Travel Bulletin 12th June 2015

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June 12 2015 | ISSUE NO 1,923 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

Australasia What you need to know to get the most out of your clients’ holidays

this week news 3 new report reveals how travel companies can boost their social marketing

agent bulletin a round-up of agent offers, fam trips & booking incentives

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13 usa operators unveil their latest programme additions plus the latest deals

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holiday parks how to capitalise on sales by promoting family activities

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Play golf in Carthage Relax in thalassotherapy in Hammamet

www.cometotunisia.co.uk

HERE I COME.

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newsbulletin

This Week 3 news

Cover Pictures: Main - Shutterstock Copyright: Ben Heys

Inset - Funway

new report reveals how travel companies can boost their social marketing

ON COURSE...

New and existing members of The Global Travel Group (TGTG) recently completed a two-week training course at the consortium’s dedicated Training & Development Centre as part of the ongoing support provided to agent members. Pictured celebrating their training development, along with TGTG’s Mark Rowlands (left) and Rob Griffiths (right), are, from the left: Yi Jin, V Travel; Bethan Jones, Travelworx; and Sulimen Pate, Freedom 2 Travel.

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notes from normanton find out what Sandy from Sandy’s Travel Escapes has been up to lately

New report by immediate future reveals how travel brands can optimise their social marketing to influence ROI

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agent bulletin

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bulletin briefing

IN A report published by immediate future, more than one million social conversations were analysed to provide insights as to how travel brands can optimise their social marketing to influence purchasing decisions and return on investment.

Customer conversations mentioning travel, flights, hotels and associated keywords were analysed from March 2014 to March 2015 to gather a better understanding of where UK travellers were talking in social, what they were talking about and what motivates social activity along the customer purchase journey.

A clear pattern emerged with the volume of social content produced throughout the customer journey and how that content influences customers who are in the planning stages of their holidays.

The report found that 23% of travel conversation in social takes place on holiday and 27% after the holiday predominantly across Facebook and Twitter. This conversation motivates 37% of people to make a travel purchase based on customer reviews and feedback. Added

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a round-up of agent offers, fam trips & booking incentives news & views from The Elite Travel Group

puzzle bulletin take a break and try your hand at the puzzles, plus the chance to win a £50 M&S voucher

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personality bulletin

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usa

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holiday parks

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australasia

find out who is in the hot seat answering our quickfire questions this week operators unveil their latest programme additions plus the latest deals how agents can capitalise on sales by promoting family activities what you need to know to get the most out of your clients’ holidays

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to that, a recent Facebook study revealed that 68% of consumers agree that reviews give them the confidence to book a holiday, with 76% agreeing that reviews offer insider knowledge not available elsewhere.

Given these insights, travel brands can capitalise on the social conversations taking place in the ‘Experience’ and ‘Post Purchase’ stages of the customer journey.

Katy Howell, CEO for the digital consultant company, said: “By drilling deeper into the customer journey and taking into consideration peak conversation times and the key emotions expressed at those times, brands can create annual content plans that deliver tangible results.

“For example, unsurprisingly most of the UK talks about being on holiday in June, July and August but the desire for a holiday peaks in April, June and September. Brands who don’t capitalise on this sentiment are missing a trick when it comes to increasing ROI through social.”

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newsbulletin London holds top spot as most popular tourist destination according to new report LONDON HAS again been hailed as the world’s most popular tourist destination

by Mastercard. It’s the second year running that the capital has topped the Global Destinations Cities Index, which provides an indepth ranking of the 132 most travelled cities from around the world.

London is projected to welcome 18.82 million international visitors this year, according to the annual report, putting the capital ahead of Bangkok.

Both cities have topped the Index throughout its fiveyear history.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “I’m delighted

that London has proudly held on to this coveted title, as we celebrate another triumphant and recordbreaking year for tourism in the city. With its unrivalled mix of history, culture, culinary gems and cuttingedge creativity, I’m confident that these accolades will keep coming as the capital

continues to surprise and excite visitors from all over the world.”

Europe now features three of the top five cities London, Paris and Istanbul with Bangkok and Dubai making up the global top five.

For more information go to www.visitlondon.com

Debut autumn, winter & spring worldwide brochure from Trafalgar TRAFALGAR IS extending its seasonal product further with the release of its first worldwide Autumn, Winter, Spring programme offering a selection of unique and authentic seasonal experiences across Europe, Asia, the US and Canada.

Featuring 32 itineraries (with a further 20 available online), including three new Christmas Spectacular guided holidays, clients now have more opportunity to seek some winter sun and discover the world’s seasonal experiences from the inside, with departures available between this November and March 2016.

As an example, the programme takes clients deeper into the European Christmas festivities with a new ten-day Christmas Markets of Strasbourg and the Black Forest.

Visiting Europe’s oldest and largest Christmas market in Strasbourg, Paris and the Black Forest, the itinerary offers a different side to Europe’s festive season.

Following its successful launch last year, the company has also added its new trip style, Hidden Journeys, to the programme, which offers clients the chance to explore lesser-visited destinations in intimate sized groups. As an example, an eight-day Secrets and Winter Wonders of Yellowstone Hidden Journey is an in-depth experience of Yellowstone National Park, where guests spend two nights in hand-picked Authentic Accommodation at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, as well as an overnight stay at the 320-guest Ranch in Montana. They’ll also see a lesser-known side of iconic West

Coast landmarks with visits to Jackson, Grand Teton National Park and Bozeman.

Clients can save up to 7.5% across the programme, with early payment discounts of up to £702 per couple available when booked and paid in full before August 31. Past passenger discounts of 5% per person are also available.

For further information visit www.trafalgar.com

Caesars Entertainment extends ‘Feeling Lucky’ incentive programme

A REAL PRO…Air China teamed up with Travel Bulletin in March to run a competition for agents to win a GoPro camera. Pictured is the winner, Kristen Crossley from Reed and MacKay, with the carrier’s Sanjay Rudki.

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CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT has announced the return of its travel agent incentive, the ‘Feeling Lucky’ programme, which rewards agents for registering bookings at its family of resorts across the country until September 30.

Agents registering bookings at www.caesarstravelagents.com will earn 100 lucky chips for each room night booked. Chips are accrued throughout the promotional period and redeemed for prizes which include show tickets, accommodation, meals and more in destinations including Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno and Lake Tahoe.

This year, two new Las Vegas resorts have joined the portfolio - the first stand-alone boutique hotel on the Strip, The Cromwell, and the newest resort at the heart of the Strip, The LINQ Hotel & Casino.

Annette Weishaar, the company’s vice president of leisure and citywide sales, said: “As we expand our offerings and introduce new developments like the Las Vegas High Roller, The Cromwell and The LINQ Hotel & Casino, it is our mission to communicate our commitment and appreciation to travel agents, agencies and constituents.”

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newsbulletin Direct Ferries unveils new-look website DIRECT FERRIES has launched its new website at www.directferries.co.uk, which offers access to 91 ferry companies (and the Eurotunnel), 1,542 ferry routes and more than 355 ferry ports offering connections by sea to more than 96 countries and islands.

Ferry crossings from Dover to Calais lead in at £36 and the site features a comprehensive list of ports and detailed information on routes and destinations. A route and port finder also makes it easy for agents to find out which operators sail on which routes by looking at a country or by port in the drop down list. The site also offers train and ferry combined tickets and has a dedicated mini cruise section. By partnering with accommodation provider, booking.com, visitors to the site also have a choice of accommodation.

Andrew Crowe, the company’s sales and marketing director, said: “We are an online travel agent that sells and supports all of the major ferry operators both in the UK & Ireland and the rest of Europe. We have launched our new website which is more customer-friendly and ensures we make more ferry bookings for the ferry operator in a time where there are fewer pro-active ferry booking travel agents.

“Additionally we also work with travel agents on an affiliate or travel agent model. They can use our systems and technology as well as white label this on their own site. Travel agents can gain access to the best prices, extensive ferry routes and the latest ferry deals. We also give agents the opportunity to sell European ferry routes in a number of destinations including Spain, Greece and Italy. What’s more, we work with agents on a commission spilt model.”

