Travel Bulletin 14th July 2017

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July 14 2017 | ISSUE NO 2,023 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Cyprus

Destination welcomes boost in year-round visitors

this week

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staff review we check in at Mark Warner’s San Lucianu Resort in Corsica

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training online & offline courses to boost your product knowledge

19 mexico operators unveil new programme additions & deals

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far east new loyalty programme from Hong Kong Tourism Board

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WIN A LUXURY Y TRIP TO BORDEEAUX WITH TGV ATLANTIQU UE...

BRAND NEW TRAINS AND QUICKER JOURNEY TIMES TO SOUTH WEST FRANCE AND BRIT TTAN ANY Y... ... ON SALE NOW! PARIS > BORDEAUX IN JUST 2H04 PARIS FROM £23 EACH WA AY!* Y!* PARIS > POITIERS IN JUST 1H18 PARIS FROM £18.50 EA ACH WA AY!* Y!* Why not combine with a Eurostar journey ffor or high high speed travel to the Continent. London > Paris tickets from £58 retu urn in Standard Class.

WIN A T WO O NIGHT STA TA AY Y IN A JUN JUNIOR NIOR SUITE A ATT THE INTERCONTINENT O TAL AL BORDEAUX, U INCLUDING RETUR RN FIRST CLASS RAIL TR T A AVEL**!

VEL**!

Simply complete ou ur new and improved online e training course by 4 September 2017 ffor or your chance to win.

Visit www.b b beaeur opeanrailexperrt.ccom today!

Website:

www.voyages-sncff.eu .eu Call:

0844 848 4066

*Journey times indicated rep present the best travel times for the specified journeys. Prices are based up pon cheapest one way fare in standard class. All prices are subject to availability. **R Return first class rail travel for two passsengers will be provided between London aand Bordeaux, via Paris.

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CANADA COUP...

CANADA COUP...Gold Medal invited a group of agents to experience a five-night fam trip to Canada. Whilst in Ontario agents explored Toronto, hit new heights with the Niagara Falls zip-line and took time out for some well-deserved wine tasting and a city tour.

Pictured at Niagara Falls are, from the left: Amy Greenwood, Pure Travel; Amy Richardson, Central England Co-op; Jolie Royds, Cruise 118; Claire Hills, Gold Medal; Louise Simmons, Bellingham Travel; Tony McSorley, Air Transat; Steven Donovan, Go Cruise; Louis McDonagh, Travel Maker; Kisrty McBride, Holiday Consultants; and Charlotte Harris, Miles Morgan.

The most questionable check-in items revealed by Virgin Atlantic

Cover Pictures: Main - l i g h t p o e t

Inset - AMResorts

A STUDY of Virgin Atlantic's global airport teams, from Shanghai to St Lucia, has revealed the strangest of check-in requests from around the world.

The findings featured a strong variety of animals, ranging from fish, a budgie on a customer’s shoulder and an entire dead cow, along with several car parts including an engine. There were also regional patterns, with brooms arriving at check-in regularly in India and loose tyres common place in Lagos.

The wildest items included a bag filled with water, with four live goldfish, trying to travel from Barbados; a car bumper, trying to fly from Heathrow; loose car tyres, travelling from Shanghai to London; a large fridge freezer trying to fly from Las Vegas; a dead cow wrapped in bubble wrap; a bath tub, trying to get to London from Johannesburg; and the head board of a bed, flying from Delhi.

09 This week 10 11 03 12 08

Mark Anderson, the carrier's executive vice president - customer, said: "We’ve always flown to an eclectic mix of destinations, so it’s only right to expect an eclectic selection of baggage! Our global teams speak to so many customers on a daily basis and it certainly brightens their day when they notice something out of the ordinary. However, to ensure our customers have the smoothest journey possible, it’s always best to visit our website to check what is allowed onboard - which certainly doesn’t include bathtubs.”

Whilst such items cannot be taken in the cabin, Virgin Atlantic’s cargo service does transport a plethora of goods including entire cars, meaning loose tyres travelling as cargo is not a problem.

For more information see virginatlantic.com or call 0844-209 2770.

agent bulletin new booking incentives, offers & fam trips just for you

staff review we check in at Mark Warner’s San Lucianu Resort in Corsica to check out its facilities

news

puzzle bulletin

a round-up of this week’s industry announcements and offers

play Su Doku for your chance to win a £50 M&S voucher

at home with eileen

bulletin briefing

find out what homeworker Eileen has been up to lately

news & views from AITO

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13 15 19 21

training online & offline courses to boost your product knowledge

cyprus destination welcomes boost in yearround visitors

mexico operators unveil new programme additions & deals

far east new loyalty programme from Hong Kong Tourism Board

July 14 2017

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New Stay Play Explore family breaks to Stratford and Warwick A NEW family short break has been launched to celebrate the range of visitor attractions and experiences in the home of William Shakespeare.

Stay Play Explore Warwickshire offers a choice of three from 11 top-class visitor attractions in Stratford and Warwick, plus one night's accommodation with breakfast in a local four-star hotel for £185 for a family of four.

Attractions and experiences include Warwick Castle, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Stratford Butterfly Farm, Royal Shakespeare Company, Museum of Architecture and Design, British Motor Museum, Hall’s Croft, Shakespeare’s New Place, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Mary Arden’s Farm and Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall.

Helen Peters, chief executive of Shakepeare’s England said: “Shakespeare’s England is delighted to have the

opportunity to work with Leicestershire Promotions to extend the successful Stay Play Explore programme to Warwickshire. Stay Play Explore Warwickshire really highlights how family friendly we are. What children would not enjoy a visit to the MAD Museum, Butterfly Farm and Mary’ Arden’s Farm, let alone Warwick Castle and the British Motor Museum?

"We know this will be a fantastic success and we look forward to extending the offer to incorporate attractions in Coventry and other parts of our region.”

Visitors can book accommodation online at either Wroxall Abbey Hotel, Double Tree by Hilton at the Ricoh Arena or Jurys Inn Hinckley Island.

For more information see stayplayexplore.co.uk/Warwickshire

Poll predicts fitness getaways will be key holiday trend this summer RIBBLE CYCLES polled the nation to find out what they are looking for in a holiday this summer and can reveal that almost three quarters (74%) of Brits would consider swapping their usual holiday ventures for a fitness break.

Getting older was commonly cited as a factor for choosing an activity led vacation. Those aged 55 to 64 are most likely to make the switch (82%) from

lounging by the pool to getting into the saddle, with two-thirds (67%) doing so to improve their overall fitness.

The top reason Brits are looking to go on a fitness holiday is to focus on their wellbeing (56%), followed by improving their overall fitness (55%), eating healthier (42%) and improving their mental health (42%). Parents across the UK are also swapping ice-creams and

sun seeking for activity focused holidays; 66% would consider taking their children on a fitness holiday this year.

The research also showed fitness breaks are a huge trend among stressed millennials, with more than half (55%) of participants aged between 18 and 24 stating that their biggest motivation for going on an activity based holiday is to improve their mental health.

• NEW: Win a five-night stay, £100 Love2Shop vouchers and a summer hamper with Outrigger Resorts • NEW: Win a four-night stay for two with AMResorts • NEW: Win a £100 lifestyle voucher with Saga • Four lucky agents will have the chance to win cases of wine with Feel Slovenia

BEAR WITH US...Seven travel agents were hosted on an actionpacked fam trip to British Columbia courtesy of Prestige Holidays.

The week-long adventure included a stay at Knight Inlet Lodge, one of the best places to view grizzly bears, and the group spent three days watching the bears and their cubs at play. The itinerary also took in sightseeing in Vancouver and Victoria. Pictured are, from the left: Trevor Prior, Westway Travel; Penny Baxter, Travelstar; Elaine Price, Spear Travels; Lyndsey Riddell, Clubworld Travel; Jan Colson, Symphony World Travel; Paul Lodge, Carolyn Lodge Travel; and Andrew Tait, Travelwise.

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Thomson Cruises extends summer spirit SWEET SLOVENIA...Inghams recently hosted a group of agents on a fam trip to Slovenia to explore the resorts of Lake Bled, Kransjka Gora and Lake Bohinj. During their stay the group participated in a range of activities including swimming in Lake Bled, hiking, taking a cable car up to Mount Vogel, as well as visiting Bled castle and Bled Island. Pictured sampling Kremeschnitte (Lake Bled cake) are, from the left: Laura Fry, Midcounties Co-op; Patricia Cooper, Thomas Cook; Karen Farrell, Hays Travel; Yvonne MacKinnon, Carrick Travel; Sarah Hollingshead, Toucan Travel; and Amelia Hughes, Newell’s Travel.

