Land of the rising sun
Trade Publication of the Year / Nov 2019
Leave the neon lights of Tokyo to find inner peace on a wellness retreat in Japan, from meditating with Buddhist monks to mindful forest walks
Toronto treats
History and culture collide in Canada’s largest city
Into the wild
Walk with gorillas and see tree-dwelling lions in Uganda
Island hopping
Sailing the Aegean Sea is the most idyllic way to visit Greece
S P E C I A L
E D I T I O N
Air Europa at World Travel Market Air Europa will be exhibiting at this year’s World Travel Market. Come and meet us at stand CA330 where our team will be delighted to update you on Air Europa’s growing network across Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as our exciting new fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
For more information, call: +44 (0)208 016 4455 or visit: www.aireuropaexperts.com
is is a feminist
Land of the rising sun
Trade Publication of the Year / Nov 2019
Leave the neon lights of Tokyo to find inner peace on a wellness retreat in Japan, from meditating with Buddhist monks to mindful forest walks
Toronto treats
History and culture collide in Canada’s largest city
Into the wild
Walk with gorillas and see tree-dwelling lions in Uganda
Island hopping
Sailing the Aegean Sea is the most idyllic way to visit Greece
WHERE IT ALL BEGINS WWW.EGYPT.TRAVEL
Cover photo: Masaaki Komori
S P E C I A L
d visit us at stand AF240
E D I T I O N
The world in one place
H
Come see ABTA
Magazine on ello and welcome to this special edition of ABTA Magazine, available exclusively at this year’s World Stand TP170 Travel Market in London. We’ve taken this opportunity to review the last year by delving into ABTA’s justreleased Holiday Habits Report (p28), as well as looking ahead to the future of travel. The report proves that, even in challenging circumstances, the travel industry remains strong. This is why we love WTM – it is not just an opportunity to engage with tourist boards, associations and operators from across the globe, but also to celebrate this incredible industry. We’ve divided this magazine by region: UK (beginning p36), Europe (p42), the Americas and Caribbean (p47), Africa (p53), Asia Pacific (p59) and the Middle East (p63). At the beginning of each of these sections, we’ll share our picks from WTM, including the best talks, events and, of course, on-stall drinks. We’ve then chosen destinations that are deserving of your attention in 2020, including Japan, which continues to welcome more and more tourists. We escape the bright lights of Tokyo and head to a purer, more bucolic version of the country, enjoying its sublime wellness retreats (p60). We also visit Stratford-upon-Avon (p39), Toronto (p48), Dubai (p64) and sail around Greece (p44). We’re also delighted to announce that ABTA Magazine won Trade Publication of the Year at the prestigious Travel Media Awards in October. It’s just 18 months since Waterfront Publishing relaunched the magazine, so we’re particularly honoured to have won this award after entering the magazine for the very first time. You can read more about our win on p13. Look out for our daily email during WTM, which will detail all the latest news from the event as well as the day’s highlights. If you’re not already signed up to our emails, head over to abtamag.com/subscribe.
Highlights from WTM Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Brexit, Trade Wars & Populism: 2020 Outlook & Risks, 13.3014.30, UKI & International Inspiration Zone
Cities: Tourism, Sustainability & Resilience, 12.45-13.45, Americas Inspiration Zone
Gathering Storms for Airlines and Airports Gear Up for a High Tech Future, 15.0016.00, Europe Inspiration Zone
November 2019
48 54
FEATURES
Unexpected delights A city break in Toronto will be full of history and culture Gorillas in your midst Take a walk on the wild side in Uganda
Finding peace in Japan Escape the hectic buzz of Tokyo to discover tranquility at a wellness retreat
ABTA Magazine is created by Waterfront Publishing on behalf of ABTA Waterfront Publishing 12-18 Hoxton Street London N1 6NG waterfront-publishing.com
020 3865 9360
Director Sam Ballard sam@waterfront-publishing.com Director Anthony Pearce anthony@waterfront-publishing.com Senior sales manager Bryan Johnson bryan@waterfront-publishing.com 020 3865 9338
Sales manager Rory Collins rory@waterfront-publishing.com 020 3865 4815 Head of design Billy Odell billy@ABTAmag.com Business travel editor Jenny Southan jenny@ABTAmag.com Sub-editors Emily Eastman, Nathaniel Cramp, Alice Snape
60
ABTAmag.com info@ABTAmag.com Twitter: @ABTAMagazine Facebook: ABTAMagazine LinkedIn: ABTAMagazine ABTA 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ Chief executive Mark Tanzer Chairman Alistair Rowland
With thanks to: Jenny Archer, Karl Cushing, Jenny Southan, Gary Noakes, Kevin EG Perry, James Litston
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In the November issue
30
03 08
Editor’s letter The time is here – are you ready for WTM?
09
News The latest travel industry news, including hotels, aviation and more...
18 39
64 Contributors Jenny Southan is an awardwinning freelance travel journalist, and editor and founder of trend forecaster Globetrender Billy Odell is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer based in London. You can see his cartoons and sketches at billyodell.com Karl Cushing is a travel journalist covering all areas from adventure tours to cruise and wellness. He has a soft spot for wildlife-watching trips Gary Noakes is a writer and editor specialising in travel and the nuts and bolts of the industry, particularly aviation
ABTAmag.com
On trend We explore the numbers behind ABTA’s Holiday Habits Report and London hotel rooms
Interview: Alistair Rowland The new ABTA chairman on reshaping the industry in a post-Thomas Cook era
20
ABTA section We bring you up to date with all of the latest news, campaigns and events from ABTA
28
Holiday Habits Take a peek at ABTA’s in-depth look at how the British holiday market performed last year
30 34 36
Business travel Frequent flyer programmes
42
WTM: Europe Sam Ballard take a cruise around Greece, plus the best Europe-focused WTM sessions
47
WTM: Americas City break in Toronto, plus events covering North and South America and the Caribbean
53 59 63
Industry insights Accessible travel WTM: UK The key events at this year’s event. Plus, Anthony Pearce visits the home of Shakespeare
WTM: Africa Discover gorillas in Uganda WTM: Asia Sam Ballard finds inner calm in Japan, plus must-see talks and sessions at WTM WTM: Middle East Jane Archer profiles Dubai November 2019
7
On trend
Every issue we reveal the numbers behind the biggest stories in travel
HAYS TO THE RESCUE At the time of writing, Hays Travel have reopened 350 of the 555 former Thomas Cook branches. Hays Travel has so far offered 2072 jobs to former Thomas Cook employees. A record number of hotel rooms will open in the capital next year, according to data from London & Partners. Spread across 65 properties, there will be an additional 7,995 rooms, rising from 3,222 in 2010.
The Daxing International Airport in Beijing was formally opened in September 2019. It cost $11bn (£8.8bn) and spans 700,000 square metres, or 98 football fields, according to state media outlet China Daily. The new airport is located around 46km (29 mi) south of Tiananmen Square and was designed architect Zaha Hadid.
Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess, which joined the cruise line’s fleet in October, boasts 1,000-square-foot continuous balcony – the largest at sea – in its Sky Suites.
7,995
64 Brits took a foreign trip 8
November 2019
%
In its Holiday Habits Report, ABTA revealed that 64 per cent of Brits took a foreign holiday, up from 60 per cent last year. However, consumers are spending £98 less on short foreign holidays than in the previous year and £94 less on a longer overseas break (see p28).
£98
less spent on those foreign trips
ABTAmag.com
News November 2019
All the latest headlines from the world of travel
INDUSTRY
WTM officially opens
EGYPT
Sharm el-Sheikh return By Alice Snape
By ABTA Magazine staff World Travel Market 2019 has officially opened in London. The trade fair, held at the ExCeL Centre, celebrates its 40th year at the three-day event between November 4-6. Reed Expeditions, which operates the event, said the first WTM welcomed 40 countries, 221 exhibitors and 9,000 trade visitors at London Olympia in 1980. It has moved twice since – to Earl's Court in 1992 and the ExCeL in 2002. It now facilitates £2.8 billion in industry deals and has around 5,000 exhibitors from 182 countries and regions and more than 51,000 participants. As well as the trade show, there will an extensive conference that will include leading lights from the world of tourism. Lord Sebastian Coe, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will speak at the exclusive WTM
ABTAmag.com
Come see ABTA Magazine on Stand TP170
Leaders’ Lunch this year. The Effect of Brexit on Staycations will be dissected (Monday, 12:15-13:15, UKI & International Inspiration Zone) in a discussion chaired by Chantal Bowman-Boyles, managing partner, Finn Partners, and including speakers John Sullivan, head of commercial, at Advantage Travel and Tom Jenkins, CEO at ETOA (European tourism association). At the Travel Leaders Speak: UK Travel Markets – What to Expect in 2020 event (Monday, 14:00-15:30, WTM Global Stage), Caroline Bremner, head of travel, Euromonitor; Jo Rzymowska, vice president and managing director, UK and Ireland & Asia, Celebrity Cruises; and Neil Slaven, UK Country Director, easyJet are among the speakers. ABTAmag.com
British holidaymakers will soon be returning to Sharm el-Sheikh after the four-year flight ban to the Egyptian resort was lifted. The Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office updated its advice, stating that it “no longer advises against all but essential travel by air to/from Sharm el-Sheikh”. Commercial flights were stopped after the bombing of a Russian airliner, which the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for, back in October 2015. Since then, there’s been close co-operation between the UK and Egypt to improve airport security, with the Egyptian government spending tens of millions of pounds upgrading security systems. UK transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “We will now work closely with airlines [that] wish to resume flights to the airport.” Sharm el-Sheikh had previously been one of the most popular destinations with holidaymakers from the UK, in particular seeking winter sun at the largest Red Sea resort. According to The Egyptian State Tourist Office, 2010 saw a record high with 1.3 million Brits visiting Egypt. At the time the ban was imposed, Monarch and Thomas Cook were two of the leading UK travel firms serving Sharm el-Sheikh. With Cook’s failure, other operators are now stepping in. Just hours after the restriction was lifted on October 22, package holidays to the once-popular resort were back on sale. Egypt specialist Red Sea Holidays were the first, after sourcing weekly flights with Enter Air out of Gatwick, which could fly out as early as December this year. ABTAmag.com
November 2019
9
News November
AGENTS
£6m deal for Thomas Cook stores By Alice Snape Sunderland based Hays Travel paid just £6m for Thomas Cook’s network of 555 high street travel agencies in a surprise deal after the firm’s collapse a month ago. They were bought from the government’s Insolvency Service on October 8. Dean Beale, from the Insolvency Service, commented that this offer “was the best deal on the table”. The stores will be added to Hays’ existing portfolio of 190 bricks-and-mortar stores, with 350 of the 555 stores across the UK already re-opened with Hays branding. The travel company has also offered jobs to around 2,000 ex Thomas Cook employees whose livelihoods were put at risk when the firm failed. By doing this, Hays want to double the headcount of their family business. In a statement, John and Irene Hays, the husband-and-wife team who run Hays, said: “Thomas Cook was a muchloved brand employing talented people. We look forward to working with many of them. Our staff were devastated to hear about Thomas Cook and we all felt we wanted to help.” ABTAmag.com
AGENTS
New shops to open By Alice Snape Fred Olsen Travel has taken over former Freedom Travel Group member, Suffolkbased Framlingham Travel and is planning to open a branch in Hythe, Hampshire, very soon. This will take its repertoire to a total of 15 shops. Framlingham Travel owner and branch manager Michaela Woodburn said: “My world collapsed on September 23, I just could not see a way forward until Fred Olsen came to my rescue. “Within two days I was back in business. I am so happy and very excited to become part of the Fred Olsen family.” The store will be renovated to achieve the “look and feel” of Fred Olsen’s two TravelQuest shops, which are located in Ipswich and Woodbridge; however, it will retain its original name of Framlingham Travel. The other new location in Hythe used to be a Thomas Cook shop; however, it closed more than three months ago, before the company’s closure. Its staff will be made up of three agents from Fred Olsen Travel’s existing Lymington shop. Head of commercial Paul Hardwick said: “The high street is very much alive and kicking in what has been a very difficult year.” ABTAmag.com
ON THE BEACH
‘Exciting opportunity’ By Alice Snape In the wake of Thomas Cook’s demise, travel operator On the Beach is set to cash in nudging shares higher in early trading. The online travel firm said the collapse of the 178-year-old travel giant, once one of its biggest competitors, created an “unprecedented opportunity” to take additional market share. As a direct result, On The Beach has started to increase its marketing spend to attract new customers across all its channels online and offline. On the Beach commented that it was going to grab this “exciting opportunity”. The company’s shares rose nearly 15 per cent over the days following its competitor failure. Chief executive Simon Cooper said that Thomas Cook’s liquidation has had a “significant impact on the package travel industry.” ABTAmag.com
Chris Thompson, President & CEO of Brand USA Last September, Brand USA held its first ever Travel Week. The event, which brought together suppliers and delegates with a US focus, was a move away from more traditional events, WTM or ITB. Held over five days in central London, Travel Week was an attempt to offer US tourism companies better value when dealing with key players. For a country that saw 4.8 million British visitors in 2018, it’s little surprise there is appetite for such an event. Chris Thompson, Brand USA
12 November 2019
president & CEO, explains… How did the Brand USA Travel Week come about? When we look at the UK, it is an established and strong market that the United States benefits from enormously. The challenge, but also the great opportunity, is that Brits think they know everything there is to know about the US. Our charge is to promote all 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia. Traditionally, we’ve
marketed the USA in established ways. Some of those opportunities have become more challenging as they’ve evolved and it became time for us to look at new and different avenues.