For details see www.directferries.co.uk

Magellan to host CLIA UK & Ireland 2015 Annual Dinner CRUISE & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has announced that the CLIA UK & Ireland 2015 Annual Dinner will be held on its new flagship, Magellan at Tilbury on December 10.

Tickets for the event will go on sale on July 1 priced at £199 per person to include a gala dinner, beverages, overnight accommodation and breakfast, and a total of 750 places are available.

The event will also include the CLIA Cruise Forum onboard with key member travel agents, and the annual Cruise Excellence Awards will take place that evening. For the first time, there will also be an afternoon Cruise Networking Forum for CLIA Executive Partners, Ports and Cruise Line Executives.

For details see www.cruiseandmaritime.com

Newsbites ●

THIS MONTH marks Scott Dunn’s first steps into retail with the opening of its new Travel Lounge at its dead offices in Fulham, London.

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CORONATION STREET The Tour has announced that the attraction at Quay Street, Manchester will come to an end on December 31.

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IN PREPARATION for the winter 2015/16 ski season, Inghams has a half price lift pass offer on all adult lift passes for bookings made by June 28, offering savings of up to £235 per couple. The offer is applicable to bookings made for chalet, chalet hotel and selected partner hotel stays on most dates.

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HRS HAS announced a new partnership with American Express Global Corporate Payments to provide business travellers and travel managers with an integrated payment solution. The new partnership has made it possible to offer a cashless payment solution to make the daily routine of booking easier, with improved transparency and security.

Details at www.hrscorporate.com

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IN LINE with the new ‘Timeless’ Wiltshire brand positioning launched in March, VisitWiltshire has unveiled its ‘Time for Wiltshire’ national marketing campaign under a theme of ‘Press Pause’. The campaign aims to highlight Wiltshire as the perfect antidote to overcrowded cities and features beautiful gardens, events and festivals, relaxing spas, accommodation, attractions and activities. A new video can be seen at https://youtu.be/rJvJAb9o8io.

For details see www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/timeforwiltshire

Save £289 per person with Ski Total SKI TOTAL is promoting early booking offers for groups of friends in the Paradiski area of the French Alps.

A stay at the Chalet Petit Ours in Les Arcs 2000 leads in at £608 per person (was £708) based on a January 3 departure for one week, including flights from Heathrow, transfers, free Wi-Fi and catered accommodation including breakfast, afternoon tea and a four-course evening meal with wine. The property sleeps six and is located close to the pistes and ski-lift.

The company is also offering half price lift passes, 25% off ski hire and half a free place for the group, with savings adding up to £289 per person.

For details www.skitotal.com or call 01483-791933.

Avis Budget Group announced as the exclusive car rental partner of Iberia Plus IBERIA HAS announced a new partnership agreement with Avis Budget Group, which has become the exclusive car rental partner of the airline’s loyalty programme, Iberia Plus.

The partnership’s launch campaign, ‘We Travel Together’, highlights the opportunity for members to earn Avios for every rental booked. Members will

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also receive 750 bonus Avios when they make their fourth rental each year.

There is also the opportunity to earn 500 Avios when a member signs up to the preferred loyalty scheme.

Customers who sign up to Avis Preferred and rent twice in one year will receive a free vehicle upgrade voucher and a money-off voucher. If one

more vehicle is hired that year, customers will receive a free weekend’s rental in Europe.

Other benefits of the partnership agreement include a free additional driver on all rentals and priority service at Madrid airport counters.

For more information visit www.avisbudgetgroup.com

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newsbulletin SuperBreak highlights short break Venice packages from £481 plus add-on tours SUPERBREAK IS promoting its flight inclusive short break packages to Venice and its range of add-on tours, the most popular of which is the Gondola Ride and the Venice Walk, which can be added to any hotel booking and are fully commissionable.

The Gondola Ride visits parts of the city only accessible by this means of transport, and combines a voyage through the hidden canals that run through the heart of the city, with a sojourn along the Grand Canal.

A Venice Walk focuses on St. Marks and its famous

landmarks, and includes a 'skip the line' visit to St. Marks Basilica. After exploring the main sights, the tour takes in ‘Hidden Venice’ and ventures along narrow passageway and over bridges and meandering canals.

Packages in late September staying in a central hotel are available from £481.50 per person for three nights at the four-star Carlton on the Grand Canal. It includes breakfast, a gondola ride, the Venice Walk tour and flights.

To book or for more information see www.superbreak.com/agents or call 01904-436000.

‘Ultimate Long Nile’ cruises on Movenpick MS Hamees with Discover Egypt DISCOVER EGYPT has published its ‘Ultimate Long Nile’ cruise for 2016 with two itineraries on the epic 600 miles between Cairo and Luxor on the River Nile.

Philip Breckner, the company’s commercial director, said: “Traditionally this has been one of the more sought after itineraries and we are pleased that we re-introduced the Nile long cruises for this year and have now published dates for 2016.”

Two journeys are available following in the footsteps of the Pharaohs, with an eight-and ten-night itinerary available on the five-star Movenpick MS Hamees, one of the largest boats on the Nile.

Providing a high standard of comfort and service, passengers will get to experience some of Egypt’s top ancient sights, including Luxor and the Valley of

Abydos Temple

the Kings and Valley of the Queens, Temples of Karnak and Luxor; and the Pyramids and Sphinx.

The eight-night cruise for this year departs on September 10 and travels from Luxor to Cairo. Departures for 2016 are offered on March 13, April 3 and 29 and September 17, with prices leading in at £1,887 per person.

The ten-night cruise for 2015 departs

on September 18 and travels from Cairo to Luxor, with prices starting from £2,185 per person. Departure dates for next year are on March 23, April 12, May 8 and September 16. All cruises include flights from Heathrow, transfers and the full board cruises with guided excursions.

For more information call 020-7407 2111 or visit www.discoveregypt.co.uk

MOVERS

FREMANTLE PRISON YHA in Western Australia now offers a 200bedroom property in a World Heritage-listed 19th century jail.

Stays for budget travellers cost from AUD$28 per person, per night in multi-share dormitory style accommodation. Bookings can be made online at www.yha.com.au (Australasia - page 20)

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M.A.G, THE owner of Manchester and Stansted airports, has appointed Rosemarie Andolino to the newly created role of chief executive officer and president of M.A.G U.S

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JOHN SCANLON has been promoted to general manager of the Dorcester Collection’s 45 Park Lane in London.

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MICHAEL UZIELLI has been appointed Heathrow’s new chief financial officer.

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TOURISM NEW Zealand has appointed Marc Mulcahy as trade development consultant, UK and Ireland.

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ERIC HALLERBERG has joined Sabre Corporation, a global technology provider to the travel and tourism industry, as country director for the UK and Ireland.

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INNSTANT TRAVEL has boosted agency support with the appointment of two new staff - Sarah Clarke and Rebekah Taylor.

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JUMEIRAH GROUP has appointed Robert Swade as group chief operating officer.

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THE BOARD of Atlantic Airways, the Faroese national carrier, has appointed Jóhanna á Bergi as chief executive.

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newsbulletin Airlines and operators boost flights and package holidays to Aruba EXTRA FLIGHTS and holiday packages from airlines and tour operators are opening up new travel opportunities for visitors to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba.

In a major vote of confidence for the destination, a line-up of top companies, including Virgin Holidays and Hayes & Jarvis, have added the island to their portfolios.

Meanwhile, leading travel brands Thomson and First Choice have announced the introduction of weekly flights to Aruba from Manchester next summer, complementing its existing service to the island from Gatwick.

The major expansion of the UK market follows on from the island enjoying record business from Britain in 2014, when visitor figures reached an all-time high. UK numbers grew by more than 12% in 2014, topping the 10,000 mark for the first time. In

addition to the 10,447 UK visitors, there was a 34% growth from Ireland.

The Aruba Tourism Authority’s UK manager, Joanna Walding, said: "Aruba’s popularity with the UK holidaymaker just seems to keep growing and growing. These latest developments are a clear sign that leading companies in the travel industry recognise the growing appeal of Aruba, particularly for the traveller wanting to experience an alternative Caribbean.

