Travel Bulletin 10th May 2013

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May 10 2013 | ISSUE NO 1,825 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

WATCH

WIN Win a place on a FAM trip to Cape Town and Durban with

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WATCH WIN National Geographic Channel: On 20th May 2013 eyes and minds around the globe will soon be focused on Cape Town, and Durban, as National Geographic launches a new documentary ‘The World in Two Cities’, which sheds light on these two South African cities’ urban offerings and cultural diversity. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation reports that 80% of international tourists are in search of urban tourism experiences – exploring rich and different cultures in a country through the viewpoint of its city.

Durban: Tourists from all over the world have been coming to Durban for more than half a century, attracted mainly by the city’s famous beaches and the all year-round sunshine.

But once they arrive they soon discover they is a lot more to offer than golden beaches.

Cape Town: Cape Town is more than just a great place to visit. The Mother City offers excellent value, it's clean and safe. There are exciting events taking place in Cape Town throughout the year, and many of Cape Town's major attractions can be visited for free, or at very reasonable rates.

Tsogo Sun is the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, providing a vast variety of hospitality and exciting entertainment and leisure experiences.

The group proudly encompasses 14 casinos and over 90 hotels in South Africa, Africa and the Seychelles.

South African Airways: South African Airways bring the world to Africa and take Africa to the world. With double daily overnight flights from Heathrow to Johannesburg and easy onward connections, we offer frequent services to over 30 destinations in Southern Africa.

From 2014 your customers will enjoy the best passenger facilities in Europe when they fly with South African Airways, as we move into Heathrow's newest terminal, terminal 2.

For your chance to win visit: www.travelbulletin.co.uk/southafrica

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May 10 2013 | ISSUE NO 1,825 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

Portugal & Madeira Destination welcomes 15% increase in overnight stays

this week agent bulletin 9 Warner Leisure Hotels launches new agent educationals

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airline bulletin new direct flight opens up Chile's second largest island

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middle east Oman plans for new hotels & resorts following increase in visitors

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uk airports survey reveals passengers use technology to make travel easier

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COMPLETE THE loose insert voting form included with this week’s issue of Travel Bulletin and select your star industry performers of 2013! To find out more about this prestigious annual event go to www.travelbulletin.co.uk/ awards or call Jeanette on 020 7834 6661.

Cover Pictures: Main - xxxx

Inset - xxxx

This Week 3

news

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at home with eileen

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agent bulletin

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personality bulletin find out which CEO has lived through two aeroplane crashes

Brits rely on holidays for quality time with friends and family

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puzzle bulletin

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airline bulletin

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agent review

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hotel bulletin

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portugal & madeira

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middle east

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uk airports

NEW RESEARCH from Aviva reveals that holidaymakers are increasingly going away with grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins and friends in a bid to get some quality time together compared to a decade ago.

The study reveals that more than a third (35%) actively choose to go on holidays with friends and extended family members.

Outside of key periods in the year for “family time” like Christmas and New Year, the research reveals that the top reason for Brits to go away in extended groups is to spend more quality time together (51%). Out of those who go on these group holidays, 35% feel more inspired to do more exciting activities and nearly a third (32%) say it helps to share the burden of costs. More than one in ten (15%) say group holidays allow them to share childcare responsibilities.

The research also showed that those holidaying with the same group of friends and family have been doing so for an average of almost seven years.

Nearly a fifth (17%) say going away as a group means they benefit from a “free-cation”, and adults aged between 35-44 are just as likely to rely on mum and dad for an allexpenses paid trip as young professionals aged 25-34 (14%). People in East Anglia are most likely to go on group holidays to get a free break (26%), followed by the South East (21%) and Yorkshire & Humber (14%).

a round-up of this week's latest news & developments find out what homeworker Eileen has been up to lately Warner Leisure Hotels launches new travel agent educationals

take a break and solve this week's crossword puzzle new direct flight opens up Chile's second largest island an agent's thoughts on Turkey's Sea Garden Beach Resort near Bodrum a round-up of new hotel openings & offers

portugal reports 15% increase in overnight stays Oman plans for new hotels & resorts following increase in visitor numbers

survey reveals passengers use technology to make travel easier

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SPANISH SET....The Spanish Tourist Office and the Alicante Tourism & Convention Bureau teamed up to hold an evening workshop and drinks reception for members of the trade. The event, at Melia White House in London, saw representatives from the Alicante Tourism & Convention Bureau and some of the city's leading hotels teach attendees about the range of facilities and attractions for visitors. Guests also had the chance to take part in a wine-tasting session accompanied by tapas. Pictured at the event are, from the left: Enrique Ruiz de Lera, Spanish National Tourist Office; Beatriz Cerdá, TravCo; Valorie Fearon, Noble Caledonia; Marina Campello and Agustin Grau, Alicante City Tourist Board.

Summer sailing offer with Seabourn SEABOURN IS offering a seven-day Adriatic And Greek Isles fly/cruise which departs on July 13 and leads in at £2,499 per person.

The cruise, on Seabourn Odyssey, sails from Venice to Athens and takes in Sibenik in Croatia; Kotor in Montenegro; and Corfu, Argostoli, Pylos, Nafplion and Athens in Greece.

Prices are based on two sharing a suite and include tips and gratuities, fine dining, open bars, fully stocked mini bar and transfers.

To book or for details call 0843-373 2000 or visit www.seabourn.co.uk

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newsbulletin Discover highlights of Burma on new tour from Explore EXPLORE HAS added a new Essential Burma tour to its programme, which is designed to showcase the best of the country in a more condensed timeframe.

The nine-day tour takes in Burma’s capital Rangoon (Yangon), the golden Shwedagon Pagoda; the world-famous leg-rowing fisherman of Inle Lake; and the U Bein bridge in Amarapura at sunset. Offering an insight into the local culture, guests will also have the chance to soak up local life on a cycling trip to a village near Bagan and around the temples, and take a walk through the evening fish market at Mandalay.

Prices start from £1,895 per person including flights; eight nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast; transport including a boat down the Irrawaddy River, horse and cart, bus and bike; and the services of a tour leader.

Four departure dates are available, with the first on August 9.

BANYAN BASH...Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts held a Roadshow Gala event to bring together operators and airlines with representatives from the hotel group. The event also offered the opportunity to update attendees on the latest news, including the company's recent openings in China Chonqing Beibei, Vietnam Lang Co, as well as Kerala opening in autumn/winter 2014. Pictured are, from the left: Judy Ong from Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts with Cathie O'Dea and Gillian Davis from Travel Counsellors.

Katherine Jenkins to perform on P&O Cruises' short breaks KATHERINE JENKINS, classical crossover artist, will be performing on Oriana for two short cruises later this year, with prices leading in at £399 per person for four nights.

The cruises include a four-night voyage on Oriana, departing on October 31, and calling at Zeebrugge (for Bruges) and Amsterdam, while a four-night voyage on Oriana, departing on November 27, and calling at Zeebrugge and Amsterdam, costs from £399.

Oriana, which is exclusively for adults, has three pools, an Oasis Spa, gym, theatre, cinema, sports court, traditional deck games plus numerous restaurants and bars.

Prices include a choice of cabin, the flexibility to make amendments to or change the choice of cruise or cabin up to 90 days prior to departure, plus one of the following; on board spending money, car parking in Southampton or return coach travel to Southampton. The fare also includes the line's Price Promise protection, which ensures that should the price of the Vantage Fare reduce, the difference will be awarded in on board spending or a cabin upgrade.

For more information or to book call 0843-373 0111 or visit www.pocruises.co.uk

Katherine Jenkins

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newsbulletin Tweets of the Week Who’s saying what on Twitter... @TravelBulletin The 2013 Travel Bulletin Star Awards categories have been announced and voting is now open http://travelbulletin.co.uk/ awards @VisitSplitCro An overview of the beaches in #Split http://bit.ly/Ue2n0a @Freedom_2Travel Do you know what is and is not covered by the European Health Insurance Card? http://bit.ly/wl9kL5 @visitlondon Exciting news! Find out about the fun you'll have at the Festival of Neighbourhood @southbankcentre this summer. http://ow.ly/kyPal @FezTravel People wanting to visit Turkey can now get their visa online and not have to queue up. https://www.evisa.gov. tr/en @tropicalsky Travel bucket list: 101 things to do before you die! http://buff.ly/13J4EmH

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

FLYING THE FLAG...Travel 2 paid Nicoll World Travel in Dorchester, Dorset a special visit to support its USA & Canada in-store event. Pictured are, from the left: Chris Greenway and Beth Holder from Nicoll World Travel; Carla Hutchings, Travel 2; and Helen Matthews, Nicoll World Travel.

Titan preview ‘The World’s Best River Cruises’ for 2014

W&O announces Luxury India sale

TITAN HAS launched its Preview brochure which introduces ‘The World’s Best River Cruises’ for 2014.

Every river cruise now includes gratuities for both onboard and onshore services, unlimited fine wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks, a full programme of shore excursions guided by local experts, free Internet and WiFi on board and all arrival and departure transfers.

Additionally, early bookers receive savings of up to £500 per person, with exclusive extra loyalty discounts for past guests for bookings made by June 30. Previous Uniworld guests can also receive double River Heritage Club discounts of up to £350 per person on bookings made by May 31.

Uniworld will be introducing a new vessel for 2014, SS Catherine, and she will replace River Royale on the eight-day Burgundy & Provence itinerary, sailing from Lyon to Avignon, with prices starting from £1,999 per person.

River Royale will begin its new life sailing along three French waterways – the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde – on a new eight-day itinerary Bordeaux, Vineyards and Chateaux. Sailing roundtrip from Bordeaux, prices start from £1,999 per person.

