot in favour of more exotic shores. The white beaches of theSeychelles came top of Brits’ luxury island wish list (33%) with the Caribbean coming ina close second (32%).

TRAVEL 2 has announced that it will be launching a new standalone short-haul luxury offering.Simply Luxury is a collection of four- and five-star properties in short-haul city and beach

destinations including the Canary Islands, Mallorca, Ibiza, Naples, Dubrovnik and Sharm elSheikh.

Agents will be able to make bookings with flights from regional airports and airlines includingeasyJet, Monarch and British Airways.

They will also be able to deal with a dedicated short-haul team member from start to finish,ensuring one point of contact throughout the booking process.

A dedicated brochure will be issued for agents from April 17 and three events, as well as adedicated training module, will introduce agents to the range.For more information visit www.travel2.com

Travel 2 launches short-haul luxury offering

35 north africaEgypt focuses on promotingresorts of Luxor, Aswan &Red Sea

31all-inclusiveSandals Barbados receivesenhancement programme

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TREYN HAS launched arange of European fly/railtours, designed to appeal tocustomers who wish toexperience its tours, butwho don’t always have thetime to make the journey tothe destinations by rail.

Each of the new toursincludes a tour managerand, where possible, railtravel in and around themain rail tour destination.

The company's nationalsales manager, Tony Byrne,said: “We hope these newtours, which combine flights

and rail for the first time,will offer agents and theircustomers even moreflexibility. We still believethat travelling aroundEurope by train is the bestway to experience the regionand these new tours includejourneys on the finest trains,from efficient high-speedtrains in Andalucia to linesthat are widely regarded asattractions themselves, suchas Switzerland’s BerninaExpress.”

The fly/rail destinationsinclude Andalucia, Italy and

Central Europe and thereare six tours to choose from:Treasures of Andalucia,Imperial Capital Cities,Classical Italy, Sorrento &Pompeii, Lake Garda, Veniceand Verona and Lake Como& The Bernina Express.

Prices lead in at £745 perperson for a seven-day LakeComo & The BerninaExpress tour, whichincludes flights fromLondon to Milan, rail andcoach travel in Italy andSwitzerland, six nights’hotel accommodation with

breakfast and dinner eachday, an excursion to VillaCarlotta and Bellagio, ajourney on the BerninaExpress between St Moritzand Tirano, an excursion toMilan including a guidedwalking tour, a visit to theVilla del Balbianello and theservices of a tour manager.Departures are on April 30,May 21 and 28, June 4, 18and 25 and September 6, 21and 28. For details call 01904-734940 or seewww.railholidays.com

FROM MARCH 28, South AfricanAirways (SAA) will operate a neweraircraft, the Airbus A330-200 onscheduled flights between Heathrowand Johannesburg.

The aircraft replaces the currentA340-600 used on the route and willoperate on SA235, the first of SAA’stwo daily departures at 19:00 andselected SA237 flights, which depart at21:00.

The airline's Business customerscan enjoy smaller, more personalcabins and forward facing seats in a 2-

2-2 configuration, as well as a 74” seatpitch, 180° flat beds and 12” ondemand widescreen technology.Business travellers can also relax andenjoy departure and arrivals loungesat both Heathrow and Johannesburg,including the SAA arrivals lounge atJohannesburg or Tambo.

The new aircraft will offer Economypassengers even larger 10”widescreen technology and a 2-4-2seat configuration.For more information visitwww.flysaa.com or call 0844-375 9680.

Cardiff Airport adds more flights to winter 2014 scheduleCARDIFF AIRPORT has added more flights to Barbados andJamaica, as well as a dedicated flight in search of theNorthern Lights.

Two further chartered flights from the airport have alsobeen added to the P&O Cruises winter 2014 Caribbeanfly/cruise schedule.

The new flights depart from Cardiff for 14 nights onFebruary 28 and December 6. After joining the cruise shipsin Barbados, passengers will visit Grenada, St Lucia,Dominica, St Kitts, St Maarten, Tortola, Curacao andBonaire, before catching their direct flight home to Cardiff.Prices lead in at £1,399 per person.

Holidaymakers will also be able to join ThomsonCruises’ platinum ship, Thomson Dream, in its new homeport of Montego Bay in Jamaica directly from Cardiff. Theline’s winter 2014/15 schedule offers a selection ofitineraries visiting ten new ports of call in destinationssuch as Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica, with 14-nightcruises leading in at £1,619 per person, based on twoadults sharing. The first flight from Cardiff departs onDecember 23.

The Northern Lights flight departs on November 19 andcosts £199.95 per person. Passengers will be guidedthrough their voyage in search of the natural phenomenonby professional astronomers who will share folklorelegends as well as their knowledge of the skies.For further information see www.cardiff-airport.com

SAA launches Airbus A330-200 on London – Johannesburg route

SAA’s Business Class

Treyn launches new fly/rail European holidays for time-conscious travellers

www.travelbulletin.co.ukFebruary 28 20144

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IN THE BAG IN BAGSHOT...Travel agents from Surrey andBerkshire recently joined members of Bright (Bringing RealInformation & Guaranteed High Quality Training) for a trainingworkshop and dinner at Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot. Picturedis Travel Counsellor Marie Rayner receiving a Kirker holiday prizefrom Bright chairman, Hisham Mahmoud. The next two events areon March 4 in Kegworth and March 5 in Norwich. For details or to register see www.brightconsortia.com or [email protected]

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Saudia Airlines returns to ManchesterSAUDIA AIRLINES has announced its return toManchester Airport after a seven-year absence, with adirect route from the airport to Jeddah due to commenceon March 28.

Flights will operate three times a week on Tuesdays,Thursdays and Sunday.

Ken O’Toole, chief commercial officer for ManchesterAirports Group (MAG), said: “The introduction of the newthree times weekly Jeddah route will further strengthenthe Middle East connections from Manchester and seesanother direct long-haul service added to our networkof connections.”

New foodieescorted toursfrom ShearingsSHEARINGS IS highlightingnew escorted tours thatcentre around gastronomy.

As examples, a nine-dayItalian Food and WineExperience costs from£569 per person andallows customers to enjoythe tastes of Italy fromtheir base in Conegliano.

Highlights include visitsto Venice, Verona, Caorle,Valdobbiandene andValpolicella and the priceincludes six nights’ half-board accommodation,with two complimentarylunches; four excursions;and coach travel.Departures are availablefrom May to September.

A ten-day Rhine inFlames and Wine Routes isalso being highlighted, withprices from £679. Guestswill sample a range ofwines sailing the Rhine,Moselle Valley and Alsaceregion, with stops inLahnstein, Cochem andKehl Kork. There will alsobe an opportunity toexperience the ‘Rhine inFlames’ fireworks display.

The price includes ninenights’ half-boardaccommodation, fourexcursions and coachtravel, with departuresavailable between May andSeptember.

Meanwhile, an eight-dayGrand Tourer Wiesbadenand the Rheingau WineFestival departs on August10 and costs from £749.

Guests will discoverGerman cuisine from theirbase in Wiesbaden, withtrips to the Rhinelandvineyards, Cologne, Liege,Heidelberg, Brussels andthe Rheingau WineFestival.

The price includes sevennights’ half-boardaccommodation, threeexcursions and luxurycoach travel.For more information call0844-824 6359 or visitwww.shearings.com

The Travel NetworkGroup to host

conference in Split THE TRAVEL NetworkGroup has announced thatSplit in Croatia will hostits 2014 conference, withthe two-day event heldover the weekend ofOctober 3-5.

The conference will beheld at the five-star HotelLe Méridien Lav which islocated in Podstrana, fivemiles south of Split.

Gary Lewis, groupmanaging director of theorganisation, said thatwith the help of theCroatian Tourist Board,delegate rates will beheavily subsidised toensure that members getmaximum value.

The conferenceprogramme will includeupdates from the group,guest speakers frominside and outside thetravel industry, a BusinessPartner Forum, plus arange of workshops andtraining seminars suitedto members.

Further details of theevent will be announcedlater this year.

KIRKER HAS addedSlovenia to its programmethis year. Suitable for shortbreak enthusiasts lookingto discover a new part ofthe Mediterranean or aspart of a longer, multi-centre itinerary, theoperator suggestscombining a few daysexploring the capital,Ljubljana, before headingnorth for mountain walks inthe Julian Alps or theseaside delights ofPortoroz on Slovenia’sAdriatic coast.

As examples of prices, athree-night stay at thefour-star superior AntiqPalace Hotel in Ljubljana (a16th century former privateresidence in the heart of

the old town that has beenconverted into a quirky,private hotel) costs from£498 per person, while athree-night stay at thefour-star Grand HotelToplice in Lake Bled leadsin at £569.

Meanwhile, the operatorhas also expanded itsprogrammes in Croatia,France, Italy, Spain andTurkey.

As examples, in CroatiaIstria and Rovinj join theprogramme with pricesfrom £528 for three nightsat a four-star property inIstria.

In Turkey, a three-nightguesthouse stay in thevillage of Alaçati costs from£598, while a three-night

half-board stay at the five-star superior D-HotelMaris, on the DatçaPeninsula leads in at £958.

Packages include flights,transfers or car hire,breakfast accommodation,guide notes to restaurants,museums and sightseeing,plus the services of aconcierge.

Other new additions for2014 include a 72-hourMuseum Pass for visitors toBruges, which includesaccess to the Flemishmasters in the GroeningeMuseum and a privatewalking tour with a localguide in Prague.For further information call020-7593 2283 or visitwww.kirkerholidays.com

Slovenia joins Kirker’s short break selection with three nights from £498

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MARKING A MILESTONE...Darren Bond from The Global TravelGroup visited member Sunseekers Travel in Scotland recently tocongratulate the agency on 15 years in the industry. Pictured withDarren is the agency's Gail Crawford (left) and Angella McCann.

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CLIENTS CAN camp out like kings thissummer in the bespoke riverside GlampingVillage set in a woodland grove in the groundsof historic Warwick Castle.

From May 24 to August 31, visitors canexperience a night under the stars in one ofthe 41 tents, designed exclusively for thecastle, from £200 per night for a family of upto six. To celebrate the 1,100th anniversary ofthe castle in 2014, the Glamping Village hasbeen extended to include three luxury King’sTents in addition to 38 Warwick Tents and aGreat Hall banqueting tent.

Each King’s Tent features a four-poster bedand two wooden-framed single beds, twothrones, an oak storage chest, a large tablewith chessboard and a suit of armour. Guestsare provided with all bed linen, in-tent powerand Wi-Fi.

All 41 tents are roomy enough to walk aboutand stand up inside, feature electric lightingand are furnished with waterproof woodenflooring, sheepskin throws with scattercushions, storage and a mirror. Separate toiletand shower facilities are also provided.

Breakfast is included and served in theGreat Hall banqueting tent – as is a dailyMedieval Dinner Feast for an additional chargeof £16.95 per adult and £7.95 per child.