ABTAmag.com
MEDIA
JE T2
Increased ABTA Magazine named as Trade Publication of the Year NYC flights By ABTA Magazine staff Two Waterfront publications have been recognised at this year’s prestigious Travel Media Awards in London. ABTA Magazine, relaunched by Waterfront in May 2018, won Trade Publication of the Year (Print) in its first year of eligibility. Sue Bryant also won the award for Best Trade Feature for her review of Celebrity Cruises’ innovative Celebrity Edge in Cruise Adviser. Waterfront received eight nominations across four categories. Alongside the winner, ABTA Magazine, Cruise Adviser was nominated in the category of Trade
Publication of the Year (Print). Anthony Pearce, director and co-founder of Waterfront Publishing, said: “It’s a great honour to be named Trade Publication of the Year in the print category, particularly as we only relaunched ABTA Magazine 18 months ago. “ We set out to create a trade magazine with a difference, so we’re absolutely delighted to be recognised by the judges. I’d like to thank all of our readers and our contributors for making it possible. I’d also like to extend a massive congratulations to Sue Bryant for a muchdeserved win for Trade Feature of the Year.” The Travel Media Awards are the most prestigious awards in travel journalism, rewarding editorial quality. ABTAmag.com
VIRGIN
Aviation’s renewable future By Alice Snape It is possible for the aviation sector to be completely fuelled by renewable energy in the future, Sir Richard Branson has said. Speaking at a press conference in Tel Aviv, after a flight which celebrated Virgin Atlantic’s direct route from London, Sir Richard said that he was in talks with various suppliers about powering his fleet with green energy. He said: “We have been working with various different companies; one that takes the waste product from steel and aluminium plants
ABTAmag.com
By Alice Snape Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks is increasing its number of flights and packages to New York for winter 2020. The new programme is already on sale and offers 19 four-night trips, up from 16 previously. There’s also a total of 6,000 seats on offer, which is a rise of 22 per cent. The flights will set off from six UK airports, up from five this year, including Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle. Dubbed shopping flights, they coincide with key holidays, including Thanksgiving on November 26, Black Friday on November 27, and for Christmas shopping on a selection of dates from November 19 until December 18. Jet2CityBreaks has various accommodation offerings from threeto five-star hotels, all located the city’s bustling centre. Steve Heapy, chief executive, said: “Our New York trips have once again proved extremely popular with customers looking to enjoy a break to the Big Apple to celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving and Black Friday. That is why we have added even more trips from more bases, all timed for our customers to enjoy a festive extravaganza.” ABTAmag.com
that would otherwise go up the chimney into the air, recycles it and turns it into jet aviation fuel.” The Virgin Group founder didn’t name the company, but he did note that they had been certified for its fuel to account for 50 per cent of power on a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747, alongside “normal fuel”. “Boeing say they can get up to 90 per cent,” he continued, adding that was “just one example”. And he continued: “In the future we can actually get to a situation where the airline industry is sustainable.” ABTAmag.com
November 2019 13
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News November
AVIATION
Boeing 737 Max may fly again by new year By Alice Snape Boeing has predicted that its 737 Max could return to service by the end of this year. The jet was grounded in March after two fatal crashes; including last year’s Lion Air disaster which killed all 189 passengers and crew flying from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta to Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang. The second disaster was a flight with Ethiopian Airlines, which crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa, and also killed all 157 people on board. The US manufacturer stated that it is making “steady progress” towards a safe return to service and has developed software
and training updates. The company also said that it “continues to work with the US Federal Aviation Administration and global civil aviation authorities to complete remaining steps toward certification and readiness for return to service”. Tui Airways is the biggest UK operator of the 737 Max and are considering changing the name of the aircraft before it returns to service. Boeing president and CEO Dennis Muilenburg said: “Our top priority remains the safe return to service of the 737 Max. We’ve also taken action to further sharpen our company’s focus on product and services safety, and we continue to deliver on customer commitments and capture new opportunities with our values of safety, quality and integrity always at the forefront.” ABTAmag.com
STATS
Cruise is cool By Sam Ballard The number of young people taking a cruise has grown at a rate quicker than any other age group. More than a quarter (28 per cent) of 18-34 year olds took a cruise in the year to July 2019, a six per cent rise. The numbers were published in ABTA’s 2019 Holiday Habits Report, revealed at The Travel Convention in Tokyo. Overall, one in ten people took a cruise last year while 14 per cent had one booked. Sixty per cent of respondents said they were interested in taking one, up from 58 per cent. Victoria Bacon, director of brand and business development, said: “The UK cruise industry has seen significant growth with a record number of passengers reaching over two million for the first time last year. “With the continued innovation of the cruise product there has been a noticeable boost in the number of young holidaymakers choosing this type of holiday. Whether it’s making the most of the on-board technology, taking part in adventurebased excursions or experiencing an 80s themed party at sea, there is an incredible range of options for both new and seasoned travellers.”ABTAmag.com
Continued from page 12 We are the only organisation that could do something like this. The strength of us as a destination, the sophistication of our partners and the ability to command the attention of everyone we want to command – on our own – is what started this. Who is present at the event? We’ve got 154 buyers from 120 companies across Europe. There are 179 delegates and 100 suppliers. It’s also heavily vetted. That’s the best part of it. That was critical to the success of the event. We wanted the product managers, the people that influence what goes into
16 November 2019
packages. To be able to have that across 20 countries in one spot over five days with an all USA focus. That makes this event so unique. What’s the format? They are here for the one-to-one meetings. But we’ve also got enrichment programmes which everyone has to attend. They focus on how to do business in this market and then we also have keynotes from people like John Herrington, the first Native American astronaut, who has led an amazing life. We are here in the middle of London and we can enjoy being in the city.
ABTAmag.com
ABTA Magazine Interview Alistair Rowland
Alistair Rowland Chairman of ABTA In a post-Thomas Cook era, Sam Ballard learns how ABTA will be reshaping the industry
W
hen Alistair Rowland was voted in as the new chairman of ABTA at the end of June, few could have predicted – at least with much certainty – what the following weeks would entail. Rowland, whose day job is chief retail officer for specialist business at The Midcounties Co-operative, replaced Noel Josephides, the chairman of Sunvil Holidays, following his six-year term as chairman. Within a few weeks of taking on the role, Thomas Cook, one of the oldest travel companies in the world, ceased trading. “You don’t take on a role like this thinking that you’re a month away from
18 November 2019
the worst thing that could possibly happen,” Rowland tells ABTA Magazine. “But it will show the true value that ABTA has, especially when it comes to dealing with government and all of the relevant parties. “Right now, we don’t know what is going to happen next. We’re going to see a very different marketplace with different agents and operators. Ultimately, we are going to see more transparency when it comes to cash and more protection when a company fails. The principal still has to carry out the booking, and they’ve not got the data.” The comments mark how rapidly the
travel industry has moved following the closure of Thomas Cook. During the ABTA Convention in Tokyo, John Bevan, the CEO of Dnata B2B Europe, complained that he didn’t get details of customers who booked a Travel 2 or Gold Medal holiday until a week after the closure. Then there are also the details around how much a customer had paid. Rowland continues: “In the future, helped by GDPR, a tour operator will have access to a database and will be able to contact the customer to let them know that their booking is OK, should a business fail. Right
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now we’ve got this daft situation where a customer gets repatriated and can claim the money back as well. “When a customer booked through Thomas Cook – and if it wasn’t a Thomas Cook holiday – they thought that the holiday had been cancelled and often tried to book another one, but there was nothing wrong with it. “You’ve got a perfect storm of issues and there will be lots of outcomes as a result.” At the bottom of everything, according to the new ABTA chairman, is a conversation about data – but for that to take place firms needs to redefine their own role – and those of their partners. “If you think about why we’re in this situation [Thomas Cook closure] it’s because an agent is an agent and an operator is an operator. And, an agent won’t give an operator the information because they think they will steal their customer. That’s a bit ‘legacy’ thinking.” For Rowland, customer data needs to be available to a tour operator in case the worst should happen. There also needs to be more relevant information on the ATOL certificate.
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The Midcounties boss feels the same way when it comes to how companies handle cash. “If you look at what’s happened, Thomas Cook made a conscious effort to collect more money, earlier, so that they had more cash. Had they not gone bust it would have been paid across [to the tour operator],” he says. The issue, according to Rowland, is that when companies offer discounts – for paying the balance up front for example – that isn’t communicated with the tour operator. The result is that tour operators don’t know who has booked their holiday or how much they have paid. Rowland adds: “That money has now gone but if you’re a tour operator you still need to perform – even with no money on the books. “Ordinarily, the legacy issue is that travel agents are used to collecting the money before paying the tour operator, particularly for the balances. We need to be bigger than spending the customers’ money. “One of the likely outcomes is that there will be some control over the collection of money – whose it is, where
it is and when it’s paid over. I could see, for example, a system where the customer hasn’t paid the agent, or the agent hasn’t paid the tour operator, and the tour operator nullifies the booking.” Regardless of what comes out of the Thomas Cook failure, one thing is clear: there will be ramifications as a result. For Rowland, ABTA will be key in reshaping the industry in a post-Cook landscape. “I’ve been on the board of ABTA for seven years,” he says. “I’ve always been a huge fan of ABTA and what it does, but equally I’ve been frustrated that it doesn’t get the credit for much of what it does, such as the lobbying in Europe. Another area where we need to be much stronger is in education, not only of the socially responsible traveller, but basic knowledge for the industry. “The one reason I put my hand up for this role is that I am a huge fan of ABTA and the work it does – 90 per cent of travel businesses choose to be part of it. They don’t need to, they choose to. In the post-mortem of Thomas Cook, ABTA will be really important in resetting the bar and I will be privileged to be a part of that.” ABTAmag.com
November 2019 19
ABTA News
ABTA news
November 2019
All the latest reports, comment, campaigns and events from ABTA – The Travel Association
Highlights of the ABTA Travel Convention 2019
The first Convention in Japan brings together industry professionals to discuss major issues By Sam Ballard ABTA has successfully hosted its first Convention in Japan, with the 2019 Convention in Tokyo. The event brought together 430 industry professionals to discuss major issues including the failure of Thomas Cook, climate change and Brexit. It was held at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa. During his opening remarks, Mark Tanzer, the CEO of ABTA, addressed the issue of Thomas Cook’s recent collapse, saying that the closure was a failure of corporate finance, rather than a failure of the travel industry. “Thomas Cook’s financial challenges were no secret,
20 November 2019
but the full extent of their indebtedness has only come to light recently. “Thomas Cook paid £1.2bn in finance charges over the past six years, plus goodness knows how much in advisory fees. Those were profits from its holiday business, money that in a more balanced financial model would have been available to invest and develop the business.” The travel giants closure was discussed in detail during sessions throughout the Convention. John Bevan, the CEO of Dnata, which runs Travel 2 and Gold Medal, described the Atol Certificate as a “joke” – calling for tour operators to have better access to customer data if a company goes bust. He revealed that it had taken a week for Dnata to get details
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of the customers who had booked with Thomas Cook, with many trying to rebook. Bevan said that the company would now be changing its terms to insist on being given an email address and phone number for every customer. “Hopefully our travel agent partners will understand that we are a B2B business and have no interest in that data,” he said. The remarks were backed up by Alistair Rowland, the chief retail officer of Midcounties Co-op and recently appointed ABTA chairman, who said that the relationship between tour operators and travel agencies had changed in recent years. During a session on Thomas Cook, Rowland also said that rules over when customers’ cash is collected needed to be made clearer. Many tour operators were not aware of whether a full balance had been collected from customers of Thomas Cook when the company went bust. During a sobering session on climate change, Dr Gabrielle Walker, a climate expert, said that the travel industry needed to act immediately – and not make future pledges – when it came to protecting the environment. She added that it was probably too late for the Great Barrier Reef. Tanzer also referenced climate change in his speech, saying that the government should not tax flying more heavily, but
instead reshape the current tax system to direct funds to “investment in technology”. Responsible travel – and its rise – was covered in a panel discussion that included both cruise line and airline executives. Tony Roberts, of Princess Cruises, highlighted that the cruise industry was moving to LNG powered ships and that more ships were going to plug in to shoreside energy supplies, reducing their carbon footprint. However, he added, the infrastructure has yet to be developed in many destinations. The convention also saw sessions on the future of retail, marketing to millennials and a lesson in handshakes from a behavioural psychologist. Peter Foster, the Europe editor of The Daily Telegraph delivered a speech on Brexit while Marcel Theroux, a novelist and broadcaster, delivered remarks on Japanese etiquette. The theme was expanded on further with Philippe Gas, president and managing director of Walt Disney Japan, who explained how Disney’s global brand had managed to achieve success at a local level. ABTA LifeLine Charitable Trust held an appeal especially for the staff of Thomas Cook. There was a silent auction and raffle. Overall more than £60,000 was raised by the closing party.
2020 Convention heads to Marrakesh
By ABTA Magazine staff ABTA has revealed that Marrakesh will be host to the 2020 Travel Convention. The city, which last hosted a conference in 2005, has been named the first ever African Capital of Culture and is undergoing major investment in time for 2020. The number of Brits travelling to Morocco has increased over the past five years, with more than 630,000 holiday visits to the country last year, up from 460,000 in 2014 – an increase of 30 per cent. Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, said: “I’m very pleased that Marrakesh will be hosting the 2020 Travel Convention. It is a city which continues to prove incredibly popular with
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UK holidaymakers, providing them with an opportunity to experience a culture steeped in history, as well as enjoying the spectacular scenery, cuisine and hospitality. The Convention will take place from 5-7 October 2020 at Palmeraie Resorts Marrakesh, 20 minutes from Marrakesh’s city centre. All delegates will stay at the five-star Palmeraie Palace Hotel. M. Adel EL Fakir, CEO of the Moroccan National Tourist Office said: “We are very proud to host ABTA’s Travel Convention in Marrakesh in 2020 for the second time! “Marrakesh is hosting the IGTM next week, and the UNWTO in 2021. In the middle of these two events, Marrakesh and Morocco are thrilled to host another prestigious event: The 2020 Travel Convention, organised by ABTA.”
November 2019 21
ABTA Advice
Ask the expert Do you have a burning question you can’t find the answer to? Be it travel trends, a regulatory riddle or destination dilemmas, send us your query for an expert response
I’m very keen on giving more opportunities to young people without experience of travel to get into the industry, is there any help or advice you could give me?
