Travel Bulletin 1811 2016

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November 18 2016 | ISSUE NO 1,991 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Far East

Thailand promotes ‘Unique Local Experiences’campaign

this week puzzle bulletin play Su doku for a chance to win a £50 M&S voucher wtm update all the latest news from last week’s World Travel Market

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training boost your product knowledge with these newly announced events & programmes

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cruising CLIA’s Andy Harmer reflects on this year’s cruise developments and innovations

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Premier path...

PREMIER HOLIDAYS recently took 22 travel agents on a fam trip to Guernsey and Herm, where they experienced a full itinerary of visits and experiences. Pictured on a guided walk on the South Coast Cliff Paths are, from the left (back row) Amy Hogan, Hays Travel Wellswood; Yasmin Styles, Newells Travel; Emily Smith, Thomas Cook; Hannah Gifford, Newells Travel; Donna Walker, Thomas Cook; Paula Hardwick, Althams Morley; Leanne Lethbridge, Hays Travel Exeter; Judith Williams, Experience Travel; Maxeene Hughes, Teithai Menai, Rebecca Farrell and Pamela Oakley, Thomas Cook; Rebecca Mitchell, Premier Travel Huntingdon; Rebekah Goenaga, Oakhurst Travel Sidcup; Gemma Evans, Premier Travel Haverhill; and Haley Rooney, Thomas Cook; with (front row) Tracey O’Neill, Red Carnation; Beverley Scarr, Premier Holidays; Karen Henderson, Peter Goord Travel; Jo Cook, Premier Holidays; Nichola Lamond, East of England Colchester; Tiffany Woodley, Myriad Travel; Stephanie Robinson, Moorend Travel; Mandy Woolley, Althams Denton; and Kathryn Crowther, Althams Huddersfield.

Research shows celebrities play increasingly important role in holiday choices RESEARCH BY Holiday Hypermarket has revealed statistics on just how influential celebrities are when it comes to holidaymakers choosing their holiday destination.

According to the findings, one in four adults admit to having an interest in the holiday habits of the rich and famous, with 80% of those stating that they had actually booked a destination based on a celebrity they liked having been there. Those most influenced had even gone as far as spending extra money on their holidays in order to head to a popular celebrity hotspot.

The survey also revealed that it’s often men who are most influenced by the star-struck media, with the research showing they are almost twice as likely to blow the bank on a celebchasing holiday as their female counterparts.

The company's Ian Crawford said: “The stars of shows like TOWIE and Made In Chelsea are bringing people’s attention to destinations like Marbella and Ibiza, and the availability of

affordable package holidays in these areas means holidaymakers can recreate paparazzi moments with the chance of rubbing shoulders with their favourite celebrity.”

One in five adults surveyed claimed to have actually met a celebrity during their holidays, with many saying they’d had their fan-moments in Ibiza, Marbella’s Puerto Banus and a host of glamorous Italian destinations.

Celebrity culture was most likely to influence the under-35s, a demographic where more than one in three respondents said that celebrity holidays were of interest to them, but the over35s weren’t far behind - with one in five keen to keep up with the latest destinations of choice.

Those living in London were the most celeb-hungry in the UK, being three times more likely to keep up with celebrities – and to splash out on copycat holidays – than any other area.

Scotland and Wales showed the least interest, with fewer than 10% of respondents admitting to an interest in celebrity life.

Cover Pictures: Main -Olesia Bilkei

Inset - SylvainB

This week

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news a round-up of this week’s industry news & developments

notes from normanton find out how Sandy got on at WTM

agent bulletin a look at the latest agent booking incentives & offers

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

bulletin briefing news and views from The Global Travel Group

wtm update all the latest news from last week’s World Travel Market

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training boost your product knowledge with these newly announced events & programmes

far east Thailand promotes ‘Unique Local Experiences’ campaign

cruising CLIA’s Andy Harmer reflects on this year’s cruise developments and innovations

November 18 2016

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Hand-picked French chalets from £475 for seven nights with SnowChateaux AGENTS LOOKING to sell flight inclusive catered ski chalet holidays in France with features such as hot tubs, saunas and games rooms, can do so with SnowChateaux, which has hand-picked 16 chalets in some of the most snow sure high altitude ski resorts in France: Tignes, La Tania, La Plagne, Meribel Les Allues and Peisey (Les Arcs).

The company, which is now under new management, has introduced ATOL-bonded flight inclusive packages with flights available from most UK regional airports. It has also introduced four new chalets for the 2016/17 season to add to its portfolio, each handpicked for their charm, facilities and convenience to the pistes and ski lifts.

Tim Locke, the company's managing director, said: “We’re really excited for the new season where we’ve introduced lots of guest-friendly services such as ATOL-bonded flight inclusive packages from regional airports, four great new properties and unlimited beer and wine. After all, ski holidays are as much about the apres ski as the skiing!”

Each chalet holiday includes breakfast with hot cooked items and fresh pastries; afternoon tea of cakes and biscuits followed by canapes around the fire each early evening; a four-course evening meal which includes a cheeseboard with local cheeses, as well as unlimited wine and beer. For clients with young children, the company provides an earlier dinner sitting and a child-friendly menu.

Other bookable options include a daily suggested ski route service, pre-bookable lift passes, pre-bookable ski school

places and tuition and pre-bookable ski hire equipment.

Prices start from £475 per person for a seven-night stay at Chalet Alpinium 1 located in the resort of Tignes, departing on December 10. The price includes flights from Gatwick, transfers, seven nights' breakfast accommodation, afternoon tea and unlimited wine and beer, plus evening canapes and a four-course dinner on six nights.

To book or for more information see snowchateaux.com

WE’RE BRINGING SEXY BACK. New DSD website coming soon - it’s pretty!

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Brexit booking boost for Encore BREXIT HAS given London tourism a major boost with increased numbers this autumn and visitors upgrading seats according to Encore.

VisitBritain has said that forward bookings for December are up by 24% and analytics company ContentSquare’s figures show that the value of online travel purchases to UK destinations rose 38%, with online UK destination searches up 10% in June and July following the BREXIT referendum.

More than half of accommodation providers are expecting an increase in visitors following the referendum according to a survey by VisitEngland.

UK tourism will also benefit from locals taking staycations because of the exchange rates.

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OFF-ROAD...Regent Holidays recently hosted 12 agents on a six-day Icelandic adventure, showcasing some of the country’s many natural wonders and activities, all of which can be found in the operator’s latest Iceland programme. Pictured about to embark on a Super Jeep adventure with the company’s drivers (far right and kneeling, right) are, from the left: Jaimie Haggis, Key Holidays; Rhys Morgan, John Henry Travel; Martin Churchill, Holmes Travel; Gill Jackson, Embarque Travel; Emma Parry, Tarporley Travel; Ragnar Lovdal, Superjeeps; Karen Moseley, Spa Travel; Jon Hardcastle, ITC; Kate Harris, Inspired Travel; Shane Hosiene, Regent Holidays; and Jack Leaf, Destiny Travel.

Series of female-only journeys from Aqua Expeditions AQUA EXPEDITIONS has announced the launch of a series of unique hosted journeys exclusively for women for 2017.

The operator launched the series to offer women a safe and inclusive environment to explore destinations which may otherwise feel too ‘off the beaten track’ for a solo traveller.

Cruising on both the Amazon and Mekong rivers, there will be two Aqua Expeditions Journeys with more to come later in the year. The cruises offer women the chance to learn about new cultures and traditions of both Cambodia and Peru whilst meeting new people who share the same excitement for adventure and a little bit of luxury at the same time.

As well as cruising down the rivers, guests will be able to discover hidden gems along the river – travelling by bike alongside the Mekong through local

villages or kayaking down the Amazon to spot extraordinary wildlife. Both cruises offer guests hand-crafted itineraries with biking, kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing and cultural 'meet and greets' with local community members.

Both vessels offer luxury accommodation with custom designed suites; five-star guest service with a 1:1 staff to guest ratio offering a personalised service 24-7; small group excursions; gastronomic journeys with the chefs taking trips to the local markets, cooking classes and five-star cuisine which incorporates local fresh produce and regional specialities.

Guests can also treat themselves to a treatment at the on-board spa or enjoy a dip in the infinity pool.

To book or for further information see aquaexpedtions.com

Hotelbeds Group announces growth plan for Transfer & Activity Bank HOTELBEDS GROUP has unveiled an ambitious growth plan to triple the sales of its Transfer and Activity Bank (TAB) during the coming years.

One of the key growth drivers in achieving the target will be the expansion of the existing product portfolio to include additional tours, transfers and activities.

The company will also continue to focus on providing its partners with technology solutions to make the upselling of ancillaries even simpler and quicker. Together, it is hoped that these two drivers will have the benefit of attracting further intermediaries to the platform, allowing for further additional growth in sales.

TAB provides both the industry and the end consumer with a consolidated range of in-destination products worldwide.

The company currently offers more than 19,000 transfer routes and 12,000 activity options in more than 650 destinations.

These activities include theatre, sport and theme park tickets, excursions and car rental products. Amongst its many partners include Disney Parks, Legoland and Open Camp, the first park dedicated to the universe of sport.

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New culinary-themed charter cruise from European Waterways EUROPEAN WATERWAYS has introduced a new culinarythemed charter cruise on the elegant hotel barge Enchanté, cruising through the Southwest of France.

While meandering the Canal du Midi, guests will be treated to a selection of culinary delights during the six-night itinerary.