An overnight package includes a two-daypriority entrance family ticket to WarwickCastle worth £69; a continental or cookedtraditional breakfast; two-day car parkingworth £12; and free evening medievalentertainment such as Have-a-go Archery,Knights’ School and Jesters’ School.For more information see www.warwick-castle.com

THEY'LL BE no more in-car argumentsover whose iPad, iPhone or smartphonegets charged first with this handy littlegadget from Innergie.

The new Innergie 21W Auto USBAdaptor is an ultra-compact,rechargeable battery bank with enoughcapacity to charge two devices at oncefrom your car. So whether you are offcamping, taking a self-drive holiday orjust stuck in traffic on the way to theairport, this nifty little gadget takes careof charging your e-reader, tablet,smartphone, GPS and more. In fact, itgives you the flexibility to plug in morethan 10,000 different USB-chargeabledevices anytime, anywhere. The gadgetretails at £29 and is available fromwww.myinnergie.com

Thomas CookAirlines boostscapacity fromBristolAS A result of the successof basing an additionalaircraft at Bristol Airportlast summer and followingincreased demand fromholidaymakers in theregion, Thomas CookAirlines has announced thatit will increase the size ofthe aircraft used at theairport from the twoexisting Airbus A320 to apair of the larger AirbusA321.

This means that for thissummer, there will be a20% increase in holidaysand flight-only seats onoffer.

Rob Thompson, thecarrier's director ofplanning, said: “It’s moregreat news for travellersfrom the South West as weadd more flexibility andchoice with flights andholidays from BristolAirport building on thesuccess of last year’s newroutes. Bristol Airport is ajewel in our operation,leading the way with ontime performance for ourfleet during last summerand in the current winterseason.”

The arrival of two A321aircraft will also mean thatthe Bristol fleet may seeone replaced with a newA321 as the airline looks toreceive a total of six acrossthe UK for this summer.

Flight-only offers forsummer include the CanaryIslands, Greece and Turkeyfrom £59.99 per person,one-way excluding baggageand meals.

Holiday offers include aseven-night, all-inclusivestay at the four-star SentidoPhenicia Hotel in Tunisiafrom £429 per person,based on two sharing for aMay 7 departure. For more details or to booksee www.thomascook.comor call 0844-412 5970. Seat-only sales can be found atwww.flythomascook.com

Warwick Castle launches deluxe glamping for summer


DUBAI DEAL...Ian Stuart Rowlands from Park Travel made Superbreak’s first overseas flight-inclusivepackage to Dubai recently following the company's flight expansion into the area. To celebrate, theoperator's Laura Dawson paid Stuart a visit to deliver a bottle of Champagne.

ON THE CASE

TRAVEL ACCESSORIESYOU WON'T WANT TOLEAVE BEHIND...

More power to the people...

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BEEN A busy week – I find it’s all or nothing!Mon night was an event in Leeds at TigerTiger by Destinations with long-haul suppliers

and it was nice to see Donna Brooks from Sandalsagain, plus I loved Denise’s presentation forKarisma Hotels & Resorts. The table had exoticdrinks to try and I loved her lovely big pink Mexicanhat - very glam! The only think that spoiled theevening was getting back to my car and finding a£25 parking ticket on it, so an expensive night! OnWed night it was the Travel Alaska evening at thePark Plaza Hotel - lovely hotel and food but ofcourse it was the night of wild winds and torrentialrain, and what is normally a 20-min journey took me1hr 40m. I became determined to make it and itbecame a challenge. Leeds was absolutelygridlocked because of the bad weather and a lorryhaving overturned on the M62, but it was a goodevening when I eventually got there and Alaska isnow on my ‘to visit’ list.

Have to say a lot of the people I chatted to at theseevents were positive about the industry – let’s face it,we have had enough doom and gloom and it’s great tosee people being positive again. I must also give a big‘thank you’ to Emma at P&O. When I wanted to book acruise for two ladies and needed some help she wasbrilliant and talked me through every step oncomplete cruise solution, so it just shows there arehelpful people out there. Such sad news to hear aboutPreston Holidays – loss of some lovely companies likeAmathus and Longwood - I have been on quite a fewLongwood holidays and they were brilliant. Hope allthe staff get sorted here and abroad and all the bestto John Markham and his team.

‘If you do not ask, the answer will always be no’ and‘If you do not step forward you will always be in thesame place’.

by SANDRA MURRAYin Normanton, Yorkshire

Notes from

Normanton...

To respond to any of Sandy’s comments email

jill. [email protected]

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WEBSCLUSIVES

● Win a 2 nights stay at Efteling theme park in theNetherlands. Enter our competition today atwww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

● Win up to £150 worth of Harrods Vouchers withour Vienna Tourist Office competition.Enter at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

● Win a Fam Trip place to Mauritius, courtesy ofour Air Mauritius competition atwww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

● For a report and Photo Gallery on our recentSouthern & East Africa Showcases, please go towww.travelbulletin.co.uk/events

All this and more at:


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MOVERS● BOOKABED HAS appointed Colleen Butler as product manager.● SOMAK HOLIDAYS has appointed Justin Coles as business

development manager.● GEMMA CORCORAN has been appointed restaurant manager at

Buckland Manor in the Cotswolds. ● AZAMARA CLUB Cruises has appointed Richard Twynam as

managing director, David Duff as commercial director, KarenSequeira as head of marketing and PR, Stuart Pearce as regionalsales manager (south), Nicola Singleton as regional salesmanager (north) and Ann Marie Meaney as strategic accountmanager.

● KENSINGTON'S BOUTIQUE property, Hotel Xenia, has appointedGiacomo Battafarano as general manager.

● STEPHEN MOFFETT will add Ireland into his remit as salesdirector for MSC Cruises UK and Ireland. The company has alsoannounced the appointment of Lee Strongitharm as commercialdirector UK and Ireland.

● JEROME NEWTON has been appointed director of sales UK,Ireland and France at Germania.

● LIVERPOOL BASED hotelier Signature Living has appointed DavidHughes as managing director.

● VISIT GREENWICH has appointed Barrie Kelly as chief executiveand John Walker CBE as chair.

● DORSETT HOSPITALITY International has appointed Hilary Crossas general manager for Dorsett Shepherds Bush, the group’sfirst hotel venture in Europe, set to open in May.


LICA'S LUCK…Lica Catherall (centre) fromPark Travel in Birkenhead recently won £70worth of Love2Shop vouchers from Hoseasons aspart of the operator’s 70th birthday celebrations.Each day until March 11, every agent whomakes a booking with the operator will beentered into a daily draw to win £70 Love2Shopvouchers. Pictured with Lica are the operator’sSarah Smith and Darren Bond.For details call 0844-847 1144 or visitwww.hoseasons.co.uk/agents

CLIA UK & Ireland is introducing a range of new onlineinitiatives and resources this year. The organisation’ssignature course, ‘Oceans of Opportunity’, nowfeatures new content, interactive games, videos andquizzes. The association is also introducing two newriver cruising courses within its Learning Academy,covering European and worldwide cruising. Other newinitiatives within the members’ area include a sectorupdate on family cruising, which is accompanied by adownloadable guide exclusively for members.Meanwhile, planning for the 8th Selling CruiseConference from May 22-23 in Southampton isunderway, with the event being redesigned to feature anew ‘Experience’ trade fair. In autumn, the associationis introducing a series of new evening workshopsentitled ‘Kick Start Your Cruise Sales’, which combinetraining and networking opportunities. For details visit www.cruiseexperts.org

VIA Rail, which operates the public rail network acrossCanada, is offering a new course for UK agents tofamiliarise themselves with the various routes on offer- from Halifax, Montreal, Québec City and Toronto inthe east, to the Rocky Mountains and Vancouver in thewest. Once agents have completed and passed thecourse they will be entered in to a monthly draw to win£25 worth of Love2Shop vouchers. For details visit www.ott.travel/homeviarailuk


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Training updates

TUCAN TRAVEL has selected four of its most populargroup tours and is offering them at special discountedrates for agents. The tours to Central America, easternAfrica, Peru and Sri Lanka depart throughout the yearand range from £319 to £469 for up to 12 days. The priceincludes all accommodation and transport (excludingflights) as well as excursions like game drives in theSerengeti, guided tours of Tikal and two nights in theAmazon Jungle. To book, agents must have booked aclient on one of the operator’s tours in the last 12 monthsand also need permission from their branch manager.

ALL AGENTS who book flights with Malaysia Airlines byMarch 9 will receive 50% off service fees. The fees will bededucted at the booking stage and are applicable only onnew bookings.

TREKAMERICA HAS launched a new #Blog4Trekcampaign, which has been designed to find a new 2014blogger. The campaign is being rolled out as acompetition to new and existing bloggers with a closingdate of March 9. As well as being an official blogger for

the operator, the competition winner will also be given afree spot on the Westerner 2 tour, which will take themup the Pacific Coast to the Grand Canyon and YosemiteNational Parks. For details see www.trekamerica.co.uk/blog

Agent offers

AGENTS MAKING bookings with Airways Holidaysuntil March 31 will be entered into a prize draw towin one of five two-night breaks at the five-starGrand Jersey and one of 30 Jersey hampers. Toenter, agents should forward their email addressand branch details to [email protected] any Jersey or Guernsey package holidaybooking made until March 31, agents can alsoclaim a £5 Love2Shop voucher.

Booking incentive


Newsbites● THE TENERIFE Tourism Corporation has launched an

online video marketing campaign which focuses on natureand authentic experiences. The campaign aims to engagewith visitors through social media and other onlinechannels and is being carried out in association with theCanary Islands Tourist Board as part of a wider jointmarketing campaign with British Airways.

● AFFORDABLE CAR Hire is poised to further drive sales inthe US, Australia and New Zealand after completing a newpartnership agreement with Discover the World. Under therepresentation agreement, Discover the World has becomethe car rental hire’s general sales agency for the threecountries with a brief to bolster the company’s marketshare through the travel trade.

● CONFERENCE VENUE and country house hotel StokeRochford Hall in Lincolnshire has joined the GlobalDistribution Systems (GDS). The hotel, near Grantham, hasalso recently invested £250,000 in the refurbishment of itsrestaurant and £200,000 in a new gym. Agents can nowaccess the hotel's booking profile on GDS, using therelevant code depending on which system they use:Amadeus – HO XGMSRH, Galileo – HO A2399, Sabre – HO217988 and Worldspan – HO 27771.

● TEN NEW stores have now opened in Gatwick’s SouthTerminal following a £40m investment in the shoppingarea of the terminal. The area now includes the largestZara airport store to date, as well as Snow+Rock, Aspinalof London and Ernest Jones.

● FOLLOWING NEWS that Preston Travel has ceased trading,Premier Holidays is offering its assistance to any affectedagents on bookings to the Channel Islands going forward.For details visit www.trade.premierholidays.co.uk or call0844-493 7444.

