Travel Bulletin 9th December 2016

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December 9 2016 | ISSUE NO 1,994 | travelbulletin.co.uk

India & Indian Ocean

this week poll bulletin 10 results from last month’s online poll

Luxury is principal focus for India Tourism for 2017 11

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

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air travel the latest flight launches, airport enhancements & fleet developments

24 brazil Embratur highlights importance of responsible tourism

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THREE PARKS. ENDLESS AWESOME. Universal Orlando Resort™ is reimagining the water park and creating an entirely new entertainment experience. Opening early summer 2017, Universal’s Volcano Bay™ water theme park will be the resort’s third theme park, and will offer radically innovative, thrilling attractions along with scenic areas of peaceful relaxation. Visitors will be immersed in a beautifully landscaped environment inspired by postcard-perfect tropical islands. Together with Universal Studios Florida™ and Universal’s Islands of Adventure,™ all three parks are within walking distance of five spectacular on-site hotels.

Contact Your Preferred Travel Provider Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2017 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.

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BARCELO BASH...

BARCELO BASH...To celebrate its 85th birthday the Barcelo Hotel Group hosted 40 agents to an evening of mojitos and magic at the May Fair Hotel in London. The hotel group also announced a relaunch of its brands Allegro, Occidental and Royal Hideaway and showcased the refurbishments throughout Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Pictured in party mood are, from the left: Soraya Torres, Barcelo; Frank Woolley and Elizabeth Brackley, Romano Travel; and Debbie Walker, Barcelo Hotels.

Bathing in Iceland's Blue Lagoon is top travel experience for young people in 2017

Cover Pictures: Main - filmlandscape Inset - Journey Latin America

RECENT RESEARCH by Contiki has revealed that the most desired travel experience for 18-35 year olds in 2017 is to bathe in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon.

The survey polled more than 5,000 young people around the world to create The No Regrets List, which identifies the top 20 most coveted travel experiences for Millennials and Post-Millennials in 2017.

While creating the list, the brand also wanted to understand the motivators behind why young people travel, and what type of experiences they want out of life. They included to learn about new cultures (56%) social experiences (74%) followed by cultural, culinary, intellectual, adrenaline and spiritual experiences.

The nature of the top travel experiences varied greatly by destination, indicating that Millennials – and their younger cousins, the Post-Millennials (those born after 1995) – were searching for a diverse range of unique experiences that would create lasting memories, spanning a wide spectrum of countries around the world.

The top five experiences on The No Regrets List included bathing in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland; seeing

09 This week 10 03 11 12 08

the Great Pyramids of Giza; walking The Great Wall of China; chilling out on the beach in Australia's Byron Bay; learning how to make pizzas in Italy; taking a road trip along Route 66; and experiencing a Gondola ride in Venice.

Other popular responses to complete the top 20 included having a kiss at the Eiffel Tower, watching sea turtles lay their eggs in Costa Rica, having a picnic in the French countryside, partying in Las Vegas, visiting Yosemite National Park, watching the sun rise over Uluru, snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, seeing the Mona Lisa, tasting gelato in Rome, exploring the Grand Canyon by helicopter, cuddling a koala in Queensland, ziplining through the rainforest in Costa Rica and riding a bike through Amsterdam.

The key takeaway from the research was that, for young people, experiences reign supreme; the importance of experiences self-identified as a defining trait of young people today and 96% of Millennials and Post-Millennials surveyed felt that experiences were the most important things in life.

agent bulletin a round-up of agent offers, booking incentives, training and competitions

poll bulletin results from last month’s online poll

news

puzzle bulletin

new research unveils 2017 travel trends for young people

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 and views from AITO

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air travel the latest flight launches, airport enhancements & fleet developments

india & indian ocean luxury is principal focus for India Tourism for 2017

event bulletin pictures from our Indian Ocean Showcase at the Park Regis in Birmingham

brazil Embratur highlights importance of responsible tourism

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Extra Christmas flight to Chambéry from Stansted with Ski Total HIGH FIVE!...Cruisingexcursions.com held a party at its Cannock HQ to celebrate the company’s fifth anniversary. Launched in 2011, the company was one of the first to sell pre-bookable excursions independent of the cruise lines at competitive prices. Agents have been integral to the company’s success, with 99% of agents signed up to sell the excursions, with an average sale price of £300 per person giving around £48 in valuable commission. The company features close to 12,000 excursions at more than 700 ports worldwide. Pictured marking the anniversary are, from the left: the company’s Robert Wilcox, Michelle Fice, Jenny vie Bowater, Ryan Inman and Sue Parsons.

‘Through The Lens’ award from Millennium Hotels and Resorts MILLENNIUM HOTELS and Resorts ran its ‘Through the Lens’ photography competition, with the results celebrated at an award ceremony at Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London.

The competition aimed to showcase the beauty of Britain and nurture photography talent, with Photos of Northern Ireland winning the overall prize and the People’s Choice award.

The winner, Brian McCready, won the top prize of £5,000 worth of photography equipment and the photographer, who specialises in the Mourne Mountains, captured the winning shot on the summit of Slieve Corragh (pictured) in Northern Ireland.

Nayan Peshkar, senior vice president of digital, distribution and revenue strategy at Millennium Hotels and Resorts, said: “With 21 hotels across the UK, we’re passionate about constantly discovering new and

interesting sides of this vibrant country, which is why we wanted to give photographers a chance to showcase our beautiful Britain. We’re delighted that the competition has captured the public’s imagination and with the tremendous standard of the entries.”

FOLLOWING DEMAND, Ski Total has added an extra flight from Stansted to Chambéry departing on December 23.

Clients can stay in the highest resort in Europe, Val Thorens, located in the ‘Three Valleys’ ski area.

The company is offering the Chalet Le Sommet from £799 per person (was £1,029), which features an open fireplace, panoramic views and the use of a swimming pool.

The price is based on two adults sharing and includes flights, transfers, free Wi-Fi, seven nights' catered accommodation including buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and a fourcourse evening meal with complimentary wine, including a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.

For details see skitotal.com or call 01483791935.

One in three Brits would welcome quiet zones introduced on flights NEW RESEARCH has revealed that noise, steep food & drink prices and lack of leg room are the biggest pet-hates on flights, with one in three admitting they’d like to see quiet zones introduced.

The team at Jetcost.co.uk undertook the survey as part of an ongoing study into flight experiences of Brits, where 2,197 adults who had flown within the last two years were quizzed about their experiences.

Initially all respondents were asked ‘What do you enjoy most about the flying experience?’ to which the most common responses were ‘knowing that I’m going somewhere other than home’ (30%), ‘the customer service’ (26%) and ‘the views’ (25%).

Responses to the question ‘What do you consider to be the most annoying or irritating aspect of the flying experience?’ included ‘disturbances and noise’ (36%), ‘the steep prices of on-board food & drink’ (32%) and ‘not having enough leg room’ (20%). The top five answers to which disturbances people found most irritating included crying, whinging children - 67%; rowdy hen and stag groups - 48%; parents telling their children off - 44%; those under the influence of alcohol - 39%; and those asleep, snoring - 19%.

All respondents were asked how they’d like to see airlines deal with the issue of noise, to which the top responses were ‘headphones / earplugs should be provided free to those who want them’ (53%) and ‘there should be a quiet zone on flights, as there are on trains’ (32%). When asked if they felt cabin crew deal efficiently with those making noise, just one in four respondents, 23%, felt that ‘yes’ the noise was dealt with in a timely manner.

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PATA PARTY...PATA UK brought a dose of winter sunshine to frosty Scotland with two of its popular PATA Quiz Nights in Edinburgh and Aberdeen recently. A total of 12 suppliers from the Pacific Asia region provided selling tips and destination insights to local travel agents, plus the chance to win prizes. Pictured cosying up to Kangaroo J (middle) are, from the left: Emma Arnott, Tourism Authority Thailand; Sharan Bearman, Centara Hotels & Resorts; Caroline Parkin, Taiwan Tourism Bureau; Ricky Dunn, Tourism Australia; Hannah Dobbs, Becky Mitchell, Isla Brown, Nicole Kinnaird, Lynne Morton and Terri Watt, all from Trailfinders; Marc Mulcahy, Tourism New Zealand; and Chris Crampton, ICS Travel Group. For details of upcoming events (including Guildford and Southampton in late March) email info@pata.org.uk

Save 15% on 2017 ferry travel for Isle of Wight breaks with Red Funnel SAVINGS ON Isle of Wight breaks are available with Red Funnel’s 15% early bird discount for 2017 ferry travel bookings.

