profitable world of niche markets FRiENdly PlANET TRAvEl iNTRoduCES 10-dAy ExPloRATioN oF ChiNA’S dEliGhTS
friendly planet travel’s newest tour to china packs the sights, sounds, and comforts of its wildly popular taste of china and best of china & Yangtze river tour packages into an incredible itinerary that’s even easier on the wallet. at just $1,299, china delight, a dazzling 10-day tour, visits the country’s must-see beijing and shanghai, and also goes off-the-beaten-track to hangzhou, known as the “Venice” of china for its meandering canals and gorgeous gardens. china delight includes roundtrip airfare from laX and all intrachina transportation; first-class and deluxe hotel accommodations; 11 meals; and comprehensive sightseeing with local, english-speaking, expert guides. travelers can also choose to extend their tour to chengdu, home of the giant panda research center, where they get a chance to actually hold and hug a panda. travelers on china delight will visit capital city beijing, the political, educational, and cultural center of china, a city full of buildings and landmarks of historical significance. they’ll visit the great wall of china, tiananmen square, and the forbidden city. travelers will tour shanghai, the walled metropolis where finance, fashion, and technology make the city pulse with energy. finally, they will take the fastest train in the world to reach the remote canal town of hangzhou in Zhejiang province, what some call the Venice of the east. it’s a beautiful destination where travelers will meet the “real” chinese, visit a tea plantation and lunch with the farmerowners, and enjoy the city’s natural splendor. those with more time to spend in china can extend their trip to chengdu for the opportunity to interact with pandas at the world’s foremost panda reserve, the giant panda research center (video link below). friendly planet travel has been operating tours to china since 2002. their very popular a taste of china and best of china and Yangtze river tours have sold out every year, with ratings of “very good” or “excellent” from more than 90 percent of travelers. Friendly Planet Travel, jackie@gregoryfca.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tx0lQ_S-h4&feature=related (Chengdu), www.friendlyplanettravel.com
GuESTS loSE WEiGhT WiTh ‘SyMBio CARE’ AT GRANdhoTEl liENz complimenting its many services, guests of the only gourmet, spa and medical grandhotel lienz in austria now may participate in a weight loss program. university prof. dr. peter lechleitner, head of Travel World News • www.travelworldnews.com
the medical center, has developed an already tested and successful seven-day plan. exercise, swimming, walking in nature, as well as body scrubs and specialized massages, a carefully prepared menu by the hotel’s famous chef christian flaschberger, and warm and friendly service ensure an ambience of well being. the program offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and activities of east tyrol from a 5-star preferred boutique hotel and treat their bodies to better health and a better look. participants will receive via email from univ. prof. lechleitner advice on how to benefit long after their departure from the grandhotel lienz in addition, the grandhotel lienz offers beauty anti-aging acupuncture which consists of 2 components of the holistic cosmetic acupuncture with ultrafine needles to relax the face and smooth the wrinkles combined with cellcosmet from switzerland. the 10-day program consists of 5 acupuncture treatments and 4 cellcosmet treatments. acupuncture is best known from traditional chinese medicine. the main target is to restore the internal balance between yin and yang. well-defined and selected points are stimulated on the skin with special needles. the acupuncture points lie on channels called meridians. according to traditional chinese thought, qi flows in these channels— the energy of life. Grandhotel lienz, info@grandhotel-lienz.com, www.grandhotel-lienz.com
TRAvEl iNSTiTuTE lAuNChES A NEW villA SPECiAliST CouRSE the travel institute has released a new course in their lifestyle specialist series: Villa travel. sponsored by private trade winds, inc., innovative villa rental company specializing in five star Villa Vacations, the course is available online or on cd-rom and is also one of the new elective courses in the travel institute’s certified travel associate (cta) program. irene aviles, owner of private trade winds, had this to say about the course: “it’s an important time in the travel industry as we strive to clearly define villa travel and differentiate luxury villa rentals from vacation rentals. Villa travel opens up a whole new market for luxury travel agents, and in turn presents a bounty of options and experiences for their clients. once agents are properly educated in villa travel they can look forward to adding an entirely new dimension to their business. private trade winds is proud to be the sponsor of this educational opportunity for the travel agent community, as well as the consumer.” travel professionals who complete the program will earn 10 continuing education units (ceu). the Villa travel specialist course includes online testing for only $49 (travel institute members save an additional 10%). Villa travel specialist joins the travel institute’s other lifestyle specialist courses: accessible travel, adventure travel, gay and lesbian, golf, honeymoons and destination weddings, luxury travel, skiing, spas, and sustainable travel. those interested can enroll online. The Travel institute, 800-542-4282, www.thetravelinstitute.com SEPTEMBER 2011 •
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