It’s great that you’re looking to give someone a start in the travel industry. Apprenticeships are one of the best ways to do this and there is a lot of help out there so that you can do this successfully. At ABTA we work closely with several universities and colleges to help build links with our Members. We also actively promote apprenticeships as a route into the industry, as a method of addressing skills shortages. Apprenticeships make good business sense in terms of productivity, investing in future talent and staff retention. They give companies the chance to train and develop staff, while also ensuring they are getting on-the-job experience. Research from the National Apprenticeship Service indicates that 80 per cent of companies that invest in apprentices report an increase in staff retention. ABTA’s Education Partners offer apprenticeships, including up to degree level. Working with a Partner University, offering a degree apprenticeship is a great way for existing staff to gain new skills too or offer a structured degree career pathway to existing and new staff. Several of ABTA’s university Education Partners offer these opportunities. Both levy and non-levy payers can apply for funding for all apprenticeships on offer and the government website will provide information on how you can access funding. ABTA worked closely on developing the Travel Consultant Apprenticeship and apprentices have started graduating from the programme and entering their careers as fully trained travel consultants. The new Travel Consultant Apprenticeship covers both leisure and business travel. The apprenticeship lasts from 12-24 months depending on previous qualifications and is contracted with an employer who will give the required on-the-job training. Along with our college Partners, Damar Training and TrainingStation can help you to develop your apprenticeship and, in some cases, assist you in finding the apprentice. All their details can be found on abta.com in the Education Hub. The government also has useful information at apprenticeships.gov.uk. A new technical qualification will be launched in September 2020 called T Levels that will attract UCAS points enabling entry to university. T Levels require students to spend at least 45 hours of their qualification on placement in industry. This time can be split between two organisations if a business cannot commit to the full 45. At this point the date for the Travel T Level has not been finalised. However, we know our Members have skills requirements in many areas of their businesses, so there may be other T Levels where you can offer placements. The more the travel industry engages with young people, the more attractive the travel industry will become as a career of choice. For more information on T Levels and how you can get involved, go to tlevels.gov.uk. Vicki Wolf ABTA education manager
Got a question? Email: info@ABTAmag.com 22 November 2019
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ABTA comment The end of a travel business, not the end of the package holiday
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wo months ago the industry was rocked by the failure of Thomas Cook – a founder member of ABTA, a household name and one the world’s best-known travel brands. The fall out was and continues to be severe, with thousands of holidaymakers requiring repatriation from overseas and up to a million customers with package holidays cancelled, all of which were covered by either ATOL or ABTA. The industry has also rallied round offering support and job opportunities to the thousands of Thomas Cook staff who are so suddenly and sadly without work. Thomas Cook’s financial problems are well documented, largely relating to a mountain of debt. However, some sections of the media decided that its failure had been caused by an outmoded business model, based on an old-fashioned holiday offer: the package. This line of thinking was further fed by some opportunistic comments from industry competitors claiming that fewer people are taking packages and that no one under 40 does. But is there any truth in these claims and assertions? Let’s take a look. Is it true that the number of people taking package holidays is in decline? No. In 2018 official government statistics showed that 18.2m took an overseas package holiday. This has steadily risen in recent years, up from 15.9m in 2014. This is not far off the all-time record for package holidays which came in 2006, just before the credit crunch, which radically reduced demand across the board for all types of holidays. Packages now make up around 40 per cent of all UK residents’ overseas holidays and their market share is growing. ABTA’s own most recent market research, published in its 2019 Holiday Habits Report, shows that more than half of people took an overseas package in the year to July 2019. The statistics are conclusive – in
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terms of sheer numbers the package holiday is in rude health. Is the package an old-fashioned product, struggling against more nimble, modern competitors? There is undeniably a slightly snobbish preconception among some about the package – usually seen along the lines of two weeks in a slightly shabby highrise hotel somewhere in the Western Med. Although the cheap and cheerful ‘flop and drop’ package still exists and is still popular, the modern package now also offers a vast range of holiday options and experiences, with the customer very much in the driving seat in terms of choice, flexibility and price-point. Packages can provide all of the benefits of independent arrangements, plus customer protection and support. Do only “oldies” take package holidays? ABTA’s research found that the age group most likely to take a package holiday are 18-24 year olds. Families and holidaymakers up to the age of 44 are also very keen. And the age groups least likely to take a package? The over 45s. All in all a resounding rebuttal of the pretty vocal critics of the package.
Victoria Bacon
ABTA director of brand and business development
November November 2019 23
ABTA Campaigns
ABTA campaigns Making Holidays Greener campaign By ABTA Magazine staff An estimated 3,834 tonnes of waste – including food and plastic – has been reduced, reused, recycled or removed from the environment this year, as a result of the Make Holidays Greener (MHG) 2019 campaign. This is the equivalent weight of the number of plastic bottles needed to stretch more than three quarters of the way around the earth, if laid end to end. ABTA, in partnership with Travelife for Accommodation, launched the annual MHG campaign in June to encourage holidaymakers and the industry to create better places to live in and visit. This year’s theme was ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’. A total of 120 ABTA Member and travel businesses, from tour operators to hotels, participated in the campaign – up from 75 last year – running projects such as reducing food waste in hotels, setting up a holiday clothes swap and providing people with water bottles that filter as they refill to avoid using single-use plastic bottles. More than 6,500 staff and holidaymakers participated too, with many taking part in 119 clean-up activities worldwide. These activities have been organised by businesses for their staff and customers to help keep
local beaches, neighbourhoods and parks clean and limit the impact of waste. Some of the sustainable holiday pledges include: respect animals, eat local produce and go meat free. Nikki White, director of destinations and sustainability said: “It’s fantastic to see the range of initiatives that have taken place over the past 12 months. ABTA Members are reminded that support is available year round if they would like to continue their initiatives beyond this year’s campaign.” ABTA.com
Brexit won’t stop travel says ABTA By ABTA Magazine staff During September, ABTA ran a number of advertising campaigns on Facebook and digital radio adverts on Classic FM and Heart FM to increase traffic to the Brexit advice page at abta.com/brexit and encourage travel bookings within Europe – even in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The Facebook campaign reached 883,314 people and achieved 1,911,088 impressions. The radio adverts had a significant impact with a total off 11 million individual listens throughout the course of the broadcasts.
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In addition, to support Members businesses over the October half term, ABTA commissioned a blog post from influencer Honest Mum (honestmum. com) on “Why she’s going away at October Half Term with an ABTA Member”. ABTA also issued a press release on why you should travel in October, which featured in the Daily Mirror. ABTA’s Victoria Bacon said: “Lower prices, uncrowded beaches, restaurants and attractions, make October a very enjoyable and sensible choice for clued-up holidaymakers”. ABTA.com
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Events 15 November, London Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace Explore the challenges facing workforces and learn how to raise awareness, improve the wellbeing of employees, support better mental health and increase staff retention through positive initiatives.
ABTA conferences and events deliver practical training for the travel industry and help keep you and your staff up to date on the most important, business-critical issues, with a focus on practical learning. Visit abta.com/abtaevents to learn more about our upcoming events and register your place
19 November, London
21 November, London
25 November, London
Adventure Travel Conference Explore one of the travel industry’s fastest growing sectors at ABTA’s new conference. Learn how to effectively tailor your branding, marketing and sales to understand, inspire and connect with adventure travellers and the growing demand for experiential travel.
Advanced Social Media in Travel For those who already have a good understanding of social media platforms, this will provide fresh approaches to revamp your current social media strategy and discussions on how valuable social influencers can be to your brand.
Travel Trends 2020 Join ABTA for the exclusive launch of its Travel Trends 2020 report including the 12 Destinations to Watch. Hear from ABTA about the key travel trends, market outlook and industry prospects.
4 December, London
10 December, London
29 January, London
A Practical Guide to Arbitration and Conciliation This workshop provides a guide to ABTA’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes. Arbitration and conciliation provide a more cost effective and less formal alternative to court.
Sales Training for Travel Attendees will benefit from a full day of training, including a recap on sales strategies, typical customer journeys and practical sessions on handling enquiries, converting leads and closing sales through web, email, social and phone.
Apprenticeships in the Travel Industry Learn how to invest in apprenticeships to future-proof workforces in companies, big or small. There will be information on apprenticeship funding, potential changes to the levy and the impact of Brexit.
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November 2019 25
Promotion
Land of ancient wonders
Greece, one of the oldest civilisations in the world, is home to 18 Unesco World Heritage Sites. We take a closer look at seven of them Acropolis of Athens
Sitting high on a rocky outcrop that rises above the Greek capital is the most striking and complete ancient Greek monumental complex still standing today. The Acropolis houses the remains of several ancient buildings of architectural and historic significance with artefacts dating to the Middle Neolithic era. Today, for an entrance fee of €20, visitors can walk around sites including the Parthenon, the temple of the goddess Athena; the Pandroseion, a sanctuary dedicated to one of the daughters of the first king of Attica; and the Chalkotheke, which housed the treasury of the goddess of Wisdom, Athena.
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Mycenae and Tiryns
Forever linked to the Homeric epics the Iliad and the Odyssey,the archaeological sites of Mycenae and Tiryns (whose “mighty walls” he refers to) are the ruins of the two greatest cities of the Mycenaean civilisation, which dominated the eastern Mediterranean world from the 15th to the 12th century BC. Unesco notes that the architecture and design of landmarks such as the Lion Gate and the Treasury of Atreus, and the aforementioned walls of Tiryns, are an “outstanding examples of human creative genius”. The cities, today, are a 20-minute drive from each other.
Delos
According to Greek mythology, Apollo was born on this tiny island in the Cyclades archipelago, which soon developed into a famous trading port. Considered “the most sacred of all islands” in ancient Greek culture, it has played an enormous role – for an island its size – in the development of Greek civilisation. Many of its treasure of masterpieces, found during excavations, are exhibited today in Delos Museum. Through its remote location, and the fact it has been uninhabited since the 7th century AD, Delos has remained remarkably preserved. The entire island is designated as an archaeological site.
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Aghios Ioannis Theologos Monastery, Pátmos
Pátmos, a small island in the Dodecanese, is said to be where St John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelation. It’s no surprise to learn that a monastery dedicated to him was built during the 11th century AD and has been a place of pilgrimage since. The complex looms over the island, while the old settlement of Chorá contains many religious and secular buildings. The Cave of the Apocalypse, spiritual and miraculous, is the place where St. John is believed to have received his revelations and forms part of the World Heritage Site status.
Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki
Pictured: Left: Acropolis of Athens Below left: Patmos Below right: Corfu Old Town
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Founded in 315 BC, the sea port of Thessaloniki is home to an array of Christian monuments and fine churches. Constructed over a long period, from the 4th to the 15th century, they constitute a “diachronic typological series”, according to Unesco, which had an enormous influence in the Byzantine world. The organisation lists the mosaics of the Rotunda, St Demetrius and St David as being among the great masterpieces of early Christian art. See p33 for more on Thessaloniki.
Philippi
The mostly recent addition to Greece’s World Heritage sites list (Unesco added it in 2016), the remains of the walled city of Philippi lie at the foot of an acropolis in north-eastern Greece on the Via Egnatia, an ancient route linking Europe and Asia. Founded in 356 BC by the Macedonian King Philip II, the city was known as ‘small Rome’. It became a vibrant Hellenistic city with walls, gates, the theatre and the funerary heroon (temple) established. Later the city became a centre of the Christian faith following the visit of the Apostle Paul in 49-50 AD.
The Old Town of Corfu
The Old Town of Corfu, on the island off the western coasts of Greece, and at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea, can be traced back to the 8th century BC. Unesco lists the three forts of the town, designed by Venetian engineers, as of particular interest. The forts were repaired and partly rebuilt several times, including under British rule in the 19th century. In the Old Town, you will find mostly neoclassical housing, some of which is from the Venetian period. See visitgreece.gr
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Features Holiday Habits
Holiday Habits ABTA’s Holiday Habits Report 2019 shows that the travel industry is growing, with 88 per cent of Brits holidaying in the last year
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he number of Brits taking a holiday is at its highest since 2011, according to ABTA’s Holiday Habits 2019 Report. Overall 88 per cent of Britons took a break in the 12 months to July. That compares to 86 per cent the year before. In 2019, the number of foreign holidays of seven nights or more increased to 1.1 per person, up from 1.0 last year. In 2016 the number was 0.7 per person. Foreign holidays overall increased to an average of 1.9 per person, up from 1.6 in 2018. ABTA revealed that 64 per cent of Brits took a foreign holiday, up from 60 per cent last year. Families with older children (those over five years old) took 5.6 holidays in the year, fuelling the growth. Half of the holidays were overseas while half were in the UK. Families with younger children took 3.9 holidays. Consumers are spending £98 less on short foreign holidays than in the previous year and £94 less on a longer overseas break. Last year, 2.0 people took a UK holiday,
28 November 2019
up from 1.8 in 2018. The report also delved into the popularity of individual destinations – with 38 per cent of Brits booking a holiday to Spain. France was the second most popular destination (23 per cent), followed by the USA (18 per cent) and Italy (17 per cent). The report, which is in its ninth year, surveyed 2,043 people. Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive, said: “The British public’s appetite for taking holidays has continued unabated in the past 12 months. This has partly been due to the wide variety of excellent value for money options available this year, and also because holidays are a priority when it comes to discretionary spend.” ABTA’s figures also revealed that 22 per cent of 18-24 year olds have booked a holiday “in-store” over the last year, and have sought the advice of a travel professional. The main reason given for using a travel professional – which could mean tour operator or travel agent – was “ease of booking”. For young people, 20 per cent said
that they used a travel professional because they thought they would have a better holiday when booking through one. Other interesting findings to come out of the report include the popularity of cruise among young people. According to ABTA, more than a quarter (28 per cent) of 18-34 year olds took a cruise in 2019 – a six per cent rise. Overall, one in 10 people took a cruise last year while 14 per cent had one booked. And 60 per cent of respondents said they were interested in taking one, up from 58 per cent. More than a quarter (27 per cent) of 2534 year olds who are interested in going on a cruise would like to take an expedition trip. Victoria Bacon, director of brand and business development, said: “The UK cruise industry has seen significant growth in recent years with a record number of passengers reaching over two million for the first time last year. As cruise operators have diversified and adapted to their customers’ needs there is now a greater choice of cruise trips than ever before.” ABTAmag.com
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POPULAR HOLIDAYS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS
15%
18%
12%
MULTITRIP*
PRIVATE HOME **
ALL INCLUSIVE
11%
LAKES AND MOUNTAINS
10%
46%
CRUISE
CITY
7%
41%
CAMPING
BEACH
7%
46%
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
CITY
* travel to different places within a single trip
**or a home swap, home stay, couch surfing
38%
23%
18%
17%
SPAIN
FRANCE
USA
ITALY
15%
GERMANY
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13%
GREECE
11%
8%
PORTUGAL NETHERLANDS
6%
TURKEY
November 2019 29
Business travel Frequent New business flyer programmes class seats
The frequent flyer shake-up Business Travel Report Many carriers are exchanging miles for points and other incentives as the issues around flying – and the sharing of data – become more sensitive
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n an age when loyalty is harder than ever for companies to earn and maintain, a number of major airlines are overhauling their frequent flyer schemes to revitalise their relationship with their customers (and make them more money). Since American Airlines launched one of the world’s first airline loyalty schemes in 1981, it has gradually become harder to earn miles (many carriers have switched to giving points in relation to ticket price rather than distance flown). It has also become more challenging to redeem them as planes fly fuller – management consulting company McKinsey estimates that 30 trillion miles are sitting unspent in travellers’ accounts. In the summer, Australian flag carrier Qantas announced sweeping changes to its Frequent Flyer programme, some of which benefit members and some of which benefit the airline. Although the price of redeeming points on upgrades has increased by up to nine per cent, and seats in premium cabins cost up to 15 per cent more, there are more reward seats (in excess of one million a year) to more
30 November 2019
destinations. The AU$20 million (£11 million) revamp also includes Lifetime Platinum status, and a new Points Club scheme that allows people to earn on non-airline purchase such as Uber rides. Carrier charges are being slashed, too, saving passengers about A$200 (£109) per return journey on average. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement: “While the points required for business class seats on international and domestic flights will increase slightly, it is the first increase in 15 years and the product has improved a lot in that time.” Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth added: “While frequent travellers have always been at the centre of what we do, the growth of our program and its hundreds of partners has provided opportunities for many members to now earn most of their points on the ground.” What other changes have airlines been making? In September, United introduced a new PlusPoints upgrade currency for elite MileagePlus members in its two top tiers (Premier Platinum and 1K). Taking effect in December, it will replace the more complex
by Jenny Southan, business travel editor
ABTAmag.com
Regional Premier Upgrade and Global Premier Upgrade certificates with the granting of a bank of points to customers (320 for 1K, for example) who then get to buy upgrades for a fixed amount (for example, 30 points for a premium economy to business upgrade on a long-haul flight). Luc Bondar, United’s vice-president of loyalty and the head of MileagePlus, said: “The new PlusPoints programme increases the overall number of upgrade opportunities for top tier Premier members, expands the fare classes where they can be used, and lets members request upgrades on multiple flights all at once.” In the summer, the airline also said it was scrapping expiration dates on points, which previously became unusable after 18 months. However, on November 15, United is removing pricing charts for award seats, which list fixed rates of redemption for award seats (such as 30,000 miles for an economy flight from Europe to the US), instead switching to a “dynamic” model whereby the cost of seats changes throughout the year according to demand. Lufthansa became the first major European airline to do the same thing in the spring with its Miles & More scheme, suggesting that this will be an approach many other airlines will be taking in years to come. To increase the opportunities for earning (and thus build loyalty), airlines
ABTA event Navigating Change in Business Travel November 27, London
The headlines Record number of hotel rooms to open in London in 2020
According to data from London and Partners, a record number of hotel rooms will open in the capital next year. Spread across 65 properties, there will be an additional 7,995 rooms, rising from 3,222 in 2010. Forthcoming openings include The Londoner on Leicester Square and the Pan Pacific London near Liverpool Street.