The limited time offer is ideal for those planning a romantic getaway, family holiday or get together with friends on the Island, and customers can also take advantage of the company's £25 deposit option when booking, with the balance not payable until 30 days before travel.

David Thornton, chief executive of Visit Isle of Wight, said: “This latest offer really underlines just what good value for money a visit to the Isle of Wight is right now.

Following a very successful season, which saw increases

Cosmos launches exotic beach programme for 2017 COSMOS HAS launched an exotic beach programme featuring a choice of luxury beach resorts and hotels in Africa, the Indian Ocean, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with prices staring from £775 per person.

The operator is featuring mostly four- and five-star rated hotels with a high level of service for the ultimate experience.

Offering the best value, holidays are packaged with flights, a free VIP home pick-up service, private transfers and additional meals and activities.

With flexibility an important factor, the beach holidays can be tailored to suit individual customers and a choice of UK departure airports, durations (from three nights upwards) plus board and room type upgrades are available. The new beach breaks can also be added as an extension to a tour or cruise for a multi-centre stay.

The range includes well known exotic beach destinations of the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Goa and Mombasa. it also features lesser known beach resorts such as the UAE’s Ras al Khaimah, India’s state of Kerala, as well as the East African island of Zanzibar.

Prices lead in at £775 per person for a six-night stay at the four-star rated Hyatt Place Dubai Al Rigga on a bed-andbreakfast basis.

Agents can call 0800-440 2797 for more information or see cosmostoursandcruises.co.uk

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in overseas and mainland UK visitors, the Island is bound to be popular next year, so early bookings are advisable. The Island offers a truly remarkable ‘faraway yet nearby’ escape, with lovely beaches and spectacular countryside all within just a few miles of each other.”

For more information or to book see redfunnel.co.uk/2017offer or call 0844-844 9988.

Winter 2017/18 now on sale

All holidays ATOL protected

Book a holiday with a deposit of just

£

59 per person*

Visit Monarchagents.co.uk or call 0333 777 4740

ABTA No.V0531

Baggage included^

Ultimate duration flexibility

Monarch Holidays holds an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) which is granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. *Deposit of £59 is per person (including children) and available for holidays booked at least 10 weeks before departure.

Full balance is payable 10 weeks before departure. ^ *20kg luggage for all passengers included, excluding city breaks (optional add-on) and infants.

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WRIST ACTION...London Southend Airport has launched a progressive scheme to assist passengers with hidden disabilities who may require additional support. The discreet blue wristband is entirely voluntary for passengers with hidden disabilities and their families to wear as a subtle sign to airport staff that additional support or help may be required. As part of the scheme, the airport has undertaken in-house training for key staff to ensure they can play their part in making sure that people with hidden disabilities enjoy a stress-free airport experience. Pictured modelling the new wristbands are the airport's customer service staff - from the left: Billy Clark, Matt Croarkin, Ross Murrell and Kayleigh-Louise Richards. Wristbands are available from the ticket desk in the terminal building. For details see southendairport.com

Cathay Pacific reopens Heathrow lounge following renovation CATHAY PACIFIC has unveiled its First and Business Class Lounge at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3 following an extensive renovation.

The lounge features separate First and Business Class areas and is the airline’s only lounge outside of Hong Kong with these distinct zones.

At 1,200sq.m, the new London lounge is 30% larger than its predecessor, with floorto-ceiling windows providing panoramic views of the airport’s apron and northerly runway.

The carrier’s general manager product, James Evans said: “Our new Heathrow lounge was designed to enable our customers to travel well. Our aim was to provide our passengers with a tranquil haven to relax before boarding their flights to Hong Kong and we hope our customers are as enthusiastic about the new lounge as we are.”

With careful attention on food and beverage, the Heathrow lounge ensures

First Class passengers are well catered for. In addition to The Dining Room, which offers table service with freshly prepared dishes made-to-order by the chef, there is also The Pantry, where visitors can enjoy grab and go delicacies with items changing throughout the day.

The Business Class area features the airline’s signature Noodle Bar, a favourite among passengers seeking authentic Chinese delights, while The Food Hall - a vibrant space offering a range of Western and international dishes – includes traditional British fare.

The lounge is further equipped with bespoke Solo Chairs, eight shower suites and The Bureau for those looking for somewhere quiet to work.

The lounge is open to First and Business Class passengers, Silver or above Marco Polo Club members, plus Sapphire or above oneworld members.

Seven-night Bermuda break from £1,199 BRITISH AIRWAYS Holidays is highlighting a sevennight holiday staying at the four-star Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa on a roomonly basis from £1,199 per person.

It is based on two adults sharing and departs from Gatwick with British Airways on selected dates in January 2017.

The package includes flights and two free nights when booked by December 14.

For more information or to make a booking call 0344-493 0120 or visit britishairways.com

Exclusive ten-night golf river cruise packages from AmaWaterways AMAWATERWAYS has launched its exclusive golfing programme developed in conjunction with LGT Golf to further expand the Active Discovery programme enjoyed by guests ashore with the company's bike tours and hiking excursions.

The exclusive ten-night packages will launch on the Danube in April 2017 and combine seven nights of luxury on a river cruise, three nights in Prague and the opportunity to play golf on Championship courses in five different European countries - Albatross Golf Centre in Prague, Bad Griesbach in Germany, Diamond Course in Austria, Legends Course in Slovakia and Pannonia Country Club in Hungary.

There are no minimum numbers required and the golf package is available on every Danube sailing in 2017.

Ten-night packages lead in at £4,276 per person.

A dedicated brochure is available on request and a digital version is on the website at amawaterways.co.uk

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DoSomethingDifferent.com reveals new-look website DOSOMETHINGDIFFERENT.COM HAS launched a new-look website that has been completely redesigned based on feedback from the trade.

It features a bolder, brighter, fresher look and an inspirational space for agents to make all their attraction ticket bookings, along with downloadable posters - a result of direct feedback from the trade.

The company’s head of trade sales and marketing, Annabel Cove, said: “Our old site was in much need of a face lift and we’ve spared no expense - botox, fillers, the lot! We’ve taken great care to create something that we are proud of and that our trade partners will enjoy. We’ve also created a launch video which involved us visiting Thorpe Park with a couple of Go Pro’s and riding The Swarm rollercoaster eight times!

“We’ve squashed the bugs and ironed out some of the system quirks so booking will be faster and simpler. And of course, agents still benefit from our trade-friendly terms: no deposits, amendment or cancellation fees; real tickets and a worry free guarantee.”

NEWS BITES ● FLYBE HAS announced that Star Alliance member Singapore Airlines has become its 11th codeshare partner. This means that starting this winter, regional customers using Flybe's multi-frequency services from five UK airports including Aberdeen, Manchester and Southampton, and two mainland European airports, can book seamless onward flights to more than 100 Singapore Airlines’ longhaul destinations throughout SE Asia, Australasia and the US via Manchester. Details at singaporeair.com ● VIKING CRUISES has launched Debenhams spring/summer swimwear collection on the Viking Sea. The latest designs from the department store will be unveiled during an exclusive catwalk show in the ship’s luxury spa, and the 930-guest ship will also serve as the location for a photoshoot of the entire collection. ● CONDOR FERRIES has recruited staff and passengers to create its own version of the mannequin challenge, the viral video craze that is sweeping social media. Working alongside its elected charity, Channel Islands Air Search, Condor plans to donate £1,000 to the charity if it can secure 1,000 likes, loves or laughs for its video, which has been posted on its Facebook page, @OfficialCondorFerries. For details see http://bit.ly/2g0X03j. ● FROM THIS month, guests will experience some of the most memorable moments from Illumination Entertainment's smash hit, The Secret Life of Pets as they come to life in Universal’s Superstar Parade. The all-new parade floats will give guests the chance to interact with their favourite characters from the film and get a glimpse into what happens when the pet owners are away. Details at universalorlando.co.uk ● BAHRAIN HAS launched the fourth phase of its new visa policy, with the announcement of a new single entry visa and one-year multiple re-entry e-visa. The new single entry visa will enable up to two-week stay, whilst the one-year re-entry visa will allow for a stay period of up to 90 days. Also announced was a change to the threemonth multiple re-entry visa, which now allows for a one month stay.