A TASTE OF ALASKA...To celebrate the growing interest of Alaskaas a tourism destination, Alaska tourism representatives recentlyvisited the UK, hosting two events for the trade in Leeds andOxford. Agents enjoyed an evening with some of Alaska’s mostinfluential tourism partners and had the opportunity to learnmore about the state. Pictured is Jessica Ambrose from STATravel York, who won flights for two with Icelandair to Anchorage,and Jesse Carlstrom from the state of Alaska.


newsbulletin

Keeping an

i on AppsTHE COUNCIL of Tenerife,

through the Tenerife Tourism

Corporation and its Tenerife Golf

brand, has launched a new app,

Golf in Tenerife – Tenerife Golf

Guide, which offers a guide to golf

courses and hotel partners on the

island, for Apple and Android

devices. The app offers

information such as weather,

transport companies and local

golf stores, plus contact details of

golf courses in Tenerife and La

Gomera.

MSC CRUISES has launched MSC

Divina Traveller Web App, a new

app designed to enhance the

mobile experience of guests on

MSC Divina’s Caribbean

itineraries. Free to download and

to use while the ship is sailing, it

provides guests with up-to-date

information about the ship, route,

conditions at sea and in ports of

call, promotions in the ship’s

various shops and boutiques, as

well as activities and special

events on board. The app also

allows users to reserve a range

of services, from booking a table

in the ship’s thematic

restaurants, to saving a seat on

popular shore excursions.

COSTA CRUISES has announcedthe launch of MyCosta Mobile, afree application for smartphonesand tablets that offers guestsfree and unlimited minutes andtexts on board the 14 ships inthe fleet when connected to theWi-Fi network. Beforeembarking on a cruise, guestsneed to download MyCostaMobile from the App Store orGoogle Play Store and thenconnect to the ship’s Wi-Finetwork once on board toregister and launch the app. Theapp can also be used to contact acabin or any of the numerousshipboard amenities such as therestaurants, spa and tour office.


puzzlebulletin


Where Am I?

Holy area in San Francisco Bay?

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, March 6th. Solution and new puzzle will

appear next week.

The winner for 14th February is Eve Edwards, Worldchoice

Travel in Shrewsbury.

February 14 Solution: A=5 B=4 C=9 D=9

➠A

➠B

➠C

➠D

Number: 008

Travagrams

Across 1. Leading self-catering specialist, part of

Wyndham Vacation Rentals (9)6. Larnaca airport code (3)7. US city on the Pacific coast (7)8. Popular Rhodes resort (4)9. Flows through Spain (4)12. Hotel brand, part of Accor (4)13. English city with an impressive Royal

Crescent (4)15. Operator based in Burton-Upon-Trent

offering escorted tours and cruises, ___Travel (7)

16. Scottish resort, sounds fresh (3)17. Sweet white wine and region of France (9)

Down 1. She recently collected a BAFTA lifetime

achievement award (5,6)2. African language (7)3. State capital of Texas (6)4. Scottish town, known as the Gateway to the

Isles (4)5. South American capital city on the shores of the

River Plate (6,5)10. Gulf Air's HQ is located in this country (7)11. Capital of Zimbabwe (6)14. Machu Picchu is a major tourist attraction in

this country (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 38

Crossword

Su Doku

Num

ber:

008

This city’s wall was broken down in 1989

This ferry line shares its name with two species of vultures

Bri Nel

Forced Ironers

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



pixmix

BOTTOMS UP…Andrew Daines (left),director UK & Ireland of VisitFlanders,enjoys a drink with Robert England ofOmega Travel at the closing event heldat La Brugeoise.

FLANDERS PALS…Lisa Thomas (left) and

Anja Bogaert of VisitFlanders get ready to

meet guests during the FTBF workshop.

SHEAR FUN…Pictured at the FTBF

workshop are Andy Sherman and

Patricia Parry of Shearings Holidays.

GREAT NETWORKERS….Meeting up for a chatare Emile Lannoy of Pullman Brussels Midi andHelen Jones from Great Rail Journeys.

THE FLANDERS–BRUSSELS Travel Forum(FTBF) 2014 recently took place in Bruges.Operators met with Flemish suppliers at theworkshop and attended themed presentationssuch as Flanders Fields - The Great War; Events2014-2018; Bruges; and Brussels Airlines.Delegates were offered a choice of guidedexcursions including visits to Flanders Fields(classic WW1 and the new Ypres brewery),Bruges (classic Bruges for the first time visitor)or Antwerp (including the newly opened RedStar Line Museum). For details see www.flanderstravelforum.com.Here’s the event in pictures...

IN REMEMBRANCE …Yvonne Campbell (left) from

All Leisure Travel – Travelsphere & Just You and

Luisa Marie Depa from Enable Holidays visit the In

Flanders Fields Museum.

BELGIAN BREW….Enjoying a beer tasting session at De

Halve Maan Brewery in Bruges is Alan Couser from Orr’s

Travel and Andrea Doree, Travel Solutions.


I’M ALWAYS being asked about ‘seeing greenshoots’ – nothing to do with my widely acclaimedgardening skills and knowledge – but because

when people ask me whether I can see green shootsin the economy and wider travel industry I generallyalways find myself replying with the same line. Nomatter how bad things get and no matter how long arecession lasts, holidays are always pretty high up onpeople’s yearly wish list.

What most customers want is a bargain or to feel theyhave spent well. While people and businesses arestarting to loosen their purse strings, holidaymakers arestill keen to get the most ‘bang for their buck’. And whocan blame them? The purchase of a holiday is a big sliceof anyone’s yearly budget.

I have heard that the average person visits 19websites before they end up making a booking or sittingdown with an agent. With such high figures it’s nosurprise that comparison sites, aggregators, onlinetravel agents (OTAs) and the TripAdvisors of this worldare cranking up the marketing spend in order toencourage us ‘to compare’. Everyone is looking for thenext big trend as it becomes ever more challenging topart Jane and John Doe from their hard-earned cash.

For agents, the challenge – or as I like to think of it –opportunity, lies in their ability to ensure clients getgood value for money and first class customer service. Agood agent - demonstrating their product knowledgeand experience - should be able to rattle off the top tenvalue destinations where holidaymakers will feel richer

in 2014. And if they can’t, then my advice would be tokeep a currency converter on hand for when those‘tough’ questions are asked and be able to point peoplein the right direction.

Travel has never been easier or more affordable forany travelling Brit and over the past few years the sheervolume of options out there is massive for both travelagents and customers alike. Industry developmentssuch as competitive airline pricing have made long-hauljourneys much more attractive to people who previouslywould have stayed closer to home, with newer planesproviding for a much more comfortable experience, asstandard.While ‘fly and flop’ beach holidays show no sign ofabating any time soon, there’s never been a biggeroffering – or willing participants – for the wide range ofescorted ground tour options out there, whether it betiger trekking in Thailand or train travel through theRockys.

It should come as no surprise that the travelpreferences – and travellers – of old are gone and whilepeople will happily book their seven-night Costa del Solholiday online, sometimes, where agents can continue toexcel is with their in-depth, specialist knowledge of adestination or product. In short, and what all goodagents have recognised, is that it is time to become anexpert in providing options for eager customers. Peopledon’t mind paying for that, it’s called good service.

Andy Stark, managing director of The Global Travel Group, explains why agents should becapitalising on their knowledge and expertise

"While people and businesses are

starting to loosen their purse strings,

holidaymakers are still keen to get

the most ‘bang for their buck’. And

who can blame them? The purchase

of a holiday is a big slice of anyone’s

yearly budget"


bulletinbriefing

Industry Insight by...

"Industry developments such as

competitive airline pricing have

made long-haul journeys much

more attractive to people who

previously would have stayed

closer to home”


New website from Osprey HolidaysOSPREY HOLIDAYS has unveiled a new website to makeit easier for agents to make bookings for clients.

New features include more than 57 city and shortbreak destinations, plus 300 recommended hotels; adevoted travel agent section including special offers,marketing material, digital brochures, sampleitineraries, transport options and brochure requests;dedicated destination pages that include travellers tips,activities, reviews and Google Maps; and a blog withregular updates, travel news and highlighted events. For details see www.ospreyholidays.com, call 0131-243 8098 or email [email protected]

GNTO records fourth year of growth

REPRESENTATIVES FROM the UK travel trade attendingthis year’s Germany Travel Show were given exclusivepreviews to the new tours, products and initiatives inGermany for 2014, 2015 and beyond.

A total of 46 exhibitors, including some regions andattractions attending for the first time, showcased ‘what’snew’ in Germany including representatives from Germanregional tourist boards, major attractions, new city tours,accommodation providers and transport specialists, aswell as organisations such as UNESCO World HeritageSites.

The destination has also reported its fourth recordgrowth year in a row, showing a rise in overnight stays byinternational visitors of 4% last year. Recent figures forthe period January – November 2013, compared to thesame period for 2012, show rises of 7.3% and 3.4% for UKand Ireland respectively, in overnight stays.

Klaus Lohmann, director of the German NationalTourist Office (GNTO) for UK and Ireland said: “Over thenext two years we are celebrating the ‘PeacefulRevolution’ and the ‘Fall of the Wall’ and culture fans forexample, will be spoilt for choice through our UNESCOcampaign, which offers an enormous variety of culturalevents and things to do throughout 2014."

staffreviewJill Sayles, assistant editor of Travel Bulletin, stayed at

the four-star Cheltenham Park Hotel, part of Puma

Hotels, for one night to experience the Body MOT

package. Here's what she thought...

If you'd like to take part and receive a £10 M&S voucher

voucher please email [email protected]

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

First impressions ....................................9/10

I had a warm welcome in the small but elegant reception area.A quick check-in to my room followed, before meeting thefriendly Body MOT team for lunch.

Comfort ....................................................9/10

Located two miles from Cheltenham town centre, it is aGeorgian country house situated on the edge of the Cotswolds.There are landscaped grounds with a small lake, indoorswimming pool, fitness suite and two restaurants. My doubleroom had views of the hotel grounds, bathrobes and slippers,complimentary toiletries, mineral water, a work station and TV.

Quality ......................................................9/10

The ‘Body MOT’ package offered an excellent health andwellbeing programme including fitness sessions and tasty,specially prepared healthy meals at the ‘Lakeside’ restaurant.

Affordability ............................................9/10

The Body MOT package costs £269 per person for the weekendand includes all meals, accommodation and activities such asbody toning, Pilates, lifestyle coaching and a cookerydemonstration.

Service ....................................................9/10

Attentive - especially in the restaurant.

Good to know ..................................................The Puma Body MOT package (provided by MK LifeFit) takesplace from 14:00 on a Friday until 17:00 on Sunday and isavailable on select weekends until April at seven hotels in thePuma Hotels portfolio. For more information visitwww.pumahotels.co.uk/bodymot or call 0800-014 2630.

Overall scoring...........

910/

newsbulletin


The Germany Travel Show


www.travelbulletin.co.uk/events


eventbulletinTRAVEL BULLETIN held its Southern & East Africa Showcase events last week in Chesterand Exeter at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Thistle Exeter Hotel respectively. Through acombination of networking and presentations, agents learnt about the range of activities,health and spa packages and safari options in the destination and were also eligible to wina selection of great prizes ranging from a £50 shopping voucher to a Magnum ofChampagne....

