Travel Bulletin 5th June 2015

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June 5 2015 | ISSUE NO 1,922 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

2016 VIKING RIVER CRUISES

NOW ON SALE

Award-winning Viking River Cruises has the best mix for you and your customers TS R O OM IRP OST R F A Y K AC L F 4 U TR 1 EX O T NO P U AT

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Your recipe for success As the world’s leading river cruise line, we are thrilled to bring you the very best river cruises, on the very best ships. Across Europe, Russia and Asia, we offer a fantastic choice of itineraries as well as exceptional accommodation, fabulous food, superb service and, of course, great value for money.

Viking has the perfect mix: • One award-winning 2016 Viking river cruise • Free regional flights from up to 14 UK airports • A guaranteed saving of £1,000pp if booked by 30 June 2015 • Prices from only £895pp

2016 RIVER CRUISES NOW ON SALE Here is a selection of our 2016 cruises to tickle your tastebuds. Many more are available in the brochure.

Romantic Danube

Imperial Jewels of China

Rhine Discovery

8 days, 6 guided tours | Mar – Dec 2016 Nuremberg | Passau | Vienna | Budapest

14 days, 11 guided tours | Feb – Nov 2016 Beijing | Xian | Three Gorges | Shanghai

8 days, 6 guided tours | Mar – Dec 2016 Amsterdam | Cologne | Strasbourg | Basel

Stateroom from

Veranda from

Stateroom from

French Balcony from

Veranda from

£995

£1,595

£2,195

French Balcony from

Veranda from

£895 £1,395 £1,995 pp

pp

pp

Junior Suite from

Suite from

£2,095 £3,095 £3,695 pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

pp

ENJOY IT ALL, IT’S ALL INCLUDED Return scheduled flights from the UK No regional flight supplements from up to 14 UK airports Spacious ensuite stateroom with a river-view All on board meals Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board Complimentary tea and coffee

Guided shore excursions Culture Curriculum Free Wi-Fi All port charges, airport taxes and overseas transfers Viking is a member of ABTA and is ATOL licensed.

Order your 2016 river cruise brochure on trade-gate.co.uk All prices and offers are subject to change and availability and include booking discounts. From prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Prices and savings of £1,000pp are valid until 30 June 2015. Single supplements apply. Some itineraries are also available in the reverse direction. Terms and conditions apply.

www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk

020 8780 7985

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June 5 2015 | ISSUE NO 1,922 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

Luxury Holidays Boost profits by getting to know your clients

this week agent bulletin 9 a round-up of this week’s latest agent booking incentives

11

puzzle bulletin play Su Doku for your chance to win a ÂŁ50 M&S voucher

13 israel new summer performances set to entertain visitors

dynamic packaging keep those add-ons adding up by promoting a range of services & experiences

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Spot our latest Worldwide brochure Coming soon!

worldwide

FROM

DISCOUNTS

Inside you’ll find a variety of brand-new holidays to incredible destinations, including Colombia, Ethiopia, China, Sri Lanka, Australia and many more!

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2016 COLLECTION

Every holiday starts in style with our included VIP door-to-door travel service, and as well as our unbeatable value there are also fantastic savings of up to £400 per person! It’s time to discover something new with Saga…

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Order your brochures from tradegate.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2015-DECEMBER 2016

Call our dedicated Trade Sales Team FREE* on 0800 074 8021 or visit saga.co.uk/agents For general enquiries agencysales@saga.co.uk Find us on Facebook – Saga Holidays Agency Sales *Charges may apply to calls from mobile phones. Terms and conditions apply. All bookings subject to Saga’s booking conditions. Saga holidays are for anyone aged 50+.

A travel companion may be 40+. For information about financial protection and the ATOL certificate, please visit www.atol.org.uk/ATOLcertificate. NHA-TW0502

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ALL HANDS ON DECK...

Sponsoring a yacht in the TUI Travel and Family Holiday Association Regatta, The Oman Ministry of Tourism invited a crew of nautical challengers from across the industry to enjoy a day of sailing and participate in some regatta racing fun. Pictured mid-race on the Solent are, from the left: Peter Burwood and David Parker (sitting), Sunsail; Alison Cryer, Oman Ministry of Tourism; Marcus Bull, Planet Travel Holidays; Paul Rowley, Oman Air; Erica Van Rooyen, Oman Ministry of Tourism; Yvette Bailey, Thomson; and Angela Guilfoyle, Travel Counsellors.

Prices plunge in Europe’s resorts for holiday self-caterers

This Week

Cover Pictures: Main - Shutterstock Copyright: MJTH

Inset - Riviera Travel

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news research reveals holidaymakers increasingly recognise the importance of financially protecting their holiday

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agent bulletin

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puzzle bulletin

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bulletin briefing

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israel

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dynamic packaging

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luxury holidays

a round-up of this week’s latest agent booking incentives

play Su Doku for your chance to win a £50 M&S voucher

news and views from The Global Travel Group

destination welcomes lineup of international stars for summer performances

keep those add-ons adding up with a range of services & experiences to promote

why getting to know your clients pays off when selling luxury

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HOLIDAY SELF-catering shopping costs have fallen heavily across much of Europe according to the latest Post Office Travel Money Self-Catering on a Shoestring Report, which reveals that more than one-in-five UK holidaymakers are planning to make their trip abroad a self-catering one this summer.

A third of them will do so specifically to keep meal costs to a minimum and yet more than half (54%) said they shopped in local mini-marts rather than larger supermarkets on their last holiday. If they do so this summer, they could pay up to 61% extra.

Only 9% of self-caterers take advantage of the lower prices by doing all their shopping at a supermarket, but research for Post Office Travel Money by tour operator Cosmos has found these to be far cheaper than local minimarts in the ten European destinations surveyed. The biggest price differential is in Crete, where Cosmos reps found that minimart shopping for 20 food and drink staples costs £103.96 instead of £64.64 at a supermarket. In the Costa del Sol, a minimart shop costs more than 50% extra - £65.24 compared with £43.32 in a supermarket.

Self-caterers spent an average of £130 buying provisions for their last holiday – although this only applied to three-quarters (77%) of them because 23% chose to eat out all the time. However, more than one-in-five people planning to self-cater this summer are now doing so because they think the powerful pound will make their shopping bills cheaper.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money,

said: “This year’s report reveals that it’s not just restaurants and bars that are cutting costs to attract custom. The same is happening in shops where there is fierce competition for business – especially in the Western Med. “Self-catering can be a great way to save money so the shop price falls are great news for families on a strict budget. However, the wide variations between prices in resort convenience stores and bigger supermarkets make it important to do some homework before leaving home. While basic staples like milk, eggs and bread can cost less or only marginally more in local mini-marts, most food and drink items will cost a lot more. This year we found examples of basics like coffee, tea bags, fruit juice and tomatoes costing over twice as much in a mini-mart.”

Gary Anslow, sales director for Cosmos Holidays, said: “Feedback from our customers through our exclusive Cosmos Concierge service tell us that self-catering holidays are as popular as ever, more so this year because of the great exchange rates meaning the money in your pocket goes a lot further. Self-catering as a share of our total bookings in, for example, the Algarve, has increased by around 3% year-on-year in recent years, and we believe that the current exchange rates will see that trend continuing.”

Families can visit www.postoffice.co.uk/selfcateringcosts for more information.

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Newsbites

AMAZING AMAZON...

Sunvil Traveller teamed up Avianca Airlines to host six agents on a fam trip to Ecuador. Pictured exploring the Amazon Basin in dugout canoes are, from the front left (going clockwise): Chris Riley, Cambourne Travel, Newport Pagnel; Mildred Sanchez, Avianca; Will Rist, Sunvil Traveller; Roger Blizard, Richmond Travel, Solihull; Linda Shotter, Ashdown Travel, Oxted; Sue John, Sunvil Traveller; Sarah Taylor, Westway Travel, Wickford; Margaret Rogers, The Travel Wallet, Bridgnorth; and Abbie Harrington, Nomadic Travel, Exeter.

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AMADEUS HOTELS and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) have announced that they will jointly develop a cloud-based guest reservation system for more than 4,800 properties using a community model. Amadeus will take responsibility for funding and maintaining the reservation system, while IHG will continue to work to evolve and future-proof the system over time.

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CLIA EUROPE and Med Cruise have signed a strategic partnership agreement to collaborate, sponsor and support the advancement of a European travel agent training programme.

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SPICE ISLAND Beach Resort in Grenada has introduced a new toll-free phone line at 0808-189 0088 to allow agents to contact the resort directly at no charge.

For details see www.spiceislandbeachresort.com

Discover Holland's hidden treasures with The River Cruise Line THE RIVER Cruise Line has released its latest brochure for departures in 2016, offering five new itineraries to Holland, the Rhine, Belgium and Bavaria.

A highlight of the new programme is the ‘Captain’s Choice’ tour, which has been hand-picked by Captain Wido Arts, marking 15 years of service on MPS Lady Anne.

The tour cruises through his home country of Holland, and takes visitors beyond the clichés of Tulips, clogs and windmills to some of the less travelled parts of the country.

Priced from £739 per person, the eight-day itinerary departs in June 2016 from Nijmegen, on the banks of the River Waal, and cruises to Roermond in the Dutch Lake District, where guests can explore the town or join an optional excursion to visit the historic city of Maastricht.

As the tour progresses, there will be the opportunity to visit the 17th century Arcen Castle; the star shaped walls of Heusden; Doredrecht, whose 18th and 19th century buildings are strung along a series of

canals and harbours, before finishing in Rotterdam.

The new brochure offers a total of 31 itineraries to 16 countries throughout Europe as well as a choice of festive cruises for Christmas 2015.

