Travel Bulletin 13th June 2014

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June 13 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,876 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

Australasia NSW plays host to variety of sporting events this winter

this week

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agent bulletin new training opportunities plus the latest booking incentives bulletin briefing updates from ANTOR's recent AGM usa an overview of new attractions, flight options & hotel launches

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holiday parks new accommodation options plus summer deals to help boost sales

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Cover Pictures: Main - James Horan, Australia day,, Destination NSW

Inset - Verruckt, Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark

This Week 3

news

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at home with eileen

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agent bulletin

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report reveals younger generation most likely to turn to travel agents for advice find out what homeworker Eileen has been up to lately new training opportunities plus the latest booking incentives

puzzle bulletin play Su Doku for your chance to win a £50 Love2Shop voucher from Voyages-sncf

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bulletin briefing

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airline bulletin

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updates from ANTOR’s recent AGM

a round-up of new flight routes & special offers

personality bulletin the senior sales & marketing executive from Choose Chicago is in the hot seat this week

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usa

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holiday parks

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australasia

an overview of new attractions, flight options & hotel launches new accommodation options plus summer deals to help boost sales NSW plays host to variety of sporting events this winter

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ON A HIGH...Pictured enjoying views of Slovenia's Lake Bled on a recent fam trip with Classic Collection Holidays, are, from the left: Sally Robinson, Holt Travel; Tom Prescott, Ten UK; Andrea Powell, Idelo Travel; Eva Kokoszynska, Fortune Travel; Dani Clews, Mercian Travel; Ed Holmes, Loughton Travel; and Gail Sims, Camberley Travel.

Poll reveals younger generation most likely to turn to travel agents for advice FHR RECENTLY polled 2,000 Brits as part of a new survey to determine how long they dedicate to researching their holidays, the age of the traveller, the amount they spend and how they choose to book their break away.

The findings revealed that when researching holidays, it is the younger age group who are using travel agents more for advice, with 36% of 16-24 year olds seeking advice from travel agents online and in person, compared to 19% of 55 year olds and above.

Graham Greenaway, the company's director, said: “Travel companies stuck with the mentality that the older generation do not use their websites need to think again. Our latest research shows that this age group is now carrying out more research via their computers than using travel agents. The same applies to when they book their holidays. Moving forward, to cater for this shift in online behaviour, we should see less emphasis from travel companies on brochures and more focus on websites.”

When holidaymakers were asked how much they spent on their last holiday, the most popular price ranges included £801-£1,500 (19%), followed by £201£400 and £401-£600 both at 18%. Unsurprisingly the lowest price range was holidays costing more than £2,500, with just 4% of people spending this.

Nearly half (48%) of British holidaymakers chose to book their holiday online, with reasons including the ease of booking (46%), much quicker (43%), less stressful (16%) and more flexibility (28%). Just over a quarter (28%) of those surveyed preferred to use a travel agent either online or person, with explanations including their expert knowledge (17%), easier way of doing things (19%), save money (20%) and save time (20%).

For more information visit www.bookfhr.com

WTTC asks for help in changing industry image MEMBERS OF the Travel & Tourism industry in the UK are being asked to participate in a new World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) campaign to help change the perception of a career in the sector.

People are being asked to create their own 15 second videos to explain why they love working in Travel & Tourism.

The campaign comes on the back of new research from WTTC, which shows that Travel & Tourism holds opportunities for job creation to address the youth unemployment and gender inequality issues faced by countries across the world.

The findings show that the industry employs a higher proportion of young people and women compared with the global workforce as a whole. However, serious challenges have been identified when it comes to the understanding and ● continues on next page

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profile of the sector amongst undergraduates. The research found that Travel & Tourism companies are missing out on the best new talent amongst graduates in the UK due to negative perceptions of a career in Travel & Tourism, with just 47% of UK respondents saying they would consider a career in the industry.

David Scowsill, president & CEO of WTTC, said: "Travel & Tourism helps transport people to all corners of the world, immerse them in different cultures and experiences and provides a

livelihood to millions worldwide. It’s a fantastic industry to work in but we need to increase awareness of career opportunities. Graduates need to be moved away from always only considering banking or finance or law as careers with opportunities for progression and security and see Travel & Tourism as an excellent career option.

We believe this campaign can play its part in doing that.”

In the video, people are being asked to answer one of the following questions How or why did you decide to start a career in the Travel & Tourism industry?

What has been the most fulfilling (or

inspiring) moment in your T&T career?

Who has been most influential to you in your T&T career? Why would you recommend a career in T&T to someone? and How has a career in T&T affected/changed your life?

The videos then need to be uploaded to Instagram, tagging @WTandTC and hashtagging #TourismMatters for a chance to win a prize. A first prize of US$1,000 and runner-up prizes of $500 and $250 will be awarded by WTTC to spend on a travel event of the winner’s choice.

For details see www.youtube.com/ watch?v=rgISUCCkNZw

Miniland Royals receive an exclusive makeover at Legoland Windsor THE ROYAL Family at Legoland Windsor Resort's famous Miniland are getting an exclusive makeover for Royal Ascot this month as award winning hat maker to Her Majesty the Queen, Rachel Trevor Morgan, creates miniature designs for seven 10cm-high regal Lego models.

Situated in front of Miniland's miniature recreation of Buckingham Palace, tiny models of Her Majesty the Queen, The Duchess of Cornwall, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, Zara Philips, The

Duchess of Cambridge and her mother Carole Middleton – will each wear a specially created piece of headwear designed and hand made by Rachel Trevor Morgan.

Her Majesty The Queen will wear a characteristically classic and colourful straw hat in bright yellow with tiny hand painted silk flowers. The Duchess of Cornwall's dove grey side sweeping picture hat is decorated with minute feathers swirling to form an elegant circular design, while the Duchess

of Cambridge will wear an understated yet stunning Royal Blue straw slice hat with two miniature quill feathers.

Guests will be able to see the Miniland Royal ladies dressed in their Royal Ascot Hats until June 21.

Meanwhile, the theme park has joined forces with the RSPB to give nature a home in a specially created wildlife garden in the heart of the resort.

Featuring unique habitats made entirely from Lego bricks, the garden has been created to mark the first

anniversary of the RSPB's Giving Nature a Home campaign, and guests will be able to visit it throughout the year.

The resort's model makers have created six habitats from thousands of individual bricks - a frogitat, a series of hogitats (hedgehog houses) plus a bird bath and bat box - all situated in landscaped greenery complete with a pond, life sized Lego creatures and a human birdwatcher.

For more information visit www.legoland.co.uk

Titan announces exclusive departure from Manchester

POD PALS...Pictured in an aircraft training pod at a recent 'Access All Areas' training day with Gold Medal at Qantas HQ in London is the operator's Tina Hodge (left) with Carol Smith from COPTA. More than 40 agents attended to learn more from the operator's sales development team, along with four supplier sessions delivered by product partners APT Guided Touring, DTCM, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Tourism Thailand and Qantas.

Agents interested in attending upcoming training events should email accessallareas@goldmedal.co.uk

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TITAN HAS announced the introduction of an exclusive departure from Manchester Airport for its Royal Crown programme.

The launch is a first for the operator in offering an alternative direct flight option to its standard Heathrow and Gatwick departures.

In response to feedback from agents and clients, the company has included the new route in its Classic River Cruises 2014 brochure which features a selection of cruises on the Royal Crown. The brochure also includes a no-fly option from London and Folkestone.

The Manchester date departs on August 16 with prices from £1,395 per person on The Mysteries of The Rhine cruise, while the no-fly Folkestone cruise departs on August 2 and 9 on The Beauty of the Rhine and Moselle, and leads in at £1,225.

Added extras are part of every cruise and include all meals on the ship; complimentary house wine, beer or soft drinks with lunch and dinner; included excursions and visits; the services of a tour manager throughout; and a VIP Home Departure Service.

For more information or to book call 0800-988 5800 or see www.titanagents.co.uk

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newsbulletin Haiti Tourism opens UK office THE MINISTRY of Tourism for the Republic of Haiti under the leadership of Stephanie Villedrouin, minister for tourism and creative industry, has taken a number of steps to create the right infrastructure on the island.

This includes facilities at existing airports, development of new airports, major improvements to the roads, creating the right climate for international hotel chains and creating facilities around key attractions.

The destination is now ready to push forward and receive more travellers to the island.

With this in mind, Haiti has appointed Jean-Marc Flambert to spear-head Haiti’s efforts in the UK. Jean-Marc has the unique experience of having run both the Sri Lanka and Saint Lucia Tourist Boards.

He said: "I am very excited and I know that Haiti has the potential to regain her rightful position as a leading Caribbean destination.

"Leading hotels such as NH and Occidental (both Spanish chains), plus Best Western have opened. Marriot is under construction and Hilton has just announced a development.

“Haiti is for the experience-seeking traveller. Historic fortresses, mountains of 2,000 metres, caves, waterfalls, art and music, festivals and delicious food all await you. Come and discover Haiti for yourself.”

For more information visit http://ouihaiti.com/ and https://www.haititourism e.gouv.ht/

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CARIBBEAN FLAVOURS...A group of villa and tour operators enjoyed a private dinner with a distinctly Caribbean flavour in London recently, courtesy of UNNA Luxury Resorts and Residences. The evening gave operators the chance to learn more about developments at UNNA’s Saint Peter’s Bay Luxury Resort and Residences and the newly launched Port Ferdinand Luxury Marina and Residences in Barbados. UNNA has recently formed partnerships with a number of operators including Kuoni, Chic Locations and Exceptional Villas, to sell holidays at its Saint Peter’s Bay Luxury Resort and Residences near Speightstown. Port Ferdinand will be open for holiday bookings from late autumn this year and sees the introduction of a new luxury marina living concept to the island. Pictured getting aquainted are, from the left: Eoin O’Sullivan, general manager for UNNA Luxury Resorts and Residences; Katherine Hobbs from Caribtours; and Sara Malin and Mark Robinson from Prestige Caribbean.

