Travel Bulletin 4th April 2014

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April 4 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,866 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

THE OMAN SHORT FILM SCREENING AND TOURISM SOUK ROADSHOW– COMING TO A LUXURY VENUE NEAR YOU! Join us for an evening of fun and discovery in our Omani Souk plus enjoy private viewings of a selection of short films and a delicious Omani buffet and drinks. WIN prizes both big and small and meet experts from Oman and the UK. Omani experts will be on hand in the tourism souk to present their wares to you including hoteliers, DMC's. Oman Air and the Ministry of Tourism.

Timings 6.00pm - 9.30pm Venue and Dates: Southampton - 28th April - Grand Harbour Hotel Dublin - 29th April - Brooks Hotel Birmingham - 30th April - MAC Birmingham Arts Centre Cardiff - 1st May - St David's Hotel & Spa Reserve your place by email – oman@representationplus.co.uk or call 020 8877 4524

Rewards and Training Sign up for and complete the online training course at www.omanacademy.com and not only will you gain useful sales tips but you might win a snazzy Google Nexus 7 tablet, Amazon Kindle or£10 Love2shop voucher! We also reward agents £10 shopping vouchers when they register a booking for seven nights or more at www.omanbookingrewards.com

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This Week

LUTON LAUNCH...Atlasjet recently hosted agents and operators at Luton Airport to mark the launch of its flights to Istanbul Atatürk from May 2 and showcase the passenger experience at Luton. The carrier will operate flights four times weekly from May and daily from June. Pictured marking the announcement are the airline's cabin crew with Simon Harley (left) from Luton Airport and Mustafa Ebgü from Atlasjet.

For details see www.atlasjet.com

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news a round-up of this week's latest news, events & special offers

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at home with eileen

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agent bulletin

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puzzle bulletin

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bulletin briefing

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event bulletin

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personality bulletin

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southern africa

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activity holidays

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south america

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denmark

find out what homeworker Eileen has been up to lately Rocky Mountaineer marks new Coastal Passage route with new booking incentive play Su Doku for your chance to win a £50 M&S voucher news & views on industry headlines from Elite Travel Group our Birmingham & Manchester Showcase events in pictures Holiday Extras' Carly James is in the hot seat this week SATOA highlights unique selling points to encourage bookings how to offer clients exclusive experiences they won't forget in Russia WTM Latin America welcomes more than 30 new exhibitors for 2014 inspire your clients to explore by highlighting selfdrive holidays

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GTMC survey reveals demands of the millennial generation of business rail travellers STARK DIFFERENCES between the millennial demographic of 18 to 29 year olds and their older peers have been revealed in findings from the Guild of Travel Management Companies' (GTMC) ‘The Voice of the Business Rail Traveller’ survey.

The GTMC analysed data from a survey of more than 1,000 respondents who travelled by rail a minimum of six times a year for UK business trips of 50-plus miles.

In contrast to the cost-conscious over-30s, nearly one in three (28%) 18 to 29 year olds typically travel in First Class when using trains for business, compared to 16% of all survey respondents. In addition, nearly one in five (17%) of young people believe that if more capacity were to be introduced, priority should be given to First Class seats as opposed to Standard Class, compared to 6% of older respondents.

Paul Wait, chief executive at the GTMC, said: “Whilst making rail journeys more productive is something that business travellers of all ages agree on, the differences between business travellers under 30, and those older, are important considerations for the rail industry. In a couple of years the younger travellers surveyed will be the mainstay of business travellers and it is essential that services evolve to meet their different needs. It is clear from the research findings that the rail industry has changes to make in order to remain in touch with its future big spenders.”

The survey also revealed that as well as liking the enhanced comfort and service that goes with First Class train travel, younger business travellers are also prepared to pay more for this option. A third of 18 to 29 year olds indicated support for above-inflation ticket fare increases if it led to reduced demand for rail travel and therefore less overcrowding. Just 18% of all other travellers were willing to support this.

When looking at services provided by rail companies, a significant 80% of under 30s wanted to see bike storage on trains, compared to just over half of all other respondents.

Other options requested were free Wi-Fi, more power points, better catering and business lounges both on board trains and in stations.

‘Frost’ and found AS THE snow begins to melt on another winter holiday season, it could prove to be an expensive trip for many Brits as it has been revealed that the average snow enthusiast loses as much as £219 worth of items.

According to the latest research by the Post Office Travel Insurance, a total of 143,000 UK holidaymakers will have lost something on the slopes last winter, with 32% – the top answer losing their glasses, closely followed by mobile phones (25%) and money (15%).

Other items lost on the slopes include cameras (10%), keys (10%), ski jackets (7%), boots (7%) and watches (6%). Slopes are the biggest black hole for valuables with 43% claiming their item was lost while hitting the runs.

For nearly a fifth (18%) après ski proved to be a slippery slope when trying to hold onto their belongings, while 17% said they watched their valuables disappear from view while on a ski lift.

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newsbulletin AirAsia & Travelport team up to offer new distribution agreement TRAVELPORT AND AirAsia have announced a new partnership which will see AirAsia distribute all of its fares and ancillary services through the Travelport GDS (global distribution channel) for the first time.

As part of the agreement, AirAsia has also signed up for Travelport’s merchandising technology including its unique aggregated shopping functionality which will enable travel

agents to shop, compare and book AirAsia and AirAsia X flights alongside those offered by traditional carriers in exactly the same booking workflow.

The agreement means that Travelport-connected agents will be able to search and book competitive fares and popular ancillaries such as checked-in bags, advanced seat selection and in-flight meals offered by all airlines under the AirAsia group.

Pictured marking the new announcement are, from the left: Derek Sharp, Travelport; Rayner Teo, AirAsia; and Damian Hickey, Travelport.

Exclusive trade discounts from Bourne Leisure

TIPTO(P) SHAPE...Pictured at the Dubai Tourism stand at a recent TIPTO roadshow in London is Sangita Makwana (left), trade sales manager at Dubai Tourism. She is joined by Peter Kendal (centre) from Award International, who won a two-night stay in Dubai, and Wendell Abraham from Gracetime Travel Incentives, who won a £50 Love2Shop voucher.

BOURNE LEISURE is getting behind the VisitEngland GREAT campaign offering an exclusive £20 discount, on top of its existing offers, for customers booking through their travel agent throughout the duration of the campaign from now until April 30.

Butlins is offering customers term time breaks for £45 per person, Just for Tots breaks from £55 per person and May half-term breaks from £90 per person. It is also offering an additional £20 off when booking through a travel agent on all 2014 family breaks for all durations across all types of accommodation across its three seaside resorts and Bognor Regis hotels.

Customers can also receive up to 25% off short breaks and up to 40% off seven-night holidays at all Haven holiday parks, with spring breaks from £69 per family. Guests will also save an exclusive £20

when booking their 2014 break through a travel agent at all 35 parks on all grades of accommodation.

Meanwhile, a spring and summer break at Warner Leisure Hotels costs from £179 per person and customers will receive an additional exclusive £20 off per room when booking through an agent on bookings across its full portfolio of 13 hotels for all durations for arrivals between May 1 and August 30.

Bourne Leisure is also running its own ‘Get Booking with Bourne’ incentive. Agents booking a minimum three-night Butlins, Haven or Warner Leisure Hotels break between now and April 16 for departures up to June will be entered into a weekly draw to win £50 Love2Shop vouchers, an iPod shuffle or a Kindle.

Five runner ups every week will also win their own cuddly Gromit.

WLH launches new Food from The Decades and Around the World menus WARNER LEISURE Hotels is launching new spring and summer menus.

The main Come Dine and British Classics menus are changing for the spring at various hotels within the portfolio whilst a Food from the Decades menu is available until May followed by an Around the World themed menu from May to July in the main restaurants at all 13 locations.

The menus offer something for everyone – guests can choose from the traditional carvery options all served with seasonal vegetables and potatoes or they can try something more adventurous such as lobster, crayfish and

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Champagne bavarois, asparagus and pea ravioli or a red wine-braised shin of beef.

Until May, guests will also have the opportunity to sample Food from The Decades – a nod to some favourites from the past such as the 'Vesta' curry, a good old fashioned prawn cocktail or coronation chicken.

For the summer themed menus, a selection of international dishes are being created.

A three-night spring break at Corton Coastal Village, Suffolk costs from £199 per person, based on two adults sharing a Premier chalet arriving on May 30.

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newsbulletin MS Lafayette joins CroisiEurope fleet

VIVA LAS VEGAS...the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) joined forces with Abercrombie & Kent’s Cheapside store to raise awareness of the destination to consumers. The store was transformed into a mini Vegas; map tables were swapped for blackjack and roulette tables and travel consultants were joined by showgirls to host a night of glitz, glamour and special offers.

Pictured launching the event, along with the showgirls, are, from the left: The LVCVA'S Fiona Clarke, Russell Meara, Leanne Gosford and Tanja Warwick.

CROISIEUROPE HAS announced details of a new ship, the 84-guest MS Lafayette, which joins the fleet this month and operates on the Rhine between Amsterdam and Basel.

Each of the ship’s 43 cabins – including four single cabins and one for guests with disabilities - is 15m² and features either floor to ceiling or large picture windows, an en-suite bathroom, a flat screen TV, hairdryer, safe, radio and individually controlled air-conditioning and heating.

Guests can socialise in the stylish lounge bar or relax on the sun deck, while a spacious restaurant serves buffet breakfast as well as three-course lunches and dinners with a variety of French and regional dishes that complement the region in which the ship travels.

Guests are welcome to complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner as well as an open bar throughout the voyage, excluding Champagne, special wines or fine brandies. Operating between April and October, there will be 11 departures from Amsterdam to Basel and 12 departures from Basel to Amsterdam.

Prices start from €1,393 per person (approximately £1,174 per person) including accommodation in an outside cabin with all onboard meals, complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner, an open bar, onboard entertainment and port taxes.

Extended opening hours until October 31 for Greece's ancient sites & museums MARKETING GREECE has welcomed the news that the opening hours of 30 of the country’s most popular ancient sites and museums (www.culture.gr), which account for 95% of total site and museum visits, will be substantially extended as of this month.

Aimed at enhancing the visitor

experience in Greece, opening hours will be 08:00 to 20:00, which will prove especially convenient for cruise ship passengers who follow a strict time schedule when touring the country’s sites.

This is the first in a series of further interventions that will follow this year,

which will include the installation of WiFi network, the design of mobile virtual tour applications and the launch of an eticketing system for entrance to Greek museums and archaeological sites.

The 30 sites and museums are now open daily until October 31.

For details see www.discovergreece.com

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HF HOLIDAYS reports that bookings for European holidays are up by 20% compared to last year, and that holidays to Austria and Croatia have performed particularly well, as have guided walking weeks in Portugal and the Canary Islands. Additional capacity on key 2014 dates is being added where possible, with further expansion planned for next year.

For details call 0845-470 7558 or visit www.hfholidays.co.uk THE MULTICULTURAL Affairs Congress (MAC), a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), has created a new video, 'Here for the Making: PHL & The African American Experience' as part of the PHLCVB’s new marketing campaign. The video highlights the city’s African-American landmarks, attractions and organisations, with the purpose of attracting those looking for a multicultural experience.

The video can be viewed at www.youtube.com/PHLdiversity or for more information see www.discoverphl.com/phldiversity SIMON SHOPPING Destinations is offering free shopping shuttles for IPW attendees to Chicago Premium Outlets and Woodfield Mall during the event, which takes place from April 5-9. Delegates will also receive a free $25 gift

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card and Style Pass/VIP Coupon Book (whilst stocks last) on presentation of their IPW badge. Booking is required and should be done 24 hours in advance by calling (00) 1 866-949-4639.