Above: SHOPPINGGALORE...Amy Cavender (left)from The Really Helpful TravelGroup won a £50 shoppingvoucher courtesy of Titan'sSharon Tait.

Right: CHEERS!...Harv andMonika Sethi from OtteryTravel look forward to theevening's events.

Above: BOTTOMS UP...MeghanPotter of Bath Travel inNewton Abbott and RebekahYelland of Bath Travel Honitonshare the bingo prize of aMagnum of Champagne.

Video Sponsor

Photography Sponsor


Photography Sponsor

"Thanks for theinvitation - I reallyenjoyed it. Greatproduct knowledgegained and a fabhosted evening...Ilook forward to thenext one!"Hayley Doyle, Hays Travel


eventbulletin

Above: IN THE BAG...Dawn Parr (left) of Botswana Tourism presentsKaren Gregory of Zephyr Holidays with a Bostwana Tourismbriefcase bag.

Above: TIME TO NETWORK...Agents chat with suppliers duringthe speed networking session.

Above: SMILES ALLROUND...Nina Farrimond (left)from South African Tourismpresents two bottles of SouthAfrican wine to Anita Kelseyfrom Delmar World Travel.

Above: FLYING HIGH...Angela Price (left) of South African Airwayspresents Vickie Leriche of STA Travel with a bottle of SAA's onboardwine and a SAA model aircraft.

Below: GOODENOUGH FOR HIM...Tony Byrne of Great RailJourneys congratulates Ian Goodenough of Big Blue Marble witha £50 Love2Shop voucher.


Photography Sponsor


eventbulletin

Above: JONES' JOY...Ann Jonesfrom Teithiau Menai Travelcollects her prize of a selectionof wine from Justin Coles fromSomak Holidays.

Above: SEASONS GREETINGS...Ailsa Tavares (left) fromSeasons in Africa and ClaireFarley from 2 by 2 Holidays getready to welcome travel agents.

Left: READY TO HIT THE SHOPS...is Emma Fountain (right) from ITCwho won a £50 shopping voucher from Joan Toker of SunsetFaraway Holidays.

Above: CHOCS AWAY...Travel Bulletin's Simon Eddolls presents a boxof Belgian chocolates to Sara Allen of Dartmouth Travel Company.

Above: REED'S WIN...Rob Grover (left) of Expedia presents AndrewReed of Bath Travel with a £50 Amazon voucher.

"Thank you for a great night - I like thevariety of the suppliers and I also appreciatethat your evenings run to time. The eveningdidn’t feel rushed – you seem to have it downto a T - thanks again!"Eileen Allan, Cresta World Travel

"Many thanks to both yourselves and your trade sponsors for a veryenjoyable and informative evening. My colleague and I felt that we learnt agreat deal which hopefully we can put to good use with our customers in thenear future. We also thoroughly enjoyed the choice of food available. Thanksfor a great evening and we look forward to seeing you in Exeter again soon!"Sara Allen, The Dartmouth Travel Company


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THIS YEAR sees the launch of newdirect flight routes to the US, leading todestinations becoming more accessibleto UK visitors.

Austin is one to watch for 2014 withBritish Airways set to become the firstcarrier to provide a non-stop flightbetween London and the ‘live musiccapital of the world’. Flights launch onMarch 3 five times weekly before movingto daily flights from May 5, with prices for

a return flight in World Traveller startingfrom £511. In addition to the existingA380 route to Los Angeles, BA will alsobegin A380 services to Philadelphia fromJune 5 and to Washington, D.C. fromSeptember 1.

Budget conscious holidaymakers canalso make a trip across the pond to LosAngeles, New York and Fort Lauderdaleas low-cost airline Norwegian launchesthree transatlantic flights from

Gatwick. Taking off on July 2 next year,the twice-weekly Los Angeles routecosts from £199 one-way, while a daylater sees the launch of its New Yorkroute, running three times weekly withan introductory offer of £149. Flights toFort Lauderdale commence on July 4,with a lead-in price of £179 one-way,running twice weekly. For details see www.ba.com andwww.norwegian.com

British Airways and Norwegian offer direct routes to wider destinations

BritWeek Miami returns to South Florida for second yearBRITWEEK MIAMI, the annual celebration of British businessin Florida, has announced the dates for its second visit to theSunshine State.

This year’s programme of events will take place from March6-12 throughout Miami and Miami Beach, adopting a themedapproach centred on ‘design and innovation’.

The week will take place in alliance with UK Trade &Investment (UKTI) and the British Consulate-General, Miamialong with a series of strategic media, event and industrypartners.

On Thursday March 6, the GREAT Business InnovationAwards Gala at The Viceroy Hotel in downtown Miami will kickoff the week. Additional events throughout the week include aninnovation and architecture event at the new Patricia andPhillip Frost Museum of Science; a British Afternoon Tea Partyand fashion extravaganza in Miami Beach; a British Artshowcase; a Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) BritishFilm Screening hosted by Consul General Kevin McGurgan;and a Cruise Britain event to coincide with the SeaTradeexhibition at The Miami Beach Convention Center.For details see www.britweek.org andwww.miamiandbeaches.com

Thomas Cook & Brand USA launch UnitedStories of America competition

THOMAS COOK and Brand USA have launched theirUnited Stories of America social media competition.

The pan-European contest offers participants thechance to win a holiday to the US every month bysubmitting their favourite American holiday or, if theyhave not yet travelled, their US holiday wish, and is partof a multimillion dollar partnership designed to inspireholidaymakers to think of the US as a premier traveldestination.

The competition will run simultaneously across the UK,Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands through to April.

Hosted on Thomas Cook’s Facebook page, consumersacross Europe who have travelled to the US are invitedto share their memories by ‘pinning’ their favouriteexperience to an interactive map which will then beshared with their friends.

Those who haven’t yet experienced the US can alsoparticipate by pinning their American dream destinationto the map and explaining the reasons for their choice.To take part visit https://apps.facebook.com/stories-of-america

MUSTANG MONUMENT, an eco-resort and wild mustang reserve, has opened in Nevada. The reserve, which covers 900sq. miles of mountainousand scenic land in Wells, is where philanthropist Madeleine Pickens runs Saving America’s Mustangs, providing a home for 600 descendants of thewild horses. The accommodation consists of teepees with king-sized beds, bathroom cabins and a 24-hour butler service. Activities include riding,observing, learning about and photographing the mustang, as well as horse-drawn and off-road vehicle safaris, calf roping lessons, archery,hiking, Native American beading classes, learning about the heritage and history of the Wild West and in-teepee spa treatments. A three-nightstay at the reserve costs from £985 per person based on two sharing a teepee on a full board basis, including activities and taxes.For details call 020-7228 1230 or visit www.mustangmonument.com

usa

S04 TB2802 USA_Layout 1 26/02/2014 15:40

Terms & Conditions: Travel Industry Staff ID will be required at time of rental to qualify for the discount and the rental does not qualify for frequent flyer programmes or cashback schemes. Examples of Travel Industry ID includeCompany ID card, business card, letter of employment or payslip. Standard rental terms and conditions apply. Full T&Cs found at www.alamo.co.uk/travelbulletin. ©2013 Alamo Rent-A-Car. All rights reserved 14-UP007.

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RANCH RIDER has reported a growth inbookings for ranch holidays inWyoming and Montana.

Tony Daly, the company's managingdirector, said: “Wyoming and Montanaare currently bestsellers when itcomes to ranch stays. We feel thegrowth in experiential holidays and

level of authenticity has always helpedto generate sales in those two states,and they appear to be the key driversfor bookings this year.”

The operator is offering a seven-night ranch holiday in Wyoming from£1,045 per person and a six-nightranch holiday in Montana from £899.

Single supplements do not apply foreither holiday and prices includeaccommodation, most meals, ranchactivities and transfers in Wyoming.Gratuities and flights are excluded.For more information call 01509-618811, email [email protected] orvisit www.ranchrider.com

FUNWAY HAS announced an increase in bookings following therelease of its Florida Beaches brochure last year.

Claire Campbell, the operator's marketing executive, said:“Since the launch of our Florida Beaches 2014 and 2015brochure in quarter three of 2013, we have seen a significantuplift in sales with revenue up by 183% across an array ofbeach destinations within Florida. These bookings range fromsingle-, twin- and multi-centre holidays.

“This increase in sales is also due to our extensive FloridaBeaches marketing campaign which commenced at thebeginning of October 2013 and is running up until the end ofMarch. With the sheer amount of activity we are runningacross a multi-channel campaign, we feel our travel agentpartners have got behind us, as we continue to be the leadingspecialist on all things Florida.”

Across the range of destinations, the operator is offering aselection of free nights, free breakfast and free transfers, with

prices starting from £17 per person, per night at the Days InnDaytona Oceanfront on Daytona Beach.

Twin-centre prices start at £889 per person, includingseven nights’ accommodation, flights with United Airlines, taxand fuel surcharges. The price is based on a three-night stayat the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Chicago and four nights atOcean Pointe Suites in Key Largo.

Alternatively, fly/drive prices lead in at £999 including 11nights’ accommodation and car rental. It includes threenights in Orlando, five nights in Daytona Beach, one night inCocoa Beach and two nights in Tampa. All hotels are selectedfrom Sherpa.

Air upgrade prices start from £225 per person based on aPremium Economy one-way journey from Gatwick to Tampawith Virgin Atlantic, while car rental prices start from £22 perday based on a Compact car.For more information see www.funway4agents.co.uk

Funway reports sales boost following launch of Florida Beaches brochure

Ranch Rider reports growth in Wyoming and Montana bookings

S04 TB2802 USA_Layout 1 26/02/2014 15:40


Trafalgar adds new itineraries for 2014 TRAFALGAR’S 2014 USA and Canada programme features twonew itineraries - a ten-day Florida Fun ‘n’ Sun FamilyExperiences trip and a 15-day Best of the West.

Included in the programme is the operator’s newest InsiderExperience, Authentic Accommodations - ranches, farms,historic houses and stately homes.

Both tours also feature Be My Guest experiences,connecting travellers with their destination by sampling localhospitality and cuisine. Hidden Treasures will also be exploredalong the way and travel directors and local guides are onhand to share their knowledge of the destinations.

The Florida Fun ‘n’ Sun tour takes families on a journey ofFlorida’s cities and natural attractions. Beginning in Miami,highlights include a walking tour of Little Havana and a Be MyGuest Cuban dinner. Guests will then journey towards the GulfCoast and arrive in Tampa, with this part of the tour includingan airboat ride through the Everglades and visits to Tampa’sLatin Quarter, Ybor City, the Saturday Market, the FloridaAquarium and the African-themed Busch Gardens. The finalstop is Orlando, where guests will have an all-day pass toeither Disney Parks, Universal Studios or SeaWorld. Pricesstart from £2,950 per person based on two sharing, includingland and air travel, nine nights’ breakfast accommodation andfive additional meals, VIP door-to-door transfers and theservices of a travel director.