Festival fever hots up with discounts from Belleair Holidays BELLEAIR HOLIDAYS is offering deals to Malta with up to £175 per person discounts for agents to highlight to customers looking to take in the festivities this summer.

As examples, The Malta Music Week runs from June 20-25, with the free Isle of MTV music festival staged on June 25. The event is the pinnacle of a week-long festival of live music which covers the full spectrum of today’s music scene.

Meanwhile, feast days are celebratory events and some are national holidays such as the feast of Santa Marija in mid-August.

Others, such as the harvest festival of Mnarja at the end of June, are steeped in folklore. However, the most

important events to all villages are their individual festas, honoring their parish patron saint. The village festas start at the end of May and occur nearly every weekend up to September. Banners, papier maché statues and garlands decorate the main streets and homes of the village where the feast is taking place. A typical Maltese ‘festa' lasts three days with food stands lining the streets serving the crowds of merry-makers.

The evenings often end with fireworks displays.

As examples of prices, a seven-night breakfast stay at the three-star Hotel Bayview costs from £391 per person, offering a saving of £150 per person.

It includes flights from Birmingham, transfers and complimentary entrance to a selected Malta attraction, and is based on a June 24 departure.

A special one-off departure on July 15 from Exeter offers a saving of £175 per person, with prices leading in at £312 at the three-star Primera Hotel. It includes flights, seven nights' breakfast accommodation in a balcony room, transfers and complimentary entrance to a selected attraction.

For details of events see www.visitmalta.com/events and for further information or to book see www.belleair.co.uk/agents or call 0845-365 3412.

Prestige adds Madeira & new Canaries hotels to winter brochure PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS has added Madeira to its winter 2014/15 brochure, which also features the islands of Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera.

New for this winter are five properties in the Canaries: the H10 Playa Meloneras Palace and Cordial Mogan Playa in Gran Canaria, the H10 Conquistador in Tenerife and the H10 Rubicon Palace and the H10 Lanzarote Princess in Lanzarote.

Winter breaks start from £518 per person for a week’s stay at Casa La

Reverica on La Palma including room-only accommodation, car hire, flights with Thomson Airways from Gatwick and an early booking offer.

Clients booking winter breaks receive added value offers including free nights, complimentary half-board, child discounts, complimentary spa deals, room upgrades and free rounds of golf. Early booking offers are also available at a range of hotels.

For further information call 01425-480400 or visit www.prestigeholidays.co.uk

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newsbulletin Tweets of the Week Who’s saying what on Twitter... @deverevenues Take a Break from just £29! Choose From One of Our Many UK Locations. http://bit.ly/R2PoA1 pic.twitter.com/YuDvvmTYvd @On_The_Go_Tours Discover the highlights and hidden gems of one of Europe's most appealing destinations on a sailing holiday: http://bit.ly/18cnAg6 @jetairways Enjoy a flat 10% discount on Première & Economy fares from India to all International destinations! #offers: http://bit.ly/cfikj03 @HolidayExtras Check out our 7 jet-lag busting tips http://buff.ly/1k05VkE @visitlondon London's Top 10 attractions, markets, coffee shops, film locations and more on our list of lists! http://ow.ly/xzNvR

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

FALCON FLIGHT...Funway Holidays took nine agents and travel industry professionals to Busch Gardens Tampa, Florida, where they had a behind the scenes tour of the park’s new ride, Falcon’s Fury. Pictured are, from the left: (front row) Claire White, Very Cheap Holidays; Anna Barnes, Funway; Lydia Alexander (in the chair), Colchester Travel; Abigail Stanton, Midcounties Co-op; and Samantha Grayson, Departure Lounge Travel; with (back row) Jane Kolowski, Bath Travel; Tercia Caetano, Offshore Leisure; Jeff Hornick, Busch Garden; Lynda Bradley, Holiday Genie; Kirsty Laing, Kelso Travel; and Elaine Price, Spear Travel.

Musical additions for June from Warner Leisure Hotels WARNER LEISURE Hotels is taking its guests on a musical journey of West End theatre performances, the swinging beats of the 70s and soulful jazz tributes across a number of its 13 properties this month.

Among the entertainment is ‘Dream Lover’ a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy set taking guests on a journey back in time, plus a new Curtain Up show which will bring the West End to guests. Boogie Fever will bring back memories of a decade filled with flared trousers, tank tops and disco balls, with a tribute to Michael Bublé.

‘Dream Lover’ takes place on selected dates at Alvaston Hall in Cheshire,

Littlecote House in Berkshire, Thoresby Hall in Nottinghamshire, Nidd Hall in North Yorkshire, Corton Coastal Village in Suffolk, Lakeside Coastal Village in Hampshire and Norton Grange on the Isle of Wight.

Guests can dance and sing along to hits including ‘At the Hop’, ‘Johnny B Goode’, ‘Can’t take my eyes off of you’ and ‘Dream Lover’.

Performances for ‘Curtain Up’ take place at selected properties on selected dates until June 27, and offer guests a line-up of songs from some of the best loved musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon, Anything Goes and Me & My Girl.

Meanwhile, the company has introduced a new evening game show, 'Leader of the Pack', which is based on the 70s and 80s Bruce Forsyth classic TV game show, Play Your Cards Right.

A three-night Leader of the Pack break for a July 11 arrival, costs from £179 per person at Corton Coastal Village, Suffolk.

The price is based on two adults sharing a standard chalet and includes the Simply Dine (half-board) dining package.

For more information or to book visit www.bourneleisuresales.co .uk or call 0808-141111.

Wightlink goes #wightlive for summer to promote new festival campaign WIGHTLINK FERRIES has launched its first campaign targeted at promoting the range of festivals which take part on the Island over the summer. The campaign, which focuses on social and traditional media, is working under the banner #wightlive and launches just ahead of the Island’s first major music festival of the summer, The Isle of Wight Festival, which runs until June 15.

The company will be promoting the campaign throughout the summer, encouraging Facebook and Twitter fans visiting the Island, and any cultural or sporting event, to share their experiences using the hashtag.

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Although promoting all cultural activities on the Island, #wightlive will focus on key festivals of which it is a sponsor, in particular the Isle of Wight Festival of the Sea from June 16-23, VDub Island from August 14-18, The Garlic Festival from August 16-17, Bestival from September 4-7 and Isle of Wight Cycling Festival which runs from September 13-28.

Alongside the promotion of the hashtag, the operator will be running a summer long photo-sharing competition which will invite travellers and festival goers to “take centre stage” on the Isle of Wight by framing their picture in a

Polaroid-style frame, which is available as a downloadable app from a dedicated #wightlive landing page on the company's website www.wightlive.co.uk Anyone who posts a picture to the company's Facebook page, or tags them on Twitter or Instagram and uses the #wightlive hashtag, will automatically be entered into a competition to win one of six trips to the Isle of Wight. There will also be one “Grand Festival #wightlive Winner” who will win an “Access Festivals Pass” - including travel – to the six spotlight Festivals on the Island for summer 2015.

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newsbulletin International expansion from AC Tours AC TOURS, the Destination Management Company (DMC), is expanding into international markets through the direct contracting of hotels and attractions in key European cities, starting with Paris and Amsterdam due to agent demand.

The move into Europe follows the expansion of the company's UK portfolio which covers the length and breadth of the country offering hotels and attractions, from budget to luxury, to a growing portfolio of inbound International markets.

All contracted hotels and attractions are bookable via the AC Tours team and its online business-to-business booking portal.

Robert Russell, the company's general manager, said: “The decision to expand into these International markets was the next logical step in the development of AC Tours as a growing business.

We envisage further international development in the future and anticipate expanding further into more European and worldwide cities in the coming months."

CHAMPAGNE PARTY...Ten independent VIP agents from nine agencies visited the Champagne region as guests of Kirker Holidays. Although seeing the tourist attractions in the City of Reims was the main reason for the fam, agents had the chance to sample the wine for which the area is famous. Pictured at Champagne Mumm are, from the left: Sarah Phillips, Miles Morgan; Charlotte Meredith, Bath Travel; Fiona Clarke, Wayne Pollock Exclusive Luxury; Melanie Tomlinson, Oasis Travel; Anne Prentice, Travelux Travel; Linda Oates, Sunninghill Travel; Rosanna North, Kirker Holidays; Natasha Stevens, Medway Travel; Alison Osborn, Star Clippers; Deborah Smith, Miles Morgan; and Catherine Birchall, The Ultimate London.

Get powered up on-the-go with new collection of travel accessories...

THE LAUNCH of a new collection of travel accessories is sure to put a spring in the step of any jet-setter.

Containing discreet, high capacity, ON THE rechargeable batteries, the new range of luggage tags and travel C ASE wallets, from Jadeco, charge mobile devices on-the-go.

Containing a lightweight 3000mAh battery to give most Smartphones 1-1.5 full charges is the Sulan Battery Tag (pictured) and Gillan Battery Pouch. The Sulan can simply be hung from the handles of a bag or briefcase or discreetly carried inside a bag or a pocket, whereas the Gillan Battery Pouch provides both portable power and storage for cosmetics or mini-travel essentials. The entire Jadeco collection is compatible with micro-USB devices e.g. Android phones including Samsung, Nokia HTC and BlackBerry, and with Apple devices using licensed Apple adaptors, sold separately.

Prices for the Sulan start from £35.

For details see www.wowthem.com

TRAVEL ACCESSORIES YOU WON'T WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND...

Vertical Systems introduces new CRM platform to boost productivity for agents VERTICAL SYSTEMS has launched its new CRM platform which is currently in use by travel agents and tour operators sitting within the Vertical Group, plus a number of the company's key clients.

Owners and managers now have access to a new dashboard which provides instant performance data by group/company/individual, daily, weekly and annual statistics, activity

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reports and conversion ratios - all accessible live to their desktop or remotely via tablet and phone. Users can also track their personal performance by checking quotes, bookings, outstanding enquiries, reminder calendar and general activity reports.