Beijing Daxing International Airport begins operations
The largest transport hub in the world, China’s single-terminal Beijing Daxing International Airport, began operations on September 25, with the expectation that it will have 45 million passengers a year passing through by 2022. British Airways began daily services to the airport from London Heathrow on October 27.
Gatwick partners with Vodafone to offer 5G to travellers
Gatwick airport has partnered with Vodafone to launch a new 5G mobile service at its South Terminal. Next year, the “high-speed, high capacity fibre optic network” will also come to the North Terminal, enabling “instant communications”.
W Hotel to open in Toronto next year Marriott International will be turning Toronto’s former Marriott Bloor Yorkville hotel into a W in summer 2020, with 255 rooms, a rooftop restaurant, and an indoor/outdoor lobby bar and lounge with a DJ booth for podcast recording as part of a US$40 million transformation.
Singapore Airlines serves healthy food from Como Shambhala
In collaboration with wellness resort brand Como Shambhala, Singapore Airlines has started offering a new healthy in-flight menu for first, business and premium economy passengers. The meals will be available on select flights from Singapore to London, Frankfurt, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Hong Kong.
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New business flyer programmes class seats Business travel Frequent
are also partnering with hotels to enable reciprocal earning and burning benefits. American Airlines has joined up with Hyatt (although only those with elite status can take advantage), Air France-KLM has teamed up with Accor (free to anyone), and then Emirates and Marriott launched Your World Rewards, allowing members to earn Skywards Miles on hotel stays and Marriott Bonvoy points on flights. (Emirates Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinum tier members will earn one Skywards Mile for every US dollar or equivalent spent on top of points when staying at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.) Although some of this is good news for the customer, the industry needs to wise up to the backlash against the use of people’s data. With documentaries such as The Great Hack on Netflix, which examines the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal, the public is more savvy and mistrustful than ever about how their online presence is being monetised. There have also been a number of data breaches that have shaken consumer confidence – last year, up to 600,000
British Airways customers had their names, addresses, emails and card payment details compromised in a cyber attack. And a Marriott hack in 2018 exposed the passport information of more than five million people dating back to 2014. With 77 per cent of Brits a member of at least one loyalty scheme, according to a 2019 poll of 275,000 people by YouGov and partnerships and rewards agency Mando-Connect, data protection is vital. Rod Sims, chairman of consumer watchdog the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, recently said: “Consumers may be shocked to find that some schemes collect their data even when they don’t scan their loyalty cards, or that they combine it with data from other sources that they might not even be aware of. Most people think they are being rewarded for their loyalty with discounts or points, but in reality some schemes are building up detailed profiles about consumers and selling those insights to other businesses.” Loyalty, it’s fair to say, works both ways – and companies must keep innovating to keep their customers coming back.
Pictured: Air France-KLM has teamed up with Accor. Previous page: Qantas’s LAX First Class Lounge and Business Lounge
New digital banks As the next decade approaches, a host of new digital, mobile-only financial platforms have sprung up to replace traditional ways of banking, making it easier to manage and spend via well-designed apps and almost always without any foreign transaction fees. 1. Anna: Designed for creatives and entrepreneurs, Anna’s business account has an in-built AI assistant that does your admin for £11 a month. 2. Doconomy: Banking “with a conscience”, Doconomy analyses your spending to highlight and compensate for your CO2 footprint. 3. Dozens: Dozens offers a free UK current account with saving and budgeting tools. 4. N26: This current account uses AI to display your spending visually and charges no fees on overseas payments. 5. Monzo: Monzo’s business account lets you to put money aside in pots – for tax, for example – as well as receive instant notifications on purchases. 6. Revolut: Use Revolut’s global business current account to make bulk payments and manage team funds with pre-paid corporate cards. 7. Starling: This bank charges no monthly fees, can be set-up in minutes and organises outgoings according to category. 8. Tide: Tide business accounts allow you to create and pay invoices with a single tap and make cash deposits at the Post Office for £1.
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City Guide:
Thessaloniki
A history buff’s dream location, Greece’s ‘arts city’ is home to breathtaking ancient architecture, incredible food and a thriving cultural scene
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ound in the north of Greece, 520km above Athens, Thessaloniki is the country’s second largest city – a modern metropolis with a remarkable history and incredible food scene. The city, which is connected by direct flights from London, has an abundance of worldclass architectural wonders, among them 15 Unesco World Heritage Sites. Here’s why it is the perfect city break.
Ancient sites
Blessed with incredible archaeological sites, Thessaloniki is a history buff’s dream. Its ancient forum (Agora), constructed by the Romans, dates back to the late 2nd or the early 3rd century AD, and is perhaps the blockbuster site. Visitors will discover squares, porticoes, additional buildings and the odeum (293-395 AD), the palace complex of Roman emperor Galerius Maximianus, the thermae, hippodrome, temples and other monuments and moveable finds (among them mosaics of exquisite art), brought to light in excavations and surveys. In the south square is the famous Stoa of the Idols, which was two-storeyed and lavishly decorated.
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Nearby, you will find the triumphal Arch of Galerius (also known as Kamara), also built under the Roman Empire, where as The Rotunda, which is a stone’s throw away, is an early 4th century building, which was later converted into a Christian church.
Architectural delights
The Old City (or Ano Poli or Upper Town), a district by turns quiet and lively, youthful and classic, is dominated by the Eptapyrgio, the Byzantine and Ottoman fortress that overlooks the city. The historic area boasts an old-time charm with its mansions, stonepaved alleys and breathtaking views over the city. Ano Poli is home to Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments and churches listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the 5th century Church of Osios David and the 14th century Vlatadon Monastery with its peaceful gardens. The historical quarter of the Ladadika used to be the central market and bazaar and now boasts some of the city’s best shopping, tavernas and bars. A favourite among visitors and the city’s student population, the area will give you a taste of true Thessalonian entertainment.
The city is also home to traditional markets – the Modiano, which is housed in a rectangular building built in 1922, with pedimented facade and glass roof, is perhaps the most impressive of all. You can walk along the streets and alleys of the city and see the imposing monuments of the Byzantine Period and visit churches of outstanding architecture, such as Panagia (Virgin Mary) Acheiropoietos and Agios Dimitrios, which form an intrinsic part of Thessaloniki’s urban structure. Landmarks defining each neighbourhood add to the city’s special character.
Cultural centre
In November, Thessaloniki – sometimes called the ‘arts city’ – becomes the centre of international filmmaking when Greek and foreign artists arrive in great numbers. The Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which was established in 1969, is the centre of Greek film production. Each year, a special tribute is made to an outstanding film director, while locals, students and visitors flood in. See visitgreece.gr
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Features Industry insights
Industry insights
Accessible travel
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Gary Noakes outlines the opportunity cost to companies and services that fail to meet the needs of disabled travellers
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here are 13.9 million disabled people in the UK, according to the latest government statistics: that’s eight per cent of children; 19 per cent of working-age adults; and 45 per cent of pension-age adults. And it’s likely that all of us will, at some point in our lives, have additional needs, whether that’s temporary or otherwise. But despite this, many companies and public services are failing to cater to the needs of disabled customers – according to the charity Purple, 75 per cent of disabled people and their families have walked away from a UK business because of poor accessibility or customer service. Aside from failing to meet a duty of care, it’s also a missed opportunity: the ‘Purple Pound’, as it has been labelled, is worth £249 billion to UK business as a whole, and Barclays estimates disabled people contributed £12 billion to the UK tourism industry in 2015. Further research found disabled travellers and their companions stayed 3.3 days longer on average and spent an average £210 per domestic overnight trip, ten per cent more than able-bodied travellers. Chris Veitch, the UK government’s disability champion for the tourism sector, believes that as the population ages, how we handle accessibility in travel will become an increasingly hot topic.
Don’t miss ABTA’s Travel Trends 2020 conference in London on November 25. Visit abta.com/abtaevents to register
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“There’s the perspective of how we see accessibility; it involves everyone at some point,” he says. “It’s much wider than just disabled people. It also includes older people and anyone with a temporary impairment, like a broken arm. I don’t talk about accessibility and disability; I think about customers and what they want.” An example of the wider market is the growing trend towards 3G (three generation) holidays. The grandparents will not label themselves as disabled, but might have a bad hip or knees or impaired hearing and eyesight, and would appreciate subtle changes to help them, such as larger menu text or strategically placed handrails. It’s a big and diverse picture; VisitEngland estimates 4.9 million people have a long-term illness, 2.6 million have a mobility impairment and the same figure are deaf or have partial hearing loss. There are a range of disabilities, some more visible than others; there are nine million people with arthritis and 850,000 dementia sufferers, plus those with conditions like autism and learning difficulties. “We need to get away from this sense of compliance,” says Veitch. “There’s not really an understanding of the business opportunities or return on investment, but this sector is one of the most exciting developments out there.” He points out that one person in a group with a disability effectively dictates where the entire group goes, which means disability-friendly properties attract repeat bookings and high occupancy rates, as many adapted UK properties have found. Holidaying outside the UK presents bigger challenges, but there is evidence that the primary steps – usually at the airport – are getting easier. Gatwick’s Special Assistance Services helped more
than 615,000 passengers last year – a number growing by around ten per cent each year. The airport pioneered the now UK-wide hidden disability lanyard scheme and has the UK’s first airport sensory room, while Stansted has trained 400 staff as Dementia Friends. Jeremy Cooper, head of marketing at specialist operator Enable Holidays, says a watershed moment, in terms of visibility and efforts to improve accessibility, was the London Paralympics in 2012. “When we started Enable in 2004 we did some research and the vast majority said they daren’t go abroad. That’s why holiday homes and caravans were popular. We’ve seen our customers’ aspirations change dramatically over the past four to five years. We focused on the Med, but now clients want Thailand, Vietnam, India and Africa. It’s a big change for us because each holiday has to be tailor-made.” Cooper believes the airport experience is getting better, but abroad, there still needs to be investment from the hotel sector. “The percentage of adapted hotel rooms is not enough. A lot of hotels have the percentage to tick the boxes, but it’s not enough to meet demand. We’re not just fighting for disabled Britons – other nations are clamouring for a limited number of resorts and facilities.” His advice for agents working with disabled clients is to have “patience, empathy and don’t be patronising”. ABTA has a checklist for agents to use when making disabled bookings and provides guidance for operators on how to cater for this sector. ABTA’s senior destinations and sustainability manager Clare Jenkinson says: “Helping the travel industry to offer holidays that are accessible is an essential part of ABTA’s work and this goes hand-in-hand with creating confident customers.” Whether it’s a life-changing condition or otherwise, accessibility and disability will be an issue that touches us all at some point. Moreover, with an ageing population and an increase in non-visible disabilities, demand for accessible travel will only increase further. It’s an area the industry cannot ignore. ABTAmag.com
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Destinations WTM Community tourism UK
The UK Our round-up of some of the noteworthy conference events at WTM London this year, starting with the UK The Latest Trends in Gastro Tourism: UK & Europe The wide variety of food available throughout the UK and Europe has fuelled the growing trend of food tourism. This panel discussion will look at how this market is changing, and how to keep up with demand. It will be followed by a Q&A session. Tuesday 14.45-15.30, UKI & International Inspiration Zone Brexit, Trade Wars & Populism: 2020 Outlook & Risks As global tourism demand records its 10th consecutive year of growth, this discussion looks at the prospects for 2020 and beyond. Oxford company Tourism Economics share their latest thoughts on expected growth and also the likelihood and potential causes of a downturn – including Brexit, trade wars and the rise of populism around the world, while hotel data company STR will share insights for major destinations, incorporating emerging trends and concerns for the hospitality sector. Monday, 13.30-14.30, UKI & International Inspiration Zone
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Let the Outdoors In: How to Connect Outdoor & Adventure Tourism to Well-being Trends Discover the emerging trends for well-being and outdoor tourism in 2020 as Visit Wales looks ahead to Year of Outdoors. They will be joined by outdoor innovators and tourism specialists to explore how these emerging trends can enhance the visitor experience. Wednesday, 14.00-14.45, UKI & International Inspiration Zone Scott’s Fish and Chips: How to Attract the High-Spending Chinese Tourist A case study of how one UK business – Scott’s Fish and Chips on the outskirts of York – has defied the odds to become a social media sensation, attracting coachloads of Chinese tourists. It now has its own Mandarin menus and a messaging app, and is even opening a replica chippie in Chengdu in southwestern China. Tuesday, 12.00-12.30 UKI & International Inspiration Zone
How to Earn and Expand LGBT Travellers’ Brand Loyalty How should you respond to an evolving LGBT travel market and target the lucrative $218billion annual spend by the world’s LGBT travellers? This session is with Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now, leaders in identifying and leveraging trends in LGBT travel, and includes case study examples from the UK and Europe and practical insights you can implement to earn the respect of LGBT travellers. Wednesday, 12.45-13.45, UKI & International Inspiration Zone Tourism for All: The Business Case for Inclusive Tourism A panel looking at expanding the opportunities for adventurous travel for people with disabilities and also considering what can be done to enable those people with disabilities and low incomes to enjoy a holiday and travel. Monday, 14.45-15.30, UKI & International Inspiration Zone
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Promotion
A scene from Soldier of Orange – The Musical. Photo by Joris van Bennekom
The world’s a stage at WTM made, the award-winning representation agency, will be bringing an exciting range of productions to World Travel Market this year
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he breadth of made’s WTM offerings can be seen from the fact that the company’s team will be found on several different stands in the UK & Ireland, The Americas & the Caribbean sections of the show. Being showcased at WTM for the first time are two new must-see theatrical events; the romantic thriller: The Light in the Piazza, and the acclaimed Dutch landmark production: Soldier of Orange – The Musical, which is coming to London later next year. The beautifully staged new production of The Light in the Piazza stars opera favourite and Tony Award nominee Renée Fleming, and is directed by the UK’s multiple Olivier Award-winning Daniel Evans. The show will be running in Chicago from December 14-29, with commissionable tickets available at: res@leisureconnect.com, and in Sydney from August 14-22 2020 with tickets at: tourism@opera.org.au.
