Travel Bulletin 27th January 2017

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January 27 2017 | ISSUE NO 1,999 | travelbulletin.co.uk

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January 27 2017 | ISSUE NO 1,999 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Slovenia

Going green: how to inspire clients to go active & healthy this year

this week

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puzzle bulletin play Su Doku for your chance to win a ÂŁ50 M&S voucher

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air travel the latest new developments & announcements from airlines & airports

21 holiday parks the latest highlights & add-ons across parks for 2017

australasia Tourism Australia & Qantas bowl over Brits with Ashes Campaign

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2017/18 brochure OUT NOW! • The very best range of escorted holidays • UK-only holiday makers • The best home transfer service • Multi award-winning holidays

Brand NEW small group tours!

Great Apes of Uganda

Land of the Lemur

In search of the mountain gorilla and chimpanzee

Natural wonders of Madagascar

ARY FEBRU T AGEN E TIV INCEN

£50 lifestyle vouchers £10 lifestyle vouchers for USA bookings

for ‘rest of the world’ bookings

For more details please visit www.titanagents.co.uk Terms and conditions apply. Valid for bookings made between 1 – 28 February 2017. To claim you must email agentincentives@titantravel.co.uk with your name and booking reference within 7 days of making the booking.

No cash alternatives. Agents are responsible for their own tax implications.

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A sunny outlook...

DESPITE THE grey skies, it has been a bright outlook for North East travel agency Dawson & Sanderson after continuing its renovation programme of stores. The Newcastle-based business recently invested more than £150,000 to refresh the look of branches in Whitley Bay, Hexham, Consett, Redcar and Hull. Each store has also held promotional days to welcome loyal and new customers with the latest incentives and holiday deals.

Pictured are staff from one of the refurbished branches - from the left: Zoe Clennell, Peter Troughear and Sarah Burns.

Cover Pictures: Main - Andrej Safaric

Inset - Eurocamp, La Vallée

Best value hotspots revealed by Post Office Travel Money Holiday Report VALUE FOR money will be a crucial commodity in 2017 as affordability rather than aspiration provides the clue to holiday choice, according to Post Office Travel Money. In its annual Holiday Money Report, Europe is highlighted as potentially being the big winner as tighter budgets attract UK tourists to resorts where the holiday purse will stretch furthest.

The Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer shows the extent to which local prices for meals, drinks and other tourist staples will dictate how far the holiday budget stretches. While the barometer reveals that overall costs are higher worldwide than in 2016, UK tourists can take some comfort because prices in local currency for the eight tourist items surveyed have either fallen or stayed on par with 12 months ago in 40% of the destinations surveyed. In Europe this rises to 50%. By choosing one of these resorts or cities, holidaymakers can keep the increased cost caused by the weaker pound to a minimum.

The best example of this is in Portugal’s Algarve, which tops the chart for the second year running with a barometer total of £33.36 - just £4 more than a year ago. This is because the local price (euro) of an evening meal for two with wine – the biggest single cost in the barometer basket – is down almost 5% year-on-year.

Runner-up Sunny Beach in Bulgaria (£33.53) is just pence behind the Algarve and also benefits from a 1.5% fall in local prices. In third place, Spain’s Costa del Sol (£38.79) has closed the gap on the Bulgarian resort because of a bigger 3% drop in local costs.

Elsewhere in Europe, Marmaris, Prague, Budapest and Corfu have retained their top ten places, while Paphos has risen to sixth place, its highest ever position. This spells good news for those planning to visit the Cypriot resort in its year as joint European Capital of Culture. Completing the European line up in ninth place is Sliema in Malta, one of two new top ten entrants.

The other new entrant is this year’s biggest surprise - Japan, and its growing reputation for affordability will get a further boost as Tokyo (£58.47) makes its first appearance in the barometer’s top ten in eighth place – the sole long-haul destination to feature in it.

This week

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news this week’s industry news, announcements & developments

agent bulletin new booking incentives, training, competitions & offers

travelbulletin.co.uk

11 12 15

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

bulletin briefing ANTOR highlights upcoming training events & opportunities from its members

air travel new developments & announcements from airlines & airports

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slovenia inspire your clients to go green, active & healthy this year

holiday parks the latest highlights & add-ons for 2017

australasia Tourism Australia & Qantas bowl over Brits with Ashes Campaign

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New campaign from Regent Seven Seas marks 25th anniversary REGENT SEVEN Seas Cruises is offering guests a special 25th anniversary celebratory saving of up to 25% on a selection of ultra-luxury, all-inclusive 2017 cruises.

The Celebrate with Regent campaign encourages guests to take a trip to celebrate their own milestones and is available on selected itineraries when booked by March 31, exploring a range of destinations including the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, Alaska and the Middle East.

Ranging from seven to 40 nights, the itneraries take in a range of ports; guests can discover the gold rush history of Juneau, Alaska, while celebrating a silver wedding anniversary; or turn a birthday into a month-long extravaganza sailing from Abu Dhabi to Miami, picking up the highlights of the Middle East and Europe along the way.

Prices include flights, shore excursions, premium drinks, speciality restaurants, transfers and gratuities.

For more information see rssc.com/celebrate or call 02380-682280.

Club Med announces launch of 2017/18 season with new Samoëns ski resort CLUB MED has announced the opening of its next winter season.

One of the highlights of the launch is Grand Massif Samoëns, the company's latest four trident ski resort, currently being built on the edge of Samoëns 1600.

The resort will be positioned as the operator's new flagship family resort offering 360 views and located just an hour and 15 minutes from Geneva airport.

This ski-in/ski-out resort will offer direct access to the slopes from the ski equipment room. Clients will

benefit from a lift pass which covers two domains - Massif and Flaine, (France's fourth largest ski domain) with a total of five stations: Samöens, Morillon, Les carroz and Flaine and a natural ski park in Sixt Fer a Cheval.

The resort will include more than

400 rooms; kids' clubs from four months to 17 years; a dedicated ski room for children; an indoor and outdoor heated pool; gym; and a restaurant menu created by Michelin star chef, Eduard Loubet.

Other news for the company includes the recent redesign of Arcs Extreme, now an adult-only resort, which features newly updated rooms, a theatre, lobby and restaurants, plus a new fitness club.

For winter 2017/18 see the preregistration page at clubmedpages.com/winter17-18

Tauck showcases 2017 'Bridges' options

KAYE KINECTS...Travel Kinect has opened a retail store in Worcester and is aiming to bring enhanced travel opportunities to locals in 2017 with the help of Barrhead Travel. The agency, which is a managed service travel partner of Brilliant Travel, was formed by Kaye Bradley (pictured) after she spotted an opportunity within Worcester to offer locals customised holiday options.

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TAUCK IS highlighting its family adventures for this year, better known as Tauck Bridges, which bring destinations to life through exclusive experiences, designed for children of all ages, such as scavenger hunts at the Lourve in Paris, horseback riding with cowboys in Montana or an afterhours tour of the Vatican and pizza-making workshop in Florence.

As examples, an eight-day Alaska: Call of The Wild option offers a jet boat ride, wilderness hikes, a visit to a huskie dog sled training ground and a flight over the foothills of Mt Denali.

Thrill seekers can also kayak or river raft in Kenai; animal lovers can enjoy a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centre, meeting animals such as moose and grizzly bears; and young explorers can pick up tips during a survival evening of games and s’mores over the campfire.

Prices lead in at £2,670 per person.

Alternatively, an eight-day Costa Rica: Jungles and Rainforest option immerses families in the eco-tourism experience with the chance to use field and filming equipment to record their journey.

Adventures include zip-lining and river rafting through the jungle with a wildlife expert, a nature hike during a stay in a riverfront lodge and a chocolate-making workshop with master chocolatiers in Costa Rica’s capital, San José, with prices starting from £1,933.

Families celebrating milestone birthdays, anniversaries or looking for a reunion with a difference can also take advantage of the company's private departures, which offer families and groups the chance to experience exclusive trips travelling with their nearest and dearest.

For reservations and more information visit tauck.co.uk or call 0800-810 8020.

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Largest turn-of-year campaign launch from The Global Travel Group THE GLOBAL Travel Group has launched its biggest turn-of-year campaign to ensure agents stay ahead of the competition, with free seasonal marketing tools and design assets tailor-made for their businesses.

The supporting materials cover digital as well as print materials and agents can access a range of high-quality collateral, from personalised brochures, responsively branded e-shots and web banners, to eye-catching mailers, window cards that are refreshed weekly with new deals and wipeable posters to rotate the available offers.

Members will also benefit from social media guidance to help them stand out from the crowd, alongside a dedicated peaks campaign hotline number for on-the-spot advice. The turn-of-year #LoveTravel campaign will run until the end of March.

See globaltravelgroup.com or call 01244-521266 for details.

