Travel Bulletin 14th June 2013

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June 14 2013 | ISSUE NO 1,830 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

USA Los Angeles unveils plans to boost visitor numbers

this week

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agent bulletin the latest booking incentives, agent offers & training updates

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cruise bulletin research reveals two fifths book cruises to avoid ‘tacky’ resorts

holiday parks a round-up of new park facilities, shows & entertainment

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australasia the latest updates and deals from operators & airlines

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GOING FOR GOLD...Travel Counsellors congratulated its top performing 'Gold Travel Counsellors' by rewarding them with an exclusive 'Gold Weekend' trip to Abu Dhabi. Pictured enjoying the sights and sounds of the city are, from the left: Gaynor Pickard, Katie Lomas, Karen Hogan, Katie Chamberlain, Helen Walker, Melissa LoGalbo, Janice Bruce and Sue Bailey.

Cover Pictures: Main - Los Angeles, LA Tourism

Inset - Away Resorts

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agent bulletin

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puzzle bulletin

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cruise bulletin

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personality bulletin

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holiday parks

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australasia

new research reveals multicentre breaks are on the increase a round-up of booking incentives, agent offers & training updates win a £50 M&S voucher by playing Su Doku research reveals two fifths book cruises to avoid ‘tacky’ resorts which sales & marketing manager admits to being a chatterbox?

Los Angeles unveils new tourism industry plans to boost visitor numbers a round-up of new park facilities, shows & entertainment the latest updates and deals from operators & airlines

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Research reveals boost in Brits opting for multi-centre breaks BRITS TRAVELLING long-haul are beginning to forsake traditional seven-night beach holidays in favour of packing different experiences into one trip according to Hayes and Jarvis' latest Long Haul Trend Report, which reveals that the destinations making waves in 2013 are ones which lend themselves to a combination of city, beach and culture or heritage tours.

Leading the charge is Vietnam, which has shown the strongest growth worldwide this year and where more than two-thirds of bookings are now for multi-centre trips. The operator reports that Africa has also benefited from growing demand for holidays that combine contrasting elements, while its bestselling destinations - New York and Las Vegas – have both seen sizeable increases in bookings, where a second city or beach stay is added to the package.

The company's head of commercial Sean Dowd said “While off-the-peg beach packages are still popular – especially four- and five-star all-inclusive ones, there is no doubting the steady decline in demand for traditional fly-and-flop beach holidays. In sharp contrast, our multicentre trip bookings have doubled over the past two years because growing numbers of people are keen to see more of what a country – or a region of the world – has to offer when they travel further afield. Multi-centre trips now account for more than a third of our business and this growth trend is one which we expect to accelerate.”

The report also reveals that destinations which have historically been the operator's favourites are struggling to compete this year. Tough market conditions including increased land costs and poor exchange rates have impacted on the Maldives and bookings have fallen by 35%.

By contrast, Mauritius has registered an 11% rise overall so far this year and sales were 60% ahead of the previous year for the winter sun season just ended.

Dowd said: “Mauritius may yet prove to be the new Maldives. Strong airfare and hotel offers, high quality all-inclusive resorts and the opportunity to twin with Dubai and other cities have all helped to fuel demand.”

The drop-off in demand experienced by the Maldives has been even more marked in the major Caribbean Islands, continuing a trend first noted by the operator in its February Trend Report. Barbados (-51%), and Antigua (-58%) have seen the biggest drops but their pain has been Tobago and the Dominican Republic’s gain. Tobago has seen a healthy increase in bookings – up 16% for the year to date but with forward summer bookings looking even better, while the Dominican Republic has built on its growth last year, with 14% more bookings so far in 2013.

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newsbulletin Tweets of the Week Who’s saying what on Twitter... @Door2Tour New walking tours available for fans of popular Game of Thrones! http://ow.ly/lGvFZ @Stansted_Exp 2FOR1 Madame Tussauds London when you travel with Greater Anglia http://bit.ly/14hiAEC @car_hire Still waiting for your holiday to roll around?

Check out our FB page and fantasize about 30 fabulous destinations http://www.facebook.com /holidayautosuk @vikingriveruk New to #rivercruising?

Take a look at our handy first time river cruiser guide: http://www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk/vrc-first/ @manairport Are you flying out of or into Terminal2 soon?

Take the stress out of your journey with our new Friendly Guide service http://bit.ly/10Y14CG

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

IN THE MONEY...As part of its USA & Canada mini brochure incentive, Travel 2 presented Tanny Stoller from Kenneth Macleod Travel with a £1,000 voucher to put towards a USA and Canada holiday.

Pictured with Tanny is the operator's Colin Currie.

Wendy Wu adds new product to winter 2013/14 programme WENDY WU Tours has launched its new winter campaign featuring new destinations, exclusive Chinese New Year holidays, family holidays and Christmas tours, with a lead in price of £1,490.

As examples, an eight-day Chinese New Year Special takes in the cities of Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. After five days covering the sites in Beijing and Xi’an including the Great Wall, Forbidden Square and Terracotta Warriors, the tour arrives in Shanghai ready to celebrate, where an exclusive dragon boat will be the base for an evening of fireworks, music and Chinese banquet. The boat will cruise the Huangpu River followed by a day of sightseeing in Shanghai the following day before returning to the UK. Prices lead in at £1,890 per person, with departures on January 25 and 28.

A ten-day In Pursuit of Pandas tour combines the cities of Beijing and Xi’an with a visit to Chengdu, gateway city to the Panda Conservation Centre. Christmas Day will see the tour walking the Great Wall followed by visits to the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. Days five and six are spent in Xi’an visiting the Terracotta Warriors before heading to Chengdu and visiting the Grand Buddha of Leshan and spending New Year’s Eve with the pandas.

Prices lead in at £2,190 based on a December 23 departure.

Meanwhile, an eight-day Harbin Snow and Ice festival option combines the Snow and Ice Festival in Harbin and Chinese New Year in Shanghai.

The Snow and Ice Festival is an annual event which draws large international crowds despite temperatures sometimes reaching as low as -26 centigrade. After two days in Harbin the tour flies on to Shanghai where the group will join the New Year’s celebration before a day of sightseeing in the city. Prices start from £1,999 and departures are on January 25 and 28.

For more information visit www.winterinchina.com

One-week AI deal for families at The Landings St Lucia offers up to 40% savings THE FIVE-STAR all-suite resort, The Landings St. Lucia has launched a family holiday experience for summer which will see children embark on their own “Pirates of the Caribbean” treasure-hunting adventure while their parents relax, with savings of up to £2,350 (40%) per family of four staying one week all-inclusive.

Kids will have the opportunity to hunt treasure, learn the history of the island’s original inhabitants- the Arawak people encountered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, and have a chance to explore an 18th century British Fort complete with

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canons and other historical ruins, finishing the exploration with a picnic.

Families will receive three hours of complimentary babysitting, a kids-free cocktail evening and a range of savings including seven nights for the price of five, 50% off the all-inclusive supplement and children under 12 eating free.

Tropic Breeze is offering the 'Family Summer Saver' holiday as a sevennight package for two adults and two children staying in a two-bedroom harbour view villa suite on an allinclusive basis from £5,299 (originally £7,449). It includes British Airways

flights from Gatwick, transfers plus all activities. Prices are based on a family of four sharing and is valid for departures until the extended travel date of December 19. The offer coincides with the opening of the new Landings Kids’ Club, which offers a range of fun and educational experiences such as Creole classes.

The Club is open daily from 09:00 until 17:00 for ages three and up.

To book call 01752-880880 or email info@tropicbreeze.co.uk.

For more information on The Landings visit www.thelandingsstlucia.com

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newsbulletin Taber Holidays adds Norway package AGENTS WHOSE customers are looking to indulge in a luxury break to Norway this summer are being urged to consider a new ‘Lyngen Alps and Tromsø’ package from Taber Holidays.

The seven-night fly/drive trip is based at the Lyngen Lodge, with two nights in the Arctic capital of Tromsø.

Situated in secluded woodland overlooking the snowcapped Lyngen Alps and waters of the Lyngenfjord, the lodge provides luxury accommodation and cuisine, catering for 18 guests, and also offers a sauna and outdoor hot tub.

A range of optional nature-based excursions are also available including kayaking, hiking, deep-sea fishing, ice-climbing, horse-riding and mountain trekking. It is also possible to join a trek under the Midnight Sun. Prices start from £2,264 per person including flights from Heathrow; car hire with unlimited mileage; five nights at the Lyngen Lodge with breakfast, packed lunch, afternoon tea and dinner; two nights at the Rica Isvhasvhotell with breakfast; and transfers. The tour is based on two sharing and departs daily between June 12 and September 30.

For details call 01274-875199 or see www.taberhols.co.uk

CityJet launches early bird deals from £89 to Amsterdam CITYJET IS highlighting a selection of festivals across Europe, with return fares starting from £89 including all taxes and charges.

As examples, the Holland Festival, which runs until June 26, offers a selection of music, visual arts, literature and architecture, with return fares to the destination from £99.

The new festival of music, dance, theatre and carnival that celebrates Rotterdam’s multiculturalism, Rotterdam Unlimited, is on until June 16, with return fares from £99, while the North Sea Jazz Festival in Amsterdam runs from July 12-14, with fares leading in at £99.

Other festivals being highlighted include the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (from August 2-26), with flights to Edinburgh from £99 and the Dublin Festival Season (running from September 1-October 31), with flights to Dublin starting from £89.

To book or for more information see www.cityjet.com

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JETXTRA.COM HAS launched two new weekly destinations from Humberside Airport to meet increased demand. The new flights service Alicante and Mallorca with fares from £24.99 one-way including taxes and charges.