THE COSTA Rican Tourist Board, ICT - Instituto de Turismo Costaricense has unveiled the country’s new brand, essential Costa Rica, to the European market. The new brand will be utilised as a tool to support tourism and attract international investors and boost foreign trade.

For details see www.visitcostarica.com THE SAINT Lucia Tourist Board has joined ABTA in order to benefit from health and safety training in key frontline areas. The island will play host to a number of workshops on topics such as accommodation and health and safety to educate tourism partners.

BRAND USA has launched an interactive social media campaign. The Great American Road Trip features ten road trips covering 39 states and countless destinations through its Discover America channels, including Facebook, Twitter and the DiscoverAmerica.com website. The campaign is designed to inspire travellers to discover America from the open road and highlight the well-known and lessdiscovered road trips by topic and geography.

For details visit www.discoveramerica.com/usa/road-trips

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newsbulletin Tweets of the Week Who’s saying what on Twitter... @LondonCityAir Check out WHSmith Bookstore in departures and see their latest book releases here http://bit.ly/KpMvVS @UKAndyHarmer Cruise news: Virgin boss Richard Branson confirms details of new cruise line operation: http://ow.ly/uWwf6 @Expedia We're proud to unveil our new http://Expedia.com #homepage! Check it out for yourself: http://expd.us/qMBjMX @WaltDisneyWorld Learn more about Walt Disney’s adventure of creating “it’s a small world” for the 1964 World’s Fair: http://bit.ly/1fXZwyY @VisitBritain Museums aren’t just for daytime – these London museums will keep you up late: http://bit.ly/1hWdhk8

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

Riviera introduces new 14-day South India tour from October RIVIERA TRAVEL is adding a new 14-day tour to its portfolio from October 30.

The 14-day South India & The Backwaters Of Kerala itinerary leads in at £1,499 per person and offers a comprehensive tour of India’s southern states, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and discovers the region's sites and natural wonders.

Highlights include visits to the ancient temples of Mahabalipuram and Madurai, a visit to Periyar National Park, exploring the undiscovered Chettinad region staying in an original traders’ mansion and spending three nights amongst the backwaters of Kerala, with a day on a typical houseboat cruising picturesque canals and waterways.

Accommodation is in three-, four-, and fivestar properties with breakfast and the price includes scheduled flights, five extra meals and a tour manager.

For more information or to book email agencysales@rivieratravel .co.uk or visit www.rivieratravel.co.uk

MORE THAN 100 top agents offering leisure, concierge services, corporate and MICE travel were treated to panoramic views of London at the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) showcase, which took place in the iconic Gherkin in the City of London last month. The Gherkin’s penthouse Glass Dome provided an ideal setting to exhibit some of the world’s finest boutique properties from the SLH portfolio.

For more details see www.slh.com

China & Vietnam savings from China Links Travel CHINA LINKS Travel is offering £300 off per couple on selected tours to China and Vietnam when booked by April 30.

Departure dates are May 22 and June 12 for a 16-day Cruise and Panda itinerary, which combines the Golden Route of Beijing, Xian and Shanghai with a Yangtze Cruise and a visit the Giant Pandas; a 16-day Memories of China option, which takes in the Great Wall, a Li River cruise and Suzhou; and a 16-day China Highlights tour, which offers a cruise of the Yangtze River.

Alternatively, a 17-day Vietnam & Cambodia option departs on November 5 and 19, while a 16-day Vietnam Highlights tour departs on November 7 and 21.

To book or more information visit www.chinalinkstravel.co.uk, email info@chinalinkstravel.co.uk or call 0843-506 4028.

Railway Touring Company launches new Heritage Rail Holidays brochure THE RAILWAY Touring Company’s 2014 heritage rail tour programme features new destinations, with Berlin and Potsdam, the Swiss Bernese Oberland, Austria and the Czech Republic, Denmark & Southern Sweden and Autumn in Alsace some of the tours on offer.

New for this year is an eight-day Swiss Bernese Oberland tour which departs on June 14, August 6 and September 4 and

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costs from £1,150 per person. The Bernese Oberland is renowned for its lakes and the Swiss Alps’ tallest peaks, including the Jungrau and the Eiger.

Highlights include travel on mountain rack railways, such as the Brienz Rothorn Railway and Jungfrau Railway to the ‘Top of Europe’, boat cruises on Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, visits to Bern to ride the steam tram and a visit to Lucerne.

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A ten-day Caucasus Mountains and Russian Black Sea tour, which departs on September 27, leads in at £3,600 per person. The train will be steam hauled throughout, using six different classes of locomotives often working in pairs to tackle steep gradients. The journey crosses the steppes, through Cossack country, to spa towns beside the sea and over mountain routes.

European destinations in the programme also include Tuscany, Berlin, Sardinia, Yugoslavia and Austria, while worldwide rail tours take in Java, Sri Lanka and The Viceroy Special, New England and South America, which includes The Old Patagonian Express and the recently re-opened Guayaquil and Quito Railway, all using steam.

For more information call 01553-661500 or visit www.railwaytouring.net

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newsbulletin Family fun in Yorkshire this Easter YORKSHIRE'S MAGNIFICENT Attractions has announced details of events taking place across Yorkshire this Easter.

They include the opening of a new exhibition tomorrow (April 5) at Yorkshire Sculpture Park; Magic Shows and Jousting Tournaments at the Royal Armouries, Leeds; Felt Making and Printmaking workshops at The Hepworth Wakefield; Follow the Yellow Brick Road at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum, Halifax; The Lord Mayor's Easter Egg Hunt at Jorvik Viking Centre, York; the reopening of Flamingo Land Theme Park, Malton; and an Easter Egg Quiz Trail among the lions, tigers and meerkats at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

All events run up to April 27 and full listings can be found at www.yorkshireattractions. org/events Flamingo Land

THE RECENTLY launched Andaz Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica has unveiled a new ‘Witch’s Rock Package’. The experience includes an airport pickup, a welcome gift of board shorts or a bikini, complimentary upgrade to an Andaz View Room, daily surfer's breakfast for two and a full day excursion to nearby surfing hot spot, Witch’s Rock National Park. A surfs-up goodie bag is also provided and includes a personalised Andaz Surfboard sock, sunscreen, board wax and a Faherty Brand cap, as well as a professional photographer on hand to document guests' wave riding skills. A beach picnic with chilled wine and beer is also included. Prices for the three-night package lead in at US$2,800, based on two sharing, and it is available to book until April 15 for travel until April 30.

For details see www.papagayo.andaz.hyatt.com

Carnival's Legend announces new on board features THE CARNIVAL Legend has returned to service from Tampa with a variety of new innovations. These include a WaterWorks aqua park featuring the Green Thunder water attraction, as well as a Twister slide and a children’s spray park.

Also new is the tropics-inspired RedFrog Pub, a full-service sushi restaurant called Bonsai Sushi, the Cherry on Top confections and novelty shop, and two new entertainment options; Playlist Productions and Hasbro - The Game Show, all of which were added during a multi-million-dollar makeover in Freeport, The Bahamas.

Gerry Cahill, the line's president and CEO, said: “With these enhancements we’ve made a terrific ship even better, adding an exhilarating water attraction, as well as a variety of fantastic new dining, bar and entertainment options. Carnival Legend offers an array of on-board choices and we’re looking forward to working with our travel agent partners in marketing this newly enhanced ‘Fun Ship’ to consumers.”

The ship will continue its current schedule of seven-day Caribbean cruises from Tampa through to August 17, and will then embark on a 13-day Panama Canal transit that ends in Long Beach, California on August 30.

Meanwhile, the company has revamped its wedding programme, with upgrades ranging

from floral arrangements, decorations and photography to new culinary selections and a greater variety of on-island ceremonies.

Couples can say “I do” during shipboard celebrations which now include a range of culinary options and upgraded beverage service, along with new multi-tiered wedding cake choices like chocolate ganache, coconut cream, and red velvet, all baked on board.

Enhanced amenities such as a decorated wedding aisle and other traditional touches, along with upgraded Champagne flutes and other keepsake items, are also included.

For those who want to tie the knot on shore, the line offers a variety of beachside ceremonies with recently added choices such as Grand Turk and Freeport complementing Barbados, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay. A Just You & Me (maximum of eight people) costs from £851 and includes the ceremony, bouquet and boutonniere, tiered wedding cake with keepsake wedding topper, Champagne toast with keepsake flutes, photography services, decorated wedding aisle, prerecorded music and an officiant.

Packages also include the services of a personal wedding planner, as well as priority check-in and boarding for all wedding guests.

For details see www.carnival.com/weddingcruises and www.carnival.co.uk

Nine-day escorted tour to Bosnia & Croatia for £2,285 from Prestige Holidays PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS has launched a nine-day tour to Bosnia and Croatia departing on October 20 and escorted by Martin Bell, OBE and Prestige’s Croatian-speaking tour manager.

The tour costs £2,285 per person and starts in Zagreb, before continuing by train to Osijek, a town on the river Drava. It then takes in the Vukovar in Croatia, the site of intense shelling and attacks in the early 90s and travels south to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and visits Snipers Alley and The Sarajevo Tunnel.

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Other highlights include travelling across BosniaHerzegovina to Mostar where the famous Ottoman bridge was destroyed in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004 and a three-night stay in Dubrovnik.

The price includes flights, four- and five-star breakfast accommodation, most meals, a farewell dinner, entrances to most attractions, local guiding and porterage. It is limited to just 20 people and Martin will give three talks and will be available to talk with participants.

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e m o h At en...

e l i E with

ileen orker E w e m o as h th?

What h p to this mon u n e be

RAVEL COUNSELLORS is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and it’s unbelievable how much has changed. When I joined in 1999, the concept of working from home was new and the company was relatively unknown. There were fewer than 50 Travel Counsellors back then and now we are a large wellknown, successful multinational company. I thought I’d share with you a few personal memories from my early days...

My first memory is of my interview at Atherton Greater Manchester, where the company was then based. I nearly didn’t make it as my train from London came to a halt just outside Stoke and I sat there for nearly four hours. There were no mobile phones in those days so I was unable to call to let them know why I hadn’t turned up. The office was just closing when I finally arrived and I was there for about 20 minutes before rushing off to catch my last train home. Time enough though to persuade me to join as I was so impressed by the warm, enthusiastic and genuine bunch of people that I met that day (most of whom are still working for the company today) that I sensed this would be a great company to work for - and I was proved right.

A few weeks later I headed up to Atherton for my training.

The day went well, apart from my lunchtime visit to the local bakers. Being a ”southerner” I was not prepared for the generosity of the local people. When ordering a freshly made roll, I was shocked to see the assistant actually weighing the cheese before sprinkling it thinly over the bread. I requested more cheese but she refused so I changed my mind and told her I didn’t want it. She said: “You can’t do that, I’ve just made it.” I smiled sweetly and left saying “I just did.”

I’ll never forget the excitement of my first booking and I remember my first conference held at a motel at East Midlands Airport. It was a very low-key affair more akin to a small wedding reception - a far cry from the huge, glitzy events we have now at International Conference Centres.

Travel Counsellors has changed almost beyond recognition over the years, yet the ethos of the company remains the same and I think that’s the secret of its success.

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Costa inaugurates its spring 'Slow Cruises' this month COSTA CRUISES has marked the advent of ‘slow cruising’ with the introduction of its Costa neoCollection Mediterranean cruises.