New Lapland launch for 2017/18 from Monarch Holidays MONARCH HOLIDAYS has launched its new Lapland brochure featuring a range of Santa Trips and Arctic Experiences with deposits of £59 per person.

New to the programme this winter are Santa trips from Birmingham for December and extended flights from Manchester in January and February 2018 so customers can book Arctic Experience holidays. There are also the new resorts of Yllas for the Santa Trips and Pallas for the Arctic Experience holidays.

Commenting on the new brochure the company's sales director Gary Anslow said: “We’ve been filling our Santa trips from Gatwick and Manchester for many years, so adding extra capacity from Birmingham in December 2017 is brilliant. The new brochure does a great job in sharing what this fantastic product is all about.

“It also covers our extended January and February 2018 ‘Arctic Experience’ trips. We started this programme from Gatwick last year. It sold really well and we had some great feedback, so this year we have extended the programme to include Manchester departures.”

Santa Trips from Birmingham start from £699 per person with new Arctic Experience holidays starting from £475 from Manchester.

Key selling points for agents including the low £59 per person deposit message, 23kg hold luggage, detailed flight schedules and hints and tips about each resort.

For further information visit monarchagents.co.uk

THOMSON CRUISES has announced that it will extend Thomson Spirit’s time with the company, sailing it until the end of summer 2018 as a result of customer demand.

The ship, which was due to sail for the final time in November this year, will be based in Palma in April 2018, before moving to Malaga in May 2018. This means customers will have the chance to visit the best that the Western Mediterranean has to offer including city favourites like Rome, Barcelona and Lisbon, as well as lesserknown Spanish gems like Tarragona, Mahon and Roses.

Spirit's summer 2018 itineraries go on sale on July 27 and customers will receive a free all-inclusive upgrade for a limited time.

Celebrity Cruises launches agent toolkit for LGBT+ community AS PART of its ongoing commitment to welcoming the LGBT+ community, both as guests and trade partners, Celebrity Cruises has announced the launch of a dedicated toolkit designed to support agents in engaging with this market.

The comprehensive kit includes a host of tools and marketing collateral, with a dedicated communications guide in addition to a number of recommended itineraries for agents to promote.

Selected itineraries to inspire guests include Signature Event sailings. For example, guests can celebrate the Chinese New Year as part of a 14-night China, Vietnam and Thailand sailing and experience all the fun of carnival in Rio with a 14-night South America and Carnival sailing.

The toolkit also features a bank of images including

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destinations, on-board images and Rainbow Celebrity Cruises logo. These are in addition to two dedicated videos with a comprehensive overview of the brand and the line's newest ship due to launch in 2018, Celebrity Edge, plus a print advertisement template for agent partners to promote.

Claire Stirrup, the line's director of sales, said: "We are keen to provide our partners with the knowledge they need to market to the LGBT+ traveller and to ensure they have the tools in place to do so. We are keen to be the cruise line of choice for LGBT+ guests and are passionate about supporting agents in selling to this audience. The toolkit has been designed to be both informative and inspirational and we look forward to working with agents to continue this important area of training in the future.”

For more information see cruisingforexcellence.co.uk

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Flight savings & room discounts from Barbados properties Bougainvillea & Sugar Bay BOUGAINVILLEA BEACH Resort and its sister property Sugar Bay Barbados are offering a flight credit up to £600 off bookings made in July for travel through to December 2017.

Combined with up to 15% off room rates and the current kids stay and play free Brilliant Barbados island wide campaign, the four-star beachfront resorts are offering added family value this summer.

Couples can opt for rooms at either property and

Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts’ newest hotel opens in London’s South Bank PARK PLAZA Hotels & Resorts has announced the official opening of its new hotel, Park Plaza London Waterloo – the biggest hotel opening in London for 2017.

The 494-room hotel is ideally located next to Waterloo station and directly opposite Lambeth North station and offers the ideal choice for those wanting to stay in the sightseeing hub of London’s South Bank.

The hotel features superior rooms, studio rooms and one-bedroom suites, all-day dining, an exclusive executive lounge and a spa and gym with a swimming pool, all of which combine to make for an ideal base from which to explore the city.

Nightly rates for studio rooms start from £179.

For further information visit parkplaza.com/waterloo

receive up to £300 air credit plus room discounts and families booking a suite at Sugar Bay will receive 15% off their rooms plus £600 off flights.

Sugar Bay offers a free kids club and crèche for infants whilst Bougainvillea allows all children up to age 15 to stay free year-round.

Both properties are sold by all major UK tour operators.

For details see sugarbaybarbados.com and bougainvillearesort.com

NEWS BITES ● PALLADIUM HOTELS & Resorts is rebranding its adults-only luxury resorts known as The Royal Suites by Palladium to TRS Hotels. The rebrand includes a fresh and elegant look on property as well as an updated marketing campaign and logo. ● THE BRITISH Tourism & Travel Show 2018 has announced the launch of a new ‘Destination Europe’ area when it returns next year to the NEC Birmingham on March 21-22. See tourismshow.co.uk ● THIS SUMMER, Bramble Ski and Haute Montagne have announced the launch of two new bespoke road biking packages for guests in the Swiss-alpine resort of Verbier. The chalet operators are partnering with Haut Velo and Kudos Cycling to offer holidaymakers a variety of bike-based activities and day trips. Details at hautemontagne.com and brambleski.com ● WITH LESS than a year to go until the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the Foreign Office has launched a campaign to help fans travelling to support their team. The ‘Be on the Ball campaign’ gives supporters advice and tips to help reduce preventable problems and boost their World Cup experience. For details see http://bit.ly/2tloNCQ ● SCENIC AND Emerald Waterways have announced support for Reuben’s Retreat, a charity dedicated to supporting families and children living with life-limiting or life-threatening illness. As part of the cruise brands’ River Rewards trade incentive programme, £5 will be donated to the charity for every prize claim made.

FLYBE TO THE MOON...A Flybe plane decorated in the Welcome to Yorkshire livery has travelled more than 800,000 miles in the last 12 months - the equivalent of 32 times around the world - showcasing Yorkshire across 15 different countries. Pictured marking the milestone, which flies out of Doncaster Sheffield Airport to destinations including France, Holland, Portugal, Italy, Germany, the Channel Islands, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, are, from the left: Steve Gill, Doncaster Sheffield Airport; Vincent Hodder, Flybe; and Sir Gary Verity from Welcome to Yorkshire.

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● RICHARD BRANSON has relocated and upgraded the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship (BCE), which is funded by Virgin Holidays, to Kingston, Jamaica. The centre has helped countless entrepreneurs across Jamaica and the Caribbean to kick start their business dreams. ● THE GOVERNMENT of Vietnam has confirmed that it is extending its visa exemption programme for UK passport holders for single-entry stays of up to 15 days, until June 30, 2018.

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Titan’s 2018 Worldwide brochure OUT NOW! Showcasing Titan’s flagship collection of escorted tours

16 BRAND NEW TRAVEL ADVENTURES Including Nepal, Thailand and Uruguay

MAXIMUM DISCOUNTS and protected prices for early bookers

VIP DOOR-TO-DOOR TRAVEL SERVICE

For more information please visit www.titanagents.co.uk

£99 per person * Bo deposit ok

1

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included free on every Titan holiday, excluding the essential collection

by 31 July 20

ENJOY A MEAL OUT ON US! Prize draw every FRIDAY in July†

s £10 Lifestyle u l P voucher for

every booking

TO ENTER AND CLAIM FOR VOUCHERS PLEASE EMAIL AGENTINCENTIVES@TITANTRAVEL.CO.UK

T&C’s: *£99 deposit valid for the majority of Titan holidays, though there are a few higher deposit exceptions, which will be advised at point of sale.

Book by 31 July 2017. †Valid for new bookings made between 1-31 July. Prize draw will take place on Friday 7th, 14th 21st July & Monday 31st July 2017. Please claim within 7 days of making the booking. Agents are responsible for their own tax implications.

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with

e m o h t AEileen...

r Eileen eworke h? m o h s a t What h p to this mon been u

I

HOPE you’ve all been making the most of the beautiful sunny weather we’ve been experiencing in the last few weeks. Returning from Australia last month, it was great to come back to good weather for a change. In fact, it’s been hotter here than it was when we were in Sydney. However, the weather was still warm and sunny with temperatures in the early 20s, despite it being late autumn there. May is actually quite a good time to travel as air fares tend to be cheaper and everywhere is far less crowded.

