Selling Travel April 2016

APRIL 2016 • SELLINGTRAVEL.CO.UK

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR

THE WORLD IN ONE MAGAZINE

STANDING TALL How the UAE is building a reputation as a regional tourism superpower

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New South Wales Philippines New York Namibia Brazil Florida and more...

Plus programmes, incentives, competitions and prizes from our online training partner

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contents

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this issue - we travel further to bring you more F LO R I D A

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FEATURES 8 Premium all-inclusive resorts: Enticing premium travellers

15 German rail trips: Beautiful views and efficient services

18 Brazil: Cashing in on Olympic exposure and looking beyond to the legacy

30 Philippines: Unique island experiences 33 United Arab Emirates: Major developments and new players

55 Florida road trips: Journey through the higways and byways

60 Namibia: Sparse but spectacular

PHILIPPINES

NAMIBIA

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60

QUICK READS 28 My Experience: On Switzerland's railways 37 How to sell: New South Wales, Australia 38 Focus on: Malta 49 City profile: New York 64 My Journey: Anguilla 66 The Final Word THE REVIEW 41 Top news stories plus show reports from PATA and UNITE and hotel reviews from Paris and New York

TALKING SHOP 21 News, competitions, incentives & fam trips.

Please note that Selling Travel, owned and published by BMI Publishing Ltd., is not connected in any way to Selling Travel e-magazine published by SMP Training Co. and based in British Columbia, Canada. The latter online publication focuses exclusively on sales skills and all aspects of professional selling within the travel and tourism sectors. To benefit from this travel industry sales training resource visit www.sellingtravel.net

Julie Baxter

Julie follows in the footsteps of the royal family by enjoying the snowy slopes of Courchevel in France this month.

Jo Austin

Jo will be jetting off to Hamburg to take in the spring-time sights of Germany's port city and sample a few beers.

Steve Hartridge Heading off to Oban this month, Steve will be getting a taste of Scotland, whisky included!

Laura Gelder

Laura will be running the London Marathon for Refuge! Sponsor her here: justgiving.com/ Laura-Gelder2

welcome

Travel Trade Publication of the Year

Proudly published by BMI Publishing Ltd 2016 © 2016.

Suffolk House, George St, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1SR, UK T 020 8649 7233 | F 020 8649 7234 enquiries@bmipublishing.co.uk www.bmipublishing.co.uk www.sellingtravel.co.uk Publishers: Steve Thompson & Sally Parker Commercial Director: David Clare Editorial Director: Steve Hartridge Group Editor: Jo Austin Contributing Editor: Alan Orbell Journalists: Andy Hoskins, Julie Baxter & Laura Gelder Junior Journalists: Ben Coren & Cameron Roberts Business Development Manager: Craig McQuinn Advertisement Manager: Lisa Merrigan

welcome

– dedicated to those who love selling travel –

A

fter the tragic bombings in Brussels last month it’s tempting to try and analyse the effect terrorism might have on the travel industry.

But, in the spirit of resisting the very fear these events seek to inspire, we prefer to focus on some positives – like our cover star this month the UAE, representing a Middle East success story and currently looking very likely to reach their aim of attracting 20 million tourists by 2020 (read more on page 33).

Tourism really can be a force for good and it was heart-warming to hear how the global community Steve Hartridge came together to help Fiji after it was devastated EDITOR by the strongest-ever recorded storm in the southern hemisphere earlier this year. Speaking to Tourism Fiji at this year’s Unite Pacific, Australasia & Far East event, we learnt how donations flooded in from around the world almost immediately and are already helping to rebuild the island nation that so relies on tourism (see page 45).

This month the Selling Travel team has been out and about at a huge range of events, from ITB in Berlin to the PATA Exchange in London. We even visited Canada, albeit Canada House in London, to join agents in meeting a selection of Canadian Signature Experiences – hand-picked rest products from across the pond ranging from dinosaur parks to lighthouse picnics.

It was great to see so a to spa I From yog ited s to unlim treatment to ‘cultural many agents learning about watersports eriences, exp immersion’ sive model clu these niche experiences the all-in a premium is putting s, g traveller on enticin and you can read all Walsh says Clare about it and more in this month’s Selling Canada.

We even hosted our own event last month, in Newcastle, teaming up with WITH THIS ISSUE...