The new system streamlines processing, delivers better data, is more accurate due to its seamless

integration with other Vertical products and delivers an all-round solution to travel companies who seek better management information and wish to communicate with their customers in a more effective way.

The company will be launching a schedule of “pop-up demo studios” to run in London, the South East, Manchester and Belfast over the next few months.

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e m o h At en...

e l i E with

ileen orker E w e m o as h th?

What h p to this mon u n e be

AN'T BELIEVE it's June already, can you? Isn't the year passing by quickly? There seems to be lots of special events taking place this summer including the WW1 centenary commemorations, the 70th Anniversary of the D- Day landings in Normandy, not to mention the World Cup in Brazil.

We’ve also got the UK stages of the Tour de France in a few weeks time. There’s been quite a lot of excitement locally as the race will be coming through our local village and a number of events have been planned. As the cyclists will be going straight past my husband’s shop, he has borrowed some vintage 1920’s Tour de France bikes and memorabilia to display in the shop window to add to the occasion.

One of my clients hesitated about booking the family’s holiday as their dates clashed with the race and he didn’t want to miss it. However, his wife won the day and I booked them a holiday to Barbados leaving the day before the race.

There were some very poignant scenes in Normandy last week at the D-Day Anniversary, and what a lovely story about the 89 year old veteran who went missing from his care home and made his way to France to join the commemorations.

I’ve just spent an enjoyable few days in Lincoln. I stayed at the Old Palace Hotel which is located in the heart of the historic city centre. It’s a lovely heritage hotel and for many years it was home to the Bishops of Lincoln. Situated right next to the magnificent cathedral but tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it really is in a perfect location - central yet quiet. Rooms are elegantly furnished with some having views of the cathedral and others of the garden, which in turn has wonderful views of the city and surrounding countryside.

There’s a lot to see and do in Lincoln and it is a great choice for a UK city break.

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Monarch teams with HUBSTAR to offer on-airport concierge MONARCH HAS announced its partnership with HUBSTAR, a third party ancillary service providing the facility for customers to book porter services directly through the www.monarch.co.uk website.

HUBSTAR is the first platform, which has been developed to offer a bespoke software solution that brings together a global network of service providers. Customers will have access to information about HUBSTAR, the services offered and access to these services within each airport on the airline's route.

The ‘meet and assist’ service at departures enables the customer to be met by an agent directly outside the terminal; they are then escorted to the check-in desk and expedited through all check-in and security processes. Customers are then escorted either to a lounge or to the aircraft gate when ready to board. Customers who book the baggage porters for departures will be met outside the airport terminal and escorted with their luggage to the check-in desk.

The ‘meet and assist’ service at arrivals enables the customer to be met by an agent at the aircraft gate; the agent will be able to provide assistance with any visas or landing card requirements. Customers will again be expedited through immigration and the customs process (where relevant and subject to airport) and escorted onto their next method of transport or the airport forecourt. There are also arrival porters on hand to meet customers by the baggage carousel to help carry luggage and escort to a point of transport.

For more information visit www.hub-star.com

Go

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WEBSCLUSIVES ●

Win an Ipod Shuffle courtesy of INNS'BRUCK The capital of the Alps.

Enter our competition today at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

●

Win a £50 M&S Voucher with Air Malta.

Enter our competition today at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

●

Win a case of wine with VOYAGES-SNCF UK. Enter our competition today at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

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Win an Ipad Mini with the China National Tourist Office.

Enter our competition today at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

All this and more at:

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

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agentbulletin Booking incentives new ● TRAVEL 2 has launched its Dubai and Indian Ocean 2014/15 brochure for agents. The operator's sales and marketing director, Gordon McCreadie, said: “In addition to our great agent incentives and our Advance Registration Policy, our new Dubai and Indian Ocean brochure is packed full of substantial savings across all destinations.

Offers include free night stays, honeymoon specials and early bird discounts, and 29 new properties have been added across the whole region." To mark the launch, the company has partnered with the Seychelles Tourist Board to offer agents the chance to claim a £20 shopping voucher for any booking including a minimum three-night stay on the islands.

Agents also have the chance to win one of 20, £100 shopping

vouchers as part of the operator's ongoing ‘Summer is Dubai campaign’ by making a qualifying Dubai booking within the campaign period. Highlights of the deals in the new Dubai and Indian Ocean brochure include three nights at the five-star Sofitel Dubai Downtown from £579 including flights, and seven nights' half-board at the five-star Westin Turtle Bay Resort from £1,379 including flights.

For details visit www.travel2.com or call 0800-0224 182. ●

ATTRACTION WORLD is offering agents £30 in Love2Shop vouchers for each cruise shore excursion booked this month.

The company offers a range of excursions from 17 ports of call in the Mediterranean for this summer and next on a selection of cruise lines

including Celebrity, P&O, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. The minimum booking value to claim the vouchers is £75 and agents can email their booking references to ireallylovecruise@attraction world.com ●

IF ONLY... has introduced a new agent booking incentive for this month. Agents will be rewarded with a £100 Debenhams voucher, to spend in-store or online every time they make an If Only...

Silversea booking from now until June 30. Agents can also ‘double dip’, as the operator will also enter all bookings into Silversea’s own 'Twenty Prizes for Twenty Years Promotion', where agents have the chance to win prizes such as Kindles and Lion King tickets.

Agent Training THE EXPEDIA Travel Agent Affiliate Programme (TAAP) has recently launched a new training course with Online Travel Training (OTT). The primary aim of the course is to ensure that agents are fully aware that they can sell any product available on the Expedia.co.uk website at the same price that is available direct to the general public and, at the same time, earn commission. Agents who complete the course for the first time will receive a bar of chocolate, whilst a monthly draw to win a £35 Domino’s Pizza voucher for lunch at the office is also offered.

To sign up visit www.expediataaptraining.co.uk AGENTS HAVE the chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher when they complete the Province of Québec’s OTT programme, which offers various modules on Québec’s main tourist regions, activities to do by season and a section on wildlife and gastronomy.

For a chance to win, agents should complete the training by July 31.

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CITY SWEEP...The Salzburg Tourist Board ran a competition in conjunction with Travel Bulletin to give agents the chance to win a two-night stay in Salzburg, plus free admission to all of the sights, attra ctions and public transport by correctly an swering questions about the city. Pictured is the winner of the city break , Emma Fo rd from Premier Travel in Seaford.

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Titan has the USA covered

10 11 19

Tours to America's East Coast Prices from £1,599pp

Tours to Central America & Deep South Prices from £1,799pp

Tours to America's West Coast & Alaska Prices from £1,295pp

NO.1 TRAVELLER will open My Lounge, a new take on the preflight lounging experience, at Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal, next month. The relaxed younger brother of the No.1 lounge collection offers the exclusivity and amenities of a traditional airport lounge, without the formality. It will feature floor to ceiling windows, a selection of snacks and drinks, lifestyle magazines and newspapers, Mac terminals, a games room, big screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. The experience, including Premium Security Lane access, costs £16 per adult at www.bookmylounge.com (£18 on the door) and £10 for children aged two-11.

£99 upgrade to Premium Economy with Wendy Wu WENDY WU Tours has partnered with Cathay Pacific on an exclusive upgrade deal offering customers that book on a Wendy Wu tour via Hong Kong a Premium Economy upgrade from £99 one-way, departing from Heathrow or Manchester.

The offer is exclusive to the operator and Premium Economy offers a wider seat in a private cabin, priority boarding with dedicated check-in, extra baggage allowance, enhanced food and drink and a welcome glass of Champagne.

The offer is valid on selected China tours booked by June 30 for departures in November and December or between February to June 2015.

For more information or to book visit www.upgradewithwendy.com

Every Titan holiday includes our VIP Home Departure Service†

For more information, call FREE on 0800 988 5800 or visit titanagents.co.uk T’s & C’s apply. Calls free from BT landlines, mobiles may vary. † Excludes Scottish islands and Sark.

Free food voucher from P&O Ferries HOLIDAYMAKERS WILL receive a free £20 food voucher this summer when they book a Dover to Calais crossing with P&O Ferries.

Customers will be given a voucher to spend in their choice of on board restaurants when they book a return car trip of more than five days. Vouchers can be used in the Brasserie, Food Court or Club Lounge.

The offer applies to bookings made by June 23 for travel

by September 30.

Lead-in fares start from £35 one-way for a car and up to nine passengers.

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puzzlebulletin Travagrams

Su Doku Win a £50 Love2Shop voucher in the

Su Doku prize puzzle

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

Number: 023

Fencer Lo

A➠

B➠ Fill in the blank: ‘…….. & the Machine’

C➠

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 19th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 30th May is Emily Garrett, Kanoo Travel in Croydon.

May 30 Solution: A=4 B=5 C=8 D=9

Number: 023

Crossword

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Dishearten Logy Shares its name with a prince who rules not as a monarch but as a ……

Where Am I?

The fabled "rose red city, half as old as time".

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

Across 1. Ferry Line operating in Scandinavia and the North and Irish Seas (5) 3. Northern Corsica resort overlooked by a medieval citadel (5) 5. Airport code for 15 Down (3) 6. Popular island destination off the coast of Tunisia (6) 8. One of the BGT judges (6) 9. The All Blacks regularly perform this ritual dance (4) 11. Capital of Peru (4) 13. The Victoria Falls forms the border between Zimbabwe and this country (6) 16. Glacier Bay national park is located in this US state (6) 17. Etihad Airways is their national carrier, initially (3) 18. Prestigious museum and art gallery in Madrid (5) 19. You don't need to go underground for this free London newspaper (5)

Down 1. The 2014 World Cup kicked off in this city (3,5) 2. English singer / songwriter, ___ Goulding (5) 3. William the Conqueror is buried in this Normandy city (4) 4. Greece and Cyprus specialist (5) 6. Capital of Qatar (4) 7. Torvill and Dean recently recreated their winning 1984 Bolero routine in this city (8) 10. Island location of Indonesia's capital (4) 12. Belleair specialise in holidays to this island (5) 14. Emily, starring opposite Tom in Edge of Tomorrow at a cinema near you (5) 15. Scandinavian capital city (4)

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 30 June 13 2014

11

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newsbulletin Carnival launches June campaign 40 YEARS YOUNG...Pictured marking Carrick Travel's 40th birthday celebrations is the agency's joint owners, Tina Nason (right) and Tracey Carter.