I ran out of space last time to tell you about my short trip to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, which is about 100k north of Brisbane and a 90 minute flight from Sydney.

The Sunshine Coast boasts mile after mile of stunning beaches and crystal clear waters and has something to suit everyone. Its focal point is the beautiful, upmarket and laid-back resort of Noosa which is where we stayed.

Our choice of hotel was the eco-designed Peppers Resort which is in a great location, just a short walk from the fashionable Hastings Street with its designer boutiques and smart eateries and the beautiful Laguna Beach. We really enjoyed our stay here and would have no hesitation in recommending this property.

The highlight of our trip to Noosa was a day trip by boat to explore the Noosa Everglades, one of Australia’s most beautiful wilderness areas. It was really lovely cruising along the Noosa river and then entering this beautiful and tranquil area of mirrored waterways and lakes. The area is rich in wildlife and over 44% of all Australia’s bird species reside in this region. Oh, why didn’t I remember my binoculars!

SeaWorld Orlando brings summer nights to life with new celebration SEAWORLD ORLANDO has introduced a new summer nights show, Electric Ocean, which will run until August 5.

The evening event transforms the park into an imaginative and immersive undersea world that glows, entertains and excites.

Families come together for a fun-filled and unique dance party at Club Sea Glow, featuring world-class DJs and 35 live performers. Specialty acts, puppeteers and entertainers interact with the crowd throughout the night, creating an outdoor night club for guests of all ages.

The evening concludes when 'Ignite' erupts across the park’s lake. The new nightly firework display includes synchronised water effects that shoot up to 100ft in the air, choreographed to a powerful musical score. The night sky illuminates with pyrotechnic effects, towering flames and intricate laser projections.

Meanwhile, the return of fan-favourite 'Sea Lions Tonite' leaves guests laughing during a parody skit about a SeaWorld visit through the eyes of sea lion superstars, Clyde and Seamore. The show also features one of the park’s favorite acts, the SeaWorld Mime, setting the tone for a fun-filled time.

With extended park hours, thrill seekers are invited to take on the park's three iconic coasters under the stars Mako, Manta and Kraken Unleashed.

For further information visit seaworldagents.co.uk

Post-Xmas option from Santa's Lapland

Noosa, Queensland's Sunshine Coast

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

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SANTA’S LAPLAND is offering a Post-Christmas Santa’s Magic Break from December 27-29 from £2,519 per family, staying at Santa’s Hotel Tunturi in a Type A Room, including half-board for three days.

Departing from Gatwick and Manchester, the package includes flights, transfers, accommodation and thermal clothing, plus all of Santa’s inclusive activities - a snowmobile search for Santa’s hideaway log cabin home; a private meeting with Santa for each family; a gift for children under 13; a husky sled ride; a reindeer sleigh ride; visiting the elves and Igloo Fantasia; and snow and ice fun activities.

All prices are based on a family of two adults and one child aged two to five.

For more information or to book see santaslapland.com or call 01483-791915.

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Booking incentives ●

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Travel 2 is giving agents the chance to win one of two luxury carry-on luggage cases worth £330 as part of its latest campaign, ‘Did someone say USa & Canada?’ The campaign is being run in conjunction with United airlines and air Canada to showcase the wonders of North america. To be in with a chance of winning, agents should make a qualifying booking to the US or Canada, including flights with either of the carrier partners and a minimum of three nights' ground arrangement before July 31.

agentbulletin Fancy a fam?

FUNWAY HAS announced plans to run two fam trips to the US taking place this September and October. The first heads to Orlando followed by the Great Lakes, with a total of six agents invited to attend each trip. Invites are being offered to members of The 500 Club.

For every Saga Travel booking made this month, the operator is giving agents £100 in shopping vouchers for every ocean cruise booked and £20 for every holiday or river cruise. agents will also be entered into a prize draw to win a place on one of three fam trips a seven-night ‘Best of the West’ US trip; a four-night Madeira option; or a Saga Sapphire cruise fam. agents should email incentives@saga.co.uk with the details of each booking made. regeNT SeveN Seas Cruises has launched ‘Sell 2 & Sail Free’, a new booking incentive where agents could find themselves enjoying a Mediterranean cruise on the newly refurbished Seven Seas voyager. agents booking any two Seven Seas voyager Mediterranean cruises which sail up to September 28 will receive a free luxury suite. There are 12 classic Mediterranean voyages available for agents to sell to their customers and to choose to cruise themselves. Bookings can be on different sailings and be made by different team members within an agency, but must be made by July 31. For more information email salessupport@rssc.com all ageNT bookings made with Mark Warner in the Wimbledon fortnight (which runs until July 16) go into a draw to win a Wimbledon hamper. agents booking a tennis course for their clients receive a double entry. To enter, email the booking reference to ‘agencysales@markwarner.co.uk’ with the subject 'Wimbledon Competition'.

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BOURNE BREAK...Pictured celebra ting Bourne Leisure's Summer Lovin’ incentive is Becky Newberry (left) and Janine Bursey (right) from East of England Co Operative in Clacton with the ope rator's sales executive, Gemma Wilks. Agents can earn voucher incentives for every Butlin’s, Haven and Warner Leisure Hotels booking they make between now and August 13.

Agent offer TO CELEBRATE the release of Newmarket Holidays' 2018 Escorted Holiday Collection by Air brochure, 50 platinum tickets have been randomly placed into the new brochure packs that will be arriving with agents this month. If an agent finds a ticket they could win a short-haul break for two, a West End break for two, a Samsung Galaxy Tablet or a £20 Love2Shop voucher. To redeem the prize, agents must post a picture of themselves with the platinum ticket to Nic Newmarket on Facebook and quote their winning code by July 31.

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Up to £500 savings on French river cruises from AmaWaterways

Mark Warner's San Lucianu Resort, Corsica

staffreview

Travel Bulletin’s editor, Lauretta Wright, stayed for three nights at Mark Warner’s three-star San Lucianu Resort in Corsica on all-inclusive. Here’s what she thought of the resort…

First impressions ..............................10/10 I received a warm welcome and check-in was smooth. Staff seemed friendly and I was given my room keys straight away. The family-friendly hotel is in a peaceful location with mountains offering a stunning background.

Comfort ..............................................8/10 The resort has a fun vibe to it with young staff and colourful décor in public areas. The newly refurbished rooms were spacious and comfortable (half of the hotel’s rooms have been updated), but I would have liked to have seen hairdryers in the room.

Quality ................................................9/10

AMAWATERWAYS IS offering guests the chance to save £500 per person on last minute sailings along the French rivers this summer.

The company's Taste of Bordeaux sailings follow a route along the Garonne River and its surrounding estuaries, exploring one of the world’s most famous wine capitals. Guests have the opportunity to visit Bordeaux’s famous chateaux and vineyards with stops at Cadillac’s Roquetaillaide Castle, a Medoc wine tasting in Pauillac and an excursion at Chateau de Montaigne in Libourne.

The operator's Paris and Normandy sailing, which travels along the Seine River are ideal for history and art lovers as they become inspired by the same landscapes that captivated artists like Monet, Renoir and Gauguin, along with visits to the Normandy Beaches and Les Andelys.

Meanwhile, Rhône & Provence sailings will satisfy food and wine lovers, with visits to famed wine regions such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Beaujolais and Côte du Rhône, as well as the opportunity to visit an olive farm and the chance to go hunting for the prized ‘Black Diamond’ truffle.

Prices for a seven-night Taste of Bordeaux, which departs on July 27, leads in at £2,011 per person (from £2,511). It includes all meals on-board (with local wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner), the Chefs Table dining experience, a choice of complimentary daily tours and excursions, complimentary Wi-Fi and use of on board bicycles for Active Discovery ashore and port taxes.

For further information see amawaterways.co.uk or call 0800-320 2336.

Very impressed with the quality of food. For a three-star, the a la carte menu was superb and the variety of free watersports offered is great – sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and wind-surfing. Other free activities include cycling and tennis, while day and evening activities and entertainment for the whole family were plentiful. A couple of minor things need addressing – mainly aesthetics – but otherwise it was great quality for a three-star.

Affordability ........................................9/10 A week’s off-peak getaway costs from £679 for seven nights’ full board based on two sharing and including flights and transfers. However, for an extra £120 per adult and £65 per child, per week you can upgrade to allinclusive – definitely worth doing if you’re a family or enjoy staying on resort. A peak getaway this month costs from £1,095 per adults and £979 per child.