Botswana Tourism to explore this fascinating country with Selling Canada a group of 30 agents. Find Looking into spring we Canada out how one of Africa’s most politically stable nations is also focus on new faces setting a shining example for sustainable tourism, and still representing Canada in the UK and new flights managing to provide a little luxury in the bush (see page 24). taking to the sky, as well The long-awaited Airport Passenger Duty reforms came as updates from into effect this March 1, meaning that children under 16 no Destination Canada.

Read our feature longer pay the tax on economy flights. It might be the tip of on Canada's parks and city profiles on the iceberg as far as much-needed reforms are concerned Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto. The but it does mean a family of four can save up to £146 on their issue is packed with agent holiday this summer and, as we know, every little helps. recommendations and experiences, If you need some more long haul inspiration read ranging from seeing the Northern our features on the Philippines, Florida, Brazil and Lights in remote Yukon to dining on Namibia – you can’t say we don’t offer variety! fresh salmon in Vancouver. premium

Creative Director: Matt Bonner Art Director: Tina-Lee McDougall Designers: Louisa Horton & Ross Clifford Junior Designer: Zoë Tarrant Production Manager: Clare Hunter Circulation Manager: Cheryl Staniforth Managing Director: Martin Steady We are members of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Visit USA Association, LATA, PATA, MENATA, SATOA, the Foreign Airlines Association and the Institute of Travel & Tourism.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, BMI Publishing cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

ISSN: 2056-9319. Cover image: Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE. © istockphoto.com

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g, class. Calmin weekly yoga ng that gets live for my sing, anythi and energi excuse. restorative a fairly good Jamaica has to have holiday in in its way d that my the ’t have worrie out onto But I needn a. Stepping I take t a dilemm a sunset class, would presen setting for front beach scented air. and the warm, paradisical at my toes and inhale of white sand a deep breath ny, I have ile stretch for compa luxury With a half-m ean waters start to my st of Caribb a pretty good only the cleare been r islands. that this has most popula to admit St Caribbean’s at Secrets one of the peninsula ful break on m resort g on a beauti ive premiu all- inclus I am stayin myself!

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spring/summer 2016

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events & festivals

reasons for seasons - events and experiences to shape a booking -

KUMBH MELA, UJJAIN, INDIA Millions of pilgrims flock to the Ganges during this religious festival to bathe in its waters and take part in the ritualistic worship of Gurus (or 'masters'). The celebration honours the myths and legends that form the bedrock of Hinduism. Hindus believe that bathing in the holy waters offers the very essence of life itself – so get ready for the rush to the water's edge. The festival takes place April 22-May 21. incredibleindia.org

WHALE SHARK WATCHING NINGALOO REEF, AUSTRALIA Between March and July each year whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean, migrate through Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef. This can make for a perfect eco-experience for clients, as there are many operators who run diving tours to the reef, allowing visitors to swim with these illusive creatures. westernaustralia.com

OBON, JAPAN

JUST FOR LAUGHS, QUEBEC, CANADA

Obon, a celebration that marks the opening of the gateways to heaven and hell, is one of the most spiritual times of the year for Japanese. The holiday, where spirits 'enter the earthly realm', is celebrated across the destination and involves a variety of dancing, praying and lantern lighting. This year's Obon takes place August 11-16.

The Just for Laughs festival is a Canadian comedy institution. Over several weeks in July, it welcomes over 300,000 attendees who are all up for a giggle on the streets of Montréal. Stand-up comedy, film screenings, clown costumes and just about anything else likely to crack you up is available. This year’s Just for Laughs takes place July 15–31.

seejapan.co.uk

quebecoriginal.com

PALIO DE SIENA, SIENA, ITALY For two days each summer (July 2 and August 16 2016) the Italian city of Siena comes alive as it hosts one of the most chaotic but exciting horse races in Europe.

The 90-second race has next to no rules, but the first horse to cross the finishing line – with or without its rider – takes the prize. There is plenty of accompanying feasting, drinking and partying. italia.it/en

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premium all-inclusive resorts

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premium all-inclusive resorts

assured rest

From yoga to spa treatments to unlimited watersports to ‘cultural immersion’ experiences, the all-inclusive model is putting a premium on enticing travellers, says Clare Walsh

I

live for my weekly yoga class. Calming, restorative and energising, anything that gets in its way has to have a fairly good excuse.