Available on the line's smaller ships bound for destinations off-the-beaten-track, the first of these cruises will be combined with the Festival of Mediterranean Cuisine, a special programme devised in collaboration with Università di Scienze Gastronomiche di Pollenzo (Cuneo, Italy), as a tribute to the Mediterranean gastronomic heritage.

The academic institution was set up by Carlo Petrini, the founder of Slow Food, a global grassroots movement created to counter the rise of fast food and to work towards goals of sustainable foods and promotion of local small-scale producers that safeguard local traditions and high quality products.

The Festival of Mediterranean Cuisine, which will be held from April 11 to May 25 in conjunction with the 12-day Hidden treasures of the Mediterranean cruises on Costa neoRiviera, offers a gastronomic journey in the places where these culinary treats were first conceived including Liguria (Savona) to Provence (Toulon), Catalonia (Barcelona), Sicily (Porto Empedocle), Malta (La Valletta) and Campania (Salerno).

The programme also offers guests different events linked to the appreciation of typical local food and wine. There are food and wine seminars and tasting of PDO (protected designation of origin) olive oil from five Italian regions, preserves made from local orchard produce, as well as wines and sweets typical of the coastal areas and islands visited. In Salerno, pasta makers from the Amalfi Coast will give a practical demonstration of the traditional method of preparing fusilli.

Guests also have the chance to indulge in food and wine tasting, dinners in typical local restaurants and exclusive neo experience shoreside excursions for small groups of less than 25 people, specially devised in line with the company's new slow cruising philosophy.

For more information see www.costacruises.co.uk

Go

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WEBSCLUSIVES ●

Last chance to win a Kindle Fire HD, courtesy of Carnival. Enter now at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

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Win a trip to Cologne with Viking River Cruises at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

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Win a 2 nights city break to Salzburg, courtesy of Salzburg Tourism at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

All this and more at:

by EILEEN SAUNDERS of Travel Counsellors To respond to any of Eileen’s comments email jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk

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agentbulletin Fancy a fam?

NINE AGENTS have the chance to win a place on a fam trip to Vietnam as well as earn commission levels of 20% as part of Travel 2’s new ‘IndoChina and Beyond Made Simple’ campaign. The company aims to showcase the range of attractions and experiences available for customers visiting the IndoChina region including elephant trekking, night markets, exciting street food tours and relaxing beach resorts. To enter to win a place on the fam and earn 20% commission, agents need to make a holiday booking with Indochina touring product including flights and five nights' ground arrangements with the operator by April 18. Prize winners will be selected at random after the incentive period has ended.

For details see www.travel2.com FUNWAY HOLIDAYS has teamed up with Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines and British Airways to host more travel agent fam trips this year including visits to Orlando, California, New York, Mexico and Barbados. All trips are hosted by one of the operator’s sales development managers who lead a detailed itinerary, visiting hotels and a variety of different attractions within the area.

Agents looking to get involved in one of the trips can visit www.funway4agents.co.uk for further information.

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Booking incentive TO CELEBRATE the launch of its 2014 schedule for its new Coastal Passage route, Rocky Mountaineer has introduced a new booking incentive. Until May 31, every agent booking a qualifying Rocky Mountaineer holiday package, including the Coastal Passage route, will be entered into a monthly draw for a chance to win a trip for two on a three-day Coastal Passage journey in GoldLeaf Service. The prize will also include one night's accommodation in Vancouver and Kamloops.

Applicable bookings must include a land portion of six or more nights inclusive of the Coastal Passage route, and agents must have completed Module Seven of TRACKS, the company's online training programme, to qualify for the draw.

For details see agent.rockymountaineer.com

JOYCE'S JOY...Staff from Brunlea Travel pose with a beach hottie model following her surprise visit to award local agent Paul Joyce (third from left) with a prize for a sevennight Cancun holiday for two as part of Travel 2’s “Caribbean vs. Indian Ocean - Who’s the hottest?” campaign. Each month until April 30, Travel 2 and British Airways are giving agents the chance to win a holiday for two when they make a qualifying booking including BA flights to either the Caribbean or Indian Ocean with a minimum threenight stay. The top two agents who make the highest number of qualified bookings will win one of two seven-night luxury holidays for two. Pictured with Paul are, from the left: Susan Parr, Brunlea Travel; Gemma Pinder, Travel 2; Charlie the model; and Scott Harrison and Nicola Poole from Brunlea Travel.

Agent offer INDEPENDENT AGENTS can win a free night out - including dinner and cinema tickets for two, courtesy of Tipto. To be in with a chance of winning, agents must complete all 14 training modules including the two new supplier training modules introduced by Tipto member DFDS Seaways and its newest member Mark Warner by April 30. By completing the modules agents will earn ‘5 Star Status’ which will put them in the running to win one of the two nights.

For details email tipto@thenetwork-uk.com or visit: www.tipto.co.uk/home/training

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newsbulletin No frills ferry service sets sail to France and Spain BRITTANY FERRIES has launched a new no frills car ferry service linking Portsmouth to Le Havre in Normandy and Santander in northern Spain. Branded Brittany Ferries économie, it is aimed at customers looking to travel to France or Spain at a reasonable fare without the cruise-style experience normally provided by the line.

One-way fares for a car plus two this spring start from £59 to France and £169 (including reclining seats) to Spain.

The new service is operated by a recently acquired ship, Etretat, named after the coastal village in Normandy famous for its stunning sea cliffs and dramatic chalk arches – all easily accessible by car from the port of Le Havre. Facilities and space onboard are limited compared to the line's cruise ferry services, but still include a bar, small boutique and movie lounge as well as free Wi-Fi internet access. There is also a self-service restaurant serving a selection of hot and cold dishes.

The new service comprises a daytime sailing from Portsmouth to Le Havre and an overnight sailing from Le Havre to Portsmouth each Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The crossing time is five hours 30 minutes during the day and around nine hours overnight. At weekends there is a Saturday morning departure from Portsmouth to Santander and a Sunday afternoon sailing back to Portsmouth with a crossing time of 26 hours each way.

For more information or to book see www.brittanyferries.com/economie or call 0871-244 0603.

Amathus operates new franchise agreement AMATHUS HAS announced an agreement with Yourholidaybooking.com to operate Amathus Holidays under a new franchise agreement, which came into effect on March 1.

The operator will maintain its brand identity and trade as a part of MidCounties Coop Travel with a new B2B website launching this month. The company will be led by managing director, Janette Bell, formerly commercial director of Bedbank and Aphrodite Hills Resort Holidays.

MSC Cruises issues summer 2015 & winter 2015/16 brochures with early booking upgrade FOR THE first time in the history of the company, MSC Cruises has launched its Summer 2015 and Winter 2015/16 brochures together.

To celebrate the launch of the new brochures, travel agent partners will be able to offer their earliest bookers a complimentary Experience upgrade during the launch period (up to June 30) from Bella to Fantastica and, in addition, they can save from £200 per person off the brochure price.

The cruise line is placing more focus on its fly/cruise commitment, which will be supported by dedicated charter flights to both the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, as

well as year-round Caribbean sailings, winter Middle East and the popular Grand Voyages.

Giles Hawke, the company's executive director, said: “Our new pricing approach will bring integrity to our price proposition throughout the year, starting with a series of attractive and simple to communicate itineraries in 2015.”

The new brochures are available to download at www.msconline.com and include an overview of the company, plus its onboard leisure facilities and experiences across the fleet.

For more information visit www.msconline.com or call 0844-561 1955.

Halkidiki hotel organises five-day themed event with free activities for guests HALKIDIKI HOTEL Association’s member Hotel Liotopi at Olympiada Village is organising a five-day themed event from May 15-19, designed for guests to discover the natural beauty and history of Olympiada and its greater area.

A free schedule of activities for guests includes a walking excursion through the forests of the Aristotelian mountain; a cooking workshop; a guided tour of the ancient city of Stagira, followed by a discussion about the life and work of

Aristotle by academic researcher Ioannis Mpoitsis; a Herbology workshop; and a cycling tour of the mountains of Olympiada.

For more information visit www.hotel-liotopi.gr

ON THE Go Tours has launched a new selection of Festival Tours in Japan, timed to coincide with the festivities of the cherry blossom season in spring, the changing of the leaves and the Takayama Festival in autumn. As an example, a 14-day Cherry Blossom Festival departs this month and leads in at £3,539 per person excluding flights.

Guests can take in the highlights of the spring tour, when cherry blossom trees come out in full bloom, and visit some of the country’s gardens and witness the famous Spring Geisha Dances in Kyoto.

For details see www.onthegotours.com

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puzzlebulletin Travagrams

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

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

Number: 013

Laser Lives

A➠

B➠ This French city is home to a famous palace

C➠

Rag Flu I

D➠ Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the 3 x 3 squares contains the digits 1-9.

Once you have completed the puzzle, simply identify the numbers that relate to the letters, A, B, C and D then e-mail the solution, with your name, company name, and full postal address plus phone and ABTA number if applicable to:

This airline serves a region which sounds like this sport

Where Am I?

competition@travelbulletin.co.uk Closing date for entries is Thursday, April 3rd. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 21st March is Natasha Rose, Bath Travel in Hampshire.

March 21 Solution: A=6 B=4 C=7 D=8

World Cup hosts in 2014.

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

Number: 013

Across 1. Tour operator specialising in luxury holidays (5) 3. Nevada gambling city, in short (5) 6. The Smoky Mountains are in this US state (9) 7. Sarajevo is the capital (6) 9. Tourist town and lake in Wales (4) 11. Indonesian island (4) 12. Capital of Rwanda (6) 15. English comedian, recently seen in Coronation Street (3,6) 16. The centre of this Tuscany city is a World Heritage Site (5) 17. Airline with a Zurich hub (5)

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Down 1. Singer whose album Little Red matches the colour of her hair (4,1) 2. The flag carrier of Spain (6) 3. Travel permit (4) 4. St. George's is the capital of this Caribbean island (7) 5. Leading ferry Line (5) 8. Oranges are a favourite in this Spanish city (7) 10. Myers and King, jointly known as the Hairy ___ (6) 11. Voice judge, Sir Tom (5) 13. Popular Corfu resort (5) 14. Tailor-made travel by Wendy Wu Tours, ___ Inspirations (4)

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 30 April 4 2014

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bulletinbriefing

Industry Insight by...

Neil W Basnett, chief executive of Elite Travel Group, offers his thoughts on industry news hitting the headlines...

ADLY THE news is currently dominated by the mysterious disappearance of Malaysian Airlines’ flight MH 370 from its original flight-path from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Many of us are totally bemused that with all the modern tracking technology now available, it is still possible for a plane to just seemingly disappear with no trace! Although absolutely devastating for the families and friends of the passengers and crew, one has also to feel sympathy for both Malaysian Airlines and the government authorities in Malaysia. No specific training was presumably available to assist these airline staff and government officials in the eventuality of them having to cope with such extreme circumstances and the relentless pressure on them for answers (when unknown) must have been unbearable. One can only hope that in time the exact causes of the disappearance will be established and that lessons will be learnt.

Undoubtedly Malaysian Airlines will eliminate this flight number permanently and I would imagine that many other airlines will also be thinking hard about avoiding numbering a flight 370.