Stays were previously restricted to two weeks. The final announcement saw citizens of the US, Canada, UK and Ireland gain a longer stay period for the five-year multiple reentry visa. Visa holders will now be able to stay for 90, instead of 30, days.

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THE SUN SIYA AM IRUFUSHI MALDIVES LOW SEASON RATES EXTENDED For all stays up to and including 27th Dec 16 Extensive Offers for Summer 2017 now available

VA AKARUFALHI MALDIVES Book b by y 30 Apr 17 and receive 10% Discount on Room Rates Valid for all stays between 01 May 17 – 31 Oct 17 Reduced Staff Travel Rates for all Summer 2017

CENTARA GRAND MALDIVES Discounted Seaplane Transfers PLUS One Child Sta ay ys for Free when sharing with 2 adults Valid for stays between 01 Jan 17 – 28 Feb 17

PER AQUUM NIYA AMA MALDIVES NEW 2017 OFFERS Up to 30% Discount throughout 2017 Plus Complimentary Meal Upgrades from BB to HB or HB to FB Valid l d for f various periods d throughout h h 2017 Plus Extensive Benefits for Honeymooners and Long Sta ay a ys

NEW WEBSITE SOON TO BE RELEASED SRI LANKA - MAURITIUS - SEYCHELLES - INDIA - UAE - CARIBBEAN Over 230 hotels and a selection of tours available on ourr website Including exclusive offers for Winter 2016/17 and Summer mer 2017

www.osborneandebel.com .com All above offers are subject to availability.

TTer erms & Conditions itions Apply

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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

N

OVEMBER IS a special month in the Travel Counsellors calendar as it is when our annual conference takes place. There’s always much excitement and anticipation prior to the event, a fantastic atmosphere during the weekend and a great feeling of motivation and determination following conference.

This year our conference was held at Manchester Central and the weekend got off to a great start at our Friday night welcome bash. Back again as our celebrity host for the weekend was TV presenter Vernon Kaye and after dinner we were entertained by popular comedian Jack Whitehall.

Saturday morning, it was down to business and the conference sessions were both interesting and informative, updating us with the latest company news, innovations and future plans. We enjoyed several interesting and inspiring guest speakers during the weekend including Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes. On Saturday evening, we enjoyed our gala dinner followed by the awards presentations and entertainment; the headline act was Ronan Keating who proved a very popular choice.

There were around 1,500 Travel Counsellors, partners and sponsors attending the conference including a number of delegates from different parts of the world. It was great to catch up with old friends and to meet representatives of the many sponsors and suppliers who attended the event and to hear the latest news on their products and services.

During the weekend, everyone was invited to make a donation to Reuben’s Retreat, a charity close to our heart here at Travel Counsellors as it was set up by our head of sales promotions Mike Graham and his wife Nicola. We raised £23k which was a fantastic achievement. We had a great weekend and I feel sure everyone came away full of enthusiasm and confidence about what we can all achieve in 2017.

As this is my last column of the year, I’d like to take this opportunity of wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Launch of an affordable TV promotion for the trade A NEW one-hour travel programme is to launch on January 8, 2017 on Freeview, Sky and Virgin which will give travel destinations, operators, hotels, travel retailers, cruise operators, airlines and other travel providers the opportunity to promote their products on local TV channels cost-effectively.

The programme, called TVTravelDirect, will run on Sunday’s from 16:00-17:00 and will be repeated once during the week across eight TV regions (London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Tyne & Wear, and Brighton & Hove).

Local channels include London Live, Birmingham’s Big Centre TV and Liverpool’s Made TV. The one-hour programme, produced by London Live, will offer travel insight into different destinations and the products they offer and will include news, tips and a variety of holidays that will appeal to viewers - from active holidays through to special interest and beach holidays.

TVTravelmedia is offering TV advertising packages for slots around the programme for £2,395 plus VAT which includes full production and broadcast charges for a five-minute programme segment that showcases a product/company for both branding and selling purposes.

The five-minute segment will be broadcast twice during a seven-day period to a potential reach of 16 million homes. The slot will be voiceover led which will introduce, narrate and close the segment – ensuring maximum exposure. Content will also be available on the TVTraveldirect website and YouTube.

For more information call 0161-974 7539.

• View full coverage from the recent Indian Ocean Showcase • Check out the latest videos from WTM with the launch of TBTV • Prague Tour for two, PLUS bottles of Champagne & Wine to be won with Prague Eventery!

• Last chance to WIN a two-night stay for two people with Melia Hotels International

Visit www.travelbulletin.co.uk/ for details on the above websclusives.

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

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agentbulletin Agent offers

AGENT TRAINING ●

●

The RiveR Cruise Line is offering agents pre-Christmas perks with the chance to earn increased commission and take advantage of added value deals this month, as well as take part in new online training and register for fam trips. Agents will be able to earn 18% commission on bookings made by December 31 for travel throughout 2017 for selected itineraries. it is also offering deals such as free excursions and drinks packages on several trips before the end of 2016, or no single supplement offers on selected departures in 2017.

Meanwhile, a second training module is now available to agents on OTT covering cruising on the three-star MPS Lady Anne and the destinations it covers.

Severeal fam trips on MS Serenity will also be available in 2017. Agents interested in finding out more should call 0844-544 7580 or e-mail rebeccabrett@diamondhols.co.uk viRgin ATLAnTiC has updated its training modules at vsflyinghub.com and is giving agents the opportunity to win items topping Christmas wish lists this year including an iPhone 7, Dyson hairdryer and a Playstation 4 Pro. For details see vsflyinghub.com

AMAWATERWAYS IS offering agents an exclusive discount on a range of departures in Europe, Vietnam and Cambodia this December. If agents already have plans and cannot travel, the company is extending the offer to their friends and family when quoting 'Ama Christmas Gift'. A seven-night Christmas Markets sailing on the Danube starts from £532 including all meals, unlimited wine beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, all tours & excursions, bicycle hire, bottled water and free WiFi. For details call 0808-520 2250 or email agentenquiries@amawaterways.com ANI VILLAS has launched a new rewards programme that offers travel agencies and groups the opportunity to host their own corporate retreat or incentive trip at an Ani Villas estate.

Those who achieve a total of five bookings annually can earn a three-night stay for up to ten team members in Anguilla, Thailand or Sri Lanka. Each of the five bookings must entail a minimum of three nights at regular rates. Details at anivillas.com

Booking Incentive KANIKA HOTELS & Resorts is thanking agents for their support by launching a new rewards scheme with the chance to win a free holiday. Agents making four bookings with a minimum stay of seven nights each at any of the group’s hotels, and with an arrival date by April 30, 2017, can receive free accommodation for two for seven nights at their preferred Kanika hotel. Visit kanikahotels.com for more information.

AGENT COMPETITION IN PREPARATION for the WAVE period, which recognises cruise bookings at their peak, Cruise Lines International Association has announced the launch of the ‘Cruise Moment’ - the moment a travel agent fell in love with cruising or realised that cruising was the perfect choice for a customer’s next holiday. To enter, agents should submit a paragraph of less than 200 words or a short video describing the moment when cruising really ‘clicked’. All entries must be sent via email to brightideas@cruising.org with the subject line “Cruise Moment”.

The deadline for entries is Wednesday December 14 and the top ‘Cruise Moment’ will win a selection of cruise prizes and experiences to enjoy throughout 2017, in addition to being crowned 2017’s #CLIAWinner.

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pollbulletin Our latest online poll bulletin asked: Do you think Trump's election will have an immediate effect on bookings? Here’s what some of you said…

“

"I think the election will have an immediate effect – partly because of the exchange rate but also because the election has changed the perception of the American people as being welcoming. The American people (or at least the co-called majority) appear more insular, homophobic, and anti all forms of equality for gender, religion and race. Pretty much as I'm sure Brexit changed other nations' opinions of us. Will we too suffer the same fate one wonders, despite our exchange rate being particularly favourable to incoming tourists? The reasons for Brexit appear to be diminishing, as days,

“

weeks and months (and years?) go by…"

Derek Small, Flight Centre Greenwich

“

People have short memories and always look for holidays through rose-coloured specs, even after all of the problems that are faced on

“

“ “ “

Experience tells me that where tourists are concerned, reaction will be a five-minute wonder - soon of no importance to their own interests!

Barbara O’Neil, Travel Counsellors

Initial fears and uncertainty will subside very quickly.