But I needn’t have worried that my holiday in Jamaica would present a dilemma. Stepping out onto the paradisical beachfront setting for a sunset class, I take a deep breath and inhale the warm, scented air.

With a half-mile stretch of white sand at my toes and only the clearest of Caribbean waters for company, I have to admit that this has been a pretty good start to my luxury break on one of the Caribbean’s most popular islands.

I am staying on a beautiful peninsula at Secrets St James in Montego Bay – an all- inclusive premium resort I chose after deciding to raise the bar and treat myself!

I want to be somewhere where I can abandon reality for a week and experience sky’s-the-limit luxury– and this seems just the place to do it.

sellingtravel.co.uk

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The family option Shifting global economic factors, a new generation of savvy and well-educated travellers and changing client expectations demanded that luxury be re-defined - and the premium all-inclusive model responded.

Now several luxury resorts worldwide not only include gourmet dining and topshelf alcoholic beverages, but authentic and memorable travel experiences, indulgent spa treatments and daily activities.

However, the major attraction of these holidays is that clients can leave their wallet tucked away in the safe, reassured that everything is paid for.

Sarah Lake, Sales Executive for VLH Travel expanded on what it is she believes puts the company’s resort in Mauritius into this category: “Heritage Awali Golf and Spa Resort has as standard five restaurants for dinner, premium drinks and champagne by the glass, but the Premium package sets it apart because it gives a spa treatment each day, an upgraded minibar, a quad biking excursion and one lobster dinner per stay.”

In a similar vein, several of Sandals’ premium all-inclusive resorts across the Caribbean offer unlimited land and motorised watersports, while certified divers are entitled to two complimentary dives daily. At its resorts in Jamaica and the Bahamas, private offshore island adventures are also included.

Premium all-inclusive resorts are also a way for clients to indulge in a holiday that lets them focus on their interests. Take The Body Holiday in Saint Lucia, where healthconscious clients are afforded the use of a wellness centre, a range of treatments, an on-site nutritionist and tailored fitness plans.

Numerous resorts in the Maldives offer all-inclusive packages. Deborah Wadhams, Senior Product Manager Travel 2, urges agents to sell the fact that it offers amazing value for money. She says: “Due to the nature of the destination, prices can be quite high

when purchasing food and beverages when staying on another board basis. All-inclusive plans in the Maldives offer not just food and drink but many extras such as non-motorised watersports, excursions and spa treatments.”

Osborne & Ebel’s Angela Artitzone says: “The growth of the premium all-inclusive has been seen in the Maldives as a solution to the UK market seeking more value for money. Originally premiered by Lily Beach Resort, which in the last few years has seen over a 20% increase in sales for Osborne & Ebel, we have seen other properties enter this growing segment like Constance Moofushi and the upcoming OZEN at Maadhoo.”

However, premium all-inclusive resorts aren’t just limited to tropical beach destinations.

From safari lodges to ski resorts, authentic, memorable and immersive experiences are on offer that set them radically apart from traditional all-inclusive holidays.

The Elephant Wellness Retreat in Chaing Rai, Thailand, for example, includes activities such as Mahout training, jungle trekking and elephant yoga, while Amankora Resort in Bhutan offers guided excursions through remote valleys and holistic therapies.

A further advantage of premium allinclusive resorts is that they cater to multiple consumer types in one property, making them ideal for families.

With the rise in multi-generational travelling, clients have the reassurance that there will be high quality amenities for every age group. Resorts in the Balearic and Greek Islands are popular options for families due to the short flight times.

Ikos Olivia in Halkidiki, for example, has a comprehensive kids’ club offering everything from arts and crafts to sports and cooking, while adults can choose from options such as zumba, pilates, snorkelling and hiking.

The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is another emerging option great for both families and couples with a growing selection of luxury all-inclusive properties. Just 45 minutes from Dubai’s international airport and offering year-round sun, it’s an ideal destination for clients wanting an Arabian escape.

Premium all-inclusive holidays can also be an option for those dreaming of visiting bucket list destinations that would otherwise be off-limits.

Bhutan, for example, does not allow travellers to explore unaccompanied and insists they are on pre-paid itineraries. A premium all-inclusive resort, therefore, allows guests to have a safe and authentic experience but in luxurious surroundings.

Clockwise from top right: Ikos Olivia on the Gulf of Toroneos in Halkidiki, Greece; the Heritage Awali Golf and Spa Resort in Mauritius guarantees a premium experience; live music in Heritage Awali’s Boma Restaurant.