Virgin Atlantic and Flybe codeshare opens up new destinations for Scotland SCOTTISH TRAVELLERS can now book flights to international destinations including Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, and Dubai – thanks to closer cooperation between Virgin Atlantic and Europe’s leading regional airline, Flybe.

Customers will be able to book tickets to travel from Edinburgh and Aberdeen with Flybe, and connect onto Virgin Atlantic flights at Heathrow.

The new Flybe codeshare flights to Heathrow will operate from March 26, offering four services per day from Edinburgh, and up to three services per day from Aberdeen.

The agreement will mean customers can seamlessly connect between Flybe and Virgin Atlantic with a single check-in

and bag drop. It will also open up a number of new destinations for Scottish travellers, and help boost inbound tourism and investment.

New destinations on offer from Aberdeen and Edinburgh via Heathrow include Los Angeles from £498 return, San Francisco from £498, Boston from £398, Washington from £418 and Hong Kong from £445.

Erik Varwijk, executive vice president, commercial, Virgin Atlantic, said: “Our partnership with Flybe will bring the world a little closer to Scotland with exciting new Virgin Atlantic destinations available across the US, Asia and Africa.

The extended codeshare agreement builds on the partnership we announced

last year which has proved popular with customers across the UK. “We look forward to offering easy connections to some of our most popular destinations such as the US cities of San Francisco and Boston, as well as helping to boost business and investment with access to major hubs such as Hong Kong and Dubai.”

New Southern India options from ETG

ELITE ISLAND Resorts Group has introduced new options to its growing menu of wellbeing activities for guests. The new, free of charge additions have already been rolled out at St James’s Club & Villas and Galley Bay Resort & Spa Antigua, and will launch in other locations from this month. They include a ‘Caribbean Colour Me Calm Club’ and ‘Floatfit Caribbean Aquabase’, which offers a 20-minute HIIT full body workout in the ocean or pool.

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FOLLOWING THE launch of its first India itineraries in 2016, Experience Travel Group has added new holidays to the country’s southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Karnataka.

The new itineraries take visitors into the heart of Southern India, exploring parts of the country that few tourists get to see.

As an example, an 'Undiscovered Northern Kerala' option leads in at £3,656 per person including accommodation, experiences, a number of meals, entrance fees, guides, transport, flights, 24-hour in-country back up, plus access to a dedicated travel expert in the UK. The itinerary enables visitors to get away from the crowds and explore the distinctive charm of the lesser-known northern region of Kerala. Highlights include cruising through the quiet backwaters on a converted rice barge; exploring eclectic Cochin, with its culturally diverse mix of architecture and history, on an expertly-guided tuk tuk tour; and glamping in the Thattekad region, home to some of India’s best wildlife.

The itinerary ends with some rest and relaxation for a few nights at a remote beach hotel on the shores of the Arabian Sea. Alternatively, a 'Wild Karnataka and Beach' itinerary costs from £3,342 and offers travel via alternative modes of transport, such as local trains and jeeps.

It takes visitors through Karnataka, visiting the key UNESCO World Heritage cities of Mysuru and Hampi, before getting away from it all at two boutique hotels in the plantation areas of Coorg and Chikmagalur, where travellers will visit the first coffee plantation in India.

A stay at Nagarhole National Park offers opportunities for clients to spot herds of elephants before the trip concludes at a beach resort in Goa.

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Advantage Travel Partnership to host second 'Big Celebration Lunch’ in October THE ADVANTAGE Travel Partnership will again hold The Big Celebration Lunch, which celebrates members and business partners’ successes.

This year’s celebration will take place on October 6 at the Grange City Hotel in London and will recognise both members and business partners with a range of awards highlighting their achievements during the year.

Nominated Advantage members will be invited to the lunch, as well as business partners and members from the consortium’s team. Winners will be chosen by a mixture of members, business partners and an independent board panel.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, the consortium's managing director, said: “We were delighted with the success of last year’s event. The positive feedback we received on the day, and since, has been phenomenal and we are keen to celebrate and give our valued members the recognition they deserve again in 2017.

“This prestigious event is about celebrating the collective success with our members and business partners with a range of awards including ‘Best Agent’ in both leisure and business travel categories and an ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’."

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines highlights ‘Turn of Year’ sales campaign FRED. OLSEN Cruise Lines is showcasing its ‘Turn of Year’ sales campaign with a range of multi-media promotions, including a series of 30second and ten-second advertisements being shown on 13 digital TV channels: ITV3, ITV1 Tyne Tees, Gold, Drama, Channel 5, Crime & Investigation, Discovery, History, Pick, True Entertainment, True Movies, True Drama, Community Channel, the last of which will appear on February 19.

As part of the campaign, the company is offering guests four value deals on its 2017/18 cruise itineraries - a free upgrade to the all-inclusive drinks package, valid for bookings made until March 1; a no single-

supplements deal on a selection of ten 2017/18 cruise holidays available until March 1; free on shore spending money on 16 voyages in 2017, available until January 31; and free door to-door transfers (up to 250 UK-mainland miles) on three longer voyages until January 31. These are Boudicca’s 26-night ‘Bermuda & the America’s Cup’ cruise, Black Watch’s 27-night ‘Exploring the Fjords of the Arctic’ adventure, and Balmoral’s 32-night ‘Caribbean Discovery’ cruise.

The cruise line has also enhanced its ‘Enjoyment Promise’, which is now applicable to all guests with a new booking – not just to new customers.

Once on board, if a guest finds that the

cruise is not for them, they just need to contact Guest Services on board, within the first 48 hours, and the company will refund their cruise fare and pay to get them home.

For further information visit fredolsencruises.com/travelagent centre or call 01473-746164.

Prestige adds new escorted tour options

STAR STRUCK...A group of agents enjoyed an evening on Celebrity Constellation during a five-night cruise from Muscat to Abu Dhabi hosted by Travel 2, The Travel Network Group and Celebrity Cruises.

Agents attended a ‘Seminar at Sea’ training session offering them top tips and helping them brush up on their product knowledge. Pictured are, from the left (front row to back): Dee Smith, The Travel Network Group; Mark Swords, Swords Travel; Carla Hutchings, Travel 2; Leon Hand, Celebrity Cruises; Sharon Keaveney, Inspired Travel; Debbie Hirons, Independent Travel Experts; Rebecca Austin, Celebrity Cruises; Kate Yeomans, Celebrity Cruises; Anita Brewster, Tailor Made Travel; Janice Thompson, Rosetta Travel; Kathie Ellis, Newels Travel; Mel Bratley, Hopes Travel; Kirsten Knowles, Celebrity Cruises; Debbie Elsden, Celebrity Cruises; and Sue Broad, Triangle Travel.

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PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS has unveiled a selection of carefully curated escorted tours for travellers keen to get under the skin of destinations, with an off-the-beaten-track feel.

They include a raft of new UK itineraries featuring Scotland, Ireland and the Channel Islands; an off-thebeaten-track Puglia tour, several Puccini Opera Festival tours, an ‘easy pace’ Russia experience and a Croatia ‘discovery cruise’. Plus, as a once in a lifetime trip, the operator is featuring a 20-night luxury tour of South America by private jet.

The escorted tour holidays are all featured in a new stand-alone brochure and prices start from £1,049 per person for a four-night ‘Highlights of Malta and Gozo’ tour including flights, accommodation, tours, transport and the services of a tour manager.

The company's general manager, David Skillicorn, said: “Escorted tours are a major growth area for us and appeal to not only our regular loyal clients, but enable us to attract new customers too. We have an experienced and highly knowledgeable team of destination experts working for us.

Thanks to their insider knowledge and passion, they’re able to craft itineraries that go beyond the hackneyed tourist trails.

"Furthermore, they have longstanding relationships with local hoteliers which means we’re able to offer many exclusive properties in smaller, family run establishments revered by our clients.”

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Booking incentives ●

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As part of its Pink January Sale, The Villa Collection is giving agents the chance to win two return tickets to Barbados, with one entry for every booking made to one of its resorts, apartments or private villas between now and February 14. For details see thevillacollection.co.uk/travelagents or email enquiries@thevillacollection.co.uk Travel 2 is giving agents the chance to win one of three designer suitcases worth £400 each as part of its latest campaign, ‘Let Florida Cast Its Spell On You’, in conjuction with SeaWorld and Alamo. To enter the prize draw, agents should confirm a new booking to Florida that includes a minimum of three nights' ground arrangements and flights by January 31. Details at travel2.com Eight lifestyle vouchers worth £100 each from Hoseasons' New Year Peaks giveaway are up for grabs, all of which can be spent at more than 120 of the UK’s top retailers including John Lewis, Topshop, Pizza Express, Odeon and iTunes.

For a chance to win, agents need to register every booking they confirm up to February 26 and email the reference, their name, agency name and ABTA number to agency.sales@hoseasons.co.uk by February 28.