Service ..............................................10/10 Spot on! Staff made a real effort to engage in conversation and seemed genuinely interested in what we were doing.

They were also very knowledgeable and were keen to offer tips. Service was always with a smile and staff went out of their way to make life easier. The resort offers a social table at dinner for solo travellers which is a great idea!

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

Definitely try the walk to the waterfall (40 mins one-way) where you can swim in the crystal clear lagoon & it’s worth hiring a car to do some exploring.

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

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/ 10

BARBADOS BABES…The Luxury West Coast Hotels Group and the BTMI played host to a group of agents at the inaugural Barbados Cup at Hurtwood Park Polo Club. The day started with networking over a Bajan Rum Punch, product updates from partners, lunch and a polo-based activity for attendees.

Pictured are, from the left: Colleen Williamson, Quality Travel; Victoria Cranmer from Paradise Promotions, representing Port Ferdinand Marina and Luxury Residences and Saint Peter’s Bay Resort and Residences; and Gail Watkins from Quality Travel.

For details see visitbarbados.org

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puzzlebulletin

Su Doku

Where Am I?

Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle Number: 028

A➠

B➠ C➠

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

Once you have completed the puzzle, simply identify the numbers that relate to the letters, A, B, C and D then e-mail the solution, with your name, company name, and full postal address plus phone and ABTA number if applicable to: competition@travelbulletin.co.uk Closing date for entries is Thursday, July 20th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next issue.

The winner for Jet2Holidays 30th June is Elaine Price, Spear Travels in Wolverhampton June 30th Solution: A=5 B=1 C=4 D=2

Crossword

Protruding out of the rolling prairie surrounding the Black Hills, this national monument was once considered sacred to the Northern Plains Indians. Its hundreds of parallel cracks makes it popular with climbers.

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

Number: 028

Across 1. Well-known hotel brand (7,3) 6. Capital of Venezuela (7) 7. Flows through Derby (7) 9. Federico Fellini, Rimini airport code (3) 10. Alcoholic brew found in Palermo (3) 11. North African country (7) 12. Guernsey based operator specialising in holidays for 18-35's (7) 13. Cosmopolitan Moroccan city (10)

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Down 1. Welsh journalist, presenter of News At Ten (3,7) 2. Swiss city with a famous 14th century covered wooden bridge (7) 3. The resort of Cancún is on this peninsula (7) 4. Lynden Pindling, Nassau International airport code (3) 5. Capital of Ethiopia (5,5) 8. Country on the Baltic (7) 9. Nationality of tennis star, Maria Sharapova (7) 12. Airline operating out of Prague, initially (3)

For the solution to the Crossword and Where Am I? Please see page 26 July 14 2017

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Industry Insight by...

Hazel Bryant, director at Travel With Kitts, explains why taking yourself out of your comfort zone can be a valuable learning lesson…

EVERY DAY varies in travel – you never know what you will need to tackle or to achieve, or what clients will ask of you. Sometimes huge challenges face us – on a different and much more personal level than, for example, the volcanic ash cloud of a few years ago or the recent British Airways IT meltdown. Something like this happened to AITO Agent, Travel with Kitts this spring.

A new challenge One of our clients contacted us and asked for help. The situation was very delicate and needed to be handled with care. Michelle is 42 years old and is fighting a brain tumour with two young children. Having booked her honeymoon, we wanted to help her to find and plan her special holiday. The requirements were to travel abroad as soon as possible, with no flying involved and with full insurance.

We did it!

We found the right holiday but, due to the huge costs of travel insurance with full medical cover, I wanted (and needed, for my own peace of mind) to help this family.

We had to raise some money - and fast - so I set myself the challenge of a sponsored silence to help raise funds towards both the insurance costs and for the brain tumour charity to use for research purposes.

Every day I chat to clients and tour operators, as well as friends and colleagues. For those who know me, this was going to take me completely out of my comfort zone…listening, observing and not being able to input at all! It was, I can assure you, very hard. Half way through the 48 hours I realised that, personally for me, it’s far too easy to get involved or to interrupt

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my team, when they are in fact completely capable. It was extremely rewarding to just sit back and observe how well they can work together.

I would advise any travel business owner or manager to try the same exercise – to attend the office without speaking for at least a day. This also encourages the team to act on their own instinct, instead of feeling as if they need constantly to ask for help.

Trust them – after all, you employed them! They’ll be far more confident and effective in the long run if you occasionally step back and let them solve problems, either by themselves or as a team. You may well be out of your comfort zone, but I can assure you that it’s well worth it.

“I would advise any travel business owner or manager to attend the office without speaking for at least a day” In total, we raised £1,700 and I’m enormously proud to know that our company made a huge difference to a family trying to make it through a very difficult time, as well as supporting a key charity.

Being a small independent agency allows us to be flexible when we encounter such challenges. The fact that we also sell AITO members specialist holidays enables us to see a very broad travel landscape which attracts a wide variety of customers. We never know who is going to walk through the door next.

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SMILING STARS…It was smiles all around from the team at Five Star Travel after they completed The Global Travel Group’s threeday training course at the consortium’s dedicated training centre in Chester. Pictured is the consortium’s Mark Rowlands (far left) and Rob Griffiths (far right) with Peter Daniell and Michelle Daniell from Five Star Travel.

Agents discover exotic highlights & boutique holiday options in South India INTERSIGHT TOURS & Travels and South Indian Trails, a group of eight boutique hotels and resorts located across the southern region of India, recently brought South India to the UK in the form of a travel trade roadshow.

The roadshow, which took place in Glasgow, Cardiff and London, provided the opportunity for agents from each city to meet with representatives of the brands, with one-on-one appointments with each hotel partner and the chance to win

a holiday to the region.

Southern India boasts a rich historical and cultural past, made up of long coastlines on the east and west as well as the Western and Eastern Ghat mountain ranges and a variety of wildlife and exotic fauna. It provides a stark contrast to North India, with iconic regions such as Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, as well as some beautiful beaches.

Abraham George, chairman and managing director of Intersight

Agents get a taste for Brazil during VBRATA Brazilian roadshow VBRATA (VISIT BRAZIL TRAVEL ASSOCIATION) held a series of agent training events across the UK earlier this month. The VBRATA Brazilian roadshow, which was designed to promote Brazil and Brazilian suppliers to the British travel trade, took place in Southampton, Colchester and in Leeds.

Exhibitors that attended included The Brazilian Tourist Board (EMBRATUR), LATAM Airlines, TAP Portugal, Gol Airlines, Azul Airlines and Chimu Adventures.

Ahead of the events, Chris Fuzinatto, European chairman for the association, said: “The VBRATA Brazilian Road Show, which is in its 12th edition in the UK, is an annual event organised by VBRATA to promote Brazil to British travel agents. This edition of the VBRATA Brazilian roadshow will take place in Brazilian restaurants, so we can also promote Brazilian gastronomy to the agents.

With support from UK based suppliers, we will cover these three important UK cities, stimulating travel agents to find out more about Brazil.”

Go to vbrata.org.uk for more details.

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Tours & Travels, said: "The UK is an extremely important inbound market to South India and we felt the roadshow was a great opportunity to update the UK travel industry on the diverse tourism products available in the region. The events were a great success and as a result, we look forward to further strengthening our relationship with the British travel trade industry."

Visit southindiatrails.com or intersighttours.com for more information.

Mall of America launches first travel agent training programme MALL OF America in Bloomington, Minnesota, has launched its new travel agent training programme.

The OTT Mall of America programme highlights key areas for UK travel agents to focus on including selling points and fun facts.

Doug Killian, director of the retail and entertainment complex said: “This is the first training programme for UK and Irish agents for the Mall; we hope the programme will continue the growth of international visitors to Mall of America and Minnesota and improve the knowledge base of travel agents of the products on offer. As we mark the 25th anniversary of Mall of America in 2017, we wanted to really showcase to the UK travel agents what a great destination we are for travellers, and this training programme will allow us to do that.”

Mall of America has more than 520 stores, the largest indoor amusement park in the US, an aquarium, cinema, wedding chapel and two connecting hotels.

The company will be giving away ten Nickelodeon soft toys to agents who complete the training programme before September 29.