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“Several luxury resorts worldwide not only include gourmet dining and top-shelf alcoholic beverages, but authentic and memorable travel experiences, indulgent spa treatments and daily activities to engage in”

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Perfect ten All in: Inspiring excursions, gourmet dining, spa treatments and top-to-toe luxury; the enduring magnetism of premium all-inclusive resorts is the reassurance that one price covers all.

Sell the food card: With premium resorts focusing on gourmet dining, clients will be afforded several options. Guests staying at Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, for example can chose from 10 gourmet restaurants and 17 bars.

Multi-generational: From tots to grandparents – every age group is catered for, with a plethora of activities, services and amenities on offer.

Serious R&R: Many all-inclusive resorts include complimentary spa treatments, such as Heritage Awali Golf and Spa Resort in Mauritius and The Body Holiday, Saint Lucia.

Sell romance: The Caribbean and Indian Ocean offer the quintessential romantic escape, and the standard of accommodation in premium resorts promises luxury. Sandals Love Nest Suites, for example, are perfect for honeymooning couples.

Child’s play: Exceptional facilities for kids are also on offer. For example, new for 2016, the Crystal Cove in Barbados has launched its Honorary Bajan Adventurer programme for children.

Once in a lifetime: Research from Mintel revealed that 7% of holidaymakers are planning to take the trip of a lifetime in 2016. Sell the idea of a premium all-inclusive resort as a dream holiday experience.

Learn new skills: It’s not often you can return home from a holiday having discovered a new talent. From calypso dancing to steel pan drumming - premium all-inclusives have it covered.

Adults-only: Couples wanting to escape the stresses of everyday life have a

variety of luxury all-inclusive options such as Rendezvous in Saint Lucia. The adults-only boutique resort is tucked away on two miles of unspoilt sands Free watersports: Most all-inclusive premium properties feature free non-motorised water sports.

What’s new  Accommodation: Sandals (sandals.co.uk/main/ royal/rj-home/) is adding five overwater suites to its private offshore island at its Royal Caribbean resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It is scheduled to open in autumn 2016. Each of the suites will have a private infinity edge swimming pool, a hammock for two hanging over the water and steps leading from the sundeck into the ocean. All of the suites will also include personal butler service.

Boutique hotel brand Elegant Hotels Group (eleganthotels.com) has acquired the Waves Hotel and Spa in Barbados, adding to its current portfolio of five premium hotels and a beachfront restaurant. The redesigned four-star all-inclusive wellness retreat will reopen in July with 70 guestrooms, restaurant, bar, gym and luxury spa with 18 treatment rooms.

Rendezvous (theromanticholiday.com) has seen the completion of the second phase of it $12.5m renovations. It has also launched its new Malabar Beach Club. The Body Holiday (thebodyholiday.com) has renovated 52 of its guest rooms, while its Wellness Centre has also received a facelift. Five additional treatments have been added to the inclusive treatments menu.  Operators: If Only… has started to promote two new all-inclusive properties in the Maldives. Oblu by Atmosphere in the North Malé Atoll, Maldives, opened in November 2015, the all-inclusive plan includes a variety of non-motorised water sports. They are also about to start work with Ozen by Atmosphere, opening in July.

In May this year, AMResorts will open Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa in Mexico.

Tourism talk ‘With a variety of planned activity, Mauritius is the perfect destination for all-inclusive holidays due to the variety of product offerings from many of the hotels. MTPA will continue to grow UK arrivals by executing a variety of B2B and B2C activities. Each activity will promote Mauritius’ overarching ‘Beyond the Beach’ brand message. Planned activity includes a winter season golf fam trip which will showcase the island’s championship standard golf offering, a Above: The beach and bathroom at Sandals Montego Bay. Left: Secrets Royal Beach, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

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“Premium all-inclusive products for families should be pushed as an option that offers a stressfree holiday due to the variety of activities on offer”

W

elcome to Rendezvous. Like its name, it is designed for couples.

An intimate boutique resort on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, secluded,

TI M E IS SO PREC IOU S, S MART COU PL ES S T EAL I T.

tranquil and tailor-made for stolen moments.

A corner of paradise reserved for two, it is a private oasis and – quite simply – the perfect setting for reconnecting, rediscovering and celebrating life’s pleasures together.