For more information or to book visit www.titanagents.co.uk

WESTERN & Oriental is offering savings on a selection of experienceled journeys around India for travel through to September 30.

Prices lead in £1,135 per person for a seven-day Golden Triangle Tour staying in four-star superior hotels, based on two people sharing on a bed-and-breakfast basis and including flights and transfers. Highlights include visits to famous sights including the Taj Mahal at Agra and the pink city of Jaipur.

Holidays must be booked by June 30 to qualify for the discounts.

For more information visit www.westernoriental.com or call 0207 666 1234

Bookabed.co.uk signs preferred partner deals with Advantage & Travel Network Group BOOKABED HAS signed ‘Preferred’ supplier deals with both Advantage Travel Centres & The Travel Network Group and has also signed up to its respective electronic payment systems (CAPS & TAPS/ACAS), with all payments being made on a ‘post departure’ basis.

The company's head of sales Darren Hall said: "The signing of these leading consortia groups was integral to our development plans to establish the brand in the UK. We are delighted to be working with them and providing their respective members with a serious trade-only alternative in this market sector, with a commitment to delivering

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competitive pricing, extensive product offering and first class service, all underpinned by agency indemnity.

"The next stage is to develop ‘XML’ integration into the Advantage ‘Gate-Way’ & The Travel Network’s ‘Honeycombe’ systems."

Agents can access the company's hotel and transfer products by logging on to the website and completing the registration application or by emailing Darren Hall at darren@bookabed.co.uk. Agents can set up a single username and password for their entire branch or have individual staff passwords.

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ABERCROMBIE & Kent has launched its 2013/14 Family Brochure. For details visit www.abercrombiekent.co.uk THE PHILADELPHIA Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) has announced the launch of a new website at www.discoverphl.com. The new site is designed to meet the demands of key Philadelphia travel audiences, including international visitors, convention attendees and meeting planners.

TUNISIA FIRST has appointed the Portfolio of Specialist Tour Operators to develop its retail trade sales. The 2013 brochure offers a wide range of Dars (boutique hotels in traditional townhouses) plus three-, four- and five-star hotels and spas. Flights are available from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.

For brochures and details email tradesupport@postoagentsonly.com EUROSTAR AND Waitrose have announced a new partnership that will see the supermarket supply onboard refreshments to Eurostar’s bar buffets, for passengers travelling in Standard Class between London and mainland Europe.

FOLLOWING THE Travel Network Group's announcement in February to consolidate and relocate all its commercial activities to Woking, the Group has announced further proposals to move its marketing and membership teams also to its premises in Woking.

MUSICIAN PSY, who shot to fame with the hit 'Gangnam Style', will be featuring in a series of TV commercials on behalf of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).

Funway Holidays launches two-forone half-price holiday sale FUNWAY HAS issued a two-for-one sale which offers half price Luxury Included holidays from Sandals, Beaches and Grand Pineapple resorts for travel throughout this year and next, in conjunction with the Mail on Sunday.

As an example of prices, a seven-night stay in a onebedroom butler villa suite at Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort in Jamaica leads in at £1,200 per person, offering a saving of £2,598 per couple.

The offers are available for bookings made by June 25.

For more information visit www.sandals4agents.co.uk or call 0844-557 0624.

TC offers late availability Mauritian break THOMAS COOK is offering a late availability holiday package to Mauritius next month, staying at the four-star Veranda Grand Baie Hotel in Mauritius, with a free upgrade to all-inclusive.

The week-long holiday, which was £1,479 including flights, has been reduced by 35% to lead in at £1,099 per person, based on two sharing.

The package is valid for selected departure dates up to June 4 and includes seven nights’ accommodation in a Comfort Room, Economy flights with Emirates from Gatwick and transfers.

For more information or to book see www.thomascook.com and for details on the hotel see www.verandaresorts.mu

cottages4you launches Go Local Gurus COTTAGES4YOU HAS launched a new service to help holidaymakers experience life as a local during their next UK break.

Five of the company’s regional managers have been appointed as the first Go Local Gurus to provide customers with recommendations relevant to their chosen holiday destination, including the best places to visit, eat and drink, helping them to discover the hidden British gems that make for a truly authentic regional experience.

Currently trialling in Scottish Highlands, Northumberland, Norfolk, Cornwall and Pembrokeshire in Wales, each Guru will provide on-the-ground advice and insider tips, in addition to answering customer queries throughout a programme of interactive activities rolling out during the summer.

The operator has also recently launched a Go Local widget hosted on its website, offering a collection of independent recommendations of places to go and things to do close to the properties in its portfolio. It supports the Gurus by providing customers with tips on what to do while away and is designed to ensure holidaymakers make the most of their break and share their favourite experiences with future travellers.

For details see www.cottages4you.co.uk

MOVERS ● THE 150-ROOM fully themed LEGOLAND Windsor Resort

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‘Follow in the footsteps of the Raj’ tour in India from Jon Baines Travel JON BAINES Travel has launched a new tour for 2014, ‘Follow in the footsteps of the Raj’, which offers guests the chance to experience India through both Western and Eastern eyes, and to learn more about a period in history that shaped the country and its neighbours.

Highlights include exploring Delhi, taking the toy train to Shimla on a narrow gauge track, spending time in historic Lucknow and visiting ancient Varanasi, an important and auspicious pilgrimage site on the banks of the River Ganges.

The ground only cost of the tour is £2,880, excluding flights and transfers.

For more information see www.jonbainestours.co.uk

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Hotel has appointed Jens Christian Andersen as operations director and Mark Andersen as head of resort sales.

THE ATPI Group has strengthened its marketing and sales department with the appointment of Katie Hungerford as marketing manager for the UK operation.

WAYN (Where Are You Now?) has appointed Kai Herzberger as chief operating officer and Ben Andrews as director of product management.

KELLY GIBLIN has joined Superbreak as sales executive, North East and Humberside.

MACDONALD HOTELS & Resorts has appointed Gill Jackson as head of sales. &BEYOND HAS appointed Mark Wheeler as regional managing director – East Africa and South Asia.

MICHELLE DANIELS, who has worked for Cruise and Maritime Voyages since the company started, has returned from maternity leave in the newly developed role of Group and International sales manager.

PEGASUS SOLUTIONS has promoted John Owens to senior vice president, distribution sales.

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newsbulletin Definite departures on Gold tours by Insight

e m o h At en...

e l i E with

ileen orker E w e m o as h th?

What h p to this mon u n e be

T LOOKS like spring has finally arrived at long last, doesn’t it? The better weather seems to have turned customers’ thoughts to holidays and it also appears that everyone is pretty busy at the moment which is great.

I have had a lot of new enquiries recently and fortunately many have resulted in bookings. I made two summer bookings to Switzerland last week which is a destination I have not booked for a while. The USA is proving popular too and I am currently working on several enquiries for both this year and next.

Those of you that read my column last month will remember that I mentioned I personally delivered a bottle of Champagne to a client staying in Antigua when the cruise I was on stopped there for the day. Well, my gesture has certainly paid dividends because a week after returning home not only did the client call to book another holiday but he also recommended a family member to contact me. I then received an enquiry for a family holiday to Florida for 2014.

I think clients do appreciate the personal touch and I had further examples of this last week when I sent birthday greetings to two clients who had not booked with me for a while. They both got back to me to thank me for my good wishes and each gave me a new enquiry. One enquiry was for a special occasion weekend break to Paris and the other was for two Business Class flights to Sydney. It’s doing little things like this that I really enjoy – it’s the sort of freedom I get because I run my own business.

A couple of weeks ago I headed up to London to attend a Kempinski Hotels’ evening training event. The venue was at the Champagne bar of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden which is a beautiful setting. The evening showcased a selection of Kempinski hotels in different parts of the world and it was a great opportunity to meet the various hotel representatives and find out more about their individual properties.

One of the hotels that was represented was the Stafford Hotel in London where I have already had the pleasure of staying on an overnight educational earlier this year. Our hosts were very hospitable and we had a really enjoyable stay. This luxury small hotel is tucked away in the heart of St James’s, just off Piccadilly. If you have clients that like hotels that have that personal touch and are looking for a small elegant hotel in central London then this hotel is one I would definitely recommend you suggest to them.

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INSIGHT VACATIONS is offering guaranteed definite departures for all of its Gold itineraries in the 2013 Europe and Britain Brochure.

The itineraries include five-star hotel accommodation, dining at local restaurants and touring with sightseeing. The range has also been extended to include seven new USA tours.

Paul Melinis, UK sales director for the One Stop Touring Shop, said: “We are delighted with the news that all Insight Gold tours in Europe and Britain are now definite departures. Our Gold Premium Highlight sightseeing is all included in the price of the holiday, which represents great value for guests on board and also means that agents have great commission-earning potential on Gold itineraries.

“Unique insights include private tours, VIP entrances, preferred seating, door-to-door service, guest lectures with experts, guided tours with historians and local guides and even Insight’s unexpected on-tour ‘flourishes’. Insight Gold promises our guests memories of a lifetime.”

The operator’s itineraries include the 12-day Italian Vogue tour from £3,425 land-only, based on double occupancy. Highlights of the tour include a guided visit of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, a private tour of Pompeii, Chianti wine tasting, a visit to the Blue Grotto in Capri and Michelangelo’s statue of David in Florence.

Guests will embark on a variety of ferries, hydrofoil, trains, gondolas and boats in addition to the usual coach travel.