Available as a charter only, the specially-tailored cruise is ideal for a group of friends or family to experience the region’s products and to meet the artisans behind them.

Enchanté is a state-of-the-art, double-decker hotel barge that provides luxurious accommodation for up to eight guests; after embarking in Narbonne and a Champagne arrival on board, guests can look forward to unique food experiences of the region - hunting for truffles in the Minervois hills and tasting the elusive white truffle; visiting a renowned farm that breeds the special Petit Gris variety of escargot; and touring L’Oulibo, a long-established olive oil press that produces the purist extra virgin olive oil from the famous Lucques olive.

For those who like to adorn a white apron, guests can join a ‘hands-on’ French cooking class alongside the Canal du Midi and enjoy demonstrations throughout the cruise from the onboard Masterchef. There is also the opportunity to visit the indoor market in Narbonne, where guests can join the chef to choose the ingredients for that evening’s dinner.

Prices including all gourmet meals, fine wines, an open bar, daily escorted excursions and local transfers lead in at £27,080, and a special 10% discount applies for March 19, 26 and April 2, 2017 departures.

For full details see gobarging.com/culinary-cruise

TOULOUSE TRAIL…Flybe has commenced its 2016/17 winter schedule which features a choice of up to 375 flights a week from its Birmingham hub across 23 routes including new daily flights to Toulouse and a weekly Saturday ski service to Geneva. An additional four routes will operate for the first time this winter - to Knock, Luxembourg, Nantes and Rotterdam.

Flights operate through to March 25, 2017 with one-way fares from £24.99 including taxes and charges. Pictured marking the new flights are, from the left: Peter Mathews CMG, export ambassador West Midlands; Paul Willoughby, Flybe; and Jo Lloyd, Birmingham Airport.

Inghams offers added value for 2017 • DIGITAL BROCHURE: Premier Holidays Australia New Zealand & South Pacific • NEW: Prague Tour for two, plus bottles of Champagne & Wine to be won with Prague Eventery!

• NEW: Win a two-night stay for two people with MeliaPro • WIN a gorgeous Louis Vuitton Passport Holder worth $320 with Fashion Show & Grand Canal Shoppes, Las Vegas

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

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INGHAMS HAS sent agents its new Lakes and Mountains Summer 2017 brochure with savings including up to £100 per couple discounts, frozen excursion prices, free bar credit and free or reduced travel in resort.

The company has also expanded its programme in Italy adding four new resorts - Como, Lazise, Lake Levico and the Venetian Riviera.

The operator's group head of sales, Simon McIntyre, said: “We’re continuing our push on excellent regional departure options and our range of flexible durations, multi-centres and tours. Customers who may be weary of the value of their pounds can rest assured that our Lakes and Mountains brochure is jam packed with as much value as possible with savings of up to £710 per couple as well as free pack lunches, guided walks and much more.”

Features of the new brochure include double saver plus offers, available on selected properties in Austria, France, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland, and all chalet and chalet hotels on bookings made by January 31, 2017; Inghams saver plus, offering £50 saving per couple; Inghams Plus, which offers free packed lunches, free afternoon tea and cakes, free bike hire, free Berlitz pocket guides and free hotel guided walks and guided wander walks; excursion prices frozen at preview price; 100 euros bar credit in all chalet hotels; and free or reduced travel in resort.

For more information, brochure supplies and training call 01483-791025 or email sales@inghams.co.uk

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Singapore Airlines announces new nonstop routes from MAN SINGAPORE AIRLINES has launched two non-stop routes to Singapore and Houston Texas from Manchester Airport, with five times weekly flights.

Flight SQ52 departs Singapore at 02:35 and arrives in Manchester at 09:00. Flight SQ52 then departs Manchester at 10:10 and arrives in Houston at 15:30. The return flight SQ51 will depart Houston at 19:50 and arrive in Manchester at 09:40. Flight SQ51 will then depart Manchester at 11:10 and arrive in Singapore at 07:55.

Speaking about the launch, the carrier's vice president for Europe, Subhas Menon, said: “Our new non-stop routes to Houston and Singapore from Manchester are the first outside of London to offer travellers more convenient travel to these cities. We are committed to this region and want to continue to develop our relationship with the people and businesses of the North West. With our partnership with Flybe, these routes are also open to travellers from 11 cities across the UK including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.”

Rocky Mountaineer extends Peaks & Perks offer

ITALY’S GARDALAND has announced a new addition for 2017 virtual reality applied to the park’s most iconic rollercoaster to immerse passengers in a parallel reality. The new experience Virtual Reality on a Rollercoaster – will be available from the opening of season 2017.

G Adventures adds new experiences A HALLOWEEN PARTY at Bran Castle in Romania, celebrating Haitian Carnival in Jacmel, jamming at Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica, indulging at Pizzafest in Italy, and running in the Serengeti half-marathon are all new, oncein-a-lifetime experiences now available with the launch of G Adventures’ Limited Edition programme.

The updated programme of tours combines existing 'one-off' trips with newly created trips, and is designed to get travellers more immersed in a country by delivering experiences that are completely unique to a place and its people.

The 32 trips offer experiences in more than 20 countries, and also include recognised events such as La Tomatina in Spain, Carnivals in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and Venice, Italy, and Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

As an example of prices, guests can explore everything pizza at Pizza Village in Italy including pizza-making demonstrations, listening to authentic Neapolitan music and tastings. There are also visits to Pompeii and Sorrento included in the five-day tour, where travellers will try their hand at limoncello-making to wash down the pizza. Prices start from £399 per person.

For more information or to book call 0344-272 2040 or visit gadventures.co.uk

New YOTELAIR opens at Paris Charles de Gaulle YOTEL, THE affordable luxury hotel group, has announced the opening of its newest location in Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport.

The opening, which coincides with the rebrand of YOTEL airport locations to YOTELAIR, will be specifically designed to cater to the needs of busy travellers.

The hotel is the airport’s first airside hotel and forms part of the opening of the new transit lounge area ‘Instant Paris’. Rooms are bookable by the hour and ideal for travellers with a long layover or looking to catch an early flight. Passengers can take advantage of early check-in and drop baggage off the night before their flight to ensure a seamless experience in the morning.

Reception, also known as Mission Control, features round the clock flight information to ensure travellers stay up to date on flight departures.

Guests will also have access to the YOTELAIR Club Lounge where they can enjoy free hot drinks whilst relaxing on sofas or sitting at workspaces with USB charging points, all with free and fast Wi-Fi connectivity.

Meanwhile, the hotel's premium rooms (known as cabins) feature space-saving adjustable SmartBeds with Serta gel mattresses, and all cabins have ensuite bathrooms with monsoon rain showers, mood lighting and HD TVs that can be connected to guests’ own devices.

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ROCKY MOUNTAINEER is giving UK travellers more incentive to book a Canadian Rockies adventure by extending its exclusive Peaks and Perks offer until December 16.

Guests can receive up to £400 in added value on eligible packages to a selection of Canada’s destinations during 2017, when a year-long series of events will mark the 150th anniversary of the country’s confederation.

For an extended time, qualifying journeys in both GoldLeaf and SilverLeaf Service of eight days (seven nights) or more will receive credit to be used towards a variety of add-ons for their trip. These include extra hotel nights in Seattle, Vancouver or Calgary, airport transfers and additional routes, meals, activities and tours. Credit can also be applied to an Alaskan Cruise as part of the company's Rail and Cruise packages.

As an example, one of the most popular eligible holiday options is the 11-day/tennight Coastal Passage Western Explorer package.

The journey begins in Seattle before travelling to Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff, concluding in Calgary.

Prices start from £2,854 per person, with highlights including three days on Rocky Mountaineer, an Icefields Parkway Tour, the Banff Gondola and helicopter flightseeing over the Rockies.

For further information visit rockymountaineer.com

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Notes from . . . n o t n a m r No

2017 Brochure Out Now • Weekly Nile Cruise departures all year round • Lake Nasser cruises • Luxor, Cairo, Aswan, Hurghada, El Gouna, Marsa Alam, Soma Bay Sharm El Sheikh • Tailor made and Multi-centre ORDER FROM brochures@discoveregypt.co.uk or www.tradegate.co.uk

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REAT START to my WTM adventure - I bumped into John McEwan at the tube station which was lucky for me as he made sure I was on the right tube/train as that is where he was going - thanks John! I enjoyed meeting Vasiliki, general manager of ERMIA Hotels, to find out more about their hotels. I liked the look of the Amaryllis Beach Hotel on Paros apparently Tom Hanks has stayed there. I also met up with Demetris and Farah from St.Raphael Resort Htl in Limassol; fancied that as well!

Bumped into Lee Hamilton from Prestige who has just finished compiling their new selection of escorted group tours for 2017, backed with a very nice looking brochure. I hadn’t realised they had been arranging group tours to interesting places for over 27 years!

And as we were on the Greek stand he was telling me about their new ‘Alexander the Great and Aristotle’ tour to the Northern part of Greece known as Macedonia. This new short break tour of five nights retells the stories of the “Man who knew everything” and his most notorious student – Alexander the Great, with iconic sights and spectacular scenery and great guides. They have two tours in 2017 - see toursprestigeholidays.co.uk - bet you have customers that would love it.

Sandra Bruce took me to the Classic Collection evening on a boat at the Embankment. Was lovely to catch up with Andrew Farr and Vanda and I couldn’t believe it when my name was called out and I had won star prize of a £100 Harrods voucher! How lucky am I? And I can use it online. Thank you Andrew! It was fantastic to see so many people - I caught up with lovely Den Ashby on the ABTA stand which was great.