The company also now operates a ‘no discounting’ promise and its price guarantee sees rates fixed at 2015 levels for departures in 2016. All prices are based on two adults sharing an en-suite cabin on a full board basis, including return travel from the UK; coach travel to join

the cruise; and the services of a cruise manager and director throughout.

For more information visit www.rivercruiseline.co.uk or call 0844-544 7580.

CAA research finds more holidaymakers financially protect their holiday abroad MORE HOLIDAYMAKERS are financially protecting their holidays and more people recognise the ATOL certificate – these are just two of the headline findings following the CAA’s latest Pack Peace of Mind campaign.

Now in its third year, the campaign aims to improve holidaymakers’ understanding of ATOL as they research and book their trips abroad. The campaign was given a fresh look and approach in 2015, with fun new imagery created around a family of animated suitcases and the use of television advertising for the first time.

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The campaign was family-focused and aimed to encourage households to look beyond the price and check their air holiday is ATOL protected before they book. It stretched across a variety of media including newspapers, magazines and social media and was covered on radio and television news.

Following this year’s campaign, the CAA commissioned market research with a representative sample of 1,500 consumers from across all regions parts of the UK. Key findings included more people are taking steps to ensure their holiday

abroad was financially protected against travel company failure – 71% said they protected their last holiday, up from 64% in 2014; more people (83%) are planning to financially protect their next holiday abroad, compared with 75% in 2014; and more people (48%) now feel fairly or very well informed about the benefits of booking an ATOL protected holiday - an increase of 9%.

The ATOL certificate is also becoming more recognised, with 55% of those surveyed correctly knowing that they should receive a certificate once they have booked an ATOL protected holiday.

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WLH offers series of ‘extreme’ sports in response to demand from over-50s WARNER LEISURE Hotels has launched its summer series of new ‘extreme’ activities – including zorbing, paddle boarding and abseiling – after a third of the over-50s polled called for ‘extreme’ sports to be more accessible to their age group.

New research from the company has revealed that half of the over-50s polled said they would like to trial more extreme activities,

while a third called for them to be more accessible to their age group.

To meet the demands of this generation, the company is introducing zorbing to its activity schedule at Cricket St. Thomas, Somerset this summer. It will be the first in a series of activities, including paddle boarding and abseiling, to be launched at a select number of hotels

throughout the summer as part of its ‘Living Life on The Edge’ series.

From July, guests will have the opportunity to book themselves onto breaks to zorb the hills of Somerset at no additional cost.

Louise Tansey, Bourne Leisure's national sales manager, said: "The research commissioned by Warner offers agents a fantastic insight into the wants and needs of the

Zorbing now features in WLH’s summer ‘extreme’ activities

over-50s market when it comes to their holiday choices. Things have moved on for this generation and traditionally the domestic market has been slow to keep up. This new introduction of activities offers agents the perfect selling opportunity, allowing them to easily cater for the fast paced, activity fuelled needs of those over-50s looking for an adrenaline filled break.”

Impulsive mobile travel bookings on the rise NEW DATA revealed by LivingSocial reveal that online consumer behaviour has shifted considerably with impulsive travel shoppers, predominantly on mobile or via apps, having a significant impact on travel agents.

The online marketplace has seen mobile and app purchases for its travel deals overtake desktop for the first time.

With many consumers first browsing social media on mobile devices for travel inspiration, continued optimisation of the customer journey for mobile users has meant that the majority of travel packages are now sold via a mobile site or app.

This has been accredited to reducing the number of steps required to make a purchase, speedy checkouts with PayPal and carefully-curated deals for

customers browsing the mobile site or app instead of exhaustive lists of destinations, hotels and resorts, which can often be difficult to read on mobile devices.

Small platform adjustments can ensure travel agents capitalise on the growing trend of impulsive, mobile shopping for travel products.

For more information visit https://www.livingsocial.com/gb/

Uniworld launches first designated Christmas Markets brochure for winter UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE River Cruise Collection has launched a standalone Christmas Markets brochure featuring five festive eight-day itineraries exploring the market stalls and seasonal sights in a selection of Europe’s towns and cities.

The programme allows guests to cruise on the company's newest flagship vessel, S.S. Maria Theresa, on the Danube Holiday Markets cruise while the Rhine Holiday Markets cruise takes place on the S.S. Antoinette.

Another highlight of the programme is the inclusion of multi-generational departures on the Classic Christmas Markets in Germany with excursions, menus and facilities catering for all the family.

Other festive highlights across the programme include the

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opportunity to witness a gingerbread-making demonstration in Passau, a mulled wine-tasting in Durnstein, a visit to the baroque town hall of Koblenz which is transformed into a giant Advent Calendar and rambles through Old Town Vienna, Frankfurt, Strasbourg or Paris on the company's exclusive 'Taste of Christmas' tours.

Prices for the seven-night cruises start from £1,894 per person based on two sharing and include all meals and unlimited beverages on-board, six days of excursions, onboard local entertainment and a cultural enrichment programme, plus the services of a cruise manager.

For more details call 0808-168 9110 or see www.uniworldrivercrusies.co.uk

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newsbulletin New 2016/17 brochure from C&M Voyages offers choice of eight British ports CRUISE & Maritime Voyages has issued its 2016 cruise brochure featuring a variety of itineraries and durations from a choice of eight British ports.

The brochure features all four ships in the CMV fleet, Marco Polo, Astor, Astoria (formerly the Azores) and the latest addition Magellan, and early booking incentives are available on all departures for bookings made by July 31, with most on a buy-one-get-one-

free basis, equating to reductions of up to 50%.

Prices start from £149 per person for a two-night cruise from Tilbury to Amsterdam, and the company is also offering 150 superior grade cabins available for a 25% supplement for single travellers.

Also included in the brochure are details of scenic river cruises under the CMV Signature River Cruises

brand. Three premium vessels are in the river cruise fleet - Bellejour, Belvedere and Bellefleur, offering a wide range of itineraries including the Rhine, Danube, Rhône and Saône.

Other highlights of the brochure include Fjordland cruises from £429 per person and group benefits for 12 adults or more.

For further information visit www.cruiseandmaritime.tv

New water park development at Universal Orlando

PACK YOUR BAGS...Flight Centre hosted an exclusive ‘Suitcase Party’ last week at the Shangri-La Hotel in The Shard. Organised in partnership with Destination New South Wales and Qantas, the event welcomed 100 VIP guests and loyal customers to enjoy an evening of glamour complete with a Champagne reception. As part of the celebrations, those attending were offered the chance to win a holiday to a top-secret, long-haul destination with just one catch - each guest was required to arrive with their suitcase packed in preparation to jet off that very night. Pictured are one of the winning couples, Hayley and Stephen Smith (centre) who are pictured with, from the left: Rick Guichelaar, Qantas; Paul Hawes, NSW; Mick Heitzinger, Flight Centre; and Chris Anderson, Qantas.

Keeping an i on Apps s launched HOTELS ha , MARRIOTTquest Chat’ on its app ‘Mobile Re lty programme where loya n connect before, members caafter their stay. An during and lse?’ feature offers a ve ‘Anything E at functionality to ha two-way ch ns in real time with conversatio as well as a drophotel hosts, for the most down menuservices and requested such as extra towels amenities, and pillows.

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LUFTHA app for thNSA HAS unveile persona e Apple Watch d a new boardinglised flight informfeaturing technolo passes. The ap ation and related dgy that integratep uses of their fl ata; it reminds ps all flightdepartureight the day befoassengers updates and provides c re their includingabout their fligh ontinuous gate and boarding time, t status will initia seat number. Thterminal, & More plly only be availa e functions in to the articipants who ble to Miles or iPads Lufthansa app foare logged . r iPhone s

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO Resort has announced the development of a new water theme park experience.

Volcano Bay will join Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure to become the resort’s third immersive park when it opens in 2017.

ORE SINGAPS has E AIRLIN d a new app e launchle and Android for Apphones, as wellh. smartp e Apple Watc as for ths include a e Feature al homepag t s tu x o te m n e co plays th about that dis information new t a n releva g trips and cessary in upcom s’ page for neight fl ‘My Tription such as rences. fe a e r m r g fo in k in nd boo an also dates a atch users c es such as r W Apple ward to featu ating trip r r look fo View, incorpo-date Glance ers and up-to when remindation such asfor check-in. inform rs are ready counte

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newsbulletin Contiki launches 2015-17 Latin America programme CONTIKI HAS revealed its new Latin America programme featuring the sights, tastes and sounds of Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru.

New for 2015-17 is an eight-day Ultimate Inca trip in Peru, a flexible itinerary including a four-day trek enabling travellers to take in the famous Inca Trail together as a group.

Due to the high demand and limited amount of Inca Trail permits issued per day, the company has built in the option to alternate the schedule, so while the hike’s departure date may vary, the experiences and inclusions on the trip won’t.

Early payment discounts of up to 10% are available for travellers who book and pay in full on or before July 16 for bookings travelling on or after October 31.

For more information visit www.contiki.com

SPECIAL OFFERS

Solos Holidays adds new trips to worldwide portfolio for sociable singles SOLOS HOLIDAYS has added more than 40 new itineraries to its worldwide programme of short breaks and longer trips. Covering departures until April 2016, the latest brochure encompasses European city stays, escorted tours and an array of active options, as well as a ‘fly-and-flop’ sun and cruise selection.

As an example of prices, a three-night stay at the threestar Hotel Eduardo VII in Lisbon costs from £469. It includes flights from Heathrow, transfers, breakfast accommodation in a twin or double room for single use, one dinner, a half-day guided city tour and a tour leader.

For more information call 0844-371 8860 or visit www.solosholidays.co.uk

REETHI BEACH RESORT MALDIVES EXCLUSIVE O&E TRAVEL TRADE OFFER!!!