For further information call 020-7468 4335 or visit www.onestoptouringshop.co.uk

Go

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WEBSCLUSIVES ●

Early 2014 booking offers for Walt Disney World Resort in Florida: Free Disney Dining and 14 Disney Park Days for the price of 7. Go to: www.disneytravelagents.co.uk

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Agents, don’t forget to cast your votes for your favourite suppliers in the Travel Bulletin Star Awards 2013. Suppliers, make sure you book your tickets for this unmissable event. All this and more at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/awards

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Remember Sherbet Fountains? How about Flying Saucers or Candy Necklaces? If that’s set your taste-buds tingling, you need to play Jetset’s fun retro game – PacPal! Inspired by Jetset’s invaluable Package Pal tool, the PacPal game gives you the chance to compete for a simply ace retro goodies hamper worth £100. Play it now on www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

All this and more at:

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

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www.travelbulletin.co.uk The home of the web savvy travel agent www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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agentbulletin Training update

LEADER FOR OMEGA...Gemma Pinder (left) from Travel 2 presents Keri Gee from Omega Travel with 'Agent of the Month' award, which included a place on a fam trip. The agency was also awarded a bottle of Dom Perignon for fifth place prize as part of the company’s Indian Ocean incentive.

Fancy a fam?

WARNER LEISURE Hotels has launched new travel agent educationals across its portfolio of Country House Hotels, Coastal Hotels and Villages aiming to boost agents’ knowledge of the product and the brand wide developments for 2013 by experiencing them first hand.

Throughout various dates this month, agents can book a one-night break at one of the 13 UK properties from £79 per room which includes accommodation in a standard room, a three-course evening meal and breakfast. Agents can log on to www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk to download the booking form for their preferred property and return it to agency.sales@bourne-leisure.co.uk. Spaces are limited and breaks will be issued on a first come first served basis.

HOLIDAY AUTOS is launching a fun and informative “Did You Know?” training campaign to encourage better engagement with valued agents during the key 2013 booking seasons.

From this month through to November, the operator will provide biweekly updates on facts and tips to help agents when booking car-hire for their clients. The company will also provide helpful incentives and a creative competition during the high July-August period which will be revealed later in the campaign. The aim of the campaign is to help educate agents on how to sell car hire to clients, outlining its benefits and help provide valuable responses when faced with client questions on car-hire purchasing. The training incentive is free for agents and agencies to join. Agencies wishing to set up a new account can visit the website at www.trade.holidayautos.co.uk or call 0800-093 3222.

LIZA LUCKS IN...Claire Dutton (left) from Superbreak presents Liza Royce with a £200 TIPTO holiday voucher at the first Midcounties Personal Travel Agents conference held last month . The voucher was won in a prize draw in aid of the Midcounties charit y partner, the Teenage Cancer Trust. www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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personalitybulletin

Al Francis The CEO & co-founder of loveholidays.com wants to learn Cantonese and has lived through two airplane crashes...

What three words would your friends use to describe you?

Generous, social and easy-going.

What is the best advice you recall?

If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun.

What makes you happy?

Sounds like the old cliché, but seeing others around me happy.

Where will your next holiday be?

I am off to Koh Samui shortly. I travelled to Phuket in 2011 and absolutely loved it, so I am keen to explore more of Thailand.

Who has been the biggest inspiration in your career?

Without a doubt, my parents. They’ve instilled a great work ethic in me and have supported every decision I’ve made, both personally and professionally.

"I find it really important for my team to know that I don’t take myself too seriously and that we should all try and see the funny side of things, sometimes"

Career path ● ●

I graduated from University of the West of England in 1999.

I set up a telecoms company in 1999 with some friends and sold out in 2006.

I began working with Jonny Marsh, the loveholidays.com’s COO, in 2008, and together we created travelmatch.co.uk in 2011 and loveholidays.com, our newest and proudest venture

Where do you feel most relaxed?

On the beach, completely away from mobile reception.

What's your favourite city and why?

Rome – it’s such a romantic city and it’s where I proposed to my wife.

What stresses you most?

Things not doing what they promise on the tin.

If you could meet any historical figure who would you choose and why?

Henry VIII – I think he had a lot of fun and was a bit of a legend.

What's the most danger you have ever been in?

I’ve been in two aeroplane crashes but funnily enough, that hasn’t put me off wanting to be in the travel industry!

If you had a super power what would it be and why?

I would like to fly. I used to pretend I could fly when I was a kid. I got a lot of scars doing that, but those were the days.

What one thing would you change about the travel industry?

How large parts of the industry still remain in the stone-age. What we’re attempting to do with loveholidays.com

May 10 2013

If you could learn a language what would it be?

Cantonese.

Have you ever been compared to a celebrity?

My wife says Robert Downey Jr, the office say Pete from Friends (the ultimate fighting champion). Guess who I prefer…

What is your motto in life?

Work like a captain, play like a pirate.

What skills have you learnt that you couldn't be without?

My sense of humour and my ability to laugh during a particularly tense time.

When you’re having a stressful day, sometimes all that there is left to do is laugh. I find it really important for my team to know that I don’t take myself too seriously and that we should all try and see the funny side of things, sometimes.

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is bring the industry into the present day and make it function like other industries have managed to.

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If you owned an airline what would you call it and why?

Third Time Lucky (see above).

If you could read minds which person would you choose to read?

Our customers. They are our number one priority so to be able to predict what they want and need every time would be incredible.

If your office was burning down what would you save?

My electric stapler. For some peculiar reason, it has become a talking point in the office.

What was the funniest thing you have ever seen?

My friend peeing into a wasps nest by mistake and the resulting panic that ensued.

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puzzlebulletin Travagrams

Su Doku Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle Number: 111

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

Disclaim Yahoos

A➠

B➠

This operator is named after the art of creating images with small pieces of coloured glass, stone, etc.

C➠

A Draconian Hell Lime

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, May 16th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 26th April is Elaine Swatman, Good Travel in Hull.

April 26 Solution: A=8 B=5 C=2 D=6

Think of the Netherlands and the USA and you will be thinking along the right line

Where Am I?

A famous Green Lake is in this Lanzarote town.

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

Number: 111

Across 1. Major Ferry Line (5) 4. Picturesque island in the eastern Aegean (5) 6. Cagliari is this island's capital (8) 8. Newcastle is on this river (4) 9. State capital of Montana (6) 11. London underground and mainline station (6) 13. Tallest active volcano in Europe (4) 16. Popular Costa Blanca resort (8) 17. Irish county, sounds like a girl's name (5) 18. Probably the most famous boy in One Direction (5)

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Down 1. Go Into Darkness to see this sci-fi movie at a cinema near you (4,4) 2. German city (5) 3. Low-cost flight provider (4) 4. Popular Cornish resort (2,4) 5. New England state (5) 7. Asuncion is the capital (8) 10. Scenic lake in the Banff National Park (6) 12. The centre of this Tuscany city is a World Heritage Site (5) 14. River, forms the border between Devon and Cornwall (5) 15. Crossover pop / classical singer, ___ Groban (4)

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 28 May 10 2013

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InBrief

● KLM ROYAL Dutch Airlines has launched flights to three new

destinations from its hub at Amsterdam Schiphol. The new routes include a twice daily flight from Manston Airport in Kent, a service from Amsterdam to Fukuoka in Japan and to Ålesund in Norway.

For details see www.klm.com or call 0871-231 0000. ● TAM AIRLINES has extended its mobile check-in service to passengers travelling from São Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport to European destinations, including Heathrow. The service, previously only available from Europe to Brazil, guarantees a fast and safe boarding experience and avoids the use of paper boarding passes. The service is available for both internet-enabled phones and tablets. ● ESTONIAN AIR is now operating the route between Tallinn and St Petersburg with larger aircraft, an 88-seater CRJ900 NextGen and 76-seater Embraer 170 aircraft, reducing the flight time between two cities by 15 minutes. Fares lead in at €79.90 one-way including fees and taxes. For details see www.estonian-air.com ● OMAN AIR has announced major growth in uptake by passengers of its inflight mobile phone and Wi-Fi connectivity. Between January 2012 and January 2013, the airline experienced a 130% increase in internet package sales and a 180% increase in connectivity revenues. ● EASTERN AIRWAYS has increased flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to Aberdeen from 22 flights weekly to 26.

For details see www.easternairways.com ● AIR FRANCE and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have announced an increase in flight frequencies from Scotland for their summer schedules. ● KLM IS increasing its daily flights from five to six from Edinburgh to Amsterdam and from four to five from Glasgow, and Air France has increased the frequency between Edinburgh and Paris with one additional flight reaching a total of four daily operated flights. Air France has also expanded its long-haul international network, with a new destination in South America - Montevideo. The capital city of Uruguay will be served by five weekly flights, as an extension of the flight to Buenos Aires in Argentina. ● EVA AIR has extended its northeast Asian network with a TaipeiOkayama service, a new Asahikawa flight, plus increased frequency on its Taipei-Hakodate route from two to four flights a week. ● MALAYSIA AIRLINES has launched a daily Airbus A380 service on the Kuala Lumpur - Hong Kong route, offering UK passengers a daily A380 connection from Heathrow through to Hong Kong. The 494-seater super jumbo replaces the B737-800 double daily service on the route.

AIR MALTA has concluded a dry lease agreement for the provision of an Airbus A319 aircraft to Atlantic Airways of the Faroe Islands for a period of 41 months. With the lease, Air Malta will operate a ten aircraft fleet, meeting the required capacity under the terms of its Restructuring Plan approved by the European Commission.

The aircraft will join Atlantic Airways’ four aircraft fleet and will operate from its base at Vágar Airport to airports in Denmark, the UK, Spain, Norway and Iceland, as well as other tourist destinations that will be added by the airline.

Air Canada's Dublin-Toronto flights to be extended year-round AIR CANADA has announced that its current seasonal service between Dublin and Toronto will be converted to year-round service operated by its new leisure carrier, Air Canada rouge, beginning in 2014.