Discover Rendezvous. And find the time and place to steal away together.

To learn more call 0203 096 1629 or visit www.theromanticholiday.com

Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts offer our guests an exquisite array of holistic services and amenities complemented by unrivalled oceanfront luxury. Endless Privileges® — where everything is included — features traditional and organic gourmet fare and unique cultural experiences in ultra-romantic seaside settings.

ZOËTRY VILLA ROLANDI ISLA MUJERES CANCUN

ZOËTRY PARAISO DE LA BONITA RIVIERA MAYA

ZOËTRY AGUA PUNTA CANA

CONTACT YOUR PREFERRED TOUR OPERATOR FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK. BECOME A MASTER AGENT TODAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INCREDIBLE INDUSTRY RATES, INCENTIVES AND MORE AT AMRAGENTS.CO.UK

EXPERIENCE ENDLESS PRIVILEGES® FOR THE MOST DISCERNING TRAVELER IN ARUBA (2018) | DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: PUNTA CANA | JAMAICA: MONTEGO BAY (DEC 2016) | MEXICO: ISLA MUJERES • RIVIERA MAYA

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Beyond Beach Sports and Active Fun campaign, a Destination Guide which includes new content on ‘Authentic Mauritius’ ‘Festival and Events’ and ‘Active Mauritius.’

Rhys Powell, Sales and Marketing Account Director, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority “With a great collection of accommodation options, including world-class resorts such as the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Banyan Tree, Rotana and Rixos, it is the diversity of offerings in Ras Al Khaimah’s hospitality sector that puts it in the premium all-inclusive category. Our all-inclusive resorts offer premium services and great value for money. Each provides warm hospitality, opulent facilities, a family-friendly approach and the luxury of being situated in an Emirate that combines beautiful beaches with the UAE’s highest mountain range. As we continue to work with prestigious resort brands to diversify the options for visitors, we are also progressing on more than 3,000 hotel rooms, due to open by 2019.”

Haitham Mattar, Head of Tourism, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority

Where to book it  HAYES AND JARVIS – 01293 762 415 A promotional offer for seven nights at the five-star Heritage Awali Golf and Spa resort, Mauritius costs from £1,561pp in a deluxe room based on two sharing. The price includes free daily spa treatments and a variety of free sports and activities. hayesandjarvis.co.uk

 CLASSIC COLLECTION HOLIDAYS – 0800 294 9318 Seven nights for a family of four at Ikos Olivia, Halkidiki, Greece costs from £7, 118. The price based on two adults and two children sharing a panorama junior suite on an all-inclusive basis and includes return flights from Gatwick (other UK departure airports available) to Thessaloniki and private transfers. It departs May 28. classic-collection.co.uk

 FUNWAY HOLIDAYS - 0844 557 0626 Seven nights at the five-star Secrets Royal Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic start from £1,509pp, including flights from Heathrow with Delta. The deal is based on two adults travelling on November 7. funway4agents.co.uk 

Above: Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah

Introducing Waves Hotel & Spa by Elegant Hotels A Contemporary All-Inclusive Wellness Experience Opening July 2016 As part of the award winning Elegant Hotels Group family in Barbados, the newly redesigned eco-chic 70 room Waves Hotel and Spa is located on a stretch of white pristine beach on the Platinum West Coast. The 4-star oceanfront hotel offers an entirely unique Barbados holiday, where the all-inclusive experience goes beyond luxury accommodation and premium dining. The focus on wellness, freshly prepared dishes, and cultural, artistic and local activities provide an opportunity for guests to unwind and reconnect.

As part of every stay, guests can experience an array of complimentary amenities including: • All meals & beverages by the glass • Motorised & non-motorised water sports • 3 rounds of golf • Selection of spa treatments & fitness classes • Wi-Fi • Water taxi between select Elegant Hotels • Taste of Elegance Dine Around Programmes • Beach & Pool Ambassador Service

CALL TODAY TO LEARN ABOUT SPECIAL AGENT RATES INTRO FEES AND INCENTIVES. ASK ABOUT OUR FREE WEDDING OFFER! For reservations or more information call: 0-800-917-3078 • reservations@eleganthotels.com Eleganthotels.com

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german rail trips

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ruhring along

Germany is a far more scenic country than many people realise and is perfect for exploring by train, says Dave Richardson

T

here are lots of possible German rail itineraries for independent travellers and also a good choice of escorted tours.