Reethi Villa on BB basis for 6 Nights with Return Domestic Flight + Boat Transfers From £ 299 per person

Valid for various periods from now through to end of the 2015

CLIA UK & Ireland relaunches agent website to offer new training resources CLIA UK & Ireland is relaunching its travel agent website as figures show that more users than ever before are visiting the site for the dedicated online cruise training and its unique resources.

More than 6,500 users completed 27,000 online modules in the past year.

Recognising the changing way in which travel agents visit the website, cruiseexperts.org will become fully compatible for users on mobiles and tablets for the first time. In addition, the site will be organised into three distinct areas. The Learning Academy will continue to provide City & Guilds accredited training modules together with a resource centre containing reports and statistics.

The new Cruise Tool Box will feature resources to assist agents during the sales process including the unique digital brochure rack, a complete guide to all ocean and river cruise ships; specially created CLIA factsheets; a fully updated cruise search engine and CLIA Destination Guides.

The third area is the new CLIA Cruise Daily which will feature the latest cruise news and special guest columns; live and recorded webinars; a calendar of cruise industry events open to travel agents; an image library; and TV and sales guides.

Cruiseexperts.org will be relaunched early this month.

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RONIL ROYALE GOA, INDIA FANTASTIC OFFER! 7 Nights from £59 per person based on Bed & Breakfast Extra Nights £8 per person per night Valid for stays between 01 Oct 15 – 30 Apr 16

MORE EXCLUSIVE DEALS FORTRAVELTRADE PERSONNEL ONLYVISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION SRI LANKA - MAURITIUS - SEYCHELLES - INDIA - UAE Over 150 hotels and a selection of tours available on our website Including exclusive offers for Summer 2015 and Winter 2015/16

www.osborneandebel.com All above offers are subject to availability.

Terms & Conditions Apply

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newsbulletin Red Funnel announces passenger shipbuilding is to return to Isle of Wight RED FUNNEL has confirmed that it is bringing fast ferry construction back to the UK with the announcement that its new passenger ferry Red Jet 6 will be built in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

After receiving tenders from shipyards around the world, the company has placed an order for a 40m high-speed catamaran with Shemara Refit LLP for delivery in summer 2016.

Costing £6m, Red Jet 6 will be the first vessel of her kind to be built in the UK for 15 years.

Kevin George, the line's CEO, said: "Red Jet 6 will serve the Isle of Wight for many years and we believe that it is important for as many young Islanders to be involved as possible. We will be inviting local schools to participate in mini projects and will be seeking to develop our existing support with the Royal Yacht Squadron Isle of Wight Foundation to ensure apprenticeship opportunities are open to young Islanders.

In the competitive world of ship building, it is fantastic news that Red Jet 6 will be

built for the Isle of Wight, on the Isle of Wight, by the Isle of Wight.”

The new vessel will be configured to carry 275 passengers, who will experience a quiet, spacious and well-lit cabin fitted with leather seats and a sophisticated air-handling system designed to dry, cool or warm the air automatically. A new high bandwidth ship-to-shore WiFi system has been specified which will be free for customers and the latest travel information system will be installed to show connecting services for buses, coaches, trains and flights in real-time. Provision has also been made to carry 22 bicycles.

Red Funnel is also inviting its customers and members of the public to submit their ideas and suggestions for features they would like to see fitted or introduced on Red Jet 6. Some of the more challenging ideas will be given to local students to try and develop practical solutions.

For more information see www.redfunnel.co.uk/redjet6

CHOC FULL OF JOY...Newly-appointed cruisingexcursions.com managing director Damien Mooney and chief operating officer Simonne Fairbanks mark the company’s fourth anniversary. A choice of around 12,000 excursions at more than 700 ports worldwide are offered by the company, which marked its birthday in a joint celebration with the American Queen Steamboat Company's launch of its 2016 programme of cruises on the Mississippi, Cumberland and Ohio rivers.

Details at www.lightbluetravel.co.uk and www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com

Newsbites ●

LIVERPOOL WILL celebrate its rich Irish culture and heritage through an evening of live music and dance as part of the new summer festival Liverpool Loves from August 6. The event will be staged at Pier Head Liverpool in a bespoke Big Top venue, put in place on the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront especially for the three-day festival. Tickets are £22.50 and are available from www.ticketquarter.co.uk or by calling 0844-800 0410. For details see www.liverpoolloves.co.uk

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MUSIC LOVERS can now pitch their tent at one of the North East’s leading festivals. Hardwick Live 2015, which returns on Saturday August 22, is being headlined by James, with appearances by a host of top British names, including Razorlight, Embrace, Cast and 10cc. As well as three stages of live music and attractions for all ages, the one-day festival is also offering visitors the opportunity to extend their stay, with a range of weekend accommodation packages priced from £25. Tickets for the event cost from £8 for children and £49 for adults.

See www.hardwicklive.co.uk and www.hardwicklive.co.uk/glamping

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TENERIFE’S SANTA Cruz has been confirmed as the host venue for Seatrade Cruise Med 2016, the largest cruise industry event focusing on the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas. The three-day event takes place from September 21-23, 2016 at the International Trade Fair and Congress Centre.

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RANCH RIDER is currently covering South Africa and Namibia on a self-drive itinerary to the African continent and the company is advising agents to watch out for regular updates on its blog.

For details call 01509-618 811 or see www.ranchrider.com

NEWPORT NEWBIES...

Thomas Cook Tours recently hosted a group of Thomas Cook and The Co-operative Travel agents on a four-day fam trip to New England as a reward for bookings made earlier this year. Pictured enjoying the sights of Newport, Rhode Island are, from the left: Joanne Sherratt, Thomas Cook Macclesfield; Amanda Lockett, Thomas Cook Sandbach; Desislava Zhecheva, Thomas Cook Aberdeen and Nicola Holford, Thomas Cook Worksop.

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agentbulletin Booking incentives ●

AGENTS WHO make confirmed Silversea bookings by June 7 will be entered into a draw to win a Mediterranean cruise on Silver Spirit in November.

For details see email salesuk@silversea.com

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AGENTS CAN earn free stays for themselves and a partner when booking with Cyplon Holidays. As an example, for each seven-night booking made, agents will receive a free one-night breakfast stay for two at the five-star Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas in Crete. The company is also giving agents the chance to earn £10 per adult on any seven-night Silver or Gold package holiday booked to either Cyprus, Greece, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan or Israel. Hotel-only bookings, based on two sharing a Silver or Gold hotel for seven nights, earn agents £10 per booking.

Details on 020-8340 7612 or email sales@cyplon.co.uk

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AGENCIES CAN win a £250 food voucher to fill the staff fridge with food, ice cream and drinks ready for the summer by booking any Titan holiday this month. Agents should email their booking reference to agentincentives@titantravel.co.uk before 17:00 on Friday July 3.

See www.titanagents.co.uk for details.

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COSMOS HOLIDAYS and Avro are offering agents the chance to win flights to Florida on October 10 for two weeks. For a chance to win, agents need to book either a Florida package or flight-only for their clients by July 31.

For details see www.cosmosagents.co.uk or www.avroagents.co.uk

FANCY A FAM? PROC

OLOMBIA IS giving agents the chance to win a place on a fam trip in Feb ruary 2016, as well as Avianca flights and a select ion of Colombian goodie bags. To be in with a chance of winning, agents need to sign up and pass the four modules on ProColombia’s training programme by September 30. Runners up will win one of three return flights from Heathrow to the Colombian capital Bogota courtesy of national carrier Avianca. Agents completin g modules by June 30 will be entered into an add itional prize draw to win one of ten goodie bags.

HAMPER WIN...Sandals by Funway has revealed the winner of its Sandals Expert social media competition - Sam Tyers (middle) from Mercian Travel in Hagley, West Midlands. Sam is presented with a luxury hamper by Sandals' Neil Read and Funway's Anna Hawkins.

PARIS, BRUSSELS, AMSTERDAM AND COLOGNE BY HIGH SPEED TRAIN - Brussels - Cologne from £30 rtn* - Brussels - Amsterdam from £46 rtn* - Brussels - Paris from £46 rtn* - Paris - Cologne from £54 rtn* - Paris - Amsterdam from £54 rtn*

Book Eurostar with us too

*Based on the cheapest return adult fare in Standard Class

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Web: www.voyages-sncf.eu Call:

0844 848 4066 June 5 2015

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MOVERS

Indochina launch from Insider Journeys INSIDER JOURNEYS has introduced its first newly-branded comprehensive travel guide to ‘Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos’.

Designed to be a one-stop shop for agents and their customers, the brochure showcases the operator’s range of tailor-made itineraries, small group journeys and river cruises to help travellers plan their trip to Indochina, with a range of added benefits to help them tour the region as an insider.

New for 2015/16 are more stimulating visuals to inspire travellers, enhanced content revealing destination highlights and insider insights that bring the three countries to life , plus the operator’s full range of touring options.

The brochure’s content is designed to stimulate clients' imaginations with new sections dedicated to ‘Experiences’, ‘Insider Tips’ and expert recommendations - from ‘top things to see and do’ and ‘favourite places to drink and dine’ among others.

The 72-page guide continues to offer practical travel information which is complemented by personal anecdotes and new ‘Plan your trip’ pages.

New accommodation options include the four-star Alma Courtyard Hoi An in Vietnam, sister property to the Fusion Maia in Danang; and the Nita by Vo Hotel in Siem Reap, offering views over the Angkor Wat forest.

The operator has also introduced a number of new excursions including a Siem Reap Countryside Cycling half-day tour in Cambodia from £31.