The carrier will operate the route this year from May 17 through to September 30 and Air Canada rouge will commence the year-round service from May 1, 2014, with bookings on the new service available from next month.

The airline's executive vice president and chief commercial officer Ben Smith said “Air Canada has been serving Ireland since its predecessor, Trans-Canada Air Lines, first flew to Shannon in 1947. Today, there is a very strong market for both leisure customers and visiting friends and relatives, so this is an ideal market for our new leisure carrier, Air Canada rouge, to operate more cost effectively on a year-round basis.

“This is the fourth European destination announced for Air Canada rouge, which will begin flying this July to Edinburgh, Venice and Athens in addition to a number of Caribbean destinations. We intend to grow Air Canada rouge quickly from four aircraft to 32 aircraft by the end of 2014 and 42 aircraft by the end of 2015.”

Air Canada rouge’s July 1 launch network also includes 11 destinations in the Caribbean. Its startup fleet consists of two Airbus A319 aircraft and two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft that will grow to ten aircraft by the end of this year, 32 aircraft by the end of 2014 and 42 aircraft by the end of 2015.

For more information and bookings visit www.aircanada.com/en

New direct flight from LAN opens up Chile's second largest island off the southern coast A NEW direct flight route connecting the Chilean capital Santiago with Chiloé Island, off the Southern Coast of Chile, means that the remote island can now easily be included as part of a tour of Patagonia.

In addition to the new LAN flight, which began last December, Chiloé Island has been the beneficiary of much investment in recent months, with the Chilean government pouring billions of pesos into the island’s infrastructure.

The results are already evident, with new paved roads, a new ferry terminal and the recently opened Mocopulli Airport in the town of Castro, which offers the direct flights to and from Santiago.

Chiloé (translated as ‘the Place of

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Seagulls’) is Chile’s second largest island, separated from the mainland by a narrow stretch of water and hardly known by overseas visitors. The wild, western side of the island is mostly uninhabited and is home to one of the world’s few temperate rainforests, while the northern and eastern sides are warmer and home to all of the island’s towns and agriculture.

The island is best known for its wooden churches, many of which are protected by the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as the ‘palafitos’ – stilt houses built out over the water, and a distinctive and vibrant folklore. The northern region is also home to an array of marine life including blue whale, sei

whale, Chilean dolphin, Peale’s dolphin, sea lion and marine otter – as well as Magellanic and Humbolt penguins.

It is hoped that the new flight and increased investment will encourage overseas visitors to spend time in Chiloé and the island now features as part of a new tour launched by Rainbow Tours.

The 12-night ‘Complete Chilean Patagonia’ itinerary includes many of the iconic sites of Patagonia and costs from £4,095 per person including flights, transfers, breakfast accommodation, all meals on Chiloé Island and in the Torres del Paine National Park, plus a range of excursions.

For details see www.rainbowtours.co.uk or call 020-7666 1260.

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newsbulletin BOATING BUDDIES...The Veneto Promozione Board hosted a fam trip and workshop for a selection of operators to showcase the Ville Veneto (a villa project in the Veneto). Pictured taking in the sights of Venice on a boat trip are, from the left: Noel Josephides, Sunvil; Kate Winter, Solos; and Rosana Melaragni, Sunvil.

agentreview Karen Allen from Aspen Travel booked a week at the Sea Garden Beach Resort near Bodrum, Turkey with Mark Warner. Here's what she thought....

First impressions ..................................10/10 I was made to feel very welcome at the resort by the fantastic team of Mark Warner staff. The accommodation was spotless and I was impressed by the attention to detail and the beautiful flora and fauna, which is all around the lovely Sea Garden village. What’s also great is the short transfer time from the airport!

Comfort ..................................................10/10

Belize sees record visitor figures for 2013 THE BELIZE Tourist Board has reported a positive start of the year with record visitor figures for the first quarter of 2013.

A total of 92,991 overnight visitors arrived from January-March, a 13% increase compared to the same period in 2012. March alone saw the arrival of more than 35,000 visitors to Belize for the first time.

The tourist board partly attributes the destination's popularity to the recent openings of luxury resorts such as El Secreto (www.elsecretobelize.com) and Las Terrazas (www.lasterrazasresort.com), both on Ambergris Caye.

For more information visit www.travelbelize.org

I felt really at home at Sea Garden. The hotel is comfortable, clean and there are lots of great watersport activities. The childcare is also to the usual high Mark Warner standard.

Quality ....................................................10/10 In one word – excellent! The resort has its own lovely bay and clean beach and the swimming pool is also lovely!

Affordability ..........................................10/10 The holiday was £699 per person - excellent value.

Service ....................................................7/10 I’d say the service was very efficient on the whole. Staff were always courteous and obliging. On occasion, the food stations had to be replenished in the restaurant and when I asked the staff were very keen to help.

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

Kuoni launches occasion breaks to Europe and North Africa KUONI HAS launched a selection of affordable, ‘easy to manage’ breaks to Europe and North Africa this month, with the added emphasis of taking a holiday to celebrate a special occasion such as a babymoon or birthday.

The latest campaign features breaks to Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Cyprus, Turkey, Portugal, Madeira, Greece, Morocco and Egypt, and all breaks come with creative suggestions such as sipping cocktails at the elegant Tazio Brasserie, a homage to the father of paparazzi with old-style celebrity shots in Rome; enjoying Champagne on a sunset yacht cruise; and brushing up on sporting skills with a professional training session in football, tennis or golf when in Portugal.

As examples of packages, a three-night breakfast stay at the five-star Boscolo Exedra Roma in Rome, based on selected dates in August and September, costs from £649 per person, based on two sharng. It includes Economy flights with BA from Heathrow and a saving of up to £180 per couple.

For more information call 01306-747008 or visit www.kuoni.co.uk

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The hotel’s resort manager, Darren Greenaway, was very helpful – nothing was too much trouble if we needed anything!

Top tip – the Mark Warner staff are a wealth of knowledge and very helpful so do ask them if you need anything!

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

10 / 10

Karen receives a £10 Love2Shop voucher for her review.

If you'd like to take part and receive a free Love2Shop voucher please email jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk or call 020-7834 6661 with your name and contact details.

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hotelbulletin An artist's impression on the Protea Hotel Select Takoradi, Ghana

InBrief ● THE FOUR-STAR Flash Hotel (formerly the Rosaire Hotel) has

opened in Benidorm after a major renovation and refurbishment project. Prices at the 192-room property start from €48.50 for a double room with breakfast. Half and full board options are also available. See www.flashotel.com ● ACENTIC, AN integrator of hotel in-room entertainment systems, has announced plans to launch a new HSIA product which will support hoteliers in providing solutions to increasing bandwidth demands and expectations in the digital age. The company's latest version of its integrated HSIA platform, launching later this year, combines a robust platform and engine which links to a hotel’s property management system and provides visibility of which guests are using Wi-fi and where. The solution allows hoteliers to monitor access and provides flexible pricing models and options resulting in new revenue opportunities.

THE PROTEA Hospitality Group has finalised an agreement to see it entering the Ghanaian market. The company's development of Ghana’s 130-room Protea Hotel Select Takoradi, which opens in the south-west coastal city of Takoradi in early 2014, brings the current value of portfolio hotels developing across Africa to more than US$100 million. Currently six Protea Hotels and African Pride Hotels are under construction in Nigeria (two properties), Ghana, Zambia, Uganda and South Africa, while a third new Nigerian property, Protea Hotel Select Emotan in Benin City, opened its doors less than a month ago.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts to open 50 new hotels in Europe in next five years STARWOOD HOTELS & Resorts has announced plans to open 50 new hotels in Europe over the next five years, increasing its European hotel portfolio by 30%.

This year, the company will open nine new hotels across the continent, primarily in fast-growing markets

such as Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Turkey. The hotel group and its partners is also making significant investments to restore and enhance some of its most iconic European hotels.

Highlights include three new hotels in Turkey, an Aloft and Sheraton in

Bursa as well as a further new Sheraton hotel in the city of Adana.

Further new openings include Sheraton Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport in July and the addition of the King George Hotel in Athens.

For more information see www.starwoodhotels.com

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ANATOLIAN SKY Holidays is highlighting the Quinta Bela Sao Tiago (pictured) in the heart of Funchal’s Old Town. The hotel offers views over the bay and is being promoted as ideal for a peaceful break yet within easy walking distance of the restaurants and bars of the Old Town.

For details see www.anatoliansky.co.uk or call 0844-273 3585.

Classic Collection Holidays adds new properties in Funchal and Santana CLASSIC COLLECTION Holidays has introduced five new properties to Madeira for this summer.

The company's head of purchasing Gary Boyer said: "We are celebrating 25 years in business this year and Madeira was our first destination so we are fiercely loyal to it. We are using our long-standing favourable relationships with highly professional hoteliers to secure as many special offers as possible making the island, which is already at least 30% cheaper

than many other short-haul destinations, an unbeatable value for money resort. And with customer feedback remaining amongst the highest for any of our destinations, we are confident that Madeira will maintain its position as one of the most well-loved holiday destination on the UK market.”

Four hotels have been added in Funchal including the new Enotel Quinta do Sol, the Madeira Regency Palace, the Golden Residence Hotel

Thrill-seeking holidays in the Algarve THE ALGARVE is highlighting a range of year-round outdoor pursuits, including a number of marine, land and aerial activities.

Popular beaches for watersports include Meia Praia, Praia da Luz, Faro and Ilha de Tavira. For an underwater aquatic experience, guests can choose from a selection of dive centres along the coast, including Lagos, Faro and Tavira, where they can learn to dive with PADI instructors.

Other watersport activities include surfing and body-boarding on the Costa Vicentina along the western coast and surfing, wakeboarding, Jet Ski riding and canoeing.