In the longer term, DB German Rail hopes to operate direct trains from London, but you can already reach Cologne in as little as four and a half hours from St Pancras by changing at Brussels from Eurostar to the Thalys high-speed network.

When in Germany, high-speed ICE trains link most major cities and travelling by train is definitely a ‘green option. DB has strict targets for reducing CO2, and you can travel using electricity generated from renewable resources on long-distance trains.

Dresden There can be few historic cities anywhere in the world which are actually more interesting to visit now than 20 years ago, but that is certainly true of Dresden.

I’m standing in New Market Square, in the heart of the old city, as our guide shows photographs of what it used to look like when sheep grazed around the ruins.

Frauen Kirche, the imposing 18th century church, was one of countless historic buildings lost when Dresden, a baroque city in eastern Germany, was almost totally obliterated

by Allied bombing in February 1945.

That might be regarded as a war crime if it happened now, but it did hasten the end of the World War II. A start wasn’t made on restoring Frauen Kirche until 1993, and it finally re-opened in 2005. Restoration of some buildings continues even today.

Very few buildings were spared by the bombing or the fires that raged afterwards, and comparisons are often drawn with Coventry, whose cathedral and historic centre were destroyed by German bombing in 1940. The cross atop the tower of Frauen Kirche was donated by Britain and inside is a cross made of nails from Coventry cathedral, another symbol of reconciliation.

My tour includes other highlights such as the Royal Palace, Zwinger Palace and Opera House, all carefully reconstructed, the palaces holding renowned art collections. Restoration only picked up after reunification in 1990, as Dresden was in the Communist German Democratic Republic, where funds were in short supply.

There’s much else to do in this beautifully situated city on the River Elbe, including paddlesteamer trips and a major cultural programme.

The riverside Hotel Maritim is one of several former industrial buildings to have found new

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uses, while across the river the former industrial area of Neustadt is now full of bars, clubs and alternative shops as the young heart of the city.

DID YOU KNOW? Several tours operated

by Great Rail Journeys or its subsidiary Rail Discoveries spend time in Dresden, travelling via Eurostar to Brussels with an overnight stop en route.

This being a Great Rail Journeys tour and this being Germany, a steam train can’t be far away and a short trip into the suburbs brings me to the Lossnitzgrundbahn narrow gauge railway.

Saxony I have great fun standing on the open balcony of the train as we take a scenic trip through the woods to Moritzburg, where the castle was the summer residence of the notorious Saxon ruler Augustus the Strong (1674-1733). He allegedly fathered over 300 children. The castle is notable for its hunting trophies, art works and enormous feathered bed.

DID YOU KNOW? I discover more recent history on a popular day trip from Dresden to Colditz, another of Saxony’s castles. It became infamous as a prisoner of war camp for Allied officers during the war, yet many Germans have never heard of it and are unaware of its place in history.

It was far from secure as the Germans claimed,

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german rail trips

and we marvel at the ingenuity of hundreds of escape attempts, 31 of which succeeded.

Berlin This tour also includes Berlin, an easy two-hour trip on a train which starts its journey in Prague. The German capital has gone through its own major reconstruction programme, first after the war and then after the Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989 and the city and country were reunified. Reconstruction continues and it still looks like a divided city in parts. Highlights include the Reichstag (Parliament) and Brandenburg Gate.

I head for the new Museum of Spies to learn about espionage – not only during the Cold War when Berlin was on the frontline, but also through the ages from ancient Egypt to the present day. A Trabant car, very much a symbol of the Eastern Bloc and adapted with a secret camera, is one of the highlights.

DID YOU KNOW? Berlin has a thriving dining scene and I enjoy typical Tyrolean fare at the Weihenstephaner restaurant which has two claims to fame: its beers come from the world’s oldest brewery, at Weihenstephan in Bavaria, founded at a monastery in 1040, and the restaurant is in the oldest surviving building in Berlin, with a vaulted cellar dating from 1749.

It’s an appropriate place to toast not only the monks and Germany’s thriving cities, but also the ease of getting around by train on its excellent rail network.

Independent travel One of Germany’s most scenic rail journeys is along the banks of the Rhine between Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz and Mainz, passing fairytale castles and Lorelei rock, home of the mythical siren. However, for the most scenic journey between Cologne and Frankfurt be sure to travel along the original route rather than along the new high-speed line.