JA MA ICA

SA INT L UCIA

ANTIGUA

BAHAM AS

G RE NA D A

●

LONDON HILTON on Park Lane has appointed Sergio Moreira as director of food and beverage. ● DOUG OLIVER has joined Wizz Air as head of corporate communications. ● THE CONNAUGHT in Mayfair has appointed Eugene Leonard as hotel operations manager. ● COSMOS TOURS has appointed Paul Sharp as national sales manager. ● MARIE MACDONALD has joined The Global Travel Group as sales and business development manager for the south region. ● MÖVENPICK HOTELS & Resorts has welcomed two new key vice presidents to its senior management team Nick Bosworth who takes on the role of vice president brand & marketing and Petra Götting who joins as vice president sales & marketing Europe. ● ELODIE SALOM has joined Pierre & Vacances as key account manager for group sales. ● TUI UK & Ireland has appointed Nick Longman as managing director. ● CRUISE LINES International Association (CLIA) has announced Thomas P. Ostebo will join CLIA as president and CEO, effective July 6.

EVEN LOWER PRICES!

B A RB A D O S

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CALL 0844 557 0624 | VISIT SANDALS4AGENTS.CO.UK

Book by 09 Jun ‘15. Terms and conditions apply. Travel agents must quote FUN2FOR1 at the point of booking to take advantage of any offer included within the 2 for 1 sale. Capped commission of 5% applies to all 2 for 1 bookings. 2 for 1 bookings are not eligible for MoneyCard rewards.

Pricing shown is per person based on two people a room/suite for 7 nights on selected dates between 7 - 28 Sep ‘15 (Antigua) or 16 Sep - 13 Oct ‘15 (Barbados) and includes all savings, return flights from London with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic in economy class, all meals, land and water sports, transfers, tips and taxes. Weekend supplements apply. Prices are subject to availability and are correct at time of distribution. ABTA: V000X / ATOL: 2853 / IATA: 91273442.

S03 TB0506 2015 News 2_Layout 1 03/06/2015 11:48 Page 11

puzzlebulletin Travagrams

Su Doku Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle Number: 022

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

Dandy Bone

A➠

B➠

African Safari running tours and luxury lodges in Africa and South Asia. ‘To infinity…’

C➠

Burns Nick

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: competition@travelbulletin.co.uk Closing date for entries is Thursday, June 1th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 15th May is Anne Birkett, Dawson & Sanderson in Northumberland.

May 15 Solution: A=8 B=7 C=1 D=4

Crossword

Capital of the Alps renown for its winter sports and Golden Roof landmark

Where Am I?

City near Lake Tahoe in Nevada - known as 'The Biggest Little City in the World'

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

Number: 022

1. Low-cost flight provider (4) 3. Historic city in Brittany (5) 7. Character from The Merchant of Venice (7) 8. TV presenter and history buff ___ Snow (3) 9. Capital of Peru (4) 10. Car-free and crowd-free Channel Island (4) 13. Scenic Cornish resort, sounds like the place for a comfort stop (4) 15. Asia's largest desert (4) 18. Part of Australia, initially (3) 19. Capital of Lithuania (7) 20. Lively Corfu resort (5) 21. Tourist train linking Adelaide and the Northern Territory (4)

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Down 1. This team recently beat Aston Villa to win the FA Cup (7) 2. Currency of Saudi Arabia (5) 3. Capital of Azerbaijan (4) 4. Mr Redmayne, recently seen in The Theory of Everything (5) 5. Tunis international airport code (3) 6. One of the sites often visited on a WW1 battlefields tour (5) 11. State capital of Wisconsin (7) 12. Brownsea is one of the islands in this harbour (5) 14. Royal Caribbean cruise ship, ___ of the Seas (5) 16. Dublin-based operator, ___ Ferries (5) 17. Car hire company (4) 18. Jetsave is part of this travel group (3)

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 28 June 5 2015

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bulletinbriefing

Industry Insight by...

The Global Travel Group’s head of new business development, Rhian Herbert, encourages agents to take advantage of the training opportunities available to them...

HE END of Top Gear as we know it has had a lot of air time at Global HQ over the past few months.

Love him or hate him Jeremy Clarkson’s most recent controversy has left him with some extra time on his hands. Granted, he’s not short of a penny or two so there’s no hurry for him to start scouring the job pages just yet, but after 13 years at the Top Gear helm perhaps it’s time for Mr. Clarkson to start looking at different avenues?

"I firmly believe that training is key

Everyone’s favourite prince (although George might be winning in terms of the cute factor these days) is also moving on from his role in the army. After ten years in service Prince Harry will spend the summer doing volunteer conservation work in Africa. Following that, his plans remain undecided.

to stay at the top of their game"

T

This got me to thinking, might Jeremy and Harry be considering a career change? If so I firmly believe that training is key to ensuring success both individually and as a team. I head up the extensive training and development programme at The Global Travel Group, and with agents continuing to be recognised for their in depth knowledge and expertise, it is vital that those moving into travel for the first time receive the best level of training before going live. Equally, it’s important that existing agents keep their finger on the pulse at all times to ensure they are offering customers the best advice and travel insight.

Here at The Global Travel Group our Learning and Development Centre is thriving. Since the beginning of this year alone we’ve had 30 new agents attend our training programme – both existing travel professionals and those setting up on their own for the first time.

Regardless of industry experience, our dedicated Learning and Development team is committed to providing a tailored two-week travel induction course for every new member as well as self-study packs, ongoing modules and one-to-one meetings with their business development manager.

Members of our commercial, marketing and finance teams also host sessions to explain the help and support offered to new Global members before going 12

June 5 2015

to ensuring success - both individually and as a team, and it’s great to see existing members recognising the need to develop and grow in order

live, something I personally haven’t seen in previous consortia.

It’s great to see existing members recognising the need to develop and grow in order to stay at the top of their game. In the first part of this year alone we’ve run more Advanced Courses than ever before, with training tailored to agents’ specialisms and customer base.

Since joining almost a year ago, I’ve been working with our experienced trainer to ensure that we are continually improving our offering for new and existing members. As of this week, I have introduced an online member survey so that we are maintaining and improving procedures and processes. All agents that attend our training programmes will receive this a few weeks following and we welcome the feedback.

For any agents considering a tailored refresher course, the team and I encourage you to get in touch – we’re always pleased to hear from you! We are confident that our Learning and Development Centre training courses and ongoing support from your own business development manager can make this often daunting transition a smooth and successful one.

So, whilst becoming a travel agent might not have crossed Jeremy Clarkson and Prince Harry’s minds as an obvious career change, I’m confident that we could convince them otherwise. And with start up support from the Global team I have a hunch that driving tours hosted by the Stig and Vegas getaways with Harry would prove extremely popular! www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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israel

HIGHLIGHTS OF JORDAN & ISRAEL OPTION FROM ABERCROMBIE & KENT

Snow set for Israel this month Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem Abercrombie & Kent is offering a seven-night Highlights of Jordan & Israel itinerary from £2,595.

Guests will take in Jordan's ancient history and explore the city of Petra before crossing into Israel, and there is also the option for guests to add on a few days on the itinerary to incorporate Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. The price is based on two adults sharing and includes flights.

To book or for more details call 01242-850299 or see www.abercrombiekent.co.uk

A line-up of international stars set for summer performances ISRAEL’S SUMMER concerts are starting to take shape with many international artists scheduled to perform in concert halls and outdoor venues.

Performers include singersongwriter Suzanne Vega, who will hold two concerts at the Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv alongside the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at the Mann Auditorium on June

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9 and 10, with tickets available at www.eventim.co.uk Art Garfunkel from the legendary duo Simon and Garfunkel has also announced a performance date in Israel at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv on June 10.

Tickets range from NIS 299 (approximately £49.47) to NIS 1,000 (approximately £165.45)

and can be purchased through www.lean.co.il Reggae star Damian Marley will also perform in Rishon LeZion on June 24, with tickets available at www.eventim.co.uk, while Dire Straits band leader Mark Knopfler will perform alongside Chris White and other international musicians on June 27 at the Tel Aviv fairgrounds Hall 2.

SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW will be in theatres in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa until June 14.

Created by Russian artist Slava Polunin, the eye catching spectacle will entertain audiences in Tel Aviv until tomorrow, in Haifa from June 9-10 and in Jerusalem from June 1314.

The audience will witness a magical world of falling snow, fog, bubbles and humour which has entertained audiences in more than 80 cities across the world and is suitable for children aged five and upwards.

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israel 54th Israel Festival returns this summer THE ISRAEL Festival, which is currently running until June 24, is a celebration of the performing arts and is one of the most important events in Israel’s cultural calendar.

The festival will feature a blend of dance, theatre, visual and performing arts and classical, Israeli and world music. Visitors can enjoy performances set against the backdrop of some of Jerusalem’s most iconic landmarks including the Tower of David, the First Tram Station and Sultan’s Pool, where the opening event will take place.

Other venues include the Jerusalem Theatre, the Gerard Behar Centre, Beit Shmuel, the Israel Museum, Beit Mazia and Hansen House.

Highlights of the event include a performance of Castellucci’s adaption of Julius Caesar and a five and a half hour classical music marathon as a tribute to Tchaikovsky.

Until June 18, there will also be free performances on offer, held at the newly opened bicycle track in Ha’mesila Park.

For more information visit www.israel-festival.org/show/?lang=en

Discovery trip from Insight Vacations INSIGHT VACATIONS is offering an eight-day Israel Discovery regional tour which includes a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, a cable car ride to the ancient fortress of Masada and sightseeing in Jerusalem. Visits to Nazareth, Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea are also offered.

Prices start from £1,895 per person and include seven nights’ breakfast accommodation, VIP door-to-door transfers, sightseeing and a tour director.

nn, holiday

by John Gui

researcher

John gets to grips with holidays to Jaffa John Guinn runs Holiday Hut and has a weekly travel show on internet radio station, Secklow Sounds. He also contributes regularly to UK Health Radio.