Osprey Holidays offers city packages from Cambridge FOLLOWING THE launch of new twice daily CityJet flights to Dublin and Amsterdam from Cambridge Airport, city break specialists Osprey Holidays has launched its own brace of packages in time for two of the destination’s most popular summer events.

The operator's Cambridge to Amsterdam package includes two nights at the three-star Mercure Arthur Frommer Hotel from £389 per person, plus flights from Cambridge to Schiphol on August 8 - in time for the Netherland’s largest Open Air Film Festival “Pluk de Nacht.”

Meanwhile, the company's

Cambridge Airport

newly released Cambridge to Dublin package includes three nights at the four-star Mont Clare Hotel plus CityJet flights from Cambridge on September 9, and costs from £393. The package enables culture and arts lovers to visit the Dublin Fringe Festival which takes place from September 6-21. The package excludes event tickets,

however the operator can purchase select tickets on behalf of customers on request.

For more information call 0131-243 8098.

For details on Pluk de Nacht and the Dublin Fringe Festival see www.plukdenacht.nl/en/about -the-festival and www.fringefest.com

VisitRentals.com launches real-time online booking portal VISITRENTALS.COM HAS launched a realtime online booking portal dedicated to ApartHotels and serviced apartments.

Founded to improve the identity of the serviced accommodation sector, the system provides a transparent, convenient and competitive, live booking platform that offers instant access to the world’s largest database of ApartHotel properties, with savings of up to 45% on traditional hotel rates.

The company's global portfolio features more than 550,000 properties – from studio accommodation to five-star luxury suites, all of which are selected based on location and facilities.

Commenting on the launch the company's founder and CEO, Dr David Nicholson, said: “Serviced accommodation is a great alternative to the standard hotel

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June 13 2014

and will fast become a preferred option.

We identified a gap in the market and developed VisitRentals.com to bring convenience and transparency to the ApartHotel sector. From conception we aimed to dispel two myths: that serviced accommodation is costly and that booking is longwinded and difficult. The portal’s real time availability means hassle free booking and instant confirmation, so we feel confident that the next 12 months will see great things for the brand."

Agents are offered commission on bookings - typically 10% which is shared between the agent and hotelier. In support of the online function, the company also offers an account management team to offer a fully personalised approach throughout the search and booking process.

CARNIVAL CRUISE Lines has announced its June campaign, Think Caribbean, Think Carnival, which offers category upgrades on accommodation and onboard credit.

Guests can explore the Caribbean on three- to eight-day itineraries, from a variety of departure ports including Miami and Galveston. Excursions on offer include riding horses in the sea, swimming with stingrays, snorkelling and exploring the ocean in a mini submarine.

The campaign offers deals to holidaymakers booking by June 30. Clients sailing between now and July 31 on three- to fourday itineraries will be offered $20 onboard credit per cabin, whilst those on seven days or longer itineraries will be offered up to $100 credit, which can be used for shore excursions at each destination as well as onboard experiences.

For clients sailing between August 1 and December 31, the line is offering two-category upgrades on accommodation.

Iain Baille, the company's head of sales for UK and Ireland, said: “Our winter and May campaigns this year have been such a success and we wanted to offer something for those booking this month. We pride ourselves on the range of excursions we provide our guests and so offering them onboard credit to use helps to make their holiday even more memorable. Whether passengers are looking to hike Mont Pelee, explore the caves in Aruba or snorkel in Dominica, the perfect holiday is even more affordable with this campaign.”

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

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bulletinbriefing

Industry Insight by...

Tracey Poggio, chair of ANTOR

First honorary fellowship presented at ANTOR’s 2014 AGM NTOR’S AGM took place at the Telegraph Offices with more than half of the membership in attendance. The treasurer’s report confirmed that finances were in good order and membership stable. In her report the chairman, Tracey Poggio, reminded members that ANTOR is the only official body for tourist boards in the UK and, as such, tourist boards represented by marketing agencies or with tourism attaches in their embassies can also benefit from this recognition by becoming members.

A

The AGM is an important gathering for ANTOR members as it allows them to talk freely about issues that affect them and openly debate how, as an association, they can work together to resolve them, improve ROI on marketing activities as well as APD. All members present agreed unanimously that they want ANTOR to continue lobbying for a three-day WTM show, while five members said their destinations are still unfairly affected by APD and all agreed the APD lobby must not be dropped.

At the AGM, ANTOR’s first Honorary Fellowship was awarded to Serge Moes, former director of the Luxembourg Tourist Office, and former ANTOR chairman for his many years of service on the board and as ANTOR’s first webmaster.

Serge was presented with a Fellowship certificate and thanked the chairman and members of ANTOR for the honour.

Another important aspect of ANTOR’s activities is sharing knowledge and experience amongst

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June 13 2014

"Another important aspect of ANTOR’s activities is sharing knowledge and experience amongst its members and with the industry. For us, 2013/14 has been a bumper year with some tremendous events that have covered many topics" its members and with the industry.

For us, 2013/14 has been a bumper year with some tremendous events that have covered many topics. The chairman ran through the highlights of the past 12 months, starting in June 2013 with a ‘travel in mobile technology’ session, in conjunction with Trip Advisor and hosted by Deloitte. Other highlights included the launch of an ANTOR Code of Conduct for tourist boards in July, a lively debate about how to evaluate travel blogging with the British Guild of Travel Writers in August and a very successful ‘Meet the Media’ evening in September, which was represented by 24 members and attended by more than 100 key travel writers. Last year ended full of festive cheer with a generous buffet reception sponsored by the Polish Tourist Office, held at the Polish Embassy, while this year kicked off with an annual review of the market and future predictions by ABTA. In March, St. Lucia hosted members together with Meetings & Incentive Travel Magazine for a panel discussion on the MICE market.

The first event for 2014/15 was ‘ANTOR Meets the Travel Trade’

networking evening on June 10 with 25 tourist boards attending at the Lithuanian Embassy and afternoon seminars on experiential and responsible tourism.

Already members of the Tourism Alliance and Fair Tax for Flying campaign, in November ANTOR signed its official support of the World Travel & Tourism Council to become an affiliate partner. The board proposed a number of ways to increase membership and raise ANTOR’s profile including the appointment of patrons from different aspects of the travel community.

The secretariat proposed that ANTOR starts a blog, ‘A day in the life of an ANTOR Tourist Board Director’ to highlight the different challenges faced by directors in their day to day role. All were in favour – so watch this space….

The elected board for 2014 /15 is Tracey Poggio (Gibraltar), Robin Segal (Jersey), Jean-Marc Flambert (Haiti Tourism), Josephine Wiggall Lazarus (Quebec), Cherrie Osborne (Antigua & Barbuda), Bogdan Becla (Poland), Michael Michael (Korea), Orestis Rossides (Cyprus) and Omayma El Husseini (Egypt).

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airlinebulletin Air Canada's St. John’s - LHR flights to become year-round AIR CANADA has announced that its nonstop St. John’s-Heathrow flights will operate yearround from October 26.

The carrier's executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, Benjamin Smith, said: “On-going support for the seasonal service by the local community over several years now enables us to extend it and offer travellers in Newfoundland and Labrador the convenience of year-round flights to Heathrow.”

Flights will operate three times weekly on Monday, Thursday and Saturday leaving St. John’s at 00:40, arriving in London at 09:15, redeparting from London at 11:05 and arriving back in St. John’s at 13:05.

At Heathrow, the airline offers convenient connections to points throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa with its Star Alliance partners: Aegean Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss International Airlines and Turkish Airlines, in addition to codeshare partner Aer Lingus.

For details visit www.aircanada.com

UNITED AIRLINES has commenced a non-stop service between Edinburgh and its Chicago hub, O’Hare International Airport. The new route is the first scheduled non-stop service between the two cities and operates until October 6, with daily flights until September 2 followed by four times weekly flights from September 3 until October 6. The flights are operated by Boeing 757200 aircraft offering 169 seats – 16 flat-bed seats in BusinessFirst and 153 in United Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats with added legroom and increased personal space.

For details see www.united.com

Icelandair to commence services from Birmingham in 2015 ICELANDAIR HAS announced that it is to commence scheduled services from Birmingham to Reykjavik from February 5, 2015, with twice-weekly flights.

The airline's general manager UK, Andres Jonsson, said: “We are delighted to announce Birmingham as our newest gateway in the UK. Our first

route from the Midlands will not only open up opportunities of travelling to and from Iceland but also a refreshing and convenient way to North America. By using Iceland's geographical position midway between Europe and North America we can offer some of the fastest elapse times from Birmingham to popular

InBrief ● ROYAL BRUNEI Airlines is resuming flights to Bali, Indonesia from Heathrow four times weekly from July 26. They will be operated by an Airbus A319 narrow body aircraft and fares lead in at £547.

For details see www.flyroyalbrunei.com ● EVA AIR has expanded its long-haul fleet with the delivery of two more Boeing 777 aircraft, equipped with Panasonic’s latest generation eX3 inflight entertainment system and Global Communication Suite (GCS). The carrier's new inflight system and Sky Wi-Fi access enables passengers to stay connected via their mobile phones, tablets or laptops. Passengers flying at an altitude of 20,000ft or higher can make mobile phone calls, send and receive SMS messages and emails, use instant messaging applications and connect to social media channels. ● QATAR AIRWAYS has commenced services between Edinburgh and Doha. With smooth and frequent connection times in Doha’s new Hamad International Airport, passengers flying from Edinburgh will now be able to arrive at their final destination, whether it be Doha in the Middle East or further afield, without the need for any domestic

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destinations such as Washington D.C. and Seattle."

