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DUBAI DRIVE...Dubai Tourism escorted a group of nine agents on a recent fam trip, staying at Fairmont The Palmand Vida Downtown Dubai. The group flew with Virgin Atlantic and Desert Adventures provided transfers, a city tour and a desert safari. The trip also included a visit to Aquaventure and a golf clinic at the Montgomerie Dubai. Pictured making the most of the trip are, from the left: (front row) Jacqueline Beaumont, Beachcomber; Valentina Ceccacci, EK Holidays; Blaze Doods, Thomas Cook Signature; and Zobia Butt, Best at Travel; with (second row) Mark Grundy and Luke William, Gold Medal; Craig Kohler, Lotus; and Sangita Makwana, Dubai Tourism; and (back row) Samantha Holden, Co-operatove Travel and Ferdinando Cutolo, Dubai Tourism.
Cover Pictures: Main - Dubai Tourism
Inset - xArblaster & Clarke Wine Tours
This Week 3
news
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notes from normanton
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agent bulletin
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staff review
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puzzle bulletin
poll reveals half of British women more likely to holiday alone than they were five years ago bella, bella...Sandy goes all Italian after attending an industry event a round-up of the latest agent training, incentives & offers we check-in at the Holiday Inn Gatwick to check out its Stay, Park & Go Club try your luck at Su Doku for a chance to win a £50 Love2Shop voucher from Voyages-sncf
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bulletin briefing
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star awards focus
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portugal & madeira
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middle east
the latest news & views from Elite Travel Group a closer look at our Star Awards categories - this week it's the turn of Dream Destinations Portugal welcomes increase in UK overnight stays operators unveil their latest programme additions & deals
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Quarter of local residents 'more likely' to vote for local councillor if they back Heathrow expansion LOCAL RESIDENTS in west London and Windsor are more likely to vote for their local councillor if they support a Heathrow expansion than if they oppose it, according to new research from independent polling company Populus. The research suggests that far from being politically difficult, supporting a third runway at Heathrow could actually be a vote winner for local councillors. Nearly half (48%) of residents said they supported expanding
Heathrow, while 34% were opposed. Some 57% of voters said they feel positive towards Heathrow, while 37% feel neutral and 6% feel negative towards the airport. Only one local authority – Richmond – had more residents who opposed expansion than supported it; all other areas saw many more people supporting than opposing a third runway. Colin Matthews, the airport's chief executive, said:“A third runway at Heathrow has traditionally
been seen as the best option for the UK but politically difficult in west London. This research suggests that the political costs of supporting a third runway at Heathrow have been overstated. “Far from being a political challenge, there is widespread local support for Heathrow. Many more people around Heathrow support a third runway than oppose it. More than 100,000 jobs depend on Heathrow and people want to see the airport flourish.”
Half of British women more likely to holiday alone than they were five years ago RESEARCH FROM Booking.com has revealed that more than half (54%) of British female solo travel enthusiasts are now more likely to holiday alone than they were five years ago. The poll of more than 1,000 British women highlighted how they find solo travel more of an empowering experience than a daunting one, with two thirds (61%) saying they feel more energised and refreshed after taking a trip by themselves, than opposed to going away with others. An additional 64% claim they have more freedom to be themselves when travelling alone, with 47% saying it gives them a chance to be a bit more selfish and do exactly what they want to do. According to the research, social media plays a pivotal role when it comes to these women’s confidence in being able to go on holiday by themselves. Nearly two-thirds (62%) keep in touch with friends and family back home whilst away, with three quarters also saying that social media allows them to unearth unusual places to go or find places to eat, thus fuelling their confidence to visit destinations on their own. And the trend looks set to continue, with more than half (51%) of female solo travel fans saying they plan to do so again in the next 12 months.
May 9 2014
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