AY BACK when I was at primary school (post-ink wells but pre-end of free school milk) ‘normal’ families spent two weeks at a holiday camp looking out of the window at the rain. They didn’t go abroad.

I was ten years old before I had a classmate who actually had a far off holiday (it was to Spain). He was so tanned when he came back to school he was lucky that he wasn’t accused of witchcraft.

So back then there wasn’t much talk of faraway places.

Well, that’s what I thought until I chatted with Michelle Roberts from the Israel Government Tourist Office in London. I now realise that there was plenty of discussions about exotic places, I just didn’t realise it at the time.

OK, so the bible isn’t a travel brochure, but there are so many places in Israel mentioned in the ‘good book’ that it could be. As a travel agent perhaps I should have known this. However, even with all the flight options from my local airport (Luton) to Tel Aviv, Israel just wasn’t a destination I sold.

Michelle was on my radio show talking about Jaffa. As one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited ports, it should be no surprise that Jaffa also appears in stories from many cultures, such as the Greek Mythology (Andromeda), as well as in the bible.

Jaffa still has narrow streets that remind visitors of the port’s history, but the modern Jaffa is now somewhere to escape the hustle and bustle of Tel Aviv. A place for having a meal and thinking about all the stories this old port has to offer.

In my case, it is somewhere to remind me of my early school days and drinking milk that had been left out in the sun all morning.

For more information, you can listen to my podcast at http://tinyurl.com/nq4t4yn to hear Michelle talk about Jaffa.

W

Heathrow move for EL AL EL AL Flights has now moved to Terminal 4 at Heathrow.

Flights from Tel Aviv to London and from London to Tel Aviv now depart and arrive at Terminal 4.

The carrier offers up to 26 weekly flights to Heathrow and Luton, of which 11 weekly flights are to Heathrow. The flights are operated on 777-200, 747-400 and 767 aircraft.

For further information call 0203-204 0300 or visit www.elal.co.uk

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dynamicpackaging HOTELBEDS ANNOUNCES NEW COMMITMENTS ACROSS MIDDLE EAST, TURKEY & AFRICA HOTELBEDS HAS announced that it is making long term commitments at selected properties in gateway cities across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

Presenting an alternative distribution model to hoteliers, growing their hotel portfolio also

provides customers with real time and translated hotel contents with attractive margins.

Carlos Muñoz, managing director for the company, said: “META is one of our fastest growing regions around the world and these agreements are just another proof of our commitment to it.

With this new formula for the region we aim to provide our clients with flexible high margins and an exclusive hotel portfolio, while offering a truly long term, consistent and guaranteed revenue stream to property owners, as well as the opportunity to form preferred partnerships.”

Affordable warns agents not to be misled by advice on driving licence changes AFFORDABLE CAR HIRE has moved to set the record straight on the advice travel agents are receiving in light of changes to UK driving licences due to come in next month.

The company contacted more than 500 of its global car hire partners to gauge what customers should do in the light of the DVLA abolishing the paper counterpart of UK driving licences.

The research reveals that earlier press reports stating the change only affects car rental in the UK and Ireland is wrong. As a result, the recommendation is that agents advise all customers hiring cars overseas to obtain the unique passcode from the DVLA website before collecting the car.

Angela Day, CEO for the car rental company, said: “It is extremely important for us that our trade

partners are given the correct advice so our mutual customers can continue to receive an exemplary and problem free service when collecting their vehicles.

“Whilst the majority of our car hire partners have indicated a passcode is not required, some of them have advised that they will be asking UK customers to present the one off passcode on collection. Given that the overseas requirements are far from conclusive, we strongly recommend that agents advise customers hiring cars overseas to obtain the passcode from the DVLA.” The process to obtain a passcode involves inputting the driving licence number, NI number and postcode and can be completed on mobile phones and tablets overseas as well as in the UK. It can be found on the DVLA

website at www.gov.uk/view-drivinglicence - and once obtained lasts 72 hours.

Meanwhile, the company reports that the US continues to be one of its most popular car rental destinations.

In partnership with Budget, the company offers zero excess with a free additional driver and free oneway journeys when travelling within the states of Florida, California, Arizona and Nevada. Savings of up to 50% are also offered when prebooking a young drivers package or Sat Nav, and a platinum package, which includes one tank of fuel and three additional drivers, is also available. Prices start from £15 per day.

For details visit www.affordablecarhire.com or call 0845-900 0420.

Avis announces new multi-year partnership with Qatar Airways AVIS CAR RENTAL has announced a new multi-year partnership with Privilege Club, the frequent flyer programme of Qatar Airways, where members can earn between 500-800 Qmiles for every rental booked.

Qmiles can be redeemed against a selection of benefits, including complimentary flights, upgrades and excess baggage on flights.

Troy Warfield, the company’s group commercial and licensee director for vehicle rental service, said: “Privilege

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Club members will not only be able to enjoy our product and service but will now be able to earn up to 800 Qmiles per booking, which translates into a truly worthwhile reward.”

To celebrate the partnership, the five top spending Privilege Club members who rent a car through www.avisworld.com/qatar by September 30 will be in with the chance of winning 100,000 bonus Qmiles.

For more information visit www.avisworld.com/qatar

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No.1 Gatwick South

No.1 Traveller & TUI Specialist Holidays Group join forces AIRPORT LOUNGE operator No.1 Traveller has extended its partnership with TUI Specialist Holidays Group.

All Sovereign holidaymakers will receive access to any lounge in the No.1 collection, located at Heathrow,

Gatwick, Birmingham and Edinburgh, as well as partner facilities including the three Manchester Escape lounges and Gordon Ramsay Plane Food located at Heathrow Terminal 5.

The operator and other Specialist

Holidays Group brands such as Meon Villas, Thomson Tailormade and Jetsave will run a series of bespoke promotions across the year on other services including VIP Departure and Arrival and Champagne experiences.

Holiday Extras teams up with Flexible Autos HOLIDAY EXTRAS has teamed up with Flexible Autos to provide TUI travel agents with the ability to book car hire through their existing booking platform.

The new arrangement delivers a simpler and improved booking portal which is now live to give TUI customers a choice of 17,000 locations and 88 countries to arrange holiday car hire.

James Lewis, head of partnerships for the travel add-on provider, said: “We expect that our partnership will increase agent confidence when selling car hire to their customers. We also plan to grow and strengthen our car hire offering and welcome any

enquiries from other interested travel companies who are looking to add extra value for themselves and for their customers by making travel easy with this car hire product and booking system.”

Sue Dixon, group managing director for Flexible Autos, said: “We are delighted to have been asked to partner with Holiday Extras and be able to offer our vast range of cars and destinations to TUI travel agents.

We are 100% trade only so TUI staff can sell our product with great confidence, safe in the knowledge that their customers will not find a cheaper price if they booked direct.

“I am particularly excited that this

announcement comes shortly after the launch of our innovative, fully inclusive Premium Package which is currently available in eight locations Alicante, Malaga, Valencia, Mallorca, Ibiza, Canaries, Portugal and Italy.

“The all-inclusive product features no deposit at the time of booking, zero excess plus additional benefits depending on location such as a free additional driver, complimentary child seats and our ‘full to full’ fuel policy.

Customers wishing to upgrade their car rental to the Premium Package can do so from £35 which means increased commission for agents too.”

For enquires email sales@holidayextras.com

APH survey unveils pet-friendly airlines

GAME, SET, MATCH… roomsXML.com has introduced a new feature that displays the room type exactly as per the hotel's own room names. From a travel agent's perspective the new feature removes the guess work whilst booking a room. Pictured promoting the new feature at ATM 2015 in Dubai are, from the left: Harshwardhan Sarang, Yusuf Diwan, Ruchir Bang and Diptiman Dewan, all from roomsXML.com

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June 5 2015

A SURVEY from HomeAway has found that one in four dog and cat owners (26%) in Europe will base their holiday locations on whether it allows them to bring their pets.

With many holidaymakers looking to take their pet abroad this summer, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has created a comprehensive guide highlighting the different rules and regulations across major airlines for travelling with ‘man’s best friend’.

The research compares the different dog breeds accepted on flights, the cost of flying abroad with a dog, as well as the pet weight and crate stipulations across 20 major airlines including Air Canada, Alitalia, Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines.

The cost of transporting animals was found to differ greatly between airlines and, out of the 20 airlines researched, only Virgin Atlantic offers a dedicated Flying Paws Scheme where passengers can collect Flying Club Miles on behalf of their dog.

For details see www.aph.com/travellingwithpets

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Car hire for you…

If you’d like to offer your customers car hire, Holiday Extras can help!

Our product is: Convenient and affordable Fully-inclusive Tailored to suit every budget Available in over 17,000 locations worldwide Hotel collections available If you’re looking to add some ease and freedom to your customers’ travels, why not contact us about car hire?

James Lewis, Head of Partnerships, said

“I would welcome enquiries from anybody interested in using Holiday Extras to provide car hire to their customers.”

For more information, please contact

James Lewis at james.lewis@holidayextras.com

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dynamicpackaging DoSomethingDifferent.com highlights New York and new tours to agents TRAVEL AGENTS can now book tickets to the New York Yankees through DoSomethingDifferent.com, with a range of seat categories to suit every budget and commission paid on all tickets.

Previously unavailable for agents to book in the UK, entry-level tickets are priced from £32 per person, while fans with a bigger budget will enjoy some of the best seats in the house, priced at £115 per person. Mid-level seats are priced at £74 per person.

The baseball season runs through to the end of September and is a classic New York experience.

Annabel Cove, the company’s trade development manager, said:

“Going to a live baseball match in New York is an absolute must. Even if you’re not a sports fan, the atmosphere alone is reason enough to visit the stadium.

These tickets are going to be a big hit for our trade partners and their customers.”