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FUNWAY HOLIDAYS ran a series of training events focusing on ‘Florida Beaches’ last month. Pictured at the Edinburgh event are, from the left: the operator’s Lizi Wharton; Deborah McGlashan from Jimmy Martin Travel who won a holiday voucher and hamper; Funway’s Amy Drummond; and Hannah Norris representing Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Silversea launches new badge on agent training portal

BOURNE LEISURE recently rewarded its second quarterly online training winner of 2017. Darren Wetherell from Hays Travel in Wallsend, Newcastle was gifted with a FitbitPLUS by the company’s Louise Tansey and will receive a free day pass to experience the property of his choice across the company’s brand portfolio. The ‘Train with Brainz’ online training course enables agents to remain up to date on the latest developments and product updates from all three of its brands: Butlin’s, Haven and Warner Leisure Hotels.

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SILVERSEA HAS added a new badge to its online training portal along with a chance for agents to win a ten-day voyage on its new expedition ship, Silver Cloud.

The Silversea Academy allows travel agents to become experts across all areas of the cruise line and offers a wealth of information to help build their knowledge of the brand.

The new ‘Silver Cloud’ badge will allow agents to learn extensively about the soon-to-be refurbished cruise ship. Silver Cloud will complete her final season in the classic fleet at the end of August, and following extensive refurbishment, will be converted into an iceclass vessel destined primarily for polar waters. This new badge will provide agents with everything they need to know about the vessel, from its suites and restaurants to its varied itineraries, To celebrate the launch, agents who achieve 100% on the module before September 6 will be entered into a prize draw to win a cruise on the newly refurbished ship.

Beginning in London on June 2, 2018, the winning agent will experience first hand the cruise line’s offering on a ten-day voyage to Leith (Edinburgh) on a tour of the British Isles. The prize will mark one of the ship’s maiden UK voyages following her transition into an ice-class vessel.

Connie Georgiou, the line’s head of trade sales and partnerships for UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to welcome Silver Cloud to our expedition fleet in November. Its addition will increase Silversea’s capacity in the polar regions in response to high demand for expedition cruises. Our expedition ships are designed to take our guests to some of the most remote places on the planet while offering our world-renowned ultra-luxury service. We hope our new ‘Silver Cloud’ module will provide agents with a fun and informative way to learn about the ship and her transition to the expedition fleet.”

Agents can already access the ‘Silversea Graduate’ and ‘Silver Muse’ modules. The ‘Silversea Graduate’ module provides agents with the chance to gain a broad understanding of the cruise line’s products and the processes needed to make a booking. Agents completing the ‘Silver Muse’ module can learn all about the company’s new flagship - from her public areas and restaurants to the full range of suites.

To visit the online training academy visit silverseaacademy.com

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cyprus

Photo credit: Markus Bassler

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Cyprus announces most successful April for visitor arrivals THE CYPRUS Tourism Organisation (CTO) has revealed that April 2017 was the most successful April on record in terms of global tourist arrivals. Numbers reached 286,331, compared to 225,575 of the same month last year, representing a year-onyear increase of 26.9% and the highest volume of tourist arrivals to the country ever recorded during the month of April.

Of these arrivals, the UK remains one of the main sources for tourism to the country making up 37.1% of the total number of visitors. This figure also represented a 16.3% year-on-year increase in visitors from the United Kingdom.

Overall, the majority of visitors to Cyprus in April of this year categorised the purpose of their trip as a holiday (78.9%) with 14.3% stating they were visiting friends and relatives and 6.6% travelling for business. At 55.3%, slightly more women visited the destination in April 2017 than men and the majority of tourists (44%) were aged between 20-44 years.

Orestis Rossides, UK director of the CTO, said: “This year, we’re seeing record numbers of tourists attracted by Cyprus’ year-round sunshine, beautiful scenery, legendary hospitality and range of activities from cycling, scuba diving, trekking and golf to world-class spas. We’re looking forward to a successful summer season to cement 2017 as a record-breaking year for Cyprus.”

For more information go to visitcyprus.com

Attraction World parties hard in Agia Napa FOR 2017 Attraction World has put together three party hard event packages designed for agents to make their clients’ holidays fun-filled and cost-effective, with prices starting from £49 per person.

The operator highlights that its packages will be able to save holidaymakers more money than compared to buying in resort and that its offering cannot be found anywhere else, with access to some of the top Agia Napa events taking place this summer.

As an example, the Essentials Package has been put together so that holidaymakers might experience some of the best events in resort, with the chance to party into the early hours to live acts and with lots of like-minded party people. It includes a Napa Rocks Pool Party with a free bar for one hour; ‘Addicted to Bass’ also with a one-hour free bar; free club tickets to four different clubs (depending on the date); and a Party Hard summer t-shirt.

In addition, agents can win a place on a trip with the operator for the chance to party hard themselves in Ibiza this September. Agents need to make a booking for any ‘Party Hard’ location to be entered into the prize draw.

Booking references should be emailed to partyhard@attractionworld.com

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Family friendly option from Simply Luxury by T2 SIMPLY LUXURY by Travel 2 is highlighting the Almyra hotel in Cyprus for family holidays thanks to the range of activities on offer for children of all ages, including a kids club.

Baby care (baby equipment hire that can be pre-ordered) and a teenage club are both available during the summer holidays at sister hotel Annabella.

Designed so that children can mix with others of their own age group, there are also different clubs for kids depending on their age with activities tailored to that age group. There is also a children’s swimming pool and play area and a selection of restaurants offering children’s menus ensuring plenty of dining choice for the families.

The Almyra hotel in Paphos is located ten minutes’ walk from the harbour and the hotel is on the seafront with a sea-front facing main pool, an adultsonly infinity pool and four restaurants as well as a spa with nine treatment rooms.

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Planet Holidays adds the Parklane Resort & Spa to portfolio for 2018 PLANET HOLIDAYS has added the Parklane; a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa found in Limassol. The operator’s Harry Kyrillou commented: “Although this luxurious hotel will not officially open until March 2018, we are delighted to feature it as there is a real demand for this calibre of resort hotel in Cyprus.”

The property will feature a total of 247 rooms including an adults-only wing with 52 suites and rooms with private pools. On-site facilities are to include seven restaurants, four bars, ballroom, nightclub, fitness centre, water sports, spa, kids club, outdoor

and indoor pools, a wedding chapel, a 300m long beach, and a business and conference centre. Children facilities include a Princess and Pirates park, where a castle and a pirate ship with water slides and its own restaurant beckons. Teenagers have access to a mini-football pitch, plus other sports facilities including a bowling alley, disco and e-games room.

Prices through the operator start from £791.50 per person for seven nights accommodation based on two adults sharing a Premium Guestroom on bed-and-breakfast, departing on scheduled flights from

Heathrow on April 10, 2018.

Mathilde Robert, managing director for Planet Weddings, said: “The Parklane will do exceptionally well for weddings as it has a superb location and high standards with plenty of choice for couples looking to get married in Cyprus and wanting a quality venue with superb facilities and services. I can see many UK couples choosing this newly launched resort hotel as it will inspire truly special nuptials on an island that attracts thousands of weddings.”

Visit planet-holiddays.co.uk or call 01438-841270 for more details.

The Elysium partners with championship golf courses

OLYMPIC HOLIDAYS is suggesting that it’s not too late for clients to explore Paphos, the European Capital of Culture for 2017. A seven-night package leads in at £431 per person (based on two travelling) and includes accommodation at the four-star Avlida Hotel on a half-board basis in a twin room inland view and Gatwick flights. Departures are available on September 27. Visit olympicholidays.com

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THE ELYSIUM has partnered with four of the island’s championship level, 18-hole golf courses - including Aphrodite Hills Golf Club, Secret Valley Golf Club, Minthis Hills Golf Club and Elea Estate Golf Club - to create a series of golfing itineraries, ranging from three to seven days.

Located a 25–35 minute drive away from each of the golf clubs, the five-star resort aims to attract golfers of all levels, looking to enhance their game whilst enjoying the setting of its Mediterranean backdrop. Golfers can choose between a three-, five-, or seven-night package, each of which includes a minimum of two green fees with car rental or taxi transfer for the duration of the visit.

The Aphrodite Hills Golf Club features a year round, 18hole championship golf course and offers a dedicated three-hole Golf Academy designed for golfers of all standards (The Aphrodite Hills will be undergoing some renovation works until February 2, 2018). Players will also have access to the Secret Valley Golf Club, nestled in a scenic valley by Petra tou Romiou, the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite. Also boasting a historical location, the Minthis Hills Golf Club is situated at an altitude of 550m above sea level, in the grounds of a twelfth century monastery.