Flights will be operated by a Boeing 757, seating 183 passengers, offering a three cabin service, leather seats and personal in-flight entertainment systems.

One-way fares lead in at £119.23.

For more information see www.icelandair.co.uk

transfers within the UK. Flights are operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner five times weekly with a two-cabin configuration, comprising of 22 seats in Business Class and 232 Economy Class seats. Over the next few months, the network will grow further with additional launches including Haneda, Japan (June 18), Dallas/Fort Worth, USA (July 1) and Djibouti (July 27). ● MALAYSIA AIRLINES’ passengers can now check-in a maximum of two pieces of baggage, within the 30, 40, and 50kg free baggage allowance included in their travel in Economy, Business and First Class respectively. The revisions apply to all tickets, irrespective of issuance dates, for travel on all the airline's international and domestic flights. It also applies to passengers with domestic connections on MASwings. The current infant baggage allowance of one piece at 10kg remains the same. For hand-carry baggage, guests travelling in Economy are allowed one piece of cabin baggage up to a maximum of 7kg. First and Business Class travellers are allowed two pieces of cabin baggage with a maximum weight of 7kg each.

For details visit www.malaysiaairlines.com or call 0871-423 9090.

June 13 2014

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personalitybulletin

Sarah Junker Senior sales & marketing account executive, Choose Chicago At work What other companies/organisations have you previously worked for?

I've worked since I was 13, so there's a long list of odd jobs ranging from barista to lab assistant to more ridiculous ones.

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

I'd like there to be even more focus on responsible and sustainable tourism – organisations like Tourism Concern are doing a great job of pushing for awareness of the hidden social, economic and environmental aspects of the industry we all work in and for.

At home What is your favourite TV programme?

The Walking Dead. Seriously. Embarrassingly enough, it gives me nightmares – zombies hunting me – but I'm addicted to the show!

Did you know the main character is played by that lovely guy from Love Actually?!

Can’t get over that…

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

Postcards and a little cube of notepapers each with a quote on happiness – my mum gave that to me and it makes me smile.

What's a typical day like?

Coffee, emails, campaign work, sales calls or destination training, sugar hit, more emails, possibly some event planning and organisation.

What's your favourite movie?

Must be something naff like Mel Brooks’ 'Men in Tights' or anything by Studio Ghibli – those guys are amazing.

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June 13 2014

What skill are you most proud of?

I guess being reliable. I like people being dependable so I try my best being it myself.

What do you love about the travel industry?

Its vibrancy and dynamic – and that it's all about travel!

At play

What's your guilty pleasure?

Food, red wine and the Daily Mail online. I hate myself for that latter point.

What music do you listen to?

Anything that's not heavy metal or rap. I can't stand shouting and I don't get misogynistic ranting about booty and bling.

What was the last email you received?

It was from London City Airport – we're currently running a campaign with them which sees various team members wearing a full body ibex costume in the departure lounge. The ibex is a mascot of sorts of Graubünden, a region in Switzerland.

What item do you always take with you when travelling?

A little teddy bear with wings, pilot's goggles and a SIA pilot's badge. It's my lucky flying buddy because I'm a terribly anxious flyer. Pity the person sitting next to me, they may have my nails clawing into their arm on a bumpy flight.

What's a typical weekend for you like?

Currently, it's a struggle between social events and working on my MSc dissertation – I took up a course on development studies and my weekends have been paying the price since last October.

What do you do to relax?

Read a non-course related book or watch something online. I love Al Jazeera documentaries.

Who has been your inspiration in the travel industry?

The Wheelers – because Lonely Planet changed the way we travel so fundamentally. It popularised 'off the beaten track'.

Where would you most like to visit and why?

Central Asia and Latin America are top on my list.

What are your hobbies?

Travelling (obviously), languages, reading, lazing around, cooking and baking.

What trait do you dislike in other people?

Ignorance.

What's your most embarrassing moment?

So many! There's the odd unintentional double entendres, the walking in on people, that time my skirt got stuck somewhere... I'm uncannily good at embarrassing myself.

Do you have any nicknames?

My parents chose 'Sarah' because they thought it couldn't be 'butchered' into a nickname. They hadn't counted on Aussies – so now it’s Sez. Oh, and my last name just begs for it – I've had numerous variations thrown at me but 'Junkie' must be the most common one.

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usa GREAT RAIL Journeys has launched five new US tours as part of its new ‘Worldwide Holidays By Rail 2014/15’ brochure which features 14 new tours in the full programme of 54 tours spanning six continents.

The new US tours include ‘Premium USA Coast to Coast’, ‘Southern States & the Everglades’, ‘California’s Parks & Pacific Coast’, ‘American Queen & Pullman’ and ‘New York & Vermont in the Fall’.

They have been introduced due to demand for the operator’s special brand of ‘safe’ tours to adventurous locations.

For more information call 01904-521980 or visit www.greatrail.com/uk

Ranch Rider welcomes boost in self-drives twinned with ranch bookings RIDING HOLIDAY specialist, Ranch Rider reports a growth in ranch bookings as well as add-on selfdrives with customers looking to see more of America’s off-the-beatentrack treasures.

The company's managing director, Tony Daly, said: “Our US portfolio is performing well - Montana and Arizona in particular, but it's the length of stay where we are seeing real growth, with self-drives regularly added

to the usual week-long stay on the ranch. The exchange rate on the US dollar offers real value for money, and upgrades to more exclusive hotel accommodation are also being requested on a more frequent basis.

"Adventure holidays and authentic 'back to nature experiences' including ranch stays are clearly in demand, and America's wide open spaces and national parks are a definite fit with this growing trend."

Montana's Lone Mountain is one of the latest additions to the operator's US collection.

The luxury guest ranch offers opportunities to go hiking and riding in nearby Yellowstone. Other ranches which are firm favourites include Colorado's Elk Mountain, Arizona's White Stallion and Montana's Lonesome Spur.

Daly said: "America is our biggest portfolio and while our complete collection covers other

countries, we have almost two decades of experience in the US, and ultimately agents feel confident in booking holidays with us and value our detailed knowledge in creating bespoke self-drive extensions.”

Seven-night self-drives lead in at £549 per person based on two sharing, including car hire and accommodation.

For details call 01509618811 or visit www.ranchrider.com

Book with Bedsonline from

12,000 hotels & apartments throughout the USA Plus reserve some of the hottest tickets to attractions and tours including Universal Studios VIP Tour in Los Angeles Las Vegas Evening Tour Everglades Tour in Miami Orlando’s theme parks The Big Apple Helicopter Tour in NYC www.travelbulletin.co.uk

June 13 2014

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usa Las Vegas welcomes launch of Caesars Entertainment’s latest luxury hotel AS THE newest luxury lifestyle boutique hotel on the Strip, Caesars Entertainment's ‘The Cromwell’ aims to raise the stakes of luxury in Las Vegas.

Celebrity chef, Giada De Laurentiis, has opened a twostorey restaurant inside the new hotel and other features include a nightclub and Beach Club - a rooftop pool and deck with an indoor/outdoor club.

For more information see www.thecromwell.com Meanwhile, The LINQ is Caesar’s Entertainment’s latest development on the

Las Vegas Strip, housing a range of restaurants, shops, and bars.

The central plaza is used for bands to perform, but the true centerpiece is the High Roller – the world’s tallest observation wheel.

The ride takes passengers on a 30-minute loop, showcasing some of the best views of the Strip.

Following the successful launch of The LINQ, Caesars is also looking to open a Grand Bazaar, modelled on the one in Istanbul, offering another outdoor shopping experience

spread over two acres outside Bally's Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.

The two-acre outdoor

shopping mall is expected to open this autumn.

For more information see www.caesars.com/thelinq

Delta & Virgin Atlantic unveil new schedule from Heathrow to Atlanta and Los Angeles DELTA AIR Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways will transfer operations for non-stop flights connecting Heathrow to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport this winter, offering more choice for the airlines’ customers on key routes across the Atlantic.

From October 26, Delta will begin operating one of two daily HeathrowLos Angeles flights currently operated

by Virgin Atlantic. The new service will mark the airline’s first non-stop flight between Los Angeles and Heathrow and is the carrier's seventh non-stop SLOTZILLA IN Las Vegas has officially opened its 'Zipline'. The project, built over the past 14 months at a cost of $12m, takes flyers on a zip-line from the lower tier of the tower, 77ft high on an 850ft flight.

Those on the ‘Zoomline’ will be launched from 114ft high and travel in a horizontal 'Superman' position 1,700ft across the entire length of the Fremont Street Experience, landing on a newly built Main Street Stage. Both levels allow visitors to fly under the Viva Vision canopy, which is the world’s largest video screen. The new attraction is open between Sunday and Thursday from noon to midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 02:00. Tickets are $20 for the lower 'Zipline' and $30 for the upper 'Zoomline'.

For details see www.vegasexperience.com

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June 13 2014

destination between London and the US. Virgin Atlantic, meanwhile, will begin operating one of Delta’s three daily flights between Heathrow and Atlanta. The new services will expand the product offered by both carriers to customers, as well as provide greater choice for travel between the UK and North America. The two airlines will codeshare on each other’s operated services, allowing Delta and Virgin customers seamless access to the expanded network.

Craig Kreeger, Virgin Atlantic's CEO, said: “It’s great to see how our

partnership with Delta is already proving fruitful to our customers. In less than a year we will have colocated key business routes, delivered schedule changes to benefit our customers and provided enhanced experiences to our frequent fliers, who gain from reciprocal lounge access and the ability to earn across both carriers. This is just the beginning of demonstrating how a true joint venture between airlines should be operated to benefit customers.”

For details visit www.delta.com and www.virginatlantic.com

Nevada promotes Burning Man Festival ONCE A year tens of thousands of people from across the world gather in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert at the Burning Man Festival to create Black Rock City – a city dedicated to community, art, self-expression and selfreliance.