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Soldier of Orange – The Musical is something of a legend in The Netherlands where it has been seen by over 2.8 million people in eight years of sold-out shows since it opened to great acclaim in a converted aeroplane hanger at an old military base near Amsterdam. This extraordinary show, with its revolutionary 360-degree ‘surround set’ will now be coming to a special location in London’s Royal Docks, opposite London City Airport. A whole new theatre is being built specially for this amazing show, set to premier in autumn 2020. Soldier of Orange – The Musical tells the story of the famous Dutch World War Two resistance fighter Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema who became an RAF pilot and kept an action-packed diary of his wartime adventures. This included escaping to England at the start of the war, after which he smuggled radio transmitters into The Netherlands and even piloted an RAF bomber on raids over Germany. He was eventually appointed as aide-de-camp to
Queen Wilhelmina after which the grateful country awarded him the highest Dutch military honour in his wartime work. To do credit to his extraordinary life, a unique theatre experience is being created for Soldier of Orange – The Musical. To give the audience as much of an immersive experience as possible, theatre-goers will initially find themselves in a traditional 1,100 seat auditorium, but as Erik’s experiences unfold, the entire seating platform moves round the 360-degree set which reveals, in turn; a 150ft wide coastline, complete with sea, sand and rainstorms; student dormitories; interrogation cells and even features a palace and an outdoor scene with a real DC3 Dakota aircraft. To find out more or to register interest, speak to a member of the made team at WTM on the UKinbound stand, or email info@made.travel. The majority of the shows, events and attractions that made represent have tickets available on either a fully commissionable or NET basis.
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UK Theatre & exhibitions
THEATRE
MILTON KEYNES
Kinky Boots October 28-November 9 With songs by Grammy-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots takes you from the factory floor to the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Playing at Milton Keynes Theatre, the show is written by four-times Tony winner Harver Fierstein, and based on the 2005 film by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth. Audiences can witness the story of Charlie Price struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business, Price and Son. “Freshest, most fabulous, feel-good musical of the decade,” says The Hollywood News.
NOTTINGHAM
Cinderella November 19-23 Ideal viewing in the run-up to Christmas, Northern Ballet’s beautiful reimagining of Cinderella comes to Nottingham Theatre Royal. In this adaptation of the classic rags-to-riches tale, Cinders is whisked away from her wicked stepmother to the gleaming lake of ice where she first meets her Prince Charming. An updated score by Philip Feeney provides the backdrop to a modern take on the choreography by David Nixon. The Telegraph described it as ‘A dazzling production.’
LONDON
& Juliet Until March 2020 What would happen if the final scene of Romeo & Juliet had turned out differently? Would Juliet have killed herself? Would her and Romeo have got married and lived happily ever after? & Juliet is a brand new West End musical that puts the Shakespearean female character in the centre of her own story. The musical features pop songs written by Max Martin – who wrote classics for the likes of Britney Spears, Katy Perry, The Weeknd and Backstreet Boys. It’s playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
EXHIBITIONS
Great Yarmouth and London TATTOO: BRITISH TATTOO ART REVEALED
This ground-breaking touring exhibition is a comprehensive history of British tattooing and will be on display at Time and Tide Museum until March 8 2020. Challenging pre-conceptions and celebrating tattooing’s rich artistic heritage, it features the largest gathering of real objects and tattoo artwork ever assembled in the UK. There’s photographs, historic artefacts from as far back as when Captain Cook brought the word ‘tattoo’ to the west and more than 400 original artworks –including 100 silicone arms decorated by the UK’s best tattooists.
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DORA MAAR
Opening November 20 at Tate Modern, this is the first ever UK retrospective of the work of Dora Maar (1907–97) whose photographs and photomontages became celebrated icons of surrealism. The exhibition features over 200 works from a career spanning six decades, and shows her eye for the unusual in the medium of commercial commissions, social documentary photographs and paintings. She met Pablo Picasso in 1935 when she became his main mistress and also his muse. Their relationship of around eight years had a profound effect on both their careers.
LONDON
Ian McKellen On Stage Until January 5 2020 To celebrate his 80th Birthday, Sir Ian McKellen is bringing his one-man show, to the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre, following a tour of the UK visiting venues that have had a part to play in his career. From performances in Shakespeare, Checkov and Beckett, to playing Gandalf, Magneto and Mel Hutchwright, this unique show is full of personal anecdotes and gives the audience the chance to ask questions and interact with the legendary actor and activist himself. Proceeds will be donated to thespian charities.
MANCHESTER
Priscilla Queen of the Desert November 25-30 Touring the UK with a run at Palace Theatre Manchester, this iconic musical stars Strictly Come Dancing winner Joe McFadden. Based on the Oscar-winning film, Priscilla is the adventure of three friends who board an old bus bound for the Outback to put on the show of a lifetime. Their epic journey is a heart-warming story of self-discovery and acceptance. There’s a glittering array of costumes, fabulous feathers and a non-stop parade of dancefloor classics including It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive and I Love The Nightlife.
Untitled (Hand-Shell) 1934 Photograph, gelatin silver print on paper 401 x 289 mm Centre Pompidou, Musée national d’art moderne, Paris Photo © Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / image Centre Pompidou, MNAM- CCI © ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2019
LONDON
Touching The Void November 9-February 29 The stage adaptation of Joe Simpson’s memoir Touching the Void is coming to The Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End. Set in 1985 in the Peruvian Andes, two climbers (Simpson and his friend Simon Yates) are stranded on the side of a mountain and have to make impossible choices to survive. Life-affirming and darkly funny, David Greig’s adaptation brings the icy landscape thrillingly to life with clever tricks of lighting and takes the audience on an epic adventure that asks how far you’d be willing to go to stay alive.
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UK holidays
Stratford-upon-Avon
Anthony Pearce enjoys the cultural charms of this quaint medieval market town – the quintessentially English birthplace of Shakespeare
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tratford-upon-Avon packs a lot of cultural punch into its tiny centre. Home to William Shakespeare’s birthplace and gravesite, the Warwickshire town has built its entire economy around the legacy of the Bard; at times, it can seem as if all of Stratford is a stage. During a recent visit, on a crisp sunny autumn day, we find actors in full Elizabethan dress performing Romeo and Juliet near the banks of the River Avon, a short walk from the imposing redbrick RSC, home to the 1,040-seat Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the 426-seat Swan Theatre. Just down the road, and under the same umbrella, is The Other Place, a creative hub for learning and research with
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a 200-seat studio theatre – the equivalent of London’s Young Vic to the Old Vic. In fact, there are enough Shakespearean attractions to keep even the playwright’s most obsessive fans enthralled for a lifetime. Aside from the theatres, there are the properties managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. That includes, of course, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, a restored 16th-century half-timbered house on Henley Street; Shakespeare’s New Place, a museum in the 16th-century home next door to where the Bard settled and eventually died, with an adjacent Elizabethan garden; and Hall’s Croft, the home of William Shakespeare’s daughter, Susanna Hall. Out of town, in the village of Shottery, there is the ever-popular
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, a 12-roomed farmhouse where the wife of Shakespeare lived as a child; plus Mary Arden’s Farm, the farmhouse of Shakespeare’s mother, Mary, in Wilmcote. Visitors can enjoy unlimited visits to all five properties for 12 months for a very reasonable £22.50 (children £14.50; concession £21.00). In town, and free to visit, is Shakespeare’s funerary monument, his memorial, in the Grade I-listed Holy Trinity Church. It is the architecture of Stratford’s oldest, and perhaps most beautiful, building (and its grounds) that makes this worth the visit. Will those with no interest in Shakespeare’s life and works get as much out of Stratford-upon-Avon as those
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UK Stratford-upon-Avon
with? It’s true there aren’t masses of non-Bard-related activities to enjoy, but the town remains an enjoyable place to wander around and admire the Tudor timber-framed houses that still stand. It’s the sort of quaint English setting, with its cafés, bookstores and sweetshops, that many American tourists dream of. The timber-framed Hathaway Tea Rooms (19 High Street) dates back to 1610 and is a good place to have a cuppa before beginning an exploration of the town. On Henley Street, you will find the Beatrix Potter gift shop, Timeless Tales – across from Shakespeare’s Birthplace – as well as Magic Alley & The Creaky Cauldron, a museum described as “a phantasmagorical emporium of magical delights from wands and spells to sweets and quirky gifts”, and the MAD Museum, the UK’s only mechanical art and design space. For such a historic town, there are far too many chain restaurants and coffee shops, meaning the town’s culinary offering isn’t always befitting of its cultural prowess. That said, there is an increasing amount of good options: on the first and third Saturday of each
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month, you’ll find a farmer’s market on Rother Street, and there’s a Sunday market on Bridge Street. During our recent visit we stayed at The Arden on Waterside (see box), which opened the No 44 Brasserie earlier this year, and offers a menu of classic dishes as well as small plates to share. El Greco (27 Rother Street), run by husband-and-wife team Demetri and Flair Gougoulias, serves excellent traditional Greek fare, including meze. You could argue that the real star of Stratford is the River Avon, where you can kayak, take a gondola, river cruise or cross on the hand-operated chain ferry, which was built in 1937 as the last of its kind to be used in Britain. Over on the eastern bank, you’ll find a butterfly farm, a Ferris wheel, tennis club and the
Recreation Ground, a large green space with views of the RSC Theatre across the water. Google Stratford-upon-Avon and you’ll see its famous timber-framed buildings (including Shakespeare’s Birthplace), but the town’s most beautiful area is its riverside. Perhaps the best way to enjoy the Avon (and the canal, which snakes off it) is with a cocktail in hand on the balcony of the RSC’s rooftop bar and restaurant, particularly as the sun sets. There are also, as you would expect, a number of excellent pubs, including The Garrick (25 High Street), an inn since 1718 (with the building dating back to the 14th century) and Old Thatch Tavern (Greenhill St), which dates back to the 15th century. The Dirty Duck (Waterside) is nearly always lively. ABTAmag.com
The Arden Opposite the RSC Theatre is the red-brick Arden Hotel, an elegant 45-bedroom boutique hotel in an area of the town known as the Waterside. On a recent visit, we stayed in one its master bedrooms, a spacious, airy and well-appointed room with a huge bathroom and nice views across the street to the pretty Swan Theatre and adjacent park. For those hoping to catch a play, you couldn’t ask for a better location – the RSC Theatre is about ten steps away, and The Other Place no more than two minutes. The hotel’s rooms are divided into classic (standard), superior and deluxe and master rooms, plus feature suites, each named after a type of tree (we stayed in the Monkey Puzzle). The newly opened No 44 Brasserie is one of the key draws, serving some of the town’s best food. There are classics, but its small sharing plates are the highlights. These include Vietnamese-style tofu spring rolls; braised sticky lamb belly, tamarind and roast pumpkin; and pear and endive salad with Roquefort dressing and walnuts. The cocktails, such as the secret-recipe ‘Shakespeare’s Secret’, are also excellent.