"We are thrilled that the additional flights and holidays coming onto the market will enable even more travellers to enjoy the unique Dutch Caribbean experience of Aruba."

Thomson and First Choice’s Manchester service will start on May 2, and will continue to operate weekly until October, 2016 on the company’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner. A mixture of

all-inclusive and other board holidays will be available.

Additional tour operators who have announced the addition of Aruba to their Caribbean portfolios are Virgin Holidays, Hayes & Jarvis, Wexas and My America Holiday.

Virgin Holidays is basing its holidays on flights with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, meaning travellers may choose to fly on five days of the week from one of 16 UK airports via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The company is featuring four hotels and will offer ready-made or tailored packages.

Hayes & Jarvis offers further travel flexibility, as it offers flights on the Thomson Dreamliner flight, KLM or with American Airlines from Heathrow or Manchester via one of its US hubs.

For more information visit www.aruba.com

Universal Studios Hollywood introduces The Wizarding World of Harry Potter THE COUNTDOWN to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has started, as Universal Studios Hollywood announces the spring 2016 arrival of the West Coast’s entertainment experience and the introduction of the land’s signature attraction: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey in 3D-HD. After more than five years in the making, and inspired by J.K. Rowling’s stories and characters and the Warner Bros. films, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will bring guests the same authenticity and storytelling found at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan. Visitors will be swept into a fully immersive themed land that brings the Harry Potter fiction and films to life with detail and precision.

Like its counterparts, Hogwarts Castle will sit at the heart

of the new attraction where the land’s signature ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, will take guests on a journey into many memorable scenes alongside Harry, Ron and Hermione. Travelling by Floo powder, guests will soar high above Hogwarts, partake in a Quidditch match, narrowly escape a dragon attack and have a close encounter with the Whomping Willow.

As excitement builds for the spring 2016 arrival of the new attraction, park guests at Universal Studios Hollywood are able to experience and purchase authentic merchandise, including wands, robes and other collectibles from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, available within the Features Presentation shop.

For more information visit www.universalstudioshollywood.com

BOURNE CLEVER… Pictured on Bourne Leisure’s Let’s Go UK Roadshow in Caister are, from the left: the operator’s Lou Tansey; Anxious the Elephant; Ashley Timms from Thomas Cook Co-operative Travel, Felixstowe; Kimberley Moore from Thomas Cook Co-operative Travel, Woodbridge; Polly; and Nicola Harper from Attraction World.

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newsbulletin New East Africa 'Accommodated Overland' collection from Acacia Africa

Notes from . . . n o t n a m Nor UST TO finish off about the fam trip to Halkidiki – on our penultimate day we stayed at the fairly new Alexandros Palace. As we had some free time we took a ferry across to an amazing small island called Ammouliani, classed as just being off the Athos Peninsula. I think Sunvil is the only tour operator that has any accommodation on the island, so if you want something nice and out of the way, this is the island for you! They also offer the Blue Bay close to Athitos Village - all in in, it was a great trip and I can recommend Halkidiki as a holiday destination. It has so much to offer with the three peninsulars – Kassandra, Sithonia and Ouranoupolis - a big ‘Thank You’ to Sandra Bruce and the Halkidiki Tourist Board for inviting me.

When you read this I hope to be back at my second home (almost!) - Gouves in Crete, staying at my favourite place - Kaissia Apts. I can’t wait to see everyone and also check out how the cats are doing. I am still looking to try and bring back Tiger (the one with one eye) as I don’t think he will last another winter. So I will have to go back in Aug or Sept to try and bring him back.

I have to say, when everyone is knocking tour operators for offering a lower price on their own website to what we can usually sell at, it is wonderful to be able to say book Olympic and support a tour operator that truly supports us. I have booked my holiday with them and it was only £5 difference on their direct site! I have said it before - support those that support us - and they do Halkidiki as well! Simples. And of course, I am going from my favourite airport, Leeds Bradford.

Those of you that know me, know I love Cava or Prosecco wine and I’m now hearing Prosecco is going to run out! That is a disaster!

‘The hardest thing in life is to learn which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn’ and ‘Happiness is a way of travel not a destination’.

J

by SANDRA MURRAY in Normanton, Yorkshire

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To respond to any of Sandy’s comments email lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk

June 12 2015

ACACIA AFRICA’S latest Accommodated Overland itineraries will start departing this summer, with the new collection focused on East Africa.

The operator is one of few safari specialists to market its fully escorted camping and accommodated overland expeditions to entirely different groups.

Camping overland itineraries are targeted at those aged 18-39 years and the accommodated overland collection is open to travellers of all ages from eight years.

A five-day Kenya Lakes and Mara includes game drives in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita.

Prices lead in at £545 per person, based on two sharing, plus a local payment from £367 per person including transport, accommodation, most meals and the services of a tour leader/driver.

Flights are excluded and the tour departs round-trip from Nairobi on August 16 and 30.

For details call 020-7706 4700, email info@acaciaafrica.com or see www.acacia-africa.com

Get to Glastonbury with National Express NATIONAL EXPRESS – the only coach operator currently selling tickets to this year’s Glastonbury Festival (June 24-28) is unveiling a UK-wide network of direct services to the event.

Last year, almost a quarter of festival-goers arrived onsite on a coach operated by the company, which serves the festivals from 73 towns and cities across the UK, and this year the coach operator is looking to expand its offering.

The latest offers include a 25% group travel discount for groups of four or more people; early festival arrivals, with first services on June 24 arriving at 05:30 to offer extra time for people to source the best tent pitches; and more early morning Monday departures, with the first coach at 02:00, enabling people to get home after the event in time for breakfast.

Fares start at £18.20 one-way.

For more information visit www.nationalexpress.com or call 0871-781 8181.

Go

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WEBSCLUSIVES ●

For the chance to win one of 35 prizes with Sunset Faraway Holidays, head over to the competitions page at http://travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

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Cook up a Spanish feast with one of five Spanish food hampers to be won with Voyages-sncf and TGV France-Spain. To enter the competition please go to http://travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

All this and more at:

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

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agentbulletin Booking incentives ●

AGENTS BOOKING Icelandair flights from Birmingham have the chance to win a range of prizes. They include a three-night break for two in Iceland including flights, accommodation, transfers and a Golden Circle tour, plus flights for two to any Icelandair destination in Iceland or North America. The offer is valid for new bookings made by June 30 for departures taken this month and registered at uksales@icelandair.is

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BELLEAIR HOLIDAYS has extended its ‘Summer of Love’ incentive to June 30, giving agents more opportunity to earn Love2Shop vouchers worth up to £40 with every booking made. All airinclusive bookings must be a minimum of three nights for any departure date between now and next summer.

To claim, email sales@belleair.co.uk

Agent training its academy TO CELEBRATE four new modules joining are ners part training programme, Travel 2 and its es and rienc expe rewarding agents with Red Letter Day de inclu ules mod cases of New Zealand wine. The new Gran and nal Intrepid, Air New Zealand, Sun Internatio is module.

Canaria, as well as a refreshed Enjoy Illino before June ule Agents completing the Enjoy Illinois mod in with a be also 30 will earn Academy points and will rience. expe Day chance of winning a £100 Red Letter For details see www.travel2.com

FANCY A FAM ?

NEWMARKET H OLIDAYS has la unched a compe tion for agents tito win one of th ree fam trip pl go on an ‘Elvis aces to Presley’s Mem phis, New Orlea Nashville’ trip. ns & To enter, agen ts must email answer to the th e following ques tion: ‘What is th of Elvis’ home? e name ’ to travelagen ts@newmarketh days.co.uk. Th olie closing date is July 31 and th includes flight e prize s to the US, tran sfers and seve nights’ room-o n nly accommod ation.

AGENT OFFER n £250 in Brazilian unsellor Jo Kemp wo QUIDS IN...Travel Co part of Travel 2’s ‘Win a Braziliant as rris. operator's Andy Ha restaurant vouchers tured with Jo is the Pic ze. pri ’ nce rie pe Ex

EXCLUSIVELY FOR industry partners, agents can now enjoy a stay at Dusit Thani Maldives at 50% off until September 30. To apply, visit www.dusit.com and input PROMOINDUST under Special Codes > Promotion Codes or email the resort directly at resmaldives@dusit.com.