The Best of the West option starts and ends in Los Angelesand travels through California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.Highlights include visits to Coachella Valley Preserve tosample the ‘date shake’ local specialty; ‘the West’s mostWestern town’, Scottsdale; the Grand Canyon National Park;the Death Valley National Park; and the Manzanar NationalHistoric Site. A stopover in Paso Robles is next in store beforereturning to Los Angeles.

Prices start from £3,275 per person based on two sharingand include land and air travel, 14 nights’ breakfastaccommodation with a further six meals, VIP door-to-doortransfers and the services of a travel director. For more information visit www.trafalgar.com

THE LOEWS Regency New York Hotel has reopened following a$100m renovation. Situated in the heart of Manhattan on ParkAvenue, the refurbishment of the 379-room hotel features luxury kingguestrooms, including 58 suites; a new signature restaurant; and aJulien Farel Salon & Spa with 24 cutting stations, eight treatmentrooms, a nail suite and modernised fitness centre.Prices for a double room lead in at £322 per room, per night.

Come get a taste of all Louisiana has to offer, from our unique cuisine to our vibrant music scene. Because there’s no better place to hear live music than where it all began.

Phone Number: 0208 460 7082Brochure Request Line: 0800 652 8251

[email protected]

©2014 Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism

usa

S04 TB2802 USA_Layout 1 26/02/2014 15:40

TRAVEL AGENT AFFILIATE PROGRAMME

Get 2014a great

start with

off to

New trade website, with single log-in and booking vouchers

Even more hotels to choose from, with 240,000+ now available

Excellent package offers

Great prices (the same as available to the public)

Complete our Online Travel Training course at www.expediataaptraining.co.uk

UK trade sales team – please contact us to arrange a meeting / training etc

SPECIAL OFFER Register a new account with us at

www.expedia.co.uk/taap and make

a booking by the end of March to

receive a £20 voucher

020 3027 9793 [email protected] www.expedia.co.uk/taap

This year we’re bringing you…

S04 TB2802 USA_Layout 1 26/02/2014 15:40


HAVING RECENTLY undergone a property-wide multi-million dollarrefurbishment, The Setai in Miami Beach has created new menus forits two signature restaurants - The Restaurant at The Setai and TheSetai Grill. The Restaurant now serves Mediterranean cuisine fromItaly, the South of France and Spain, using the Spanish ‘a la plancha’grilling method – cooking ingredients on a flat-top grill to extract itsflavours. Meanwhile, The Setai Grill is now serving a selection ofAsian specialities alongside its signature dry-aged beef.

To order brochures, please contact BP Tradegate

www.trade-gate.co.uk

or for more information visit www.titanagents.co.uk

New USA and Canadabrochure out NOW!

Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® - door-to-door transfers included from every UK address*

3 NEW itineraries for 2014!

‘American Dream’ holidays with Titan

usa

The French Quarter Festival rocks New OrleansVISITORS CAN experience an electric atmosphere at thelargest free music festival in the South held in NewOrleans’ famous French Quarter from April 10-13.

The festival will feature 21 music stages presentingthe best in Louisiana music, from traditional andcontemporary jazz to R&B and New Orleans funk, brassbands, folk, gospel, classical, cabaret, opera, Cajun,zydeco and world music.

The event, which celebrates its 30th anniversary thisyear, will include more than 800 local musicians,samples from more than 65 of New Orleans’ restaurantsand fireworks on the Mississippi River.For more information visit www.louisianatravel.com

Kimpton converts Coca-Cola factoryKIMPTON HOTELS has converted the first-ever Coca-Cola bottling factory into a four-star, boutique propertycalled The Brice, located in the heart of Savannah’shistoric district in Georgia.

The group has retained some of the original featuresof the building, which was built in the 1860s, to add atwist to the more traditional style of accommodationcommonly found in Savannah. The hotel is due to openin May, with double rooms starting from $175(approximately £106).For details visit www.bricehotel.com

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A NUMBER of events are taking place inArizona this year, providing manyreasons for clients to visit the state at anytime of year.

From April 18-30, Mesa: Jesus theChrist Easter Pageant(www.easterpageant.org) will take placeat Mesa Arizona Temple Grounds. Theworld’s largest Easter pageant presentsa drama, dance and musical story aboutthe birth, life, death and resurrection ofJesus Christ, with both English andSpanish performances.

Summer visitors will meanwhile get ataste of the old Wild West, with the

World’s Oldest Rodeo(www.worldsoldestrodeo.com) takingplace in Prescott from June 30-July 6.Rodeo festivities include eight rodeoperformances, Arizona’s largest rodeoparade, a kiddie parade, an arts andcrafts show, rodeo and street dancesand a Fourth of July celebration.

In autumn, the Jet Ski World Finals(www.ijsba.com/www.golakehavasu.com) will take place at the Crazy HorseResort Aqua Stadium in Lake HavasuCity from September 4-12. Competitorsfrom more than 40 states and nearly 35nations will compete to win a share of

more than $25,000 in prizes at theworld’s largest personal watercraftrace.

The Festival of Lights will take placefrom November 28-January 1 in LakeHavasu City (www.golakehavasu.com).The Boat Parade of Lights consists ofbrilliantly lit vessels gliding beneathLondon Bridge and past the EnglishVillage in a festive display. Special ratesfor groups include a holiday dinner andentertainment with a guaranteed viewof the parade.For more information call 020-7367 0938or visit www.arizonaguide.com

GREAT RAIL Journeys is promoting itsten-day New England in the Fall tour.

The itinerary, which travels alongAmerica’s East Coast, visits Cape Cod,Boston and the White Mountains.Highlights include Falmouth and CapeCodbest, Martha’s Vineyard, MountWashington Cog Railway, a sightseeingtour of Boston and whale-watching.

Prices lead in at £1,925 per personand include flights from Heathrow toBoston; rail, coach and ferry travel;eight nights’ room-only hotelaccommodation; a tour of Martha’sVineyard; an excursion on the MountWashington Cog Railway; a round tripon the North Conway ScenicRailroad; a guided sightseeing tour of

Boston; a whale-watching cruise bycatamaran; transfers and luggagehandling in the US; and the servicesof a tour manager.

Also new for this year is a 15-dayThe American Pullman tour, pricedfrom £3,495, which includes a night onthe restored Pullman train, with mealsand drinks included. Guests can alsoexperience lunch cruises aroundManhattan and on Lake Michigan, adinner jazz cruise on a Mississippisteam boat, 22 meals in total duringthe tour and a live Broadway show.

The price includes flights; rail andcoach travel; ten nights’ hotelaccommodation; 13 breakfasts, fourlunches and five dinners; two

overnight Amtrak journeys in a two-berth roomette (with meals); overnighton the Pullman private train betweenChicago and New Orleans in a doublebedroom (with meals); guided tours ofWashington DC, Chicago, NewOrleans and New York; a lunch cruiseon Lake Michigan; a visit to theHistoric Pullman Visitor Centre and atour of the Pullman district; anevening jazz dinner cruise on theCreole Queen Mississippi steamboat;entry to a Broadway show; a lunchcruise around Manhattan; transfersand luggage handling in the US; and atour manager.For more information visitwww.greatrail.com

Great Rail Journeys promotes ten-day New England in the Fall tour

Arizona highlights year-round events calendar to inspire visitors


usa

TRAVEL OREGON has created a state-wide Bike Friendly Businessprogramme geared towards travellers and designed to provide tipsand tools for businesses to attract cyclists. Scott West, chief strategyofficer for the organisation, said: “Enhancing the biking experiencefor visitors and Oregonians is one of our top initiatives at TravelOregon. We value the multitude of world-class outdoor adventureswe offer, while also being stewards of the land. Improving cyclinginfrastructure within the state can help us enrich both.”For details see www.traveloregon.com and www.rideoregonride.com

NYC & Company celebrates 50 years of BeatlemaniaTO CELEBRATE 50 years since The Beatles first touched downin the US, NYC & Company has compiled a list of Beatles-related sites and activities for fans to experience in city.

The Ed Sullivan Theatre was where the band’s following wasboosted by three consecutive appearances on The Ed SullivanShow during February 1964. The studio, where the show wasfilmed, was re-named in its honour and now hosts the LateShow with David Letterman. For information on audiencetickets see www.nycgo.com/articles/tv-show-tapings

Meanwhile, the New York Public Library (www.nypl.org) ishosting an exhibition looking back at the peak years ofBeatlemania until May 10. Fans can also visit MadameTussauds (www.madametussauds.com/newyork) to see theband immortalised in waxwork, while a StrawberryFields/Imagine Mosaic has been constructed in Central Park(www.centralparknyc.org) close to the Dakota building whereJohn Lennon was assassinated.

A two-hour walking tour is available for those who want tosee Beatles-related sites in Midtown Manhattan, including theEd Sullivan Theater, Carnegie Hall and Strawberry Fields. Fordetails see www.rockjunket.comFor more ideas, plus information on sightseeing andattractions see www.nycgo.com

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Late offers from BABRITISH AIRWAYS ishighlighting a selectionof late deals for clientsinterested in taking ashort break.

As examples, a two-night stay at the three-star Centrale Hotel inVenice costs from £105per person for travelnext month, includingflights, while a three-night breakfast stay atthe three-star AdiaDubrovnik in Croatiacosts from £169 withflights.

In Madrid, a two-nightbreak at the three-starSilken Torre leads in at£139, while a week at thefour-star Viva Trop inMallorca costs from£249, both includingflights. For details or to book seewww.ba.com or call0844-493 0758.

WITH SHORT break salesthrough the trade up 110%year-on-year, Cox & Kingshas announced the launchof a new short breaksbrochure offering a diverserange of city breaks.

The company's nationalaccount manager, GregThurston, said: “I amdelighted that agents areincreasingly choosing Cox &Kings for their clients’ shortbreaks. Venice and Romeare the most popular, along

with Istanbul and St.Petersburg. We are nowfeaturing more low-costairlines such as Norwegian,Jet2, easyJet and nowMonarch, to give betterconnections from regionalairports such asBirmingham, Manchesterand Leeds Bradford.”

Short breaks on offer forless than £600 per personinclude four nights at thefour-star Grand Hotel Parkin Dubrovnik from £350;

three nights at the boutiqueRiad Ilayka in Marrakechfrom £395; three nights atthe four-star Celal SultanHotel in Istanbul from £440;and four nights at the four-star Angleterre Hotel in St.Petersburg from £595. Allprices include breakfastaccommodation, flights andtransfers. For more information [email protected], call 020-7873 5000 orsee www.coxandkings.co.uk

BACK-ROADS Touring has added a new five-day 'Old Pubs & Great Grub' tour to itsportfolio.

The itinerary offers an insight into whatEnglish pubs have to offer and guests cansample wine, perry and cider from localproducers on the tour which travels throughShrewsbury, Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye.Prices lead in at £1,075 per person.

Also being highlighted is a three-night,

two-day WWI Battlefield Weekend from £485per person.