Agent competition AGENTS CAN win a five-night holiday for two in a new competition launched by BookYourWeddingDay.com. To enter, agents need to answer four questions by February 10 about the booking platform at http://bit.ly/2jDPfBD. The competition is for a Greece or Cyprus break in a sea view double room, including breakfast.

Agent offer DORSETT WANCHAI, Hong Kong (formerly known as Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong) is offering trade rates to agents interested in staying on selected dates between now and September 13. A night's stay leads in at HK$800 (approximately £83), with price reductions for longer stays, subject to 10% service charge. A 50% discount is also offered on breakfast, plus late check-out. For details and reservations email Joan.lee@dorsetthotels.com

AGENT TRAINING CELEBRITY CRUISES has launched a range of offers, coupled with a dedicated selling guide for agents to drive bookings. Savings of up to £200 are offered on ocean view and above staterooms, on selected Europe and Abu Dhabi sailings, while savings of up to £500 are available on Suite Class bookings. Cruises booked and confirmed by agents by February 28 will also include a classic drinks package at no extra cost. A dedicated selling guide for agents includes a personalised introduction and contact details, plus top selling tips to aid with sales. Details at cruisingpower.co.uk THE DIAMOND Holidays Group has launched a competition aimed at encouraging agents to complete the group’s new training modules with OTT. Agents completing any of the available training modules before February 6 will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a bottle of Champagne and box of Hotel Chocolat treats. To register for access for the course call 0844-544 7581 or e-mail rebeccabrett@diamondhols.co.uk

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Save up to 45% in Scenic’s sale including new limited-edition experience SCENIC IS offering up to 45% off and free private door-to-door chauffeur transfers across all 2017 Europe river cruises, when booked before February 15.

This year the company is offering 19 itineraries and four new cruises, with prices leading in at £1,545 per person.

New to the Scenic experiences is a limited-edition Gems of the Danube with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. The 11-day cruise, tour and rail journey from Budapest to London offers guests a two-night stay in the five-star Danieli Hotel and two days on the iconic Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express.

Flights to Europe from £99 in Celebrity Cruises’ turn-of-year campaign CELEBRITY CRUISES has unveiled an additional element to its turn-of-year campaign with flights to Europe now available from £99 this summer.

The line has added the new £99 flights to cruise holidays throughout the Mediterranean's popular hotspots including Italy, Spain and the Greek Islands, with limited availability.

Further seats are available for £199 or less to join cruise ships sailing from destinations such as Rome (for Civitavecchia port) and Venice.

The £99 flights are available from airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh

and Dublin.

Claire Stirrup, director of sales, Celebrity Cruises UK and Ireland, said: "Our turn-of-year campaign is all about adding surprise-and-delight moments to our agent partners’ most busy period of the year. As the weather really turns to be incredibly wintery we wanted to ensure that agents are equipped to sell summer-getaways at the best possible value. The reduced price flights will not be around for long.”

As part of the line's turn-of-year campaign, agents earning the most Celebrity Rewards points on bookings,

or those achieving the most growth by the end of February will win Celebrity Rewards points bonuses of either £500 or £1,000.

As an example of prices, an 11-night Best of the Western Mediterranean cruise costs from £1,499 per person for an oceanview stateroom based on two sharing including flights within the holiday package for £99.

The price also includes a free classic drinks package, meals and entertainment on-board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees.

For more information visit cruisingpower.co.uk

No single supplement from On The Go

DUBAI DEAL...If Only…has randomly drawn it first 'Win a Fam Trip a Day' winner, where agents can win a fam trip place every day as part of a five-week promotion, which runs until February 11. Pictured is Carol Moon from Travelounge in Derby, who doubled her chances of winning by including one of the operator's 'peaks' partners in her booking, and won a place on a five-day fam trip to Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai. Presenting Carol with her prize is the operator's Jorge Quibell.

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ON THE GO Tours has launched a number of departures where solo travellers can have their own room without paying any extra supplements.

Available on a number of tours to three of its top selling destinations - Egypt, India and Sri Lanka, solo travellers can enjoy touring with a room to themselves at no extra cost.

The selected departures are open to everyone, not exclusively single participants, ensuring an interesting mix of travellers on the tours.

Carl Cross, the operator's managing director, said: “Throughout 2016 we saw an impressive growth in enquiries from single travellers looking to experience a country with fellow like-minded travellers, and we are certain this trend will continue throughout 2017.

“We already run 'no compulsory single supplements' on most of our Signature destinations and, with the launch of this exciting development, we are confident we will be applying this to many more of our destinations.”

As an example of itineraries, an eight-day Taj Express tour costs from £799 including seven nights in three- and four-star hotels and heritage properties, with the option to have a private room at no extra cost on selected departures.

The price also includes daily breakfast, one lunch and two dinners; a city rickshaw ride and travel by jeep to the Amber Fort; touring of Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and the rural Shekhawati region with a local guide; all relevant transport; and transfers.

To book or for further information see onthegotours.com or call 020-7371 1113.

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Su Doku

Where Am I?

Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle Number: 004

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, February 2nd. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 13th January is Themis Charalambides, Cyplon Travel in London.

January 13 Solution: A=9 B=1 C=8 D=4

Crossword

This medieval market town was the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare.

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

Number: 004

Across 1. Low-cost airline, sounds regal (7) 4. Darwin international airport code (3) 6. Peaceful island off the coast of North Devon (5) 7. First name of Bridget Jones actress (5) 8. Carson City is the state capital (6) 10. Popular TV series, The Big ___ Theory (4) 13. Flows through Tuscany (4) 14. Natalie Portman plays this former First Lady at a cinema near you (6) 16. Hotels and resorts company (5) 17. Historic holiday island in the Med (5) 18. Currency of Romania (3) 19. Lakes & Mountains holidays are popular in this country (7)

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Down 1. First name of the new First Lady of America (7) 2. Capital of Saudi Arabia (6) 3. Mountains steeped in German folklore (4) 4. Margrethe II is Queen of this country (7) 5. This Valley is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the English/Welsh border (3) 9. Port Vila is the capital of this South Pacific country (7) 11. Known as the Caribbean Spice Island (7) 12. The Cave of the Apocalypse is located on this Aegean island (6) 15. Sicily's volcanic Mount (4) 16. Helsinki international airport code (3)

For the solution to the Crossword and Where Am I? Please see page 28 January 27 2017

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Industry Insight by...

ANTOR’s chair, Tracey Poggio, highlights upcoming training opportunities from its members...

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s we kick-off 2017 and approach Chinese New Year, the year of the Rooster and ANTOR’s 65th anniversary, ANTOR members from across the world are gearing up for an action-packed year of roadshows, workshops, training programmes and incentives.

Members not only value the importance of their own events but they also appreciate the benefits of joining ANTOR, other regional associations and Travel Bulletin’s events to ensure a maximum amount of contact with frontline travel agents, homeworkers, tour operator sales and product teams. Just a few examples are given below of dates for your 2017 diaries. However, for an update on member events see antor.com/events/ The Dominican Republic Tourist Board will be promoting its recently launched new training programme at domincanrepublicspecialist.com during seven of the ‘Destination Caribbean Agents Training Evenings’ across the UK, kicking off on January 30 in Canterbury.

The Annual German Travel Show (GTS), a one-stopshop under one roof and the biggest forum on Germany in the UK, takes place on February 9 at Church House Westminster from 13:30 – 18:30 followed by dinner. Sign up at registration.germany.travel/GTS_2017_Trade Destination Canada benefits from 30 years of regularly updated training programmes and recently launched a new version. Canada will be on tour again this spring with its popular ‘Keep Exploring’ quiz format roadshow -see canadaspecialist.co.uk. The travel agent who made the most Canada bookings in 2016 will be recognised at the 27th British Annual Canada Travel Awards in February – if it’s not you get selling Canada and win next year!

VisitGibraltar is on the road from February 28 to March 2 in Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham to ensure the trade benefits from its advertising campaign ‘Britain’s Longest Summer’. With a good online and social media focus, it highlights the destination’s pound sterling currency and a new campaign will launch later this year to include additional training modules. Email ian.leyde@gibraltar.gov.gi to register to attend.

Samoa is participating in the ‘Meet the Pacific Roadshow’, coming to Manchester on February 28 and March 1, and will be in London for the PATA Exchange on March 13 and Unite Pacific on March 14.

Great Miami CVB will be participating in UNITE USA in

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London on March 16, and will be undertaking its own sales mission in Dublin and London from July 10-14.

VisitDenmark, in collaboration with VisitSweden, is organising a workshop on May 9 in London. Tour operators will meet tourism suppliers from Sweden and Denmark and during 15-minute meetings throughout the day will learn all about a Scandinavian holiday and get a taste of Scandinavian lifestyle, ending with informal networking drinks and food until 21:00.

Switzerland will be launching a new, fun, interactive elearning programme for agents which will be going live in May. Ras Al Khaimah, amongst other members, will be joining the Travel Bulletin Luxury Showcase on May 9. It will also be hosting many of its own events, training sessions, webinars and fam trips which it will be incentivising with holiday prizes. Email tom@raktda.com to be added to the invitation mailing list.