The offer also includes breakfast for two and staff ID is required upon check-in for verification.

DISCOVER SIZZLING SPAIN BY TRAIN - London - Barcelona from £161 rtn* - Paris - Barcelona from £89 rtn* - Lyon - Barcelona from £74 rtn* - Avignon - Madrid from £134 rtn* - Marseille - Madrid from £134 rtn* - Toulouse - Girona from £59 rtn*

Book online in just a fe w clicks

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Web: www.voyages-sncf.eu Call:

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bulletinbriefing

Industry Insight by... e l i t e TRAVEL GROUP

Neil Basnett, chief executive of the Elite Travel Group, offers his news and views on conference sessions and scientific research...

WAS one of many hundreds who attended the recent Advantage Conference at the Sea Garden Resort in the resort of Bodrum in Turkey. One did not need to use the gym to lose weight: owing to the vastness in size of the whole resort, kilos were shed daily just walking from the apartment accommodation down to breakfast and then even worse, uphill to the conference facilities. In my next life, I shall visit the resort again but as a mountain goat! Being responsible for the arrangements for our own annual conference at which we normally have to cater for around 130 delegates, I am thankful that I do not have the burden of the logistical nightmare that it must be to ensure that everything runs smoothly for 450 delegates! All at Advantage and those at Mark Warner as well should be congratulated for (what appeared to be) seamless arrangements, but I would imagine that there were ongoing dramas taking place behind the scenes.

It is always a challenge to come up with conference sessions that are different to those that have gone before but are ones that remain relevant to the audience. I can only presume therefore that Jeremy Paxman was either not given the script or chose to totally ignore it. Yes, we knew that he was going to ramble on about the General Election and to give us his viewpoints about it but I honestly did not learn anything that I did not know before. If I had arranged for him to attend and speak, I would have felt very short-changed as his contribution to the conference was minimal for the extortionate sum that he probably picked up.

The only relevant issue that came out of his session was the question from one of the delegates who rightly asked what pressure we as an industry could put on the new government to have a dedicated minister responsible for Travel and Tourism. Rather than concentrate on the matter, Paxman decided that the best response was to ridicule the questioner and to challenge the assertion that there is no such dedicated minister. Successive governments have all under-estimated the worth of this industry and have totally ignored the millions of Brits who are employed in it, one way or the other and whether involved in inbound or outbound tourism. Within the department for Trade and Industry, the Tourism role has been

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"It never ceases to amaze me about the amount of time wasted on pointless research by scientists who are obviously desperate" shared with culture, media and even sport and this is very demeaning to our industry. As it generates billions each year in revenue, I feel that we do deserve our own Minister so I suggest that in future you fully check your facts before lampooning the questioner, Mr Paxman!

Before the conference, I was generously hosted by Mark Warner and the irrepressible Julie Franklin at the Lakitira Beach Resort on the Greek island of Kos – sadly now in the news as a result of the refugees who are making their way onto the island to escape from the perils of Syria. Being a Mark Warner resort, one is encouraged to participate in the numerous and very well-organised sporting activities and for reasons not plainly obvious, I agreed to the afternoon bikeride. Five gentle kilometres I was assured: 14 kilometres later and with buttocks with which I had lost acquaintance, we got back to 90 minutes of tennis with Pimms except somebody had forgotten to tell the barman!

Once again, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of time wasted on pointless research by scientists who are obviously desperate. Apparently, British people who regularly change their route to work are three times more likely than non-changers to earn ÂŁ60,000-plus a year. This research also claims that eating the same lunch every day and sticking with one main holiday destination makes us less happy.

How do these people produce such startling revelations and how do they go around securing their evidence to support these claims? Can you honestly imagine Lord Sugar barking out instructions to his chauffeur to turn left this morning rather than the usual right? I shall try it next week and I look forward to seeing the delights of Sunderland, Grimsby and Birkenhead en route from Stratford-upon-Avon to Coleshill! www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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puzzlebulletin Travagrams

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

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

Number: 023

Air Ebbs

A➠

B➠ Small groups tour operator exploring Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales

C➠

Asia Hat Ram Sam

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

Once you have completed the puzzle, simply identify the numbers that relate to the letters, A, B, C and D then e-mail the solution, with your name, company name, and full postal address plus phone and ABTA number if applicable to: competition@travelbulletin.co.uk Closing date for entries is Thursday, June 18th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 29th May is Janette Ashby, Global Travel in Preston.

May 29 Solution: A=5 B=7 C=3 D=8

Often abbreviated town in Sri Lanka close to Yala National Park

Where Am I?

Prominent Himalayan Buddhist temple located on a cliffside – known as ‘Tiger’s Nest’

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

Number: 023

Across 1. European carrier (9) 6. Long-haul destination (9) 7. Canadian territory (5) 9. Cruise company Fred. ___ (5) 10. Some Cockneys like this jellied (3) 11. Golfing term, sounds like a bird (5) 12. Artist who painted the portrait featured in the recent film, Woman in Gold (5) 14. English actor Daniel ____ (9) 16. US city and TV series (9)

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Down 1. Comedian taking a serious role in The Syndicate on BBC (5,5) 2. Mr Lampard, leaving English football for New York (5) 3. English county (7) 4. Auckland international airport code (3) 5. You can take the scenic Tarka train journey from this North Devon town (10) 8. Iconic points off the coast of the IOW (7) 13. Recently held in Manchester, The ___ Home Show (5) 15. Mr MacLean who recently auctioned the lyrics of American Pie for US$1.2 million (3)

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 22 June 12 2015

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personalitybulletin

Claire Dutton Key account manager, SuperBreak At home

At play

What's your favourite household gadget?

Sky+. It’s an absolute godsend when you spend time away with work. You can veg out and watch all your favourite programmes in one mammoth session!

What are your favourite TV programmes?

Thanks to Sky+ I have lots! I like American shows like True Detective, American Horror Story, Mad Men and The Walking Dead, and I’m also hooked to the trashy ‘Real Housewives’ shows!

Who does the cooking?

Me. My husband has no idea how to boil an egg, so if I didn’t cook I think we would starve.

What's a typical weekend for you like?

My husband watches sport all day on a Saturday, so if I’m in I have ‘Favourite Film Saturday’ and dig out a DVD to watch in bed! Other than that it’s eating out, seeing our friends and relatives and catching up on stuff really.

What's your guilty pleasure?

I read my favourite books over and over again. My husband thinks I’m weird, but every time I read them I always get something different from them.

What do you do to relax?

On a Friday night I like to take a long hot bath with a good book and then get into my onesie and eat chocolate – not very ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ but it works for me!

What music do you listen to?

My favourite bands are U2 and Elbow, so I listen to them in the car a lot. I’m also a bit partial to 80s classics. I recently went to see Paul Heaton and re-lived all the old Housemartins and Beautiful South songs from my youth.

What's your favourite movie?

I have a huge DVD collection, so that’s a hard one. I’m a big Wes Anderson fan, so any of his films, but I also love a good Zombie horror: Shaun of the Dead, 28 Days Later, Dawn of the Dead, that sort of thing.

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June 12 2015

Where would you most like to visit and why?

The Pacific Northwest area of the USA. I’ve been to the Canadian part, but would love to visit Washington State or Oregon. I remember watching The Goonies when I was little which was filmed around there and telling my mum I wanted to go on holiday there! It just looks beautiful.

What are your hobbies?

I love reading. My favourite author is Margaret Atwood. I’ve also been bellydancing for about ten years. It’s fun to dress up in sparkly costumes and shimmy for a couple of hours.

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

Amazon because you can buy everything on it!

Do you use social media for work and play?

I love social media. It’s a great tool to stay connected and keep in touch with people that you don’t get to see every day.

What trait do you dislike in other people?

People who are consistently late. I think it’s really disrespectful to think that your time is more precious than someone else’s.

What is your best quality?

Given what I’ve said about other people being late, I think I have to say timekeeping!