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Meanwhile, the mountain range of the Serra de Monchique provides ideal year-round conditions for kite boarding, while the Alvor Estuary is also popular for the activity. Tandem skydiving, hang-gliding and para-gliding are also available throughout the year, while micro-lighting, a modified hand glider with a small engine at the front, is also offered in the region.

When terra firma beckons, guests can head for the Monchique mountains and try out abseiling or explore the region on one of the mountain bike routes, including the new 240km Via Algarviana trail.

For more information see www.visitalgarve.pt and www.algarvepromotion.pt

and the boutique Madeira Regency Cliff hotel. The Quinta do Furao, which offers a cliff-top setting on the north east corner of the island in Santana, completes the new line-up.

Prices are available for holidays including direct flights from 11 UK airports and Dublin to Funchal. A direct service from Gatwick to Porto Santo island is also offered.

For more information call 0800-008 7288 or visit www.classic-collection.co.uk

VILA VITA Parc has launched a ‘Spring Awakening’ package in the Algarve. Valid until June 30, it includes breakfast accommodation for three or seven nights in a deluxe room; private transfers to Faro Airport; fruit and mineral water in the room on arrival; one or three dinners for two adults at the restaurant (excluding beverages); a spa credit of €50 per adult; and use of the health club facilities and golf courses. A three-night stay leads in at £719 per room, based on two sharing.

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portugal&madeira Prestige Holidays reports strong growth for Portugal market PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS reports that it has seen an upturn in its business to Madeira and the Algarve, with bookings up 20% and 8% respectively.

The operator's marketing manager Nicky Shafe said: "A combination of some great offers and cold weather has seen a surge in bookings to our Portugal properties. We have also noticed a growth in short break business and the number of families booking for this year.

"Our top selling hotels in Madeira continue to be Cliff Bay, Reids and Quinta da Penha. The Holiday Inn, a new addition in the Algarve, is also proving popular."

The company's special offers include a saving at the Royal Savoy in Funchal, where seven nights' breakfast stay in a twin room with a sea view leads in at £1,083 for a July 3 departure from Gatwick, based on two sharing.

The price includes flights and private transfers and the offer is valid for holidays started and completed in July and August.

For more information or to book call 01425-480400 or see www.prestigeholidays.co.uk

Holiday Autos offers driving tips for Portugal destinations HOLIDAY AUTOS has compiled a list of driving tips for clients planning on renting a vehicle in Portugal.

In Lisbon, clients can drive up the coast to the seaside towns of Cascais and Estoril or take the car a little further north and visit Sintra's Castle.

For clients visiting Braga, a short drive south takes them to the Peneda-Geres National Park, which stretches to the Spanish border. Braga is the religious centre of Portugal and clients should be encouraged to make the trip east to the hillside sanctuary

of Bom Jesus do Monte. Most of the attractions are in the historic centre but clients will have to park by the castle and walk down.

In the Algarve there is plenty of opportunity for clients to discover quieter resorts such as Lagos, Sagres and Albufeira, which are all just a short drive away.

As in the UK, it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving in Portugal and if caught, the fine is around €600. The company also warns clients to watch their speed while driving as there are hidden cameras.

Walk the ‘Levada Trails of Madeira’ with Explore FROM NOW until October, Explore is offering an eightday ‘Levada Trails of Madeira’ tour.

Following Madeira’s ‘levadas’, the tour includes hiking along the ‘balcony walk’, a path hewn into the cliff face, to the summit of Pico Ruivo, which is 1,862m high.

Guests also spend time in the capital Funchal, where they can sample fresh fish and a glass of Madeira wine.

Prices for the tour start from £724 per person including flights, seven nights’ breakfast accommodation, transport and the services of a tour leader and driver.

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

Madeira celebrates annual Flower Festival MADEIRA’S ANNUAL Flower Festival runs from May 9-15, bringing the community together to celebrate the origins and landscape of the island.

More than 1,000 participants take to the Funchal streets on floats made with a variety of flowers traditionally located on the island, forming a procession through the city.

Throughout the week onlookers can view floral carpets being made in the main squares of Avenida Arriage or watch traditional musical concerts and folklore performances.

There are also competitions for the best shop window decoration and a flower exhibition is held at Largo da Restauração.

For more information visit www.visitmadeira.pt

Madeira Flower Festival

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portugal&madeira Premier Holidays offers self-catering wedding getaways PREMIER HOLIDAYS is offering a variety of selfcatering resorts in the Algarve ideal for wedding getaways.

The Vale do Lobo villas and those of Quinta dos Almos, Quinta do Lago, Dunas Doradas, Lagos and Albufeira are particularly popular with almostnewlyweds and their family and friends.

Couples can say their “I Dos” on a golf green overlooking the sea or on one of the many beaches, with numerous coves tucked away from the busier areas.

Self-catering holiday villas in the region can sleep between four and 12 people.

For further details and to book call 0800-047 0400 or visit www.premier-holidays.com

TAP PORTUGAL, which flies to Lisbon, Porto and Madeira 74 times weekly from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, is offering a lead-in fare of £115 return, including taxes.

For details call 0845-601 0932 or see www.flytap.com

Five-star EPIC SANA Lisboa provides contemporary retreat THE FIVE-STAR EPIC SANA Lisboa is a contemporary hotel located within walking distance of Lisbon’s city centre and the Marquês de Pombal monument.

The hotel offers 291 guestrooms and 20 suites, including two diplomatic suites and a presidential suite on the top floor.

In terms of dining options, the hotel’s main restaurant, Flor-de-Lis, is on a mezzanine overlooking the entrance lobby and serves Portuguese and international cuisine. In addition, the Scale Bar on the ground floor is a backlit oval bar offering both an inside area and terrace

garden, while the outdoor UpScale Bar offers panoramic views of the city and the River Tagus and is situated around a heated infinity pool.

Other features of the property include a wellness spa, fitness centre and conference and banqueting facilities.

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portugal&madeira Atlantic Holidays issues new comprehensive brochure ATLANTIC HOLIDAYS has introduced a new look and feel brochure to Madeira, the Azores and mainland Portugal.

The operator's sales and marketing manager Dino Toouli said: “We’re delighted to launch such a comprehensive programme covering Portugal to the UK market. For the first time our brochure features more content than it has ever done before about the destinations and the resorts making it easier for those customers that are in need of a little

inspiration. Highlights include visits to living history hotels known as the Pousadas of Portugal, river cruising along the Douro river, city breaks to Lisbon & Porto, holidays to the Estoril coast and not forgetting those looking for pristine sandy beaches that the Algarve has to offer.

“We have taken advantage of the various flights available to Portugal including TAP’s Manchester to Lisbon service in addition to their London departures, coupled with flights to Faro

with the likes of Monarch, easyJet, Flybe, Jet2 and Thomson from a number of UK airports.”

The company is also continuing to support regional flying by adding a selection of dates to Madeira from Belfast, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Exeter, Humberside, Isle of Man, Newquay and Norwich, to complement its existing year-round services from Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow, Gatwick and Manchester.

Flights for the summer also operate from Leeds

Bradford, Luton and Newcastle.

Meanwhile, the operator's website, which has recently been upgraded, enables agents to view more flexible options for clients who know what type of holiday they prefer. The site also features an upgraded general availability search for package holidays, flights and accommodation-only.

For more information or to book call 0844-824 4545 or visit www.atlanticholidays.net

Superbreak adds city of Porto to portfolio with choice of seven properties SUPERBREAK HAS added Porto in Portugal to its range of European city break destinations.

In total, seven hotels are featured with a range of star ratings available to suit all budgets. These include the four-star Pestana Porto Hotel and World Heritage Site, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As an example, prices at the Holiday Inn Porto Gaia

start from £36.50 per person per night on a bed-andbreakfast basis, and from £349 per person for a threenight package, including breakfast accommodation and easyJet flights from Gatwick. Prices are based on two sharing in mid-June.

For more information call 0871-221 4444 or visit www.superbreak.com/agents

Lisbon sees launch of Mercy Hotel Lisboa

Umai Restaurant

THE MERCY Hotel Lisboa has opened in Lisbon. The property, which has been converted from a historic property in Mercy Street in the centre of Lisbon’s Boho Chiado and Bairro Alt districts, offers 47 rooms and two sixth-floor suites.

The Mercy Lounge Bar offers pre-dinner drinks and cocktails, including the hotel’s signature ‘Black Angel’ cocktail, while the Umai restaurant and bar offers Asian cuisine.

A three-night ‘Living Lisboa’ offer is available until June 18 and costs €381 (approximately £324), based on double occupancy. The offer includes a VIP welcome, a gift and an ‘ecobuggy’ tour of old Lisbon.

For more information or to book see www.mercyhotel.com

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portugal&madeira Portugal and Madeira highlights from Sunvil Discovery SUNVIL DISCOVERY is promoting a range of tours across Portugal and Madeira.

A three-centre ‘Madeira: The pearl of the Atlantic’ itinerary explores the cities of Funchal, Santana and Porto Muniz and offers optional excursions to tropical gardens and Madeira’s Laurissilva Forest and Natural Park.

Prices start from £710 per person for seven nights’ breakfast accommodation, including flights from Gatwick, transfers on arrival and five days’ car hire.

Meanwhile, ‘A luxurious break on the Lisbon Coast’ costs from £722. The seven-night twin-centre break includes five-star breakfast accommodation in Lisbon and Cascais.

The itinerary allows for free time in Cascais and offers a sightseeing tour of Portugal’s capital city.

The programme can be tailor-made to suit individual requirements, with hotels handpicked from the operator’s selection. The price includes flights from Heathrow and private transfers.