It was a wonderful day and then back home to everything covered in snow, but by the time you read this I will be in Hurghada with Red Sea Holidays!

‘Sometimes silence is better than being right’ and ‘Live in the moment but look forward to what is coming next’.

Call 020 7407 2111 Visit www.discoveregypt.co.uk

by SANDRA MURRAY in Normanton, Yorkshire 11223

To respond to any of Sandy’s comments email lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk

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Booking incentives ●

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Agents can earn free nights for every Elegant Hotel booking they make thanks to an online reward scheme offered by the group, which owns and operates six hotels and resorts in Barbados. The hotel group recently added to its offering on the Caribbean island with the redesigned Waves Hotel and Spa. Located on the platinum west coast, the 70-room hotel is all-inclusive and welcomes couples, families and friends. For details see eleganthotelsrewards.com DoSomethingDifferent.com is giving agents the chance to win a holiday for four people to Disneyland Paris. Every booking made for the park between now and December 31 will be entered into a draw.

Every booking counts as a separate entry so the more bookings are made, the better the chance of winning. The prize includes four Eurostar tickets from London St. Pancras, two nights in an on-site hotel and four Disneyland Paris tickets for the duration. All bookings should be emailed to WIN@dosomethingdifferent.com with the order number and ‘I need magic!’ in the subject line. The prize needs to be taken before September 30, 2017.

Agents booking with If Only… are being offered a bottle of Australian bubbly with every Australia, New Zealand or Pacific Islands booking. This is in addition to MoneyCard rewards of between £10 and £300 offered for every eligible booking.

Travel 2 has launched two agent promotions across North and South America to complement its tailor-made touring programme. As part of its 'Experience Nature, Explore Canada' campaign, agents booking customers to the country before November 20 have the chance to win £1,000 to put towards their own Canadian holiday. Bookings should include Air Canada flights and a Rocky Mountaineer package. Agents booking trips to Chile before November 30 also have the chance to win one of four £300 credits on their T2 Rewards Card. Bookings must include flights with LATAM Airlines and three nights' land arrangements in Chile.

Details at travel2.com

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AGENT AGENDA...Three agents rece ntly completed The Global Travel Group’s (TGTG) Travel Agents Foundation Course. The comprehensive two-we ek ‘how to become a successful travel agent’ training prog ramme gave the new members an overview into all aspects of running their travel business, from using the cons ortium’s internal booking systems to an introduction to marketi ng their new agency.

Pictured with TGTG's Louise Baxend ell (left) are, from the left: Naomi Morrison, Destinaytion; Rob Gower, Dragonfly Traveller; Lisa Gower, Dragonfly Tra veller; and Lezli Flaherty, TGTG.

AGENT TRAINING FRED. OLSEN Cruise Lines has reviewed and refreshed its communications channels with the travel trade, improving the format of its weekly e-shots, known as the ‘Focus Update’ – sent weekly to agents on Wednesday afternoons – and enhancing its dedicated trade website, the Travel Agent Centre (‘TAC’). As well as updating the design and layout of the TAC, it will now feature newlyreleased deals, campaign offers and news stories, on a live rolling feed. This will allow trade partners to access information as soon as it is announced, without having to wait for the weekly updates. The company’s online training tool can be accessed via fredolsentraining.com

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Su Doku

Where Am I?

Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle Number: 044

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, November 24th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 4th November is Sharon Chapman, Eden Escapes in Fife.

November 4th Solution: A=7 B=2 C=5 D=4

Crossword

This sea cave is made up of hexagonally jointed basalt columns created by intense volcanic activity. Its size and sounds produced by the echoes of waves, give it the atmosphere of a natural cathedral and is named the “melodious cave” in Gaelic.

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

Number: 044

Across 1. Operator specialising in UK family holidays and short breaks (7) 5. East Sussex town, home to the historic Mermaid Inn (3) 6. Northern Territory town featured in a classic 50's film (5) 8. South American city, in short (3) 9. Room for two (4) 10. Cosmopolitan resort on the French Riviera (4) 12. Active volcano on the island of Sicily (4) 13. Devon born singer / songwriter, ___ Stone (4) 15. Country, initially (3)

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16. Currency of Jordan (5) 17. Tallinn airport code (3) 18. Queensland resort, sounds like Paradise (7) Down 1. Second series of Sir David Attenborough's acclaimed nature documentary (6,5) 2. Airline with its HQ in Madrid (6) 3. One of the Channel Isles (4) 4. Operator specialising in holiday villages in woodland settings (6,5) 5. Tony, of Blackadder and Time Team fame (8) 7. City on the Bosphorus (8) 11. Ferry operator, sounds like a bird (6) 14. Strait between Tasmania and mainland Australia (4)

For the solution to the Crossword and Where Am I? Please see page 30 November 18 2016

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Industry Insight by...

As we near the end of the year, ANDY STARK, managing director of The Global Travel Group, offers his take on what the industry learnt in 2016...

T

HE END of the year is in sight so it seems as good a time as any to look back over where this eventful year has taken the travel industry.

Perhaps the biggest learning lesson this year has been how politics can impact the travel sector – and there’s no doubt that it has been an unusually turbulent time for the UK government.

The year started with a series of high profile terrorist attacks across the globe and we continue to experience heightened security levels with some traditionally popular resorts experiencing less tourism as a result. What we should take from this however, is the way in which the travel industry remains resilient by adapting its offering to meet the changing travel patterns of UK holidaymakers.

A great example of this is shown in the ABTA Holiday Habits Report 2016. Whilst the number of people taking a beach holiday has fallen from 50% to 38%, more than half of respondents (53%) have taken a city break in the past year -and almost as many are planning one for 2017. In testing times, this is a true example of independent agents and suppliers reacting quickly and adapting their offering to meet the needs of the current climate.

The report also highlighted the benefits that agents deliver in terms of financial protection, which is considered 81% more important this year when it comes to booking a package. Not to mention the benefit of having absolutely everything taken care of in an increasingly time-poor age (up 59% year-on-year). All of which means fam trips to destinations that are perceived to be safer and training programmes on emerging trends remain as valuable as ever.

Another topic underlying some of the biggest travel news stories of the year was the need for transparency. From Uber losing its landmark tribunal over drivers working rights, to concerns over the financial health of some tour operators, it’s

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a good reminder that customer trust is key to business success, whatever your size. This is something every agent should prioritise when deciding which partners to work with so that your high standards of service are never compromised.

"Brits are known for being resilient in the face of crisis" On a cheerier note, Brazil was in the spotlight once again this summer as we were glued to our screens following Team GB’s Olympic and Paralympic success. Many of our members have reported that it really propelled the country into a must-visit destination, with interest having been stimulated in 2014 during the FIFA World Cup. Whilst there may be fewer big-name sporting events for the year ahead, there are still a few countries to brush up on. In particular, watch out for Bermuda, set to host the 35th America’s Cup Race in May and June; Toronto, which will host the Invictus Games in September; plus growing interest in South Korea in the build up to the February 2018 Winter Olympics.

From The Global Travel Group’s perspective, it has been a very eventful year. This May saw us host our annual conference overseas for the first time. Not only did our members influence the session topics and enjoy top networking, but being in Dubai enabled agents to familiarise themselves with the increasingly popular destination. Watch out for news on where we are headed for our 2017 conference.

Whatever the future holds, Brits are known for being resilient in the face of a crisis. And despite the uncertainties that hang over holidays, tourism predictions for the year ahead remain positive and if 2016 is anything to go by, I am in no doubt that the travel industry will continue to shine bright.

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FIND SOME INSPIRATION IN ITALY THIS WINTER Paris to Milan or Turin from just £27*

hoose nd in style. C a d e e p s h at hig n!

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BOOK CHEAPER FARES For a limited time only book fares from just £27 one way* in Standard Class and from £36 one way* in First Class. Book until 28 November 2016. Travel dates from 24 November 2016 until 15 January 2017

www.voyages-sncf.eu Call: 0844 848 4066 Website:

*Based on the cheapest adult one way fare, subject to availability, terms and conditions apply **Based on the cheapest adult return fare in Standard Class subject to availability, terms and conditions apply

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Rotana outlines ambitious plan for 16 new openings by end of 2017 ROTANA HOTELS and Resorts outlined its vision at WTM to have 100 hotels in operation by 2020, with the opening of 16 new properties by the end of next year.

Omer Kaddouri, the group’s president and CEO, said: “We’re looking at a total of 75 hotels by the end of 2017 in 11 destinations. Our global expansion strategy will not only increase our presence in a range of destinations but will also allow us to reinforce our position as a one of the leaders in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe.”

The group’s ongoing strategic growth momentum will include the opening of five new properties in the UAE, four in Saudi Arabia, two in both Turkey and Iraq, plus the opening of the company’s first properties in both Iran and Muscat, Oman.

Meanwhile, Europe remains an important market and the company is keen to open hotels in key European cities including Paris, Barcelona and Frankfurt, as well as the UK.

Costa Rica develops new training programme to boost agents’ knowledge TRAVEL AGENTS will soon be better equipped to sell Costa Rica thanks to a new training programme being developed by the country’s tourist board.

Due to launch before the end of the year, the programme will be called Pura Vida University, which translates as Pure Life. Consisting of five modules it will offer agents an overview of Costa Rica, including how to get there and the wide range of activities on offer. One lucky agent will also win a trip to the small Central American country.