What's your most embarrassing moment?

Probably on a canal boat holiday about 15 years ago when I shared a cabin with three male friends. I’d just had a shower and was getting dressed and got caught by one of them dancing around the cabin naked! He’d decided to hide and surprise me – little did he know! I was so embarrassed I burst into tears!

At work What other companies/organisations have you previously worked for?

I left school at 18 and have worked in travel ever since for Lunn Poly, Bowen Travel and Amex before joining SuperBreak in 2000.

If you could change one thing in the industry what would it be?

As much as social media has been a fantastic tool for the industry, it also comes with its downside. A negative post made in haste when you’re disgruntled can have big repercussions, so I think we all need to be mindful of that and respectful of each other’s businesses.

What's the best thing about your job?

Meeting and talking with people in every part of the industry means I get a real sense of what’s happening out there and can put into place key actions that can help sales increase for one single branch or for big agency groups.

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

On the walls in my home office I have lots of different kinds of world maps and maps of places I’ve collected on my travels.

What's a typical day like?

I’m based from home, so I could have the whole day sitting at my desk or I could be driving to another part of the UK to have a commercial meeting, marketing meeting or presenting to a group of managers. I spend quite a few nights away each month as well - each day is totally different.

Who has been your inspiration in the travel industry?

She’s not specific to the industry, but I think Mary Portas is a real inspiration. She’s someone who looks at what the buying public actually wants and challenges retailers to respond. She’s been able to transform both massive brands and individual retailers and make them hugely successful.

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usa

IMAGINATIVE TRAVELLER HAS BOOSTED... its North America offering this year with 12 trips to the destination. They include a 13-day cycling trip around the Vineyards of California, several road trips along iconic routes including Route 66 and trips exploring the interior such as Texas and Arizona. As an example, a seven-day ‘Freedom Trail’ costs from £527 per person (with flights extra at around £300 per person) and offers a circular trip from New York via Philadelphia, Washington, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Niagara Falls, The Berkshires and Boston. The 'Basic' style trip offers camping accommodation to reduce costs and is aimed at younger travellers, aged 18-39.

For details call 01728-885514 or see www.imaginative-traveller.com

Get your running shoes on with Travel 2’s agent booking incentive TRAVEL 2 reports a 97% increase in bookings to Orlando and, in response to this, has expanded its offering within its new 2015/16 Florida brochure and is giving agents the opportunity to win one of two pairs of personalised trainers.

To be entered into the ‘Just T2 It’ prize draw, agents need to make a qualifying Florida booking including flights and a minimum of five nights’ ground arrangements before June 30.

The trade only specialist has added a number of new villas in popular

locations to its new-look Florida 2015/16 programmes. Agents can now choose from handpicked luxury mansion villas at Reunion Resort for a bespoke family getaway, as well as the Encantada and Regal Oaks resorts in Kissimmee offering two-, three- and four-bedroom townhouses.

Agents can also take advantage of a variety of offers including free night stays at a number of properties with early bird bookings. For customers with families, the company is continuing to offer a ‘Kids Eat Free Orlando Card’,

redeemable at more than 100 Orlando restaurants for children under 11 when purchasing an adult meal.

Meanwhile, to make things simple for agents booking Florida, the operator’s packages also feature car hire and theme park tickets, including Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld, as well as some alternative excursions, including day trips to the Everglades, Kennedy Space Centre and Legoland Florida.

For details visit www.travel2.com

Montana & Wyoming deals from Ranch Rider with prices from £1,143 per person ACCORDING TO riding holiday specialist, Ranch Rider, Montana and Wyoming are two of the most popular US destinations this season.

The company’s managing director, Tony Daly, said: “There’s a great deal of choice in both states, with working guest and resort ranches appealing to a broad range of clients and budgets."

The Lonesome Spur Working Ranch in Montana gives guests an insight into the genuine cowboy lifestyle with

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regular gathers and drives.

Prices lead in at £1,143 per person for six nights (no single supplement) including accommodation, meals, most ranch activites, taxes, transfers and gratuities. A local payment of $400 per person is charged for the Indian ride week which departs on June 21.

At the other end of the scale is Wyoming’s Brush Creek Ranch & Spa, a luxury property combining trail

riding with a range of alternative activities from trapshooting to yoga.

A six-night stay leads in at £3,294 per person, based on two sharing and includes accommodation, meals, most ranch activities, premium drinks and beverages (including alcohol), taxes and gratuities. Car hire (from £243) and flights are excluded.

For more information call 01509618811 or see www.ranchrider.com

June 12 2015

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usa

InBrief ● RIVIERA TRAVEL is offering a new ‘Deep South of USA’ tour for 2015.

The 11-day trip costs £1,899 (or 14 days from £2,299) and is ideal for music fans as customers spend three days in New Orleans. The price includes flights, accommodation, transfers, guided excursions and a tour manager. See www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents ● IN ANTICIPATION of a US booking spike around Independence Day

on July 4, Premier Holidays has put together a series of promotional window posters for agents to highlight the wide range of niche American products available - from the popular AMTRAK train to the newly added American Queen Steamboat and Eagle Rider Motorcycle Tours. Agents can request or download copies of the new window posters at www.trade.premierholidays.co.uk and can also earn between £25£150 per booking, dependent on the booking value.

Call 0844-493 7524 for details.

ON THE Go Tours has launched a new selection of overland tours in North America for travellers to experience the natural beauty of Canada and the US. They range from nine to 20 days and give road trippers the chance to explore national parks, lakes and rugged mountains by converted classic school bus with nights spent camping under the stars.

For more information call 020-7371 1113 or see www.onthegotours.com

● WILD FLORIDA Airboats & Wildlife Park in Kissimmee is adding a

new adventure to its range of activities: an all-terrain Ranch Buggy tour through one of the state’s oldest working cattle ranches.

Guests can go back in time to experience ‘real’ Florida and see firsthand the birthplace of cowboys and ranching in the United States.

For details see www.experiencekissimmee.com

Boost commission by promoting popular Broadway shows to clients THE LATEST figures from New York reveal that just over 300,000 Brits saw a show on Broadway in the 2014/15 season (September-May inclusive), representing a rise of 20,400 British theatre-goers to Broadway over the previous 12-month period.

It was also boosted by the fact that tickets to Broadway shows are now quick and easy for the trade to book in the UK via the British partners of Broadway Inbound, which has created The Broadway Collection of top shows that are promoted internationally.

The value of this market can be seen from the fact that, with average Broadway ticket prices of about £77, the British visitor market is worth £23.17million to Broadway theatres and, with typical commission earnings at 20%, some £4.63million for the British travel trade.

Broadway

Bob Hofmann, vice president of Broadway Inbound, said: “We are delighted that so many more travel providers in the UK are recognising the added value of booking theatre tickets for their clients who are staying in or passing through New York. They are realising the significant extra income this can generate.”

This year has already started well for

Broadway with six new shows, bookable through a range of operators, opening in April: An American in Paris, Finding Neverland, It Shoulda Been You, The King and I, Dr Zhivago and Something Rotten! – all of which are ideal for the holiday market.

For details see www.broadwaycollection.com and www.spotlightonbroadway.com

New tourist website from Louisiana Travel THOSE VISITING Louisiana can now easily source the perfect brewery, winery and distillery suited to their trip with the launch of Louisiana Travel’s new website.

The state is home to a wide range of breweries, wineries and distilleries and visiting a few is always on many visitors’ to-do lists. It is also home to America’s first cocktail – the Sazerac which many visitors enjoy sampling. The new website celebrates the state’s cocktail culture, where users can find a brewery, winery and distillery suited to their trip and tastes.

The company’s account director UK and Ireland, Jody

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June 12 2015

Hanson, said: “We are very excited to launch this new, convenient website which will be a great aid to British and Irish travellers looking to visit one of the many breweries or distilleries, as everything they need is on one site. As there is so much to do in Louisiana - from the Plantation Homes, to the swamps and the festivals - visitors can plan the perfect trip in this beautiful state using the Louisiana Travel and Louisiana Libations’ websites.”