Neil Torbell, Freeway Travel

The US economy is not in great to get it back. I think that voting Trump in as the president will get a lot of people’s back up – especially after the comments he was seen

“

Nick, Dorotheas

Michael Martinez,

Travelshop

“

Travel Counsellors

Martin Brackenbury, Corporate Travel

“ “

I think all the election hoo-haa is helping to highlight the USA as a destination. I have seen no reduction in US inquiries.

Christina Astill, GOCruise

not be swayed by the politics of the USA. Fiona Boss, Red Hotels

have no relevance to holidays.

draw than who is president.

I think the UK public will go on holiday where they want to and

The election should

saying on the pre-election rallies.

British people will still go on vacation and Mickey Mouse is a far bigger

“

shape and it is going to take time

“

“ “ “

Carolyn Ward, Kyle Travel

“ “

a global scale.

“

“We have seen this year that there is always an immediate reaction to

an election or referendum result either side of the Atlantic, however

we know from experience that the USA continues to offer a wealth of

different holiday experiences that will fulfil the needs of all travellers and expect to see a continuous upward trend in leisure travel to the United States as people explore the fantastic opportunities on offer.

Visit USA (UK) members are ready to help agents and travellers looking to take advantage of all that the USA offers."

For more information and to view the 2017 Visit USA Travel Planner Jonathan Sloan, Chair of Visit USA (UK),

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for new ideas and offers see visitusa.org.uk/travelplanner

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puzzlebulletin

Su Doku

Where Am I?

Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle Number: 047

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, December 15th Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 25th November is Eddie Doyle, Pearl King Travel in Liverpool.

November 25 Solution: A=6 B=4 C=7 D=9

Crossword

Built in a Gothic Revival style inside the canyon where the Guitara River flows, this basilica church has been a popular pilgrimage site since the 18th century with occasional reports of cases of miraculous healing.

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

Number: 047

Across 1. Hotels and resorts brand, part of Starwood (8) 6. French city on the Eurostar route (5) 8. Abu Dhabi is the capital, initially (3) 9. Currency of 11 Down (3) 10. Popular as a long haul stopover city (7) 11. First name of retired British heptathlon champion (7) 12. Canberra is the capital, initially (3) 14. Penang international airport code (3) 15. Henry VII was the first King of this dynasty (5) 16. He is currently duetting with Michael Ball on a UK tour (5,3)

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Down 1. Movie about the airline pilot who became a hero on the Hudson (5) 2. Arrecife airport code (3) 3. Luxury cruise company, sounds like a Pacific region (7) 4. European language (5) 5. New Zealand's City of Sails (8) 7. The signpost at this Cornish point shows it's 874 miles to John O'Groats (5,3) 10. SS Great Britain is a popular visitor attraction in this city's harbour (7) 11. Asian country (5) 13. Scenic island of the Inner Hebrides (5) 15. Major travel group (3)

For the solution to the Crossword and Where Am I? Please see page 26 December 9 2016

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Industry Insight by...

Pictured making their way to The Siq, the main entrance to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, is Tracey Carter (left) and Tina Nason from Carrick Travel.

Tracey Carter from Carrick Travel reflects on some of the highlights from the recent AITO conference held in Jordan...

W

HEN AITO announced that this year’s conference was going to take place in Jordan, we did stop and think whether we should go this year. However, we quickly made up our mind to go, as Petra was on our bucket list of places to visit and the conference was also excellent value for money. To the agents who didn’t go, you missed a once-in-alifetime opportunity to experience this destination – it was truly breathtaking!

We must remember, however, that we were there for a reason and that was the business session, which took place on one day only. This was great, as it gave us the rest of the time to experience Jordan, with visits to the Dead Sea, Jerash, Petra, Little Petra by night and Wadi Rum with a steam train journey and jeep safari into the desert. We stayed at two fabulous Movenpick Hotels, along with the opportunity to dine at the Marriott on the Dead Sea. We also had lots of time to network with agent facing tour operators and affiliates, which is invaluable within our industry.

At the business sessions, John De Vial summarised the new Package Travel Directive well; after all, not many of us have the time or energy to read those long missives - even though we know we should! We made a few notes on things we as a travel agent, operating a few bespoke tours for individual clients, need to be changing. It gave us an idea as to what we should be looking at over the next few months, to keep us on track.

Following the talk by Richard Atkinson, we had discussions around whether we would benefit from a non-executive director. We talked it through later and concluded that as we have each other, it was probably not something we needed. However, we could see real

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benefits for smaller agents - it's a very lonely place on your own and it’s invaluable to have someone else to bounce thoughts and ideas off.

Tracey Edwards’s speech was incredibly emotional and inspiring, as she made us think of what we had achieved. Neither Tracey nor I went to university or got particularly good grades at school and yet, with hard work and determination, we haven’t done too badly at all - girl power! We also really enjoyed Vince Cable's thoughts on Brexit, giving us another view from the ‘inside’ - whether you were ‘in’ or ‘out’, let's get on with it in a positive manner.

"To the agents who didn’t go, you missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience this destination – it was truly breathtaking!"

All in all, the conference was inspiring and the destination fantastic. A huge ‘Thank You’ is due to the Jordanians for making us feel so welcome. Jordan is probably on everyone's bucket list and the best way we can thank them is to recommend Jordan to our clients, as they certainly won’t be disappointed.

AITO’s next conference will be the Domestic Conference from January 7–9, 2017, which Carrick Travel will again support by sending eight of our staff along. The weekend is always motivational and informative with lots of tour operators in attendance.

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A merry Maidencombe manor turned Torquay treat ADAM POTTER discovers the birthplace of the Christmas card at Orestone Manor “Perhaps it’s a little early for decorations but we have a Christmas booking for this evening” exclaimed one cheery staffer as tree and wreath made a festive and rather sudden mid-November emergence whilst I lounged in the parlour. Ironically this seemed appropriate. Tucked behind the quiet village of Maidencombe, Orestone Manor inherits a significant amount of romanticised charm from its origins as the former home of narrative painter John Callcott Horsley, best known as the designer of the first Christmas card in 1843, and though the hotel retains elements of its Georgian heritage a recent flurry of improvements have turned the hotel into a real treat, especially for couples seeking a romantic getaway.

Situated a few metres from the main hotel and new for 2016 are two split level cottages. These Coach House Suites offer remote controlled mood lighting, a downstairs bedroom with king sized bed and luxury bathroom whilst upstairs sees a living room, roll top bath and a veranda affording far reaching views over Lyme Bay. The real showstopper is a private balcony complete with a delightfully extravagant hot tub and, on a clear night, guests can soak amongst the bubbles under a shower of stars. Room options range from Classic through to Speciality at the hotel with a lead-in price from £110.

Lost among country lanes the property brings with it new meaning to ‘away from it all’ and a meander downhill from the manor rewards walkers with coastal paths, concealed coves and forgotten orchards.

Orestone is run by two chefs so food (as you can imagine) is a highlight. Championing local Devon produce, dining at the restaurant proved a sumptuous affair with delicious mains and an excellent wine selection - it became clear that intimate evening meals were a hit not only with hotel guests but also locals wishing to celebrate something special.

To celebrate the birthplace of the Christmas card, the Orestone Manor family-owners have designed a modern day Christmas card based very closely on Mr Horsley's original design and is giving away luxury packs of cards free to all guests staying or enjoying dining at the hotel in the run up to Christmas.

Visit orestonemanor.com for more details.

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In a series of features that focus on different airlines, we take a closer look at...

MAIN HUB(S):

•Ranked the most punctual UK airport

SkyWork Airlines (SX) is a Swiss carrier serving both Bern and Basel from London City Airport. Located in the Royal Docks, London City Airport (LCY) is the closest airport to central London and has grown into an international airport of choice for travellers.

•London City Airport is the only airport actually in London that gets customers closer to where they need to be

NO. OF DESTINATIONS/COUNTRIES SERVED: SkyWork Airlines serves 18 destinations across Europe and London City Airport serves more than 4.3 million passengers annually and ten airlines across 50 destinations.

SEAT PITCH The SkyWork Airlines (SX) fleet boasts modern design, top flying speeds, ample legroom and comfortable cabin interiors. These small aircraft can seat up to 50 passengers, with a 2-1 configuration, designed to create a personal and private jet feeling.

NO. OF AIRCRAFT: Five.

AIRCRAFT TYPES: Three Dornier 328 and two leased SAAB 2000 aircraft

•The airport also opened its new Business Class Lounge, located in the Private Jet Centre

FARES •Economy includes one bag weighing no more than 23kg, plus one piece of cabin bag weighing no more than 8kg.