On a happier note, I was fortunate to have been invited by Peter Truman and Dino Toouli from Omega Holidays to travel on the last of their current season of flights to see the Northern Lights. Having seen many wondrous sights during my long career in this industry, this was one of the most amazing spectacles that I have ever seen. After the initial briefing about stars, the Aurora Borealis and the flight itself at East Midlands Airport from the two excellent on-board astronomers (Pete Lawrence and Nigel Bradbury), we then headed northwards for what turned out to be one of the top four sightings that the astronomers had ever encountered in more than 260 such flights! When not commenting about the Lights themselves, they gave detailed explanations of the visible stars and planets and we eventually landed back at 01:00! Mars, Venus, Saturn…we saw them all: fortunately Uranus was conspicuous by her absence but that may not have been a bad thing! When the new season of flights starts in November, I would encourage you to go on one of these flights and also urge your clients to book on one of the flights. We are often asked by clients for suggestions for Christmas and birthday presents and

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"We are in the process of devising the programme for our own conference to be held in beautiful Seville, Andalucia at the end of September" these would make perfect gifts as the flights go from so many regional airports. We were lucky to have witnessed such a display as the previous night it had not been visible at all!

There is a saying: what goes around comes around!

Ryanair’s decision to load their flights onto the Galileo and Worldspan GDS systems could be seen as their admission that the travel industry is not that bad after all. Having had years of insults and unfair allegations from Michael O’Leary, will travel agents, tour operators and travel management companies be keen to help Ryanair achieve their aims of growing their business to 110 million passengers by 2019 and to help them fill their 175 new aircraft on order? Most travel industry colleagues who I know will do their utmost to avoid booking their clients on Ryanair with many even refusing to do so! It is all very good for them to relaunch themselves as ‘Always Getting Better’, but the travel industry will decide for itself whether it wishes to help them achieve their goal. Conferences, conferences! We are an industry that is responsible for arranging many UK and overseas conferences. We are in the process of devising the programme for our own conference to be held in beautiful Seville, Andalucia at the end of September. It is always a challenge to produce a sufficiently varied array of speakers on a wide range of relevant topics. All the other consortia face similar challenges! One has to have sympathy for our supplier partners as they attend all conferences and will invariably hear the same topics and discussions at each. I still maintain that conversations held over coffee and at meal times offer the most important benefits from any conference. In Seville therefore, I will ensure that superb food in stunning locations will be provided: as a general rule, what’s good for the body is good for the brain too! www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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eventbulletin TRAVEL BULLETIN played host to two North America Showcase events recently - in Birmingham at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and in Manchester at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel. The Showcase events gave agents the opportunity to learn more about this part of the world and, at the same time, win a range of fantastic prizes. Judging by the pictures, a good time was had by all...

"I just wanted to say thank you for last night, it was an excellent event that ran very smoothly and I was very happy with the quality of agents that attended.

They were all very enthusiastic and interested in learning about the destination. You all did a great job and I look forward to the next one."

Laura Goldie, Cellet Travel Services Limited Above: CARRY ON CAMPING...Enjoying the reception drinks in Birmingham are, from the left: Kirsty Mclaughland, The Camping and Caravanning Club; Jane Fraser, Destination British Columbia; and Jackie Akehurst, Nigel Harrison and Kate Copland from The Camping and Caravanning Club.

Below: SUE SAILS...Rachel Lewis (left) from Carnival Cruise Lines presents Sue Koumides from Journey the World with her prize of a Caribbean hamper.

Above: WOOTTON'S WIN...Picking up his goodie bag from Julie Greenhill of Massachusetts is David Wootton from Telford Travel.

Above: TITAN TREAT...Kate Copland (left) from The Camping and Caravanning Club collects a ÂŁ50 shopping voucher from Sharon Tait of Titan.

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eventbulletin Above: ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION...Learning the ropes from Expedia TAAP's Rob Grover are, from the left: Julie Newman, Kellys Travel; Sue Todd, Designer Travel; Kelly Stanley, Kellys Travel; and Sharon Keaveney and Kate Harris from Inspired Travel.

"Thank you and the rest of your team for organising another great evening. We thoroughly enjoyed the presentations (so much, I now have more places I want to visit!) and it was really well organised and executed."

Sonia Dixon, Holidaysplease

BULLETIN BUDDIES...Mike Atkinson (left) from Co-operative Travel, Old Swan, won a ÂŁ30 shopping voucher courtesy of Duncan McCubbin from North Carolina Tourism.

Above: DISNEY DREAM...

Heather Winters from Holidaysplease collects her Disney goodie bag from Russell Mears, Walt Disney World.

Left: GOODIE GROUP...Holding their Kansas & Oklahoma Goodie bags are, from the left: Scott Martin, Thomas Cook, Sale; Matt Bates, Kansas & Oklahoma Travel & Tourism; Mellanie Kerford, Aspen Travel; and Paula Reynolds, Cooperative Travel, Hazel Grove.

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eventbulletin

Below: COLLIER'S COUP...Natalie Collier from Co-operative Travel, Sale received an Alaskan goodie bag from Robert Bailey from Alaska Tourism.

Left: HAMPER HEAVEN...CBT’s Lisa Mousley collects her prize of an Illinois hamper from Illinois' marketing & PR manager Laura Goldie.

"Thank you for the brilliant night on Monday - brilliantly arranged as usual and the food was fantastic!"

Carol Kirkham, Kirkham Travel Limited

Above: READY TO HIT THE SHOPS....Is Kevin Pugh (left) from Holiday Getaway, who picked up a ÂŁ50 Love2Shop voucher courtesy of Mark Cornock from Avis.

JULIE'S JOY...Julie Newman (left) from Kellys Travel collects her prize of a two-night stay at Caesars Entertainment Resorts in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, Tahoe or Tunica from Henika Patel from Caesars Entertainment.

Above: BRUMMIE FUN...Getting ready to meet the suppliers are, from the left: Laura Bogojevic, Jess Nixon, Yvonne Taylor and Kellie West from Thomas Cook Birmingham.

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personalitybulletin

Carly James Partnerships development manager, Holiday Extras At play

At work

Where would you most like to visit and why?

Australia - mainly because I have family there and I keep being nagged to go over and spend some time with them. Also, because there is so much to see and do.

What are your hobbies?

Gym (well, exercise classes), shopping, travelling, walking and socialising with friends.

What's your favourite (non-work related) website?

ASOS.com - there are some bargains to be had!

What trait do you dislike in other people?

Over confidence.

What is your best quality?

My happiness. I am always happy and chatty... however, people do sometimes struggle to get a word in!

What's your most embarrassing moment?

Mounting the roundabout on my driving test and almost rolling the car. The instructor went a lovely shade of white.

If you could invent a new law, what would it be?

Everyone gets at least one free holiday abroad a year - it is good for people’s happiness and wellbeing.

What other companies/organisations have you previously worked for?

I have mainly worked in travel and have previously worked for Going Places/Thomas Cook, First Choice and Thomson. Most recently I worked at BP Travel Marketing as a business development manager.

What personal item do you have on your desk at work?

We use a hot desk system so I don’t have a set desk, although every time I switch my laptop on, there is a lovely picture of my dog to greet me.

What's the best thing about your job?

The company - it is such a fun and dynamic place to work and the people are fantastic.

The emphasis is on building awesome relationships with our partners and everyone works very hard to achieve this.

What's a typical day like?

I arrive in the office, look at my partner’s figures from the day before, then look at what is driving this business so that I am fully prepared to catch up with my contacts later in the day. Once I have investigated these, I pick up the phone and catch up with partners to find out how trading is going and feedback on bookings our end.

After lunch I start to prepare slides for a meeting that I am attending and looking at possible incentives/marketing ideas that I can suggest at the meeting to help drive

bookings. Then it’s a look over my emails and answer any general queries and off home I go!

What's your favourite travel app?

TripAdvisor.

Who has been your inspiration?

A previous manager at BP Travel Marketing, Steve Martin. He is very well connected and has such a passion for the industry, which is infectious.

What skill are you most proud of?

My ability to build great relationships with my accounts. I believe that you should not only be an account manager but an extension of that person’s business.

What do you love about the travel industry?

The fun atmosphere that comes with it and the fact that everyone works hard and plays hard too.

At home

What's your favourite household gadget?

My new fancy wine bottle opener, although as most have screw tops these days so I don’t get the opportunity to try it!

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What are your favourite TV programmes?

Law & Order, Don’t Tell The Bride, Eastenders and any soaps really.

What's your guilty pleasure?

Maltesers - once I open the pack or box they are gone. They are just too light so they feel healthy, almost like one of your five a day.

Who does the cooking?

My mum every Sunday ;)

What music do you listen to?

I pretty much like all forms of music. My family has a slight obsession with Elvis and I must admit that has continued to me too.

What's a typical weekend for you like?

Go to an exercise class early Saturday morning to kickstart the day, then maybe some retail therapy and most importantly, a long walk with my dog Bob and spending as much time as possible with family and friends.

What's your favourite movie?

The Sweetest Thing - it is one of those films you can watch over and over again but you still chuckle and cringe at the same points in the film.

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southernafrica Entice your clients to book by getting to grips with the destination's unique selling points

by TOLENE VAN DER MERWE, SATOA board member No jetlag or any significant time changes - plus outbound flights land early in the morning and the return flights leave in the evening so you have two ‘extra’ days on flight days to explore and enjoy yourself. ● Driving on the same side of the road - fantastic for those travellers who like to self-drive - plus the road signage is in English. The road network in South Africa is very good and easy to navigate. ● Wildlife - Botswana has the waterways of the Okavango Delta, bringing the game in droves to the area. South Africa has more than 20 national parks teeming with prolific species of game including the Big Five. ● Scenery - you can highlight areas such as Gods Window, Blyde River Canyon and Table Mountain in South Africa to the Skeleton Coast, Namib Desert and Fish River Canyon in Namibia, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia and the glorious Okavango Delta and Chobe in Botswana. ● Culture - South Africa has a rich diversity of culture with 11 official languages, while Namibia has the original SAN Bushmen still living off the land. ● History - the history is young in comparison to Europe but it is rich. ● Adventure - for the hard and soft adventure seekers, Southern Africa has it all, from diving with the Great White Shark, to navigating the waterways of the Okavango Delta in a mokoro following a herd ●

W

HEN A client walks into your shop and heads your way, what country are you secretly hoping they will ask for?

How confident are you in selling a country you have never been to yourself - and do you try to sway them to more familiar destinations or perhaps personal favourites instead?

SATOA (Southern African Travel Organisers Association) is here to help you increase your knowledge of Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands - and in doing so, boost your confidence in selling African products until hopefully you get the opportunity to visit what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.

SATOA hosts regular travel agent training events and dinners across the UK (and we hope to meet you at one of them soon) but in the interim, here are a few tips on how to sell Southern Africa effectively:

The unique selling points of Southern Africa ● Overnight flights with most major airlines into the major hubs of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, with regular connections from Johannesburg to Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Maun, Gaberone and Windhoek. Think of it as a dinner, movie and a night's sleep then waking up in the southern hemisphere.

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of elephant, to white water-rafting at the Victoria Falls. ● Responsible Tourism - South Africa is a leader in this sector and every tourist visiting offers a benefit to the local community.

Africa is one of the key destinations for volunteering both in communities and with wildlife.

We could go on forever with fantastic reasons to sell Southern Africa - but hopefully that gives you a taster. We would strongly encourage you to attend any SATOA events that may be held in your area especially our dinners where many of our members present their wonderful products - a fantastic way to get to know more on the area and ask any burning questions you may have.

Cape Town is the mother city, the icon of South Africa and also the World Design Capital 2014. South Africa has so much diversity and, within that, so much art from various different backgrounds and for 2014 has recently hosted the Design Indaba.