STANSTED AIRPORT will open a new ‘Meet and Greet’ parking service on July 1, with prices from £7.30 a day.

For details see www.stanstedairport.com/parking MONARCH HAS announced that flights for summer 2014 from Leeds Bradford Airport are now on sale. The carrier flies to 12 summer destinations from LBA including Greece, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the Canary Islands.

See www.monarch.co.uk BLACKPOOL IS to go on an exclusive tour of the UK showcasing its Resort Pass. Marketing Blackpool is behind the plan which will primarily see the resort visit six cities - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham and Nottingham, between now and October.

The Original Resort Pass costs £52.50 per person representing a saving of £40, while the Resort Pass+ is £77.50, representing a saving of more than £55 per person. Passes are valid for seven days and give users one visit to each attraction.

ABTA HAS announced a 27% increase in the minimum annual claims cap for members so that principals will have an extra £30,000 a year’s worth of cover in the event of ABTA retail failures. The increase comes into effect from July 1 and sees the minimum claims cap rise from £110,300 to £140,000.

Indian Ocean & Europe savings from Carrier CARRIER HAS released a selection of last minute offers with savings to a range of destinations across Europe and the Indian Ocean.

A seven-night half-board stay for the price of five nights is offered at Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives.

Prices, which include a 20% early booking reduction, lead in at £2,440 per person and the deal offers a saving of up to £3,540 per couple.

It includes flights from Heathrow with Qatar Airways and speedboat transfers, and is valid for travel until October 11 for bookings made by August 31.

For more information visit www.carrier.co.uk

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newsbulletin GRJ launches 2013/14 Worldwide Holidays by Rail brochure GREAT RAIL Journeys has launched its ‘Worldwide Holidays By Rail 2013/14’ brochure featuring five new tours out of a total of 40 tours for holidays departing between this September and November 2014.

The new tours include destinations such as the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador, Kerala and Madras, as well as the US and Canada, and have been introduced following demand for the operator’s special brand of ‘safe’ tours to adventurous locations.

The new tours, which all include a programme of excursions and the services of a tour manager, include a 17-day Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands tour from £4,995 per person; a 14-day Kerala & The Hill Stations Of Madras from £2,295; a 15-day The American Pullman from £3,495; a 15-day USA Overland Rail Adventure from £2,825; and a 16-day Canadian Whales And Wildlife option from £5,175.

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

Hurtigruten launches anniversary voyages to mark 120 years CUSTOMERS WANTING to help make history can join one of 11 ‘In the Wake of Richard With’ anniversary voyages being offered by Hurtigruten this summer.

Offers include a special sailing into Lyngenfjord in the Lyngen Alps area, the chance to get closer to Norwegian culture with a series of on-board concerts, plus special menus inspired by the 1893 era.

The special departures are available daily from June 21 and all include July 2, which marks 120 years since Richard With captained the line's first departure from Trondheim along the Norwegian Coast.

The company has never sailed into Lyngenfjord as part a main itinerary before and as a special treat, each day during the 11-day period, a ship will stop here whilst travelling south bound between Skjervoy and Tromso. Located in the Lyngen Alps area, Lyngenfjord is 300km north of the Arctic Circle and guests can expect mountain peaks rising more than 1,000m directly from the fjord, blue glaciers, cascading rivers, mountain lakes and deep ravines. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet a local prawn trawler and its fishermen, who come on board with freshly caught prawns.

As part of the anniversary voyages, the company is offering a range of concerts on board. As examples, in Geirangerfjord, a young 19-year-old fiddler and folk musician who has won various awards will perform to guests in local costume, while in Tromso, the operator will focus on the electronic genre of music made famous by Royksopp as guests are joined by ‘Sounds of Nature’, two young students who describe their music as sound art.

As an example of prices, a Classic Round Voyage, which is offered daily from June 21 to July 1, leads in at £2,137 per person including 11 nights' half-board on the ship and all the anniversary celebrations. Flights and transfers are extra and cost from £450 per person.

For more information call 020-8824 2666 or see www.hurtigrutenco.uk/agents

CONRAD KOH Samui in Thailand has launched an in-villa spa treatment to tackle insomnia. The Deep Sleep Treatment is an aromatic body treatment that induces a deep state of relaxation for a peaceful night’s sleep. The treatment harnesses the power of soothing aromatherapy oils to calm the mind, whilst the spa therapist simultaneously focuses on massaging and releasing tension from major muscles throughout the body. Prices for the one-and-a-half-hour treatment lead in at approximately £94 for a single treatment or £168 for a couple.

For details email conrad_koh_samui@conradhotels.com or visit www.conradkohsamui.com

Tasty offer for 2014 early bookers!

FREE Disney Dining* + 14 Disney Park days for the price of 7!* When your customers book their 2014 Walt Disney World Resort Hotel & Ticket Packages for five nights or more, everyone in the party dines for FREE! UÊ ÕiÃÌÃÊÃÌ>Þ }Ê>ÌÊ Ã iÞÊ `iÀ>ÌiÊ,ià ÀÌÃÊi ÞÊ FREE Disney Quick Service Dining Plan for their whole holiday UÊ ÕiÃÌÃÊ>ÌÊ Ã iÞÊ i ÕÝiÊ,ià ÀÌÃÊ ÀÊÃi iVÌi`Ê i ÕÝiÊ6 >Ê,ià ÀÌÃÊ receive FREE Disney Dining Plan for the entire stay UÊPLUS iÛiÀÞ iÊV> Êi ÞÊ£{Ê Ã iÞÊ*>À Ê`>ÞÃÊv ÀÊÌ iÊ«À ViÊ vÊÇt

†For arrivals on selected dates 1 Jan–8 Apr 2014 and 27 Apr–30 Nov 2014 inclusive.

Make family memories that will last a lifetime!

disneytravelagents.co.uk *Terms & conditions apply. See disneytravelagents.co.uk for full details. ©Disney.

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Dear Lauretta When pricing up two Business Class seats with Emirates today, I was shocked to find that the airline’s direct website was undercutting our gross trade price by £690!

After phoning five suppliers to check prices, I then had to discount our price to a figure where we could still earn a little commission (but this was still over £100 more than the Emirates direct price). We were hoping to earn over £800, and now will be lucky to earn £180 after VAT. How are travel agents expected to earn any money when the very products we spend hours researching and promoting are set against us in a pricing war?

Never mind the fact that as agents we do all the work on the booking, pass this on to the client and then the airline gain the client directly! I am really disappointed with Emirates. Perhaps the airlines should not bite the hand that feeds them and realise that agents have the power to sell alternative airlines to clients? Stop undercutting agents please – it not only affects our finances, but also the image of independent travel agents to the general public!

Anneka Bones, junior consultant, Southern Cross Travel, Wadhurst

GLACIER GROUP...Visit Anchorage, in collaboration with the state of Alaska, hosted a fam trip to Alaska to mark the launch of Icelandair flights from Heathrow to Anchorage. The new flights cut the flight time from the UK to Alaska down by a minimum of six hours, with connections also available from Glasgow, Manchester and Gatwick. Pictured on a helicopter glacier excursion are, from the left: Vicky Boughton, Exodus; Giota Kanellopoulou, Discover the World; Ben Colbridge, Audley Travel; Kate McWilliams, Lotus UK (representing Alaska); Lucy Davison, Trailfinders; and Gabi Chandler from Icelandair.

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newsbulletin Regent Seven Seas Cruises announces new itineraries for autumn 2014 REGENT SEVEN Seas Cruises has announced changes to its autumn 2014 itineraries for Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager.

The company has launched ten new cruises with expanded itineraries that include sailings to destinations such as Tahiti and South Africa, in response to feedback from guests and agent partners.

The new sailings on Seven Seas Mariner include an 18-night Los Angeles to Papeete transpacific cruise, a ten-night round-trip Papeete voyage and a 17-night Papeete to Auckland cruise. This will be the first time in the company’s history that Seven Seas Mariner will conduct a turnaround in Tahiti.

For the Seven Seas Voyager, the company has added a 30-night Dubai to Cape Town cruise where guests will discover big game on guided safari tours and relax on beaches. The itinerary includes overnight calls in Mumbai, Male, Port Victoria and Cape Town, with visits to Mombasa, Zanzibar, Maputo and Durban.

Seven Seas Mariner’s previously-scheduled Mediterranean cruises from September 23 to December 18, 2014 as well as Seven Seas Voyager’s October 21 to November 28, 2014 cruises have been cancelled to allow for the new cruises. Guests on the previously-scheduled sailings are being notified and assisted with rebooking their voyages.

For more information call 023-8068 228 or see www.rssc.com

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AIMING FOR A STRIKE...Jet2 hosted a bowling event to mark the launch of its 2014 brochures (Beach, Families and All-Inclusive) at the Hollywood Bowl in Leeds, with prizes for best bowler and bowling team. Pictured trying their hand at winning are, from the left: Alan Cross, Jet2; Sandy Murray, Sandy's Travel Escapes; and Kieran Jackson and Anna Kershaw from Jet2.

Beachcomber offers new tennis package at Paradis Hotel & Golf Club BEACHCOMBER IS offering a free 'Luxury Tennis Package' at Paradis Hotel & Golf Club in Mauritius.

The package includes a private morning lesson with a tennis professional; the opportunity to have a game of tennis with a professional player (for clients without a partner); free use of six floodlit tennis courts; a free sleeve of four Head tennis balls; refreshments throughout the game; and a one-hour sports massage.

For guests looking to improve their game, private tennis lessons are also available at the

Summer savings with Inghams INGHAMS IS offering a selection of savings on summer breaks.