•Economy Flex includes one bag weighing no more than 23kg, plus one piece of cabin bag weighing no more than 8kg. Seat reservation and changes are also permitted.

•Groups: For groups of ten or more, individually tailored group fares are offered.

•Individual flights with SkyWork Airlines: Contact SkyWork Airlines to charter your own aircraft.

RESERVATION NUMBER: 020-7644 8843.

NAMES OF CLASSES: Y, H, K, L, T, M, N, F, S, P.

UK CONTACT: Email: sales.skywork@aviareps.com

AGENT PERKS/TRAINING/FAM TRIPS: Fam trips to Basel and Bern are planned for 2017.

Agents can also complete the carrier's Online Travel Training (OTT) course to win either a £30 Love2Shop voucher or a £30 Duty Free voucher at – www.skyworklcyexperts.co.uk . Winners are selected monthly and the incentive runs until September 2017.

AIRLINE'S MAIN USPS: •Passengers can experience Swiss quality, offering personal service on-board with complimentary snacks and drinks ensuring customers will arrive refreshed at their destination •Customers can equally enjoy 23kg free check-in luggage included in every ticket booked over GDS •Punctual, reliable and convenient morning and evening connections •London City Airport offers a unique rapid transit proposition – a short and efficient check-in and a speedy arrival of around 15 minutes

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EVA AIR has introduced a specially branded Sanrio family aircraft, themed with an exclusive Gudetama theme. Adding to its existing Hello Kitty and Sanrio-character services, the airline will operate the brightly liveried Gudetama Comfort flights on regional and short-range routes within Asia. Born in 2013, Gudetama is an egg with arms and legs and one of Sanrio’s youngest and most popular characters. Flights will operate on an Airbus A321-200 aircraft configured for 184 passengers - eight in Business Class and 175 in Economy. Visit evakitty.evaair.com/en for details.

‘Knitmas’ comes early for Jet2.com & Jet2CityBreaks JET2.COM AND Jet2CityBreaks celebrated its new Leeds Bradford to Berlin route by treating customers with Christmas jumpers and a group of carol singers before boarding.

Customers on the flight enjoyed festive fun as they started their trip to Berlin, which features around 60 Christmas Markets. They were surprised by Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs in TV’s Coronation Street, who presented them with Christmas jumpers, before a special airside performance from carol singers.

Halsall said: “I’m thrilled to have helped Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks who I travel with often. I’ve had a fantastic time surprising lots of happy passengers on this first flight to Berlin and I hope these treats

help make their festive breaks even more Christmassy.”

The company will now operate twiceweekly flights, Monday and Friday, yearround to Berlin from Leeds Bradford.

Fares start from £33 per person including taxes, and flight and hotel packages can be booked with a £60 per person deposit.

As part of its biggest winter programme, the company also offers dedicated weekend Christmas market breaks to Copenhagen and Munich in December, alongside a range of flight-only and flight and hotel options to a range of other Christmas market destinations including Budapest, Prague and New York.

For further information visit jet2.com and jet2citybreaks.com

Air Europa adds Boston to US destination network AIR EUROPA will be adding Boston to its US destination network with flights to the city operating from Gatwick to Boston via Madrid, from June 14. This will be a seasonal service for passengers until September 8.

The flight to the capital of Massachusetts will be operated by an Airbus 330-200 and will include three weekly flights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. It will take off from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport at 15:30 and land in Boston at 17:20 (local time).

On the return leg, the flight will leave the capital of Massachusetts at 23:40, arriving in Madrid at 12:30 the following day.

The new route forms part of the airline’s commitment to growth in the US market, which is reported to be performing very positively. From January to September this year, the current routes to Miami and New York registered (by contrast with the same period last year) an overall rise of 3.9%, increasing the numbers of passengers transported to 179,700.

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Vietnam Airlines takes delivery of tenth Boeing 787 Dreamliner VIETNAM AIRLINES and Boeing recently celebrated the delivery of the flag carrier’s tenth Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Hano, with the new aircraft set to be deployed on the airline’s services to Heathrow.

Phan Xuan Duc, executive vice president for the airline, said: “We are proud to welcome our tenth Boeing 787 Dreamliner to the fleet, just 16 months after we took delivery of the first of these state-of-the-art new aircraft. The 787 is one of the keys to our fleet expansion plans, and plays a vital role in enabling us to offer customers quality service and establishing ourselves as one of the leading carriers in Asia.”

Return fares from Heathrow to Ho Chi Minh City currently start from £453 per person, inclusive of taxes.

For further information visit vietnamairlines.com

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Heathrow Airport retains title of Europe’s number one Megahub

AIRPORT PARKING and Hotels has created a model of how an international airport could realistically look in 25 years, including descriptions of what the passenger experience will be like, using technology that is already being trialled and developed. The research shows how check-in could become an automated doddle by 2040 and how airports of the future will feature biometric tickets, virtual assistants and fast molecular security scanners. See aph.com/community/aph-airport-of-thefuture/ for details.

Turkish Airlines improves entertainment base with new tech TURKISH AIRLINES has broadened its technological offering to improve the in-flight experience and satisfaction for its customers.

In co-operation with audio engineering company Denon, Business Class travellers on America-bound flights can enjoy a renewed audio experience with a comfortable set of headphones, delivering perfect sound quality with the capability of minimising 99% of ambient noise.

The airline has also introduced another tech novelty; Business Class passengers with no rear seat screens, and passengers on flights lasting more than two-and-a-half hours, will be able to watch movies or play games on a Samsung Galaxy S2 tablet.

The carrier has also updated its mobile app so that passengers can add flights, cancel reservations and upgrade from Economy Class to Business Class, amongst other things. The app also offers tips and ideas for travellers, including

maps of the world's major airport terminals with driving directions such as Istanbul’s Atatürk, Hong Kong International, Heathrow and Miami International airports.

Visit turkishairlines.com for more information.

HEATHROW HAS been labelled as Europe’s most connected airport for the second successive year, following the release of this year’s OAG Megahub Index.

Having recently been identified by the Government for the potential construction of a third runway, the airport ranked top in the region for both number of connections available and the number of destinations served.

While Heathrow retained its title, it was the only UK airport to make it into both the European top ten and the overall top 50 listing. Europe was the third biggest contender, holding 12% of the global share of Megahub airports, followed by Latin America at 8%, and the Middle East/Africa at 2%.

North America had the largest percentage of Megahub’s in its midst, dominating nearly half of the share by region, while Asia Pacific also ranked ahead of Europe, with 32%.

John Grant, senior analyst at OAG, said: “For many years Heathrow has been the number one hub in Europe and that position remains solid despite the increasing competitive range of airports in Europe. In the next decade with existing capacity constrained, it is inevitable that until the third runway is operational that other airports will close the gap on Heathrow.”

Virgin Atlantic boosts US west coast transatlantic connections with Delta VIRGIN ATLANTIC, in conjunction with its joint venture partner, Delta Air Lines is making changes to its summer 2017 schedule and offering a third daily Heathrow to Los Angeles service.

The new route, which commences in May, will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, offering three cabin classes. Fully flat bed and aisle access seats will be available in Upper Class, and customers in this class will also receive a complimentary limo transfer service as well as Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse access.

As part of the joint venture, both airlines will continue to co-locate their operations across key gateways, including Heathrow, Atlanta, Orlando, Cancun, Detroit and New York. By May next year, the two carriers will be co-located in LAX, Terminal 2 making connections between flights seamless for customers who want to travel onwards to more than 20 Delta destinations, including Mexico, Hawaii and other parts of the US. Next year, the airlines’ joint summer 2017 schedule includes a total of 40 peak daily non-stop flights between the US and the UK. Of these, 28 flights will operate between Heathrow and popular US destinations such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta and Washington DC, and 14 flights will operate between Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast, Gatwick and Edinburgh to popular US cities.

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THIS MONTH sees the opening of the eco-friendly Hurawalhi Island Resort in the Maldives. The five-star property, nestled amongst the coral reefs of Lhaviyani Atoll, offers 60 Ocean Villas and 30 Beach Villas and features an undersea restaurant, tropical Champagne pavilion and an over 15year-old only policy. As an opening offer, all new bookings with a minimum stay of six nights (confirmed by December 20 for arrivals through to the December 26) will receive a 50% discount on all room categories and meal plans. All new bookings confirmed by March 31, 2017 for arrivals through to April 30 next year will receive a 20% discount. Visit hurawalhi.com

Incredible India sets out focus for 2017 inspiring travellers to discover hidden gems THE TOURISM outlook for India is going from strength to strength with India’s Ministry of Tourism reporting that foreign tourist arrivals have significantly increased in the last few years, along with an 11.8% growth in visitor figures in August this year from 2015.