SATOA has quite a few presentation dinners planned for 2014, so check out our website to see where they are being held and register your interest in attending on www.satoa.com/events To see a list of our members and stay up to date with our news remember to visit our website regularly (www.satoa.com) and we do hope we will see you at one of our events soon! ✦

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southernafrica New travel trade website launch from South African Airways SOUTH AFRICAN Airways has launched a brand new trade website aimed at providing trade partners with up-to-date information on the airline.

The site has been designed as a one-stop-shop for the trade to use and includes details of routes and fleet, as well as contact information, FAQs and the latest news. It also serves as a platform for trade to download the latest aircraft images and features a Live Chat function.

The carrier's country manager UK, Gary Kershaw, said: "We

Gold Medal launches South Africa brochure GOLD MEDAL has added a new South Africa brochure to its portfolio.

The programme includes destinations such as Cape Town, the Winelands, Hermanus, the Garden Route, Eastern Cape, Durban, Kwazulu Natal, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Kruger National Park, and features hotel partners such as One&Only, Protea Hotels, Sun International and Tsogo Sun. The brochure complements the operator’s other brochures which include Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific; Caribbean & Mexico; Dubai & Indian Ocean; Far East; Florida; Las Vegas and USA & Canada.

Ruth Hilton, the company's head of sales and business development, said: “There has been a demand from both our valued agents and our ground suppliers to produce this title.

We’re really pleased to be able to have a South Africa brochure in our portfolio, taking our number of individual brochure titles to eight.

“As we’ve stuck with the interesting and fun ‘look and feel’ carried by the rest of our brochures, we’re expecting this title to stand out in store just as much as our other titles.”

The 32-page brochure can be ordered via Trade Gate or by emailing brochures@goldmedal.co.uk. It is also accessible on the company’s website.

For more information visit www.goldmedal.co.uk

Agent fam trip to Namibia

Wilderness Safaris to open Iconic Camp in Namibia WILDERNESS SAFARIS has announced the addition of Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp to its suite of camps in Namibia’s remote Kaokoveld for summer.

Located in the private Palmwag Concession, the camp is set in a land of stark mountains, vast plains and dry riverbeds inhabited by wildlife. Despite the arid environs, one of the greatest concentrations of desert-adapted elephant can be found within the area, along with sightings of gemsbok, giraffe, springbok, and possibly lion and black rhino.

Guests can explore the territory on foot, by vehicle and by air in small groups led by the company's guides, following elephant herds and other wildlife.

For the first time, forays into the Hoanib floodplains (previously restricted inside the Skeleton Coast National Park) can also be undertaken and, on itineraries of three or more nights, scenic flights will explore the shores of the Skeleton Coast.

An exclusive Classic Camp comprising of eight tents (including one family unit) is expected to be ready in August, featuring a low-impact design that is sensitive to the fragile desert environment.

For further information see www.wilderness-safaris.com

Northern Botswana fam trip offer from Travel Wild

AFRICA & Beyond has announced that it is hosting a travel agent educational to Namibia from November 212.

The trip will be for a group of seven agents and will visit Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland, Etosha and Ongava, and will also take a scenic flight along the Skeleton Coast.

For details on securing a place or for more information email enquiry@africaandbeyond.co. uk or call 0161-789 8838.

Meanwhile, the operator has announced that it is supporting the Street Child charity, where £10 of every booking until June 14 will be donated to the charity.

For details see www.street-child.co.uk

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said that SAA needed to improve its relationships with the UK travel trade. So alongside the new SAA team, the new trade website brings real time, digital news, information and support to our trade partners."

The airline, a Star Alliance member, operates double daily flights from Heathrow Terminal 1 to Johannesburg connecting to more than 30 destinations within Southern Africa.

For more information visit www.flysaa.com or call 0844-375 9680.

TRAVEL WILD is offering agents the chance to join its Northern Botswana fam trip from May 13-21.

Properties visited include Moremi Crossings, Mapula Lodge, Machaba Camp, Motswiri Camp, SGS Mobile Safari, Chobe Elephant Camp and Chobe Game Lodge.

For more information or to request a detailed itinerary email reservations@travelwild.co.bw THE RECENTLY refurbished Tongole Wilderness Lodge in the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Malawi saw the launch of its new family cottage this month. The new addition means that Tongole is now more child-friendly and the minimum age of guests has been lowered to eight years accordingly. The property's five luxury suites still offer complete privacy for those looking to escape from it all.

For details see www.tongole.com

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Johannesburg

Visit flysaatrade.com or call us on 020 8576 5555, option 2

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southernafrica Tailor-made safari options from BotswanaTours.com

EXODUS IS offering a new 14-day Northern Namibia And Angola tour from £3,699 per person. The tour, through West and southern Africa, journeys overland through remote northern Namibia into Angola. Flying into Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, travellers head north to visit an ancient Himba village in Opuwo, before crossing the border to Angola. Here, travellers will experience a safari through Iona National Park, the Skeleton Coast and the Tunda Vala escarpment, before heading back to Namibia’s Etosha National Park for game drives. The price includes flights from London, accommodation and meals and the next departures dates are June 8 and 29.

To book call 0845-863 9601 or visit www.exodus.co.uk

BOTSWANATOURS.COM, AN online travel portal, offers a one-stop-shop for Botswana safari products.

The website provides advice on a range of tour and safari packages, accommodation options and different tour possibilities, with a particular emphasis on wildlife, nature, ecotourism, cultural heritage and activity-based itineraries.

The range of package options – sourced from a selection of tour and safari operators in Botswana – vary from budget safaris to fly and lodge safaris.

Cape Town Walking & Winelands tour launch from Explore EXPLORE HAS launched a Cape Town Walking and Winelands tour, which combines easy walks with sampling wines and traditional food.

Passing through the fynbos vegetation, travellers can explore the South African countryside, which offers 9,000 different floral species. Highlights include Cape Town and Table Mountain, walks along the coast, a night on a houseboat and visits to wine estates.

Departing between September and November, the nineday holiday costs from £1,991 per person including flights, breakfast accommodation (including one night at a hotel, four nights in a guesthouse, one night on a houseboat and a two-night farmstay), five additional meals, transport and the services of a driver and tour leader.

For more information or to book call 0844-499 0901 or visit www.explore.co.uk

LOCATED THREE-and-a-half hours from Johannesburg in the Mpumalanga Province, Nkomazi Game Reserve – part of the Shamwari Group – has found a new leopard to reintroduce to the reserve. A holding boma (livestock enclosure) was constructed to accommodate Storm, a three-year-old leopardess who was transported to the reserve from a holding facility in Hoedspruit and is now settled into the boma, which will be her home until she is ready for release. Guests will not be permitted to view Storm up close for the next few months, but glimpses of her can be seen from a vantage point on the other side of the river from where her boma is situated.

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activityholidays Offer clients exclusive experiences with unexplored adventure tourism in Russia

by KRISTI RORISON, director of outgoing business, IntoRussia

T

HE RECENT flood of media attention towards Sochi has already brought public awareness towards the fact that Russia has more to offer than the two amazing cities of Moscow and St Petersburg, some fascinating cultural river cruising and the world famous trans Siberian rail journeys (as if that wasn’t enough!).

As the Winter Olympics have drawn to a close, stunning images of Sochi have given people a glimpse of a far less explored area of Russia. Beyond the multi-billion pound metropolis of modern buildings and Olympic stadiums lies a breathtaking landscape – a world of peaks and slopes, opportunities to trek gorges by foot and hike mountains on horseback.

A natural habitat Venture further east and uncover a whole other dimension of the largest country on earth – an unspoilt paradise for the adventure traveller.

Pass by fresh flowing volcanic lava and hardened lava sculptures in Petropavlovsk; watch bears in their natural habitat amongst the mountains of Kamchatka; and view walruses and grey whales in the Far Eastern Seas of Russia. The wonder of Lake Baikal in Siberia as the deepest freshwater source in the world is recognised by many, but fewer realise that the 1,800 rivers in Kamchatka are also teeming with wildlife, amid a splendid display of jagged mountains, glaciers and forested slopes in one of the most picturesque locations in the world.

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While our city breaks and river cruises to Moscow and St Petersburg remain extremely popular, and the trans Siberian railway will always attract a wide range of travellers from backpacker to luxury, this new demand for adventure and activity travel to Russia cannot go unnoticed.

We have now further widened our portfolio, as keen explorers are excited by the prospect of these unspoilt and lesser known lands. Hiking tours to mount Elbrus in southern Russia; bear watching and volcano viewing adventures in Kamchatka; and thermal pool bathing in Paratunka are just some of the experiences on offer for tailor-made clients and groups alike.

The alternative experience There are some particular things to bear in mind when offering a trip to the lesser known areas of Russia.

Firstly, as always, a Russian tourist visa is required. The only real restriction this provides is that the trip can last no longer than 30 days. With recommended trip duration ranging from as little as five days this is usually not a problem, however the backpacking client looking to stay for ‘as long as they feel’ will have to plan something more structured. Secondly, a little flexibility on dates is always helpful, particularly when dealing with far Eastern Russia. Flight schedules from Petropavlovsk to Anadyr, for example, are often not released until three months prior to travel. This does not mean that your client should wait

that long to book however – any flight schedule changes can be accommodated for with a simple extra night of accommodation or change in arrival/departure transfer time, usually at no extra cost.

Finally, unless they are travelling on a luxury private rail journey, it is worth bearing in mind that the word ‘luxury’ in these rural parts is not as we know it here in the west. Bookings are high value and great quality, but those not willing to sacrifice their home comfort five-star spa experience should consider a luxury rail journey from Moscow to Vladivostok or Beijing instead.

The opening up of these lesser known areas throughout Russia is yet another sign of the growing trend of travellers seeking a new and different experience, and this is where the role of the travel agent comes into its own.

Have the confidence to offer an alternative experience, and soon your clients will thank you for sending them on a trip of a lifetime! ✦

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activityholidays Macau Government Tourist Office unveils four new walking tours in Macau THE MACAU Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has unveiled four new walking tours designed to take visitors off the beaten tourist trail and help them discover lesser known communities, savour local cuisines and discover the city's culture.

Available for free from MGTO tourist information centres and available for download from MGTO's website's Trip Planner, the four walking tours, titled ' Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities', are each themed to take in a

different aspect of Macau - 'A Tour of Historical Trails', 'A Tour of Nature and Creativity', 'A Tour of East meets West' and 'A Tour of Arts and Culture'.

Intended to be leisurely strolls, the shortest of the four walks takes approximately 90 minutes to complete while the longest takes approximately 130 minutes.

The website also features videos of the four routes to allow visitors to virtually experience the walking tours prior to setting off.

Membership deal from Leicestershire's Stapleford Park country house THE FOUR-STAR Stapleford Park country house in Leicestershire is promoting golf membership deals at its championship golf course for guests this year.

Designed by Donald Steel, the course wraps around the heart of the estate in two extended loops and was selected by the PGA European Seniors Tour to host its golf tournament in May 2010.

After 18 holes hotel

guests can unwind with lunch and a drink, or meet friends and family at the House for an evening meal.

Golf Membership includes unlimited use of the golf course, a one-hour free lesson, access to all golf competitions, EGU and L&RGU subscriptions, 10% discount on food and beverages in The Pavilion Restaurant and a member’s guest rate of £25 for 18 holes, or £15 for

Stapleford Park country house

nine holes. The one-off joining fee for adults is £200 with an annual subscription of £750.