Meanwhile the challenging Par 71 Elea Estate Golf Club offers world-class golf in a picturesque Cypriot setting.

Back at the resort, hotel guests can take full advantage of the facilities on offer, including a range of ESPA rituals at the Opium Spa and locally sourced cuisine at five onsite restaurants. The Golf & Drive itineraries include accommodation in a deluxe inland view room with a buffet breakfast.

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cyprus IN ANTICIPATION of increased visitor numbers to Cyprus, given Paphos’ status as European City of Culture 2017, Classic Collection Holidays has added four new properties for summer 2017.

These include the Azia Resort & Spa, near Paphos, the St Raphael Resort, near Limassol and the 43-room Casale Panayiotis Hotel & Spa in the Troodos Mountains; a unique mountain retreat which is integrated completely into the rejuvenated, ancient spa village of Kalopanayiotis. Re-opening in September, following an extensive renovation and amalgamation of two hotels into one allsuite property, is the Columbia Beach Resort.

The experience of other towns and cities which have previously been recipients of the European City of Culture award, points to a considerable upsurge in tourism with the additional benefit of this greater interest continuing far beyond the year itself. So far a total of approximately 60million Euros has been invested in various arrangements for Paphos’ period as European City of Culture. There’s a plethora of cultural activities planned – art, music, theatre, dance, photography, animation, cinema and literature – many of which are open air and free-to-attend events.

Much of the main investment has focussed on improvements to the infrastructure of Paphos including the upgrading of public squares and streets, improvements to the old commercial centre and the renovation of the municipal market. Other projects include the improvement of the Paphos promenade, the building of coastal hotels and improvements to Paphos airport. The town’s theatre, The Markideio, has also received funding of nearly four million Euros for general enhancement and upgrading. There has been the restoration of archaeological sites in the area, as well as other infrastructure improvements to the benefit of visitors and islanders.

The operator is offering seven-nights at the adults-only Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites, Paphos from £1,571 per person in July, on bed-and-breakfast for two sharing a junior suite, with flights and private transfers. In addition, the operator currently has more than 40 special offers including early booking deals, reduced hotel rates plus complimentary board and room upgrades on hotels in Paphos.

Call 0800-008 7288 or visit classic-collection.co.uk for more details.

Discover Larnaka’s lost worlds AN EXCURSION to any of Larnaka region’s villages can be a fascinating experience thanks to the character and customs that can found in each one. However, visitors might be interested to know about three ‘abandoned villages’ just begging to be explored.

There are various reasons why villages on the island have been abandoned, including war, natural disasters and lack of work for the locals. In Larnaka, the villages Drapia and Parsata are classed as deserted, but visitors can freely visit and explore them – discovering a lost world of Cyprus.

The Medieval village, Drapia (originally known as Paliodapiais) is located 4km northwest of Kalavasos, on the east bank of the Vassilikos River. It was abandoned in the early 19th century, as a result of the closure of the Kalavasos mines, which provided employment for the villagers. Visitors can see stone-built houses with roofed beams in the ruins of the village, and the stone-built Medieval St. George chapel, amongst the natural overgrowth that now provides a home for local wildlife.

Adjoining Drapia is another abandoned settlement – Parsata, which also relied on the Kalavasos mines for employment, and was dissolved at a similar time as Drapia. Some of the inhabitants set-up home in Kalavasos village instead. The village also has remains of typical stone-built houses, with wooden doors and roofs of various materials, in addition to charming countryside views.

Petrofani is located about 2.5km southwest of Athienou village, and was a Turkish Cypriot village from the Ottoman period. It was abandoned in 1974, having around 170 inhabitants at the time. Only the ruins of the village now remain, which can be viewed from the outskirts, or the road.

For more information visit larnakaregion.com

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Photo credit: Arsirya

Classic adds more properties in anticipation of increased interest in Paphos

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Trade gets insight into Mexico through Acapulco event and Puerto Vallarta visit

by PAUL SCUDAMORE

M

EXICO TOOK centre stage for the industry earlier this year when it held its annual WTM-style trade show event, Tianguis Turistico, in Acapulco, which also hosted the first Tianguis in 1975.

The capital of the country’s Guerrero region played host to tour operators and media from around the world for the four-day gathering which featured all areas of the country and enabled operators from more than 80 countries to meet with representatives of all aspects of the country’s tourism industry. The tourist office used the occasion to highlight various facts about the country, such as it being the ninth most visited country in the world last year, according to the World Tourism Organisation, having 34 World Heritage sites, the most in the Americas, and 76 airports, 63 of which are international.

The event was followed by a number of post-Tianguis familiarisation trips, one of which was to Puerto Vallarta, further up the Pacific coast from Acapulco.

The city is sprawled along the massive Banderas Bay which has a marina, international airport and hotel zone at one end, a central Boardwalk and Downtown area, and a South Zone of more resort hotels, several of which are five-star. International brands include Westin, Riu, Melia, Holiday Inn, Hilton, Sheraton, Hyatt and Barcelo. Other international properties include Holiday Inn Express, Howard Johnson, Best Western and Comfort Inn. In all, the city offers around 22,000 rooms in 85 hotels of all categories, including 29 in its Downtown area.

This features the cobbled streets of the Old Town which straddles the Cuale River and is packed with restaurants, cafes, bars, countless souvenir and specialist shops, and on the western side, some 15 art galleries. In the centre of the river is Isla Cuale which can be reached by a rope bridge and features a wide range of craft shops and speciality restaurants.

The Boardwalk section is renowned for its outdoor sculptures and the spectacular Los Muertos Pier which was completely rebuilt four years ago and which has been described by CNN as one of the nine most beautiful piers in the world (not including Mr Morgan).

The city offers a wide range of activities and adventures including dolphin and sea lion encounters, whale watching trips, off-road expeditions and a range of sea trips through Vallarta Adventures. The company also offers wedding ceremonies and celebrations at its Las Caletas tropical beach hideaway, which is accessible only by boat from its maritime terminal in the Hotel Zone. The sprawling site is also the location for the company’s Rhythms of the Night all-inclusive excursion which operates from MondaySaturday, with departures at sunset across the bay. The arrival at the cove sees guests greeted by a mermaid, with paths lit by several hundred torches and candles that lead to an amphitheatre for a storytelling show featuring contemporary dance and music, choreographed by a former Cirque du Soleil member, fire jugglers and spectacular costumes.

Las Caletas was the former jungle hideaway of film director John Huston, and the five-hour evening also includes a candle-lit buffet dinner with wine and an open bar. Daytime trips are aimed at families and the site features several activities for children including an adventure park. The company also operates in Cancun and Cabo. See vallarta-adventures.com

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Adventurous & luxurious Mexico options presented by AMResorts AMRESORTS CURRENTLY has 28 properties in Mexico with plans for this number to continue to grow.

For a chance to visit the famous Tulum Mayan Ruins the company recommends a stay at Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa. Located near to the eco-adventure attractions at Xel-Ha and cenotes, the resort itself is secluded on a white sand beach and housed within landscaped garden with more than 5,000 indigenous plants from around the region.

Alternatively a stay at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya can have guests diving with one of the largest green sea turtle populations in Mexico. The property is an all-suite resort with ground floor suites providing direct swim-out access to a pool from a private terrace. The resort is also located near a vast network of underground rivers and eco-adventure sports including mountain biking, snorkelling, scuba diving, trekking, bird watching, deep sea fishing, golf and shopping.

Grand Velas highlights wedding packages at Los Cabos resort GRAND VELAS Los Cabos is a new all-inclusive luxury beachfront resort in Los Cabos, Mexico.

The property reports that since its opening in December 2016, it has been extremely well received and seeks to deliver ‘redefined’ luxury with 24-hour personal concierge service included amongst the amenities found in the all-inclusive rate.

With its beachfront location and event spaces, the resort is able to offer a variety of wedding packages including suite upgrades for the bride and groom and their parents. Couples who choose to tie the knot at the property can also benefit from a free night’s stay on bookings of more than four nights at the adults-only Casa Velas to celebrate their first anniversary.

Further details can be found at loscabos.grandvelas.com/weddings

Gold Medal promotes culinary stays at One and Only Palmilla FOR CLIENTS heading to Mexico and looking for a culinary Caribbean twist to their stay, Gold Medal is recommending the One and Only Palmilla Hotel.