India Tourism UK is now looking to further improve these numbers by inspiring returning travellers to visit new ‘hidden gems’ of India.

For instance, for those who have enjoyed the Golden Triangle and are eager to return to the country for their next adventure, the Ministry is hopeful that the lesser-known, off-the-beaten track regions will be their next port of call.

North East India in particular, where culture and wildlife can be found in abundance, will be a special focus for the tourism board in the UK, which expects to see a number of the 870,000 UK travellers who visited the country last year book a trip to Assam, Meghalaya or Manipur in 2017.

Luxury is also a key component for the tourist office’s plans for next year, in addition to highlighting the destination’s exceptional customer service and value for money. The Indian luxury portfolio stretches even further than the royal fortresses, with destinations such as Goa and Kerala well placed to offer ‘barefoot’ luxury.

The ministry has also identified cruise tourism and MICE as two of the niche products available in India for 2017 – both products are rapidly growing areas of travel to the country.

Further to this, new flight routes from Manchester and increased airlift from Birmingham will enable more travellers to access the country.

The e-Tourist Visa (eTV), introduced to 113 countries globally in August last year, will be further promoted by the tourist

office as a major incentive for travel in 2017. The scheme allows travellers to visit India up to twice in a calendar year and has simplified the application process, in turn encouraging tourism throughout the country.

Costing £45, figures shared by the India Tourism Office London in September this year show that the eTV has accounted for almost a quarter of e-visas issued worldwide in the last year, Outrigger in Mauritius with the UK representing the strongest market. In fact, in introduces Hawaiian the last three years, growth Nights from the UK market is up by nearly 100,000 visitors.

THE OUTRIGGER Mauritius Meanwhile, India’s longBeach Resort has introduced standing relations with the Hawaiian nights UK will be the focus of much on Saturdays. festivity in 2017, the year With its origins in Hawaii, marking the 70th anniversary where the company is now of Independence. four generations old, Further details will be Outrigger Resorts has announced in due course but expanded over the years are set to include some of the bringing its own island famous faces in Britain who hospitality, flavours and are known for their love of sounds to all its beachfront India and are looking to share resorts; now authentic the messages of India Hawaiian flavours, hula hula Tourism UK. dancing and Mai Tai For more information visit cocktails have come ashore incredibleindia.org

Cocktails & Culture: Loama Resort launches new gallery bar AS PART of its ongoing efforts to offer guests a unique and holistic lifestyle experience, Loama Resort Maldives at Maamigili has refreshed its Art Gallery with the addition of a bar, allowing guests to enjoy a cocktail while appreciating the art gallery pieces. Dedicated exclusively to contemporary Maldivian art, the gallery has been showcasing the works by the cream of the island nation's artists since it opened its doors in early 2015.

Designed to resemble a typical Maldivian home, the gallery floats above the ocean waters and guests can now enjoy the tranquil views and an array of local Maldivian cocktails. The Art Gallery Bar also features themed evenings offering special prices during Caipirinha, Mojito and Sour Cocktail Nights, happy hours on selected drinks and contemporary music. It is open from 10:30 to 23:00.

For more information visit loamahotelsandresorts.com

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at the property in Mauritius.

Hawaiian night takes place every Saturday from 18:30-22:00 in the resort’s Mercado, with hula dancing taking place at the adjacent Bar Bleu by the beach from 21:00.

The cost is US$50 per adult, $47 for teenagers, $15 for children aged four to 11 and free for under fours.

Visit OutriggerMauritius.com for more details.

December 9 2016

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Kanuhura opens its doors in the Maldives KANUHURA IN the Maldives is to open its doors this month after an 18-month closure and a multi-million pound renovation, offering guests two unique private island escapes.

The resort aims to appeal to travellers seeking laid-back island living and to reflect the essence of the island. Erin Wasson, an international supermodel and jewellery designer, has also been chosen to be the face of the private island resort, which is located 35 minutes from Malé International Airport by seaplane.

The property offers 94 villas and suites, all situated along the beach or on pilings above the waters of the Indian Ocean. All feature sea views, with either direct access to a private beach area, or a wooden staircase leading straight into the waters of the lagoon.

It will also offer ten culinary experiences, bars and dining options, with activities including yoga, fishing, watersports, tennis and a spa and wellness centre.

Opening rates start from $380 per person based on two sharing a Beach Bungalow on a bed-andbreakfast basis, inclusive of all taxes. It includes a special 20% launch offer discount, valid on all bookings until April 30, 2017.

For more information visit kanuhura.com/en

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THE NEWLY opened private Thanda Island, situated in the waters off Southern Tanzania, is the first villa property to become a member of The Leading Hotels of the World worldwide. Providing absolute exclusivity for families and friends to enjoy on a sole-use basis, it features just one five-bedroom villa, a glass rim-flow pool, a boat house with a range of watersports and is surrounded by its own private coral reef,which can be explored with a snorkel and mask straight from the beach. Guests also have the opportunity to watch endangered turtles nesting and their eggs hatching, along with whale sharks that congregate just south of the Island from October to March. Visit thandaisland.com for details.

Visit Maldives announces new tourism developments for 2017 THE MALDIVES recently welcomed an increase in visitor arrivals from the UK, with 2016 figures revealing an 11% increase in UK tourists during the first eight months.

This equates to 76,083 UK tourists visiting the destination compared to 68,519 in 2015.

Visitor numbers are also expected to show a further increase and, to support this fast expanding tourist industry, Visit Maldives has announced a number of new tourism developments taking place next year.

Located on the island of Gan in Addu Atoll, Gan International Airport was originally built by the British as a staging post for its Royal Air Force during the 1950s before being handed over to the Maldivian Government in 1976.

The airport’s infrastructure has recently undergone an ambitious $50million redevelopment project including expansion work to the runway so it now reaches 3,400m in length and 60m in width, enabling it to handle long-haul operations and direct connectivity to the regional resort network through a seaplane base.

As a result of an agreement with Addu

International Airport Company, seaplane transfers will now be available with Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) from Gan International Airport to nine resorts within the greater Southern region. The new seaplane operations will further enhance the holiday experience of travellers to the southern regions of the Maldives, transferring guests to and from contracted resorts on scheduled flights from Gan, as well as provide full- and half-day excursions to uninhabited islands or sandbanks.

The Hon. Moosa Zameer, minister of tourism for the destination, said: “We are extremely pleased to see an increase in visitor figures from the UK, especially as this is a very exciting time for the Maldives as we further enhance our tourism infrastructure with new developments.

“We will also be expanding our accommodation offering with ten new resorts opening in late 2016/17 and we look forward to hopefully welcoming even more UK holidaymakers next year.”

For more information visit visitmaldives.com

Simply India Holidays reports positive trade reaction SOMAK HOLIDAYS reports that it has received a ‘very positive reaction’ from the trade following the re-introduction of its India programme through sister brand, Simply India Holidays.

The company has now published a second brochure, with a map and a wider selection of ideas and suggested itineraries, with another brochure revision planned for early 2017.

Justin Coles, agency sales manager for the operator, said: “Agents have told us how quick and easy it was to turn around a quote and customers have returned from India highlighting the attention to detail they received while there.

“We offer a wide selection of holidays covering all of the exciting and colourful highlights of majestic India. If you have clients in search of culture, we have plenty of tours showcasing the forts, palaces and temples, including the iconic Taj Mahal.

“If they dream of seeing tigers in their natural habitat, we have the perfect itinerary, and should they wish to relax on a Goan beach or the Kerala backwaters, we can take them there. We can tailormake the ideal holiday for even the most discerning clients.”

As an added incentive, for every booking made to India through the operator by December 31 (for a minimum of five nights and worth £1,200 per person or more), agents can earn themselves a £50 egift voucher per person.

Agents should enter the booking confirmation number under the relevant tab on the company’s travel agent website and choose a reward from Amazon, Love2Shop or Ticketmaster.

For more information visit somak.com or call 020-8423 3000.

December 9 2016

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CHAMPAGNE PRIZE…Travel Counsellor Naomi Weston picks up a bottle of Champagne from Malcolm E. Aldcroft for Air Austral.