Speaking at World Travel Market, chief marketing officer for the Costa Rica Tourist Board, Alejandro Castro Alfaro, said: “We want agents to better understand our destination as it is very diverse. We have a big variety of destinations within our country and we want to highlight everything that makes us different.”

A haven for anyone interested in wildlife and biodiversity, the country is home to some 95,000 registered species, equivalent to approximately 5% of all the known species in the world.

“More than a quarter of the country is protected and classed as National Parks, Wildlife Areas and Biological Reserves. Experiences on offer range from adventure, nature and wildlife to beach, relaxation, romance and history.”

Getting to the destination is now easier thanks to a new direct flight from Gatwick to San Jose introduced in April by British Airways. According to the tourist board, this has helped boost visitor figures, with the number of UK travellers up 55% compared to the same period last year.

Alfaro stressed the importance of travellers getting out and seeing the

country rather than being based in one place. He added: “Going to Costa Rica without getting to move around and experience the volcanoes, beaches and forests is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower.

“In terms of current trends, the gastronomy scene is in popular demand, with people experimenting, innovating and changing recipes using traditional ingredients to deliver international cuisine.

“Everything to do with wellness is also pretty big. Treatments are organic and natural. For example, visitors can have a Jacuzzi outside in a hot spring. We always go back to sustainability and nature because that’s the way we’ve been defined. It’s in our DNA. It’s implicit and something that’s simply imbedded into our culture.”

Texas welcomes boost in UK visitors

BRAD SMYTH, tourism director at Texas Tourism, and Marine Buisson, PR representative for Texas Tourism, celebrate a boost in UK visitors to Texas at WTM.

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November 18 2016

TEXAS IS enjoying a boost in visitors from the UK with more travellers keen to seek new and different experiences.

Following an increase of 17% of UK arrivals in 2015, a direct flight was introduced by Singapore Airlines from Manchester to Houston last month.

Tourism director for Texas, Brad Smyth, said: “We’ve been very excited to see the growth of UK travel, not just in numbers but also in investment. We already have some great airlines flying into Texas from London, but now we have a direct service from Northern England, which is wonderful because it’s a very important market for us.”

The destination is focusing on pushing the different types of experiences available in Texas and ‘travelling like a local’.

Smyth said: “We are seeing more people experiencing new things and discovering the modern Texas, beyond the cowboys and rodeos. Cowboys are a great part of our culture, but we are made up of many, including Spanish, German and African American influences. These have all come together to create a real mix. Food has also been a big drive. The barbecue scene is unique and people are getting out into the hills to experience the wines and craft beer.”

Smyth was also keen to point out that Texas is a great destination for shopping, with international travellers able to have their taxes refunded in many of the malls.

Meanwhile, Texas is looking forward to celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail in 2017 – marking the beginning of the great cattle drive heading north.

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CHEQUE IT OUT… Affordable Car Hire presented a cheque for more than £3,700 to Just a Drop, on Monday November 7, the first day of WTM. During the show, the team was on the exhibition floor aiming to raise more money for the charity. Pictured are members of the team (in red) with, from the left: Angela Day, Affordable; Fiona Jeffery, Just a Drop; Brendan Hanlon, Just a Drop; and Hayley Attwood and James Moore, Affordable.

Record British tourist arrivals in Greece for third year running THE NUMBER of British tourists travelling to Greece has risen for the third year running.

In the period from January to August 2016, Greece saw a 7.7% increase of arrivals from the UK, welcoming approximately 1.9 million UK visitors compared to 1.8 million in the same period last year, with a staggering 14% in August alone.

Christina Kalogera, director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation UK and Ireland office, said: "2016 has seen the third consecutive year of growth in tourism to Greece from the UK. Financial and political stability have contributed to this growth but continuing investment in the tourism product has resulted in a dynamic choice for discerning visitors."

Looking set to boost figures further for next year, Jet2 has announced it will fly to four new Greek destinations for summer 2017 from its new base at Stansted Airport.

Flights will depart to Crete (Heraklion), Kos, Rhodes and Zante increasing further opportunities for travellers from the south east.

Speaking at World Travel Market, Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura, said: "2016 has

been a great year for Greek tourism. By the end of the year, international arrivals are expected to exceed 27 million including cruise, which is a new record for Greece.

"The growing demand in the UK for travelling to Greece means that several airlines and tour operators have already organised new flights and routes for 2017.

British travellers are very loyal and the numbers are growing year-on-year."

Kountoura added that she wanted to establish Greece as a year-round destination and that the tourism organisation had been working hard to extend the season from the middle of March to the middle of November.

She said: "The right time has come for Greece to expose the variety of our destination and range of our experiences we have year-round to satisfy the most demanding of visitors.

"We are attracting visitors from new markets but we are also reinforcing our presence in dynamic markets such as the UK, which has been, and continues to be a market of high importance to us."

Early indications of bookings for 2017 reveal a year-on-year increase of 23%.

The Great Lakes USA issues 2017 brochure PRINCE IS featured on the cover of the new visitor guide which celebrates pop culture throughout the Great Lakes region Minnesota (the home of Prince until his death earlier this year), Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio, recently unveiled at WTM. Great Lakes USA has focused on pop culture for the new visitor guide in support of Brand USA’s new documentary on American pop culture planned for release in 2018, following the success of ‘American Wild’ this year, showcasing the best of the US National Parks.

The 2017 visitor guide can be downloaded and ordered from greatlakesusa.co.uk or by emailing info@cellet.co.uk

Palladium highlights newly opened Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife THE NEWLY opened Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife offers something for every type of guest - from family-friendly to adult-only experiences. That was the key message to agents from owners, The Palladium Hotel Group at World Travel Market.

Almost a month after opening, the hotel on the Canary Island’s southern coast near Adje, is hoping to attract a third of its guests from the UK to match the destination’s market share.

The new property is the second from the group to be aligned with Hard Rock International, one of the world’s most recongnised and iconic brands. It comprises 624 rooms split across two towers, Oasis and Nirvana, combining contemporary interiors with lavish amenities.

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Sergio Zerthuche, vice president sales and marketing for the Palladium Hotel Group, said: “The layout of the hotel with the two towers allows us to give a specific experience for the different segments that we want to attract. One tower is more family-orientated with all of the kids clubs, and the other is more for adults who have their own pool and a beach club. It is these different areas that will differentiate us from the other hotels.”

Zerthuche recognised that the island mainly attracted families and the more mature traveller, but that the MICE industry was becoming increasingly more relevant.

He said: “We want to make sure agents know that all their clients are

guaranteed a spectacular experience aligned to their needs. The hotel is for everybody and we are going to make sure that each and every type of client has the experience they desire because we will cover all their expectations.”

The hotel will stamp its mark on Tenerife with its ‘Children of the 80s’ Grand Opening Party on December 10. With the Village People leading the line-up, the party comes to Tenerife in the wave of the concept’s huge success in Ibiza, which launched at Hard Rock Ibiza last summer.

Meanwhile, Palladium has employed its first full time agency sales rep for the UK, Joanne Peters, whose focus will be on the Hard Rock Tenerife for the first few months.

November 18 2016

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Adventure tourism in Ras Al Khaimah soars to new heights on Iron Path THIS MONTH Ras Al Khaimah will be launching adventure tours on the region’s first Via Ferrata (Iron Path).

Produced by the Tourism Development Authority, the three-course 470 metre-long adventure product spans the rocky facades of Jebel Jais, the country’s highest peak and complements the rugged Al Hajar mountain range, where the average climate is 10°C below mean Gulf temperatures.

Located 45 minutes from a growing stock of beachfront resorts, the Via Ferrata is the next strategic step in the emirate’s dedicated tourism strategy, which aims to attract one million visitors by 2018.

Haitham Mattar, CEO of the tourism development authority, said: “Our target is well on track; we had 760,000 visitors in 2015 and we will close this year with about 820,000. Our target next year is to continue with this same level of growth to see a rise of another 10-11%.

“The UK has been the most resilient and loyal market that we've seen, indicating that UK travellers continue to travel through good times and bad. Despite perhaps any impact of Brexit or economic downturn, we've seen a 28% growth from the UK market year-on-year for January to September.

“One of the reasons for this is that we offer great value for money. We have a four-star price point for a beachfront five-star product, many of which have an all-inclusive offering. We've also seen a 70% growth in the family segment which we will continue to nurture, but we also want to grow with young couples and millennials, hence our investment in developing our adventure product.”

Haitham Matter, CEO for Ras Al Khaimah TDA

Already in the pipeline are plans to launch the world’s longest zip-line in the last quarter of 2017 as part of a larger development with multiple zip-lines and an adventure park. Combined the offerings will further develop Jebel Jais into an adventure and activity tourism hub.

Hotelbeds promotes launch of APItude Cloud with focus on speed and simplicity HOTELBEDS HAS used World Travel Market to launch the APItude Cloud – a cloud based version of APItude, its API connectivity suite.

The b2b provider, which has an online database of more than 100,000 hotels in 185 countries, created APItude Cloud following customer demand for APItude.

Set to launch within the next month, the cloud will deliver faster response times and has incorporated new functionalities in Booking API and Content API. These include booking modifications, more advanced filters to help users find exactly what they need, the introduction

of e-vouchers and an updated hotels list to further enhance the developer experience. It is expected to be rolled out over the next year.