Ashley Pilkington, the operator’s assistant product manager for the US and Caribbean, said: “The property is located on the idyllic Baja Coast and is home to Michelinstarred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

“The restaurant is renowned for the finest steaks and freshest seafood, along with Mexico's most comprehensive wine list. The hotel takes guests on a journey of culinary discovery with its five restaurants including private dining in the hotel’s herb garden and on the beach.”

The operator is offering five nights at the five-star resort in an ocean front room on a bed-and-breakfast basis from £2,889 per person. The price includes flights and private transfers and represents a saving of up to £380 per person.

It is valid for travel between September 1 and 22.

Visit goldmedal.co.uk or call 0800-014 7777 for more details.

Funway Holidays sees strong 10% boost in bookings to Mexico

CONTIKI IS offering travellers a 12-day MUNCH Mexico trip, exploring the cuisine of Mexico with visits to Puerto Vallarta, Tequila, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, Merida, Chichen Itza and Cancun. Foodies can enjoy Tequila distillery tours, cocktail classes, market tours, salsa making classes and regional cooking demonstrations to get a flavour of some of the country’s biggest exports. Prices start from £1,698 per person and departures begin in July 2018.

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FOLLOWING A joint sales and marketing agreement with AMResorts, Funway Holidays has reported a strong sales performance. The new campaign from both companies launched last month with a dedicated 24-page mini brochure including savings of up to 50% on holidays to Mexico, as well as the Caribbean and Dominican Republic.

Malcolm Davies, product destination manager for Funway, said: “Mexico bookings are strong for us with sales up year-onyear. We are delighted to be partnering with AMResorts and the deals brochure, with savings on holidays to the Caribbean and Mexico, is one of many joint projects planned.

“Although we may be a leading North American specialist we are now also becoming recognised as an established Caribbean and Mexico operator too. Working more closely with AMResorts will further strengthen our position.”

As an example of packages, the operator is offering seven nights in Cancun staying at the all-inclusive five-star Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa from £1,150 per person.

The price is based on two adults sharing for an October 13 departure and includes flights with Virgin Atlantic from London.

Visit funway4agents.co.uk for more details.

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OFFICIALLY OPENING this month, Travel 2 had added the Cape Kudu Hotel to its Asia offering. The five-star property is located on the quiet Thai island of Koh Yao Noi and provides a romantic escape for honeymooners and couples. Mark Mallinson, the operator’s assistant product manager for Asia, said: “There are pool villas for those looking up the romantic factor and a top tip is to take a speedboat to Phuket or a ferry to Krabi to see more of the local area. Agents can offer customers free room upgrades to a pool villa for stays until October 31.” Visit travel2.com

Wendy Wu launches new site for escorted tour bookings WENDY WU Tours has officially launched a new website enabling travel agents to book all escorted tours, online, for the first time.

The new site will enable agents to book a group tour 24 hours a day in less than two minutes, find all the latest prices, tour information and campaigns, as well as manage their ‘Bambu’ points (the company’s agent reward scheme) and see individual commissions for each tour at the point of sale.

The technology behind the website is owned by the company and is the product of an extensive development process.

Joe Karbo, group chief executive for the operator, said: “We have listened very carefully to our agents throughout the design process and have customised the portal with functionality specific to the trade. As a company, we are in the process of an ambitious global digital transformation overhaul, and we’re putting agents at the centre of this change by delivering a site that dramatically speeds up the booking process, provides a seamless experience and allows agents to concentrate on giving a superior service to customers.”

The site utilises responsive design, so agents can easily move back and forth between their desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device when making a booking alongside

streamlined navigation and a userfriendly dashboard so tours can be found and booked quickly.

Attending the London launch event and commenting on the significant milestone that the new agents’ website marks in the company’s history, Wendy Wu, founder and chairwoman of the company, said: “Travel agents have amazing value. They're not just a bridge between an operator and the customer - they are an essential part of the process and they add significant value to both parties.

“Now that we own our own technology we have the freedom to do a lot of things and I can proudly say that the sky’s the limit. Right now the site features fully inclusive packages but in the future we will push out lots more and different kinds of products that a customer might need - day tours, transfers and cruise options – and we will become a one stop shop for China and Asia.”

To celebrate the launch of the trade bookable website, every agent who confirms a booking online from June 22 to July 31 will receive a £50 incentive, which is automatically awarded to their online account, and will be entered into a draw to win a selection of prizes including hampers, action cameras, FitBits, Yo Sushi vouchers, cinema tickets and a place on a fam trip.

Vietnam extends visa waiver for Brits for another year THE GOVERNMENT of Vietnam has confirmed that it will again be extending its visa exemption programme for UK passport holders for single-entry stays of up to 15 days, until June 30, 2018.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, more than five million people visited the country in the first five months of 2017, representing a 26.8% increase on last year’s figures.

With daily flights to either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Airlines offers non-stop flights to Vietnam from the UK. Flights are operated by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner - offering Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class from Heathrow T4 - and have been scheduled to offer overnight journeys in both directions with convenient onward connections. Return fares from Heathrow to Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City currently start from £462 per person, including taxes.

For further information visit vietnamairlines.com

travelbulletin.co.uk

Pandaw launches Members Club PANDAW EXPEDITIONS has announced a new Members Club, designed to reward guests who regularly choose to join the river cruise company on its Southeast Asia expeditions.

The club entitles guests to a free, unlimited wine package to accompany lunch and dinner onboard their forthcoming expedition; a complimentary laundry service; a discount of $100 on any pre- or post-cruise extension booked; and access to discounts and special offers.

It is free of charge to join and guests need only to have cruised with the company once to become a member at pandaw.com/members/join When their previous cruise has been booked by a travel agent, customers can still join the Members Club by registering their name, email address and postal address, enabling the cruise company to issue them with a Member ID, which agents can enter with the passenger information on future bookings.

For more information call 020-8326 5620 or go to pandaw.com

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TRAVEL BULLETIN welcomed Edinburgh agents at our Far East showcase, which was held at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel last week. Tourist boards, luxury resorts, operators and airlines were all on hand to chat with agents in a night of networking, mixed with fine wine, exotic dishes and prizes!

LJR LUXURY…Sue Wright (far right) from the LJR Consultancy presents a selection of luxury hotel options which be found in Thailand and Vietnam to agents.

DISCOVER JAPAN…Clive Buckingham (by banner) from JTB Europe offers an expert insight to Japan to: (anti-clockwise) Lynne Taljaard and Wendy Ross from Thomas Cook; Andy Gilhooly from Travel Councillors; Sam Fleming, Thomas Cook; Travel Councillor Margo Mclaren; and Nicola Cowan from The Cruise Specialists.

#TBSHOWCASES

ADVENTURE BOUND…Sarah Johnson (left) from STA wins a £500 voucher to be put toward the adventure of her choice, presented by Kerry Anne Naughton of G Adventures.

CHEERS…Paula Ryan Stokes (left) of PRS Independent Travel Experts chats with Paula McEvoy and Harry Dulger of Queensferry Travel.

CHEEKY CHARLIES…It’s a warm welcome to, from the left: Robin Innes, Louise Davidson, Julie Reid and Fiona Liddell, all from Charlie Reid Travel.

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CHAMPAGNE WIN…Anthony Vale from Movenpick Hotels and Resorts presents a bottle of Champagne to Lynne Taljaard of Thomas Cook.

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eventbulletin LUX LEARNING…Agents get to find out more about LUX Resorts & Hotels with a special presentation introduced by Travel Bulletin’s Matt Gill.

LUCKY LAWRENCE…Lawrence Jolly (left) from Flight Centre was the winner of a £50 shopping voucher and a Finnair model airplane, presented by the airline’s Marcio Kugelmeier.

PHILIPPINES PRIZE…From the left, Angelito P. Mendoza from the Philippines Department of Tourism presents Travel Counsellor Muriel Morgan and Faisal Sheikh of iTravel4U each with a prized bottle of Don Papa Rum, joined by the tourism board’s Marjorie V. Mohammad.

STA AGENTS…Jenna Donaldson (by banner) from Qatar Airways presents to: (anti-clockwise) Luce Brophy, Sarah Johnson, Peta Evans, Alison Woods, Kristie Lane and Anne Marie Scammell, all from STA Travel.

TRAVEL DUO…Picking up a goodie bag are Brooke Martin (left) and Catherine Lorne from The Travel Company.

WELCOME RECEPTION…Catching up over drinks at the welcome reception are, from the left: Steven McLean and Harriett Holdworth from Flight Centre; Alistair Stuart from The Travel Service; G Adventures’ Kerry Anne Naughton; and Lawrence Jolly, Flight Centre.