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Europe WTM
Europe Find out more about the European market with six conference events not to be missed at WTM London this year Moscow Moscow City Tourism Committee will be showcasing the city’s world-class art and food scene. On-stand attractions include a ‘Build your own Moscow’ art experience, hosted by artist Maxim Goshko-Dankov, a VR technology experience, supplied by Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery, enabling participants to immerse themselves in two of Russia’s most iconic artists’ studios: Natalia Goncharova and Kazimir Malevich. There will also be a panoramic LED screen and Russian food and drink delights. EU1950
Taking Responsibility for Safety & Security The reputation of countries and destinations can be easily and quickly damaged by events, whether they are natural disasters, health scares, crime, conflicts, or terrorism. Speakers, including Nikki White, director of destinations and sustainability at ABTA, look at what can be done to minimise the risks and create greater resilience in order to protect tourists, investments and livelihoods. Monday, 13.45-14.45, Europe Inspiration Zone
The Challenge of Building Sustainable Hotels This panel discussion looks at how new hotels should be built, taking into account the difficult operating environment that climate change will produce in the not too distant future. The speakers will look at how to ensure developers and hotel chains maintain a focus on sustainability, despite the increasing separation between hotel ownership and operation. Monday, 12.30-13.30, Europe Inspiration Zone
Decarbonising Travel and Tourism: Is the Industry Doing Enough? As awareness of the climate change crisis grows, with school strikes and the Extinction Rebellion movement, it seems that ‘business as usual’ is no longer a sensible strategy. This panel discussion will look at the ways in which the challenge of reducing carbon emissions can be addressed across the travel industry. Wednesday, 11.15-12.15, Europe Inspiration Zone
Air-Born: What Affluent Millennials Want From International Travel Brands This discussion is part of BBC Global News’ award-winning series of Affluent Millennials studies. It looks specifically at how they engage with airline brands, and how to reach and connect with them as an advertiser, exploring the importance of flexibility, customer service and on-board entertainment, as well as what brand values resonate with this group and how best to serve them going forward. Monday, 15.00-15.45, Europe Inspiration Zone
Gathering Storms for Airlines and Airports Gear Up for a High Tech Future After recent airline failures, such as Thomas Cook, expert John Strickland looks at the challenges facing the industry and the impact of factors from Brexit to USChina trade tensions, to fuel price volatility and hints of softening markets. There will also be an interview with Henk Jan Gerzee, chief digital officer of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which aims to be a world leader in the use of technology, biometrics and AI. Wednesday, 15.00-16.00, Europe Inspiration Zone
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City Guide:
Athens
The Greek capital offers a heady concoction of antiquity and modernity, with some gastronomic excellence thrown in
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hether it’s ancient history, contemporary culture or super cool restaurants, Athens has something for everyone. This is a city where antiquity sits right alongside modernity, where you will find radical bookshops a few streets away from parliamentary buildings. It’s a heady concoction that gives the Greek capital a feeling like no other. This is one of the oldest cities in the world, where you can spend a morning visiting Unesco sites followed by an afternoon shopping and an evening taking in the buzzing nightlife. No trip to Athens would be complete without a trip to the Acropolis, the remains of the ancient city. The Acropolis’s crowning jewel is the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena, the city’s patron goddess. Athens is famed for being the birthplace of democracy and the Parthenon acts as a constant reminder – high up on a hill in the middle of the city, it can be seen from any rooftop and offers the perfect backdrop to sunset drinks. Admission is €20 and can be booked online. The relatively new Acropolis Museum (€12) is a five-minute walk from the Acropolis and is well worth a visit,
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housing many of the monuments that were found on the hillside of the Acropolis. But not all of Athens is ancient history. The city is also home to a thriving contemporary arts scene, with numerous galleries. Among them is the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC), home to the Greek National Opera (GNO) – the country’s sole opera house, which, founded in 1939, emerged out of a 150-year history of a flourishing opera tradition on the Ionian Islands. SNFCC is an architectural treasure, designed by Renzo Piano in an abandoned seafront piece of land in the southern suburbs. Modern art fans should visit the newest blockbuster museum in Athens, Basil & Elise (B&E) Goulandris Foundation, which showcases work by Picasso, Pollock, Bacon, and Greek masters such as Moralis, Tsarouchis and Ghika. There’s also Onassis Stegi, where innovative Greek artists showcase their work. When it comes to eating and drinking Athens has got you covered. The city boasts four Michelin-starred restaurants and four more that have been awarded the Bib
Gourmand. Many of their dishes are seafood or fish based, with the latter sourced directly from fishing boats plying the Aegean. In fact, there is so much fresh produce here. Order a mouth-watering choriatiki salad and expect organic tomatoes from Vravrona, cucumber from Kalyvia, oregano and capers from Mount Hymettus, black olives from Megara, virgin olive oil from Troezen, red wine vinegar from Spata, onion and garlic from Marathon and feta cheese from Lavrio. Plaka is the area of Athens probably best known by tourists, in the shadow of the Acropolis and with a villagey feel, but nearby Psyri, with its nightlife and small artisan shops, is worth a look, too. The Athens Riviera, the coastline to the south of the city, begins in Piraeus and ends at the tip of Cape Sounion. It’s just a short distance away from the centre, and the beaches and bays are popular with locals and visitors alike. For those looking to relax, 24km south of the city on the Athenian Riviera, is the healing Lake Vouliagmeni – a natural wonder of therapeutic emerald warms and labyrinthine underwater cave. See vistgreece.gr
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Europe Greek Islands
Sailing Greece Sam Ballard cruises the Aegean Sea to sample the delights of its 6,000 islands
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rom Mykonos to Santorini, the Aegean Sea is one of the most idyllic cruise destinations in the world. In 2019, more than 5.2 million cruise passengers are expected to come to Greece – that’s a ten per cent rise on the previous year. But why are Greek cruises so popular? For starters, Greece is one of the sunniest countries in Europe. Athens has about 2,771 hours of sunshine every year, almost double that of London. The food is unpretentious and delicious and there is an abundance of culture and ancient sites to visit. There is also a huge amount of choice – Greece spans 130,000 square kilometres and 6,000 islands. In theory you could visit
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a different Greek island every day for 16 years and still not visit them all. When it comes to operators, there is plenty to go off, too. For those wanting to board a cruise ship, there are the major American brands, such as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC; luxury operators like Silversea, Crystal and Seabourn; or Greek operators like Celestyal. In fact, such is the popularity of Greece that you would be hard pushed to find an operator that doesn’t run itineraries in the region. A Greek cruise with one of these lines will typically call at the more popular tourist spots like Patmos, Mykonos and Santorini, with a few surprises thrown in for good measure (Celestyal calls at
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Greek Food Greek food is now widely enjoyed in UK, but it’s best experienced in situ – in the sunshine, looking out over a harbour, a cold bottle of Mythos in hand. There are many well-known Greek dishes, but what is sometimes overlooked is the sheer diversity of the cuisine, which differs region by region. Here we give an overview... Across the region, you will find herbs, such as thyme, oregano, basil, mint, used liberally in cooking, while olive oil, which has a higher per capita consumption rate than anywhere else in the world, is ubiquitous – dishes are cooked in it and dressed in it. Oregano is used to great affect in souvlaki, grilled pork skewers marinated in olive oil, lemon and garlic, as well as Greek salad, made with garlic, olive oil, onions, peppers and a big chunk of feta. Meze is an essential part of the Greek dining experience, usually served as snacks while drinking or as starters, and include dips such as tzatziki, a mix of yoghurt, cucumber, garlic and mint; taramosalata, a fishy purée, which is pink in colour; and sometimes hummus. Spices such as cumin nod to the country’s Byzantine heritage and migration from Anatolia, and you’ll find Turkish influence in dishes such as moussaka, made of layers of aubergine, minced meat and sometimes potatoes; imam baildi, a type of stuffed aubergine; syprup-drenched pastries that are similar to baklava; and gyros, pork or chicken cooked on a vertical rotisserie (like a doner kebab or shawarma). Keftedes arni, lamb meatballs, and dolmades, stuffed rice wrapped in vine leaves, also have Eastern origins.
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Many of these dishes are well known outside of Greece, but the islands produce more curiosities. On the Ionian Islands, Venetian influence remains after 400 years of occupation. In Corfu, the group’s largest island, you will find pastitsada, which is a traditional Sunday dinner: beef stewed with pasta, tomatoes and paprika, as well as bourdeto, fish cooked in tomato sauce with onion, garlic and pepper. You will also find these delights on nearby Paxos, accessible by boat from Corfu. In the Aegean, you will find octopuses and an abundance of other seafood, such as red mullets with a barley rusk crust, on Mytilini Island; fish with sesame paste on Rhodes; capers and chub mackerel picarel omelettes on Santorini and Syros Islands; and fish pie on Kimolos Island. But the diversity isn’t just confined to the islands. In Athens, try dishes such as mprizoles, a simple but delicious beef steak cooked with olive oil and lemon juice, or sparangia kai aginares, asparagus and artichoke hearts in olive oil and lemon juice. In Greece’s southernmost peninsula, the Peloponnese, olives, tomatoes, artichokes and aubergines grow, and olive oil, goat’s cheese and honey are produced. Dishes include chargrilled lobster, served with salt, olive oil and lemon. Macedonia, in Northern Greece, is another region rich in produce, including Edessa cherries, peaches, apricots and apples, and Kozani’s saffron crocus, which produces the spice saffron. Dishes here, such as soutzoukakia, meat patties with coriander, pepper and cumin, are spicier than in the rest of the country. In the west, you will find Spetzofai, spicy sausage cooked with kerato (sweet green peppers), tomato and onion. Indeed, there are few cuisines that compare.
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Europe Greek Islands
Milos and offers day trips to Delos for those who don’t want to mingle with the sunseekers in Mykonos). They’re the perfect introduction to customers wanting plenty of sun and the chance to relax. However, travelling on the larger ships isn’t for everybody. If your client likes the idea of sailing the Aegean, but would rather do it more inconspicuously – and perhaps visit some of the lesser known islands – there are numerous options available. Intrepid Travel offers ten-day sailing trips on a small boat that calls at islands most of us will have never heard of, like Kythnos, Serifos, Kimolos and Polyaigos. These ports are so small that zodiacs are used to transport guests to the mainland, and dinners for the entire ship’s company can be hosted in the traditional tavernas that line the old harbours. These itineraries, which are part of
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Intrepid Travel’s sailing range, take place on board ships that can handle no more than 12 passengers, who can either get involved in helping to run the ship or just sit back and relax. The company also offers Adventure Cruise itineraries, which are on ships that can take up to 50 passengers. They offer a more intimate experience than the larger ships but are more of a traditional cruise experience than the company’s sailing holidays. If you’ve got customers wanting to charter their own yacht for a holiday then Sunsail, the yacht charter company, could be a great option. Sunsail offers entire ship charters (skippered or un-skippered), cabin charters and social flotillas. Guests taking a charter can plot their own course along the Grecian coast – and choose to drop anchor whenever the mood takes them. With such a unique – and varied –
choice available, the company has ramped up its work with the trade in recent times, according to head of sales Laura Bowtell. “We recognise the importance of having strong trade partners and over the last 18 months we have spent a lot of time investing in these,” she explains. “We make everything incredibly simple as we understand our product offering is both unique and complex. We have dedicated members of the sales team to answer all questions and a consistent fleet across all of our global bases to enable agents to sell our holidays easily.” The amount of options available to customers is staggering. However, whether your client wants to cruise, or sail the Aegean, there are plenty of options available. Five million people can’t be wrong. ABTAmag.com
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The Americas Our pick of the events covering North and South America and the Caribbean at the 2019 WTM London conference How America Travels: Learn Where and Why Americans are Travelling and How to Capture your Share of the Demand Join Zane Kerby, president & CEO of the American Society of Travel Advisors, to look at the data from their annual research study. Highlighting the nuances of the American traveller’s psyche, from their view of the economy and how it impacts their travel spending to their perceptions of certain destinations to what motivates their travel planning. Monday, 11.00-11.45, Americas Inspiration Zone
Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority Legendary Antiguan cricketer and tourism ambassador, Sir Viv Richards, will be on stand throughout the show to talk about the latest news from the twin islands. Antigua will be adding over 2,000 rooms to its inventory by 2021, with the opening of a number of new resorts and hotels. CA245
Women in Travel and The TreadRight Foundation present: Céline Cousteau on the Transformative Power of Travel for Women Celebrated explorer, filmmaker, activist and TreadRight Ambassador Céline Cousteau will be interviewed by Women in Travel Founder Alessandra Alonso about her travels around the world. From tribes in the Amazon to artisans in Europe, Céline has witnessed first hand the impact that travel can have in empowering women. Monday, 14.00-14.45, Americas Inspiration Zone
Cultivating Strong Partnerships in an Increasingly Sceptical World Dependence on new technology, political and economic turmoil and increasing demands from customers and shareholders alike mean that many partnerships fail or never get off the ground. This panel is hosted by Frank Belzer, SVP portfolio sales at Universal Parks and Resorts who shares the secrets of developing and maintaining productive and healthy business partnerships. Monday, 16.00-17.00, Americas Inspiration Zone
Cities: Tourism, Sustainability & Resilience Tourism to cities is booming, facilitated by budget airlines and the increasing popularity of city breaks, particularly among millennials. This panel discussion looks at how promotion of cities is now less important, and how increasingly destination marketing organisations (DMOs) are focusing on the sustainable management of tourism growth using marketing as a management tool. Tuesday, 12.45-13.45, Americas Inspiration Zone
Decent Employment This discussion looks at the reputation of the travel industry for offering low-paid casual work and asks what it can do to counter this perception, and demonstrate the opportunities that exist within the sector for progression? The panel includes people from hotels and tour operators who will share their initiatives, all designed to open the sector for employment and offer progression to those struggling to find employment. Wednesday, 14.15-15.30, Americas Inspiration Zone
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Americas Toronto
Under the surface Diverse breaks in Canada’s largest city are booming. James Litston discovers what makes Toronto tick
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dmiring skyline views is an essential part of many a city break, but few vantage points are quite so immersive as from Toronto’s CN Tower. That’s because I’m not just gazing out from an ordinary viewing deck: I’m standing atop the western hemisphere’s tallest freestanding structure. More specifically, I’m on the roof of its revolving restaurant, hanging over the edge and looking down onto skyscrapers and Lake Ontario. Dressed in an orange survival suit and harnessed to super-strong cables, there’s absolutely no danger of plummeting to the streets below, but nevertheless it’s an adrenaline-pumping, heart-pounding experience. Encouraged by the guide, my six-strong group of fellow daredevils lean backwards over the precipice, then turn around to adopt Superman poses while looking down
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at the ground almost a third of a mile below. It’s nerve-shredding but exhilarating being out here in the elements, and I’m thankful that I packed my head for heights. This is EdgeWalk, one of Toronto’s most superlative experiences and a highlight of any stay here in Canada’s largest (and North America’s fourth-largest) city. What makes this more surprising is that Toronto was not long ago written off as rather provincial and dull, but in recent years its fortunes have rapidly changed. A resurgent waterfront, energetic foodie scene and calendar of festivals have added to its vibrancy, while exposure on the TV series Suits (much of which was shot here) has greatly helped to boost the city’s profile. Heading up the CN Tower is one of the must-do experiences recommended by Abercrombie & Kent, along with waterfront biking and taking a Chef’s
Historic and cultural attractions add to the mix of Toronto’s appeal Tour through diverse neighbourhoods. “Our clients really enjoy Toronto’s foodie scene and creative counterculture that has parallels with the likes of Williamsburg and Copenhagen,” says the company’s managing director, Kerry Golds. “As well as being great for city breaks, it pairs well with New York, Chicago, Montreal and Boston for a colourful multi-centre. The launch of British Airways’ new Club Suite on the Toronto route in October is certain to go down well with our discerning customer base.”