The introductory tour allows visitors to seethe major areas of British and Commonwealthinvolvement across the Western Front andaims to offer visitors a greater understandingof the oval conduct and strategy of the war. To book or for more information visitwww.backroadstouring.co.uk or call 033-3112 0109.

SUPERBREAK HAS added coach travelto and from London with NationalExpress to its transportation portfolio.

Available from more than 35 regionaldeparture points across the UK, agentscan now add tickets to any hotelbooking and earn full commission. Idealfor short break customers, severaldepartures a day are offered from manydestinations, including daytime andovernight journeys.

Prices for a coach inclusivepackage lead in at £63 per personincluding one night in a three-starhotel in London and return coachtravel.

The operator's national salesmanger, Graham Balmforth, said:“National Express coach travel offersa great value alternative to travellingto or from London by train. Wefeature a wide range of departure

points around the country making itaccessible to all agents who havecustomers wanting to travel bycoach. Adding coach travel furthergrows our transportation offering andprovides agents with a more budgetoption to sit alongside our rail,Eurostar and flight packages.”For details or to book visitwww.superbreak.com/agents or call 0871-221 4444.

Superbreak puts National Express coach-inclusive packages on sale

shortbreaks

TABER HOLIDAYS has added an extra night to its Stockholm short break package which now includes a full day trip to the island ofSandhamn in the archipelago. The four-night break offers two free days exploring the city and leads in at £735 per person including flightsfrom Heathrow and breakfast accommodation. Based on two sharing, the break departs daily from June 17 to August 14. For details call 01274-875 199 or see www.taberhols.co.uk

Cox & Kings launches city breaks brochure following demand

New 'Old Pubs & Great Grub' tour from Back-Roads Touring

S05 TB2802 Short Breaks_Layout 1 26/02/2014 15:30

BUTLINS HAS announced that kids’favourite Mister Maker and the famousduo Bananas in Pyjamas will beheadlining its new Just for Tots breaksthis year.

Families on the break can watchMister Maker’s new stage show, MisterMaker Live, where he will beencouraging everyone to sing alongwith his catchy songs, get involved withhis creative makes and join his special

guests The Shapes for an arty party.Alternatively, families can choose abreak that includes Bananas in Pyjamaswho will be performing their famoussongs and funny antics live on stage.

The new four-night breaks, whichwill run from April 28 until September19 at Bognor Regis and Skegnessresorts and from May 5 untilSeptember 26 at Minehead, will featureeither Mister Maker or Bananas in

Pyjamas, depending on when andwhere guests decide to book theirbreak.

Prices lead in at £50 per personbased on a May 5 arrival and twoadults and two children sharing astandard self-catering apartment atMinehead.For details seewww.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0845-070 4742.

TRAVELLERS CAN wander across vast lava fields dotted withsmouldering fumaroles and bubbling mud pools, illuminatedby pink night skies. This is ‘Hell’ – Transun’s latest offering ofa three- or four-night break to northern Iceland, where thevolcanic landscapes are endearingly called ‘Hell’ by the locals.

Translated from Icelandic into English, ‘Viti’ means ‘Hell’,and was the name given to a giant crater which was formedwhen a nearby volcano erupted in 1724 and destroyedeverything in its path. Nowadays, the hot, furious earth hascooled and welcomes curious travellers.

Travellers can bath in the Myvatn Nature Baths whilstoverlooking the volcanic surrounds. The hot spring is naturallyheated by geothermal energy and is a wilder alternative to theBlue Lagoon in the south.

The nearby town, Akureyri, offers a quaint, charmingretreat and, surrounded by snow-topped mountains, is anideal base for travellers to explore the surroundingcountryside or take a whale-watching adventure in the hopeof spotting humpbacks and minke.

The operator's ‘Lagoons and Landscapes’ packagedeparts from Heathrow between June 19 and September 4,with prices leading in at £1,059 per person. It includesflights, transfers, three nights’ hotel accommodation withbreakfast, a Lake Myvatn volcanic landscapes tour, a three-hour whale-watching excursion and transport to the MyvatnNature Baths. For further information visit www.transun.co.uk or call 01865-265200.

© K

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Empress Elisabeth’s coronation coach. Carriage Museum, Schönbrunn

At this very moment a group of people is traveling back in time. When will you take your trip?

WWW.VIENNA.INFO

shortbreaksTransun launches new 'Lagoons and Landscapes’ package in Iceland

Bananas in Pyjamas & Mister Maker to headline Just for Tots breaks


NEW FOR this year, ClassicCollection Holidays haslaunched luxury hotel citybreaks to Paris, Barcelonaand Amsterdam as part of anew dedicated Citiesprogramme featuring 91hotels in 19 cities.

All of the operator’s shortbreaks are tailor-made witheither flight or rail travel andprivate transfers, plusaccommodation-only optionsare also available.

The company's managingdirector, Nick Munday, said:"By and large the city breakmarket has become a do-it-yourself web phenomenon.We feel strongly placed tocater for those customerslooking for more than acommoditised hotel. A smallpercentage of the market islooking for knowledge,security, service and luxurywith suggested itineraries,concierge service and privatetransfers.

"Our new Citiesprogramme showcases asmall number of luxuryhotels and cities to which wepredominantly sell shortduration holidays, making iteasier for agents andcustomers alike to choosewhich Classic city destinationthey would enjoy discoveringnext.

"Following on fromconsultation with our travelagent partners we’ve recentlyadded the top three sellingcity destinations of Paris,Amsterdam and Barcelona."

In Paris, three-night bed-and-breakfast prices rangefrom £629 per person at theHotel Le Six to £2,247 at LeBristol Paris includingflights. Short breaks of threenights in Amsterdam startfrom £668 at the AmbassadeHotel, whilst the sameduration in Barcelona costsfrom £458. All prices includeprivate transfers and return

train or air services. To assist agents in helping

clients make the most oftheir city break, the operatorhas introduced a newconcierge service to booktickets for concerts, culturaland sports events and tomake restaurantreservations.

The operator also

guarantees to not only tomatch the price of anyidentical holiday offered byanother operator but, inorder to give better value tothe customer, will give anadditional saving of at least£10 per adult.For further information call0800-008 7288 or visitwww.classic-collection.co.uk

Paris

MORE THAN JUST A CITY BREAK..

Short breaks by Eurostar with connections from over

30 regional UK stations on selected dates*

Flights from many regional airports

Conveniently located quality hotels

Fully escorted by an experienced tour manager

Exceptional value for money

Excursions and transfers included

For more information on selling Riviera Travel holidays contact the Agency Sales Team on

01283 744307 or email [email protected]

Reservations now open Saturdays 9am-2pm for Travel Agents 01283 744370

For bulk brochure supplies please visit www.trade-gate.co.uk

*Supplements applicable for certain regional stations. Short Breaks by Eurostar

with regional rail connections

available*

Paris Bruges Provence Rome Venice Berlin Loire Valley & Monet’s Garden Moselle Valley Rhine Valley & Strasbourg Krakow Normandy Prague

shortbreaksParis, Barcelona & Amsterdam short breaks debut for Classic Collection


GRAND UK Holidays has unveiled four new coach trips for thissummer, to add to its range of short breaks based on hobbiesand special interests.

The operator predicts further growth in its short breaksprogramme this year, as many of its customers like to takeseveral trips with the operator annually.

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the D-Daylandings, ‘Bournemouth & D-Day’ is a new four-night, half-board trip to see the command post at Southwick House, theD-Day Museum in Portsmouth, and other associated sites inWeymouth and Portland. Prices lead in at £329 per person.

A new three-night ‘Medieval Magic’, which offers a medievalbanquet in Ruthin Castle near Chester, costs £229 based on ahalf-board stay at the Beaufort Park Hotel in Mold.

Meanwhile, green-fingered holidaymakers are catered forwith a new ‘RHS Malvern Gardening Show & Springtime atArley’, with four nights leading in at £329, while ‘ScenicSnowdonia & Dublin Popover’ packs a trip to the Irish capitaland Snowdonia into a weekend break and costs from £199 forthree nights.

The company's sales director, Harold Burke, said: “We areseeing growth in shorter midweek and weekend UK breaks, asopposed to the traditional eight days, partly due to the fact thatour customers take several trips a year with us. Themedbreaks are flourishing as people increasingly want to enjoysomething connected with their interests and hobbies." For details call 01603-619933 or seewww.grandukholidays.com

RIVIERA TRAVEL has launched a 'More Than Just A City Break'brochure, which has been produced specifically for the trade and canbe ordered through BP Trade-Gate. As an example of prices, aEurostar tour leads in at £269 per person, based on two sharing atwin room, for either a Paris or Bruges city break, while the lead inprice for a tour by air is £389 for a Prague itinerary. For details email [email protected] or seewww.rivieratravel.co.uk

Short Breaks from

£247*

per lodge

*Based on a 3 or 4 night stay between 01/03/14 and completed by 04/04/14, sleeping 4 (maximum occupancy), applies to selected lodge locations and selected accommodation types – accommodation only, applies to new bookings only, is subject to availability, booking terms and conditions apply. We reserve the right to withdraw offers at any time. ^Lowest Price Guarantee – we’ll match the price of any like for like accommodation for the same dates at the same location for the same number of people. Proof of booking price require in all cases. Proof is required within 7 days of confirming the booking. The lowest price rate must be available the day the booking is being made. We reserve the right to withdraw this guarantee at anytime - see main brochure or website for full terms and conditions.

Fancy a dip...

Book Now! Visit: www.hoseasons.co.uk/agents or call: 0844 847 1144

ABTA No. Y0662See booking conditions

for full details of our ABTA membership

Relax in a lodge with its own Hot Tub!

Lowest Price

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The widest choice of Lodges and Holiday Parks

shortbreaksGrand UK adds new coach trips forsummer based on special interests



OLYMPIC HOLIDAYS is featuringalmost 200 all-inclusive properties inits Summer Sun programme this year,with others available online across theoperator's destination range.

The company's all-inclusive resortsare available in Cyprus, the Greekislands (Corfu, Crete, Rhodes,Kefalonia, Zante, Kos, Lesvos, Thassosand Halkidiki), Turkey, Egypt, Malta,Mallorca and Tenerife.

The operator's widest all-inclusiveoffer is in Cyprus, with 38 propertiesfeatured. Turkey also has a strong all-inclusive presence, with prices startingat £331 for seven nights at the three-star Club Dorado Apartments inMarmaris in May.

The Greek islands of Crete andRhodes offer 57 all-inclusive propertiesbetween them – 34 in Crete and 23 inRhodes. Prices lead in at £330 forseven nights at the three-star DespoHotel in Gouves, Crete, and in Corfufrom £388 at the four-star MareblueBeach Hotel, Kassiopi, in May.

The operator's commercial director,Photis Lambrianides, said: "All-inclusives represent the completeholiday package, embracing everyaspect of a getaway, and remain aspopular as ever.

"There can be no unexpectedcharges. The whole bill is settledbefore the client leaves home, givingthe all-inclusive concept special appeal

to families and clients on a budget."According to Lambrianides, despite

Egypt's problems of late, Sharm elSheikh on the Red Sea Riviera hascontinued to attract couples and familymarkets. He said: "With itsproliferation of all-inclusive resorts,Sharm el Sheikh has become a hugehit with families. Properties there havesensibly kept their rates at realisticlevels."