The company's sales director, Sam Turner, said: “Technology for us is very important and one of the ways we differentiate. We have the fastest and lightest hotel distribution API in the market, but with more and more searches coming via mobile, speed is going to become even more important.

“Clients won’t need to do anything.

They will just see an improvement, especially those outside of Europe. We handle huge volumes of traffic – around 20 billion searches a year, which is

increasing very quickly. Putting everything in the cloud will enable us to offer faster response times.

“This step forward will help us to continue focusing on what online travel agents and tour operators demand simplicity.”

APItude enhances the developer experience by making the integration process easier, faster and more intuitive, allowing partners to develop their own travel website or mobile app using Hotelbeds’ product portfolio. Via the app, partners gain access to more than 100,000 hotels, 19,000 transfer routes and 12,000 activities offered by the group.

Colorado Tourism Office launches ‘Year of Summer Adventure’ THE COLORADO TOURISM Office launched its Year of Summer Adventure at WTM, highlighting its soft and hard adventure options available throughout the months of May to September 2017, and which will overarch all activities across the UK and Ireland next year.

Andrea Blankenship, director of international tourism for the tourist office, said: “When most people think of Colorado they instantly think of ski but we also want people to understand that year-round activities are also available.

Adventure is really what we're focusing on - everything from soft adventure for those travelling with their families who might want some easy hikes or bike rides, to some of the more extreme sports that visitors can do such as canyoning, white-water rafting, hang-gliding and cliff camping; there's a little bit of something for everybody.”

The campaign aims to surpass the record 77.7million visitors who visited Colorado in 2015, and will focus on both new and existing activities across the state. New cycle trails have also recently opened, including the I-70 bike path that links Denver International Airport to Glenwood Springs.

Agents keen to explore the state should keep an eye out for further details next year on a mega fam which is being planned for September. Further destination information can be found at colorado.com

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Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau takes to the road to educate agents THE SRI LANKA Tourism Promotion Bureau has been delivering roadshow events in Manchester, Birmingham and London, bringing the sights and sounds of the destination, as well as the latest news and selling tips, to the travel trade.

Sri Lanka tourism surged to a new record high of 1.8 million arrivals in 2015, an increase of 17.8% over 2014. The UK accounts for 9% of arrivals, the third largest source market behind India and China with 161,845 visitors in 2015, 12.26% up on 2014.

Madubhani Perera, director of marketing for the tourism promotion bureau, said: “We are delighted to be able to host this series of trade events in the UK. Sri Lanka is now one of the most exciting destinations in the world and the growth that we have experienced over the past two years has been really encouraging. The authenticity and uniqueness of the island's offerings, in addition to its value for money, appeal to the UK market.”

Updated Celebrity Cruises brochure offers new selling tools CELEBRITY CRUISES’ 2017/18 newly updated worldwide brochure features new ways to extend a cruise holiday, more sailings to global events and yearround Caribbean itineraries.

With more than 280 destinations and more overnight stays, including ten double overnights plus more Jet Set Sail packages, the operator aims to help agents tailor a holiday to suit any client.

In addition, the operator has been delivering point-of-sale toolkits to consortia member agents up and down the UK to further support them in selling holidays. More than 100 agents from across the consortia portfolio will receive toolkits including Suite Class freestanding totem signage, cube stacks and Suite Class desk stands. Agents have been selected based on their luxury client base, in-depth

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knowledge of the cruise sector and their continued support of the cruise line.

Sarah Harraghy, the line’s commercial sales director for UK and Ireland, said: “As always, independent agents are hugely important to Celebrity Cruises and working closely with consortia members is key to our business. Based on feedback from these agents, our trade support team including our dedicated strategic account manager for consortia, Bhavneeta Taylor, have created these kits to equip agents with the best tools in order to sell cruises to their luxury client base. I am confident that they will find these useful and we hope to be able to offer more of this support during the busy turn of year period.”

For more information visit cruisingpower.co.uk

Funway brings the Caribbean to Chester FUNWAY HOLIDAYS recently ran a dedicated Caribbean and Mexico training event in Chester for travel agents.

In addition to some indepth training on the two destinations from a selection of suppliers, agents were offered prizes.

The winner of the main prize was Michael Atkinson from Thomas Cook who received a seven-night, allinclusive holiday for two to Barbados staying at Elite Island Resorts’ four-star The Club Barbados Resort and Spa including Economy flights with Virgin Atlantic and transfers with Suntours Caribbean.

For more information see funway4agents.co.uk

November 18 2016

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Visions Holiday to run South Africa training days in December VISIONS HOLIDAY Group is running three South Africa training days on December 13, 14, 15 in Cockermouth, Moulton Richmond in North Yorkshire and Liverpool Airport respectively.

Agents will have the opportunity to learn more about how to get their customers to South Africa and gain an insight into the destination’s game reserves, culture, history, wine tasting and rail journeys.

The group will be joined by South African Airways who will be talking about some of its latest routes, with Planet Destinations providing firsthand knowledge of the accommodation options with the Shamwari Group, Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town and Oude Werf in Stellenbosch.

Each of the events are free with lunch and refreshments provided as well as a prize giveaway.

For more information contact Abbey Simkiss at abbey@visionsholidaygroup.co.uk by December 1.

AS PART of the Silversea Advocates programme, Tiffany Bechman (left) from Fortune Travel was presented with a £300 Tiffany voucher by the cruise line’s Donatella Valzasina. Silversea Advocates is a reward and recognition programme for travel agents and homeworkers across the UK, designed to recognise hard work with a range of rewards.

Princess Cruises hails popularity of ‘Ask Isaac’

TravelGym brings some of the UK trade's top training courses - and some awesome rewards - to our established travel agent audience. SO, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET TRAINING TODAY!

WIN ONE of SIX 7-night holiday's for two at the brand new Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife!!

The new five star Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife sits on the Canary Island’s southern coast near Adeje and offers family-friendly and adult-only experiences through its contemporary five-star facilities and services. Register today: www.HRHTenerifeexperts.com

Vancouver Specialist Program There’s so much to do and see in Vancouver, make sure you give your clients the best recommendations! Enhance your knowledge and increase your confidence in selling Vancouver by becoming a Vancouver Specialist. Qualified Vancouver Specialists gain access to exclusive webinar invitations, industry rates and an Experience Pass for complimentary admission to the city's key attractions and sightseeing activities for personal Fam visits!

Learn more today: www.tourismvancouver.com/VSP !

Win a Luxury Holiday to Gran Canaria!

Learn more about Gran Canaria new resorts, golden sand beaches, amazing green inland and wide range of ideas for fantastic leisure experiences and you can win a luxury week holiday for 2 to 4*Sup Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort, Spa & Casino, located on the seafront, a few meters from Maspalomas dunes.

This prize also includes the car rental to discover the real beauty of Gran Canaria! www.grancanariaexperts.com

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November 18 2016

PRINCESS CRUISES has reported that more than 10% of agent enquiries are now being handled through its new online agent webchat.

Named ‘Ask Isaac’, after the bartender in The Love Boat TV series, the tool was launched in August and created to offer immediate support and information to travel agents. The tool was launched by the cruise line’s Australia office a year ago and now accounts for around one-third of all agent enquiries. The UK office expects enquiries to reach this level within 12 months.

Tony Roberts, the line’s vice president UK and Europe, said: “We’re ahead of our initial projections for Ask Isaac usage and would like to thank agents for their early engagement.

Using a web chat to speak to our team is fast, easy and convenient; give it a try if you haven’t already and we’ll make sure you get everything you need from us at the touch of a button.”

Ask Isaac is available via the company’s online agent portal onesourcecruises.com

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FOR A taste of Japanese culture the Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau is encouraging UK visitors to include some of the city’s 1,600 Buddhist temples and UNESCO sites in their travel plans for 2017.

The Kodai-ji Temple is a true example of Kyoto landscape architecture and offers afternoons of quiet reflection and walks through the bamboo grove. Views of Kyoto are rewarded to those who reach the top of the hill and the two teahouses on site pay homage to the leading master of the ceremony, Senno-Rikyu. Rich in history too, the temple contains the mausoleum of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), the great warlord who unified Japan after centuries of ceaseless warfare. Visit kyoto.travel/en

Thailand introduces ‘Unique Local Experiences’ at WTM DESIGNED TO fit in with the ‘Year of Sustainable Tourism Development’ proclaimed by the UN World Tourism Organization for 2017, Thailand recently unveiled its ‘Unique Thai Local Experiences” campaign at WTM. H.E. Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, minister of Tourism and Sports, said: “We are here at WTM 2016; this means life goes on in Thailand with the strong intention to follow in the King’s footsteps. Now it is Thailand’s sharing period. We would like to thank our friends from all over the world for standing by us at this time. All events, festivals and sports tournaments and cultural traditions will be going ahead as scheduled and a sense of respect and appropriateness will be maintained, as well as to ensure safety and security for tourists coming to the Kingdom.”

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has planned to turn Thailand into a sporting hub by promoting and supporting regional and international sporting events and tournaments.

Also in 2017, the authority aims to offer valued experiences to travellers by focusing on ‘Unique Thai Local Experiences’.

Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT governor, said: “Promoting local experiences will not only benefit visitors, but also the local people as well as travel agents. We strongly believe that each local community of Thailand can deliver distinctive, genuine, unique hospitality and Thai culture, with new exciting experiences to tourists. Also, this will create new and unique quality products for travel agents to offer to their customers.”