Croatia has a full programme throughout the year of online training, competitions, roadshows and a new digital marketing campaign.

ANTOR’s own workshop ‘ANTOR Meets the Media’, now in its fourth year, will take place on June 20 in London. Travel agents and tour operators will have the opportunity of meeting a cross section of 20+ ANTOR members on a one-on-one basis to find out more about their destinations and new products during a three-hour workshop from 17:30 to 20:30 with canapés and drinks throughout the evening plus prizes. Expedia.com were so impressed in the first year that they hosted the next event in their own offices. A product manager of Voyages Jules Verne said the event was “A good evening with some good contacts made”, while the Cyprus Tourism Organisation adds: “ANTOR Meets the Travel Trade was a huge success.” Feedback from tour operators and agents to Samoa Tourism Authority’s event in 2016 included: “...I was particularly impressed by the choice of the venue and fun aspect of the evening, as well as being able to visit the Amazing Mr Ripley afterwards for free.” Apply to attend this year by emailing secretariat@antor.com If you’d like to share your opinion on the effectiveness of roadshows, workshops, training and webinars, join the debate on the ANTOR poll at antor.com/poll

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P&O Cruises teams up with Virgin Atlantic on Caribbean fly/cruise programme P&O CRUISES is to charter flights with Virgin Atlantic for Adonia’s winter 2017/18 Caribbean fly/cruise programme.

Flights will be available from Manchester and Heathrow with Economy, Premium Economy and Upper Class seats available for 14- and 28-night itineraries. There will also be a number of Economy seats available on existing Gatwick scheduled services.

The line's senior vice president, Paul Ludlow, said: “P&O Cruises is an iconic British brand delivering a truly memorable travel experience and so this partnership with Virgin Atlantic is an ideal fit for our guests, enabling them to begin their holiday in style. It will give our Adonia guests even more choice with the option of three departure airports and three cabins, including Virgin Atlantic’s exceptional Upper Class.”

The charters, from Heathrow and Manchester, include return Economy seats in the cruise fare with upgrades to Premium Economy from £349 and to Upper Class from £799 per person.

The Upper Class experience includes a personalised, dedicated check-in and security with access to the Clubhouse at Heathrow. The Upper Class cabin offers generous leather seats which are one of the longest flat beds in any Business Class, plus the space to enjoy the entertainment and fine food and drink.

Adonia’s 2017/18 Caribbean season, which operates from November 3 until March 8, 2018, comprises of 14-night Eastern Caribbean cruises round-trip from Bridgetown.

Destination highlights include Mayreau, the smallest inhabited

island of the Grenadines, and Bequia, which is part of St Vincent and Santarem in Brazil and is situated in the Amazon River.

As an example of packages, a 14-night cruise on Adonia costs from £1,799 per person for an inside cabin departing on November 3 including Virgin Atlantic flights from selected UK airports, full board meals and entertainment on board.

Departing from and returning to Barbados, ports of call include Grenada, Mayreau, Pointe-a-Pitre, Antigua, St Maarten, Tortola, St Kitts, Martinique and Bequia.

To book or for more information visit pocruises.com or call 0843-373 0111.

South Africa - the call of the wild ‘Big five’ reasons to book South Africa South Africa is a stunning country – home to over 20 beautiful National Parks, eight World Heritage Sites, cosmopolitan cities, incredible coastlines and adventures to get the adrenaline pumping – South Africa will certainly take your customers on a journey like no other. There are countless options available and we’re here to help you tailormake their dream adventure.

TRIPLE 1 Farebank Rewards on South Africa packages booked 17 January – 14 February 2017 TRIPLE

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Valid for departures 10 May - 30 Jun 2017 Includes return economy flights with South African Airways from London Heathrow

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Order your copies of the Gold Medal Africa brochure for more information via TradeGate

Terms & Conditions: Price is per person based on two adults sharing. Valid for departures specified. Price includes return flights from London Heathrow with South African Airways, pre-payable taxes and accommodation. Subject to availability. Book by dates apply. Supplement applies for regional departures. Holidays operated by Gold Medal Travel PLC, ATOL protected 2916, ABTA V6805.

Call: 0800 014 7777 Visit: goldmedal.co.uk

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Invites you to attend a

&

Weddings Honeymoons agent networking evening Travel Bulletin is delighted to invite agents to come and join us at one of these informative, fun events and learn more about the accommodation and resort options available for tailor-made wedding and honeymoon packages. Soak up the luxurious ambience as you discover some of the most romantic destinations on offer to meet your customers needs.

These evenings will involve a combination of networking and presentations, delicious food and drinks, exciting entertainment along with a free-prize draw with a number of fabulous prizes to be won.

Monday 20 February The Park Regis, Birmingham

Registration: 18:00 hours Networking & Presentations: 18:30 hours Buffet, Entertainment & Prizes: 20:00 hours Carriages: 21:30 hours

th

Tuesday 21 February TBC, Norwich st

To confirm your place at one of these amazing events, email the names and job titles of up to 5 staff members by Monday 13th February 2017 to: oliver.barton@travelbulletin.co.uk or telephone:

020 7834 6661 For more information.

SPONSORS

BIRMINGHAM

NORWICH

These events are by invitation only and will be booked on a first come first served basis.

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LONDON CITY Airport welcomed a record-breaking 4.5 million passengers in 2016, the highest number of annual passengers in its 30-year history and representing 5% year-on-year growth compared to 2015.

Construction on a £344million City Airport Development Programme is to also begin this year which will enable 6.5 million passengers to travel through the airport’s doors by 2025 and add 29,000 additional flights per year. The privately funded investment includes plans for seven new aircraft stands, a parallel taxiway to maximise runway capacity, plus a terminal extension to accommodate increasing passenger numbers.

Singapore Airlines launches A350 from Manchester LAST WEEK saw the inaugural transatlantic flight of Singapore Airline’s first UK Airbus 350-900 aircraft, which will fly on Singapore Airline’s Manchester routes, serving both Singapore and Houston. It will be the first commercial A350 flight from Manchester Airport and makes Manchester the only non-London airport in the UK to have an A350 in operation.

This is also a regional success story, with parts of the aircraft being assembled at Airbus’ £400million factory in Broughton, Chester. The factory employs more than 6,000 people mostly in manufacturing and the remainder in engineering and support functions.

Sheldon Hee, general manager of UK & Ireland for the airline, said: “We are excited to announce our inaugural A350 flight from the UK and delighted to see this happening from Manchester Airport. The launch follows our recent announcement of new non-stop routes from Manchester to Houston and Singapore, and shows our commitment to the economy and people of the North West. It is great to see that by working alongside Airbus our A350s have helped support jobs in the North West and wider UK economy, and also allowed this region to showcase itself as a hotbed of technological talent.”

Paul McKinlay, senior vice president for the Airbus Broughton Plant, said: “The A350’s wings, landing gear and engines are all made in the UK so it’s a great British engineering success story. Since its launch it’s really setting the standard for efficiency and passenger comfort too, which is a real positive for our customers and their travellers.”

Monarch launches new city breaks to Porto in April FOLLOWING THE recent news that Monarch will commence flights to Porto on April 29, the operator has packaged flights from Luton and Manchester with a selection of accommodation options for a break to the city this summer.

Kim Barber, product and commercial manager for the company, said: “Following the launch of our new scheduled routes to Porto we are pleased to be able to offer our customers a choice of city break holidays.

Famous for its port wine production the coastal city of Porto is growing in popularity and we are sure the flights will be a very popular choice with our customers for city break getaways.”

Porto will be the operator’s fourth

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destination to the country and joins Lisbon, Faro and Madeira on the network. Yearround flights will operate from Luton on a Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday and from Manchester airport on a Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

In tandem with this news, the airline group will also be adding Stockholm and Zagreb to its network, ready for travel from April 28. It will be the only airline to fly direct to Zagreb from Manchester and Gatwick airports, as well as the only airline to fly direct to Stockholm from Birmingham and Luton. To support the new routes, additional aircraft will be based at Manchester airport.

For more information or to book visit monarchagents.co.uk

SAA launches 2017 winter sale SOUTH AFRICAN Airways has launched its 2017 winter sale offering discounted fares to select destinations in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi.

It is expected that South Africa will continue to be one of the top destinations for UK travellers in 2017 thanks to its unique touristic offerings of wildlife, landscapes, food and culture, combined with the benefit of a one-hour time difference, meaning minimal jet lag for shorter trips.

As an example of winter sale fares, the airline is offering flights to Cape Town or Johannesburg in Economy from £589 per person valid for travel until April 1 and between April 20 – June 30 and November 23 – December 13. Flying in Business is available from £2,865, valid for travel through to December 16.

To take advantage of the offers, bookings must be made by February 7.