For further information see www.louisianalibations.com and www.louisianatravel.com

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usa Funway issues USA 2016 brochure with new rail journeys & cruises FUNWAY HOLIDAYS has launched its USA 2016 brochure with a selection of new destinations plus special focus being placed on its range of holiday options available – from self-drive, coach, train, cruise and motorbike holidays.

Also highlighted in the new brochure are National Parks with the addition of 12 new hotels featured around the key National Parks of Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion and Bryce Canyon. There is also more emphasis on ranch holidays with the addition of four new properties.

The brochure - bookable for travel until December 2016 features a total of 90 new properties in some of the US’ most popular cities. As an example, one of the most unique accommodation additions is new Teepee accommodation at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona.

Meanwhile, new destinations include Wyoming, Montana and North and South Dakota, while new updates in the brochure include a dedicated section for National Parks and several new properties including John Muir Lodge and Cabins in Kings Canyon, The Ahwahnee in Yosemite, The Pines Resort at Bass Lake, Old Faithful Lodge & Cabins in Yellowstone, Zion Mountain Ranch and Pioneer Lodge in Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon Resort and The Lodge at Bryce Canyon in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Other new additions include rail journeys, featuring the Chicago to California Zephyr by Rail, plus Haimark Cruises, which are renowned for their luxurious journeys delving into North America's maritime history and the vistas of all five Great Lakes.

Commenting on the new brochure, the operator’s marketing executive, Rebecca Evans, said: “The additions come off the back of listening to our clients’ wishes. They are keen to explore ‘off-the-beaten’ track destinations even further and this brochure enables them to see all of our options, including key destinations such as Orlando, New York and Las Vegas.”

Holiday prices start from £519 per person including seven nights in Orlando staying in a Disney Area Private three-bedroom standard home including flights with Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick in November.

Yosemite Valley

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usa THE FORT WORTH CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU (FWCVB) in partnership with Stockyards Station, Billy Bob's Texas, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Stockyards Museum, has announced a new all-in-one Stockyards Adventure pass, the latest tour offering from the City of Cowboys & Culture. The new experience in the Stockyards National Historic District includes a guided historical walking tour, a souvenir photo, admission to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, admission to the Stockyards Museum and a screening of the ‘Spirit of the West’ movie.

Tickets cost from $28 for adults and $22 for children.

For details see www.fortworth.com/stockyardsadventure

Philadelphia highlights last minute summer packages with prices from £905 THE PHILADELPHIA Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) is encouraging couples to discover the birthplace of America with a trip to Philadelphia.

Following the launch of increased airlift from Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, travelling to the East Coast city has been made easier with seven daily flights from Heathrow, Dublin and Manchester, plus additional seasonal flights from Glasgow and Shannon.

Whether visitors are looking to be in Philadelphia for the iconic Wawa Welcome America Independence Day celebrations or the long August bank holiday

weekend, PHLCVB has rounded up a series of last minute summer packages.

Examples include a fournight, room-only stay at Hilton Penn's Landing from £905 per person with America As You Like It. The price is based on two adults sharing and includes British Airways’ flights from Heathrow at dates throughout August. For details see www.americaasyoulikeit.com Bon Voyage is offering a five-night, room-only package at the five-star Loews Hotel from £1,225 including flights from Heathrow or Manchester between June 30 and July 3.

See www.bon-voyage.co.uk.

Alternatively, North America Travel Service is offering a four-night, roomonly package at The RitzCarlton from £1,579, based on two adults sharing a

standard room. It includes flights from Heathrow on selected dates during July.

For more information visit www.northamericatravel service.co.uk or call 0845-122 88 99.

Philadelphia

Florida preview brochure from Gold Medal GOLD MEDAL has launched its 2016 Florida preview brochure featuring theme park information and offers, plus more than 50 hotel options across the state, including Orlando, St Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, Naples, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Florida Keys.

The beaches of the Space Coast – Cocoa Beach are also showcased as ‘Orlando’s beaches’ to highlight their close proximity to the theme parks, while ‘stay & cruise’ itineraries to western and eastern Caribbean, plus a Disney option to ‘stay & cruise’, including a stop at Disney’s private island retreat – Castaway Cay, are also featured.

The launch of the operator’s brochure also coincides with the return of Disney’s free dine promotion which offers guests staying at a Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa free dining plans.

Ruth Hilton, the company’s head of sales and business development, said: “From the magic of Disney to the thrills of Universal, the brochure is packed full of theme park fun, but for those looking for something a little more laid back the beaches of the Atlantic Coast are equally as appealing.”

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June 12 2015

InBrief ● KIMPTON HOTELS is scheduled to open Hotel Van Zandt in Austin,

Texas this summer. The wine-themed hotel will offer 319 guestrooms, 41 suites and an outdoor terrace pool and bar overlooking downtown Austin.

See www.hotelvanzandt.com and www.kimptonhotels.com ● CLIENTS CAN save 20% or more on popular Detroit attractions

with a D Discount Pass. Current participants include the Arab American National Museum, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, The Henry Ford, Michigan Science Center, Motown Museum and Sea Life Michigan Aquarium. The pass is accepted at participating venues until the end of the year.

See www.visitdetroit.com/discount

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FREE

F TR A OR IN 2 VEL 016

Disney Dining F

A ST F K A E R REE B

Our hugely popular FREE Disney Dining and FREE Breakfast offers are back on the table.*

Staying at a Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort?^ • Book by 3 Nov 2015, for selected arrivals 1 Jan–30 Nov 2016**, and everyone in the party dines for FREE for the entire stay.

• Disney Moderate Resort guests receive Disney Quick Service Dining Plan.

• Disney Deluxe Resort or selected Deluxe Villa Resort guests receive Disney Dining Plan.

Staying at a Disney Value Resort?†† • Book by 9 Jul 2015, for selected arrivals 1 Jan–30 Oct 2016**§, and your customers will enjoy free breakfast, every day of their stay.

Remember…

• Bookings must be for five nights or more, and include Disney Park Tickets.

14DISNEY7 BOTH OFFERS COMBINABLE WITH

PARK DAYS FOR THE PRICE OF

†

†For arrivals on selected dates 1 Jan–30 Nov 2016.

FIND OUT ALL THE DETAILS NOW AT DISNEYTRAVELAGENTS.CO.UK * Full terms and conditions apply — see disneytravelagents.co.uk for details. ^Excludes Disney’s Grand Floridian Villas and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows.

Excludes arrivals 16 Mar–2 Apr 2016. ††Excludes Little Mermaid accommodation at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. §For bookings of over five nights or more, including Disney Park Tickets. ©Disney.

**

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s k r a p y a d i l ho Getting the most from sales by promoting family activities

by TIM SISSONS, In2action

T

HE WAY that families interact with each other has changed dramatically over the last few decades. More than ever now, both parents work full-time meaning they get to spend less time with their children during the working week.

This means that customer habits have changed and increasingly parents are looking for holiday activities that allow them to spend time together as a family. They may want to drop the children off to a kids’ club for a day or two, but we are seeing big demand for activities that the whole family can take part in together, such as arts and crafts, archery and treasure hunts.

The beauty of family activities is that the onus isn’t on the parents to think of ways to entertain the children; the holiday companies provide the ideas and instructors and all they have to do is book and turn up. We work with a number of the UK’s leading holiday parks and venues, and their family activities particularly parent and toddler ones - are incredibly popular.

FAMILY FIRSTS There’s no better way to implant the memory of your holiday park or hotel in a parent’s mind than to create a family first right there. For example, we run ‘Balanceability’ activities at a large number of parks which teach young children to ride bikes, so frequently we see youngsters riding a bike for the first time while they’re on holiday. Happy memories such as these stay with families forever, meaning the memory of the holiday park will be with them every time they think about booking a holiday.

BROCHURE HIGHLIGHTS Believe it or not, children do have a big influence in booking family holidays and bright, exciting pictures of fun activities act as ‘brochure highlights’ that draw youngsters in and get them persuading their parents to book a particular site.

A lot of the holiday parks, hotels and tour operators we work

with find that pictures of swimming pool inflatables, high ropes courses and Segway circuits really draw in bookings.