Meanwhile, a number of new tours are now available for agents to book for clients including New York’s theatrical experience ‘The Ride’, with tickets from £46 per person for a 75-minute interactive tour; the return of Southern California CityPass wth 14 days from £223; and San Francisco’s Madame Tussauds from £14.

For more information visit www.dosomethingdifferent.c om or call 020-8090 3890.

PUPPY POWER… Attraction World has announced its partnership with Guide Dogs for the Blind – helping to raise funds through various activities to support puppies through their very important first year of life. To get the fund raising off to a flying start, the operator’s managing director, Paul Stobbs (pictured right - who has a fear of heights) and Miles Northwood (left) from Guide Dogs for the Blind (who has been blind from an early age) will jump from a plane on June 19 in a bid to raise £5,000. To support the cause visit www.justgiving.com/PaulAndMilesSkydive

GET YOUR CLIENTS FROM A2B WITH THESE TOP TIPS ON SELLING TRANSFERS

by EMMA RYAN, UK head of sales for A2Btransfers

When should I offer a transfer?

Once you’ve got the customer on the phone or in your shop, this is the time to make sure you use this opportunity to sell ancillary products - to tailor the trip to their needs, and earn yourself some extra commission.

Why should I offer my clients a transfer?

Your client needs to get to their hotel and a transfer guarantees them a reliable smooth running service in resort for the start and finish of their holiday. Our transfers range from the great value shared shuttle, speedy shuttles, private vehicles and executive vehicles, so there is a transfer type to suit all clients.

Where should I have my transfers showing on my website to maximise conversion?

Up to 80% conversion can be

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June 5 2015

reached if the transfer is offered in the booking path online.

How easy is it to book a transfer?

It’s easy as 123, our brand new website allows you to book in three steps up until 24 hours before travel in most destinations.

What happens if I need to cancel or amend my booking?

We have a simple online administration section allowing you to cancel and/or amend FOC up until two days before travel.

What happens after I book my clients transfer?

You will receive an instant voucher that must be passed onto your client. This includes in-resort information, joining instructions and contact details.

What are the benefits of booking with a2btransfers?

Fantastic commission, incentives, agent concessions, dedicated account manager, 24/7 support and flexibility.

What are a2btransfers USP’s?

Diverse, strong, young team, own

in-house technology with scalable IT solution, exclusive special offers and discounts with our suppliers, product innovation including speedy shuttle services, worldwide coverage in over 120 countries, flexible, easy and highly secure booking system, free online cancellations and amendments, inhouse call centre available seven days a week and no hidden fees.

For more information or to apply for an account, contact sales@a2btransfers.com

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STAVROS SURPRISE… Kefalonia is one of four new Jet2.com and Jet2holidays routes taking off this year from Leeds Bradford, marking the start of their biggest summer programme to date, with Antalya, Malta and Tunisia flights taking off within the last couple of weeks. To mark the launch, Britain’s Got Talent favourites, Stavros Flatley (the father and son team of Demi and Lagi Demetriou) surprised passengers with a special performance of their dance routine. Weekly flights to Kefalonia are available from £91 per person, including taxes.

Economy Car Hire warns holidaymakers of ‘too good to be true’ deals BRITS TAKING advantage of low-cost car hire prices in Spain this summer could find the extra insurance sold at the hire desk can increase rental costs by more than 13 times the original amount quoted, according to research

by Economy Car Hire.

Headline prices for car hire have plummeted to as low as nine euros a week but companies are making up for it by hard selling additional insurances upon collection. This means that bills can shoot up by hundreds of euros.

With up to half a million British tourists hiring cars in Spain each year, many Spanish car rental companies have introduced excesses in the last year in an attempt to persuade customers to take out the extra cover and boost their margins. The excess deposit is only released (minus anything the rental company takes for damage) when the car is returned.

Rory Sexton, managing director of the car hire company, said: "Since last year many Spanish car hire companies have introduced hefty damage excesses and many British tourists will not expect to have to leave a big credit card deposit when they collect their

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‘cheap' rental car. Some Spanish hirers are offering cars from as little as £6 or £7 a week to appear super competitive and intend to make money by hardselling insurance when the customer collects the car. The insurance is typically 15-17 euros per day.

"If the customer refuses to take the insurance they will be asked for an excess deposit of up to 2,500 euros charged to their credit card - this could be money the customer was intending to spend on holiday."

The company’s prices always include excess protection and, where there is an excess, they provide free excess reimbursement insurance. This means that in the event of a collision, customers won't be left out of pocket.

Sexton said: "The best advice is for customers to understand what they are covered for and decline additional insurance upon collection if they have already bought it.

"But be prepared to be asked to leave a substantial excess charged to your credit card."

Meanwhile, the company reports that Iceland is the most expensive destination to hire a car this summer,

costing up to six times the amount clients would pay in South Africa.

The company’s analysis of car rental costs in 20 different countries worldwide found that holidaymakers will have to pay £507 to hire a compact car for a week in Iceland this August, compared to £79 a week in South Africa.

Tunisia, France, Croatia and Canada join Iceland in the list of the top five of most expensive places to hire a car this summer.

Despite the fact they are close neighbours, hiring a car in Canada is considerably more expensive than hiring a car in the US, where holidaymakers face weekly costs of £129 - £82 less than in Canada.

The four cheapest places to hire a car are the Netherlands, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates and Spain.

Hiring a car in the Netherlands for a week will cost £94, which is the only destination other than South Africa where you'll see change from £100.

Countries with ‘middle of the road' car rental costs include Portugal, Madeira, the Greek Islands, Turkey, Germany and Italy.

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staffreview Travel Bulletin's Lauretta Wright went on a Bateaux Dinner Cruise in New York with DoSomethingDifferent.com. Here's what she thought of the experience...

First impressions ................................9/10 The process of boarding the boat was a seamless one and we were greeted by the captain and his crew. The boat was entirely glassed over which ensured unobstructed views as we sailed around Manhattan Island.

Comfort ..............................................9/10 The vessel itself was quite simple but at the same time elegant. Everything was what you would expect of a finedining experience on water. Despite the fact that the rain was lashing down outside, inside the live entertainment (jazz and singing) plus the great food ensured the atmosphere remained convivial.

Quality ..............................................10/10 The wine list was comprehensive and catered for most tastes, while the food was high quality and beautifully presented.

Affordability ........................................8/10 Prices start from £106 per person and the experience includes a three-course gourmet dinner freshly prepared on board, a three-hour cruise along the Hudson and East Rivers, entertainment and dancing; coffee, tea and ice-tea.

Service ..............................................10/10 We had a dedicated waiter for table service who was very attentive.

Good to know ............................................

The cruise departs daily between April and December and Thursday to Sunday in February and March. Those celebrating a birthday or special occasion receive a special mention and a cake, while agents can earn 10% commission booking through DoSomethingDifferent.

Overall scoring: ........................................

9/ 10

If you'd like to take part in an agent review and receive a £10 M&S voucher email lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk

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FLYBE TAKEOFF… Paul Willoughby, Flybe’s regional manager (UK South), joins the airline’s crew and Southampton Airport staff at the launch of the carrier’s new twice-weekly route to Bastia in Corsica. One-way fares from Southampton start from £44.99 including taxes and charges and flights will operate through to September 27.

New service offers hitch-free hotels for wedding guests from LateRooms.com A NEW wedding hotel service, WeddingGuestRooms.com, has been launched by LateRooms.com to help brides and groomsto-be share the best hotel options for their big day with wedding guests.

The site allows the creation of a personalised page of nearby wedding day accommodation options, which can then be shared quickly with guests.

Wedding guests benefit from up-to-date availability and prices at properties within a ten-mile radius of the wedding or reception venue, with features like book in advance and pay on arrival, and providing free cancellation on many rooms.

In addition, whenever affiliates or partners use Wedding Guest Rooms, they can make at least 5% commission on any hotel booking made.

SuperBreak adds Beatles Magical Mystery Tour in Liverpool SUPERBREAK HAS added a new tour that can be added to any hotel booking in Liverpool. The ‘Beatles Magical Mystery Tour’ takes customers on a two-hour guided bus tour that starts at Albert Dock and finishes at the Cavern Club, where The Beatles played 292 times. Included is a souvenir, general admission to the Cavern Club on the tour date evening and 10% off food served daily until 18:00 in the Cavern Pub. The tour departs at points throughout the day for added flexibility and costs £16.95 per person when added to a hotel booking.

For more information visit www.superbreak.com/agents or call 0190-443 6000.

Airport parking app from Travelport Smartpoint TRAVELPORT HAS announced that Travel Parking Group’s (TPG) airport parking application, Looking4app, is now available to travel agencies through its point of sale technology, Travelport Smartpoint.

The app offers connected agents with an integrated airport car parking payments solution which picks up flight and customer PNR details, making the booking process fast and simple whilst increasing profitability. The plug-in is free to download via Travelport Marketplace.

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luxury Why getting to know your clients pays off when selling luxury LL YOUR clients have their own private dream of what makes a luxury holiday. It may depend on a wish list destination, a five-star boutique hotel with fine dining or the opportunity to see places, people and sights they have longed to experience, and of course it must offer great value too.

So, what is the starting point for this dream holiday? Well, ideally it should begin by dealing with a company whose staff know how to listen to your clients’ wishes. Providing a professional and efficient service is not enough. Your customers will expect suggestions that add that something extra to their experience. Maybe they did not know they could go bear watching or enjoy a fish picnic in Croatia, but will love the idea once you have put it to them.

A

Giving clients more As examples, on a luxury holiday in Crete, we can arrange a private guided visit to the temple of Knossos, while in Morocco we can pick your clients up from their riad or hotel and whisk them away for a day in the Atlas Mountains in a chauffeured Mercedes with an entertaining expert guide.