Visit flysaa.com for more details.

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airtravel Birmingham named the world’s most punctual airport for 2016 FOLLOWING THE release of OAG’s 2016 Punctuality League, Birmingham has been named as the most punctual airport in the world, with more than 91% of flights both leaving and arriving on time.

More than 100,000 scheduled flights were scheduled from Birmingham Airport last year, with the most punctual route flying to Dublin with an on-time score of 95%. The medium sized airport also managed to beat contenders from countries such as Japan, Brazil, America, Germany and Australia.

Continuing this trend, Newcastle airport also ranked first in the small airports category – those with capacity between 2.5 and five million seats.

Both Birmingham and Newcastle were two of only three airports from around the world that achieved an on-time performance rating of more than 90% in 2016.

Moving from airports to airlines, Monarch ranked first in OAG’s lowcost carrier category, with an on-time performance score of 86%. Its biggest UK competition came from Jet2.com and easyJet, which ranked fourth and

16th respectively, achieving scores of 83% and 75%.

John Grant, senior analyst at the air travel intelligence company, said: “The UK’s airports and airlines have always been leaders in the global aviation industry, delivering exceptionally high service levels. The success of Birmingham is just another example of how the UK’s regional airports have created world-class facilities and networks that both connect their regional communities to the world, and provide valuable economic growth.”

Emirates resumes flagship A380 service between Dubai & Narita from March EMIRATES WILL resume its flagship A380 service between Dubai and Narita from March 26.

This will mean that passengers from the UK can now travel all the way to Tokyo on one of the airline’s A380s, with just one stop in Dubai. The airline currently operates nine A380s out of London each day, three out of Manchester and one from Birmingham.

Laurie Berryman, UK vice president of the company, said: “From sushi to anime and ancient temples, Japan provides a perfect mix of old and new. Its vibrant cities contrast with peaceful mountains, and from shopping to gastronomy, there really is something for everyone.

“Tokyo is an increasingly important destination for both our business and leisure travellers. We’re proud to be able to offer a complete A380 service from the UK to Tokyo, offering passengers the ability to fly on this iconic aircraft with our onboard lounge and shower spa.

“We fully expect demand on our services to Tokyo to continue to rise over the next few years in the run up to Rugby World Cup 2019 and Tokyo 2020.’’

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A Green Gem: MLADEN LJUBISIC, head of UK Slovenia Tourism, highlights how agents can promote the destinations green, active & healthy benefits

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lovenia is one of the most sustainable and diverse countries in Europe.

Following Ljubljana’s turn as the EU Green Capital 2016, it was announced at 2016’s Global Green Destinations Day that the country was the first to score 96 out of 100 in a comprehensive assessment for the Global Destination criteria.

Slovenian sports For a country of just 20,273sq.km Slovenia offers a wide range of sporting facilities.

This year, sports tourism will be a key focus for travel to Slovenia and travellers can take up the opportunity to witness world-class winter sports World Cup competitions such as the FiS Ski Jumping World Cup and Biathlon World Cup. On March 4-5, Slovenia’s legendary slope in Kranjska Gora will host the men’s Alpine ski races as part of the traditional Vitranc Cup. Alternatively, for those who prefer not to sit on the side lines, they can take part themselves and run the Ljubljana Marathon or the 100 Ultra Trail, which snakes through the Vipava Valley wine region.

Lush Ljubljana The capital city will become the ultimate ‘green’ holiday destination in 2017, with sustainability a major trend and a real focus on ‘Green. Active. Healthy.’ Visitors can explore the city and see the cultural hotspots with the new zero-emission urban electric train. This circular route connects all the main attractions from the Town Hall to Ljubljana Caste.

This year will also see Ljubljana celebrate the 60th anniversary of the death of architect Jože Plecnik. The city owes a great deal of its architectural appeal to Plecnik, whose soul and vision is as much imprinted on Ljubljana as Gaudí’s is upon Barcelona. New tourism offerings that will be implemented include guided tours with authors at Plecnik House, a walking tour of Plecnik’s Ljubljana and an exhibition that presents perceptions on Plecnik by young artists.

The city will also celebrate the opening of the InterContinental Ljubljana in May. It will offer 165 guest rooms, a spa, fitness centre and swimming pool, while the two large banquet halls will host conferences and events. The star feature however will no doubt be the restaurant located on the 21st floor, complete with an outdoor terrace and panoramic views over the city.

Healthy waters & wild flowers This year, travellers are invited to celebrate and explore the country’s 26,000km of fresh water that shapes the landscape and provides clean and healthy drinking water.

Agents can recommend to clients that they head to Terme Olimia, Thermana Laško or any of the other 14 stateverified natural and thermal spas & resorts to truly relax in style. They can also sample Slovenia’s 26-mile coastline, starting with Piran, an unspoiled medieval town on the Adriatic coast, or discover a long tradition of salt making at the Secovlje Salt Pans, tour the Mediterranean wetland at the Škocjanski Zatok Nature Reserve and try stand-up paddleboarding on the Ljubljanica River.

Running between May 20 and June 4, the Bohinj International Wild Flower Festival is Europe’s first wild flower festival and a celebration of bees. The festival opening coincides with World Bee Day, a United Nations’ initiative created in cooperation with The Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association. The fortnight-long festival is set in the wild Julian Alps and will feature spectacular floral displays, alongside live bee and honey demonstrations, workshops and seminars.

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slovenia Saga combines blue and green on new Adriatic Coastal Discovery tour CLIENTS CAN discover blue flag beaches and explore the green Istrian peninsular on Saga’s Adriatic Coastal Discovery tour.

The week-long, two-centre tour starts in Portoroz, known as the ‘Port of Roses’, in Slovenia, with a three-night stay in the Hotel Riviera opposite the beach. Guests will then join a cruise along the coast to Piran, a Venetian-influenced resort, with the chance to take an optional excursion to the border town of Trieste, an Italian port with a grand canal and piazza modelled on St Mark's in Venice, along with the flamboyant 19th century Miramare Castle and, back in Slovenia, the famous Postojna Caves. Carved out by the River Pivka and thought to be one of the world’s most beautiful cave systems, clients can admire the stalactites and stalagmites throughout.

The base for the second part of the tour is the Valamar Diamant Hotel (4Q) in Croatia’s Porec, which is close to the Blue Flag beach of Brulo and Porec’s old town, with optional full-day scenic tours.

Seven nights cost from £769 departing Stansted on April 30, May 14 and 21, June 4, September 10 and 17 and October 1, or from Manchester Airport on June 11, September 3 and 24. The price includes flights, transfers, half-board accommodation, porterage at hotels, a tour manager, optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights, or a discount if the passenger has their own insurance.

For details call on 0800-300500 or visit saga.co.uk/slovenia

Balkan Holidays promotes the ‘Port of Roses’ in new programme AS A part of its latest Discovery programme, Balkan Holidays has walking and golf holidays and two centre breaks to Slovenia this summer. The operator also has a separate summer 2017 programme featuring four four- and five-star hotels at the Slovenian coastal resort of Portoroz or the ‘Port of Roses’, on the Adriatic.

Twin-centre holiday options include ‘Slovenia Lakes and Mountains’, a week’s hiking in Kranjska Gora combined with a stay in one of the luxury spa hotels in Lake Bled or Lake Bohinj; ‘Slovenia Coast and Mountains’, a week in Portoroz, combined with Lake Bled or Kranjska Gora; and ‘Slovenia and Croatia’, one week in the elegant Opatija Riviera, Croatia, combined with a second week in Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj or Kranjska Gora.

Golfers are also catered for with ten courses to choose from in Slovenia. The oldest course – the 18-hole Kings Course, redesigned

by Donald Harradine in 1972 - is situated at Lake Bled, with the Julian Alps as a backdrop. Other courses are situated nearby in Lipica, famous for its Lipizanner horses stud, and elsewhere in locations offering spas, Alpine peaks, parks and vineyards.

Chris Rand, sales and marketing manager for the operator, said: “Slovenia is an irresistible combination of mountain views, stunning rivers and lakes, forests and caves, medieval towns and fairytale castles, making it a perfect destination for a special holiday.”

The company is featuring flights with scheduled carriers from Gatwick, Luton, Manchester and

Stansted to Ljubljana on selected dates between May and October.

As an example of prices, a week at the four-star Hotel Riviera in Portoroz costs from £658 per person on half-board, based on two sharing a twin room and including flights and transfers.

For further information or to make a booking visit balkanholidays.co.uk/agents or call 020-7543 5555.

Portoroz

Insight takes in Maribor & Ljubljana on 14-night Eastern European tour INSIGHT VACATIONS’ 14-day ‘Eastern Capitals & The Dalmatian Riviera’ travels through some of Eastern Europe’s key cities and spends two days in Slovenia.

Here, guests will soak up the sights of Maribor, the country’s second-largest city, before heading on to Ljubljana.