This year’s event, described as an experimental community, takes place from August 25 to September 1, and will incorporate plenty of partying, fire displays, people donning eye-catching outfits and performing passionate dances until sunrise. The fundamental difference about the festival is that there are no bands; each attendee is a participant and each person involved contributes to the atmosphere of communal effort and the spirit of gifting. There is also no schedule of events, leaving participants to decide what they’d like to do, making each year a unique experience.

Visitors can expect activities such as self-awareness workshops, night-time raves and naked yoga. Tickets for the duration of the eight-day festival start from $380 (approximately £224).

For more information see www.burningman.com and www.discoveramerica.com

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usa New two-week itinerary from Explore EXPLORE HAS introduced a two-week Eastern Seaboard And Cape Cod itinerary to its programme for this year.

Travelling by road and sea, guests can take in the coastline between the two great ports of Halifax in Canada and Boston in the US. Highlights include the Kejimkujik National Park and the bustling island of Martha's Vineyard.

Prices lead in at ÂŁ2,793 per person including flights, 13 nights' hotel accommodation, transport and the service of a driver/tour leader.

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

SuperBreak expands New York hotel portfolio SUPERBREAK HAS grown its portfolio of hotels in New York, adding 37 in the last couple of months bringing the total now available to 84.

Hotels can be booked either as accommodationonly or as part of a flight inclusive package with

flights from a variety of airports.

Properties are featured at www.superbreak.com/ agents with hotels ranging from two- to five-star to suit all budgets.

As examples, a threenight, room-only stay at the two-star Pennsylvania

New York Hotel costs from ÂŁ338 per person, while a three-night stay at the four-star Sheraton Hotel New York Times Square costs ÂŁ421.50 room-only.

For further information see www.superbreak.com/agen ts or call 0871-221 4444.

Chicago highlights free summer festivals CHICAGO WILL play host to a range of free festivals this summer.

They include the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, which takes place from June 27-29; Taste of Chicago, which runs from July 9-13 and is one of the nation’s largest food festivals; Chicago Air and Water Show, from August 16-17; and the Chicago Jazz Festival, which runs from August 28-31, and features nearly 50 diverse acts.

For further information visit www.choosechicago.com

Free Feast Card from AW offers restaurant discounts in Orlando Agents making a booking for Attraction World’s The ONE pass can now offer their clients a free Feast

offers discounts at more than 75 of Orlando's best restaurants.

The ONE pass allows guests the

Card, worth ÂŁ59.

The Feast Card Orlando is a new dining card that is valid for up to 12 people in total and

opportunity to visit all the main Florida theme parks for 14 consecutive days (excluding Discovery Cove).

Agent Offer

! " â—? â—? â—? â—?

Up to 30% off USA car hire Inclusive rates & free cancellation On airport locations Award winning service

The perfect choice for your own USA holiday www.alamo.co.uk/travelbulletin

Terms & Conditions: Travel Industry Staff ID will be required at time of rental to qualify for the discount and the rental does not qualify for frequent flyer programmes or cashback schemes. Examples of Travel Industry ID include Company ID card, business card, letter of employment or payslip. Standard rental terms and conditions apply. Full T&Cs found at www.alamo.co.uk/travelbulletin. Š2013 Alamo Rent-A-Car. All rights reserved 14-UP007.

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FOR TRAVEL IN 2014

BE OUR GUEST FOR LONGER AND EXPERIENCE

Introducing Disney FastPass+* service For the first time ever, your customers will have the power to reserve access to some must-do experiences with Disney FastPass+ service, including selected attractions, shows, parades, Disney Character experiences and more — before they even leave home. And even better? It’s included in Theme Park admission.

Ticket offer for guests travelling in 2014!

They’ll get 9 Disney Park days for the price of 7 when they book by 30 June for arrivals throughout the rest of 2014.

GREAT OFFER!

For more on Disney FastPass+ and a full list of participating partners, visit

disneytravelagents.co.uk Full terms and conditions apply to offer — see disneytravelagents.co.uk for details. *Valid Theme Park admission and online registration required. Disney FastPass+ attractions and entertainment experiences, the number of selections that can be made and available arrival windows are limited. ©Disney.

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FOR TRAVEL IN 2015

†For arrivals on selected dates 1 Jan–30 Nov 2015 inclusive.

FREE Disney Dining* is back, or enjoy NEW FREE breakfast!* FREE DISNEY DINING FOR CUSTOMERS STAYING AT A DISNEY MODERATE, DELUXE OR DELUXE VILLA RESORT Book 24 Apr–4 Nov 2014, for arrivals on selected dates from 1 Jan–30 Nov 2015**, and everyone in the party dines for FREE for the entire stay.

New!

FREE BREAKFAST FOR CUSTOMERS STAYING AT A DISNEY VALUE RESORT†† Book 24 Apr–10 Jul 2014, for arrivals 1 Jan–1 Nov 2015**, and your customers will enjoy free breakfast, every day of their stay.

BOTH OFFERS COMBINABLE WITH

14 DISNEY7 PARK DAYS FOR THE PRICE OF

PLUS WIN breakfast for your store!

NEW STORE INCENTIVE!

To celebrate these fantastic offers, we have an exciting new incentive from 29 May–10 July 2014, where you can WIN £100 of M&S vouchers to treat your whole store to a delicious breakfast — on us. There are FIVE prizes of £100 vouchers to be won, so start recording your bookings now via disneytravelagents.co.uk to be entered into the draw!

Find out all the details now at

disneytravelagents.co.uk *Terms and conditions apply — see disneytravelagents.co.uk for details. **Excludes arrivals 25 Mar–11 Apr 2015. ††Excludes Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. ©Disney.

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usa Kansas welcomes new visitor attraction THE WORLD’S tallest, fastest, deepest water slide (according to the Guinness Book of Records) is now officially open in the Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark, located in Kansas City, KS. 'Verruckt' (which translates from German to 'Insane' in English) is approximately 17 storeys high and features a descent speed of 65mph following a 264-step climb.

Verruckt will join what the park describes as 'a thrilling collection of water fun' this summer, complete with a Master Blaster uphill watercoaster with four tubing slides and chutes, two tubing rivers (including the world’s longest tidal wave river), 13 mini slides for

kids, three relaxing beaches and a giant hot tub with a swim-up refreshment bar.

For details visit www.schlitterbahn.com/kans ascity and www.discoveramerica.com

THE BIG SALE...Pictured marking the lauch of Funway's 'The BIG Sale' plus a new 'MoneyCard Agent Incentive' are, from the left, the operator's Stephen Rhodes, Laura Smith and Nick Talbot. The sale is valid for bookings to the US, Mexico and Barbados (excluding Sandals Resorts) until June 30 and offers a range of dscounts and offers plus a £50 saving per booking (using promo code FUN50). Agents who are MoneyCard members are also offered the chance to win £500 on their card by making a package booking (with Virgin flights) throughout June. The company has also launched an e-brochure for its new 2015 US brochure, which agents can view at http://bit.ly/1lpWjMZ. For details see www.funway4agents.co.uk

Verruckt

American Airlines launches direct flights to Charlotte from Manchester FLIGHTS TO Charlotte, North Carolina have commenced from Manchester Airport with American Airlines (operated by US Airways), with return fares for the new daily route starting from £656.

Manchester Airports Group's chief operating officer, Andrew Cowan, said:

“It is not only great news for Manchester Airport to welcome this important new route, but for the entire region. The introduction of the daily Charlotte route will further strengthen connections from Manchester to North America, with a wealth of onward connectivity. The route also sees

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS has opened its 101st attraction – Legoland Discovery Center Boston. The 44,000sq.ft indoor attraction marks the first Legoland Discovery Center in New England and features interactive experiences, rides, a 4D cinema and a Miniland, which features replicas of Boston landmarks.

For details see www.merlinentertainments.biz

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June 13 2014

another direct long-haul service added to our ever increasing network of routes, which is testament to the success of our Fly Manchester campaign.”

For more information see www.manchesterairport.co.uk and www.americanairlines.co.uk

The Brand USA 2014 Megafam took 100 agents across 21 states on seven simultaneous itineraries last month. Agents explored the diversity of the US, from national parks and charming cities to stunning beaches and snow-capped mountains. To qualify for a place, agents were required to log American Airlines and British Airways' bookings to and within the US, as well as complete two Specialist modules on Brand USA’s agent training site, the USA Discovery Program. Pictured enjoying the bright lights of Vegas are, from the left: Sarah Evans-Smith, Wotton Travel Ltd; Jen Guiver, Brand USA; Tracy Leeper, Club Travel; Gillian Vogel, Westoe Travel; and Anna Majka, Emerald Global Ltd.

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usa Travel 2 issues 2014/15 Florida brochure with new options for families & couples TRAVEL 2 has expanded its offering within its newly released 2014/15 Florida brochure. The new options are dedicated to providing families and couples with more choice and variety when planning their holiday to the ‘Sunshine State’, and also offer a selection of savings.

Seven new hotels and villa locations have been added to the latest programme across the state’s most popular destinations - from the theme park region of Orlando, to Miami, the Florida Keys and the gated community of Emerald Island, near Kissimmee. The new edition also features a section dedicated exclusively to Caribbean

cruises, sailing from Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale with cruise line partners.

For customers with families, agents can showcase the new ‘Kids Eat Free Orlando Card’, redeemable at more than 100 Orlando restaurants for children under 11 when purchasing an adult meal. And to make things simpler for agents booking Florida, the new 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.

As examples, 14 nights at the threestar Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa leads in at £899 per person including car hire, flights and three-park SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Aquatica tickets for travel between October 20 and December 12.

Alternatively, a 14-night stay at the four-star Meila Orlando Suite at Celebration, Kissimmee costs from £1,099 including car hire and flights for travel between November 1 and December 12.

For details or to book visit www.travel2.com

Thomas Cook Tours introduces new fully escorted tours to 2014/15 brochure THOMAS COOK Tours has launched a new programme of fully escorted tours for 2014/15.

The latest programme features more than 70 tours worldwide and includes nine new and exclusive tours, with a focus on the US and Canada.