A Game of Thrones itinerary, which visits the filming locations of HBO’s series ‘Game of Thrones’ in Dubrovnik, offers a saving of £74 and leads in at £699 per person. The holiday includes a sevennight half-board stay at the three-star Hotel Petka, flights and transfers, and departs on July 7.

A Salò Shores itinerary, in Italy's Lombardy region, is also being highlighted and leads in at £499, offering a saving of £206 per person.

The price includes seven nights' half-board stay at the four-star Hotel Duomo, flights, transfers and free afternoon tea and coffee.

For details visit www.inghams.co.uk/agents or call 01483-791114.

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company's Head Tennis Academy, located at Paradis for an extra charge.

The resort also offers a choice of eight restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, a free children’s club and a Clarins spa.

A seven-night stay at the property, including Economy Class flights, private transfers and the tennis package, costs from £1,750 per person, based on two sharing when booked by July 7, and is available until November 30.

For more information visit www.beachcomber-hotels.com or call 01483-445621.

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WEBSCLUSIVES ●

Win a fantastic Fam Trip to South Africa, including visits to Cape Town and Durban by entering the ‘Watch & Win’ competition.

Go to www.travelbulletin.co.uk/southafrica

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Book your tickets now for the Travel Bulletin Star Awards 2013. Our annual ceremony will be held on Monday 7th October at the Landmark Hotel in London. To book your place or table, go to www.travelbulletin.co.uk/awards/reserve-tickets

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Travel Bulletin hosts the industry’s most educational and fun training events bar none.

Following our successful launches in London last year, we are now taking our popular Showcase format around the country. Agents, to apply for a place on one of these, please go to www.travelbulletin.co.uk/events/agents

All this and more at:

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

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agentbulletin Booking incentives ●

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SKI FRANCE has issued its winter 2013/14 brochure and agents are being incentivised to sign up and start making early bookings for a chance to earn a free holiday. The new brochure offers 'early bird’ deals such as BOGOF lift passes for selected departure dates throughout December, January and February, including February half-term.

Agents are also being offered an early booking incentive of £25 per booking for all holidays confirmed before June 30, while all new trade partners will be offered the opportunity to earn discounts of up to 100% towards a free ski holiday for their agency.

For 15 bookings agents receive 20% discount, for 25 bookings there is 50% discount, while 35 bookings gets agents a 75% and 45 bookings a 100% discount.

TRAVEL 2 is celebrating its new Florida 2013/14 brochure launch by giving agents the chance to win one of four pairs of designer sunglasses vouchers, worth £150 each. The operator has added ten new hotels and additional villa locations to its new-look Florida 2013/14 programme, as well as a section dedicated exclusively to Caribbean cruises.

It also features car hire and theme park tickets at all the major attractions, as well as some alternative excursions, including day trips to the Everglades, Kennedy Space Centre and LEGOLAND Florida. To qualify for the incentive, agents must make a Florida booking with the company by June 16. As a bonus, if the booking contains flights with Virgin Atlantic, accommodation in Kissimmee or tickets for SeaWorld, agents will receive an additional entry into the prize draw.

For details see www.travel2.com

Training update FOLLOWING THE launch of the British Virgin Islands' new agents' online training programme, ‘Nature’s Little Secret Agents’ in March, the BVI has announced that Anthony Williams, retail sales consultant at Virgin Holidays, has become the first BVI Secret Agent and in doing so has secured a place on the inaugural NLSA fam trip this summer. In April, Anthony attended Travel Bulletin's Showcase Event with more than 70 other agents and took part in a speed networking and training event. Ginny Hawksley, manager of the BVI Tourist UK Office then met with Anthony and the sales team at their offices in Kensington at a later date whereby Anthony signed up to the training.

Describing his experience of the NLSA programme, Anthony said: “It’s a unique training tool and very different to anything else that’s currently out there. It’s easy to navigate and understand but it is also quite challenging. To pass the various modules you certainly have to do some thorough research! Overall it’s been a really interesting learning experience and I now feel much more comfortable selling the destination. It’s definitely worth taking the time to complete and I highly recommend others to get online and take part.”

The Natures Little Secret Agents (NLSA) online training programme is aimed at improving and broadening travel agents' knowledge on the BVI through a set of online modules which, once completed, are then incentivised with rewards and prizes for selling the destination. Private forums provide a place for agents to share news and stories, log their bookings and find out details about upcoming fam trips. Agents can also seek advice direct from the tourist board on the site, as and when needed. There are still spaces available on the summer fam trip for other agents who successfully book and register on the portal two (non-cancelled) holidays. Email Lorna Anthony Williams Burgess (lburgess@bvi.org.uk) for more information on the training and fam trip eligibility.

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Agent offers THIS MONTH, agents can offer their clients 14 days for the price of seven at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida with Attraction World.

The offer is valid on all departures for 2013 and allows unlimited admission to Disney theme parks and attractions for 14 consecutive days.

Prices lead in at £288 for adults and £266 for children aged three to nine years. The deal is also available to agents who also receive a 20% discount on their own bookings.

DESIGN HOTELS is offering a special travel agent promotion with more than 100 member hotels awarding 15% commission on their Best Available Rates.

The offer is valid for GDS bookings with arrivals until August 31. Example hotels include Das Stue in Berlin, The Mira Hong Kong, Gramercy Park Hotel in New York, B.O.G Hotel in Bogota and RAAS in Jodhpur.

The special rates also include numerous benefits for clients, ranging from complimentary breakfast and morning newspapers to free bike hire and discounted spa treatments.

For a full list of participating hotels visit www.designhotels.com /commission

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newsbulletin RUM PUNCH PALS...The Caribbean Council held its annual rum punch reception at the Cholmondeley Room at the House of Lords recently. Sponsored for the first time by The British Virgin Islands, the event attracted a range of guests from Government, the private sector and wellknown figures with interests in the Caribbean. Pictured admiring the views across London are, from the left: Paul Cleary, Caribtours; Gail Watkins, Quality Travel; Dr The Hon Orlando Smith, premier of the British Virgin Islands; and Ginny Hawksley, BVI Tourist Board UK Office.

Cosmos launches 2013/14 winter holidays and Florida 2014 programmes COSMOS HOLIDAYS has launched its winter holidays 2013/14 and Florida programmes with low deposits to target the early booking market. A deposit of £75 per person on all long-haul and Florida bookings taken before July 31 is available, while a deposit of £99 per person is available on all short-haul bookings made before August 31.

The operator has re-designed its ‘Elite’ brand in its winter holidays brochure with a new section dedicated solely to its ‘Elite’ range of four- and five-star hotels to help agents identify the highest grade of hotels and best choice of facilities available in any destination.

To help agents identify properties most suited to families, a series of logos flagging up ‘family friendly’ ‘ultimate family friendly’ or ‘waterpark on-site’ are featured in the brochure and bookings for the Compostela Beach Golf Club Apartments in

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Tenerife include unlimited free admission to the destination's Siam Park Water Park.

An increased choice of flight availability is also on offer from seven airports, with a choice of durations and flexibility - from winter short breaks to more traditional mid-length stays and longer stays from 15 to more than 100 nights.

Transfers are included in all featured package holidays in winter holidays (apart from Cyprus) and Monarch Premium upgrades are available from £199 per person to include upgraded levels of comfort and an increase in baggage allowance to 30kg per person.

Seven-night package prices including flights, accommodation and transfers lead in at £199 per person for short-haul and £545 for long-haul.

For more information call 0871-423 8518.

PROTEA HO SPITALITY G roup has launched an iPad app chal lenging users to see if they have what it takes to run their own Protea Hotel – or any other ho tel or busine ss – profitably. Th e app, which runs as a game, teache s financial m anagement in a simple an d entertaining manner, while challe nging the us er to think laterally to im prove revenu e. Upon completion of the game, th e revenue the hotel ha s managed to bank versus the ac tual highest revenue possible is sh own, teaching how each decision mad e. Compatib le with iPads runnin g iOS 4 or la ter, the app, titled Protea Hotels Reven ue Managemen t is available for download at Apple’s iTun es app store.

ipelago of GUESE arch THE PORTU mobile a number of Madeira has an le d ble for App apps availa visitors ti ucts invi ng d ro p id ro d An e islands by to explore th e most of and make th themselves adeira’ M he ‘WalkMe their stay. T o want h w rs for visito l ea id is p ap ek and e multiple tr to explore th tes that the walking rou e the offers, whil destination p is aimed ap cessível’ A al g tu or ‘P mobility ith reduced at people w le ts accessib and sugges hotels and as l el w as itineraries, ssible ac that are ce restaurants mobility. ith reduced for those w see For details adeira.pt m it is .v w ww

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S03 TB1406 News 2_Layout 1 12/06/2013 10:40 Page 11

puzzlebulletin Travagrams

Su Doku Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle Number: 116

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

Riper Me Shady Oil

A➠

B➠ This operator shares its name with the top English football league

C➠

A Orca It

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 20th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 31st May is Tara Devey Mcallister, Terry Jones Travel in Shropshire.

May 31 Solution: A=9 B=1 C=6 D=7

This country will join the EU on July 1

Where Am I?

Cigarette brand or town in Wiltshire?