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Tours Abercrombie & Kent has three nights at Four Seasons Toronto from £1,999pp, including flights abercrombiekent.co.uk Titan Travel includes a three-night Toronto stay in its 12-day ‘Colours of the Canadian Fall’ escorted tour costing from £2,549pp, including flights, accommodation, door-todoor transfers, guiding, group excursions and some meals titantravel.co.uk Tauck concludes an eight-day Great Lakes cruise with a two-night Toronto stay, from £5,490pp or from £6,170pp for 2020 departures, including flights tauck.co.uk
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Gothic Revival mansion Casa Loma
Feeling surprisingly hungry after descending from such lofty heights, I seek out some of Toronto’s favourite foods at lively St Lawrence Market. Located in the historic Old Town district, the market showcases regional foodstuffs from produce to artisanal goods, alongside a range of brunch spots and restaurants. Urged by a vendor, I opt for a sandwich stuffed with peameal bacon, a hearty snack that he promises is a must-try Toronto tradition. Clients will find more foodie treats in central Kensington Market, as well as authentic ethnic fare nearby in Chinatown, Greek Town and Little Italy. Also worth seeking out are the busy street scenes in Yonge-Dundas Square (which has parallels with New York’s Times Square) and the Distillery District, where former warehouses have been transformed into
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eateries, cafés and one-of-a-kind shops. Youthful clients will also appreciate Queen Street West and West Queen Street for their mix of independent shops, quirky galleries and innovative restaurants. Historic and cultural attractions also add to the mix of Toronto’s appeal. Tucked among the city skyscrapers are attractions such as Royal Ontario Museum and Casa Loma, a splendid, Gothic Revival mansion and museum. (Both of these are included, along with general admission to the CN Tower, in the Toronto CityPass, which makes a convenient, commissionable upsell.) Another cultural big-hitter is the Art Gallery of Toronto, whose contemporary collections and Centre for Indigenous & Canadian Art are particularly special. No less historic is the landmark Fairmont Royal York, which I pop into to check out the update it’s undergone
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Americas Toronto
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Clockwise from top left: Food stalls at St Lawrence market; EdgeWalk at the CN Tower; the Royal Ontario Museum of art, culture and natural history; the vibrant Yonge-Dundas Square
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Clients have ample opportunity to seek out leafier urban adventures for its 90th birthday. Much of the hotel’s original elegance has been restored to its former glory and further enhanced by the launch of Reign (an all-new, Canadianstyle brasserie) and Clockwork Champagne & Cocktails, a lounge-style bar. Better yet, the hotel is connected to PATH, the underground network of pedestrian tunnels, so clients can access Union Station and other downtown destinations without going outside if it’s icy or wet. That said, the great outdoors is one of Toronto’s biggest assets. From canoeing or kayaking on Lake Ontario to cycling along
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its shore, clients have ample opportunity to seek out some leafier urban adventures. Those keen to explore on two wheels can join a tour or explore on their own by using the city’s bike-share scheme, which costs from $7 (£4) to access for 24 hours. On sunny days, waterfront neighbourhoods such as The Beaches come into their own, while those keen to go further afield can experience the region’s thundering icon, Niagara Falls, within two hours by public transport. For my own brush with nature, I take a trip to the Toronto Islands, which sit just offshore from central Queen’s Quay and are easily reached by ferry. Once attached to the mainland before being cut off by violent storms, Centre Island, Ward’s Island and Hanlan’s Point are a favourite playground of Torontonians seeking a change from the city. Being leafy, laidback and totally car-free, the islands are a world away from all the big-city bustle,
and their beaches throng with daytrippers in summer. Thanks to being low-lying and flat, the Toronto Islands are perfect for cycling. There are landmarks such as lighthouses and yacht clubs to discover, plus plenty of cafés in which to refuel. It’s worth recommending that clients hire a bike once here to explore, or even join a half-day bike tour (these are prebookable through Viator). Also pre-bookable are hour-long sightseeing cruises that stop at Centre Island – ideal for clients who aren’t so keen on active explorations. As for me, I’m happy to find a spot to sit on the waterfront and admire the view across Inner Harbour back towards the city. Standing proud above the skyscrapers, the CN Tower crowns the skyline, providing a very different perspective to my view from earlier on. It all adds up to a memorable combination of experiences in this underrated city that feels like it’s really come into its own. ABTAmag.com
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The ABTA Country Guides are published once a year in five editions: ABTA Member Services; UK & Europe; Middle East & Africa; Asia & Australasia; and The Americas & The Caribbean. Containing vital information about destinations across the globe, such as geography, currency, weather, tourist office contact information, foreign office advice and more, the guides are an essential tool for travel agents.
TRALASIA ASIA & AUS
18 untry Guide 20 Country By Co
– Volume 4:
TRALASIA ASIA & AUS
Y Y BY COUNTR ABTA COUNTR
Distributed to travel agencies across the country, the guides are intended to be kept on shelves, shared among staff, and referred to regularly, helping agents learn more about destinations and sell more holidays. The comprehensive guides are unique in publishing and now available online.
2018
See countryguides.ABTAmag.com for more
Africa Our selection of the best WTM London sessions about this flourishing tourism region Is Tourism a Strategy for Development? Which forms of tourism can create inclusive growth contributing to growing a diversified local economy, creating local employment and raising the standards of living of local people in a sustainable way? Can tourism bring local economic benefit and conserve the environment? What kinds of tourism can be used by local people for their economic development? This panel presents a wide range of ways of using tourism for development. Monday, 10.15-11.45, Middle East & Africa Inspiration Zone
South African Tourism The South African Tourism stand will have WTM’s first interactive graffiti wall and visitors are invited to try their hand at street art, with the assistance of Soweto local Charles Ncube. Street art is an important part of South Africa’s culture, allowing artists to express their creativity, their passions and their frustrations in an open, public space. Many of the striking pieces comment on the social, political and cultural zeitgeist, making them fascinating insights into the country. Monday, AF500
Shifting Perceptions Through Wildlife, Film and Forward Thinking Policy Michaela Guzy, an American media executive and entrepreneur, and Dr Memunatu Pratt, minister of tourism and cultural affairs, talk about they relaunched Sierra Leone’s tourism industry, effectively changing people’s perceptions of the country by focusing on its natural beauty and wildlife – including the western chimpanzees –and also introducing a visaon-arrival policy. Monday, 14.15-15.00, Middle East & Africa Inspiration Zone
Accessing Funds for Sustainable Tourism Development in West Africa: Land of the Largest Has High Returns on Investment This summit showcases the abundant investment opportunities and the available funds for tourism infrastructure in West Africa. It is a region that possesses some of the most fascinating attractions in the world, but the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) is still lagging due to a false perception that Africa is a risky FDI destination, compounded by the lack of regional level branding. Monday 15.30-18.00, Middle East & Africa Inspiration Zone
Saudi Arabia: A Tourism Plan for the Future As Saudi Arabia undergoes a period of unprecedented socio-economic transformation, the kingdom’s tourism industry has emerged as a key growth driver, with public and private funds being invested in major infrastructure, including game-changing giga-projects. This session discusses the country’s ambitious plans for sustainable tourism development with a view to leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come. Tuesday, 11.30-12.15, Middle East & Africa Inspiration Zone
Changing the Face of International Development and Dispelling Saviour Behaviour In an age where behaviour is really starting to change around consumerism and responsible lifestyles, travel companies must show that they are making an effort to understand the effect tourism is having on communities. This panel looks at how companies can engage with communities in ways that do not negatively impact or stereotype those they are trying to support. Wednesday, 14.45-15.45, Middle East & Africa Inspiration Zone
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Africa Uganda
Wildlife in your midst From gorillas, chimpanzees and tree-dwelling lions to luxuriant lakes and primordial mountains, Uganda’s got the lot, as Karl Cushing discovers
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hear them long before I see them, the dense, shaking treetop canopy providing more than ample cover for the fast-moving, wildly ‘whooping’ chimpanzees – and proving more than a match for my slow-focusing camera. But then there they are, a whole group nonchalantly stretched out on the boughs of a fallen tree, just feet before me, lorded over by the alpha male as he acquiesces to an attentive preening session. Watching the group dynamics and interactions is mesmerising. I stand transfixed, rooted to the spot. I’m in western Uganda’s Kibale National Park, where chimps are the undisputed stars of the show. They are, however, but one of 13 primate species in the park, which claims the highest
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density of primates in Africa. Some prove remarkably easy to spot, not least the black-and-white colobuses I spy from the grounds of Primate Lodge (ugandalodges. com/primate), my homely haven mere metres from the park’s HQ, the starting point for tracking. More elusive are the galagos, or ‘bush babies’. With night-time being the right time to glimpse the little critters, I sign up for a private night walk where, thanks to the keen-eyed, torch-bearing ranger, I tick off two of the park’s three species, although I fail to catch a nocturnal glimpse of civet or serval cats, which feature among the local predators. Birding is another big draw, with Kibale home to 372 of Uganda’s thousand-plus species of bird.
Take a tour Rainbow Tours’ 14-day private tour, Pearl of Africa: The Best of Africa, from £8,170pp including flights, ticks off a lot of parks, from Bwindi and Kibale to Queen Elizabeth and Ziwa, for rhino tracking (rainbowtours. co.uk; 020 7666 1266).
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Animal welfare ABTA has produced the first Global Welfare Guidance for Animals in Tourism, supported by six manuals covering specific topics. These are practical guides for travel businesses as well as suppliers of animal experiences. The aim is to encourage good practice in animal protection and welfare. The manuals set out unacceptable and discouraged practices, minimum requirements for animal welfare and best practice. They bring together existing guidance and are intended for travel providers to issue to their suppliers, for tourist boards and relevant destination authorities as well as animal attractions. Developed in consultation with more than 200 stakeholders including animal welfare experts, the manuals ensure that everyone working in the travel industry can be informed and up to date with the latest guidance and good practice in animal welfare. ABTA will publish updated guidelines by the end of the year. See ABTA.com
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Top: Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to tree-dwelling lions; Bottom: Elephants roam close to Murchison Falls
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Africa Uganda
Don’t miss ABTA’s new Adventure Travel Conference in London on 19 November. Visit abta.com/abtaevents to register
Wildlife aside, the ‘Pearl of Africa’ offers a riot of experiences PLAINS SPEAKING
After Kibale’s primate-packed rainforest, the vast open plains and gorges of Semliki National Park, a few hours’ drive away, offer a refreshing contrast. While big game is limited for now, and it lacks big cats, plans are afoot to restock and restore Semliki to its former glory. For now, it offers stunning landscapes and the sumptuous Semliki Safari Lodge (wildplacesafrica.com), where I lap up the daily game drives, my afternoon forays capped by sundowners amid the acacia. Come nightfall the return home offers
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the chance to pick out everything from nightjars and owls to a huge African Rock Python blocking the path as it slithers out on the prowl. Other times I content myself with kicking around my palatial platformed tent’s terrace or lazing around the lodge’s main lounge area. From this vantage point I witness the wildlife stir around me, from the endlessly grazing warthog below to the monkey business in the distant tree line. As the sun falls below the horizon, I flank the fire and allow myself to be lulled by the sounds of the bush. Alongside visits to Semliki Chimpanzee Project, the park’s forest areas serve up excellent birding, bolstered by a guided boat tour on nearby Lake Albert. Here, I tick off all manner of other sightings while peeling my eyes for my ultimate goal – a shoebill. Hours pass as we fruitlessly scour the banks, but when we finally spot one it’s an unforgettable experience. Standing a
full four incongruous feet against the grassy papyrus backdrop, it fixes me with the fierce, piercing yellow eyes that float above its gargantuan hooked beak before breaking off for some disinterested preening. I’m not done though. Later, in Entebbe, I chalk up a second sighting on an extended scouring of the papyrus-lined channels of Lake Victoria’s Mabamba Swamps. With ten National Parks in the country, however, from remote Kidepo to Bwindi with its gorillas and Queen Elizabeth with its tree-dwelling lions, I hardly scratch the surface of the country’s possibilities. Wildlife aside, the ‘Pearl of Africa’ offers a riot of experiences, from hiking the slopes of the snow-capped Rwenzoris and tackling Mt Stanley to croc and hippo encounters at Murchison Falls and rafting at Jinja, the country’s adventure capital. One thing’s for sure: there’s a lot more to Uganda than gorillas. ABTAmag.com
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Gorilla tracking In these information-heavy days, it can be hard to experience genuine jaw-drop awe when doing something for the first time – but exceptions remain, a first encounter with a group of mountain gorillas being one. Uganda is arguably the best place to see the world’s largest primates in the wild, having more gorillas than neighbouring Rwanda and without the same level of security concerns as the DRC. Uganda also has far more groups of habituated gorillas to track, while the $600pp tracking permit fee (rising to $700 in July 2020) is a steal compared to the $1,500pp charged in Rwanda. Gorilla tracking is focused on two national parks in southwest Uganda. Most opt for the more accessible, enchantingly named Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (bwindiforestnationalpark.com). Home to half the world’s population of mountain gorillas, the park now offers 17 habituated groups to track, plus you have the option of tracking chimpanzees, too. By contrast, lesser-visited Mgahinga (mgahinganationalpark.com), part of the Virunga Conservation Area that spills over from the DRC and Rwanda, offers visitors the chance to track just one habituated group, the Nyakagezi, and there are no chimps. What it does have is endangered golden monkeys and excellent trekking on its three volcanoes. Bwindi has been offering gorilla tourism since 1993 and gorilla numbers have been steadily increasing in
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recent years. Following the anticipation-fuelled trek, your guide finding a path through the thick forest blanketing the majestic, mist-covered mountains, you’ll be gifted an hour with your group of gorillas once sighted. Trekking is best attempted from June to September or December to February, avoiding the rainy seasons when tracking conditions are slightly tougher. You’ll need to be more than 15 years old, mustn’t be sick at the time of your visit and you’ll need a level of physical fitness to reach them. That said, older or less physically fit visitors are generally allocated the nearest groups, while capping the number of visitors to each habituated group at eight per day keeps groups small and minimises disruption. Bwindi’s gorillas are spread out over four sectors – Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east and Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south, home to some great habituated groups, the Nkuringo tracking trailhead and lovely, lofty lodges such as Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge and Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. Gorilla Forest Camp offers luxurious tented accommodation and, if you’re lucky, you may spy gorillas in your grounds. Not that gorillas are the only wildlife in town. Aside from chimp tracking, Bwindi is a prime birding spot, its myriad species including a healthy number of endemics, while interactions with local Batwa communities combine well with scenic forest walks.
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Are you prepared for the needs and desires of Generation Z? How about Generation Alpha?
Travel is one of the world’s biggest industries – and it’s only going to get bigger. Globetrender offers bespoke trend forecasting and research services to inspire, inform and guide you in your decision-making. If you would like an individual consultation on how to ready yourself for the next decade, email editor and founder Jenny Southan jenny@globetrender.com. For news and features check out our online magazine globetrender.com and sign up for our newsletter.