Want to get in on the #TBSHOWCASES action?

Join in the fun at our Cruise Showcase in Norwich on September 20. Reserve your place now by emailing oliver.barton@travelbulletin.co.uk travelbulletin.co.uk

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fareast InsideJapan creates series of fully accessible travel itineraries INSIDEJAPAN HAS launched the first in a new series of ‘accessible’ itineraries designed to open up Japan and its culture as a wheelchair-friendly destination.

Consulting with partners on the ground, such as accessible Japan blogger, Josh Grisdale and Hideto Kijima of the Japan Accessible Tourism organisation, the operator has created its first fully accessible Golden Route trip, giving wheelchair travellers the chance to sample Japan and its culture without barriers.

The ten-night ‘Wheelchair Accessible Golden Route’ costs from £3,370 per person based on two sharing,

excluding flights. The trip includes breakfast accommodation; private transfers; guiding in wheelchair accessible vehicles in Kyoto, Mt. Fuji and Nara; all transport between destinations in Japan; pocket Wi-Fi; and a number of other experiences.

Ruth Hubbard, product manager for the operator, said: “Our mission is to introduce this amazing country and its wonderful culture to the West. Through working with our accessible experts and with the new ‘Wheelchair Accessible Golden Route’ as a great example of what we can do, we are now better placed than anyone to do that.”

Turquoise Holidays partners with Thailand to promote eco-holidays THE TURQUOISE Holiday Company, in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, has penned ‘The Pocket Elephant’, a children’s story designed as part of a campaign to promote the destination to the family market.

Available to order directly through the operator, the book tells the story of anxious schoolboy Max and Tug the baby elephant as they adventure across Thailand. The company hopes that its campaign will educate agents and travellers about the Asian elephant population in Thailand including the sensitive subject of conservation. A percentage of the revenue generated from bookings made through the campaign will be donated to the Elephant Family

charity, an NGO which strives to conserve and protect the threatened population of Asian Elephants.

The brand aims to grow its overall visitors to Thailand by 10% on the back of the campaign, with a revenue target of more than £2million for departures by the end of this year.

The luxury family market was the fastest growing market for the company last year and continues to be the major focus of its marketing for Thailand. It currently makes up approximately 30% of the company’s overall mix of 3,000 visitors per annum, with an average spend of £13,000 per family.

James Bell, managing director of the holiday company, said:

“Thailand is the ultimate family holiday destination - an exotic playground for active nature-loving families looking for more than just a fly-and-flop beach holiday.

“Our itineraries are 100% tailor made and with direct flights from London leaving daily, our team is adept at arranging holidays to fit around different school holidays, work schedules, and everything else mums and dads have to contend with these days. Our partnership with The Elephant Family is one which we are very excited to start and hope that we can contribute towards them continuing their amazing work in Thailand.”

Visit turquoiseholidays.co.uk or call 01494-678400.

Philippine Airlines reconfigures A330s with new cabin product

UPCOMING FOR August 10-13 in Macao is the Wushu Masters Challenge, an event dedicated to traditional Chinese martial arts and considered part of the traditional cultural heritage of China. A variety of activities, from traditional wushu performances and training courses, to competitions, will take place during the four-day sport extravaganza – all of them free of charge – and attended by wushu heroes from all over the world. Visit macaowushumc.com for details.

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HAVING CONVERTED the layout of eight A330-300 aircraft, Philippine Airlines has introduced a new cabin product on nine of its international destinations.

The improvement comes ahead of the launch of a Boeing 777-300ER on the London - Manila route, which will also offer an enriched in-flight experience across the airline’s Business and Economy classes.

David Cochrane, UK & Ireland country manager for the airline, said: “As we look forward to upgrading our aircraft on the London – Manila route from December, we are thrilled to have a vastly enhanced cabin product operating on our ‘beyond’ destinations. This means that within this year, our guests flying from London and connecting via Manila will have a completely enhanced experience from takeoff to touchdown on our key routes.”

The Thompson Vantage XL brand was selected for the airline’s 18 Business Class seats with full-flat recline and Pneumatic Comfort System (PCS), which allows the passenger to adjust seat firmness according to preference, complimented with a massage function. The Economy Zodiac brand was chosen for the 267 Economy seats.

Visit philippineairlines.com for more details.

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Hong Kong Tourism Board launches Specialist Club for travel agents IN RECOGNITION of the support received from trade partners in promoting Hong Kong over the years, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched the Hong Kong Specialist Club.

The new loyalty programme provides members with a range of exclusive benefits including special trade offers on the destination’s latest products and offerings, and use of the Hong Kong Specialist logo.

For agents to become a member of the new club, they need to complete three modules of the specialist programme. All members will receive a complimentary welcome pack, which includes a variety of items to allow them to discover the region including: tickets for the Hong Kong TramOramic Tour; tickets for a Dukling Harbour Cruise; a choice of Peak Tram Sky Pass or Admission to Sky100 Observation Deck; a tourist sim card with five-day usage; and an MTR Tourist one-day pass.

If the three modules are completed by August 31, members will also be in with the chance of winning a place on a Hong Kong trip taking place later this year. Those who complete one module of the specialist programme by this date will also receive some HKTB goodies, while those completing two modules by the deadline will be in with the chance of winning Love2Shop vouchers.

Dawn Page, the tourism board’s director for UK and Northern Europe, said: “At HKTB we always encourage agents to travel to Hong Kong themselves in order to experience the rich culture and cosmopolitan lifestyle that the city has to offer.

The new Hong Kong Specialist Club is designed to reward those who have completed the training programme and to equip them with the necessary knowledge to help them sell Hong Kong effectively.”

To register for the programme visit specialisthk.com/uk

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fareast

ONYX HOSPITALITY Group has announced plans to build a new OZO hotel in Pattaya, Thailand, as well as redeveloping the existing Amari Pattaya and building an all-suites Amari wing. The new developments mean that upon completion in early 2019, the North Pattaya site will comprise three hotels. The new 406-room hotel will be built adjacent to the existing Ocean Tower of Amari Pattaya. Visit onyx-hospitality.com

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

puzzlesolutions

@TravelBulletin

Crossword: Across: 1. HOLIDAY INN, 6. CARACAS, 7. DERWENT, 9. RMI, 10. ALE, 11. TUNISIA, 12. CONTIKI, 13. CASABLANCA. Down: 1. HUW EDWARDS, 2. LUCERNE, 3. YUCATAN, 4. NAS, 5. ADDIS ABABA, 8. ESTONIA, 9. RUSSIAN, 12. CSA.

TravelBulletin

Highlighted Word: LUSAKA Where Am I?: Devil’s Tower, Wyoming, US.

We asked our staff the following question this week:

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Jeanette Ratcliffe Publisher jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk

Matthew Weinreb Sales Executive matthew.weinreb@travelbulletin.co.uk

Dinner on the river with some lovely friends.

Having friends over.

Lauretta Wright Editor lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk

Kathryn Frost Sales Executive kathryn.frost@travelbulletin.co.uk

A picnic at Riverside Country Park in Gillingham.

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

Oliver Barton Events & Sales Administrator oliver.barton@travelbulletin.co.uk

Day trip to chez Paris.

The lie-in!

Paul Scudamore Contributing Editor Sunny Sunday so hood down on '73 MGB and drive

Nicky Valsamakis Design Team Leader nicky.valsamakis@travelbulletin.co.uk

around country lanes of Kent for pub lunch. Bliss.

Watching Love Island.

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

Lucia Mathurin Design Apprentice lucia.mathurin@travelbulletin.co.uk

A Wimbledon double?

Waking up without the sound of my alarm

Tim Podger Account Manager - Far East tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk

Nelly Mendes Production production@travelbulletin.co.uk Lots of shopping & going to a food show.

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

Matt Gill Senior Account Manager matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk Strolling down the Putney Riviera

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July 14 2017

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Miriam Brtkova Designer miriam.brtkova@travelbulletin.co.uk Miri regularly tops our office quote board thanks to her comments, both sweet and hilarious! With her bright pink her you know she’s a creative and the life of the party!

Rocking out at the Psychobilly festival

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g in t ra ars b le Ye e C 21

Travel Bulletin Star Awards 2017 finalists revealed...

?

Tickets for the Travel Bulletin Star Awards Gala Dinner on 4th September at London’s 5* Langham Hotel are selling fast!

Email jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk to confirm your place now. www.travelbulletin.co.uk/starawards/finalists #TBStarAwards Star Awards Proud Sponsors

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