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

Number: 116

Across 1. Fred Olsen cruise ship (8) 6. One of the Canaries known as, La Isla Bonita (2,5) 7. The England football team recently drew with Brazil in this city (3) 8. Airline alliance (4) 10. Popular Tunisian resort (6) 12. Flows through Vienna (6) 13. The Eurostar passes through this county (4) 16. Melbourne is the capital of this state, initially (3) 17. Cheap flights operator (7) 18. Musician, Behind the Candelabra, at a cinema near you (8)

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Down 1. Escorted tours specialist, ___ Worldwide (5) 2. European capital city (4) 3. The national parks of Denali and Glacier Bay are in this US state (6) 4. Golfer, Tiger (5) 5. South African river, sounds colourful (6) 9. Picturesque French town and lake (6) 11. Luxury hotels and resorts group (6) 12. Port in 13 Across (5) 14. Inner Hebridean island (5) 15. Capital of the Maldives (4)

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 28 June 14 2013

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S03 TB1406 News 2_Layout 1 12/06/2013 10:41 Page 12

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S03 TB1406 News 2_Layout 1 12/06/2013 10:41 Page 13

cruisebulletin

InBrief ● CROISIEUROPE HAS introduced internet access to five more ships

across its fleet - on MS Botticelli, MS Renoir, MS Infante Henrique, MS Magellan and MS Michelangelo. Wi-fi is available to guests from €5 per connection in the reception area and lounge bar.

For details email resuk@croisieurope.com or visit www.croisieurope.travel/ ● SEABOURN HAS expanded the variety of menu options served in The Restaurant on its ships. The line's main fine-dining venue now features dishes created by the line’s team of chefs and each menu includes vegetarian options, a daily speciality cheese preparation, a “Seabourn Signature” dish and “Local Flavors” specialities, reflecting the regional cuisines where the ships are cruising. ● THOMSON CRUISES has unveiled a short film that captures Parkour stunts to showcase its new-look ship, Thomson Dream. The film, created by freerunning team 3RUN, captures Parkour professionals flipping over the pool, vaulting tables in the restaurants and recreating the ship’s flag 20ft above deck. The film can be viewed at www.youtube.com/thomsonhols ● GUESTS WHO make a new booking by June 30 on any Regent Seven Seas Cruises' eligible Far East and South America cruises will receive a combination of three added-value offers of a free pre- or postcruise land programme where available, subsidised flight upgrades or free Economy/World Traveller Plus/Business Class flights.

For details call 023-8068 2280 or see www.rssc.com ● ST. KITTS has announced that it will be receiving six port calls from Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas in its inaugural 2014/15 season. The vessel will include St. Kitts in its 11-night Eastern Caribbean and 12-night Southern Caribbean itineraries. ● MSC CRUISES is offering an eight-day fly/cruise to the Red Sea from £689 per person including flights. From November 10 through to March 16, 2014, MSC Armonia has a full schedule of 19 eightday/seven-night cruises, departing every Sunday from Sharm el Sheikh, with scheduled stops in Sokhna Port (Egypt), Safaga (Egypt), Aqaba (Jordan) and Eilat (Israel). Highlights include tours of the Dead Sea incorporating a clay bath; visits to Bedouin settlements; trips to southern Jordan’s Wadi Rum valley; and drive/fly tours through the landscape of the Negev desert.

For details see www.msccruises.co.uk or call 0844-561 1955.

TWO PASSENGERS can travel from £949 on selected summer 2013 cruises with Voyages of Discovery. As an example, the £949 offer is available on a nine-day Celtic Treasures specialist ‘Footloose’ walking cruise and is based on two people sharing an outside cabin.

Ideal for keen walkers, the cruise allows passengers to discover a range of ‘off the beaten track’ gems, as well as renowned sites such as Glenveagh National Park. Other offers being highlighted include a 12-day British Isles and Chelsea Flower Show cruise from £1,299 and a ten-day Heritage of the British Isles cruise for £999. No single supplements are also available on the cruises which include flights (on fly/cruises), transfers, meals and entertainment and a guest speaker programme.

For details call 0843-221 8499 or visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.com

Research reveals two fifths book cruises to avoid ‘tacky’ resorts NEW RESEARCH from bonvoyage.co.uk has revealed that a large percentage of holidaymakers who opt for a cruise do so in order to avoid ‘tacky’ holiday resorts.

The company conducted the poll with 1,827 Brits who had been on a cruise in the past five years. The five most frequently named reasons for booking a cruise were 'Wanted to visit multiple destinations on one trip' – 72%; 'Wanted to avoid ‘tacky’ holiday resorts' - 43%; 'Wanted to holiday on the sea/didn’t want dry-land holiday' – 36%; 'Cost control easier on a cruise' – 23%; and 'Felt pressured to follow trend as friends/family had also been on cruise holiday' – 21%.

Of those who admitted that they had opted for a cruise holiday to avoid ‘tacky’ resorts, three fifths, 61%, explained that they had been to a dry-land resort in the past which they disliked. Of these, the majority, 55%, explained that their main reason for disliking the resort in question was ‘too many children’ staying there. In contrast, a third, 31%, explained that they didn’t feel that the resort awarded them ‘enough culture’ of the destination in which they stayed.

Fred. Olsen gives guests chance to experience total solar eclipse in March 2015 A FULL solar eclipse is due to occur in March 2015 and guests on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 880-guest cruise ship, Boudicca, will be at the precise co-ordinates at this time.

In order to see the Sun completely eclipsed by the Moon, you must be inside the narrow ‘Path of Totality’ – the track of the Moon’s umbral shadow across the Earth. Typically, this covers less than 1% of Earth’s surface and if you are not in it, then you cannot see it.

The line's Boudicca will be at the precise location of the ‘Path of Totality’, off the coast of the Faroe Islands on March 20, 2015 on its 15-night ‘Solar Eclipse Cruise’, which departs from Southampton on March 9.

The company's sales and marketing director Nathan Philpot said: “We are very excited to be launching this unique itinerary for March 2015, which has been designed to position Boudicca at the best latitude and longitude to give guests the optimum chance of seeing the total solar eclipse. Because Boudicca will be based out at sea on the day, this will limit any man-made light pollution, thereby improving guests’ views of the eclipse, and giving them the chance to witness that rarest of

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phenomena, the ‘Solar Corona’, when the Moon’s apparent diameter is larger than the Sun, and creates a ‘pearly white crown’ around the Sun." The ship calls at several Norwegian ports on its itinerary including Ǻlesund, Tromsø, Alta and Leknes, in the remote Lofoten Islands.

Prices lead in at £1,699 per person based on two adults sharing an inside, twin cabin Grade ‘I’, and includes all meals and entertainment on board, port taxes and up to £250 free onboard spending credit per cabin.

Meanwhile, the line has announced that from July 1, it will be streamlining the various dress codes for its cruise guests in the evenings across its fleet of four ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch. The company will continue with its traditional ‘Black Tie’ ‘Formal Nights’ – usually three or four during a two-week cruise – but the dress code for the remainder of the evenings will be simplified to ‘Smart Casual’.

For further information visit www.fredolsencruises.com or call 0800-035 5150.

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personalitybulletin

Zoe Carroll The sales & marketing manager for Cape Grace and Tswalu Kalahari at Zoe Carroll Marketing admits to being a chatterbox and wants to emigrate to Cape Town one day....

Where was your last work-related trip?

Scandinavia – it was minus 7 degrees in Stockholm and snowing.

If you were a celebrity who would you choose to be and why?

I’d love to be Dolly Parton to be able to sing as she does with such warmth and love. She may look artificial but on the inside she’s a country girl who did good.

What three words would your friends use to describe you?

Ambitious, outgoing and loyal.

What have your travels taught you?

When you travel you meet such a wide range of different people but I think the main thing is to stop and look, take time to see the smaller things such as the leaves on the trees blowing in the wind, the tiny flowers, to cherish every moment and to take pictures with your mind not just your camera.

What is the best advice you recall?

Never leave a job in bad circumstances you never know where people turn up again.

If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be?

Love, it really is what makes the world go round.

If you could change three things in the industry, what would they be?

Lower airline taxes and that’s really it.

Who has been the biggest inspiration/influence in your career?

Quite a few people but I guess the one person is Ian Pollitt who use to own Carrier and gave me the chance to fall in love with Africa.

What's your favourite city and why?

Cape Town. It has the ocean and the mountain and everything inbetween -

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June 14 2013

"I have been going to Cape Town for 20 years and I still get that lovely warm feeling when my plane lands or I drive into the city"

Career path ● ● ● ● ● ●

1989-1991: Sales consultant Moores Faraway Travel 1991-1994: Reservations consultant - Jetset 1994-2006: Africa reservations manager - Carrier 2006-2009: NCS 2009-2012: European marketing manager - Seasons in Africa 2012-present: Sales & marketing manager - Cape Grace and Tswalu Kalahari

from fantastic restaurants to warm friendly people. I have been going for 20 years and still get that lovely warm feeling when my plane lands or I drive into the city. I feel like I am arriving at my spiritual home and one day I hope it will be my home.

If you were not doing this job, what would you be doing?

Living in the African bush running a small bush camp.

What is your motto in life?

Stay strong, smile a great deal and be nice – all very simple things to do.

What is your favourite mode of travel?

I love driving especially in Africa where you can experience the vast open landscapes and spot impalas as you drive into a game reserve.

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

To stop prejudice. Let’s learn to accept all people as themselves not for the colour of their skin or their religious beliefs.

What was your nickname at school and why?

Most people just called me Zo but my mum calls me ‘Bowie’ sometimes and when she does I always get a warm feeling as it reminds me of when I was little.

What item do you always take with you when travelling?

A good moisturiser and my flip flops - I dislike slippers.

How do you deal with stress?

Cry. It’s not the best solution but a good cry always works for me.

What special skill do you have?

I think people would say I am a good listener but I can talk a lot.

How do you cope with the advances in technology?

I love it! I am an Apple girl - a good friend of mine converted me and I would never use anything else.

What’s your favourite programme on the TV right now?

Grand Designs. We are renovating an old house at the moment - not a grand design but it’s our grand design!

What do you love about your job?

The travel, meeting new people, seeing new places and working with two of the most stunning properties in South Africa.