However, we don’t just look at the type of activities that are suitable for a holiday park or hotel, we think strategically about the best timings for them. For example, holding a popular activity such as archery just before or just after lunch time means guests are more likely to stay on site to eat, increasing food and beverage spend on the site.

INCREASED REBOOKING RATES If you’re able to offer fun activities that guests enjoy, it will always contribute to them coming back. For example, when selling to your clients, bear in mind a park’s activities provision and you can go one step further in highlighting the benefits of a particular resort. As part of this, offering activities at different abilities or certificate levels gives people a reason to return in order to take the ‘next step’. For example, if a park offers beginner, intermediate and advanced certificates in archery, clients are likely to come back the following year to book the next stage.

One of our popular activities is circus skills and we find our customers book a lot of return visits to these classes. One of the main reasons is that activity staff demonstrate all possible skills at the start of session one, and then participants are taught a selection of them during the first class. They then have the ability to come back for further sessions, where they can learn more of the skills that they saw.

From our experience over the last decade we have found that holiday parks and venues with no activities often struggle to keep guests on-site. This means that money that could be spent on-site is taken elsewhere, effectively turning the venue into a ‘bed and breakfast’.

There’s no doubt that if activities are run right and staff are trained correctly, it will give guests a reason to return – and a reason for them to return to you to book if you know exactly what is available to match your clients’ requirements. I

Dream Lodge Group adds new experiences at Norfolk Park THE DREAM Lodge Group has introduced new experiences at Norfolk Park for this summer.

The resort, which is set deep within the countryside between the Broads and the North Norfolk coast, offers a range of family-friendly amenities as well as a selection of packages to suit any taste.

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June 12 2015

New facilities include a state-of-theart gym, on site bicycle hire for guests to explore the nearby Bacton Woods, a convenience shop, a salon and spa treatments.

The new offerings are complemented by the launch of the Summit Lodge, which is available for holiday bookings

from next month.

Ideal for families, Norfolk Park features a heated outdoor swimming pool and the Olive Tree restaurant on site.

Prices start from £299 for a four-night, mid-week break in a Gold Leisure Home.

For more information see www.dreamlodgeholidays.co.uk

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holidayparks ‘Simple Pleasures of Summer’ giveaway from Bourne Leisure AGENTS CAN indulge in the ‘Simple Pleasures of Summer’ with Bourne Leisure’s new summer incentive offering £5 for every summer Butlin’s and Haven booking, as well as the chance to win one of three big summer prizes.

Agents who make a booking by July 26 for their customers to stay at one of Butlin’s three seaside resorts or Haven’s 35 coastal holiday parks during July and August for a minimum of three nights can claim a £5 Love2Shop voucher.

In addition, for every voucher claimed, agents are automatically entered into a weekly prize draw to win one of the three prizes including a family day pass for a Butlin’s resort or Haven holiday park with additional extras, £50 in Love2Shop vouchers or a Wi-Fi camera. There are eight weekly prize draws and no limit to the amount of times an agent can be entered.

The company’s national sales manager, Louise Tansey, said: “Agent bookings are crucial to our continued success, especially over the summer, and that’s why we love coming up with these fun incentives to reward our agent partners. Both Butlin’s and Haven properties represent the quintessential British seaside holiday so a Simple Pleasures of Summer giveaway is the perfect way to bring back fond memories of great British summers gone by.”

For more information see www.bourneleisure sales.co.uk

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LOCATED WITHIN an hour of Disneyland Paris, Hoseasons is highlighting the five-star La Croix du Vieux Pont which offers entertainment for the whole family. Facilities include waterslides for the kids, a lagoon-style outdoor pool with dedicated hydro-massage areas and activities including archery, tennis, bike hire and canoeing. The luxury lodges all come with an open plan kitchen/diner, a bedroom with a balcony and sleep up to ten people. A three-night weekend short break costs from £323, while a week costs from £820. A return bus service runs to Disney Resort between April and October and costs 17 euros for adults, 14 euros for children aged two-11 and ten euros for children under two.

For details see www.hoseasons.co.uk or call 0345-498 6130.

Mill Rythe offers exclusive three-day summer stage school NEW AND exclusive for 2015, Mill Rythe Holiday Village on Hayling Island, Hampshire is introducing a stage school programme during the family break from July 27-31.

Across the three days three classes are available singing, acting and dancing - led by qualified teachers.

There will also be two master classes with leading principal stars from London's West End and, on

the last night, all participants will get to perform alongside the resort’s resident show cast and a leading principal from London's West End in the stage production 'The Greatest Musicals of All Time'. Children will also receive a '2015 Summer Stage School' diploma certificate at the end of the break.

The theatre school is available to children aged

eight-17 at a supplement to the holiday cost.

A four-night, half board stay, based on a July 27 arrival costs £149 per adult, £74 per child aged eight-15, and £37 for children aged two-seven. Kids under two years go free.

Accommodation is in twin/double, family and single rooms with en suite facilities and a TV. For further details see www.mill-rythe.com

Al Fresco adds new parks in France and new activities AL FRESCO Holidays has added three new parks in France for this year - La Palmeraie in Roussillon, La Sirene and Le Pin Parasol in the Vendée.

New activities also feature in the operator’s new programme.

The company’s sales manager, John Escott, said: “Yelloh! Village le Serignan Plage has introduced a new children’s fun pool with water jets and slides and Eden on the shores of Lake Garda has added a new wellness area, perfect for a relaxing Italian escape. Similarly, Yelloh! Village Le Brasilia has added a new spa area.

“Norcenni Girasole Club in Tuscany has added some exciting offerings to its

activities this year, including a new Funfair Adventure which includes a mini quad trail, trampolines, bungee-trampolines, a climbing wall and a tree climbing trail. The brand new Games Challenge area will keep kids entertained all day including games consoles, pool table, table tennis tables, football tables and air hockey.”

The operator has introduced up to 20% off July and August holidays, and lead-in prices start from £706 per person for a seven-night stay in a mobile home that sleeps six at La Croix du Vieux Pont in Champagne.

For more information visit www.alfrescoholidays.com or call 0843-636 2282.

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a i s a l a r t s au Getting the most out of your clients’ holidays Down Under

by MATT GREENWOOD, sales development manager – Oceania, Gold Medal

T

RAVEL ‘DOWN Under’ continues to flourish with increased demand to both Australia and New Zealand and we are seeing strong forward bookings for departures into next year, demonstrating a solid interest in the mid- to long-term.

Agents certainly have an opportunity to capitalise on this interest and demand – whether it be for flight-only bookings for clients to visit family or friends or a much bigger multi-state itinerary.

GETTING THE FLIGHT RIGHT When thinking about flights, one tip to bear in mind is that domestic flights can be significantly cheaper when booked with an international flight thanks to stronger airline alliances. They also tend to offer a greater degree of flexibility and offer the same baggage allowance as the international section of the journey.

There are also an increasing number of options for regional departures – don’t forget the European airlines – even though they don’t offer a flight themselves to Oceania, they do offer fares in cooperation with alliance and interline partners.

This also opens the door to a different variety of stopover destinations, which can be a minefield in itself; at the last count I identified 50 possibilities! By becoming familiar with which airline can offer which stopover destination, agents can provide their clients with perhaps some less obvious choices – but ones which represent great value for money

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and give the agent a competitive advantage over a web search.

Next, an important consideration is cabin class. In addition to the Economy cabin, a continued demand for Premium cabins has recently seen an upsurge in on board product enhancements, as well as additional airlines offering a Premium Economy cabin. It’s important to note that a Premium Economy product can differ depending on the airline – some offer merely an increase in leg room where as others, for example Air New Zealand, offer a revolutionary Spaceseat, Premium check in and upgraded meal options.

GETTING THE MOST FROM A HOLIDAY So, we’ve thought about how to get there, now where to start from there?

My advice is always to make sure you don’t try and pack too much into a short space of time. Two-week itineraries are now becoming more feasible thanks to better value airfares. And don’t be afraid to suggest a one state, or one island, itinerary. Clients often feel they have to see as much of Australia or New Zealand as possible, but they can quite easily take in spectacular beaches, fantastic wines, wildlife and iconic sites by sticking to one place.