These extras are easily organised and provide memorable experiences that can make a holiday extra special. In addition, it’s important for agents to find out from their customers exactly what they want their luxury break to entail.

For example, we can arrange luxuriously planned singlecentre holidays, touring trips or stays with cultural excitement too. Take Canada as an example; this exciting country can provide the ultimate in luxury experiences for more adventurous clients. A break can feature self-drive, cruising options, wildlife viewing and cities in any combination - options for luxury experiences abound. The Ritz Carlton in Toronto is fabulous for a city break (great for theatres) or why not suggest your clients combine a stay at the Relais Chateaux Sonora Resort followed by a few nights at the new Trump in Vancouver?

It’s all in the details Luxurious does not have to mean the obvious five-star ‘grand’” resort hotel. I will always remember my stay at the Knight Inlet Lodge in British Columbia for the whole experience. We flew in from Campbell River over beautiful

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by JOHN DIXON, chairman & managing director, Prestige Holidays wild mountains in a seaplane, landed with a splash and were welcomed by wildlife experts in a warm friendly fashion. The food was simple and plentiful, the accommodation was spacious and comfortable and the guides who led visits out to see bears, whales, otters and eagles were really outstanding.

These exciting and utterly different set of experiences represent for me the truly luxurious part of any holiday.

What about a stay in a Palace hotel, such as the 17th century Pucic Palace in Dubrovnik or the gorgeous Xara Palace in Medina, Malta? Both are exclusive boutique hotels with luxurious accommodations and the Xara features a unique fine dining experience. The Palazzo Failla in UNESCO protected Modica, Sicily, is another boutique gem with a Michelin starred restaurant.

Sicily is rich with luxurious properties ranging from the extravagant to the simple. The superbly located five-star deluxe Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo has views to take the breath away, as well as an excellent restaurant and period style guestrooms. The Torre Marabino in contrast has just seven rooms and stands in a quiet peaceful country location. This little gem is known for its gastronomy, with the food and wine organically produced from the property’s own estate. Guests holidaying here have a rental car so that they can explore the local baroque towns of Modica, Scicli, Ragusa and Ipsica – for those in the know this is Montalbano country!

Luxury at home Sometimes it is really rewarding to take a few days away without having to travel far – that’s where for me Guernsey is ideal. The Old Government House is everything a traditional very British hotel should be, rather like a private club with several dining options, right in the heart of St Peter Port. Small Luxury Hotels of the World member Bella Luce was originally a 12th century Norman Manor House, and its country location and romantic atmosphere make it an ideal spot for a luxury retreat for couples.

So, luxury can be difficult to define, but to me it implies superb style and atmosphere. Tip top service has to be a given, as does good value. All our clients expect competitive prices and I am proud to say our luxury holidays combine terrific value with the highest levels of service before, during and after every single break we organise.

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luxury

CYPLON HOLIDAYS is offering a special rate for bookings made at the five-star Hyatt Regency Sharm el Sheikh Resort before September 7, with a 25% discount on accommodation for departures between July 23 and September 15. For details call 0800-074 8888.

FLY FROM YOUR LOCAL AIRPORT

PRIVATE TRANSFERS INCLUDED

Luxury savings

CYPRUS SAVE

5 Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites

ÂŁ620

COMPLIMENTARY ROOM & BOARD UPGRADE

per couple per week

fromÂŁ1,239pp* Gatwick 9 July fromÂŁ1,249pp* Manchester 8 July fromÂŁ1,279pp* Leeds Bradford 8 July

*Based on 2 sharing, 7 nights half board in a one

Call 0800 008 7288 5030

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www.classic-collection.co.uk June 5 2015

andBeyond opens redesigned Benguerra Island property in Mozambique ANDBEYOND HAS given its Mozambican retreat a new look. Re-opening this month, the remote resort of Benguerra Island takes inspiration from Mozambique’s Portuguese heritage and offers 13 thatched casinhas and cabanas in a marine conservation area.

The retreat sits alongside a permanent deep water channel which is known for its game fishing, just one of many water-based activities that guests can enjoy. In tune with the company’s ethos, guests will also be able to enter into island life, spend time with local villagers and help out with conservation projects. Rates start from £370 per person, per night, based on two sharing including all meals.

For more information visit www.andbeyond.com

New property selection from Jet2holidays JET2HOLIDAYS is featuring a selection of luxury hotels across Europe including new additions for this summer.

As examples, the five-star The Royal Apollonia in Limassol, Cyprus is ideal for clients looking to recharge their batteries and is 5km away from Limassol’s Old Town.

The five-star Hilton Malta is also new to the company’s portfolio, and offers panoramic views of the sea and yacht marina, as well as four outdoor pools and a spa area, while the Tonga Tower Design Hotel and Suites (located on the north eastern tip of the Bay of Alcudia in Mallorca) offers something for all members of the family.

As an example of prices, a seven-night, half-board stay at The Royal Apollonia in Limmassol, based on a June 28 departure from East Midlands Airport and two sharing a superior room, costs ÂŁ636 per person including 22kg baggage allowance and transfers.

To book or for further information call 0800-408 5587 or visit trade.jet2holidays.com

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luxury Funway sees 6% rise in five-star hotel bookings in Mexico FUNWAY REPORTS strong demand for luxury holidays in Mexico.

The operator’s marketing executive, Rebecca Evans, said: “Five-star hotel bookings in Mexico are up 6% and we are seeing more clients wanting more luxury even before they arrive at their holiday destination - from extra leg room on flights to Cancun flight upgrades.”

The company is also encouraging agents to promote airport lounges to clients as a way of boosting commission, and offers both No. 1 Traveller and Aspire/Swissport lounges. Evans said: “Booking airport lounge passes is another example of customers wanting more luxury, escaping the

crowds and having a little luxury before they fly with complimentary drinks and unlimited Wi-Fi from only £25 per person.

“These savvy and service-obsessed guests also expect everything once at resort - from iPads to state-of-the-art coffee machines included as standard, and they're willing to pay for these little luxuries too.”

As an example of prices, a seven-night stay at the adult-only, five-star Secrets The Vine Cancun leads in at £1,419 per person on an all-inclusive basis. It includes transfers and flights from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic and is based on an October 28 departure.

For details see www.funway4agents.co.uk

THE VEAN, originally the old vicarage on the Caerhays Estate near St Austell, Cornwall, is offering 20% off for bookings of three nights or more this month. The five-star Georgian house sleeps 16 and is located a short walk from Porthluney Beach. With the saving, guests can stay at the property for a minimum of three nights for £1,6980 or £3,960 for seven nights.

For details email thevean@caerhays.co.uk or call 01872-501918.

Savings on four- and seven-night Nile cruises on The Oberoi Zahra THE OBEROI Zahra is offering new deals on four- and seven-night itineraries on the Nile. The luxury cruiser offers spacious cabins, a la carte cuisine and private massage therapy rooms. Guests are also offered exclusive private docking arrangements and small luxury coaches available at every stop.

Each of The Oberoi Zahra’s 25 cabins feature large windows to offer panoramic views of the Nile, while the two luxury suites feature separate living rooms, private terraces and Jacuzzis. The cruiser also offers a theatre, library, cigar bar, swimming pool, fitness centre and a gourmet restaurant.

This summer’s offer invites guests to experience a double luxury room from July 7 to September 28 for 650 euros per night. It includes all meals, transfers by Mercedes van and complimentary wireless internet access.

To ensure wellness and relaxation on board, guests are encouraged to use the gym and steam room on a complimentary basis, and are offered a one-hour massage per person, per cruise.

For details email reservations.tobi@oberoihotels.com or see www.oberoihotels.com

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luxury Costa Rica adventure from Journey Latin America JOURNEY LATIN AMERICA has introduced an eight-day luxury adventure holiday in Costa Rica that combines white water rafting, ziplining, kayaking, trekking and horse riding with luxury accommodation including Pacuare Lodge, Rio Perdido and El Silencio Lodge and Spa. Prices lead in at ÂŁ1,731 per person including domestic flights, transfers, breakfast accommodation, activities and most meals.

International flights are extra.

For details or to book call 020-8600 1881 or see www.journeylatinamerica.c o.uk

HALF MOON

in Montego Bay, Jamaica is offering an all-inclusive ‘The Ultimate in Luxury’ package which includes unlimited golf at the resort’s championship golf course, three treatments at Fern Tree Spa, as well as a glass bottom boat ride, sailing, snorkelling and windsurfing. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, wine and drinks at hotel bars are also included in the package. ITC Luxury is offering prices from ÂŁ2,589 per person based on two adults sharing a deluxe room for seven nights, including flights with Virgin Atlantic on September 16 and private transfers.

For details call 01244-355 527 or see www.itcluxurytravel.co.uk

LUXURY HOLIDAYS 54321.3-,+*)('&2-+%34-'-$)(3-4'#.3-+"-! '*) &- + 3*2-"4+ -2 '**34- + 1! 3- +-*'4.34-432+4 - + 3*2-)# 34 (' - *.'4 3 - & 4 2 - 43 3 - '#'4)32 - 4+'1' - '*)'#- ' 32 - '4()#)' - ) )*& - ')# - 4 3& - '* ' '(3)4'- - +4+ + - 3- ' 3-2+ 3 )#.- +-2 ) - + *32-'#(-"' )*)32

3- '#-43 + 3#(-'- 4+ 34 &- +-2 ) -&+ 4- *)3# 2 - ' )*&-"4)3#(*&- + 3*2-$) - )*(43# 2-"' )*)132-'#(.43' - )*(-()2 + # 2-+4- + 3*2-$) - 3)4-+$#-2 '-+4-.+*" - 2 -'2 -"+4-'( ) 3 Ask us about all our latest offers, including free nights, free half board, free Spa treatments and free

+43-'%+4(' *3-* 4&- +*)('&2-"4+ -&+ 4-*+ '*-')4 +4

54321.3-,+*)('&2-+#- - -+4- $$$ 4321.3 +*)('&2 +

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luxury

Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa re-opens following $50million investment HIDEAWAY BEACH RESORT & SPA, a five-star resort on Dhonakulhi Island in the Maldives, has recently re-opened following a $50million whole-island renovation.