Vietnam Airlines enhances services to support passengers with reduced mobility and improve airport convenience VIETNAM AIRLINES has introduced new and enhanced services to support passengers with reduced mobility, providing additional assistance and convenience for people with disabilities, walking difficulties, impaired hearing or vision, and the elderly or infirm, when passing through airports or when boarding or disembarking from flights.

The airline has put 80 fully equipped, international standard wheelchairs and 11 forklifts into use across airports in Vietnam, with specially trained staff on hand to provide assistance. At Heathrow and other overseas airports, these services will also be provided for free by the airline via local operators. The airline’s twin-aisle aircraft including the next-generation Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that operates its daily non-stop services from Heathrow - are designed to have smart and user-friendly restrooms.

Free services will be available to passengers including personal wheelchairs and carriage of guide dogs on all domestic and international flights. Priority seating will also be allocated in accordance with all safety requirements. Any passengers with limited mobility simply need to have their special status registered when booking in order for them to benefit from these services, with a newly reduced registration deadline of eight hours notice for domestic flights and 24-hours for international flights.

For further information visit vietnamairlines.com

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THE LUXURY Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, will debut the brand’s first hotel in Singapore.

Following an extensive renovation, The Duxton Club is expected to open in the historic Tanjong Pagar conservation district and will comprise two pre-war colonial shophouse buildings within walking distance of each other; The Duxton House scheduled to open early 2017 and The Duxton Terrace scheduled to open in July.

Originally constructed in the early 19th century, The Duxton House features 50 guestrooms in eight adjoining three-storey buildings. Once restored, the hotel will include a destination restaurant, signature bar and private cigar room.

The Duxton Terrace comprises 14 adjoining three- and four-storey colonial-era buildings with 138-guestrooms. The hotel will house five food and beverage venues including a signature bar and lobby bar, an all-day dining restaurant, a poolside bar and an exclusive member’s club. Additional facilities will include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and cigar room.

Guests will enjoy full use of the facilities at both premises.

Visit theluxurycollection.com for more information.

November 18 2016

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SOL HOTELS & Resorts is to launch its first hotel in Vietnam next month; Sol Beach House Phu Quoc. Positioned as a chic lifestyle hotel brand, the 284-bedroom resort is located on the Truong Beach, the prime beach destination of the main island and just south of the main town of Duong Dong. The property has an opening rate valid until December 24 of $89 per room, per night on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

Visit melia.com

On The Go Tours launches new off-the-beaten-track Myanmar adventures ON THE Go Tours has launched three newly curated tours in Myanmar designed to appeal to travellers seeking an adventure off-the-beaten-path. Opening its doors to tourism in 2012, Myanmar is still largely undiscovered and, with tours ranging from five to 14 days, the operator is offering visitors the chance to explore the sights in a ‘Yangon City Stay’ or enjoy the best of both worlds in ‘Best of Myanmar & Beach’. Departure dates range throughout 2016 and 2017 and each tour starts and ends in the vibrant city of Yangon.

As an example, an eight-day ‘Meet Me in Myanmar’ takes explorers through Myanmar’s key cultural delights.

The tour begins in Yangon and continues onto Mandalay for a boat trip to Mingun, home to what was intended to be the world’s largest pagoda. Travellers will then visit the ancient city of Amarapura and the Mahagandayon Monastery before heading back to Mandalay to visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, featuring a13ft tall bronze Buddha believed to be more than 2,000 years old. The tour continues with a cruise along the Irrawaddy River before arriving into Bagan where visitors spend the day exploring the plains, home to more 2,000 temples and pagodas dating back some 800 years.

Priced from £1,045 per person, the package includes seven nights in three- to four-star hotels with breakfast; guided sightseeing in Yangon, Mandalay, Amarapura, Inwa

and Bagan; and a private sunset boat trip on the Irrawaddy River in Bagan. One-way Economy flights from Yangon to Mandalay and Bagan to Yangon are included, as well as airport transfers on days one and eight.

Visit onthegotours.com or call 020-7371 1113 for more details.

Raffles Hotel Singapore embarks on 16-month restoration programme

RAFFLES HOTEL Singapore is to embark on a refurbishment programme, which will be conducted over three phases.

Phase one will begin in January 2017 and will see the Arcade, an integral part of the landmark building with its shops, function areas, restaurants and bars, undergo restoration works, while other areas of the property operate as normal.

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Phase two will begin in mid-2017 when restoration efforts will concentrate on the main hotel building, the Lobby and some of the hotel suites. The hotel will then close for the final phase near the end of 2017 before a grand reopening in the second quarter of 2018.

Declared a National Monument by the Singapore Government in 1987, the property has through the years

gained both local and international recognition.

Diana Banks, vice president for the brand and luxury sales, said: “Raffles Hotel Singapore has always evolved to stay distinctive and relevant, moving with the times and adapting to the changing needs of today’s traveller. Our sensitive restoration will enable us to continue to offer what our guests expect and value.”

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SINGAPORE AIRLINES has started its two new non-stop routes to Houston and Singapore from Manchester. Pictured celebrating the launch at a formal event at the Radisson Blu, Manchester Airport hotel, are from the left: Subhas Menon, vice president for Singapore Airlines; Lord Ahmad, Minister for Aviation; Ken O'Toole, CEO for Manchester Airport; and Sheldon Hee general manager UK and Ireland for the airline. The non-stop routes from Manchester will be operated five times weekly.

Myanmar’s Strand Yangon unveils new look following restoration project THIS WEEK saw The Strand Yangon reopen after a restoration project that has seen the luxury heritage hotel ushered into the 21st century.

Olivier Trinquand, vice president for the hotel and cruise product, said: “The Strand Yangon was one of the first luxury colonial outposts to open in South East Asia, founded in 1901 by the famous hoteliers, the Sarkies brothers, and it remains one of the most architecturally beautiful landmarks in the region. This latest project has

preserved the heritage at the heart of the hotel and honours the Strand’s part in Myanmar’s history, whilst creating a more relaxed, refined and glamorous setting for 21st century travellers and explorers.

“We are delighted to continue our investment in the revival of the Strand name in Myanmar, having successfully launched our 28-cabin ship, The Strand Cruise, on the Ayeyarwady River just over ten months ago.”

Visit hotelthestrand.com

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PRINCESS CRUISES is offering free flights and transfers on selected fly-Europe sailings to more than 50 cruises in the Mediterranean and northern Europe in 2017. The line is also giving up to $600 onboard spending money per stateroom on more than 400 non fly-Europe sailings, including voyages from the UK, Caribbean, Asia and Alaska. The offer is available for bookings made by December 20. Visit princess.com/holiday

Viking sets sail with new itinerary to Central America and Cuba VIKING OCEAN Cruises is inviting guests to explore the diversity of Cuba and the Western Caribbean on its latest eight-day Central American Shores to Cuba itinerary.

The round-trip from Miami on the Viking Sun visits four countries and five ports. The first stop is in Havana where guests can spend two days exploring the colonial boulevards before the voyage carries on to Cozumel, Mexico and Belize City, with crystal-clear snorkelling and exploration of Mayan ruins along the way. Inclusive pricing for veranda staterooms start at £2,940 per person.

The company has reported that it will be adding two new sailing dates to meet demand.

Although no availability is left on its two December sailings, there are some cabins still remaining for the November 17 and 24, 2017. The company has also included a £500 early booking discount when made by December 31, which they will now offer on all new itineraries.

Wendy Atkin-Smith, managing director for the cruise line, said: “We anticipated such a diverse itinerary would be popular with our guests, both existing and new, However, selling 50% of the new Central Shores and Cuba itinerary this quickly is testament to how popular the Viking way of cruising really is. Given the current climate, it is particularly impressive to have had such a phenomenal response so soon in the booking period – we’re reassured that people still want to spend wisely on outstanding holidays.”

Full details can be found at vikingcruises.co.uk/oceans

Regent introduces new culinary classes and explorer tours THIS DECEMBER, Seven Seas Explorer will make its North American debut in Miami and set sail for its inaugural Caribbean season.

For the ten- and 14-night Caribbean sailings this winter and spring, the line is developing new classes for the Culinary Arts Centre on-board and new Gourmet Explorer Tours at select ports of call.

The Culinary Arts Kitchen provides guests with all the ingredients needed to expand their culinary skills and the new classes for the Caribbean season include ‘Fiesta on the High Seas’ for lovers of Mexican cuisine; ‘Caribe!’ celebrating the distinctive flavours of the Caribbean; ‘Who Doesn’t Love Brunch?’; ‘Viva Espana’ for

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traditional Spanish tapas; and ‘Opa! Modern Healthy Greek’.

The line is also developing new Gourmet Explorer Tours for the Caribbean season allowing guests to explore the destinations through its epicurean offerings. Tours are accompanied by the chef instructor from the Culinary Arts Kitchen along with a local guide, with intimate knowledge of the region’s agriculture, wine and cuisine, to add an extra layer of authenticity to this immersive culinary experience. New tours for the Caribbean season include ‘St. Lucia Spices Cooking Studio’, Tortola Biodynamic Farm & Island Inspired Beach Lunch’ and ‘St. John’s Market Visit and Cooking Demo’.

Call 02380-682280 or visit rssc.com for more information.

Cunard embarks on a celestial voyage THE QUEEN Mary 2 is to offer a transatlantic crossing coinciding with International World Space Week in October 2017.

Celebrating this international event, Cunard has created a bespoke voyage which will feature a range of space themed experiences including talks from renowned space exploration experts.