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usa

MANDALAY BAY, a 120-acre resort in Las Vegas, is undergoing its first major property-wide transformation since opening in 1999. The resort is collaborating with brands such as Morgans Hotel Group, Cirque, The Light Group and Four Seasons to create a new experience for its guests. As an example, Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil –debuts on June 29 and offers a permanent Cirque du Soleil production that brings to life the King of Pop’s music while celebrating his worldwide legacy. The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, located on floors 35-39 of Mandalay Bay, also began the year with a complete renovation of all 424 guest rooms and suites. Prices for Mandalay Bay lead in at $89 on weekdays and $159 on weekends, while room rates for the Four Seasons cost from $189.

Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism launches new garden campaign MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE of Travel and Tourism launched a 'Gardens Of Massachusetts' campaign at the opening of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show last month, and is inviting holidaymakers to experience the state's gardens, parks, green spaces and designed landscapes.

The cultivated spaces span a wide range of historic periods, gardening practices and styles. Although many venues offer year-round programming with special events, courses, lectures and varied foliage, the best months to see Massachusetts gardens in their blooming glory are May through to early October.

The new campaign is supported by a number of US

specialist tour operators who have introduced tours that showcase the state’s plants, parks and gardens. For example, America As You Like It has an eight-night ‘Highlights & Gardens of Massachusetts’ fly/drive tour from £1,215 per person including flights, car hire and accommodation, while Bon Voyage has an eight-night ‘Gardens and Hidden Treasure of Massachusetts’ fly/drive tour from £1,495 per person including flights, car hire and accommodation. North American Travel Service is also offering a ten-night ‘Massachusetts In Bloom’ fly/drive tour from £1,639 per person including flights, car hire and accommodation.

For further information visit www.massholiday.co.uk

LA Tourism announces new tourism plans to boost visitor numbers LAST YEAR the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LA Tourism) reported a record breaking year for Los Angeles with 41.4m visitors.

The city is now aiming for a new annual visitation goal of 50m visitors by 2020 and estimates that an increase to 50m in total visitation will generate an increase of $14bn in economic impact for Los Angeles, bring in $238m in hotel tax revenue to the city and add 68,000 new jobs to the LA region’s workforce.

The tourist board's director for Europe and Middle East Francine

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Sheridan said: "After reaching a record 41.4m visitors last year, we’re prepared to reach new heights and we’re now setting our sights on the 50m visitors milestone.

“We are very excited to be working towards this goal. With the tremendous product offerings in LA, coupled with the healthy quantity of direct air service to LAX from London plus our marketing initiatives, we expect to grow more UK visitors to LA.” Meanwhile, the tourism board is inviting travellers to be a part of its green

movement with the launch of “Car Free LA,” an ecofriendly initiative designed to showcase the city’s unexpected car-free offerings.

Car Free LA features a series of expertly-tailored itineraries centred around exploring Los Angeles’ various neighborhoods on foot, bike and public transportation while highlighting the city’s attractions, music scene, historic architecture, arts and culture and entertainment.

Itineraries are available at www.discoverlosangeles.co m/carfreela

Weekend rail trips to Cape Cod from Boston FOR THE first time since the 1980s, it is now possible for New England visitors to take a weekend trip to Cape Cod from Boston by rail – ideal for those who don’t want to drive.

Priced at $30 for the return trip, the CapeFLYER service runs until September 2, taking passengers to Hyannis, Massachusetts, in the heart of Cape Cod via some of New England’s coastal scenery.

For details see www.capeflyer.com

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I T NC M ITA LU E N D SE DE ’S ES RV PA VI IC RT P E® U RE

usa

H O

Springfield comes to life at Universal Orlando Resort An artist’s impression of Springfield

LATE AVAILABILITY OFFERS TO USA SOUTHERN SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

WAS £2,295 NOW £2,095* *Departs 27/08/13 Other departure dates available

SAVE UP TO £200pp† CALIFORNIA SUNSHINE COAST

WAS £1,995 NOW £1,945* *Departs 08/09/13 Other departure dates available

SAVE UP TO £50pp pp† AMERICAN ROCKIES AND NEW MEXICO

WAS £2,295 NOW £2,145* *Departs 23/09/13 Other departure dates available

SPRINGFIELD, HOMETOWN of America’s favourite animated family, The Simpsons, comes to life at Universal Orlando Resort this summer.

The expansive, new area within Universal Studios will feature The Simpsons Ride, places and food outlets from the show and two new Simpsons characters who will make their debut with the new area – Krusty the Clown and Sideshow Bob. Guests will be able to walk down Fast Food Boulevard and visit the places that helped Springfield stake its claim as “Shelbyville by the Sea.” They will be able to grab a Krusty-certified meat sandwich at Krusty Burger, snatch the catch of the day at the Frying Dutchman, get a slice at Luigi’s Pizza, go nuts for donuts at Lard Lad, enjoy a “Taco Fresho” with Bumblebee Man and drink at Moe’s Tavern.

The new attraction – called Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl – will take “foolish humans” on an intergalactic spin designed to send them into orbit.

President of Universal Creative Marl Woodbury said: “This will be a must-see experience for Simpsons fans all over the world. For the first time ever, they’re going to be able to enter a world that they’ve only seen on television – and we’re really excited to bring that world to life."

For more information visit www.universalorlando.co.uk IN ITS latest Trends Report, Hayes & Jarvis reports that New York and Las Vegas have outsold all competitors worldwide this year to head its 'Best Selling Destinations' list. The operator reports that both cities have put on significant growth in the volume of bookings compared with January-May last year – 20% in the case of New York and 13% for Las Vegas, but says that while hotel demand is strong across the board in New York, Las Vegas bookings are polarised between five-star resorts led by Bellagio at the top end and entry level budget options like the three-star Luxor and Excalibur.

SAVE UP TO £150pp†

To book or find out more, please call 0800 988 5802 or visit www.titanagents.co.uk †

Offers valid until 31 July 2013 and are subject to availability.

See website for details

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S04 TB1406 USA_Layout 1 12/06/2013 10:05 Page 17

The holiday’s booked,

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S04 TB1406 USA_Layout 1 12/06/2013 10:05 Page 18

usa Grand Canyon camping experience

nn, holiday

by John Gui

researcher

Why aren’t you Canadian?

John Guinn runs Holiday Hut and has a fortnightly travel show on internet radio station Secklow Sounds. Here are his thoughts (and findings) on Alaska...

CAN’T be the only person who ever wondered why Alaska wasn’t part of Canada. I needed to find out, and during my recent radio show I asked Jesse Carlstrom from the Alaska Travel Industry Association why he wasn’t Canadian.

He said that Alaska was originally a Russian Territory, but that Russia sold it to the US for $7.2m back in 1867. This got me thinking, had a Canadian leader made a mistake bigger than the one Decca Records made when they rejected the Beatles? Well no, Canada was still a British Colony at the time and Canada didn’t come into being until after Alaska had become American. The Russians and the British were bitter rivals in the region (the Crimea War only ended in 1856) and the Russians saw the Americans as less as a threat and sold the land to them in case the British tried to take it by force. It was never going to be offered to the British.

Alaska is obviously the most northern state in USA; you might even guess correctly that it is also the most western state. However, you might be surprised to know that Alaska is also the most eastern part of the USA too.

Alaska's Aleutian Islands stretch across the 180° line of Longitude, thus passing from the Western Hemisphere into the Eastern Hemisphere. The International Date Line should run along this 180° line of Longitude meaning that part of Alaska would be a day ahead of the mainland, but the Date Line has a convenient kink in it to ensure this doesn’t happen - a shame as Alaska would have been able to celebrate New Year’s Day before and after the rest of the world. It would be a long party.

You’ll be pleased to know that this is the end of the history and geography lessons. I hadn’t Skyped Jesse during his breakfast just to question his nationality. I wanted to discuss the new air route to Alaska and to find out how this enables a visitor to explore more of the state.

The new route is via Iceland, flying with Icelandair twiceweekly from Reykjavik to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport throughout summer. UK passengers can fly from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow.

More than 80% of UK visitors to Alaska are on a cruise and it is hoped that the new air route will encourage more travellers to explore Alaska’s interior by taking a one-way cruise, then exploring Alaska’s open spaces, as well as the cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks, before flying home.

Jess suggests the following two-week trip for your clients.

The first week is a cruise up Seward. From there take the Alaskan Railroad to Anchorage. Spend a night or two there before heading to Talkeetna for Mount McKinley and the Denali National Park and finish at Fairbanks.

For more information on Alaska visit www.travelalaska.com One final bit of Alaska trivia for you. If you were to cut Alaska in half, Texas would still be only the third largest state in the USA.

I

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June 14 2013

GUESTS CAN experience a unique stay at the Grand Canyon experience this summer with an overnight cowboy campout in the hills surrounding the natural wonder.

The offer is exclusively available at the Grand Canyon Ranch Resort, a working guest ranch situated on the West Rim of the Canyon, located two hours’ drive from Las Vegas.

At the ranch guests can live the life of a real cowboy or cowgirl with optional activities including a visit to the ranch’s growing wild bison herd and hand shooting a Colt 45. Guests can also opt to fly below the rim of the Canyon in a Heli USA Airways' helicopter; horse ride through the Joshua Tree-lined Mormon Trail, to the Iron Basin known as the Music Mountains of Arizona; and spend a night under the stars at Turner Camp.

The experience is suitable for riders of all levels and for children aged nine and over. Prices start from £485 for adults and £325 per child and locally-payable fees of US$15 per person apply.

Tour operators selling the Grand Canyon Ranch Resort include All Of America, Gold Medal, Jetset, Kuoni Travel, North America Travel Service, Premier Travel, STA Travel, Thomas Cook, Hayes and Jarvis, Titan Travel, Infinity Holidays, Trailfinders, US Airtours and Virgin Holidays.