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Asia Pacific The top session picks at WTM London focusing on this most lucrative of destinations WTM China Tourism Forum According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Chinese visitors are the highest spenders in overseas travel, spending twice as much as Americans and four times more than British visitors. This forum aims to provide the opportunity to learn from experts in outbound travel from China. There will also be a chance to hear from experienced professionals on how to cater for increasing numbers and changing demands from Chinese visitors. Tuesday, 16.15-17.00, Asia Inspiration Zone
Personalisation and Customised Travel: The Drivers of Asian Tourism A morning of panel discussions focused on Asian travel. It begins with a look at the Chinese outbound tourism market and the digital landscape it operates in, followed by how to evolve destination management and visitors’ immersive authenticity. The two panel sessions are then wrapped up and there is the opportunity to join in a networking lunch. Wednesday, 10.30-13.30, Asia Inspiration Zone
Launching & Optimising Your Brand in the Wellness Space With the wellness industry evolving within the travel and tourism sector, more and more businesses are looking at how they can incorporate wellness-focused offerings. This presentation looks at how DMOs, hospitality brands and tour operators are integrating wellness into their business strategies. It will be followed by a Q&A and a Disconnect to Reconnect session. Tuesday, 15.00-16.00, Asia Inspiration Zone
Vietnam: How One of the World’s Fastest Growing Tourism Destinations Revamped its Web and Social Presence Vietnam is the world’s third fastest growing tourism destination, with an increase of 29.1 per cent in visitors in the latest UNWTO statistics. This talk looks at how the country’s tourism board relaunched its web and social presence in 2018, including 360-degree videos of its Unesco World Heritage Sites and the successful digital marketing campaign #MyVietnam. Monday, 13.30-14.15, Asia Inspiration Zone
Water Security: An Urgent Issue for Business and the Community Increasing population, rising standards of living and climate change are longterm issues that exacerbate the problem of ensuring that everyone has access to water. In recent years, both São Paulo and Cape Town have experienced crises which had an adverse impact on arrivals. This discussion looks at what the industry can do to ensure sufficient water supplies for themselves and for local communities. Tuesday, 10.15-11.00, Asia Inspiration Zone
Travel Broadens the Mind: Can We Do More? One of the great benefits of travel and tourism is the opportunity it creates for people from very different religions, cultures and backgrounds to meet. As tourists are increasingly demanding memorable experiences and opportunities for meaningful connections with local people this discussion takes a look at what the industry can do to foster understanding and celebrate diversity. Tuesday, 11.00-11.30, Asia Inspiration Zone
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Asia Japan
Finding peace From meditating with Buddhist monks to mindful forest walks, Sam Ballard discovers inner calm with a few days of wellness in Japan
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s we sit in our hotel room, with Typhoon Hagibis swirling around outside, we may be forgiven for wishing we were elsewhere. We are reaching the end of seven days in Japan – a majority of it spent at the ABTA Convention in Tokyo (see p20) followed by two days walking through the Japanese Alps, just off the western seaboard. We had been due to travel on to Yokohama to watch England play France in the Rugby World Cup but much of Honshu island was on lock down and the game had been cancelled, a first for the competition. Japan was about to be
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hit by the strongest typhoon in 60 years. And yet, I was hooked. Japan is an enthralling country. In Tokyo, where the neon glows all night, locals dress as their favourite comic book character and there are vending machines for anything and everything (and I mean everything). The city is huge – the greater Tokyo population has an estimated population of about 40 million people – and it’s every bit as brilliantly idiosyncratic as you have heard. Groups whizz through downtown traffic dressed as Mario Kart characters (in actual go-karts), karaoke bars are on every corner and you can even visit
an owl café, if the mood takes you. However, leave the mega metropolis and a more traditional Japan comes into view; this part of the country is equally as surprising, but for different reasons. On a two-day journey outside of Tokyo a land of lush green forests and mountains opens up in front of us; this is the Japan where the health service prescribes Forest Bathing, and Shinto, the country’s indigenous faith, and Buddhism remain deeply rooted in society. We jump on the legendary Shinkansen (bullet train), which whizzes us at 200 miles per hour, west to Kanazawa. Once there we
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drive for an hour out to Yamanaka Onsen where we walk through forests among the Kakusenkei Gorge, visit local villages and meditate with Buddhist monks. It’s a world away from the bright lights of Tokyo. In Yamanaka we eat a traditional Japanese meal in a restaurant overlooking the Daishoji river. Our guide, Nariko, talks us through the range of exotic dishes laid out in front of us in beautiful lacquerware, for which the region is renowned. We eat tofu, fish and vegetables, all expertly prepared and cooked using traditional methods; vegetable tempura, pickles and rice are stacked up across our table as we take our fill. The only thing holding us back is getting to grips with the chopsticks. During the afternoon we walk through the forests. Yamanaka is a hot spring town, where the waters are known for their healing properties. We saunter alongside
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the river, past wooden signposts upon which are written ancient haikus about the forest. Other signs tell passers-by to remember to be gentle. The land is verdant and the air is clean; you can see why the Japanese believe in the forest’s healing powers. That night we stay in Hakujukan, a luxury hotel where the smell of cedarwood hits you as soon you enter the traditional building, which is as simple on the inside as it is ornate on the outside, there are even specially designated places for meditation in the reception. Rooms are also in the traditional style with a door that opens into a porch where you change out of your shoes into slippers before entering the main living space. There’s a low level seating area while the windows are covered in a paper sliding door. If it wasn’t for the widescreen TV you could be in the Edo period. The hotel also has its own onsen, the
bathing ritual where people strip off, clean themselves fully before getting into a large bathtub where the temperatures are above 40 degrees. The pools are split by sex and the hotel contains both outside and indoor pools. When I tried it the place was deserted – much to my relief – although being ‘cheek to cheek’ with other bathers is apparently part of the experience. The next morning we walk out to the Eihei-ji temple complex. The Buddhist site has been a training centre for monks since it was first built in 1244 and is one of the centres of the Soto Zen School of Buddhism. Since then it has burnt down, been rebuilt and expanded over the centuries into its current incarnation – a sprawling mass of interconnected wooden temples, built in and around ancient trees and lush gardens. We walk up Eihei-ji’s vast staircases and around temples decorated in the Emperor’s
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Asia Japan
chrysanthemum crest and great halls with ceilings filled with squares, each one telling a different story. Our group is introduced to a Buddhist monk who takes us to a room filled with tatami mats and teaches us the art of zazen, or seated meditation. We’re taught where to sit, the position to hold – and warned that if our posture drops we’ll be struck with a cane to “help us concentrate”. He doesn’t follow through with his threat but senior monks do administer the cane when their young charges start drooping. The young monks can even adopt a position that announces that they need to be hit – to help them concentrate. All in the name of achieving enlightenment. After 20 minutes of meditation all I can think about is how dead my leg is. As I slowly uncurl myself from a poorly attempted half lotus, our
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mentor tells us that yesterday the monks meditated for about 12 hours. Once we’re out of the temple we take a walk around the town and enjoy a crab lunch in a local restaurant. News of the impending Super Typhoon has started to trouble our hosts however. Shortly afterwards, the rugby game is cancelled and we are told that transport links into Tokyo are likely to also be shut down. The decision is made to cancel our trip to Yokohama and head straight back to the capital. Our couple of days of wellness have been superb. From being hit by the jarring difference between hyper Tokyo and the slow pace of what lies beyond, to losing ourselves in walks around ancient woodlands and learning to meditate with a Buddhist monk. We’ve sampled some of the greatest things this country has to offer, and we’ve not even scratched the surface. ABTAmag.com
Pictured
Previous page left: signs in the forest tell passersby to be gentle. right: the lobby in luxury hotel Hakujukan. Below: part of the temple complex
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The Middle East WTM London addresses the issues facing an area undergoing vast change – here’s our pick of the sessions to look out for Destination-Smart For a Healthy Future in Adventure Travel Is a change required in the way we build destination brands, manage tourism growth and deliver experiences? Chris Doyle, executive director of Europe & Central Asia at ATTA moderates a discussion that includes Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah tourism and Dr. Taleb Rifai, chairman of the IIPT International Advisory Board. Rifai was secretary general of the World Tourism Organization, from 2009 for two consecutive terms. WTM says: “In this discussion, we would like to engage you in a dialogue about what it means to be destination-smart and how all of us have a role to play in ensuring that adventure tourism and tourism at large remain net-positive. In this 360-conversation, we will talk about decision makers’ perspectives on how today’s industry dynamics lead to innovative decision making tactics that ensure market success and sustainability.” Monday, 13:00-13:45 Middle East & Africa Inspiration Zone
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What the World Can learn From Expo 2020 Dubai About Creating a Once-ina-Lifetime Celebration & Setting a New Benchmark for Mega-Events Laura Faulkner, UK commissioner & project director, and Sanjive Khosla, chief commercial officer, both at Expo 2020 Dubai talk about the fair selling itself as “The World’s Greatest Show” Monday, 12:30-13:15 Middle East & Africa Inspiration Zone
Using Facebook Groups to Grow Your Hotel Business and Improve Guest Experience Facebook’s Groups feature is a powerful social media tool to build communities where members can ask questions, share experiences and have conversations about your hotel. But do you create a successful Group and avoid “Group Death”? Wednesday, 12:10-13:00 Middle East & Africa Inspiration Zone
Saudi Arabia: A Tourism Plan for the Future As Saudi Arabia undergoes a period of socio-economic transformation, the kingdom is increasingly opening its doors to tourists. It is has ambitious plans for sustainable tourism, but how will it deliver them? The event includes speaker Mark Willis, who as CEO of AccorHotels MEA is responsible for overseeing a combined network of close to 400 hotels in operation and pipeline across the region. Tuesday, 11:30-12:15 Middle East & Africa Inspiration Zone
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Middle East Dubai
City Guide
Dubai Jane Archer profiles the tiny and increasingly popular Middle East emirate where everything from luxury to adventure is biggest and best
W
here can you slip-slide over sand dunes in the morning and tuck into Michelinstarred cuisine for dinner? It’s Dubai, of course, the tiny Middle East state that has become the byword for maximalism, offering everything from adventure holidays to sublime luxury in hotels that have rocketed off the star scale. One of seven United Arab Emirates, Dubai exists for superlatives: the world’s tallest building, fastest lift, scariest water slide and biggest shopping mall are all here, waiting to impress the thousands of British tourists who come in search of sun, sea and sand each year. And, yes, to go ice-skating in the Dubai Mall. Why not? Visit Dubai figures show 667,000 Britons visited between January and July this year, making the UK the emirate’s third-largest source market. These are fly-
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Where to stay Budget
and-flop hotel guests, who can take their pick from swanky high-rises to authentic boutique properties. They can also check into the QE2, which finally opened its doors as a floating hotel in April 2018. That’s very fitting given the emirate is making waves in the cruise sector. Last winter almost 850,000 cruise passengers passed through, either on long world voyages or on one-week sailings around the Gulf states. Cruise lines invariably schedule at least two days in port, but visitors can easily spend a week here and still not have seen and done everything, which is all the more extraordinary given Dubai is no bigger than Cornwall if you exclude all the man-made hotel islands built in recent years. First stop for thrill-seekers has to be a desert safari – a hair-raising roller coaster ride through sand dunes that takes you
In Deira, near the spice market and gold souk, the 15-room Ahmedia Heritage Guest House offers an authentic Arabian alternative to the city’s glitzy high-rise hotels. Prices from about £56 including breakfast.
Mid-range
Next to a canal and metro station, JW Marriott Marquis on Sheikh Zayed Road is a stylish property where good service, spacious suites and fine dining come together. Prices from about £140 a night.
High-end
The Five Palm Jumeirah Dubai has spacious rooms and superb views thanks to its position on the ‘trunk’ of the man-made islands that make up the Palm Jumeirah. Prices from about £300 a night.
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Pictured
The incredible skyline of Dubai (above) and camel trekking in the desert (below)
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up and over (and sometimes getting stuck in) shifting sands in 4x4 Jeeps. Afternoon tours usually end at a Bedouin-style camp where a barbecue under the stars and belly dancing entertainment awaits. More thrills await at the Superman-like XLine ride over Dubai Marina. It’s a zipline on which ‘flyers’ lie horizontally and slide from 170 metres (roughly the height of London’s BT Tower) to ground level at a heart-pounding 60mph. Families can splash out on a day at Wild Wadi Waterpark where the Riptide FlowRider, scary Jumeirah Sceirah and
more serene Burj Surj promise to get the adrenaline pumping. IMG Worlds of Adventure – the world’s largest indoor theme park – has rides that loop, roll, spin and travel through jungles infested with dinosaurs. There are superheroes to meet and live shows to watch. For couples, suggest a ride in the world’s fastest lift to the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa, which naturally is the world’s tallest building, to enjoy the views over the city. Atmosphere on the 122nd floor is the highest lounge bar in the world. Of course.
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It’s worth returning to the Burj Khalifa after dark, but staying on the ground to watch a sound, light and ‘dancing’ fountain show at the foot of the building (shows run every half hour from 6pm to 11pm). Grab a seat at one of the nearby restaurants and enjoy the show while tucking into some local cuisine. Grilled lamb and fish with rice are favourite dishes. There are seaplane rides above the city, a spice market and gold souk to explore near the creek and a chance to peek into ‘old’ Dubai in the Al Fahidi district, where a museum in an 18th century fort tells of the rise of Dubai from when it was a fishing village to the discovery of oil in the 1960s and the riches that followed.
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And if it all gets too hot – this is a desert climate with year-round sunshine that is usually a bit less fierce between November and March – clients can cool down on the ski slope in the Mall of the Emirates. There’s real snow and even a colony of gentoo and king penguins. For something a little more refined, afternoon tea in the Skyview Bar on the 27th floor of the Burj Al Arab Jumeira hotel costs about £130pp; booking is a must. Tour specialists such as Viator offer plenty of excursions, but it’s easy enough to explore alone using the metro, tram and monorail systems, as well as buses and taxis, which can be hailed in the street or prebooked using the Uber app.
Pictured
Clockwise from top: La Mer Beach, the historical Al Fahidi district; Ski Dubai
Keen walkers or cyclists can get away from the hustle and bustle on a towpath that runs alongside the Dubai Canal, a 3.2km man-made waterway that runs between Business Bay and the Persian Gulf. At night a colourful curtain of water cascades down from Sheikh Zayed Road and is literally drawn back when a boat approaches. Only in Dubai! ABTAmag.com
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