For example, two weeks in Victoria can offer clients the opportunity to discover cosmopolitan Melbourne and St Kilda, drive the Ocean Road to experience the Twelve Apostles along with quaint towns and historic shipwrecks, and then progress up to

the Grampians for spectacular walks, waterfalls and panoramic views. In the Yarra Valley clients can then explore the rolling vineyards and meander down the Mornington Peninsula for chic beachfront towns along with fine food and wine - all without having to cross a state border!

Whichever destinations a client chooses to incorporate into their visit of this spectacular part of the world, following a few select tips can certainly enhance their experience: ●

If the itinerary allows, try and select a flight arriving in the late afternoon or early evening. That way, they will be ready for a good night’s sleep to reduce the effects of jetlag.

●

If travelling during peak dates and struggling for availability, consider a one-way upgrade. For example, rather than paying a higher Economy fare, the price difference between Economy and Premium Economy may not be too much more.

●

For self-drive clients not wishing to pre-book or pre-plan their accommodation, recommend an open dated accommodation pass.

This way their accommodation is budgeted for whilst still giving the flexibility they desire and of course these are commissionable.

●

Try not to incorporate more than one domestic flight for each week clients are in Australia. There is less danger of overcrowding an itinerary. ■

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australasia

InBrief ● TOURISM AUSTRALIA has

announced that Queensland's Gold Coast will play host to the country's largest annual tourism trade show - the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) - in 2016. ● TRAVEL 2 is offering a

three-day Abel TasmanWalking Experience tour, a small group guided walking holiday that takes in the sights of New Zealand’s Nelson, Awaroa and Torrent Bay. Normally done as part of a larger itinerary, the operator has priced the tour separately from flights, with prices from £725 per person for travel in October. Flights with Air New Zealand are from £1,076 per person.

Emirates announces debut Airbus A380 service to Perth EMIRATES HAS expanded the network of destinations served by its A380 aircraft with the launch of the first A380 service into Perth.

The new service will transport up to 982 passengers inbound and outbound daily between Perth and Dubai and, in line with the boost in services, the carrier is also further investing into the West Australian market by announcing plans of an expanded lounge at Perth Airport.

Set to open later this year, the lounge will offer increased capacity to cater for passengers travelling on the A380.

For further information or to make a booking visit www.emirates.com

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TEEING OFF this September is the launch of The Kinloch Club Villas. Set on the shores of Lake Taupo, New Zealand, the property overlooks a Jack Nicklaus golf course and offers 26 one-bedroom apartments plus two- and three-bedroom villas. The club offers a Junior suite at £240 per person, per night and includes breakfast, pre-dinner drinks, canapés and use of the swimming pool and tennis court.

For details visit www.kinloch-golf.com

Western Australia promotes walks, wildlife & wheels WESTERN AUSTRALIA reports that it is witnessing an increase in demand for new walking tours.

To capitalise on this demand, Inspiration Outdoors has launched a new ten-day Karijini and Chichester Ranges walking tour which explores the Pilbara region in Australia’s North West. Costing from £1,528 per person, the camping based group trek includes accommodation, a guide and all meals, with tours departing in May 2016.

Walk into Luxury is also offering new allinclusive luxury treks along the Cape to Cape Track. A four-day itinerary costs from £1,030 and includes guided walks, accommodation, a private vineyard visit, a massage and gourmet food and wine throughout.

Cape to Cape Explorer Tours has also introduced a new Sunset Forest and Cave Explorer evening tour which costs from £40, while Eco Abrolhos has launched a new five-day eco cruise to the Abrolhos Islands, allowing nature lovers to observe the 90 plus species of seabirds, in addition to migratory humpback whales, bottle-nose dolphins and sea lions. The cruise costs from £877 and includes accommodation,

meals, tours and on-land activities.

Meanwhile, EcoAdventures Margaret River is offering the exploration of Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park by bespoke electric quadbikes. Journeying off-thebeaten-track, customers will discover places few locals have seen, with tours costing from £50 per person.

Other new developments in the state include flights over the Margaret River coastline in vintage Tiger Moth aeroplanes from Tiger Moth Adventure Flights, with flights from £94; and new stand-up paddle board lessons with West Oz Kiteboarding in Shoalwater Bay. The one-and-a-half hour lessons are available for all abilities and cost from £53 per person.

Alternatively, for an adventure on two wheels, Two Feet and a Heartbeat Walking Tours has added its first bike tour on Rottnest Island. Combining cycling with history, the two-and-a-half hour tours are graded as easy, but provide an in-depth introduction to the island and orientation, ideal for those who want to ramp it up later in the day. Tours cost from £20 per person.

For further information see www.westernaustralia.com

June 12 2015

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australasia Nature Coast launches the ‘Great Beach Drive’

We asked our staff the following question this week: I'm not very good at....

Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk Being unhappy.

Editor: Lauretta Wright lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk Choosing a care-free, laid-back attitude - but I'm working on it...

Editorial Assistant: Adam Potter adam.potter@travelbulletin.co.uk Tennis.

Contributing Editor: Paul Scudamore post@travelbulletin.co.uk ...getting up in the morning, de-cluttering, "No, just a half of Guinness..."

AUSTRALIA’S NATURE Coast, which has been established by the Sunshine and Fraser Coast tourism organisations to jointly market their regions, has put together an itinerary involving six drives covering the region, which can be tailored to meet the specific interests and time span of each individual visitor.

The new product is targeted at European visitors and provides more than 200km of beach driving (with self-drive options or guided tours) which capture the coastline, scenery and wildlife along Queensland’s Sunshine and Fraser coasts.

David Spear, general manager of Fraser Coast Opportunities, said that the combination of easy accessibility and the rich diversity of the destination make it one of the most exciting international and domestic products released in Australia this year.

The drive starts in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, where travellers can kayak, canoe or take a cruise on the Noosa Everglades, before taking to their four wheel drive for a trek on the ‘beach highway’ to Rainbow Beach.

On route travellers will have the chance to see the abundant wildlife and take in numerous historic sites plus a variety of water and adventure sports on offer.

For further information such as tide times, track conditions, safety guidelines, camping and permits visit www.australiasnaturecoast.com

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

Advertisement Manager: Tim Podger tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk Being good.

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

Account Manager: Matt Gill matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk Cycling backwards.

Marketing Assistant: Gemma Reeve gemma.reeve@travelbulletin.co.uk Keeping plants alive.

Senior Designer: Lee Telot lee.telot@travelbulletin.co.uk

Great Beach Drive - Nature Coast

Monopoly.

Assistant Designer: Tom Davies thomas.davies@alaincharles.com

InBrief

Waking up on time.

Production: Charlie Burns charlie.burns@alaincharles.com

● MINOR HOTEL Group has announced an expansion in Australia with the launch of

Sewing.

two new properties in Perth; AVANI Hotel and AVANI Residences. The announcement marks the brand’s entry into the Australian market with an investment of more than AUD $110million. ● BOOKINGS MADE before June 30 for a ten-night stay at the One&Only, Hayman

Travel Bulletin is published by Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) Ltd University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London, SW1W 0EX, Tel: 020-7834 6661 Printed by: Buxton Press Subscriptions are £125 p.a. £195 overseas ISSN: 0956-2419

Island will receive two nights complimentary. Prices start from £3,079 per person when staying in a Lagoon Room on a bed-and-breakfast basis including flights and transfers. The offer is valid for travel until September 15.

puzzlesolutions Crossword: Across: 1. LUFTHANSA, 6. AUSTRALIA, 7. YUKON, 9. OLSEN, 10. EEL, 11. EAGLE, 12. KLIMT, 14. RADCLIFFE, 16. NASHVILLE. Down: 1. LENNY HENRY, 2. FRANK, 3. NORFOLK, 4. AKL, 5. BARNSTAPLE, 8. NEEDLES, 13. IDEAL, 15. DON.

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Highlighted Word: FRANCE Travagrams: (top) Rabbie’s

TravelBulletin 22

June 12 2015

(bottom) Tissamaharama

Where Am I?: Taktsang Palphug Monastery

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www.koreanair.com

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