For more information see www.grandcanyonranch.com

Exclusive Kennedy Space Center offer from AW ATTRACTION WORLD is offering adult tickets for child prices at Kennedy Space Center.

The exclusive offer is available until June 27 and includes admission to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the Astronaut Hall of Fame; a Shuttle Launch Experience; second day entry to US Astronaut Hall of Fame; two films at the IMAX theatre; and a Kennedy Space Center Bus tour.

Prices lead in at £27 per person.

JO PIANI, from The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel and Caroline Stanton, representing Palm Beach County, hosted a group of US & Irish product managers from key tour operators on a joint fam trip to experience the destination and view new and existing product.

Pictured ready to enjoy dinner on the beach at Pink Shell Beach Resort are, from the left: Erick Garnica, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel; Nandita Patel, Funway; Sharon McConway, North American Travel Services; Sarah McCormick, American Holidays; Katja Kunz, Pink Shell; John Bowden, THG Holidays; Julia Darlington, TUI; Jo Piani, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel; and Lewis Remington, Your Golf Travel.

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A holiday that has it all starts in Massachusetts.

It starts with exploring the cobblestone streets of Boston, home to rich history, vibrant culture , and some of the USA’s most affordable shopping .

Then get your feet wet along the near-perfect beaches of Cape Cod, relax among the rolling hills of the Berkshires, or take in some of the unique art you’ll only find here. An amazing holiday at a surprisingly great value is just a short flight away in Massachusetts.

Visit massholiday.co.uk or call 0208 464 8483 to start planning your holiday today.

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usa Collette Worldwide announces new tour additions to Alaska & Hawaii for 2014 COLLETTE WORLDWIDE is adding two new tours for 2014 offering opportunities to visit the coastline of Alaska and the islands of Hawaii.

The 12-day ‘Alaskan Adventure’ itinerary leads in at £2,999 per person and includes a three-night stay in Seattle with sightseeing, including the Space Needle and Pike Place Market; and a seven-night Alaska cruise, with visits to Ketchikan, ‘the Salmon Capital of the World’, the Tracy Arm Fjord, the capital Juneau, and a chance to view the wildlife of the Inside Passage.

A new 11-day ‘Hawaii by land and sea’ itinerary costs from £3,499 per person and features a two-night stay in Honolulu alongside a seven-night island-hopping cruise on the Pride of America. Included in the itinerary are visits to Pearl Harbour and the USS Arizona Memorial, Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauai ‘the Garden Island’, and a guided tour of Waikiki.

The price includes flights from London, many meals, excursions and door-to-door UK airport transfers within 100-miles.

W New York - Union Square completes renovation W NEW York - Union Square has unveiled the completion of a multi-layered renovation project that merges traditional and contemporary styles.

The transformation is part of the W brand’s ongoing, $100m commitment to the renovation of more than 11 of its properties across North America, and includes a full redesign of the hotel’s 270-guestrooms and top suites, W Living Room, Todd English’s iconic Olives New York and destination bar Lilium by Gerber Group (previously Underbar).

Inspired by the neighbourhood’s junction of uptown and downtown New York City, the renovation also preserves original design details of the landmark 1911 Beaux Arts building, including its turn-of-the century Great Room with 23ft high gilded ceilings and grand windows, which were restored late last year.

For further information see www.whotels.com/newyorkunionsquare

Hawaii

For more information visit www.colletteworldwide.com or call 0800-804 8700.

Free night's stay at Mandarin Oriental MANDARIN ORIENTAL, Las Vegas is offering guests an Extra Fun Day Away package which features a complimentary third night when guests book a minimum of two consecutive nights up to September 5.

To enhance the experience, guests also can also utilise the property's five-star spa and poolside cabanas.

Focusing on healing therapies for the mind, body and soul, the spa offers a variety of pampering treatments including summer-friendly remedies.

To check available dates and reserve the Extra Fun Day Away package visit www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas

ONESIE TO GO...Nick Talbot (left) and Stephen Rhodes from Funway mark the operator's 2013 & 2014 second edition USA brochure launch by donning a USA-themed 'Onesie'. The launch is accompanied with an early booking offer of £75 available off all multi-centres when booking by September 30, as well as other special offers including free airport lounge passes and free car rental upgrades.

For details see www.funway4agents.co.uk or call 0844-557 0626.

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usa Route 66 named favourite road trip ROUTE 66 is the most popular US road trip for British travellers this year according to booking data from US Motel chain, Motel 6, as holidaymakers take to the road to explore famous sites such as The Metro Diner and Meteor City.

The 2,450-mile long scenic route, famous for towns such as Amarillo and Santa Monica, has seen up to 25% more visits this year than its closest competitor, the Pacific Coast Highway, cementing it as the UK’s most popular road trip.

The hotel group also reports that its six properties located along the route have had almost 3,000 bookings since the start of this year compared to less than 2,100 for 2012. A threenight stay in Amarillo, Texas costs from ÂŁ27 per person.

A NEW Sherlock Holmes exhibit has opened at Maryland Science Center in Baltimore. The exhibition takes young and adult detectives’ on a ‘Cluedo’ style mission, designed to replicate Victorian London with sights, sounds, smells and a range of tricks and treats along the way. Starting in the museum’s Clocktower at the scene of the crime, inquisitive minds are encouraged to solve the mystery with an interactive guide, maps, physical clues and objects to help reveal the culprit.

For details visit www.mdsci.org/exhibits/sherlockholmes.html

New thrill ride to open at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino RIO ALL-SUITE Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas has announced that it will develop a new thrill ride, VooDoo Skyline, which is set to open later this summer.

The attraction will send guests soaring higher than 400ft and offer 360-degree open-air views of the Las Vegas Strip. The one-minute and ten-second zip ride will take off from VooDoo Lounge, located on Rio’s 50-storey Masquerade tower, sending guests cascading more than 800ft to the Ipanema tower and reaching speeds up to 33 miles per hour. VooDoo Skyline can accommodate up to two riders at one time and on the return trip guests will ride an additional 800ft to the starting point facing backwards, a total ride of nearly onethird of a mile.

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100% Holidays

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holidayparks

KEYCAMP HAS united with sister company Eurocamp for its 2014 season, to offer a total of 169 parcs compared to 95 this year. New destinations include Sardinia, Elba and Germany and guests will also have access to a greater range of holiday parcs across regions including the Venetian Coast, Lake Garda, the French Alps and the Dordogne. An early booking discount of up to 20% is available on holidays booked before October 31 and returning customers will receive an additional loyalty discount of 5%.

Hoseasons capitalises on demand with luxury lodge expansion HOSEASONS REPORTS that its expanded luxury family lodge holiday programme has been capturing the imagination of British families looking to holiday in the UK – but who don’t want to compromise on their accommodation or holiday experience.

The operator's Evermore Lodge Holidays concept has nearly doubled in size for this year, with four new locations in Shropshire, Yorkshire and the southern Highlands added to the programme, making ten in total.

The company's head of marketing Rebecca Harris said: "Evermore has really caught the imagination of a

certain type of British family. In particular, it is appealing to those for whom quality time with the family is the number one priority.

“They also want to take time to explore the local environment, rather than simply staying on the park for the duration of their holiday. We are finding that space and privacy are proving to be big attractions, together with things like having a gastropub close by, and outdoor activities such as cycling and walking on the doorstep.”

Evermore offers high-quality lodge accommodation on relatively small parks set in countryside, with facilities

such as hot tubs, i-Pods, free Wi-fi, quality towels and linens, plus traditional games available for families to play together One of the four new locations is Ashlea Pools Lodges in Shropshire where most of the two- and threebedroom timber lodges feature sunken outdoor hot tubs on decking areas. A short break for a family of four this month leads in at £309, while a week in the peak summer season for a family of four costs from £675.

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

Shorefield Holidays opens new self-catering property in New Forest SHOREFIELD HOLIDAYS, a family-owned specialist in selfcatering holidays, will open Wisteria House from July 5 at Shorefield Country Park in the New Forest.

Wisteria House will offer luxury accommodation for up to 12 guests including six bedrooms and six shower/bathrooms (four en-suite). Prices start from £1,218 per week or £14.50 per person per night based on 12 sharing from November 1 to December 19, rising to £3,500 in high season.

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Facilities at Shorefield Country Park include large indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, a gym, floodlit tennis court, kids’ clubs, fishing lake, sauna, steam room and spa bath and the Reflections Elemis Day Spa. There is also a variety of dining options, live entertainment in the evenings, supermarket, internet kiosk and Wi-fi.

For more information or to book see www.shorefield.co.uk or call 01590-648331.

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holidayparks Away Resorts launches Vintage Caravan experience on Isle of Wight AWAY RESORTS is pioneering a new holiday trend this summer with the launch of its Vintage 'Shabby Chic' Caravan break at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park on the Isle of Wight.

The company has acquired three caravans that were popular makes in the 1970s – original Cosalt Abbey caravans from 1971, 1974 and 1976 – and has refurbished them to give them a Cath Kidston, shabbychic inspired-look.

The new accommodation is part of the Canvas Village, the glamping area of the park which has 15 luxury Bell Tents, and is designed to tap into the nostalgia to relive the days of holidays gone.

The refurbishments include flooring with black and white retro tiles, furniture upholstered in crimson and lime-coloured fabrics from Romo furnishings. The curtains and cushions are Cath Kidston English rose, and there’s vintage Bush radios (no TVs), free-standing lamps and old English country bunting.