As an example, a 15-day ‘Western Wonders of the USA’ itinerary journeys along the US’ western coast through California from San Francisco, inland to Arizona with visits to Phoenix, Scottsdale and the Grand Canyon, and finally to Las Vegas. Departures are

available until November with prices from £3,149 per person.

Alternatively, a new 15day ‘America’s South and Cajun Country’ tour explores the southern states including Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia, and features a visit

to ‘The Music Capital of the World’ – Nashville.

Departures are available until October, and in February, March and April 2015, with prices from £3,049.

For more information visit www.thomascooktours.com or call 0800-804 8330.

feel at home, when you’re far from home R Kitchens in every room with full size fridge R Newly renovated suites.

R Flat screen TVs & premium channels.

R No lease required, all utilities included.

R Free grab-and-go breakfast.

R Free Wi-Fi in every room.

R On-site guest laundry.

R Pet friendly rooms available.

Over 680 Locations in the United States and Canada

www.ExtendedStayAmerica.com / 800.398.7829

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holidayparks

HOSEASONS HAS added six new locations to its portfolio for 2014 including Straker Lodges (pictured) in Kielder Water, Northumberland.

The contemporary, luxury lodges offer a rural escape in a forest setting with panoramic views and hot tubs. A short break this month costs from £935 or from £1,055 in July. Other new locations include Kingsford Farm in Longdown, Exeter; Marwell Lodges (which opens on July 21) in Owslebury, Winchester; Foxhunter Park in Monkton, near Ramsgate; The Manor Resort in Laceby, South Humberside; and Loch Ness Holiday Park in Invermoriston.

For details visit www.hoseasons.co.uk/agents or call 0844-847 1144.

Third edition brochure from Butlins details latest offers & recent investment BUTLINS HAS issued its third edition brochure featuring details of the resorts’ recent investments, information on the Just For Tots and Showtime Midweek breaks, plus its latest offers.

The brochure includes new information on dates and locations for acts such as Mister Maker, Dick & Dom and Scooby Doo Live amongst others, and also features updates on resort developments including the Fairground at Minehead and the Diner at Bognor Regis, as well as the Firehouse Family Grill restaurant at Skegness.

Information about the new Just for Tots breaks is also included, with details of the activities on offer on the child-friendly breaks, dates and lead in prices at each resort. It also features the new experiences on offer including Little Tikes Town and Usborne Cosy Reading Corner, while a new section details the new ‘Showtime Midweek’ breaks highlighting all the activities available, as well as the evening shows featuring tributes acts such as The Beatles and in concert with Ray Lewis.

Pages dedicated to each of the three seaside resorts is featured, along with

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the resorts’ spas, dining plans (which have been simplified to make the options available more clear), accommodation and packages, as well as a resort comparison table and leadin pricing grid to help agents find the ideal break to suit their customers.

A four-night weekend break at Minehead costs from £48 per person, based on a June 16 arrival for two adults and two children sharing a standard self-catering apartment.

Meanwhile, the operator is highlighting that Skegness beach has been awarded a Blue Flag accreditation, making its Skegness

resort an ideal base for a UK beach break. The Blue Flag works towards the sustainable development of beaches and marinas through strict criteria and Skegness beach has retained its Blue Flag status for the last few years. Located a stone’s throw from the beach is the company's resort offering a choice of accommodation.

A four-night break starts from £58 per person based on a June 23 arrival and a family of four sharing a standard self-catering apartment.

For details or to make a booking visit www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0845-070 4742.

Skegness resort

June 13 2014

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holidayparks Eurocamp introduces halfprice savings for summer breaks EUROCAMP IS offering a range of deals on summer breaks including half-price savings available for last minute getaways up to June 26 across all accommodation types.

As an example, guests can save 50% on seven nights on the Costa Brava at El Delfin Verde parc.

The parc features restaurants, bars and a selection of sports activities, and its centrepiece is a dolphinshaped swimming complex offering one of the largest freshwater pools on the Costa Brava.

Meanwhile, a new play area for toddlers and shady tent pitches make the parc an ideal option for young families.

A seven-night stay from June 26, staying in a three-bed Esprit mobile home costs from £425 per party, accommodation-only, including a 50% discount.

Holidaymakers can also save up to 30% in the summer sale, available at selected parcs for stays from June 27 to August 29.

As an example, a seven-night stay at the operator's Waikiki parc at Lido di Jesolo from July 25 costs from £974 per party, staying in a two-bed Classic mobile home.

The resort features a nearby private beach, swimming pool, children's play area and fitness centre. Other onsite facilities include swimming lessons and cycle hire.

For more information or to book call 0844-844 0000 or visit

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Haven promotes Blue Flag beaches & agent fam breaks A TOTAL of 94 beaches and marinas across the UK received a Blue Flag award last month, having been recognised for the highest quality in water facilities, safety, environmental education and management.

With 35 parks dotted around the Great British coastline, Haven is highlighting parks that offer easy access to Britain’s most stunning beaches including some of the newly awarded Blue Flags.

As examples, the company's Devon Cliffs holiday park is home to the Blue Flag beach of Sandy Bay, which is located within the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site with the South West Coastal Path running through the park. A sloped path leads down to the sandy beach below where guests can enjoy the beach and learn to surf. Other activities include learning the basics of outdoor survival at one of the Bush Craft sessions or getting to grips with the climbing wall and Leap of Faith jump.

Lydstep Beach has also been awarded a Blue Flag this year and, as the name suggests, the operator's Lydstep Beach Holiday Park

Haven’s Seaside Squad

is on its doorstep. A small park in a picturesque spot with views of the Welsh coastline, Lydstep Beach wraps itself around the bay, with nearly all of the holiday homes offering sea views. A range of watersports are available at the beach from sea kayaking to banana boat rides and jetskiing.

Prices lead in at £155 for a family of up to six sharing a standard two-bedroom caravan, based on a June 16 arrival for four nights at Devon Cliffs, Exmouth.

Meanwhile, the company is offering agents the chance to take a four-night, mid-week educational break at more than 30 of its holiday parks on selected dates this month for £59 per caravan, which sleeps up to eight people. The offer is limited to promotional availability and is on a first come, first served basis.

Agents can log on to www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk to download the booking form and return to trade.sales@bourneleisure.co.uk

Golden Sands Holiday Park

June 13 2014

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holidayparks Shorefield Holiday Parks adds new accommodation with Supersaver chalets from £99 SHOREFIELD HOLIDAY Parks has introduced new accommodation choices.

A choice of four options are available on the south coast of England - at Shorefield Country Park, Oakdene Forest Park, Merley Court Holiday Park and Forest Edge.

Supersaver Chalets lead in at £99, standard caravans are from £184, Select caravans start from £224 and SelectXtra

caravans are from £244.

A short break this month leads in at £99 until June 26 including leisure passes and utility charges.

The company is also offering savings of 33% on all camping and touring holidays across all parks until July 17.

To book or for further information call 01590-648331.

Shorefield Country Park

Oakdene accommodation and garden

Celebrating 70 years

• 1944 – 2014 •

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SHORT BREAKS FROM

£149*

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See booking conditions for full details of our ABTA membership

Click www.hoseasons.co.uk/agents or call 0844 847 1144 *Price based on 3/4 night stay for 4 people sharing between 31st May 2014 – 30th June 2014. Applies to selected parks and accommodation types. Accommodation only. Subject to availability, booking conditions apply, see brochure or website.

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australasia ONE & ONLY’S Hayman Island on the Great Barrier Reef is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar refurbishment, before opening its doors on July 1. The property will offer a number of unique guest experiences, enhanced accommodation, new culinary options and signature One&Only service throughout the resort. Signature Hayman experiences, such as the chef’s table and the luxurious ocean massage, will remain part of the Hayman Island experience. As an opening offer, the resort is highlighting 25% savings valid for travel between July 1 and September 30, with prices starting from approximately £305 per room, per night for bookings made by July 31.

For details see www.oneandonlyresorts.com and www.oneandonlyhayman.com.au

Frequency boost from Fiji Airways FIJI AIRWAYS, the national airline of Fiji, has recently purchased new Airbus aircraft and has added frequency on its routes to both Nadi and Suva in Fiji from the US, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Last year the carrier took delivery of three new Airbus A330s to take the place of its 747-400s on its long-haul and mediumhaul routes. Another new A330 is scheduled to join the existing fleet of Airbus and Boeing 737-800s next year.

The airline now offers a daily departure between Nadi and Los Angeles, and a double daily service on Thursdays.

There are 14 services a week between Sydney and Nadi, nine between Aukland and Nadi and a further two services from Christchurch.

The carrier issues stand-alone nett sector fares on all of its international routes, so that agents can combine these with other carrier’s fares to the States and Australasia to incorporate Fiji into an itinerary.

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Tourism New Zealand reports growth in UK visitors SIGNIFICANT GROWTH from New Zealand's western markets has pushed international visitor arrivals for the year-ending April 2014 to more than 2.78 million, up 6.1% year-on-year, according to data released by the International Visitor Survey.

The UK was amongst the stand-out performers with a growth of 2.8% for the 12-month period, while overall international visitor spend was up 9% for the year ending March 2014.

UK visitors have been attracted by New Zealand’s premium offering with a number of new boutique lodges and hotels launching in 2013 and 2014, as well as new cycling experiences linked to the newly completed New Zealand Cycle Trail and the continuing impact of the country’s starring role in Sir Peter Jackson’s Hobbit Trilogy.

The recent royal tour also saw New Zealand head to the top of the bucket list for many British travellers.

Meanwhile, a recent Tripadvisor survey highlighted New Zealand as the country British holidaymakers would want to visit if money were no object, while an analysis

by Trivago showed a 70% increase in searches for New Zealand following the royal tour and Travelzoo voted New Zealand the 'Top Inspirational Destination' in its recent Destination Survey.

The international growth places Tourism New Zealand on track for targets set by ‘Tourism 2025’ and its aspirational goal to reach NZ$41billion total tourism revenue by 2025.