As well as the featured speakers, guests will be able to visit the world’s only Planetarium at sea which takes guests on a virtual journey into the stars. The sheer size of the ship’s outside deck space also affords guests the opportunity to take a look for themselves and star gaze from the unique vantage point of the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The cruise line is also offering guests a VIP prevoyage tour of the Hayden Planetarium and the Rose Center for Space at the American Museum of Natural History followed by a VIP tour of the Intrepid Museum of Air, Sea and Space in New York. Upon arrival into the UK, there is a tailor-made package available including a twonight stay and a tour of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

November 18 2016

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FIVE-STAR LUXURY RIVER CRUISES TEN

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9 The UK’s leading river cruise company 9 Five-star quality at unbeatable prices 9 Award winning service 9 Three brand-new five-star all-suite ships launching in 2017, the MS Emily BrontÍ, MS Thomas Hardy and the MS Oscar Wilde 9 Honest pricing with no discounting 9 Highest repeat booking ratio in sector 9 Carefully designed itineraries

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S07 TB 1811 2016 Ocean Cruise_Layout 1 16/11/2016 11:16 Page 25

oceancruising

Love it first time or your money back with Saga ROYAL CARIBBEAN International’s Harmony of the Seas departed on her maiden voyage last week from her new permanent homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Joining sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas on the east coast of Florida, Harmony offers seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, providing new adventures from the islands of the Caribbean to the shores of Mexico. Visit royalcaribbean.co.uk

Food for thought in Celebrity’s Caribbean culinary tour FOR HOLIDAYMAKERS with a passion for food, Celebrity Cruises is introducing a dinner party with a difference to Antigua’s menu of immersive in-destination experiences.

The cruise line’s new ‘At home with Chef Nicole’ tour will see 12 guests invited to join seasoned local and celebrated chef, Nicole Arthurton, to discover island specialities first hand. The excursion costs £178 per person and lasts four-and-a-half hours.

Jo Rzymowska, managing director UK and Ireland for the cruise line, said: “The chance to learn to cook traditional delicacies with a highly respected local culinary artist is a rare treat. We hope that giving our guests the chance to add some authentic Antiguan fare to their gastronomic repertoire, in such a relaxed

setting, will prove the ultimate side dish to their tantalising itinerary and help them enjoy a true taste of the Caribbean.”

This new addition can be experienced on a seven-night cruise departing San Juan, Puerto Rico and calling at Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St Lucia; St John’s in Antigua for the at-home culinary tour; Philipsburg, St Maarten, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas and back to San Juan.

Prices for a nine-night holiday including flights from Heathrow, transfers, a sevennight cruise, meals and entertainment on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees cost from £3,134 per person, based on two sharing a balcony stateroom.

For more information call 0800-441 4054 or visit celebritycruises.co.uk

Family cruise offer from Cruise & Maritime Voyages CRUISE & Maritime Voyages (CMV) is offering a unique opportunity to cruise with the children or the grandchildren on its new ship Columbus in August 2017 to the Canary Islands and Madeira.

Guests can sail from Tilbury on August 11 for 14 nights to Gibraltar, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Madeira and Lisbon from £1,989 for the first passenger with the second passenger travelling free and child prices from £199.

Prices are based on two sharing a twin inner cabin on a 'buy-one-get-one-free' basis and include full board cuisine, afternoon tea, late night snacks, Captain’s cocktail party, free tea and coffee between 06:00 and midnight, big show entertainment, cabarets and classical interludes, daytime activities and leisure facilities, guest speakers, porterage of luggage and port taxes.

The new flagship of the line's fleet, Columbus, arrives in June 2017 and spans 13 decks with the capacity for 1,400 guests.

For details see cruiseandmaritime.com

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SAGA IS so confident that first-time guests will enjoy life on board that it is offering early flights home and a refund of the cruise fare to anyone who does not enjoy the sailing.

Guests can try a smallship cruise on Saga Pearl II or Saga Sapphire with a guarantee that if they find the sailing proves ‘not for them’ they can leave the ship at the next available port.

Nigel Blanks, commercial director for the over-50s company, said: “One of the greatest challenges of any business is to encourage new customers to try their products. We have such a high repeat booking rate that we know that when new people try out our cruise experience they simply want to come back for more. That’s why we’re so confident with our cruise offering that we underpin it with this satisfaction guarantee.”

The ‘Love it first time’ offer applies to new bookings only and is open to anyone who has not previouslt cruised on a Saga-owned ship.

For details visit saga.co.uk/ocean-cruises

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Seabourn returns to Alaska for the first time in 15 years SEABOURN HAS announced its plan to return to ‘The Last Frontier’ of Alaska beginning in 2017.

Having not deployed a ship there for 15 years, Seabourn Sojourn will offer a series of 11-, 12- and 14-day itineraries sailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Anchorage (Seward), Alaska, combining Alaska’s most popular ports with rarely visited hidden gems. Guests will also benefit from a special team of naturalists, science, wildlife and historical experts who will be on hand to point out and enhance the cruise experience.

John Delaney, the line’s senior vice president, global marketing and sales, said: “Our return to Alaska has been a long time coming and highly anticipated. We’re looking forward to sharing with our guests the highlights of Alaska, from the mountains and glaciers to the picturesque frontier towns and amazing wildlife. But they’ll also see an uncommon Alaska, a side that few visitors ever get to see.”

In addition, each of the new cruises will include complimentary all-weather jackets; conversations with special onboard guest speakers; opportunities for frequent wildlife sightings from the ship and shore; and ‘Caviar on the Ice’ deck party and other special deck events.

For more details visit seabourn.com

Cosmos Tours & Cruises sees 60% growth in Australasia tour & cruise COSMOS TOURS & Cruises has reported more than a 60% growth across its Australasia tour and cruise programme for 2016/17, as customers invest in a ‘trip of a lifetime’, to experience both Australia and New Zealand.

Janet Parton, head of sales for the operator, said: “We are delighted to see that despite economic uncertainties this year, our customers still want to invest in a high value ‘trip of a lifetime’.

The excitement of travelling to Australia and New Zealand is definitely a bucket

list destination for most, and 65% of customers booking our ‘Highlights of Australia’ tour want to extend their stay, with a cruise around New Zealand with Princess Cruises. This combination of a land based tour with a cruise is the perfect way to experience this incredible continent.

“To meet this demand, we have plans to expand our choice of touring products in the region, with a new tour of southern Australia and a combined tour of both Australia and New Zealand. Three-night

city stopovers in Singapore or Bangkok will also be an option for any customers booking an Australasia holiday.”

The operator’s 28-day ‘Highlights of Australia & New Zealand Cruise’ costs from £5,415 per person and includes flights, 12 nights’ hotel accommodation, the services of a tour director, 13 nights’ full-board cruise accommodation and a range of guided sightseeing and airport transfers.

Call 0800-440 2797 or visit cosmostoursandcruises.co.uk

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MADE FOR THE EXPLORERS

From the fairytale castles and forest-covered mountains of the Rhine to the ancient temples of China, a Viking river cruise is made for exploring the world in comfort and style. River view staterooms, free guided excursions and a real taste of the destinations visited keep clients coming back for more.

SAVE UP TO £1,000PP ON 2017 RIVER CRUISES 8-day river cruises from £1,395pp with all this included in the price: River-view stateroom All delicious meals on board Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board Complimentary speciality teas and coffees 24/7 Included excursion in almost every destination Free W i-Fi* Cultural enrichment programme Return scheduled flights from London Free regional flights from up to 14 UK airports

BOOK YOUR CURIOUS CLIENTS ON A VIKING RIVER CRUISE AND EARN GREAT COMMISSION

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Terms & Conditions: Prices correct at time of going to print but are subject to change. From prices are per person and based on two people sharing the lowest grade stateroom available on Romantic Danube, departing in December 2017. Prices include early booking discount and are valid until 31 December 2016. Single supplements apply. *Restrictions apply. For more information please visit vikingcruises.co.uk/terms-conditions or call us.

g n i s i u r c r e riv

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SELLING CRUISE IS CLIA

by ANDY HARMER, operations & director UK & Ireland, CLIA

A

s we approach the end of another year of cruising, then it is appropriate to look back on what has been yet another incredible year.

One of the great attractions of working in the cruise industry is that it is forever innovating in the holiday experience that it offers guests and 2016 has been no different. Almost 30 new ocean and river ships have been launched this year, and all are offering fantastic holidays.

Each of those 30 ships has its own personality, look and feel, such that as the industry grows and develops so it offers a growing range of experiences.

On-board these could be big production West-End Shows, celebrity dining experiences, language classes, skydiving, amateur singing contests and much more. Or it could be simply reading a book in a quiet corner, relaxing by the pool or watching the world go by.

And that is the point. There are so many ships now available that there is a cruise holiday to suit everyone. From river cruises on the world’s mighty rivers to small expedition ships exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations; and from action-packed ships packed with activities to all-inclusive luxury ships with pampering at the top of their list.

For CLIA Plan a Cruise Month this year we ensured that each week was themed around a certain cruise sector – one of the ideas was to showcase the breadth of holidays that cruising offers.

And the benefit of such a range of holidays is that we can reach out to an ever-wider demographic of holidaymaker in the knowledge that there is a cruise to suit them. We need to make sure that we match each customer with the right experience, the right itinerary and cabin; and to do that we need to have extensive knowledge of cruise lines, ships and destinations (and of those customers of course!).