Travel Bulletin invited agents to the Park Regis in Birmingham to experience some of the warmth and beauty to be found at an Indian Ocean Showcase. Luxury resorts, operators, airports and airlines were all on hand to advise agents, with some fabulous food and fun prizes also on offer…

BIRMINGHAM GURUS…Catherine Reeves from Birmingham Airport delivers the latest news and airport stats to a room packed with agents.

AGENT READY…Pictured ready to meet with agents are, from the left: Anita Skibiel from Dusit Thani Maldives; Johnny Legge from Finolhu/ Hummingbird; and Victoire Cliffe from Banyan Tree.

BANYAN BLITZ…Pictured with Victoire Cliffe (seated) from Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts are, from the left: Karen Barker and Kevin Hopwood from Tranquil Times Holiday; Zoe Franklin from Travel Club Elite; and Mark Rickwood with Sue Rickwood from Time4aHoliday.

BIRMINGHAM BREAK…Pictured chatting at the drinks reception are, from the left: Jane Chapman, Your Holiday Booking; Sue Lindsay, Brilliant Travel; Meri-Katre Siim, Holidaysplease; Catherine Reeves, Birmingham Airport; and Natalie Hyman from Holidaysplease.

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BEACHCOMBER BAG…Rupert Diggins from Beachcomber Tours gifts Sian Roberts from Travel Counsellors a goodie bag and shopping voucher for £50.

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LUX LEARNING…Learning more about Lux Resorts are, from the left: Grace Forester and Katie Geohaghon from Let’s Grab Life Global; Neill Hall, Travel Counsellors; Naomi Weston, Travel Counsellors; Karen Turney, Not Just Travel; the operator’s Sarah Mc Glynn (seated); Leigh Bladen, Travel Counsellors; and Paul Salisbury, Not Just Travel.

TRANQUIL TREAT…Kevin Hopwood (centre) from Tranquil Times Holiday was the prize winner of an If Only… gift box, pictured with the operator’s Jorge Quibell (left) and Dominic Carrick.

DUSIT DELIGHT…Winning a bathrobe and some luxurious spa amenities is Travel Counsellor Neill Hall with Anita Skibiel from Dusit Thani Maldives.

SUN SURPRISE…Susan Fleming (right) from Not Just Travel was the lucky winner of three nights in a deluxe room at the Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, followed by three nights at the Iru Fushi in a beach villa for two with all transfers included, presented by Katharine Wood from LJR Consultancy (Sun Siyam).

WINNING ATTITUDE…Olivia Knight (left) from Attitude Hotels presents lucky winner Buki Hannaway from Click Travel with a five-night stay at the Ravenala in a Couples Suite on half-board.

Fancy joining in the showcase fun?

Travel Bulletin will be hosting its Airline Showcase in Chester on January 23. Agents interested in attending can secure their place by emailing oliver.barton@travelbulletin.co.uk

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New Year’s castaway experience at the Le Touessrok Resort & Spa SHANGRI-LA’S LE Touessrok Resort & Spa in Mauritius is preparing for a festive season of bohemian beach reverie with a New Year’s Eve castaway experience for two on the resort’s private island, complete with a Dom Perignon Butler and accessible via speedboat.

The resort will feature unique artistic collaborations with the island’s most exciting talent and performers; from the playful Pirates of the Indian Ocean - a two-night Mauritian rum-soaked celebration under the stars - to the New Year’s Day Rehab Brunch on Ilot Mangenie.

Guests will also be offered access to the private island for a castaway experience for two. The island is set to be privatised for two people on New Year’s Eve, when a Dom Perignon Butler will be on hand to serve vintage Champagne throughout the evening, against a backdrop of fireworks and a private DJ. An entirely customisable menu will offer options ranging from fresh seafood pasta, wagyu beef tenderloin with truffle and 20-year old rum flambéed Victoria pineapple and caramelised sugar.

A private Sega show and crew of fire eaters will complete the one-off experience, along with a private speedboat to escort guests back to the resort, whenever they wish to return in the early hours of 2017. The allinclusive experience costs £8,000 for two.

For more details see shangri-la.com/mauritius

Special guest Mel C spices up festive line-up at Amilla Fushi in the Maldives AMILLA FUSHI in the Maldives is launching a flotilla of festive fun this Christmas season inspired by high jinks on the high seas and an extra sprinkling of seasonal spice, courtesy of a special guest performance by former Spice Girl, Mel C. Between December 20 and

January 10, the resort will invite guests of all ages to embark on culinary journeys across the seven seas, immerse themselves in wellness experiences to get shipshape for the New Year, or dive into an entertainment and activity programme that will have them dancing on the decks long into

the night.

Highlights of the programme including a twilight cocktail party and theatrical dinner on Christmas Eve; a family lunch on Christmas Day, complete with a visit from Santa; and ‘Naughtycal’ cocktails and a gala dinner at Amilla’s Marina on New Year’s Eve with entertainers and fireworks, followed by an After Glow Party to see in 2017.

Guests will also be treated to special performances from a range of international music talent including Mel C, the Cuban Brothers and the Gypsy Queens, supported by Rishvan Imon, DJ Simon and Phuture Wave.

Elegant Resorts is offering seven-night festive holidays at the resort from £8,365 per person, including Ocean Reef House accommodation on a bed-andbreakfast basis for two adults sharing based on a December 23 departure. It includes a Christmas Eve Theatrical Dinner, Economy Class Emirates flights from Heathrow, private transfers and UK lounge passes.

Seychelles signs sustainable tourism charter during UN clmaite change talks THE SEYCHELLES minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Alain St.Ange, recently signed the African Charter on Sustainable and Responsible Tourism during the UN climate change talks, COP22, in Morocco.

The document aims to provide the African continent with a common framework to promote best practices in sustainable tourism.

As a country that relies on the travel industry, it has been particularly active in preserving its natural heritage and, speaking to a panel of African ministers, St.Ange said that these efforts have been on the agenda since the country was under British rule (becoming independent in 1976) as a means to safeguarding the landscape that attracts visitors from all over the world.

As much as 50% of the Seychelles’ territory consists of protected National Parks, and the country has gone so far as to limit the number of tourist beds per island to ensure that tourism growth does not come at the expense of the environment. Seychelles is found to have the purest air on the planet by the 2016 Environmental Performance Index and it is currently developing renewable energy sources.

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Sail the Seychelles with The Moorings PREMIUM YACHT charter company The Moorings is bringing a new level of luxury to the Seychelles with the recent introduction of its all-inclusive crewed charters on its flagship catamaran, the Moorings 5800.

Complete with the services of a private captain, gourmet chef and host, the all-inclusive yacht offers an upscale and ultra-personalised way to experience the destination by sea, and the yacht charter is commissionable to agents.

Each catamaran offers five guest cabins, each with a private en-suite bathroom and room for up to ten guests. All yachts are fully inclusive of all meals, snacks and beverages, and produce is freshly sourced, prepared and served by the crew and tailored to meet guests’ individual tastes. Snorkelling equipment, fishing gear, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and other water toys are also included.

A seven-night private charter in early February costs from £1,709 per person based on ten sharing including all meals, snacks and beverages, housekeeping, Wi-Fi and all onboard equipment. Flights are extra and can be added by the company.

For more information call 03303-321520 or visit moorings.co.uk/crewed

A taste of the exotic Holidays with the Goa specialists • Tailormade and multi-centre holidays • India Tours – including the golden triangle • No hidden extras; all packages include direct flights, transfers, in-flight meals and 20kg luggage allowance

Call our knowledgeable reservations team today on 01489 866 986 GoaExperience.co.uk The travel partner you can depend on

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THE OLYMPICS MAY be over but the celebrations continue as Rio de Janeiro prepares to host its 21st LGBT Pride Parade. Brazil is increasingly becoming known as a leading LGBT tourist destination and stretching along the vibrant Copacabana beach front, Gay Pride will take place on December 11 this year. The Brazilian Tourist Board is continually seeking to increase both the number of LGBT tourists visiting Brazil and improve services for travellers. LGBT tourists represent 10% of the world's travellers and move 15% of the sector's turnover, according to data from the WTO. For details see visitbrasil.com

Get to know the Centre-West and marvel at the heart of Brazil LOCATED IN the heart of Brazil, the CentreWest is home to some of the country’s most iconic destinations, including the capital of Brasilia and one of the world’s largest wetlands – the Pantanal.