The company's managing director Carl Castledine said: “First, there was the Canvas Village, then there was Wild Camping and now we are pioneering the Vintage Caravan experience. The great British holiday is going from strength to strength and we have found that our guests are keen to introduce a bit of their childhood holiday experiences to their children, hence these three types of vintage holiday experiences that we offer. And the ever-popular Cath Kidston furnishings bring the accommodation bang up to date.”

Prices start at £130 for four nights in a two-berth Vintage Caravan.

Also new at the holiday park is a new production for the company's pre-school characters Bear in the Woods and his friends Lucy and Scratch with a new character called Lucy’s Teddy, as well as an hour-long ‘Play Live

on Stage’ production based on the format for Saturday morning TV programmes with ‘presenters’, game shows, dancing/singing competitions and a mini version of Bear in the Woods.

Meanwhile, the company has added a new holiday park acquisition in Wales to its portfolio with its first park outside of England.

The park, which is set in a beachside location, with the mountain ranges of Snowdonia National Park forming the backdrop, is Barmouth Bay Holiday Park in Talybont, Gwynedd, north Wales. It was previously owned by Haulfryn Holidays.

The new addition brings the company's portfolio of parks to four: the newly-acquired park in Wales, Mill Rythe Holiday Village on Hayling Island, Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park and Tattershall Lakes Country Park in Lincolnshire.

The operator has also launched a new-look brochure following a rebrand conducted by Gendall Design, who were responsible for the branding and website design of the Eden Project. Gendall has also redesigned the operator's website with the introduction of a new booking engine.

Castledine said: "Barmouth Bay complements our strategy of providing our existing customer base with a flexible UK holiday offering of four very different types of holidays - lakeside, coastal, entertainment-based and now with Barmouth Bay, a park in a 'off the beaten track location' of outstanding beauty.

"Its breathtaking location and the fact the park has been well maintained by Haulfryn Holidays to a very high standard made the park an irresistible proposition. We are not planning to make any major adjustments to the park this year. We are keen to see how it fits with our customer base just the way it is."

For more information visit www.away-resorts.com

Haven unveils new Poole-side spa at Rockley Park plus new dining option A NEW spa at Haven’s Rockley Park holiday park in Dorset has been launched by Haven.

The spa offers a range of treatments from facials and manicures to mother and daughter pamper experiences, and for bookings of more than £40 guests can receive a one-hour spa and relaxation session, which offers the use of facilities including the sauna, hot tub and relaxation lounge.

Also new at the Dorset park this year, is the Harbourside Fish Restaurant and Cooks Fish and Chip Takeaway.

Prices start from £249 for a family of up to six staying for three nights in a Superior two-bedroom caravan.

For further information visit www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0871-230 1919.

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June 14 2013

Rockley spa

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holidayparks Butlins issues second edition brochure and extends Wi-fi service BUTLINS HAS LAUNCHED its second edition brochure which features details of its resorts’ latest investments, new products and entertainment; information on this year’s festive breaks; offers of up to half price; and lead-in price grids.

Agents can find out more about the new traditional fairground at Bognor Regis and the recently opened Splash Waterworld at Butlins Skegness.

The new brochure also features details of new shows including Sesame Street Live, the Butlins Big Top Circus, Jacksons, Blues on the Move and Storybook Pantomime, as well as information on the shows available at the newly opened Character Theatre and interactive Discovery Studio at the Bognor Regis resort.

Other entertainment information available includes details of characters appearing at the resorts such as Mike the Knight and Angelina Ballerina, children’s activities including archery and pool kayaking, plus two pages outlining rainy day activities.

The brochure also features pages dedicated to the resorts’ spas, dining plans, accommodation and festive packages, as well as a lead-in pricing grid to help agents find the ideal break for their customers.

New offers include up to 50% off term time midweek breaks and up to a third off school holiday and term-time weekend breaks. As an example of prices, a three-night weekend break at Minehead costs from £57 per person based on a June 17 arrival and two adults and two children sharing a Silver selfcatering apartment.

Meanwhile, guests visiting any of the resorts will now be

better connected as high speed Wi-fi can be accessed in all areas, including accommodation for the first time.

The service can be accessed for free for 15 minutes daily.

Guests staying in any of the three hotels at Bognor Regis will continue to receive Wi-fi in their hotel rooms included in the price, while guests staying in any other accommodation can buy a pass for their entire break. A pass for a three- or four-night break costs £15 per device and £20 per device for a seven-night stay.

The company has also announced its line-up for the 2014 Great British Alternative Music Festival at its Minehead resort on March 28–31, 2014, which is focused around British rock bands that first became popular in the 70s and 80s.

Headlining the weekend is a variety of English punk and rock bands including 70s rock band The Damned singing their hit song “Eloise” and the band’s co-founder, Captain Sensible, with his solo 1980’s number one hit “Happy Talk”. The weekend will also feature the English East End punk rock band the Cockney Rejects performing their 1980 hit single “The Greatest Cockney Ripoff”; British pub rock band Dr Feelgood singing their top ten hit “Milk & Alcohol” and From the Jam featuring original The Jam member Bruce Foxton entertaining the crowds with the Jam’s “Town Called Malice" that reached number one in the UK singles chart, plus English punk rocker John Otway with his half-spoken love song "Really Free".

A three-night break for the festival costs from £75 per person, based on four sharing a Silver self-catering apartment.

For more information visit www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0845-070 4742.

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CORROBOREE CAMP...Pictured in Northern Queensland on a recent Corroboree fam trip, hosted with Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Qantas, are, from the left: Giorgio Domini , Fiji Time Viaggi; Latif Oztosun, Kuoni; Gemma Budd, Infinity Holidays; with (back row) Cristina Faggi, Bacchino Viaggi snc; Jane Bering, Risskov Travel; Joanne Britton, Travelux; John Walker, Trailfinders; Julie Hernandez, Havas Voyages; Sophie Thoson, Bridge The World; Jan Berglund, Talk & Travel; and (front row) Stacey Gregory, Westgate Travel; Audrey Pierrot, Verdie Voyages; and Jessica Jenn, STA Travel.

DoubleTree by Hilton launches in Australia HILTON WORLDWIDE has introduced its full-service brand, DoubleTree by Hilton, to Australia with the rebranding of four Northern Territory hotels, the first of which took place last month. The country’s first three DoubleTree by Hilton hotels - DoubleTree by Hilton Darwin, DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin and DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs - will open alongside Hilton Darwin in the territory.

The company's vice president of operations in Australasia, Ashley Spencer, said: “We are delighted to be able to introduce the DoubleTree by Hilton brand to the Australian market and to add another Hilton Hotel & Resort in the region’s most significant areas of growth.

“We have been looking to enter into the Northern Territory for some time and are committed to making these properties the leading full-service hotels in the market.”

DoubleTree by Hilton's global head John Greenleaf said: "The launch of DoubleTree by Hilton in Australia – our 30th country and sixth continent – marks the beginning of a very exciting expansion for our brand.

“We are thrilled to open not one, but three hotels in Australia’s extraordinary Northern Territory and look forward to introducing travellers to the superior level of caring service synonymous with DoubleTree by Hilton – epitomised by our warm chocolate chip cookie welcome for every guest at check-in.”

Hotel amenities include body care products by Crabtree & Evelyn, 24-hour business and fitness centres, outdoor swimming pools, a range of food and drink offerings and free Wi-fi internet access in public areas.

As participants in the Hilton HHonors guest loyalty programme, all four hotels will offer guests the ability to earn and redeem points. Gold and Diamond HHonors members will also receive complimentary breakfast.

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June 14 2013

InBrief ● MALAYSIA AIRLINES has launched its summer sale for travel Down

Under. Savings of up to £260 are offered on return Economy fares from Heathrow, with fares from £759 to Perth, £779 to Melbourne and Adelaide, £789 to Sydney and Brisbane and £859 to Auckland.

Business Class fares from Heathrow have been reduced by £720 for some round trips with fares starting at £2,859 to Melbourne and Perth, £2,869 to Sydney and Adelaide, £2,879 to Brisbane and £3,109 to Auckland. The offers are available to book for June for travel until June 20 and from August 15-October 17, November 1-December 5 and December 24-March 21, 2014.

For details see www.malaysiaairlines.com/uk ● TOURISM NEW Zealand has revised and reworked its online trade training programme and has launched a new 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme. ● TRAVEL 2 is recommending that agents encourage their customers to pre-book attractions before they travel to take advantage of its reduced rates for excursions. The operator also guarantees that the customer will get to take part in the excursions as some of the most popular tours sell out very quickly such as the Sydney Bridge Climb.

See www.travel2.com for details. ● THE AUSTRALIAN Tourism Exchange (ATE), a trade show dedicated to exclusively promoting Australian tourism products and experiences to the global travel market, will be hosted in Cairns for the first time in 2014. Organised by Tourism Australia, the annual event brings together 725 overseas travel buyers from 39 countries to meet with around 1,500 Australian delegates from 470 companies from every state and territory. ● CRUISE & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has announced a three-year seasonal charter of the 600-passenger ASTOR which will operate twice-yearly ocean voyages between the UK, Australia and South Africa. Twin bedded fares start from £2,169 for an inaugural 36-night Southbound Voyage departing on November 5. The company has also announced the launch of a summer season of cruises from Fremantle, Perth commencing on December 12.

For details see www.cruiseandmaritime.com

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australasia 'Exploring Australia' tour now available for 2014 from Collette COLLETTE WORLDWIDE has announced prices and departure dates in 2014 for its popular ‘Exploring Australia’ tour.

Leading in at £4,729 per person, the 19-day itinerary offers a chance for guests to cover many of Australia’s highlights in one trip, including visits to Melbourne, the wine growing region of the Barossa Valley, Sydney (including a cruise of Sydney Harbour), the UNESCOprotected Blue Mountains, Alice Springs and Uluru, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.