Alternatively, a sevennight ‘Explore Northern Portugal by train’ tour costs from £867 and takes in Porto, Viana do Castelo and Guimaraes, last year’s Cultural Capital. The price includes breakfast accommodation, flights from Gatwick and transfers (train tickets can be purchased locally).

For further details call 020-8758 4722 or see www.sunvil.co.uk

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THE POUSADA group of hotels currently comprises 36 predominantly historic properties located across Portugal. The collection includes locations such as the 14th-century medieval castle at Obidos, the citadel fortress at Cascais and the 16th-century convent at Tavira (pictured). Current deals include a Golden Age offer, with 10% off the total price when one of the guests is 55 or over, and a Long Stay Offer, with 10% off for guests staying two to four nights and 15% off for guests staying five or more nights.

Packages include the ‘Pousada Passport’, which offers five nights’ breakfast accommodation for two people from €490 (approximately £417) and is also available with Avis car hire. Keytel International specialise in tailor-made itineraries throughout Portugal and is the hotel group’s preferred partner.

For further information call 020-7953 3020 or visit www.keytel.co.uk

Portugal reports 15% increase in overnight stays OVERNIGHT STAYS from UK visitors to Portugal increased by 15% in January this year compared to 2012, according to Visit Portugal.

The British market currently ranks first in terms of importance among the main inbound markets, representing 23.4% of overnight stays by non-residents last year.

For nature-loving clients, the Algarve has launched a new nature tourism website, www.algarvenatural.pt, which includes information on bird-watching and walking routes in the region.

For those more interested in sport, the city of Guimarães has been named European City of Sport 2013 by the European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation (ACES Europe). The city will play host to more than 30 sporting events on a national, European and worldwide scale this year, including the National Festival of Gymnastics from June 8-10 and the tenth

Games of the ‘Eixo Atlântico’, a tournament in which cities from Spain and Northern Portugal compete in a number of different sporting events from June 30 to July 4. For further details see www.guimaraes2013.pt Meanwhile, new hotels in the destination include the four-star Hotel da Música (www.hoteldamusica.com) in Porto, set to open next month, and will offer 85 rooms.

The three-star Hotel Villa Aljustrel (www.hotelaljustrel.com) in Alentejo is another new addition offering 33 rooms.

In terms of events, the Optimus Primavera Sound music festival (www.optimusprimaverasound.com) will return to the Parque da Cidade, Porto, from May 30 to June 1, with a range of performances including Blur. Tickets start from €55 (approximately £48).

For more information see www.visitportugal.com

MONTE DA Quinta resort in the Algarve is offering a selection of pamper packages from €98 (approximately £90) per person per night. Three-night packages start from €318 per person (approximately £290) and include breakfast accommodation in a suite, one Vichy shower and one body scrub treatment per person plus an evening meal with a bottle of wine and pre-dinner drink. In addition, guests will receive a personal trainer session and complimentary access to the gym, indoor heated pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath and sensorial shower. Based on two sharing a one-bedroom suite, breaks can be taken at any point up until November 17, excluding June, July and August.

For details visit www.mqresort.com

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GUESTS AT the five-star JA Palm Tree Court hotel, Dubai can now stay at The Residence, a new collection of villas overlooking the resort’s 800m private beach. A pre-stay holiday planner is assigned to each guest, while a complimentary Marhaba welcome service is offered at the airport which includes a bottle of Champagne and fresh fruit hamper on arrival at the resort. A private butler service is also offered, while resort facilities include a spa and wellness centre, a nine-hole par 36 golf course and a swimming pool.

For further information see www.jaresortshotels.com

Beirut's Phoenicia Hotel unveils $50million renovation for 50th anniversary THE PHOENICIA Hotel in Beirut has recently undergone a $50m refurbishment as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.

The hotel comprises two towers that are home to 386guestrooms and 60 suites.

The Phoenician Tower consists of 11 floors and houses a restaurant and bar on the top floor, while the Roman Tower consists of 22 floors and features the Royal and Grand Royal Suites, which cover the entire 21st and 22nd floors, respectively.

Other restaurants in the hotel include the Lebanesethemed Mosaic; Wok Wok, which serves sushi; and Caffe

Mondo, which serves Italian food. From now until the end of October, Amethyste, the hotel’s outside pool and terrace area, will feature live music and cocktails. Movie screenings are also offered on a projected screen by the pool during the mid-summer months.

Other features of the hotel include a newly-renovated Phoenicia Club for business guests; a spa with a large indoor pool and a range of treatments including Balneotherapy, Thalassotherapy, Thai therapy and Ayurvedic medicine; and a gym.

The Phoenicia Residence apartments, which comprise 33 suites and a penthouse, are also available.

Qatar welcomes new property additions

Year-on-year growth in UK visitors for Dubai

QATAR HAS announced the launch of new hotels.

Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels is a new collection of six five-star hotels that have recently opened in Doha.

The hotels are situated within the Souq Waqif, the oldest area in Qatar and only traditional Souq remaining in the Gulf. Each hotel caters to a different segment of Qatar’s growing tourism industry, from lively hotels for those looking to explore and be in the heart of the action, to independent residences for business or longstay guests to unwind at the end of a long day working or sightseeing. For details see www.swbh.com Meanwhile, the start of the year saw the opening of Amari Doha, the Amari brand’s first property in the Middle East. The property is located 15 minutes from Doha International Airport and a short drive from the city’s business centres. Facilities at the hotel include a selection of international dining options, a spa and fully equipped conferencing, meeting rooms and banqueting facilities.

For details see www.amari.com/doha For more information on Qatar visit www.qatartourism.gov.qa

VISITOR NUMBERS from the UK are up 10% in direct comparison to the same period in 2012. A total of 192,128 guests stayed in Dubai in quarter one of this year versus 174,922 over the same period in 2012, highlighting that Dubai continues to be a holiday hotspot for UK visitors.

According to the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), whilst the accommodation offering in Dubai is now broader than before, guests are still choosing to stay at five-star hotels, with the five-star market accounting for 56% of all hotel stays in quarter one, with guest numbers in those hotels up by 22% on the same period last year.

The DTCM's UK & Ireland director Ian Scott said: “The first quarter of 2013 has seen a continued rise in visitor numbers cementing Dubai’s popularity within the UK market. This year promises to be another exceptional year for growth with a number of hotels having already opened since the start of the year including the world’s tallest hotel; JW Marriott Marquis.

"Whilst the increase in visitor numbers can be connected to increased accessibility and more beds, it can be also attributed to the trade and consumer now having a greater understanding of the destination’s broad appeal and affordability.”

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middleeast Tour Dubai with Attraction World ATTRACTION WORLD is offering more than 30 tours across Dubai.

Examples include a 'Dubai Shopping Tour’ which leads in at £31 per adult and £23 per child (aged three-11 years), which takes guests to the most popular malls, as well as Bur Juman and the Gold Souk.

A ‘Bateaux Dubai Dinner Cruise’, which costs £90, travels along the Dubai Creek and includes a four-course dinner and unlimited drinks, while a ‘Dune Buggy Safari’ leads in at £125 per adult and £110 per child.

Other options include an ‘Atlantis The Palm Resort – Dolphin Experience’, which costs from £143 and allows guests to touch, hug, hold ‘hands’ and play ball with dolphins.

New airport terminal for Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport A new state-of-the-art terminal has opened at Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA).

The new addition is worth an estimated US$750 million and will catapult the airport’s capacity to nine million annual passengers. The launch of the terminal is part of the Jordanian government’s drive to double tourism revenue to JD 4.2 billion (around £3.8billion) by 2015.

The Airport International Group (AIG), which financed the new terminal, has also additionally invested US$100 million on upgrading the existing terminals and improving passenger

experience at QAIA. Improvements include increasing the size of check-in areas, the refurbishing of retail space and increasing the mix of duty-free shopping and food and beverage outlets at the airport. An upgrade of the baggage handling system and security checking has also been initiated.

The tourism board's country manager UK & Ireland Stephen Hurp said: “The launch of the new airport terminal is a significant step for tourism to Jordan. The UK market has now seen growth in every year since 2009, with a record 69,845 UK tourists visiting the country throughout 2012. We hope that the increased capacity at QAIA will help us to welcome even more tourists to Jordan in 2013.”

The new terminal at QAIA

Starwood to open 50 new hotels across the Middle East & Africa STARWOOD HOTELS & Resorts will be adding 50 new hotels across the Middle East and Africa over the next five years.

The company, which mainly operates under the Sheraton and Le Méridien brands, has an existing portfolio of 82 hotels.

Frits van Paasschen, president and CEO of the hotel group said: “Starwood continues to see demand for growth of all of our brands across the Middle East and Africa despite economic and political uncertainty in some parts of this incredibly diverse region. Rapid economic growth, rising personal incomes, a growing middle-class and ever-greater global connectivity are driving new travel patterns and demand for travel, and this region is at the centre of these trends and a key focus of our growth strategy.”

In the UAE, the company will launch six new hotels in Dubai and will also expand into Sharjah and Ajman. Meanwhile, six new hotels will be opened in Saudi Arabia and the company will re-enter Iraq, having obtained three hotels across three

brands in the city of Erbil, located in the Kurdistan region.

The company is also extending its luxury portfolio with a second St Regis hotel on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche opening this year, as well as six new W Hotels launching across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Oman and Amman, Jordan by 2017.

Simon Turner, the company's president of global development and acquisition, said: “Our long-established presence, local teams, and strong relationships in the region remain a competitive advantage, and position us well to take advantage of the many opportunities for future growth. We have a healthy pipeline of new hotels under development in the Middle East and Africa, and expect our growth to continue in 2013 as we look to expand in markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.”

In addition to new hotel openings, the group has also signed three conversion deals in the region, including Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates, which opened in February.