A local expert will highlight the Baroque elegance of the Slovenian capital where guests spend time in the Central Market with the afternoon at-leisure to explore and enjoy as they desire.

The trip then continues on to Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast. Prices start from £2,525 per person which includes 13 nights’ breakfast accommodation, signature dining experiences, a dedicated tour director and complimentary transfers.

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Kranjska INGHAMS IS offering seven nights on a half-board basis to the four-star Hotel Kompas in Kranjska Gora from £608 per person, with an online saving of £120 per person departing on February 18. Alternatively, clients can opt for seven nights’ half-board at the four-star Ramada Hotel & Suites, also in Kranjska Gora, from £638 per person, departing on February 25. Both prices include flights from Gatwick to Ljubljana and transfers. Visit inghams.co.uk/ski-holidays

Buzzing Bohinj: springtime wild flower festival celebrates bees SLOVENIA WILL explode with colour early this year as the Bohinj International Wild Flower Festival returns to celebrate the theme ‘Flowers and Bees’.

In recent years Slovenia has been identified as a leading beekeeping destination, creating honey therapy (apitherapy) programmes to emphasise how bees positively impact human lives, and this year’s festival opening coincides with World Bee Day. Visitors will be treated to a range of bee-themed events including guided beekeeping study tours, honey tastings from a variety of blooms, lectures on natural

and cultural history, artistic exhibitions including traditional

embroidery workshops, wildflower cooking demonstrations, special family events and how to build a ‘bee hotel’.

Already well known to adventure seekers and outdoor explorers thanks to the opportunities for outdoor holiday activities and its landscape of immense beauty, the Bohinj region is also famous in the horticultural world for its diverse ecosystem. It is one of the best regions in which to see wild flowers in Europe and this annual celebration of local and international alpine flora celebrates the culture, nature and landscapes of the region.

Four-star Hotel Jama now features on group tours to Postojna Cave POSTOJNA CAVE can serve as an ideal base for a short break to Slovenia. Group travel and tour operator offers are staying at the same price for 2017, but now include the option for overnight stays at the newly renovated and re-opened Hotel Jama, designed after the undulations and natural formations of Slovenia’s cave system.

Group travel offers include a two-day ‘Jama Jama package’ with one-night for two in the four-star star Hotel Jama on half-board, including dinner with live music, a Postojna Cave visit and a promotional price for Predjama Castle. It also includes the services of a tour leader and driver for every 20 paying guests, a welcome drink, an English speaking guide, coach parking, and free Wi-Fi, priced from 69 euros per person for a minimum of 40 people.

Alternatively, the ‘Karst Royalty Package’ offers the same but for two nights in the hotel and the addition of lunch in one of the Postojna Cave Park restaurants. This is for a minimum of 30 people and leads in at 139 euros.

Options are available for longer periods along with the opportunity to arrange stays for smaller groups at an additional cost. For enquires email nerlisa.osmicevic@postojnska-jama.eu At Postojna Cave, visitors can marvel at stalagmites, stalactites, the world’s only underground post office and doubletrack underground railway, plus discover the star of this subterranean world, the proteus - a rare salamander known as the ‘baby dragon’ which shot to fame last year with the birth of a clutch of extremely rare babies. Some 9km away is Predjama Castle, the largest cave castle in the world.

Visit postojnska-jama.eu/en/home/ for more details.

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SITUATED ON the Mediterranean coast at Vias-sur-Mer in the Languedoc region of southern France, Domaine de la Dragonniere has a new 10,000sq.m simulated tropical lagoon. The new addition adds to the five-star holiday park’s three existing water parks which all feature in a new Sunêlia summer sports programme. Prices for one week in a classic two-bedroom chalet are priced from 234 euros in low season (starts April 4) and from 898 euros in high season (July and August). Pitches for camping are also available with prices from 135 to 195 euros. Visit sunelia.com

Away Resorts acquires Sandy Balls Holiday Village AWAY RESORTS has acquired the Sandy Balls Holiday Village in the New Forest.

Sandy Balls is a five-star holiday village in the New Forest National Park, between Godshill and Fordingbridge, and offers accommodation including woodland lodges, static holiday homes, camping pods and safari tents, as well as fully serviced touring pitches.

It brings the business' portfolio of parks to six with Sandy Balls joining Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire, Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight, Mersea Island in Essex, Barmouth Bay in Wales and Mill Rythe on Hayling Island. The company also reports that 2016 was a record year with overall bookings across its parks rising significantly against 2015’s figures.

Carl Castledine, the company’s CEO, said: “Over the last eight years, we have built up a strong brand that has really hit the right note with UK holidaymakers. The demand for affordable UK holidays, particularly short breaks, is strong and continue to grow as our record bookings for 2016 have shown.

“Sandy Balls complements our strategy of providing our existing customer base with a range of different types of holidays, avoiding the chainlike feel of our major competitors. We now have parks that meet the needs of a wide variety of guests, whether they are seeking a lakeside retreat, a coastal experience, a holiday packed full of entertainment, an outdoor adventure break situated in remote areas of outstanding natural beauty, or a peaceful escape within a short drive from London. And now with Sandy Balls we have a park that is forest-based with extensive central facilities.”

Visit away-resorts.co.uk for more information.

Ready, Set, Go & win gift boxes with Bourne’s winter incentive BOURNE LEISURE’S winter incentive is offering agents the chance to win gift boxes every week.

They include a diary to plan UK holidays in 2017, a £10 Love2Shop voucher, a pen, a healthy treat to kick start the inevitable January diet, a sweet chocolate treat for those who haven’t started their diet and a cuddly Brainz.

For a chance to win, agents should book a Butlin’s, Haven or Warner Leisure Hotels 2017 break

by February 3.

In addition, the best selfie with Brainz posted on the Brainz Agent Hub Facebook

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group or emailed to Brainz@bourne-

Samantha White (right) from Thomson, Chippenham was one of Bourne Leisure’s incentive winners. Pictured with her is the company’s Gemma Wilks.

leisure.co.uk will win a night in with Brainz, which includes everything needed for a cosy evening at home including a DVD, popcorn and some sweet treats.

Agents who upload their selfies to Facebook should hashtag #READYSETBOURNE and the funnier the selfie, the better.

Agents can save up to 20% on every 2017 break at Butlin’s when booked before January 31, while Haven has a 25% saving on all holidays when booked by February 6.

Visit bourneleisuresales.co.uk for more details.

Al Fresco Holidays adds four new parks NEW FOR 2017, Al Fresco Holidays is adding four new French parks to its portfolio of sites across the country.

Taking in the views of the Mediterranean coast is the Le MéditerranéePlage, Languedoc, situated in the South of France.

Located within the Basque mountains, the holiday village of Le Ruisseau des Pyrénées, Aquitaine, can offer families some local culture in the town of Biarritz, as well as coastal scenery and the backdrop of the Pyrenees.

Alternatively, La Vallée is located in the countryside of Normandy with plenty of outdoor activities on offer and the chance for families to explore coastal Cabourg and Deauville or visit the great canyons of the Suisse Normande.

Finally, the Etoile D’Argens, St Aygulf boasts an enviable location ideal for families looking to relax by the Riviera, bathe on the beach and soak up the local history.

For more information visit alfresco-holidays.com or call 0161-332 8900.

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AS PART of Haven’s new outdoor activities for children, the company’s Nature Rockz programme offers two new creative workshops across all parks: ‘Dream Catchers’ and ‘Survival Bracelets’. There are also more nature activities which are suitable for children of all ages including habitat creations, recycled creations, wild birds and bird feeders, Ranger nature trails, Ranger pond dipping and Ranger bug hunts. See story, below.

Haven reinvests more than £50million in park upgrades THIS YEAR Haven will be re-investing more than £50million back into its holiday parks with new sports facilities, extensive swimming pool re-developments, landscaping and pitch developments, as well as new accommodation, all of which will be completed in time for the parks’ re-opening in March.

Swimming pools are an important aspect of the experience for families and they will see a number of upgrades. The indoor pool at Hafan Y Mor is being extensively refurbished and will include new water features and a slide; the outdoor pool and decking at Devon Cliffs will be refurbished; Doniford Bay will receive a refurbished outdoor pool with decking and new water features; Seton Sands will have an extension added to the indoor pool that will see new slides and features for families to enjoy; and Cala Gran will see the next stage of developments on its changing rooms and a

refurbished pool entrance.

New look refurbishments are being made to the food and beverage outlets including the ShowBars at Allhallows, Berwick, Burnham-On-Sea, Golden Sands, Lakeland, Primrose Valley and Reighton Sands. A new restaurant will also be introduced at Primrose Valley in Filey that will bring a unique touch to the park.