The newly featured three-star VivaSharm Hotel in Sharm el Sheikh leadsin at £414 for seven nights departingfrom Gatwick in May.For more information or to book call0844-499 4449 or seewww.olympicholidays.com

FOLLOWING THE launch ofSandals LaSource inGrenada, Sandals Resortshas announced that SandalsBarbados is set totemporarily close its doorsto undergo a similarenhancement programme.

Starting on April 1, therenovations will include theintroduction of seven newgourmet restaurantsbringing the total to ten and

a total refurbishment of theresort’s 280 existing rooms,as well as numerous otheradditions andenhancements that willoffer guests new levels of aLuxury Included experience.

Meanwhile, BeachesResorts is set to beginbuilding a new BeachesResort on the formerAlmond Beach Resort in St.Peter, Barbados. The new

resort is not only the firstBeaches Resort in thedestination, but also thefourth resort to be added tothe Luxury Included brandcollection.

Sandals ResortsInternational has alsorecently announced thesigning of a Memorandumof Understanding with theGovernment of Antigua thatwill see the building of a

new Beaches Resort in theEastern Caribbean country.

Beaches Antigua, whichwill be built on the site ofthe company’s existingGrand Pineapple Resort inLong Bay will offer one- tofour-bedroom’s and suites,up to 12 restaurants,conferencing facilities plusa waterpark, cinema, XboxPlay Lounge and BMXtrack.

Sandals Resorts announces refurbishment of Barbados resort plus new openings

all-inclusives

THE CAPE Verde Experience is offering a seven-night, all-inclusive stay atthe four-and-a-half-star Iberostar Club Boa Vista Resort in the Cape Verdearchipelago from £999 per person, offering a saving of £149 per person. Theprice includes all meals, drinks, most hotel-based activities, flights fromGatwick, inflight meals, transfers, visa and taxes. For details call 0845-330 2046 or see www.capeverde.co.uk/iberostar

Olympic Holidays offers seven nights in Crete at three-star property from £330

S06 TB2802 All-Inclusives_Layout 1 26/02/2014 15:25

LEGER HOLIDAYS is highlighting all-inclusive packages totwo of Italy's lakes and Austria.

An eight-night 'The Beauty of Lake Como and LakeMaggiore' option takes in the scenery of two of Italy’s lakescombined with the culture of Milan and an Alpineexperience. Guests can take in the scenery on a Lake Comocruise and sample shopping in Milan as well as excursionsto Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands.

Prices start from £699 per person which includesbreakfast, six evening meals, five packed lunches and localdrinks between 08:00 and 23:00 each day in resort; travelby executive coach with the option to upgrade to luxurySilver Service; and excursions as per the itinerary.

Optional excursions to St Moritz and Bernina RegionRailway, Como market and Lugano for shopping are alsoavailable.

Meanwhile, an eight-night 'Spectacular Austria' itineraryleads in at £599 and explores Innsbruck, Kitzbühel,Salzburg, St. Johann and Lake Achensee.

The price includes all meals and a selection of drinks inresort; the option to travel door to door, or from more than510 regional joining points by executive coach (with theoption to upgrade); and excursions as per the itinerary.Optional excursions include Gerlos Pass, Krimml Falls andKitzbuhel, Achensee and the Ziller Valley, the Salzburgguided walking tour and Hitler’s Hideaway – Eagle’s Nest.

THE MAGDALENA Grand Beach & GolfResort in Tobago has launched a newvalue added ultra all-inclusive holidaypackage called ‘The GrandExperience.’

Guests can start the day with a fullcooked breakfast buffet in thePembois Restaurant and Terrace orcontinental in-room dining, followed bylunch at the Salaka Beach Grill.

In the evening guests can dine atany one of the hotel’s four restaurantsincluding the a la carte SalakaSeafood Grill or fine dining Kali’naCaribbean fusion restaurants, thePembois Restaurant and Terrace.Unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, housebranded local and international drinks,house wines and a range of cocktails

are all included in the package, aswell as a range of daily activitiesincluding tennis, pool volleyball,cricket, power and nature walks,football, cycling, body workouts and ascuba experience, plus acomplimentary shuttle bus to andfrom Pigeon Point Beach for some kitesurfing, swimming or relaxation.

Evening entertainment ranges fromthe resort’s resident pianist and livemusic from local bands, to live jazzbands and ‘pirate nights’ featuringgames and prizes.

Seven nights at the four-starproperty with Cosmos Holidays leadsin at £797 per person on a bed-and-breakfast basis based on two sharing.It includes flights with Monarch

Airways from Gatwick and allapplicable taxes and surcharges and isbased on a May departure. To book visit www.cosmos.co.uk or call0843-227 1464. For more information on the propertysee www.magdalenagrand.com/uk

Tobago's Magdalena Grand reveals new 'Grand Experience' package

Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort

Leger Holidays promotes Italy & Austria packages with eight nights from £599


all-inclusives

CLUB MED is offering a seven-night break to Marrakech for £969 per adult and £445 per child based on an April 13 departure fromGatwick. Children under six years stay for free and the offer includes childcare and children’s clubs facilities; a range of sports and leisureactivities including basketball, volleyball, Pilates lessons, badminton, language classes and festive evenings; full board throughout thestay including wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; and an open bar and snacks at specific times during the day and night.Guests opting for a Transport package will receive flights and transfers.


KANIFUSHI MALDIVES

L H A V I Y A N I A T O L L , T H E M A L D I V E S

T E L : + 9 6 0 6 6 2 0 0 6 6 | F A X : + 9 6 0 6 6 2 0 0 7 7

E M A I L : S A L E S @ A T M O S P H E R E - K A N I F U S H I . C O M

A T M O S P H E R E - K A N I F U S H I . C O M

Al l-Inclusive Holiday P lan!

A PREMIUM

A short 30-minute sea plane ride from Male international airport, amidst an expansive turquoise lagoon in the sparsely populated Lhaviyani atoll sits the beautiful island of Kanifushi. Surrounded by long uninterrupted stretch of pristine white sandy beaches and palm trees, Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives offers a hassle-free five star resort experience with

genuine value-for-money!


COCONUT BAY Beach Resort & Spa inSt. Lucia has launched a unique mobilecheck in service that allows parents tocheck in on their little ones whilst theyare being looked after at the resort’sKidz Klub Cocoland.

The new service offers parents amobile phone that they can use to checkin with the Kidz Klub whilst they arerelaxing and exploring the St. Lucianresort. It also means parents can easilybe contacted by the Kidz Klub managershould they need to get in touch for anyreason, offering parents additional pieceof mind.

Meanwhile, for guests with a sweettooth there is a new dedicated chocolateevening on Fridays, which offers a rangeof chocolate treats, chocolate fountains,fruits and sculptures. Alternatively,

guests can opt to take in a movie in theSplash Gardens with popcorn.

A seven-night, all-inclusive stay leadsin at £1,090 based on two adults sharinga Deluxe Garden Splash Room on

selected departures in May fromGatwick with Virgin Atlantic.To book or for more information visitwww.cbayresort.co.uk or call 020-7749 9220.

New mobile check-in service for parents at St. Lucia’s Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa

Coconut Bay


all-inclusives

FUNWAY HOLIDAYS is offering a 35% saving on bookings made before March 15 for a stay at the four-star,all-inclusive Turtle Beach by Elegant Hotels in Barbados. Prices for seven nights start from £999 per personbased on two sharing for a June 12 departure, including flights with Thomas Cook Airlines from Manchester. For details see www.funway4agents.co.uk or call 0844-557 0626.

BELLEAIR HOLIDAYS isoffering a selection of all-inclusive holidays in areasincluding Mellieha, Qawraand Salina Bay in Malta.

As examples, a seven-night stay at the four-starSeabank All-InclusiveResort leads in at £651 perperson and includes flightsfrom Heathrow, sevennights' all-inclusiveaccommodation in a landview room, transfers andcomplimentary entrance toa selected Malta attraction.The offer is based on twoadults sharing and is validfor travel on March 27.

Alternatively, a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at

the four-star Ramla BayResort, based on a March18 departure, leads in at£604 including flights fromEdinburgh, transfers andcomplimentary entrance toa selected Maltaattraction. The offer issubject to availability andis based on two adultssharing.

The three-star CaniforHotel is also available from£512 including flights fromManchester, seven nights'all-inclusiveaccommodation in aninland balcony room,transfers andcomplimentary entrance toa selected Malta

attraction. The offer isbased on two adultssharing and is valid fortravel on March 15.

For clients looking toexplore, the operator ishighlighting the MaltaPass which costs from £23per person and offers freeaccess to more than 40attractions plus discountsat more than 50restaurants, shops andother activities acrossMalta and Gozo, includingtransport on the citysightseeing buses.For further information orto make a booking visitwww.belleair.co.uk/agentsor call 0845-365 3412.

The ResidenceHotels launches

new package at Mauritius

propertyA NEW all-inclusiveprogramme is nowavailable at TheResidence Mauritius. Itincludes all food anddrink plus a range ofwatersports includingwater-skiing,windsurfing, pedal boats,canoeing and kayaking.

Families can also takeadvantage of ThePlanter’s Kids Club,offering activities to keepkids entertained withactivities includingtreasure hunts,snorkelling sessions,cooking classes and newfor this year - traditionalMauritian sega dancinglessons.

Turquoise Holidays isoffering a seven-nightpackage at the hotel from£1,890 per person whichincludes a stay in aColonial Garden Viewroom, private transfersand flights.For more information or to book call 01494-678400 or seewww.turquoiseholidays.co.uk

Seven-night Malta breaks from £512 from Belleair Holidays


northafrica

ANATOLIAN SKY Holidays is recommending Morocco as an ideal destination for clients seeking spring sunshine. A range of properties areavailable including riads in Marrakech, beach breaks in Agadir and Essaouira, and relaxing getaways to the High Atlas Mountains. As an example,the Kasbah Angour (pictured) is a Berber castle in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, 30 minutes’ drive from Marrakech. The 22-roomproperty offers opportunities for guests to explore in the company of mountain guides, gaining an insight into the local Berber culture. A seven-night breakfast stay leads in at £879 per person based on two sharing and includes flights from Gatwick on April 29 and transfers.For details see www.anatoliansky.co.uk or call 0844-273 3585.

Modern, chic and luxurious.Stay in hand picked exquisite Riads or larger 5 star resort hotels such as Four Seasons or La Mamounia. Perhaps a few nights on the coast in Essaouira?Prestige Holidays can tailor-make the holiday to suit your clients.

We have many offers - free nights, free meals, free spa treatments...let us know your preference.

Prestige Holidays on 01425 480400 or www.prestigeholidays.co.uk/morocco

MOROCCO

RIVIERA TRAVEL is offering six-day Carthage, RomanAfrica & Moorish Tunisia tours from £721 per person forselected departures between April and November.