The Centre-West region which borders all Brazilian regions, is also the source of the waters which feed the Amazonas, Paraná and São Francisco basins. Its springs, waterfalls, rapids, canyons and white waters form many of the tourist attractions in the Centre-West, among them the River Araguaia and the flamboyant beach of the inhabitants of Goiâna. In addition to its nature and

adventure tourism, the region also has a strong offering in city tourism, as it is the location of the Federal Capital.

Another feature of the Centre-West is its indigenous population and their direct relevance to tourism. A number of reservations and national parks are the setting for innumerable villages, among them the Xingu Indigenous Park, which is home to 20 different tribes, the Araguaia Indigenous Park (on the island of Bananal), the Xavante Indigenous Park and the Parecis Indigenous Park.

Visit embratur.gov.br for more destination information.

LATA highlights new tours & openings in Brazil for 2017 THE LATIN AMERICAN Tourism Association has suggested a number of new tours and openings agents should keep an eye on for next year.

Cox & Kings has introduced a new “Brazil, Wildlife and Waterfall” tour due to launch in 2017. The 11-day holiday offers an introduction to the highlights of Brazil and includes a focus on the diverse natural wonders of Brazil by exploring the Pantanal region to spot monkeys, capybaras and giant anteaters before experiencing the thundering waters of Iguacu Falls. The tour is priced from £2,695 per person based on two people sharing. Visit coxandkings.co.uk Alternatively, Tucan Travel is launching a new 12-day ‘Steak, Samba and Wine’ tour staying and ending in two of South America’s most vibrant cities and including some of the highlights of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Guests will head to Uruguay to enjoy a guided walk in the town of Colonia before heading to Montevideo and the Iguazu Falls. The holiday is part of the operator’s Adventures for 20s and 30s and costs from £1,029 per person including international flights. Visit tucantravel.com Meanwhile, Fasano Angra dos Reis is a new hotel due to open in April 2017. It will be the first Fasano Hotel located in the region of Angra Dos Reis, a two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Rio de Janeiro. The luxury hotel will feature a beach club, spa, mall, golf course and 54 suites with views overlooking the ocean. Visit fasano.com.br/hotelaria/novos_projetos/index/5 For further information visit lata.org

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Pettitts embarks on voyage to the heart of the Amazon REPRESENTING MORE than half of the planet's remaining rainforest and home to a richly varied collection of species, the Amazon offers unmatched biodiversity. To explore this vast region Pettitts has put together a new, unique itinerary entitled ‘A Voyage to the heart of the Amazon’.

This six-night cruise ventures into one of the world's most pristine environments – a vast ecological reserve which is also protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Travelling on the MY Tucano, guests will travel past secluded villages and experience the rainforest’s great biodiversity with onboard naturalists.

Leaving the jungle, travellers will end the journey in Rio de Janeiro for culture, music and the beach. The cruise is operated on a 'join-in basis' with other travellers.

Visit pettitts.co.uk for more information.

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brazil Volunteer with Hands Up Holidays HANDS UP Holidays offers luxury trips that combine sightseeing with philanthropic-volunteering.

Launched last week in Brazil, the company has a new volunteer project renovating a community centre that has run out of money and complete its building in a Rio favela.

As a suggested itinerary, a ten-day trip costs from £4,500 per person excluding flights and enables travellers to make a difference in the lives of Brazilian families and offers the chance to interact with the Cariocas, the local people from Rio. Travellers can blend with their choice of activities, including exploring the Amazon, delving into cultural Salvador, or relax on one of the beaches.

Visit handsupholidays.com

Witness 'The Greatest Show on Earth' with JLA JOURNEY LATIN America has unveiled its Rio Carnival holiday which takes in the 'Greatest Show on Earth'. The 2017 celebrations will take place from February 24-28.

Some 40 days before Easter, there is an explosion of colour, dance, music and parties in Rio de Janeiro. Renowned the world over, Rio Carnival is a five-day extravaganza which epitomises Brazil's vibrant, fun-loving culture. The main event sees 12 samba schools parade through the Sambodromo in dazzling outfits alongside lavishly decorated floats in a bid to be crowned champions of Carnival.

Ben Line, bespoke travel consultant for the operator, said: “I was blown away by Rio's Carnival which has justly earned the reputation as the greatest party on earth.

The atmosphere throughout the city was so positive, with everyone - young and old having such fun and joining in the wild celebrations with impromptu parades and street parties popping up throughout the city.”

The company’s nine-day holiday stays in Copacabana, with time to see the iconic sights such as Sugar Loaf Mountain, Ipanema beach and the botanical gardens

while catching the many free street parties.

The trip also includes tickets to the famous carnival parade on February 26. To wind down after partying in Rio, guests will spend three nights at the beach resort of Búzios where they can enjoy the high-end boutiques and smart restaurants, take boat trips to the islands, go snorkelling or simply lay out in the sun on the whitesand beaches.

Prices start from £2,292 per person based on good quality accommodation. The price includes transfers, tickets and transfers to the carnival parade, an excursion to the statue of Christ the Redeemer and breakfast. Flights are extra.

Call 020-8600 1881 or visit journeylatinamerica.co.uk

Embratur rides on Olympic success to improve levels of inbound tourism DURING RIO 2016, Brazil attracted a record-breaking 541,000 tourists for the Games. The destination is now preparing to turn the wide-spread exposure achieved during the Olympics into a legacy to improve inbound tourism.

An ongoing and important area that will be a focus for the tourist board is responsible tourism. The destination has one of the greatest ecosystems in the world and offers tourists a variety of environmentally-friendly ways to travel around the country. According to the index of the World Economic Forum released in 2015, Brazil is number one among 141 countries in terms of ‘natural resources’. This pillar takes into account the available natural resources, in addition to the development of outdoor tourism activities.

At WTM, the tourist board presented the strong principles of environmental sustainability that it strives to follow, and

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highlighted how looking after the country's natural reserves, wildlife and rainforests remains a priority.

This year, besides the normal schedule of the fair, the destination also exhibited Brazilian handicrafts representing the states of Acre, Alagoas, Bahia, Goiás and Parám and Brazilian handicrafts is a segment of the economy whose growth has a high potential for generating work, employment and income.

The initiative is a partnership between Embratur and the Government Secretary of the Presidency - SEGOV. The agreement was recently signed between both parties and aims to promote and disseminate the cultural richness of Brazil through crafts. The idea is to enhance the artists' profiles and generate foreign tourists' curiosity about the local culture, generating further interest for different regions of the country.

For more information see visitbrasil.com

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Abercrombie & Kent is opening a DMC office in Brazil in January 2017. Graeme Bull, South America product manager for the operator, said: “We are very excited to announce this newest addition to our global network of offices. Brazil is a huge destination for us with great diversity that is perfect for both couples and families to explore. We are very much looking forward to receiving our first guests on the ground in January 2017 and delivering the experience that we are known for.”

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

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Highlighted Word: ANKARA Where Am I?: Las Lajas Sanctuary, Ipiales Colombia

We asked our staff the following question this week:

What are you most likely to do at the office Christmas party?

Lauretta Wright Editor lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk Play a prank on someone.

Adam Potter Editorial Assistant adam.potter@travelbulletin.co.uk Suggest a round of Glitter Bombs

Paul Scudamore Contributing Editor post@travelbulletin.co.uk Say the wrong thing to someone.

Simon Eddolls Sales Director simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk I'll be in Malta (working hard) whilst you are all enjoying the party!

Tim Podger Account Manager - Far East tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk Have a merry time and sing.

Bill Coad Account Manager bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk Not be there.

Matt Gill Senior Account Manager matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk Get drunk and be merry!

Kathryn Frost Sales Executive kathryn.frost@travelbulletin.co.uk Catherine Dillon Sales Executive catherine.dillon@travelbulletin.co.uk Fall over on the dance floor (I have a habit of doing this!)

Oliver Barton Events & Sales Administrator oliver.barton@travelbulletin.co.uk Be the last man standing.

Nicky Valsamakis Design Team Leader nicky.valsamakis@travelbulletin.co.uk Sleeping in the cloak room

Miriam Brtkova Designer miriam.brtkova@travelbulletin.co.uk Celebrating

Lucia Mathurin Design Apprentice lucia.mathurin@travelbulletin.co.uk Watch everyone get drunk

Nelly Mendes Production production@travelbulletin.co.uk

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Your horoscope predicts a delightful and rewarding birthday.

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

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

Eat enthusiastically.

Eat, drink and be merry!

December 9 2016

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