Caravan pitch developments are also taking place at Burnham-on-Sea, Devon Cliffs, Hafan y Môr, Haggerston Castle, Kiln Park, Lakeland, Presthaven, Primrose Valley and Seton Sands. The largest of these developments will be at Primrose Valley which will receive 60 new pitches in ‘The Bay’ area and Presthaven Beach Resort will receive 25 new caravan pitches and 27 redeveloped pitches.

Firefly Holidays celebrates first season by expanding destination portfolio FOLLOWING THE completion of its first season, Firefly Holidays has plans for expansion this year with Italy, Holland and the UK joining Spain, France and the Caribbean as destinations within its portfolio.

The company launched in January last year with a curated range of 35 summer destinations, featuring camping resorts and holiday villages in France, Spain and the Caribbean, which combine self-contained accommodation with resort facilities including pools, waterparks, spas, restaurants and entertainment on site.

For 2017, the company has added seven destinations in France and Spain whilst also expanding into Italy, the UK and Holland. Lake Garda, Tuscany, Rome, Florence and Siena are all on offer in Italy, with accommodation at holiday parks in the countryside or near to the country’s vibrant cities. In Holland, the operator can offer accommodation and free water park entry at Duinrell, whilst in the UK a partnership with cottages.com and Hoseasons will allow customers to enjoy thousands of properties across the British countryside.

For further information visit fireflyholidays.co.uk or call 01606-717900.

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Eurocamp launches Kids' Clubs at La Vallée for active family holidays EUROCAMP IS launching new kids' clubs at its La Vallée parc in Normandy, offering children the chance to try a range of activities during their stay for free.

Kids will be able to sign up to a range of workshops and tutored sessions and try their hand at zorbing, kayaking, scooters, archery, mini jet skis and easy breath snorkelling as well as cooking and clowning.

Chocolate parties, Takeaway Nights and Movie Director Workshops will also run to add to the sense of fun.

Sessions are split into age appropriate groups - The Mini Fun Station Plus, Leo's Fun Station Plus, Mac's Fun Station Plus, The Station Plus and Base Plus - providing activities for children from six months to 17 years old. There will also be Family Plus sessions which give parents the chance to team up with their kids in human table football, pool Olympics and a chill out quiz night. Family Plus sessions come at a small charge starting from 5 Euros per person.

Chris Hilton, head of marketing for the holiday operator, said: “Visitors to La Vallee really will be spoilt for choice this year and we have worked hard to create a range of activities that offer something for everyone.

“We know that families value spending time together on holiday so we have devised a programme that allows parents to get as involved as they want too. Some of the activities are things children won't have had the chance to try before so we hope they'll relish the challenge and get stuck in.”

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AUSTRALIA’S NEW South Wales (NSW) features 2,000km of coastline, dotted with chains of tropical and native bush islands. Sandra Chipchase, CEO for Destination NSW, said: “NSW offers travellers some of the most unique island holiday experiences in the world, including the chance to stay on two UNESCO World Heritage listed islands: Lord Howe Island, home to the world's most southerly coral reef; and Cockatoo Island which houses some of Australia's most important convict sites.” Lord Howe Island welcomes just 400 visitors at any time. The island is encircled by the world's most southerly coral reef and the crystal clear waters make it ideal for swimming, snorkelling, diving, kayaking, fishing, surfing and paddle boarding.

Howzat? Tourism Australia & Qantas bowl Brits over with Ashes Campaign TOURISM AUSTRALIA and Qantas have launched a new campaign to encourage English cricket fans to book a trip to the 2017/18 Ashes Series.

Ashes packages are already on sale via a number of official licensed tour operators and are available for all five test matches, allowing customers to book experiences either side of the fixtures to make the most of Australia’s coastline, world renowned food and wine and wildlife.

Dates for the five test matches fall on November 23-27 in Brisbane; December 2-6 in Adelaide (marking the first ever day-night Ashes Test match); December 14-18 in Perth; December 26-30 in Melbourne; and in Sydney for January 4-8, 2018.

Tourism Australia’s managing director John O'Sullivan said hosting the Ashes was always a big win for Australian tourism - with large numbers of visiting fans attending the five test series but also holidaying in-between matches. He said: “If you consider that an average UK visitor to Australia spends more than AUD$5,500 when they are down here, you get a sense of how important this forthcoming Ashes series is for Australian tourism.

“England's travelling cricket fans are not average - they stay longer, disperse more widely and spend more. Their passion provides a real tourism sweet-spot for us. With overall honours tied at 32 wins each, there's some added spice going into the

2017/18 Ashes Series. If your clients always dreamt of an Ashes tour in Australia, make sure they book early for this one.”

Mirroring this sentiment Markus Svensson, Qantas regional general manager for the UK, Europe, Middle East, India and Africa said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to not only encourage bookings to one of the biggest sporting events of next year, but also allow visitors to experience Travel 2 responds selfthe real spirit of Australia outside of the cricket grounds. drive demand “Our extensive domestic TRAVEL 2 has reported a flight network provides a seamless and efficient means substantial growth for self-drives in Australia of travel between each city and, in response to and tailored itineraries will demand, has introduced ensure visitors get the most an additional six tours to out of their trip. There’s always a high level of interest the programme in its and excitement for the Ashes, newest brochure, offering recommended routes which encourages us to help across most of the avid fans make it the country’s states. experience of a lifetime.”

The operator has also For more information visit included self-drive tours australia.com/ashes

Gold Medal predicts the Perth-fect getaway WITH A number of new hotel openings as part of the city’s huge regeneration project, Gold Medal predicts that Perth is set to rapidly expand over the next few years.

Crown Towers Perth is a luxury five-star hotel which opened last month and is now being offered through the operator. The 500-room property has a spa and multi-tiered swimming pool, and there are a number of restaurants including Nobu in the Crowne complex. Fremantle, the city’s neighbour, is also undergoing a huge redevelopment which will see a new town centre and new hotels, adding to the appeal of a visit to Western Australia.

As an example of packages, the company is offering three nights at the four-star Crown Towers Perth in a deluxe room, six nights at the Seashells Fremantle in a studio apartment, flights from Gatwick with Emirates and car hire from £1,174 per person, valid for travel from May 1-21.

Visit goldmedal.co.uk or call 0800-014 7777.

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January 27 2017

with a strong food and wine theme, something which visitors say is in their top three reasons to return to Australia.

The option of a selfdrive allows an enhanced degree of flexibility, enabling agents to suggest unique experiences which can be off-the-beaten-track but within easy drivable distances.

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THE IMMERSIVE art installation ‘Field of Light’ at Ayers Rock will run for a second season until March 31, 2018. Tourism Australia's CEO John O'Sullivan said: “For anyone fortunate enough to have walked amongst those 50,000 magical illuminated stems, Field of Light undoubtedly qualifies as one of the most amazing exhibitions in Australia today. It has proven to be a real drawcard for domestic and international visitors, and with the extensive and deserved global exposure it has received this year, I have little doubt that a second season will be hugely successful.”

Qantas to fly non-stop to Perth from London QANTAS IS set to add to its list of aviation firsts, with the national carrier confirming it will operate non-stop flights from Perth to London using the 787-9 Dreamliner.

The 14,498km service will be the first regular passenger service to directly link Australia with Europe when it begins in March 2018.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “When Qantas created the Kangaroo Route to London in 1947, it took four days and nine stops.

Now it will take just 17 hours from Perth non-stop.

This is a game-changing route flown by a gamechanging aircraft.

“A direct flight makes travelling to Australia a much more attractive proposition to millions of people. We expect many travellers from Europe will start their time in Australia with a visit to Perth before going on to see other parts of the country.”

Seats on the PerthLondon flights will go on sale in April for the first services in March 2018.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners used on the route will carry 236 passengers across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.

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94% of UK holidaymakers say New Zealand ‘met or exceeded’ expectations TOURISM NEW ZEALAND is preparing for a full year of launches and events which in turn will bring in more international visitors.

Amongst these the UK remains the fourth largest source market to the destination with the total number of holiday arrivals from the UK standing at 93,360 as of November last year, representing a 10.3% increase year-on-year.

Providing an insight into the habits of UK travellers, the tourism board has found that 74% are first time visitors to the destination.

The average spend of a UK visitor on holiday is $5,711 and the average length of stay is 28 days. Some 41% of travellers are active boomers aged between 55 and 74, while 37% account for independent professionals and 15% are backpackers aged between 18 -24, with growth coming equally across all three groups. The top five activities for UK visitors are reported to be observing wildlife, beach visits, walking and hiking, visiting national parks and an experience or activity incorporating Maori culture.

In terms of feedback from UK visitors, 94% say that New Zealand ‘met or exceeded’ their expectations with 84% saying they’re likely to recommend it as a destination.

Pip Casey, UK & Europe regional manager for the tourist board, said: “We are delighted to end 2016 with such strong arrival figures from the UK. It’s great to see that Brits are on average staying for four weeks, and it looks like they’re making the most of it too. Our report shows that UK visitors are extensive in their exploration of both the North and South Island, plus they are participating in a wide range of activities, with wildlife and hiking scoring highest. We are thrilled to see that visitor satisfaction remains very high.