Accommodation leads in at £180 per night including breakfast, based on two sharing.

Golfers to benefit from new Your Golf Travel partnership MORE THAN 400,000 club golfers are now able to play more, pay less and travel further, after Your Golf Travel was appointed official travel partner to HowDidiDo, Europe's largest golfing community.

The company hopes to book holidays for more than 10,000 HowDidiDo users in 2014, as the social media site continues to increase benefits and offers for its 400,000plus members.

Each month, unique travel offers, from Your Golf Travel's programme of more than 3,500 global golfing destinations, will be created for the community's membership base and communicated via HowDidiDo's email and website channels.

New golfing academy at Turnberry TURNBERRY, WHICH is situated on the south-western coastline of Scotland in Ayrshire, has recently opened the Turnberry Performance Academy - a new golfing academy with an holistic approach to coaching the game of golf.

Launched over the summer, the TPA offers tuition that caters to all abilities, including ladies, juniors and family golf, incorporating the principles of the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), recognised as the world leaders in studying the physical elements of golf coaching.

A ‘Back to Front’ golf package starts from £300 per person and residential packages, including a stay at a Lands of Turnberry self-catering lodge, are also available, with prices from £250 for a two-night stay.

For more information or to book visit www.turnberryresort.co.uk/performance-academy

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activityholidays St Moritz's Kulm Hotel offers new bridge & golf deal THE KULM Hotel St. Moritz has added new bridge and golf packages for summer which run from July 27 to August 10.

The package includes seven nights' half-board accommodation; bridge instruction and tournaments; spa treatments worth CHF 80 (approximately £55); unlimited access to the Kulm Spa, Fit & Fun sports programme (changes daily); unlimited use of the nine-hole Kulm golf course, driving range and tennis courts; and unlimited use of all open mountain railways in the Engadin/St. Moritz region and public transport in the valley (bus and Rhaetian railway).

Prices lead in at approximately £1,200) per person.

For details or to book see www.kulm.com.

Fred./ launches golf packages at Hotel Jardin Tecina FRED./ HAS launched two golf packages based on three and seven nights at its Hotel Jardin Tecina in La Gomera.

As an example, a three-night package includes half-board accommodation in a standard room with a garden view, unlimited golf, transfers, one piece of hold luggage per person up to 20kg and one golf bag up to 20kg per person. Prices lead in at £789 for golfers and £679 per non golfer and there is a single supplement of £80.

ROCCO FORTE’S Verdura Golf & Spa Resort in Sicily has announced the return of its Juventus Summer Training Session which takes place during half-term from May 26-30 and from June 16 to September 5. Coaches from the Juventus football club will be taking up residence at Verdura for a series of masterclasses, inviting the resort’s young guests (aged five-16) to improve their football skills in daily two-and-a-half-hour sessions, followed by a 30-minute match. A five-day programme costs €350 per child excluding VAT. For details see www.roccofortehotels.com

Jakes Jamaica gets set for 19th triathlon

Easter escape deals from Explore

JAMAICAN HIDEAWAY Jakes is gearing up for its 19th triathlon on April 12 with a dedicated package to ensure triathletes and supporters can sample the best of what the bohemian bolthole and its surrounding community has to offer.

Those seeking a fully integrated healthy holiday or who simply prefer to compete with themselves can also opt to embark on ‘A Fitness Trip in Rebel Terrain’ from April 10-14 with New York fitness guru Ross Anti from the celebrated Equinox gym franchise.

The triathlon will comprise a 500m swim, 25k bike ride and 7k run, while a ‘Likkle Jakes’ Kids Triathlon’ will also be available for kids. All proceeds raised will benefit local nonprofit organisation BREDS. Founded by Jakes’ owner Jason Henzell, BREDS’ main mission is to promote education, sports, cultural heritage and emergency healthcare in the area through various initiatives such as the foundation of pioneering sports community facility Treasure Beach Sports Park and the Treasure Beach Sports Academy, Black Galleon Fish Sanctuary and the Greater Treasure Beach Sustainable Development Plan.

The Triathlon Package includes five nights' single occupancy in a garden view room, one Swedish massage, two yoga classes, one warm up bicycle ride and registration to triathlon and costs from US$795 (approximately £476) per person plus taxes.

For further information or to book visit www.jakeshotel.com

FOR CLIENTS seeking a last-minute Easter escape, Explore is offering availability on a selection of discounted departures including Turkey, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Burma.

As an example, for a short-haul break, Walking The Turquoise Coast is based in the harbour town of Kas and takes guests on gentle walks along the Turquoise Coast, discovering ruins and hiking to ancient Phellos.

Highlights of the trip include exploring the relics of Patara, spotting signs of loggerhead turtles and visiting the ancient city of Xanthos. The eight-day walking tour departs on April 19 and costs from £674 per person. The price offers a saving of £50 and includes flights, seven nights' breakfast accommodation, transport and the service of a driver and tour leader.

Meanwhile, guests looking to escape the continent without a long-haul flight can opt for Imperial Cities and Desert, which travels through the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech.

Departing on April 9, the 15-day holiday costs from £920 and offers a saving of £75. Flights and 13 nights' hotel and one night riad accommodation with breakfast is included, along with transport and the service of a driver and tour leader.

For further information or to book visit www.explore.co.uk or call 0844-499 0901.

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activtyholidays New GPS golf cart systems from Heritage Resorts Golf Club Mauritius HERITAGE RESORTS' Heritage Golf Club in Mauritius has installed state of the art GPS systems on all of its golf carts, which now feature high resolution colour images of each hole with yardages to the flag and points of interest, 3D flyovers of every hole, an electronic scorecard that can be sent to golfers’ e-mail at the end of the round, real time leader board for tournaments, food and beverage ordering and messaging to the clubhouse or marshal in case of emergencies.

A new ‘Golf Passport’ scheme has also been introduced, allowing guests to play on three of the island’s premier courses.

A Basic Pass offers golf rounds at partner golf clubs, Tamarina and Paradis and includes transfers, unlimited golf, priority tee off, discounts on equipment hire at HGC, HGC restaurant, golf lessons and golf massage at the Seven Colours Spa. Prices lead in at £240 per person.

A Golf Bliss Pass offers golf rounds at partner golf clubs, Tamarina and Paradis and includes transfers, unlimited golf, priority tee off, whole stay tee off times booking discounts on equipment hire at HGC, HGC restaurant, golf lessons, a golf massage at the Seven Colours Spa, upgraded next available room category, hole in one insurance and free helicopter landing fee at the three courses. Prices lead in at £360 per person.

All guests also benefit from free green fees throughout their stay.

Heritage Golf Club Mauritius

Pebble Beach Resorts opens golf range PEBBLE BEACH Resorts in California has opened a new Golf Academy and Practice Facility which features a 350-yard, double-ended driving range and can accommodate up to 85 golfers. The facility, which mimics the look and feel of shots found throughout the company’s Golf Links, is also home to the new 3,000-ft² Golf Academy which features three instruction studios.

Guests can experience a menu of personalised tools including a robotic swing trainer, 3D motion capture system, HD video analysis, computerised putting stroke evaluation and an indoor golf simulator.

For details see www.pebblebeach.com and www.discoveramerica.com

Grenada's Mount Cinnamon resort adds yoga excursion experience MOUNT CINNAMON Resort and Beach Club in Grenada has introduced new yoga and meditation excursions which take guests on a tour of some of Grenada's most stunning landmarks.

After morning yoga on top of the island at Fort Frederick, guests are taken into the rainforest to Grand Etang Crater Lake - an extinct volcano which is 1,800ft above sea level - for meditation. The morning's classes are rounded off with a light organic picnic.

The experience includes seven nights for the price of five in a hacienda suite including breakfast, a yoga and meditation excursion to Fort Frederick and Grand Etang Crater Lake in the Rain Forest, a complimentary treatment from the Cinnamon Spa Menu, a daily yoga class and a daily fruit bowl.

Prices start from US$2,850 (approximately £1,705) per couple including taxes and service.

For further information visit www.mountcinnamongrenadahotel.com or email reservations@mountcinnamongrenada.com

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Ski & bike package from Powder White POWDER WHITE’S ski and bike package offers guests the chance to combine the best of the snow with the chance to explore beyond the slopes on two wheels around the Austrian resort of St Anton.

Renowned as ‘the cradle of Alpine skiing’, St Anton has a vast ski area that covers the local mountains alongside the neighbouring resorts of St Christoph, Lech and Zurs.

Guests can ski more than 500km of terrain by morning and then, as temperatures rise, take to the saddle to explore 200 miles of tracks and trails around the resort through areas like St Jakob, Pettnau, Flirsh and Ferwall.

A seven-night ‘Ski and Bike’ trip arriving on April 13 costs from £475 per person including accommodation at Chalet Fritz on a fully catered basis, bike hire and trail maps for self-guided rides.

For details see www.powderwhite.com or call 020-8877 8888.

TABER HOLIDAYS is offering The Viking Challenge (Family Package) from £2,070 per adult and £680 per child (aged six-11) this summer.

Based in Reykjavik, the seven-night trip features horse-riding through the lava fields, a whale-watching cruise and cycling to the lighthouse on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Free time is built in to explore Iceland’s capital and entrance to the Blue Lagoon is also included. Prices include flights from Heathrow, transfers, seven nights' breakfast accommodation, all tours and activities as mentioned and a Reykjavik Card, and are based on four sharing. Daily departures are available from June 1 until August 31 and regional departures from Manchester and Glasgow are also available.

For details call 01274-875199 or see www.taberhols.co.uk

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southamerica GREAT RAIL Journeys has introduced a new Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands tour. The itinerary uses the Tren Crucero (cruise train), which launched in June last year and has been restored to offer luxury rail travel through Ecuador’s mountain and coastal scenery.

The train has four vintage carriages, including one offering traditional Ecuadorian coffees and one an open-air terrace at the rear. On the tour, guests will have three days on the train (evenings are in hotels) as they travel from Quito to Cuenca and then on to the Galapagos Islands. The 17-day tour costs from £4,995 per person.

For details visit www.greatrail.com

WTM Latin America welcomes more than 30 new exhibitors for 2014 WTM LATIN America 2014, which takes place from April 23-25 at the Transamerica Expo Centre in São Paulo, Brazil, will welcome more than 30 new exhibitors.

The event, which will play host to the 41st Braztoa Business Meeting, saw more than 1,250 exhibitors from 60 countries take part last year.

Tourist boards such as Atout France, Greek National Tourism Organisation, Tourism Australia and Korea Tourism Organisation will be on the exhibition floor for the first time this year.

Canadian entertainment company Cirque du Soleil will also be in attendance.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), a new exhibitor, will join The Trump Hotels, which was present at the inaugural event, along with other hotel chains including Accor (one of the event sponsors), Meliá and Hilton Worldwide.

Retail stores will also be well represented, with American stores Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, as well as the Chic Outlet Shopping chain.

New for this year is the Travel Tech area on the exhibition floor, which will host names in the travel technology industry including Google and TripAdvisor.

Lawrence Reinisch, exhibition director of the show, said: “WTM Latin America 2014 is set to be even bigger and better than last year with exhibitors from Brazil, Latin America and the rest of the world already confirming their presence.

Silversea promotes South American Voyage SILVERSEA’S SILVER Shadow will depart for a 15-day voyage along the South American coast on November 20, departing from Valparaiso, Chile for Buenos Aires, Argentina. Highlights include watching the South American sea lions, marine otters and bottlenose dolphins, exploring the different cultures of South America and taking in the region’s beaches.