The industry wide framework, led by the Tourism Industry Association (TIA) and supported by Tourism New Zealand, was announced this spring to focus efforts towards the theme of ‘targeting for value’. The strategy is aligned with Tourism New Zealand’s objective to grow the value of international visitors to New Zealand through increased investment in areas including premium visitor segments and special interest travel, in recognition that these visitors typically spend more than the average holiday visitor.

For more information see www.newzealand.com and www.tourism2025.org.nz

Tourism Western Australia hits the road this month TOURISM WESTERN Australia has unveiled details of its roadshow which takes place this month and next and gives agents the opportunity to meet with regional experts and key hotel and touring product providers.

The events take place in the evenings on June 30 in London, July 1 in Birmingham, July 2 in Manchester and July 3 in Glasgow.

There will be a chance for agents to win a place on an agent fam at each event

June 13 2014

which takes place in October. The lucky winners will fly to Australia with Qantas and Emirates to witness Perth’s transformation before exploring the Kimberley region. For those who don’t live near the venues, Tourism WA will be holding a webinar that agents can participate in at lunch time on Wednesday July 2.

To register interest or for more information visit www.waroadshow.com

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australasia NSW plays host to variety of sporting events this winter

PAUL GAUGUIN Cruises has launched its Voyages by Gauguin 2015 Collection brochure which features 52 voyages on the line’s two deluxe small ships. Seven- to 14-night voyages are offered on both ships, with The Gauguin sailing in French Polynesia, Tahiti and the South Pacific. As an example, new itineraries on The Gauguin include a ten-night Roundtrip Fiji voyage departing on October 31, with prices from £3,893 per person, including flights from Los Angeles. The Gauguin will also be featuring its most popular itineraries next year including the seven-night Tahiti & the Society Islands; ten-night Society Islands & Tuamotus; 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands; and 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands.

UK holiday arrivals to Queensland up by 11% NEW FIGURES reveal that UK holiday arrivals to Queensland have increased by 11% over the last year.

More than 215,000 Brits visited Queensland last year, of which 152,000 visited with the main purpose being holiday.

Holiday arrivals make up 60% of all UK arrivals to Queensland compared to the national average of 42%.

According to the state, Brits are also staying for longer and spending more money, with figures showing an increase of 18% in UK visitor expenditure.

Meanwhile, it's an exciting time for Queensland with the G20 summit taking place in Brisbane in November of this year and the Gold Coast gearing up to host the Commonwealth Games in August 2018.

As a holiday destination, Queensland offers a mix of contrasting landscapes and experiences which appeal to the diverse needs of the UK holidaymaker. The state is home to the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, the world’s oldest continuous surviving rainforest; a huge array of wildlife and nature experiences; the metropolitan hub of Brisbane; the white sands of the Whitsunday Islands; and the historic Queensland Outback.

For more information see www.experiencequeensland.com

NEW SOUTH Wales is highlighting a selection of sporting events taking place this winter.

In Coffs Harbour, the two-week Australian Surf Festival is the largest gathering of surfers in the country and takes place from August 2. As well as watching the surfers, visitors to the event can take part in a range of activities including music, art and surf culture.

Meanwhile, university and TAFE students from New South Wales and the ACT will gather in Newcastle in July for the Eastern University Games. Around 3,000 students will take part in up to 20 different sports over four days of competition from July 6. Sports on offer include AFL 9s, basketball, football, hockey, indoor cricket, lawn bowls, netball, oztag, tenpin bowling and volleyball.

For competitors and spectators, there is accommodation in Newcastle for every type of visitor from bed-and-breakfasts to executive lodges and everything in between. Other events taking place include the Sydney Motorsport Park Supercar Race Weekend from August 22-24 and the Bingham Cup in Woollahra and Rose Bay from August 29-31.

For more information see www.visitnsw.com

Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa opens in Samoa THE SALETOGA Sands Resort and Spa in Samoa has opened, offering a selection of villas with prices leading in at £178 per night for an Oceanview villa.

The resort, which is located in a secluded bay on the South East coast of the island of Upolu, was created by New Zealanders Lou and Gavin Brightwell, who worked together with the locals in the neighbouring village of Matatufu to create a luxury resort that is ideal for couples and families.

Special opening rates and offers are valid for bookings and travel up to June 30 and include seven nights for the price of five, two tropical cocktails, two 30-minute massages, a day's car hire and £25 worth of resort credit per booking.

For more information visit www.saletogasands.ws and www.samoa.travel

Follow in the footsteps of the royals to New Zealand & Australia with GRJ GREAT RAIL Journeys is advising agents to capitalise on the recent publicity generated by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and baby Prince George’s royal visit Down Under, by highlighting a range of itineraries.

The operator's national sales manager, Tony Byrne, said: “Wherever Kate and William, and now Prince George, travel abroad captures everyone’s imagination and we are certain that spectacular New Zealand and Australia will be no exception. But whilst the royal family are understandably on a tightly managed schedule our tours offer some of the

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great highlights that the royal trio will sample, but with the wonderful experience of exploring these beautiful countries by rail. Events like these are great opportunities for agents to share in some of the publicity of a destination captured by the public’s imagination.”

The company has put together tours which highlight the best of Australia and New Zealand and feature some of the places the royal trio visited on their three week official tour. For example, in Australia they visited the Blue Mountains, Sydney, Uluru and the Red Centre plus Adelaide, all of which are featured in the operator's ‘Australia and the Ghan’ tour. In New Zealand,

the royal tour featured Auckland, Dunedin, Queenstown, Wellington and Christchurch, all of which are also included in the company's 22-day ‘Adventures in New Zealand’ tour, which leads in at £4,625 per person for a November 2 departure. The price includes scheduled flights from Heathrow; all rail, coach and ferry travel; 18 nights' hotel accommodation on a room-only basis; one lunch cruise and four dinners; a selection of tours and excursions; and the services of a tour manager throughout.

For more information or to book call 01904-521980 or see www.greatrail.com

June 13 2014

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australasia We asked our staff the following question this week: What is a future great disappointment?

Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk England going out of the World Cup in the first round

Editor: Lauretta Wright lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk The sunshine not coming out this weekend when I've planned to be outdoors

Assistant Editor: Jill Sayles jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk The continued capture of and breeding in captivity of animals for tourist shows

Contributing Editor: Paul Scudamore post@travelbulletin.co.uk That the airbag doesn't inflate

Sales Director: Simon Eddolls simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk My batting average for the season

Advertisement Manager: Tim Podger tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk Bill Coad`s 60th birthday party!

Online Sales Manager: Nick Boocock nick.boocock@travelbulletin.co.uk Me not quite completing my 2014 World Cup sticker album

Account Manager: Bill Coad bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk Airline taxes not being dissolved

Sales Executive: Chris Gascoine chris.gascoine@travelbulletin.co.uk England not winning the World Cup

Sales Executive: Matt Gill matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk Not leaving the UK this year

Senior Designer: Nicky Valsamakis nicky.valsamakis@travelbulletin.co.uk Transformers 4!!

Assistant Designer: Lee Telot lee.telot@travelbulletin.co.uk My future kids

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

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June 13 2014

ETIHAD AIRWAYS has opened its First and Business Class Lounge at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport – the airline’s first in Australia. The contemporary design has been inspired by the airline's flagship lounges in Abu Dhabi and offers state-of-the-art business amenities with Apple computers; complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity; multi-zone electrical and USB power outlets; dedicated male, female and accessible bathrooms with shower facilities; a children’s play room; male and female prayer rooms; and a relaxation zone. Guests will also be treated to the carrier's signature food and beverage service with a choice of restaurant-style a la carte dining and a buffet. The lounge is open to Diamond First Class and Pearl Business Class passengers and qualifying members of the company's loyalty programme. Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold and Platinum members and Virgin Australia Business Class guests flying to Abu Dhabi are also eligible to access the lounge pre-flight. Qualifying guests of other codeshare and partner airlines may also use the lounge when flying on Etihad Airways or Virgin Australia operated Sydney-Abu Dhabi services.

Tourism providers team up with Luxperience TOURISM WESTERN Australia and Tourism NT have partnered with Luxperience, the annual business exchange for the international travel trade held in Sydney this September, to promote their luxury and experiential travel offerings to high-end buyers from the UK and around the world.

As well as exhibiting at Luxperience, both Tourism WA and Tourism NT will be taking a selection of handpicked international buyers to experience a selection of their high-end tourism offerings, including El Questro Homestead, Bamurru Plains and Longtitude 131.

The show, which sits alongside Pure in Marrakesh, ILTM in Cannes and Shanghai and Travelweek in Brazil, aims to raise the profile of the Asia Pacific region as an innovator in experiential travel, and attracts up to 300 exhibitors.

The company's CEO, Lindy Andrews, said: "Western Australian and the Northern Territory both have a growing number of truly unique high-end travel offerings that you won't find the like of anywhere else in the world. We're very excited they have both come on board.”

The Global Buyer Program established by Luxperience ensures only the world’s most exclusive travel specialists are in attendance.

Andrews said: “We have put in place a strict qualification process, managed by our dedicated worldwide agents, that ensures only the most experienced achievers, those with a proven track record of creating bespoke itineraries that include unique, authentic and unusual travel experiences are invited.

"Global buyers must have extensive experience in this niche travel sector and are looking for more genuine, life enriching travel products that will really wow their clients."

For further information email beinspired@luxperience.com.au or visit www.luxperience.com.au

puzzlesolutions Crossword: Across: 1. STENA, 3. CALVI, 5. OSL, 6. DJERBA, 8. ALESHA, 9. HAKA, 11. LIMA, 13. ZAMBIA, 16. ALASKA, 17. UAE, 18. PRADO, 19. METRO. Down: 1. SAO PAULO, 2. ELLIE, 3. CAEN, 4. LIBRA, 6. DOHA, 7. SARAJEVO, 10. JAVA, 12. MALTA, 14. BLUNT, 15. OSLO.

Highlighted Word: CRETE Travagrams: (top) Florence

(bottom) Regent Holidays

Where Am I?: Petra

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