The fully escorted price includes scheduled flightsfrom Heathrow, half-board accommodation in five-starhotels plus one lunch, visits to six UNESCO WorldHeritage Sites, a guided tour of Hannibal’s and RomanCarthage, a visit to Sidi Bousaid, tours of the BardoNational Museum, Tunis and the ancient Roman site of

Dougga, a stay in Kairouan and a visit to El Jem. An eight-day Imperial Cities Of Morocco option is also

being highlighted, with prices from £799 on half-boardfor selected departures between April and November.

Highlights include a visit to Casablanca and theHassan II Mosque, a tour of Rabat and Fez, a journeythrough the Atlas Mountains and a guided tour ofMarrakech and its souks. For more information visit www.rivieratravel.co.uk

Riviera Travel offers Carthage, Roman Africa & Moorish Tunisia tours from £721

S07 TB2802 North Africa_Layout 1 26/02/2014 16:16

The Egyptian Experts

ABTA No.Y2507

Our award-winning holidays to Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada and Makadi Bay start from as little as £399 pp, all inclusive, with direct flights from 12 UK airports. Guaranteed sunshine comes as standard, but book any summer holiday now and you are guaranteed to save money, too.

Guaranteed sunshine, crystal clear waters and amazing historical sights…

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Call today on 0845 072 2477Visit redseaholidays.co.uk/agentSubject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Based on 2 adults sharing. Discount is per booking, not per passenger and applies on holidays booked by 31/03/2014 and departing 01/05-31/10/2014 (£200) or 01/11/2014-30/04/2015 (£100). Other conditions apply; see brochure for details. ATOL protected 9749. ® Red Sea Holidays logo is a registered trade mark of Red Sea Holidays UK Ltd. © 2014.


northafrica


Egyptair reinstates Heathrow-Luxordirect flight EGYPT’S NATIONAL carrierEgyptAir has reinstated itsservice from Heathrow toLuxor as a weekly Mondayflight, with fares from £350return.

The reinstatement falls onthe back of a significantincrease in demand fromtourists and Egyptiannationals wantingalternative destinationairports, with Luxorhighlighted as a key entrypoint for Egypt.

The carrier's generalmanager UK & Ireland,Salah Kadri, said: "Our flightto Luxor is serviced by anew Boeing 737-800 with 24Business and 120 EconomyClass seats offeringindividual seatback in-flightentertainment. Thecombination of a Heathrowdeparture, generous twopiece baggage allowanceand a hot meal representsgood value for ourcustomers.”

Egypt focuses on promoting resorts of Luxor, Aswan & Red SeaEGYPT’S MINISTER of tourism, Hisham Zaazou, has spoken frankly of the challenges Egypt hasfaced during the last three years and continues to tackle moving forward.

He said that the on-going unrest in Cairo, focused around the third anniversary of the 2011revolution, had resulted in widespread international misperception of the rest of Egypt as anopen and safe destination for tourists.

He said: “The issues we continue to face on the path to democracy are ‘Egyptian-on-Egyptian’in their nature and are focused solely in our capital Cairo. International visitors have not beentargeted.

“However, events in Cairo are being perceived as happening across Egypt which is simply notthe case. For the time being, we will adopt a pragmatic approach of not promoting Cairo andfocus on the rest of Egypt – Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea. There’s one million squarekilometres of country beyond Cairo that is unrivalled in its appeal to UK visitors.”

In September last year, 300,000 tourists visited Egypt, a drop of 90% compared to the previousSeptember. With four million Egyptians directly dependent on tourism, and a further 16mindirectly dependent, Zaazou spoke passionately of his uncompromising mission to reverseinternational perception of Egypt.

He said: “We are adopting a three pronged approach to reinvigorating tourism. Firstly, we areworking to develop and reinstate international flights such as EgyptAir’s London–Luxor routewhich commenced on February 17. Secondly, we will be aggressively communicating withEgypt’s target audiences through PR and communications campaigns including social mediaand bloggers. And thirdly, we’re working closely with our valued tour operator partners globallyto encourage their clients to return or experience Egypt’s wonders for the first time. Never has aholiday to Egypt been better value.

“Furthermore, shorter term ‘tactical’ plans are in place, including incentives for airlines andtour operators, and an expansion of our successful live streaming in-destination webcams fromfive sites to 25. If potential visitors really want to see what’s happening across Egypt, all theyneed do is speak to their travel professional or log on. I am confident that our pragmaticapproach of distancing Cairo from the rest of Egypt, coupled with ambitious short and mediumterm promotional plans, will see 2014 being the year that Egypt tourism bounces back.”

MAN-Luxor flightsto resume inNovemberORBITAL TRAVEL haswelcomed theannouncement thatThomson Airways is re-instating a weekly directflight from Manchester toLuxor. Flights weresuspended in 2013following political unrestin Egypt and will nowresume on WednesdayNovember 5.

The operator'smanaging director, JohnMcCallum, said: “Thereturn of weekly directflights from Manchester isvery welcome, as this willhelp us and otheroperators rebuild the Nilecruise product in thecoming months.

"Traditionally we havealways seen a significantnumber of arrivals fromManchester and so thedirect flight will just makethings a lot smoother forthose travelling from thenorth. Our Nile Cruiseprogrammes have beenable to operate as normalsince Christmas and theNew Year, and we havealready seen very goodlevels of enquiries andbookings. People may be alittle hesitant to return toEgypt following thepolitical turmoil and travelrestrictions, but we arecompletely confident thatit is now safe in thoseareas visited by our NileCruise boats. The hotelsand cruise boats are not asbusy as normal but it's theideal time to visit as pricesare good and the ancientsites are less busy thanusual at this time of year.”

Until November, thosewishing to travel fromManchester can takeflights via Cairo andarrivals can beaccommodated on aTuesday. For details call 0333-1237147 or seewww.orbitaltravel.co.uk


We asked our staff thefollowing question this week:

What’s something you’vetried, that you’ll never,

ever try again?Publisher: Jeanette [email protected] Vampire at Chessington World of Adventures

Editor: Lauretta [email protected]. I had a bad reaction the first time I tried it andnow I feel nauseous just by its smell

Assistant Editor: Jill [email protected] abalone

Contributing Editor: Paul [email protected] diving (in the Great Barrier Reef) - I almostdrowned

Sales Director: Simon [email protected] of faith at Centre Parcs

Advertisement Manager: Tim [email protected], I was very sick!

Online Sales Manager: Nick [email protected] Taekwondo class - 90 minutes of shin-kicking

Account Manager: Bill [email protected] had conch in Cayman islands - never again

Sales Executive: Chris [email protected] Bloody Mary and jogging

Sales Executive: Matt [email protected] chocolate caramel sweets

Senior Designer: Genaro [email protected]

Assistant Designer: Nicky [email protected] to operate a BlackBerry

Production: Nick Salt [email protected] Man. City F.C

Circulation Manager: Jim [email protected]

Crossword:Across: 1. HOSEASONS, 6. LCA, 7. SEATTLE, 8. IXIA, 9. EBRO, 12. IBIS, 13. BATH, 15. RIVIERA, 16. AYR, 17. SAUTERNES. Down: 1. HELEN MIRREN, 2. SWAHILI, 3. AUSTIN, 4. OBAN, 5. BUENOS AIRES, 10. BAHRAIN, 11. HARARE, 14. PERU.

Highlighted Word: LE HAVRE

Travagrams: (top) Berlin (bottom) Condor Ferries

Where Am I?: Angel Island

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Red Sea Holidays offers guaranteed savings of £200 per person on summer holidaysFOLLOWING THE recent change in FCO travel advice, which advises against allnon-essential travel to the South Sinai area, excluding Sharm el Sheikh, RedSea Holidays has temporarily suspended excursions to St Catherine’s Monastryand other affected areas.

The operator's director, Jason Hilton, said: “There has been no change inadvice to the Red Sea resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada, where wecurrently have more than 1,000 customers enjoying their holidays. The safety ofour customers and staff on the ground remains our absolute priority and we willcontinue to monitor the situation closely with our staff in Egypt, the FCO andABTA.”

The company is offering fixed child prices of £439 per child for any date andduration including school holidays; guaranteed savings of £200 on summer2014 holidays; guaranteed savings of £100 on winter 2014/15 holidays anddeposits of £75 per person.

Customers can also opt for Cruise & Stay packages with prices from £935per person. They include free VIP lounge access at the departure airport, flights,transfers, seven nights' all-inclusive sailing down the river Nile on MS GrandRose (including ten free excursions to historic sites); plus seven all-inclusivenights in Sharm el Sheikh at the four-star Siva Grand Beach Hotel. Departuresare between November 25 and December 11. For more information see www.redseaholidays.co.uk

MELIÁ HOTELS International hassigned an agreement to manage threenew hotels under the Meliá Hotels &Resorts brand, to be developed in thetourist destination of Saidia Med inMorocco, including a beach hotel, clubhotel and luxury serviced apartments.

The company has joined forces withSDS, a partnership between the majorMoroccan group CDG and theMoroccan Tourism Development Fund.

Meliá will add 736 new rooms to thedestination portfolio.

The project consists of three distincthotels, all sharing the same Meliábrand attributes, and all in the five-star category.

A beach hotel, located adjacent tothe beach, will be close to the golfcourse and will offer 396 rooms, aspa, convention centre, fourrestaurants and three bars, a kids’club and a beach club, and isscheduled to open in 2016.

A club hotel is planned for familiesand will feature 150 rooms. It willopen in 2016 after an investmentestimated at €18m.

Thirdly, Meliá luxury holidayapartments will feature alongside thebeach hotel, offering 190 rooms, andare scheduled to open in 2017.For details see www.melia-hotels.com

Free upgrade in Sharm el Sheikh from CarrierCARRIER IS promoting a free upgrade to a two-bedroom suite at the FourSeasons Resort in Egypt's Sharm el Sheikh, offering a saving of £850 per family.A seven-night stay at the property leads in at £4,540 per family of four, based ontwo adults and two children sharing a two-bedroom Residential Suite on a bed-and-breakfast basis. The price includes three hours of complimentary dailybabysitting services, flights and transfers, and the offer is valid for travel fromMay 12 to October 2. The operator has negotiated a selection of offers in a range of destinationsincluding free nights and in-resort benefits. To book or for more information see www.carrier.co.uk or call 0161-492 1353.

Debut Morocco launch from Meliá Hotels


FOR BOOKINGS CALL 01865 565221 OR VISIT WWW.TRANSUN.CO.UK

PRICES FROM

£645PER PERSON

DEPARTING FROM BIRMINGHAM/ BRISTOL/HEATHROW/LEEDS BRADFORD/LONDON GATWICK/LUTON/MANCHESTER/ STANSTED

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PRICES FROM

£1059PER PERSON

DEPARTING FROM BRISTOL/EDINBURGH/ GLASGOW/ LONDON HEATHROW/LUTON/MANCHESTER

&

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Travel Bulletin 28th February 2014

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Transcript of Travel Bulletin 28th February 2014