Ritz-Carlton announces debut property in Abu Dhabi, the 447-room Grand Canal THE RITZ-CARLTON Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal has opened its doors. The 532room resort is the first of the company's properties to be launched in Abu Dhabi and its ninth property in the Middle East.

Inspired by 15th- to early 17th-century Renaissance architecture and the urban planning of the city of Venice, the hotel is located at the waterfront and consists of ten buildings arranged in a crescent

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formation. The property features 447 guestrooms and suites in addition to 85 private one- and two-bedroom villas.

Other features of the hotel include a ballroom; bridal suite; 14 meeting rooms; a selection of restaurants, cafés and bars; swimming pool; health club; and a kids' club.

For details see www.ritzcarlton.com/abudhabi

Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal

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middleeast Oman plans for new hotels & resorts following increase in visitor numbers hospitality management and investment company, has recently passed the 60% construction mark of its 2,000-metre hilltop project, the Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort, which is set to open its doors in December. The 110-room Khasab Hotel in Musandam is also scheduled to open towards the end of this year, followed by the Fairmont Hotel at the Wave in 2014.

Upcoming events include the Salalah

Tourism Festival in July and Eid Al-Fitr in August, while September is an ideal month for turtle spotting and playing golf.

From the beginning of this month, Oman also changed its weekend to be on Friday and Saturday instead of Thursday and Friday to be more in line with destinations in the region.

Image: fotoseeker.com

UK VISITORS to Oman increased for the tenth year in a row in 2012 to 103,000, according to the Oman Ministry of Tourism.

With more than 150 British operators now featuring the destination, Oman expects to open several new hotels and resorts, with more than 2,000 resort and hotel rooms to be added this year.

Omran, an Omani development,

Sultan Qaboos Mosque

New twin-centre combo from Sunset Faraway Holidays SUNSET FARAWAY Holidays has added a new twin-centre combination to Oman and the Maldives, which it says is ideal for clients seeking culture mixed with a beach holiday.

The 12-night package leads in at £1,989 per person, with four-star breakfast accommodation in Oman and five-star allinclusive accommodation in the Maldives.

The price also includes a five-day tour through Oman to explore its natural beauty and strong cultural heritage, taking in sights such as Nakhl with its highest fort in Oman, Wahiba Sands for dune bashing and Sur for turtle watching.

Also included is an English-speaking guide, transfers, flights with Oman Air and taxes. Dates of travel are between October 15 and December 10.

To book or for more information call 020-8774 7100, email enquiries@sunset.co.uk or see www.sunset.co.uk

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Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria brand debuts in Qatar HILTON WORLDWIDE is to open the Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay in Qatar, the brand’s first hotel in the country.

The property, which will be in the centre of Qatar’s business and diplomatic district, is due to open later this year.

John Vanderslice, global head of luxury and lifestyle brands of the hotel brand, said: “The aim of all Waldorf Hotels & Resorts is to offer unparalleled service and quality and build on the brand’s legacy of timeless luxury and personalised experiences. Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay will, undoubtedly, achieve that aim and guests can expect the highest levels of luxury in exceptional surroundings.”

The hotel will feature 250 guestrooms and suites as well as 80 serviced apartments.

Facilities will include a ballroom, meeting and conference facilities and a range of destination bars and restaurants.

A rooftop pool and a two-storey health club and spa will also be developed for the property, which is expected to open by 2016.

New Dubai offer from Emirates Tours EMIRATES TOURS is highlighting a three-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai from £845 per person, which offers a saving of up to £360 per couple.

The price includes Economy flights with Emirates from Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester or Newcastle, three nights' breakfast stay in a deluxe room and private transfers.

The offer must be booked by May 31 and is valid for travel between June 2 and July 15, subject to availability.

For more information or to book see www.emirates.com/uk QATAR AIRWAYS is increasing its capacity to Oman with new Salalah flights.

Currently operating 31 flights a week to Muscat, the airline will serve the new destination of Salalah four times weekly, raising the frequency to 35. The carrier has launched a new codeshare agreement for flights between Doha and Muscat with Oman Air, which operates three times daily flights between both destinations. Fares from Heathrow to Salalah start from £552 return this month or £537 from Manchester. For details call 0870-389 8090 or visit www.qatarairways.com

May 10 2013

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middleeast Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi announces summer package PARK HYATT Abu Dhabi has announced a Summer Specials room package.

From May 16 to September 14, guests visiting the resort will receive a free night with every stay, as well as a range of extras including a 20% discount in all participating restaurants and bars and access to the Atarmia Spa. The promotion also allows up to two children under the age of 12 with two paying adults to stay for free with complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For details see www.abudhabi.park. hyatt.com Meanwhile, the Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi is offering a Suite Surprise deal, whereby a suite room costs AED 1,200 (approximately £214). The offer includes buffet breakfast for two, AED 150 spa credit or AED 150 F&B credit, early checkin, 18:00 check-out and a welcome pack of chocolates, flowers and a bottle of wine. Guests who book their stay from now until September 30 will also receive a voucher on check-out offering 50% off on the next room they book within six months.

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GHM signs management deal for Al Bait Hotel HOTEL GROUP GHM has announced it is to manage the Al Bait Sharjah Hotel in Sharjah UAE, scheduled to open in early 2015.

The hotel will offer 54 guestrooms across four categories of accommodation, as well as spa and dining facilities that will include an Arabic tea and coffee house.

The Souq Al Arsa, a traditional open-air marketplace, will also run through the property.

Hans Jenni, president of the hotel group, said: “We’re blurring the lines between the destination and the accommodation in a manner that enhances a guest’s stay.

The Al Bait’s integration with its environs conveys the destination’s charm and character, ensuring a very immediate and enriching experience of life in the exquisite heart of Sharjah.”

The 10,000m² hotel development forms part of the Heart of Sharjah heritage programme launched by the emirate, which, when completed in 2025, will have safeguarded a number of historic landmarks.

Rotana announces opening of five-star Abu Dhabi resort in 2015

Saadiyat Rotana Resort

ROTANA HAS announced plans to move forward with its development of the Saadiyat Rotana Resort, a luxury five-star Abu Dhabi hotel set to open in 2015 on Saadiyat Beach, a 9km stretch of white sand on Saadiyat island.

The company's chairman Nasser Al Nowais said: “We are delighted to announce that the opening date of the five-star Saadiyat Rotana Resort will be in 2015 – the same year when the highly anticipated Louvre Abu Dhabi museum is set to open on the island.

"The luxurious property, which will be designed with a distinctly themed atmosphere, will have great appeal, particularly among tourists who are looking for the kind of excellent sea-facing destinations the island represents.”

The property will offer 354 guestrooms and suites, 13 private beach villas, a variety of food and beverage outlets with large meeting and conference facilities, in addition to a spa and health and fitness club.

FAIRMONT THE Palm in Dubai (pictured) has opened Willow Stream Spa which offers 13 treatment rooms, including separate massage, facial and treatment rooms; a duet suite for a traditional Arabian rasul experience using mud, heat and steam; and a range of hammam treatments.

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ukairports

ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL Airport, which offers flights to more than 50 destinations worldwide, has invested in a range of recent developments over the past few years including a 124m extension to the main runway, designed to significantly extend the airport's reach.

The airport is currently embarking on an ambitious capital investment programme, worth around £100million, over the next two decades and is investing £10million in restructuring the terminal building. This will include a new purpose-built security search area, a major expansion of the departure lounge as well as new shops and restaurants. Proposals have also been launched for a £25million development plan for two new airport hotels, provided by Novotel and Ibis. Also near the city’s airport is the planned Marriott hotel, and a four-star Village Urban Resort, by De Vere, is planned to be part of Aberdeen’s Prime Four Business Park, near Kingswells. The four hotel developments will provide an additional 596 rooms.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport announces opening of new gift store, ‘made-here’ LIVERPOOL JOHN Lennon Airport (JLA) has welcomed the addition of a new gift shop in the departures lounge called ‘made-here’.

The new shop offers a selection of the city’s home grown arts, crafts, jewellery, gifts and accessories.

The company's founder Kate Stewart said: “We’re passionate about marketing the talent that Liverpool has to a wider audience.

“Opening at JLA celebrates the success we have had over the last 14 months of selling to tourists and visitors in the city

who are always delighted with the range of products we have on offer, but more importantly, it’s a platform for us to show, to the world, just what a creative place Liverpool is.”

Lucy O’Shaughnessy, the airport's retail director, added: “We are very excited about going into a summer season with a new local offering. The ‘made-here’ brand and product range is all about celebrating the city of Liverpool. It complements the rest of our High Street retail brands and gives passengers an opportunity to take a locally sourced product home or to friends when they fly from here.”

Bristol Airport unveils new lounge THE LATEST addition to Bristol Airport’s passenger facilities opened its doors recently when work was completed on the £600,000 Aspire Lounge.

The new facility replaces the old executive lounge, increasing the space available by 50% and introducing a range of product improvements for passengers wanting to relax before boarding a flight.

Aimed at both business and leisure travellers, the lounge is operated by business partner, Servisair, and offers kitchen facilities which enables hot food to be provided for the first time, alongside snacks and premium brand drinks. Families are also welcome, with a new entertainment area complete with personal televisions, while specially designed side tables provide charging facilities for laptops, iPads or games consoles.

Entry to the lounge costs from £17.49 per adult and £9.99 for children when booked online. Passengers will also be able to take advantage of Servisair’s LoungeMiles rewards scheme which entitles customers to one free lounge pass or a £5 gift voucher from retailers such as Boots, John Lewis or M&S, for every five visits made.