As part of the improvements, the resort has introduced seaplane transfers from Malé International Airport direct to Dhonakulhi Island, ensuring that guests enjoy a premium service from arrival to departure.

Featuring 103 villas, guests can choose from eight different categories of accommodation, ranging from beachfront to garden and family residences, as well as the new addition of 50 over-water villas which offer a personalised butler service.

The resort also offers a range of wellness and sporting experiences, as well as a kids’ club and a selection of culinary options.

Insight Vacations promotes Gold Luxury tours INSIGHT VACATIONS is highlighting a selection of worldwide 'Gold Luxury All Inclusive' tours.

Examples include Rhythms & Flavours of America, which begins in Chicago before heading to the Midwest. In Louisville there is the chance for guests to visit a bourbon distillery to discover the secrets and sample the South’s signature spirit. The musical history of Nashville will also be uncovered before heading on to Memphis, followed by visits to Mississippi and New Orleans.

Prices start from £4,430 per person and include flights, 13 nights’ breakfast accommodation and evening meals.

Alternatively, a seven-day Essence of India option visits the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and leads in at £1,950 including flights and six nights’ breakfast accommodation.

Highlights include a rickshaw ride through Delhi, a stay in luxury tented accommodation in Samode and traditional folk dance entertainment.

Both tours also include VIP door-to-door transfers, included sightseeing and the services of a tour director throughout.

For details see www.insightvacations.com

Adventurous guests who wish to explore the hidden wonders of the ocean can sail out on a traditional Maldivian Dhoni or on a high-speed jet ski to one of the nearby uninhabited islands.

Additional watersport activities, including kite-boarding, kayaking and wind-surfing, are also available for guests, along with two full-sized tennis courts.

For more information visit www.hideawaybeachmaldives.com

InBrief ● SPA IL SALVIATINO In Italy’s Florence has launched a range

of treatments created exclusively for little ones and teenagers at its on-site wellness offering, Spa Il Salviatino.

Children aged six-12 can join mum and dad for a Fresh Face hypoallergenic facial treatment or sign up for Butter Cuddles, a gentle cocoa butter massage designed to nourish young skin. In addition, little princesses can have pretty hands and toes just like mum with a mini manicure and pedicure, while teens can blitz the zits with a purifying and hydrating Teen Facial treatment.

See www.salviatino.com ● OLIVER'S TRAVELS is offering disconts across a range of

accommodation including 50% off Villa Shambalah in Dordogne, France, with prices from £1,400 per week for eight people (or £25 per person, per night); 20% off stays at Cortijo Belasco in Andalucia, with prices from £1,965 per week for 20 people (£14 per person, per night); and 30% off Château Le Brun in the Loire Valley, France, with prices from £1,161 per week for 12 people or £13.80 per person, per night.

Details at www.oliverstravels.com ● THE SUN SIYAM IRU FUSHi, situated in the Maldives’ Noonu

Atoll, has invested in its luxury beach accommodation with the introduction of 75 deluxe beach villas with private pools. The open-plan villas feature day beds, espresso machines, mini bars and spa baths. A seven-night, halfboard stay in a deluxe beach villa with pool costs from £1,899 per person with Travelbag. It includes flights with Qatar Airways from Heathrow and offers a saving of up to £880 per couple for travel by the end of this month.

Call 0845-543 6615 for details.

Taj Mahal

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luxury Observatory Bush Villa, Waterberg, South Africa

Villa Guru expands portfolio with unique properties across destinations VILLA GURU has added a number of properties in the Seychelles, Italy, France, Ibiza and South Africa to its portfolio.

The properties are complemented by a dedicated concierge team that can cater for all requests – from helicopter transfers, to a caviar and Champagne welcome.

As an example, a stay on Fregate Private Island in the Seychelles costs from 4,200 euros per night for double occupancy of a private pool residence.

The rate includes access to the concierge team, 15% tax and 10% service charges, all island dining experiences and a private buggy for exploring the island.

Numerous activities are also included such as nonmotorised watersports and a half-day deep sea fishing excursion when staying three nights or more.

For more information visit www.villaguru.com or call 020-3004 8750.

Survey reveals dishwashers are top of wish-list for Brits’ luxury villa holidays THEBIGDOMAIN.COM recently polled 2,000 people in the UK to find the most sought after features of a luxury villa holiday.

The results revealed that location is the most important factor when booking a luxury holiday, with sea views (86%) and countryside views (70%) both featuring in the top three of the most wanted facilities, while 44% of those polled stated that nightlife was in their top five most wanted.

In terms of amenities and most popular facilities, private pools appeared in 77% of people's top five features and internet access appeared in 59% of the top five most sought after facilities.

Conversely, on-site gyms were ranked as the second least required for a luxury holiday, with pet-friendly accommodation featuring at the bottom of the overall list.

Furthermore, 24% of those surveyed ranked a dishwasher as one of the top five most important features for a luxury holiday compared to 12% who ranked an on-site gym within the top five most wanted features.

The company’s marketing manager, Matt Fletcher, said: “We were quite surprised at the results of this poll, where everyday amenities such as internet access, satellite TV and having a dishwasher featured prominently in people's top five features. It goes without saying that location is important too with coastal views being favoured, but ultimately luxury seems to be synonymous with ease and relaxation which is evidenced by the fact that on-site gyms and pet friendliness appeared at the bottom of the list.”

Makanyi safari lodge opens in South Africa OPENING THIS month, Makanyi is located in the southern sector of the South African Timbavati region.

The contemporary architecture of the lodge blends into its bush surroundings with a total of eight open plan suites - six classic suites and two honeymoon. All feature an extra-large bed, sitting area with fireplace and a spacious bathroom with a shower and separate freestanding bath.

Outside, a private deck overlooks the bush, with an outdoor shower and sun loungers.

The two honeymoon suites are situated at the far reaches of the camp to offer total privacy, while four-poster beds, private plunge pools, secluded candle-lit dinners and flower petal strewn picnics make for a romantic hideaway.

Activities include game drives, guided bush walks, fishing and star gazing. Visits to Blyde River Canyon and the Drakensburg Mountains can also be organised from the lodge. An introductory launch price leads in at £275 per person, per night on full board.

For more information visit www.makanyilodge.com

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luxury SuperBreak boosts Luxury Hotel Collection

We asked our staff the following question this week: What do you really want to know the answer to?

Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk After 28 years, how come I still laugh at Simon's jokes?

Editor: Lauretta Wright lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk

SUPERBREAK has launched its latest Luxury Hotel Collection brochure featuring stays until April 30, 2016.

Offering a unique collection of luxury hotels and experiences throughout the UK and also in key European cities, the 60-page brochure features 202 hotels, 37 of which are new.

A range of luxury packages are available including spa, golf, theatre, afternoon tea, decadent dining, celebration options, Orient

Express and private tours of historic royal palaces.

New hotels include the four-star Hazlewood Castle near York, with prices from £47; the five-star Sofitel London St James from £160; the five-star Conrad London St James from £167; and the Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel in Reykjavik from £69.50.

Prices are per person, per night and include breakfast.

For further information visit www.superbreak.com/agents or call 01904-436000.

Is life real or a computer simulation?

Editorial Assistant: Adam Potter adam.potter@travelbulletin.co.uk Just how many licks would it take to get to the centre of a marble?

Contributing Editor: Paul Scudamore post@travelbulletin.co.uk When shall I win BIG on the lottery?

Sales Director: Simon Eddolls simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk Chicken or egg?

Advertisement Manager: Tim Podger tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk Who killed Princess Diana?

Account Manager: Bill Coad bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk The truth behind the Bermuda Triangle

Account Manager: Matt Gill matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk Marketing Assistant: Gemma Reeve gemma.reeve@travelbulletin.co.uk Why is it so difficult to find shoes that don't fall off my feet, without being too small?!

Senior Designer: Lee Telot lee.telot@travelbulletin.co.uk Assistant Designer: Tom Davies thomas.davies@alaincharles.com Production: Charlie Burns charlie.burns@alaincharles.com How comes ant hills don't get flooded in extreme weather events?

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: Buxton Press Subscriptions are £125 p.a. £195 overseas ISSN: 0956-2419

ALL ROADS NORTH has introduced a new take on the traditional American road trip, with each journey custom designed from the ground up by a specialist, a handpicked collection of the finest hotels and insider experiences brought to life by local doyens. Guests are offered a custom-made guide based on their interests, which outlines the best routes and places to stop, and each client is provided with a US mobile phone, pre-loaded with their itinerary, contacts and road trip playlists. As an example of itineraries, a Charleston, Savannah and the Golden Isles travels through the Lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia with highlights including a private dinner at a plantation house, exploring Savannah with a renowned historian and watching nesting sea turtles on an island getaway. The ten-day trip costs from $3,595 per person.

puzzlesolutions Crossword: Across: 1. AVRO, 3. BREST, 7. SHYLOCK, 8. DAN, 9. LIMA, 10. HERM, 13. LOOE, 15. GOBI, 18. TAS, 19. VILNIUS, 20. IPSOS, 21. GHAN. Down: 1. ARSENAL, 2. RIYAL, 3. BAKU, 4. EDDIE, 5. TUN, 6. SOMME, 11. MADISON, 12. POOLE, 14. OASIS, 16. IRISH, 17. AVIS, 18. TUI.

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Highlighted Word: RHODES Travagrams: (top) andBeyond

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Where Am I?: Reno

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