Voyage 3433 will call at Valparaiso, Puerto Montt, Puerto Chacabuco, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Stanley, Punta Del Este, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

Prices start from £3,950 per person based on double occupancy of a Vista suite.

For further information visit www.silversea.com

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“This high level of acceptance and demand from exhibitors reflects WTM Latin America’s importance for the region’s tourism sector and is developing by leaps and bounds, overcoming the global financial crisis, which has affected the economic development in many countries around the world.

“Latin American countries have seen the number of visitor arrivals increase by almost 50% in the last ten years, rising from 54million in 2003 to a forecast figure of 80million for the current year. And Brazil is the main star in this picture. It is no coincidence that the eyes of the global travel industry are firmly focused on the country, which will play host to two global events over the course of the next three years.”

Meanwhile, Google Glass will be displayed at the event by first-time exhibitor MooveTeam in the Innovation Zone Play Area. The gaming company will showcase its software on Google Glass where visitors will be able to experience firsthand the company’s new TeamBuilding app, which enables users to read messages, get directions, take videos and pictures and send and share information with other team members. Regarding the Innovation Zone Play Area, the event’s project manager David Benitez said: “It will be an area where the Latin American and the international travel industry can come and learn about these new amazing technologies and innovative concepts."

To see the full list of current exhibitors for the event visit www.wtmlatinamerica.com/exhibitor-directory

Launch of new 'Brazil Home' site TO GIVE future visitors a taste of what the country has to offer, Embratur has launched a new digital platform entitled 'Brazil Home'. The site takes visitors around a virtual house, where they can discover the rich history and culture of Brazil through clicking on photos, videos and music links.

As examples, a tour of the living room takes users on a journey through the works of important Brazilian painters and photographers in history. For food enthusiasts, the kitchen features traditional Brazilian recipes, while the study provides access to playlists with music by renowned Brazilian artists which can be downloaded.

For details see www.visitbrasil.com/brasilhome

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southernamerica South American tours from £1,525 per person with Trafalgar TRAFALGAR OFFERS a variety of South American tours leading in at £1,525 per person.

An eight-day Panama the Canal and Beyond tour travels to the Panama Canal, with highlights including a cruise along the 100-year-old canal; a wander around the streets of Casco Antiguo - a UNESCO Site in Panama’s Historical District; a visit to the rainforest; river motorboat rides through the jungle; learning about the Embera Indians’ culture in Embera Puru; travelling up the mountain slopes of Chiriqui Province to experience a Be My Guest lunch; a coffee plantation visit; and trips to Santiago, Aguadulce, Nata and Playa Bonita.

Prices start from £1,525 per person landonly and include seven nights’ breakfast accommodation, sightseeing and the services of a travel director.

Alternatively, clients can opt to follow In the Footsteps of the Incas with a ten-day Peruvian tour. Highlights include a Be My Guest lunch in Lima; a visit to the Sacred Valley in Cusco; a climb towards Machu Picchu to see ruins such as the Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest and the Sacred Plaza; a trip to the Temple of Korikancha; a cruise along Lake Titicaca;

and a tour of Taquile Island to meet the local Quechua-speaking villagers.

Prices lead in at £2,776 per person landonly, including nine nights’ breakfast accommodation, sightseeing and the services of a travel director.

Alternatively, for £4,769, travellers can embark on a 16-day Cultures and Contrasts of South America tour which travels through Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

Highlights include sightseeing in Rio de Janeiro; learning about some Brazilian specialities, including precious gemstones and how to make the perfect Caipirinha; Samba dancing; a visit to Iguassu National Park; a sightseeing tour of Buenos Aires; a Be My Guest meal in Palermo Soho; visits to the UNESCO site of Colonia del Sacramento and the resort town of San Carlos de Bariloche on the edge of the Andes; and a journey by land and water across the Lake District straddling Argentina and Chile to see the Southern Hemisphere’s landscapes.

Prices start from £4,769 land-only, including 15 nights’ breakfast accommodation, sightseeing and the services of a travel director.

For more information visit www.trafalgar.com

Explore the Latin Wonders of the World with Travelsphere TRAVELSPHERE IS introducing a new 17-day Latin Wonders of the World tour that will encompass the Andean communities of Peru and Bolivia to the cosmopolitan cities of Buenos Aires and Rio. The trip will explore Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and Iguazu Falls with highlights including doing the tango in Buenos Aires and a visit to Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

There is also an option to extend the trip in Rio de Janeiro.

The tour runs until November 2015 and prices start from £3,699 per person.

Celebrate Easter in Peru with Rainbow Tours & Inkaterra RAINBOW TOURS Latin America is offering an eight-night Easter itinerary in Peru in association with ecotourism company Inkaterra.

The trip includes three nights at Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion, three nights at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica and two nights at Casa Andina Private Collection in Lima.

Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, in the Amazon rainforest of Southern Peru, near Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, is offering a cocoa experience, where guests will hike through the plantation’s cocoa groves. In Casa Grande, guests will discover how cocoa seeds are fermented, sun-dried, toasted and ground to release the natural, aromatic oils that give chocolate its distinctive flavour, before making treats.

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The second leg of the journey takes guests to the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica eco-lodge in the Amazon rainforest to spot wildlife. The lodge can be reached by motorboat along the Madre De Dios River, about an hour’s river ride from the nearest town, Puerto Maldonado.

The tour leads in at £2,445 per person and is based on two adults sharing and departs on April 15, flying with LAN Airlines from Heathrow via Madrid.

Included in the price are flights, transfers, accommodation on a bed-and-breakfast-basis in Lima and a full board basis in the Amazon, plus excursions in the Amazon.

For more information call 020-7666 1260 or visit www.rainbowtours.co.uk

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denmark Inspire clients to take a self-drive holiday to experience unique scenery and landmarks

by VIBEKE (Becky) OLIVER, marketing manager - leisure tourism at VisitDenmark

W

ITH ITS timeless countryside, quiet roads and frequent ferry crossings direct from the UK, Denmark is the perfect choice for those seeking the convenience and freedom of a self-drive holiday. The country is blessed with a picturesque, rolling scenery of unspoiled farmland, forests and heaths, not to mention mile upon mile of pristine coastline.

Welcome to Denmark!

DFDS Seaways – Sail to Denmark Travelling by sea to Denmark means you can take your own vehicle and explore at your own pace. You can also take as much luggage as you like and enjoy the onboard facilities and entertainment as you sail. DFDS Seaways operates the only ferry route from the UK to Scandinavia, offering a year-round ferry service from Harwich to Esbjerg, West Jutland.

crowned by ‘Your rainbow panorama’, a glass skywalk by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson which lets visitors soak in the cityscape while bathed in the hues of the spectrum.

Among the city’s classic attractions is the Old Town Museum, one of the world’s oldest and largest open-air museums.

Travellers can walk through Danish history in the museum which features more than 75 townhouses - from 16th century to the 1970's. Denmark’s second biggest city inspires guests as they discover art, architecture, history, shopping and fantastic food.

Small Danish Hotels - Your shortcut to Danish happiness Small Danish Hotels are 100 beautiful historic inns, modern city hotels, fairy tale castles and romantic manors, which are full of charm, intimacy and warmth.

What they all have in common is the attention to personal service and being good hosts. We call it "Moments of Happiness”. Small Danish Hotels have it all – all over Denmark; by the coast, in the city and in the country – and always near all the main Danish attractions.

North Zealand – love on a bike Royal North Zealand welcomes a new kind of cycling holiday, an active yet comfortable experience for those who love to explore on their own. Why not suggest that you clients cycle from the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art to Hamlets Castle, Kronborg and The Danish Maritime Museum, designed by architecture company BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) or enjoy the countryside. H. C. Andersen said of Gurre town: “I think this place is the most beautiful in Denmark”.

Gorgeous villages, sandy beaches, delicious seafood, sumptuous castles and charming hotels combine to make a wonderful holiday. Guests can enjoy a few leisurely days in the Danish Riviera discovering pretty villages, grand castles and sandy beaches, just 30 minutes from Copenhagen.

Aarhus – Denmark's second biggest city A vibrant mix of youthful energy and blasts from the past makes Aarhus a city with an energetic beat of the pulse. From here, beaches, harbours and forests are all within a 15-minute bike ride. The art museum, ARoS, delivers groundbreaking works from some of the world’s most progressive artists and has been

North Denmark – the land of light North Jutland in Denmark is a great place for getting fresh sea air and still be able to enjoy gourmet restaurants and a city break feel. Denmark’s northernmost city, Aalborg lets you combine contemporary urban experiences with classic seaside escapes, including the romantic fishing town of Skagen and the

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beachscapes and drifting sand dunes of North Jutland.

The windswept beachscapes of the northernmost tip of Denmark have attracted artists and travellers to the seaside town of Skagen since the 1870s.

Today, the old portside seafood restaurants and classic seaside hotels offer a laidback sense of land’s end.

Fly directly to Aalborg and with a short eight minute drive to the city, you can start your holiday immediately.

River Gudenaaen – yours to explore The winding river called "Gudenåen" in Danish is a great starting point for travelling in Denmark. Gudenaaen is the longest river in Denmark, in the heart of Jutland, and offers varied scenery, exciting towns, inspiring culture and unique history, right in the centre of everything. Ideas include a relaxing day of canoeing, jumping on one of the tour boats or experiencing the local cuisine in cosy inns and restaurants in the surrounding towns of the river.

Vejle – Fjordland and Vikings Visit Vejle and let yourself go in beautiful green nature and on the sandy beaches of the fjord. Go cycling over rolling hills or spend a day shopping on the pedestrian street "Strøget" in the heart of the city.

Get closer to the Vikings at the UNESCO world heritage site in the town of Jelling presenting the Jelling Monuments – two rune stones erected by the kings Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth in the 10th century. At the Royal Jelling visitors centre you can learn more about this exciting chapter of Denmark's history.

For more information on Denmark, fam trips and agent offers go to “Travel Trade” on www.visitdenmark.co.uk or email Becky at vo@visitdenmark.com ✦

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denmark Copenhagen gears up for summer events COPENHAGEN IS preparing for a schedule of high-profile events in the upcoming months.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2014, which will take place from May 6-10, is expected to bring 190,000 participants and fans to the city, while a further 170million around the world will watch on TV. Copenhagen’s pedestrianised shopping street, Strøget, will be transformed into the first-ever Eurovision Fan Mile - a mile-long party route with representation from, among others, Beijing, Hamburg and Malmö. Moreover, the city has provided Copenhagen Pride with the necessary funds to ensure a Eurovision Pride Square in central Copenhagen. The Municipality of Copenhagen is also providing an opportunity for couples looking to tie the knot at Copenhagen Opera House or on a sightseeing boat during the celebrations.

Meanwhile, for the tenth time in a row, the Copenhagen Cooking Festival will take place in August, offering visitors a range of culinary experiences.

Also in August is the HamletScenen (www.hamletscenen.dk/uk), a festival dedicated to the works of Shakespeare with plays acted out on the stage in the courtyard of Hamlet’s Castle. This year, celebrating Shakespeare’s 450th birthday, Shakespeare’s Globe actors from London will be performing their production of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ on August 1, 2, 3 and 4. An open-air screening of British director Peter Brooke’s ‘King Lear’ from 1971 will also be shown on August 9 at 21:00. As a new initiative, Shakespeare in Concert will conclude the festival on August 10. Every day throughout July, HamletScenen will also present the annual Shakespeare Puppets, a theatrical production using puppets, music, mimicry and sound to tell the story of, this year, ‘King Lear’.