“The findings put us in a great position for 2017, and it’s shaping up to be a big one. In February the air capacity from the UK will increase with the new Qatar Airways’ route via Doha. Then, we are preparing ourselves for a summer of incredible events, kicking off in April with the 9th World Masters Games in Auckland. It’s a sporting tournament that is reputed to be the world’s largest multi-sport event, as it features more athletes than the Olympics. After that we have the British and Irish Lions Rugby Tour in June - their first visit to New Zealand in 12 years. With ten matches over June and July across seven host cities around the country, New Zealand is certainly going to be put in the spotlight.”

Samoa plans to develop Apia Waterfront LED BY the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Samoa Tourism Authority, The Apia Waterfront Development Project is a nationally significant initiative for Samoa.

The key objective of the Waterfront Plan is to improve the remaining public areas along Mulinu'u to Taumeasina in a transformation initiative that will take place over the next ten to 15 years, to make it an attractive destination that connects visitors to unique places and Samoan experiences.

It will see the waterfront divided into five areas, each with its own theme encompassing ideas such as walking and cycling tracks; outdoor and water sport activities; historical monuments; urban beaches; parks and play areas; botanical gardens; waterfront seating and viewing areas; and improved access to the sea.

By improving the attractiveness, functionality and safety of the waterfront area it is hoped that this will in turn attract more tourists to Samoa and create an opportunity to enhance the potential of Apia as a leading sustainable tourism destination in the Pacific region.

January 27 2017

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Air New Zealand’s safety video takes viewers on a trip through Northland sights AIR NEW Zealand has cast an all-star line-up of homegrown talent in its latest safety video, which highlights the tourism jewels in the Northland region of New Zealand.

Inspired by the classic Kiwi road trip, ‘Summer of Safety’ follows the adventures of Shortland Street’s Jayden Daniels as he travels around Northland’s Bay of Islands and Hokianga encountering a host of friendly locals, famous faces and iconic attractions along the way.

Joining Jayden’s getaway is supermodel Rachel Hunter and actor Joe Naufahu – straight from a fiery stint on Game of Thrones. Stuntwoman Zoe Bell and canine sidekick Blossom the British Bulldog, IndyCar legend Scott Dixon and Olympic bronze-medallist Eliza McCartney also jump on board the light-hearted road trip, which was filmed at ten locations across Northland.

Jodi Williams, general manager of global brand and content marketing for the airline, said: “One of our goals is to inspire visitors to travel beyond the traditional gateways to discover the warm welcome and breathtaking landscapes on offer in our regional destinations. Our safety videos have an impressive global following, collectively attracting more than 100 million views and gaining significant international media exposure. This latest edition is a great opportunity to deliver not only a safety message, but also to showcase the very best of the north to help drive economic benefit for the region.”

‘Highlights of Australia’ option from Titan

TOURISM WESTERN Australia recently hosted a fam trip in partnership with Emirates that took eight UK travel specialists to some of WA’s most exciting destinations. The trip took in some of the new developments in Perth, followed by wildlife encounters in Rockingham, wine and beaches at Margaret River Region as well as some must see destinations such as Fremantle and Rottenest Island. Pictured discovering the desert Pinnacles in Nambung National Park are, from the left: Jessica Shelton-Agar, ANZCRO; Helen Mather, Inspired by Australasia; Rebecca Hunt, Round the World Experts; Veronique Pellet, STA Travel; Kirsty Slaven, Now let's travel; Pauline Thomson, Thomas Cook Travelshop; Megan Wheelock, Freedom Australia; and Felipe Francisco, Tourism Western Australia.

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January 27 2017

TITAN IS encouraging clients to make the most of the 2017 Easter holiday with a 19-day ‘Highlights of Australia’ itinerary.

The operator says that with Good Friday falling on April 14 and the May Day bank holiday on May 1, a potential 19day getaway is available for the use of just nine days’ annual leave.

The holiday offers the chance for clients to discover just how diverse Australia is - from the seasonal southern states of New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, to tropical Queensland and the Northern Territory’s ‘red centre’, and to see the very best of Australia’s natural and man-made icons including the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and the Sydney Opera House.

Excursions include city tours of Perth, Melbourne and Sydney; a full day trip to the Yarra Valley including a winery lunch; a sunset viewing and sunrise tour of Uluru; and a Great Barrier Reef cruise.

Prices start from £4,199 per person departing on April 14 including scheduled Qantas flights via Dubai, 15 nights in hotels and three in flight, 11 excursions and visits, the services of a tour manager and a VIP door-to-door travel service.

For details or to book call 0800-988 5873 or visit titantravel.co.uk

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Battered Suitcase explores Kakadu & Kimberley on Western Australia tour AN 18-day bespoke discovery tour of the Kakadu National Park and Kimberley region in Western Australia has been put together by Battered Suitcase.

Located in a protected area of the Northern Territory, Kakadu covers an area nearly half the size of Switzerland.

Renowned for the richness of its Aboriginal cultural sites, the entire National Park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. It borders the Kimberley, one of the nine regions of Western Australia, and both regions are home to a variety of wildlife as well as fresh and salt water crocodiles.

Created for the adventurous independent traveller, the self-drive itinerary begins in Darwin and finishes at Broome and features a variety of experiences including guided safaris; a crocodile cruise; a visit to the City of Ruins, a natural sandstone formation resembling an ancient city; and Gregory’s Tree, a large boab considered a sacred site by the local indigenous people.

Accommodation is with smaller, privately owned providers unique to the

region, ensuring Boab Tree, Kimberley National Park an immersive and personal experience.

These include a safari bungalow at Bamurru Plains on the edge of Kakadu overlooking the floodplains frequented by a mass of bird life; contemporary Cicada Lodge, which opened in 2013 in Nitmiluk National Park; and Bullo River Station, a and includes hire of a large four wheel500,000 acre cattle ranch. Nights are drive, air-conditioned vehicle with maps also spent at the El Questro Homestead and full documentation; 17 nights’ with panoramic views over the accommodation with most meals and Kimberley’s Chamberlain Gorge; some drinks, plus selected guided tours Drysdale River and Mount Elizabeth of choice. International and local internal cattle stations; the Mornington flights can be arranged but are Wilderness Camp nature reserve and not included.

For more details or to make a booking Spinifex Hotel in Derby. call 0800-689 1586 or visit batteredAvailable between May and October, the tour is priced from £5,547 per person suitcase.com

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WITH PRIVATE guides throughout, Abercrombie & Kent’s ‘Highlights of Australia’ takes guests on one of the world’s greatest drives along the Great Ocean Road with the chance to discover Melbourne and Adelaide. Clients can watch the sun rise over the Red Centre, snorkel amongst the coral and colourful fish on the outer Great Barrier Reef and explore all of Sydney, from harbour side boltholes to Bondi Beach. The tour is priced from £4,270 per person for 14 nights including flights. Visit abercrombiekent.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: Buxton Press Subscriptions are £125 p.a. £195 overseas ISSN: 0956-2419

puzzlesolutions

Crossword: Across: 1. MONARCH, 4. DRW, 6. LUNDY, 7. RENEE, 8. NEVADA, 10. BANG, 13. ARNO, 14. JACKIE, 16. HYATT, 17.

MALTA, 18. LEU, 19. AUSTRIA. Down:1. MELANIA, 2. RIYADH, 3. HARZ, 4. DENMARK, 5. WYE, 9. VANUATU, 11. GRENADA, 12. PATMOS, 15. ETNA, 16. HEL.

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Highlighted Word: MANAMA Where Am I?: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.

We asked our staff the following question this week:

What was the last thing you fixed?

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

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

My son's computer as it needed a new battery.

Lauretta Wright Editor lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk My little girl's feelings when some kids in her class were mean to her.

Adam Potter Editorial Assistant adam.potter@travelbulletin.co.uk Fixing up a rusted discarded bike to see if it will ride again

Paul Scudamore Contributing Editor post@travelbulletin.co.uk Simon Eddolls Sales Director simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk Last Night’s Dinner

Tim Podger Account Manager - Far East tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk Bill Coad Account Manager bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk Base Tube on Porsche Carrera

Catherine Dillon Sales Executive catherine.dillon@travelbulletin.co.uk Boiler and Broken Pipe

Oliver Barton Events & Sales Administrator oliver.barton@travelbulletin.co.uk The outcome of a tense scrabble game. I don't like to lose.

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

Miriam Brtkova Designer miriam.brtkova@travelbulletin.co.uk Changed back lights on my Volvo

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

Nelly Mendes Production production@travelbulletin.co.uk

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Matt Gill Senior Account Manager matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk

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

My road bike.

Witty & energetic this cheeky chap’s love of London means there’s always a party on the cards.

Fixed myself a coffee.

28

January 6 2017

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