And as we approach WAVE now is the time to access the best learning and resources offered by CLIA and our cruise line partners to brush up on those cruise destinations and ships and to stay one step ahead of the competition.

2017 is going to be another incredibly exciting year – it can also be our most successful yet.

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November 18 2016

APT introduces new 2017/18 Myanmar cruises and stopover options

APT HAS added three-day stopover packages to Bangkok and Singapore, along with two new luxury Myanmar river cruises to the UK market for the first time to help agents capitalise on the rising interest in the continent.

Coinciding with the newly launched 2017 Asia brochure, the three-day stopover packages include two nights bed-and-breakfast, transfers and a half-day city sightseeing tour. Highlights of the tour experience include visiting the Temple of the Golden Buddha in Bangkok and the chance to explore the National Orchid Garden and Little India Markets in Singapore.

The new 17- and 20-day itineraries on the line’s 60passenger RV Samatha feature a menu devised by acclaimed chef and TV personality, Luke Nguyen, helping guests enjoy a true flavour of Asia along the way as well as signature experiences.

To celebrate the new brochure, the operator has launched a range of flight-related promotions for agents to pass on to customers.

Premium customers can take advantage of the ‘companion flies free’ promotion, while luxury cruise clients are offered a ‘fly free’ deal with savings of up to £1,700 per couple on the 17-day ‘Hidden Wonders of Myanmar’ cruise. Prices for the new luxury cruise now start from £4,345 per person including flights, private transfers, Signature experiences, all meals and drinks on board, tipping, all sightseeing and onboard entertainment.

Visit aptouring.co.uk/agents or call 0800-046 3002 for more information.

Emerald Waterways launches UK’s first LGBT river cruise EMERALD WATERWAYS has launched the UK’s first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) river cruise in a move to broaden its customer base and cater for an ever-growing segment of the travel market.

David Winterton, UK brand manager for the river cruise line, said: “We are extremely proud and excited to announce this new cruise, which is not only a first for the brand but also in the UK. For a long time, there have been few options that truly cater for the LGBT community, and we hope that this venture will not only be a success but provide an amazing experience for our guests. The cruise is fully bookable by all travel agents and offers something new to their customers. With our unique heated indoor pool which turns into a cinema by night, one avenue we’d recommend is marketing to LGBT groups such as sports teams and community groups, and we are able to offer great group discounts in turn.”

The new ‘LGBT Danube Explorer’ cruise departs on July 29, 2017 and is available from £1,695 per person. In addition, all guests will receive a free Premium Drinks Package worth up to £378 per couple, entitling them to unlimited free drinks throughout their cruise.

For further information or to make a booking see emeraldwaterways.co.uk/lgbt

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rivercruising

Scenic offers double discounts on Bordeaux cruise SCENIC IS offering double discounts and three additional nights free on its ‘Luxury Bordeaux Affair Exclusive River Cruise’ when booked by November 30.

Departing on May 30, 2017 from Bordeaux, guests can save up to £1,650 per person on the 11-day itinerary which is now priced from £2,695 per person (down from £4,345) and includes destinations such as Saint-Émilion, Libourne, Bergerac and Château Giscours.

Clients can drift through postcard-worthy scenery, visit vineyards and medieval villages and experience the region’s culture with Scenic Culinaire; a new on-board cooking experience where guests can shop for local ingredients and prepare dishes under expert guidance.

Call 08081-020155 or visit scenic.co.uk for further details.

Discover Egypt sees surge in demand FOLLOWING THE FOUR-part ITV drama series ‘Tutankhamun’, Discover Egypt reports that it has seen a surge in enquiries and bookings for classic style travel along the Nile from Luxor to Edfu, Aswan and Abu Simbel.

Philip Breckner, commercial director for the specialist tour operator, said: “Classic Egypt has a timeless appeal that has been sustained simply because you just cannot replace this specific experience with travelling anywhere else on the globe. Travel agents have been reluctant to promote Egypt but Upper Egypt continues to welcome visitors and deliver a great holiday experience worth supporting as an ideal winter sun escape, particularly our classic seven-night Nile cruises, which operate 52 weeks of the year.”

Seven-night Nile cruises start from £899 per person based on a departure between December 5-12. The leadin price is also valid for weekly departures during the summer season from May to September 2017 and includes full-board cruise on the deluxe Mayfair with ten guided excursions, scheduled direct flights from Heathrow and transfers.

The cruise starts and ends in Luxor and visits some of Egypt’s top sights including the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Luxor Temple, Edfu and Kom Ombo, Aswan including the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae. There is also an optional excursion to Abu Simbel, by coach or air.

For information call 020-7407 2111 or visit discoveregypt.co.uk

Uniworld launches ‘In Your World’ homeworker network UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE River Cruise Collection is introducing a new training initiative tailored specifically to the needs of homeworkers. Launching this month, the ‘Uniworld – In Your World’ network will give agents working from home access to unique opportunities designed to suit the lifestyle of a homeworker.

Starting with a welcome webinar, which homeworkers can watch live or view in their own time, the network gives agents access to exclusive incentives, special event invites, homeworker ship visits, a bespoke homeworkers’ fam trip, a collection of training webinars and a quarterly Emagazine to help agents grow their river cruise business.

Throughout December, the cruise line’s sales team will be hosting a series of informal ‘Mince Pie and Coffee’ welcome meetings across the UK, giving members of the network the opportunity to meet other homeworkers and share their experiences.

Dave Chidley, national sales manager for the company, said: “Over the years it has become apparent that a vast majority of sales and training initiatives are focussed on agents working in retail shops or central offices. This often means that homeworkers miss out on educational opportunities, as well as incentives and special invites. The Uniworld sales team want to ensure hardworking homeworkers receive all the benefits and opportunities a centrally located agent would receive, so we’ve created an exclusive network designed specially with the lifestyle of a homeworker in mind. Through creating a network of like-minded professionals, our aim is to unite the homeworker community and give each and every one of them a voice in the cruise industry.

“We want this exclusive group to grow in the direction that suits the homeworkers, so we’ll be working closely with members to enhance and develop the initiative on an ongoing basis.”

Homeworkers interested in signing up to the network should email the UK sales team at agency.sales@uniworld.com

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CroisiEurope introduces beer-themed Belgium cruise CROISIEUROPE HAS announced details of a new beer-themed cruise which will operate in Belgium in 2017.

The five-day ‘Beer: Belgium’s Liquid Gold’ cruise between Brussels and Ostend will introduce guests to the famous beers of Belgium and will feature beer workshops and lectures, as well as visits to several breweries and the Maison des Brasseurs museum, the headquarters of the federation of Belgium Brewers.

Onboard, guests will learn all about the beers of Belgium from a Belgian lecturer specialising in the brewing industry.

There is currently one departure scheduled for August 28, 2017, with a further two departures in early September to be confirmed.

Prices start from £711 per person including l meals and drinks onboard, excursions, onboard entertainment, free Wi-Fi and port fees.

For details call 020-8328 1281 or visit croisieurope.co.uk

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rivercruising

FRED.\ RIVER Cruises has been appointed as UK general sales agent for Amadeus River Cruises. Spring 2017 will see the launch of the company’s latest flagship, the AMADEUS Provence, which will operate along the Rhone and Saone rivers. To help launch the Amadeus product into the UK Market, the company will be distributing a 2017 brochure available to order from fredrivercruises.co.uk/brochures. To help agents incentivise their customers, an early booking discount of 15% will be applied to all bookings made before the end of this month.

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. PONTINS, 5. RYE, 6. ALICE, 8. RIO, 9. TWIN, 10. NICE, 12. ETNA, 13. JOSS, 15. USA, 16. DINAR, 17. TLL, 18.

SURFERS. Down: 1. PLANET EARTH, 2. IBERIA, 3. SARK, 4. CENTER PARCS, 5. ROBINSON, 7. ISTANBUL, 11. CONDOR, 14. BASS.

@TravelBulletin TravelBulletin

Highlighted Word: PISA Where Am I?: Fingal's Cave, Isle of Staffa, Scotland

We asked our staff the following question this week:

If you were to create a piece of art, what would the subject be?

Jeanette Ratcliffe Publisher jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk I'd go abstract without a doubt.

Lauretta Wright Editor lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk A replica of my bed to remind me to get more sleep.

Adam Potter Editorial Assistant adam.potter@travelbulletin.co.uk Pop Art - flashy and bold.

Paul Scudamore Contributing Editor post@travelbulletin.co.uk Simon Eddolls Sales Director simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk I'd have to go abstract as my artistic skills are so poor I need a way out!

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

Bill Coad Account Manager bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk A Greek god

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

Matthew Weinreb Sales Executive matthew.weinreb@travelbulletin.co.uk Kathryn Frost Sales Executive kathryn.frost@travelbulletin.co.uk Gemma Reeve Events & Sales Administrator gemma.reeve@travelbulletin.co.uk Food - because I get to eat it afterwards!

Nicky Valsamakis Design Team Leader nicky.valsamakis@travelbulletin.co.uk Miriam Brtkova Designer miriam.brtkova@travelbulletin.co.uk I'm already doing it and it's sheep in funny situations (where sheep = people).

Nelly Mendes Production production@travelbulletin.co.uk

Happy Birthday !

Lucia Mathurin Design Apprentice lucia.mathurin@travelbulletin.co.uk “Cute as a button”, “Lovely Lucia”, “A wonderful smile”...Just some of the words people have used to describe our resident graphic designer.

Happy Birthday Lucia!

The Queen.

30

November 18 2016

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