For more information visit www.visitcopenhagen.com

Self-drive deals from operators A NUMBER of operators are promoting self-drive deals to Denmark.

Agents booking with DFDS Seaways by April 30 will be able to save their clients 20% on regular prices, which means that a car and four people can travel from £98 per person each way. See www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/lov edenmark for details.

Wexas Travel offers an 11-day 'Best of Denmark' self-drive holiday, which takes in the country's main highlights, with prices from £1,085. Call 020-7590 0610 for details.

Baltic Travel Company offers an eight-day selfdrive holiday from £965 (call 020-8233 2875), while Taber Holidays is highlighting a nine-night, self-drive 'March of the Vikings' tour from £1,386.

Call 01274-875199.

For more information on self-drive breaks see www.visitdenmark.co.uk/self drive

LOCATED IN the heart of Copenhagen’s Latin Quarter and designed by Danish architect Erik Møllers, Design Hotels’ new SKT. PETRI has been renovated from a former department store. Rates at the 268-room hotel, which offers minimalist Scandinavian design, start from €137 (approximately £115) per night. For travel agents booking through the hotel group’s GDS, a commission of 10% is offered, while a small number are at 8%. The company is currently offering a Nordic Delights package, details of which can be found at www.designhotels.com/nordic-delights

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Fairytale adventures on Fyn island CLIENTS LOOKING for a fairytale adventure in Denmark are being invited to visit the island of Fyn, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen.

At the author’s house, located in Odense, guests will have the opportunity to see the tale of ‘Fyrtøjet’ (‘The Tinderbox’) being performed on stage.

Following the performance, visitors will be able to continue the adventure on an Odense Åfart river boat ride, with characters from the fairytales coming to life along the route. Visitors can also see how village life was in the days of Hans Christian Andersen and board one of the trains at Denmark’s Railway Museum in Odense.

Alternatively, clients can experience a knight’s tournament at Nyborg Castle, one of Denmark’s most important monuments from the Middle Ages and Ladbyskibet, or see Denmark’s only preserved Viking ship burial.

The island’s mild climate offers optimal conditions for a variety of produce and seasonal specialties, with many cafés, gourmet restaurants, inns and food festivals.

Those who enjoy the active side of life can also experience more than 1,000km of cycling routes on the island, alongside hiking and water-based activities. Fyn has also recently welcomed its first fishing lodge, which is situated in the sea trout preserve on Helnæs

by Assens.

For more information visit www.visitfyn.com

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denmark Fred. Olsen awarded inaugural ‘Aalborg Hotdog of Honour’ FRED. OLSEN Cruise Lines has been awarded the inaugural ‘Aalborg Hotdog of Honour’ for its services to the Danish destination.

The line, which operates a fleet of four smaller, more intimate ships Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch - is offering a number of cruises from the UK to Aalborg, a port in Northern Jutland, Denmark, this year.

To celebrate and brand Aalborg as the ‘Happy Hotdog Port’, the local bronze artist, Lene Steffensen, has produced a number of limited-edition hotdogs out of the metal. The ‘Aalborg Hotdogs of Honour’ will be presented to key representatives of the cruise companies which visit Aalborg.

The line's itinerary planning manager, Martin Lister, said: “It is very special for us to be awarded the very first ‘Aalborg Hotdog of Honour’. We are proud to be able to offer our guests unique and different experiences in the hundreds of ports around the world that that we visit, and we are delighted that our colleagues at Aalborg Harbour have

Unique Meeting & Holiday Concepts:

decided to recognise our commitment to them in this outstanding and humorous way."

Pictured with the award at the London launch of the line’s new 2015/16 programme last month are, from the left: Lars Bech, cruise manager at the

Love on a bike

Port of Aalborg; Martin Lister, itinerary planning manager at the cruise line; the ‘Viking chef’, Jesper Lynge; and Helge Søgaard from VisitAalborg.

For further information visit www.fredolsencruises.com and www.aalborghavn.dk

Dessert Weekend Along the Danish Riviera KINGS CHALLENGE Go hiking

WE DID YOUR HOMEWORK North Sealand is only 30 min. from Copenhagen and offers attractions ranging from world-class cultural sites and gastronomy to small fishing villages and beachfront hotels. Let us inspire you with our 5 new holiday concepts or our unique venues for special meetings. You can easily create custom itineraries and holiday packages.

See for yourself at visitnorthsealand.com

For further information please contact Project Manager Birgitte Bergman bbe@visitnordsjaelland.com

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denmark We asked our staff the following question this week: What would you do with £1million?

Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk New car, side extension on the house and invest whatever was left!

Editor: Lauretta Wright lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk A new car, a family holiday & save the rest!

Assistant Editor: Jill Sayles jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk

TABER HOLIDAYS has launched a new seven-day tour, The World of Hans Christian Andersen. The tour starts in Odense, the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, with guests being greeted by a landscape of cobbled stone streets, remote castles and a Gothic cathedral. Guests will also get the chance to visit a museum dedicated to the author.

Meanwhile, Tivoli Gardens, the second oldest amusement park in the world, awaits in Copenhagen, where several of the rides are themed around Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytales. The capital is also home to the Little Mermaid statue. Prices start from £1,036 per person and include seven nights’ breakfast accommodation, flights from Heathrow to Copenhagen and a rail journey from Copenhagen to Odense. The price is based on two sharing and daily departures are from May 1-September 30.

For more information call 01274-875199 or visit www.taberhols.co.uk

I’d treat myself and give the rest to family and charity

Contributing Editor: Paul Scudamore post@travelbulletin.co.uk Spend it all (wisely)

Sales Director: Simon Eddolls simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk Give it to charity

Advertisement Manager: Tim Podger tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk An AC Cobra and plastic surgery for the wife

Online Sales Manager: Nick Boocock nick.boocock@travelbulletin.co.uk

SAS reduces fares for SAS Plus service SAS HAS reduced lead-in fares for its SAS Plus service from Heathrow to Denmark, with prices now starting from £205 return and £127 one-way to Copenhagen. The price includes seats at the front of the plane, lounges, FastTrack, two checked bags, complimentary food and drink and fully flexible tickets. Flights from Heathrow to Copenhagen in SAS Go start are available from £132 return and £78 one-way. The airline has also launched a new direct Leeds Bradford to Copenhagen route with fares from £92 oneway. All prices include taxes and charges.

For details call 0871-226 7760 or visit www.flysas.co.uk

Buy a bigger house, cash outright with one half. Invest the rest in my own projects

Account Manager: Bill Coad bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk Buy Travel Bulletin

Sales Executive: Chris Gascoine chris.gascoine@travelbulletin.co.uk Spend it

Sales Executive: Matt Gill matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk A yacht filled up to the brim with fine food & drink, setting off into the sunset!

Senior Designer: Genaro Santos genaro.santos@travelbulletin.co.uk Bugatti Veyron

Assistant Designer: Nicky Valsamakis nicky.valsamakis@travelbulletin.co.uk £1 million worth of loo roll (extra soft, triple ply)

Production: Erica Sesay production@travelbulletin.co.uk Buy a house in the UK and Africa

Circulation Manager: Jim Merchant post@travelbulletin.co.uk Travel Bulletin is published by Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) Ltd University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London, SW1W 0EX, Tel: 020-7834 6661 Printed by: Wyndeham Grange Limited Subscriptions are £125 p.a. £195 overseas ISSN: 0956-2419

Follow us on Twitter! @TravelBulletin

BEST SERVED Scandinavia has launched a new luxury tailor-made Danish self-drive itinerary, Royal Denmark, which includes the chance to stay at some of Denmark's finest boutique hotels, all of which are part of the Small Danish Hotels Group. The holiday begins in the capital Copenhagen, before taking guests through rural countryside to picturesque towns and villages, castles and ancient Viking ruins.

Prices start from £1,140 per person including flights, car hire for six days and seven nights' breakfast accommodation.

puzzlesolutions Crossword: Across: 1. KUONI, 3. VEGAS, 6. TENNESSEE, 7. BOSNIA, 9. BALA, 11. JAVA, 12. KIGALI, 15. LES DENNIS, 16. SIENA, 17. SWISS. Down: 1. KATY B, 2. IBERIA, 3. VISA, 4. GRENADA, 5. STENA, 8. SEVILLE, 10. BIKERS, 11. JONES, 13. IPSOS, 14. ASIA.

Highlighted Word: VERONA Travagrams: (top) Versailles

(bottom) Gulf Air

Where Am I?: Brazil

30

April 4 2014

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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Come to Denmark Stunning nature and vibrant cities Explore Denmark's most picturesque self drive route, The Marguerite Route

Come and discover Denmark Discover Denmark's Marguerite Route on a self-drive holiday. The country is

Skagen

blessed with a picturesque, rolling scenery of unspoiled farmland, forests and heaths, not to mention mile upon mile of pristine coastline - much of which can be encountered by following the 3,600km Marguerite Route.

DFDS Seaways Sail to Denmark

Small Danish Hotels are 100 beautiful, historic inns, modern, city hotels, fairy tale castles and romantic manors, which are full of charm, intimacy and warmth.

You will find them by the coast, in the city and in the country – always near all the main Danish attractions.

1

Bornholm

Airport Thisted

6

DFDS Seaways operates the only ferry route from the UK to Scandinavia, from Harwich to Esbjerg. Travelling by sea to Denmark means your can take your own vehicle and explore at your own pace. You can also take as much luggage as you like and enjoy the on-board facilities and entertainment as you sail.

Small Danish Hotels Your Shortcut to Danish Happiness

2

Aalborg

Aarhus Airport Billund Airport

4

1 5

DFDS Seaways from Harwich to Esbjerg

3

DENMARK

Copenhagen Airport

Aarhus Denmark's Second Biggest City

Along the route you will find Denmark's second biggest city, Aarhus. The city offers numerous attractions including the Museum "Den Gamle By (The Old Town), where visitors can see what it would have been like to live and work in a 19th century Danish town.

2

North Denmark The Land of Light

The route passes through North Jutland and allows visitors a chance to get close to nature in this extensive area full of contrasts with endless white beaches, sand dunes, cliffs, heathland and forests. You can also pay a visit to the romantic fishing town of Skagen, offering seafood restaurants and classic seaside hotels.

3

North Zealand Home of Hamlet

The route covers Denmark's largest Island Zealand, and if you follow the route north you can discover grand castles and pretty villages in Royal North Zealand.

Experience the historic Kronborg Castle, known as Hamlet's Castle, as it was inspiration for Shakespeare's play about the tragic Danish prince.

4

River Gudenaaen Yours to explore

The Marguerite Route passes by the picturesque River Gudenaa, the longest river in Denmark. A trip along Gudenaaen offers a relaxing atmosphere, with fantastic and varied scenery. Enjoy a relaxing day of canoeing on the river or ride a bike through the fantastic landscape.

5

Vejle The Vikings in Jellling

Following the route south, you reach the town of Vejle. Here you find the historic town of Jelling where two tenth century runic stones hold special significance for Danes, as the one erected in AD983 by Viking King Harald Bluetooth is known as the ’birth certificate of Denmark’.

For more information, offers and inspiration go to visitdenmark.co.uk

Recommended Denmark Specialists DFDS Seaways dfds.co.uk call 0871 522 9955 Wexas Travel wexas.com/scandinavia call 0207 590 0610 Taber Holidays taberhols.co.uk call 01274 875199 Baltic Travel Company baltictravelcompany.com call 0208 233 2875 Inntravel inntravel.co.uk call 01653 617000

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