The price includes flights from Heathrow, many meals, excursions and doorto-door UK airport transfers within 100-miles. It is based on two adults sharing and departs on May 16, with additional departure dates available throughout the year.

For more information visit www.colletteworldwide.com or call 0800-804 8700.

IHG signs first Holiday Inn Express INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS Group (IHG) has signed a deal for a new AU$35m, 224-room development in Perth, as its first Holiday Inn Express in Australia. The development, overlooking the Swan River, will incorporate a 20 floor hotel and a circa 1888 heritage house, with construction expected to commence in mid-2013 and the opening scheduled for early 2015. Features will include convenient “Grab & Go” breakfast, intimate meeting spaces, self-service facilities including laundry, and complimentary Wi-fi.

INTREPID TRAVEL has introduced a new short break sailing adventure in Australia’s Whitsunday Islands. The four-day itinerary sails from Hamilton Island, the gateway to the Barrier Reef, to Tongue Bay at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach.

Following a guided walk through the rainforest, there’s time to relax on Whitehaven’s white silica sands. Other stops include Chalkies Beach on Haslewood Island and Blue Pearl Bay, which offers snorkelling opportunities, plus Hook Island, from where a speedboat returns passengers to Hamilton Island. Prices lead in at £480 per person including accommodation in a twin share cabin and most meals. A seven-day sailing adventure is also available from £845 per person.

Ashes goes to Alice for cricket fans this November CRICKET FANS can support the England team at a new venue later this year when they take on the Chairman's Tour XI in the outback town of Alice Springs. The game will take place at Traeger Park between November 29-30.

Fleur Burrows, regional manager for Tourism Northern Territory, said: "We are incredibly excited and privileged to be hosting England's cricketing elite. The match will help us to encourage fans to visit the heart of Australia's Red Centre where they will get a feel for the real outback. Alice Springs is also the gateway to the wider region which includes the icons of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon."

The England International Test team will arrive in Alice Springs on November 26 following the first Test in Brisbane. They will then depart Alice Springs on December 1 to Adelaide in preparation for their second Test.

Once the cricketing action has ended fans can enjoy a range of Aboriginal art galleries and visits to some of the outback town's renowned attractions such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service and School of the Air.

Free internal flights plus international flight offers to Australia from Austravel AUSTRAVEL IS offering free internal flights plus a range of deals on international flight offers for holidays to Australia.

The company has issued a range of savings on both international and domestic Australia flights for customers booking by November 30, including free internal flights in Australia and to the Malaysian islands.

In conjunction with Etihad, the company is also offering flights to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane from £799 per person return and free internal flights on Australian holidays. In Malaysia, free domestic flights are also being offered in line with Malaysia Airlines.

The operator has put together a selection of some of its best offers, starting from £1,089 per person, which take advantage of the free internal flights and Etihad savings.

As examples, a seven-night holiday

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taking in Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef starts from £1,149 per person, with a saving of up to £630 per couple. It includes three nights at the four-star Rendezvous Hotel in Brisbane, a day trip to Tangalooma Island Resort, Moreton Island, free internal flights with Virgin Australia, four nights at the four-star Blue Lagoon in Trinity Beach and flights from Heathrow with Etihad, based on departures in October.

A nine-night twin-centre holiday combining Sydney and the Gold Coast leads in at £1,229 per person, with a saving of £560 per couple. The holiday includes flights from Heathrow with Etihad, four nights at the four-star Mercure Potts Point Hotel in Sydney, a Captain Cook Harbour Cruise, free internal flights with Virgin Australia and five nights at the four-star The Vibe Hotel on the Gold Coast, based on departures in November.

Meanwhile, for clients keen to explore the south of the country, a seven-day holiday combining Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road and Tasmania starts from £1,089 per person with a saving of up to £535 per couple. The holiday includes flights with Etihad from Heathrow, three nights at the four-star Citigate Hotel in Melbourne, a Great Ocean Road Day Tour, free internal flights with Virgin Australia, three nights at the four-star Rydges Hotel in Hobart, Tasmania and four days’ car hire.

In Malaysia, a nine-night holiday combining Langkawi, Malaysia and Sydney leads in at £1,659 per person and includes a free internal flight in Malaysia, two nights at the Berjaya Langkawi Resort & Spa, seven nights at the Cambridge Hotel in Sydney and flights from Heathrow with Malaysia Airlines.

For more information call 0800-988 4834 or visit www.austravel.com

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australasia We asked our staff the following question this week: When was the last time you laughed so much that you cried?

Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk I watched an episode of 'Not Going Out' last night.. it was hilarious!

Editor: Lauretta Wright lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk Watching my husband do an impersonation of illusionist Aaron Crow from Britain's Got Talent

Assistant Editor: Jill Sayles jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk On a long-haul flight watching the film Bridesmaids desperately trying to stifle my giggles

Contributing Editor: Paul Scudamore post@travelbulletin.co.uk In bed the other night (no details) and at Two Men, One Guvnor starring James Cordern

Sales Director: Simon Eddolls simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk The day after Bıll's 50th

Advertisement Manager: Tim Podger tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk When I saw Andrew Hoskins from Bangkok Airways ride a buffalo

A NEW off-road bike trail has opened in Western Australia. The Munda Biddi Trail stretches more than 1,000km from Perth to Albany on the rocky southern coast and winds through some of Australia’s landscapes from jarrah forests to ancient bushland, as well as the southern coast. It would take three weeks to cycle the whole way, stopping at the free campsites along the trail but Wilderness Getaways has shorter packages which allow guests to explore the trail by day and relax in forest chalets (and the onsite spa) by night. Self-guided packages start from $1,350 per person, including four nights' accommodation, meals, cycling equipment, transfers along the trail, maps and notes.

For details see www.wildernessgetaways.com.au

Darwin’s International Airport receives £40K investment WORK ON Darwin’s International Airport has commenced following a £40k investment that will see the airport almost double in size. The additional space will enable the airport to meet increased capacity demands and attract more flights in and out of Australia’s Northern Territory.

Fleur Burrows, UK regional manager for Tourism Northern Territory, said: “This is fantastic news for the Northern Territory’s capital. The investment in the airport demonstrates our commitment to tourism on both an international and domestic level. Visitors to Darwin will now benefit from an improved travelling experience.”

Following completion of the expansion, visitors in and out of Darwin will benefit from a range of new and improved facilities including additional departure lounge areas; improved baggage systems and streamlined security processing; an expanded check-in area, as well as more food and beverage outlets. There will also be additional retail outlets.

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

edge highlights small group trips in Australia & New Zealand

The last time someone mentioned Bill's birthday

EDGE, EXPLORE’S new brand which caters for the adventure travel market for the 18-30 age group, is highlighting a selection of small-group trips in Australia and New Zealand.

For clients short on time, an Outback to the Red Centre—Adelaide to Alice Springs adventure journeys from Adelaide through the Flinders Ranges and the outback to the Red Centre. Travellers will meet the locals, experience Uluru and gain an insight into regional Aboriginal and European history.

Geared towards budget-conscious travellers looking to hit the outback’s highlights, the nine-day trip costs from £899 per person including one night in a hostel, one night in a hotel, one night at a sheep station, four nights' camping, one night in an underground hostel; eight breakfasts, four lunches, five dinners; transport; and the services of a tour leader and local guides.

In New Zealand, a 21-day trip packs in the best of both the North and South islands with activities ranging from surfing to kayaking, hiking to glaciers, whale-watching and sky diving.

The trip offers departures until December and costs from £1,849 including six nights in a hostel, three nights in a hotel, three nights eco-camping, six nights in a lodge, one night in a cabin, one night on a floating boat hostel; local transport; some meals; and the services of a group leader and local guides.

Prices for both tours do not include flights but can be organised through the operator.

For more information call 0844-225 3135 or visit www.edgeadventures.com

Account Manager: Bill Coad bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk When Jeanette walked across a swan lake like a clam..

Sales Executive: Chris Gascoine chris.gascoine@travelbulletin.co.uk Probably a night out with my friends

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

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June 14 2013

puzzlesolutions Crossword: Across: 1. BALMORAL, 6. LA PALMA, 7. RIO, 8. STAR, 10. SKANES, 12. DANUBE, 13. KENT, 16. VIC, 17. RYANAIR, 18. LIBERACE. Down: 1. BALES, 2. OSLO, 3. ALASKA, 4. WOODS, 5. ORANGE, 9. ANNECY, 11. OBEROI, 12. DOVER, 14. TIREE, 15. MALE.

Highlighted Word: BOSTON Travagrams: (top) Premier Holidays

(bottom) Croatia

Where Am I?: Marlborough

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IN THE SUN

S ST E K JU WE !!

O GO TW T O

MORE FUN

HOLIDAYS FROM £249pp Our best available rate on select 2013 cruises

Carnival Cruise Lines are pleased to announce FANTASTIC LOW PRICING for the booking month of June for departures before the end of December!

Europe

OM 9 NIGHTS STARTING FR

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7 NIGHTS STARTING FROM

Alaska £419

OM 7 NIGHTS STARTING FR

£599

Take advantage of our FANTASTIC LOW PRICING for the Month of June Book between 01st June – 30th June 2013 Available on Select sailings from June to December While Carnival transports your client to a different city or country almost every day, they will have plenty of time to enjoy all of the FUN-TASTIC amenities on board like our delicious dining choices, relaxing spa treatments, exciting entertainment options, and much, much more! With ships sailing a variety of exciting itineraries, booking a holiday with Carnival Cruise Lines is affordable and convenient. So what are you waiting for…..

TM

For full T&C’s visit www.GOCCL.co.uk