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HEATHROW’S TERMINAL 5 has been named the world’s ‘Best Airport Terminal’ for a second time and Heathrow has been named ‘Best Airport for Shopping’ for a fourth time at this year’s World Airport Awards held last month at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Geneva. The award reflects the findings of the independent Airport Service Quality survey which shows that the proportion of passengers rating their journey as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ has increased from 48% in 2007 to 72% today. This year, the airport has introduced a range of brands to its passengers through ‘pop-ups’ from names such as Cath Kidston and Omega, designed to provide customers with the latest in retail trends and a new experience each time they fly.

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ukairports Luton wins Aviation Safety Award for second year LUTON AIRPORT has been awarded the ExxonMobil Aviation Safety Award. The 2013 award, in recognition of its achievements through 2012, is of particular significance, as it is the only airport to achieve Exxon’s top level award across operations in Europe, Asia and Africa.

The award recognises the safety standards and culture of both the team at the Luton Airport’s ExxonMobil depot and Luton Airport Airside Operations, and also recognises the efforts of the Airside Safety Committee and the Airport Operations Team in standardising procedures and policies for all airside users. As a result, common policies can be established and maintained collectively.

The airport’s senior manager airfield operations Liam Bolger said: “This award recognises the ongoing commitment we have made to attaining the highest levels of safety for airside operations and demonstrates the level of success which can be achieved through collaborative working and a sense of shared responsibility.

“The policies and procedures the airport has implemented, which give a real say to all airside users in their further development, have proved to be particularly effective.

By allowing all of those involved to formulate and deliver plans, a greater understanding develops of how their company’s business activities impact on others and fosters good working relationships. We are delighted to accept this aviation safety award on behalf of all of the hardworking teams here at Luton.”

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Survey reveals passengers use technology to make travel easier NCR CORPORATION'S latest study, the 2013 NCR Traveller Experience Survey, has revealed that UK travellers increasingly look to use technology that makes their travel experiences easier and more convenient.

The research shows this is especially the case for every day tasks at airports like checking bags, securing early boarding and finding and booking alternate flights.

The survey found that 31% of respondents said they were frustrated by having to wait in line to check a bag after checking in online or via mobile, and 13% decided not to check a bag because of the anticipated delay. Some 88% of those surveyed said they would print their own bag tags to avoid having to wait in line for an agent.

Other findings revealed that 55% of respondents said they would be more likely to make a purchase at an airport if they received a coupon on the back of their boarding pass; 67% said they would like the opportunity to search for and book their own alternate flight via mobile phone or kiosk in the terminal, rather than wait in line for an agent; and 48% said they’d be willing to pay a nominal fee at a gate-side kiosk for priority boarding to avoid having to check bags at the last minute.

The company's travel vice president and general manager Tyler Craig said: “The appetite for technology solutions that make everyday life easier continues to grow in the United Kingdom and around the world. Airports and airlines are exploring innovative ways to make a significant impact on checkin times and passenger satisfaction as well as solve other business challenges such as processing baggage and driving incremental revenue.”

MONARCH HAS announced the start of summer departures from its newest base, Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA). The programme includes flights to Mallorca, Faro, Larnaca and Lanzarote, with the remaining seven new summer routes to Menorca, Heraklion, Rome, Dalaman, Antalya, Barcelona and Bodrum (July 22September 16 only) starting this month. Tony Hallwood, LBA's commercial director, said: “We welcome the introduction of the Monarch base and the unveiling of the new, state-of-the-art A320 aircraft, which features the latest technology and enhanced passenger facilities as the summer 2013 schedule commences."

Pictured marking the new launch are travel and tourism students from Leeds City College and The Aviation Academy.

Manchester Airport is UK's favourite, reveals Skyscanner MANCHESTER AIRPORT has been named by travellers as the best in the UK, according to a survey by Skyscanner.

A total of 15 of the busiest airports in the UK were rated in a study by 1,600 British flyers with Manchester Airport, the third busiest in the country welcoming more than nine million passengers each year, hitting the top spot, voted as having the best customer service, facilities and shopping, as well as the best bars and restaurants. Passengers of the airport also commended it for being well organised, passenger friendly and for its accessibility.

Gatwick Airport, Britain's second busiest, handling more than 34 million passengers every year, came in second place, with passengers praising its staff and large check-in areas, while Newcastle Airport just pipped Birmingham to the last spot and was voted by passengers as the easiest airport to travel through. Passengers of the airport also commented on its simple layout and good choice of food and drink options.

At the other end of the scale, Aberdeen Airport, which handles more than 3 million passengers per year took the bottom spot and was given the thumbs down for its facilities including comments from its passengers that its baggage carousel area is in need of updating.

The UK's two busiest airports performed well with both Gatwick and Heathrow making the top five. However, the three other main airports in the capital did not fare as well, with Luton, City and Stansted all named in the bottom five.

Passengers of London City commented on its expensive parking, whilst Stansted was mentioned for its long queues at check-in.

The UK's busiest airport and the fifth best overall, Heathrow was named the best airport in the UK for its transport links, earning 18% of the vote. Manchester Airport, which has its own train station and offers services linking the airport with more than 100 destinations across the UK, came a close second with 15% finding the airport the easiest to get to in the country. Gatwick Airport took third place with 12% of the vote, whilst Birmingham (9%) and Stansted (6%) completed the top five.

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ukairports Gatwick calls on Airports Commission to drive greater choice for passengers We asked our staff the following question this week: What's your favourite gadget?

Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk XBox - mostly for 'Let's Dance'

Editor: Lauretta Wright lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk Even though it's second-hand and a bit slow I love my iPhone 3GS

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

Contributing Editor: Paul Scudamore post@travelbulletin.co.uk Swiss Army Chieftain knife (would be better if it incorporated a mobile phone, and that will happen one day)

Sales Director: Simon Eddolls simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk Ironing board

Advertisement Manager: Tim Podger tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk My iPhone, love reading the latest TB on it

Online Sales Manager: Nick Boocock nick.boocock@travelbulletin.co.uk iPod Touch 5

Account Manager: Bill Coad bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk Garlic crusher

Sales Executive: Chris Gascoine chris.gascoine@travelbulletin.co.uk A lighter

Sales Executive: Matt Gill matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk Senior Designer: Genaro Santos genaro.santos@travelbulletin.co.uk My Oyster card :D

Assistant Designer: Nicky Valsamakis nicky.valsamakis@travelbulletin.co.uk The sandwich toaster in the kitchen hahahaha

Production: Nick Salt production@travelbulletin.co.uk My beer soaked Macbook

Circulation Manager: Jim Merchant post@travelbulletin.co.uk Travel Bulletin is published by Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) Ltd University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London, SW1W 0EX, Tel: 020-7834 6661 Printed by: Wyndeham Grange Limited Subscriptions are £105 p.a. £155 overseas ISSN: 0956-2419

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May 10 2013

GATWICK AIRPORT has outlined the case for competition to be allowed to deliver increased connectivity for London and the UK with the rest of the world.

The airport says that the Airports Commission should not accept Heathrow’s argument that a traditional “hub” airport is the only way to retain the UK’s existing links to the world in the airport’s response to the Airports Commission’s connectivity and economy paper.

According to Gatwick’s submission, the UK already has excellent air connectivity and London serves more destinations than any other European city.

Having recently announced new direct links to Moscow and Jakarta, Gatwick now serves half of the world’s fastest growing economies.

The airport’s view is that the Commission should recommend making the most of existing capacity in the short to medium term, and not be swayed by demands for an expanded or new “hub” airport in order to improve connections with emerging markets. IATA figures show that the majority (93%) of journeys using London airports are for passengers that either begin their journey from our airports or fly to them as a final destination. As a result, at only 7% of journeys, the importance of ‘transfer’ passengers is exaggerated.

The company also believes that the cost of air travel should be a vital consideration in the Commission’s research and Gatwick’s vision for the future of UK aviation capacity is one where true competition between the UK’s major airports will drive greater connectivity and greater passenger choice, convenience and cheaper fares.

The airport’s CEO Stewart Wingate said: “It is true we will need additional capacity in the

future. Without it, connectivity will be severely affected and the passenger experience will be impacted by unacceptable delays and rising prices.

"However, relentless suggestions that traditional ‘hubs’ are the answer is misleading. Evidence shows that the London market is predominantly an Origins & Destinations market which means that most passengers begin or end their journey in London. A megahub airport therefore would be yesterday’s solution to tomorrow’s problem.

“We must not be blindly led to believe that because some of our European competitors serve more marginal routes to emerging markets, that we are falling behind them or that this is happening because Heathrow is full. If real competition is allowed to flourish, as it has at Gatwick, new routes will be created where there is market demand. For example, already this year Gatwick has added a route to Indonesia, demonstrating that competition is capable of delivering the connectivity needed by London and the UK. easyJet has also added a route to Moscow providing lower fares than the competing routes from Heathrow, again showing that competition is the answer.”

Meanwhile, the airport has announced a new route to Moscow with easyJet and is also highlighting Gatwick First, a premium concierge service which allows passengers to access priority check-in facilities. As part of the service, a personal concierge guides passengers through premium security to avoid the queues, before helping with shopping and meal arrangements.

On return, passengers will be met directly at the aircraft door and escorted through customs as well as helped with their bags and onward journey.

puzzlesolutions Crossword: Across: 1. STENA, 4. SAMOS, 6. SARDINIA, 8. TYNE, 9. HELENA, 11. EUSTON, 13. ETNA, 16. BENIDORM, 17.

CLARE, 18. HARRY. Down: 1. STAR TREK, 2. ESSEN, 3. AVRO, 4. ST IVES, 5. MAINE, 7. PARAGUAY, 10. LOUISE, 12. SIENA, 14. TAMAR, 15. JOSH.

Highlighted Word: ESTONIA Travagrams: (top) Mosaic Holidays

(bottom) Holland America Line

Where Am I?: El Golfo

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