The Black Forest Railway is also very scenic, running 150 km between Offenburg and the lakeside resort of Konstanz.

Germany also has many steam-powered trains, some of which are narrow gauge.

One of the main ticket providers used by agents is Voyages-SNCF, previously known as Rail Europe (voyages-sncf.com).

Tailor-made packages are available from Great Rail Journeys through GRJ Independent (greatrail.com/grj-independent/).

Where to book it  GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS – 01904 527249 Travel is by standard premier class on Eurostar, and in first class on European trains, with deluxe hotels.

Fairytale Castles and the Bavarian Alps is a 10-day tour costing from £1,645pp,

including seven nights based at the resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. One night is spent in Cologne in each direction, and highlights include the Rhine Valley, the Zugspitze Railway, Munich and Oberammergau.

Saxony by Steam is an eight-day tour costing from £1,065pp, with five nights in Dresden and nights in Nuremberg and Cologne on the outward/return journeys. Trips are made on the Weisseritz and Zittau railways, and to the Meissen porcelain factory by paddle steamer.

Maritime Germany by Steam includes trips on the Molli and Racing Roland steam railways, with three nights spent in Hamburg, two nights in Rostock and three nights in Stralsund, on the Baltic Sea. A full-day excursion is made to Rugen island, and a night in Cologne on the return leg. greatrail.com

 RAIL DISCOVERIES – 0800 138 6300 As part of the Great Rail Journeys group it offers escorted tours but with standard class travel and mid-range hotels.

Alluring Rhine Valley is a five-day tour based at Remagen, including a river cruise and a trip on the Drachenfelsbahn, a ‘cog’ railway that climbs 722 ft in a distance of only one mile. This tour costs from £395pp and is by rail throughout.

Also available, based at Remagen, is the Rhine Valley All Inclusive tour from £695pp for eight days, with all meals plus drinks at dinner.

Berlin, Dresden and Meissen is a six-day tour costing from £595pp, with flights to and from the German capital and rail travel to the other

sellingtravel.co.uk

cities. A visit to Colditz castle is included.

The Harz Mountains tour, costing £745pp for seven days, is based in the mountain resort of Braunlage. Highlights include the steampowered Brocken and Selketal railways, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Quedlinburg.

International rail travel is to and from Hanover. raildiscoveries.com

 FFESTINIOG TRAVEL – 01766 772030 Bavaria – Mountains and Castles is a 12day tour costing £1,470pp. It includes accommodation at five hotels and an InterRail pass giving customers flexibility on free days. Overnight stays are included in Cologne, Nuremberg, Fussen, GarmischPartenkirchen and Prien, and highlights include Wurzburg, Rothenburg and Oberammergau.

Narrow Gauge Steam in Eastern Germany is a 15-day tour costing £1,615pp. Included is the ‘hanging railway’ or Schwebebahn in the Wupper Valley. ffestiniogtravel.com 

Previous page: Bastei Bridge, covering the rock formation towering 194 metres above the Elbe River. Above (clockwise from left): Neuschwanstein Castle; the town of Goslar in Lower Saxony; ICE, Germany’s high-speed train

Experience the buzz of the big city. Take in a modern shopping centre before turning a corner to discover the medieval streets of the old quarter. Go a few steps further for cultural highlights and then launch yourself into the pulsating nightlife. Captivating contrasts and a magical appeal. Germany’s cities

Discover the ultimate in urban destinations: www.germany.travel/cities

_bigcitybuzz bigcitybuzz

Š dpa

have all this and more.

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brazil

A

olympic

ambitions The Olympic Games will thrust Brazil into the spotlight this summer, with operators preparing for a bookings bonanza in their wake, says Andy Hoskins

From top: ball games on Ipanema beach; Amazonian birdlife; iconic carnival celebrations; spectacular Rio de Janeiro

sellingtravel.co.uk

ll eyes will be on Rio de Janeiro this summer as the Olympic Games arrive in town and look set to drive the nation’s tourism aspirations ‘citius, altius, fortius’.

Already reaping the rewards of global exposure as host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, over four billion euros is now being invested in new hotels that will double the number of guestrooms available nationwide by 2020.

And there’s more good news for overseas visitors in the relatively favourable exchange rate currently, giving visitors almost 50% more Reals to the pound than on the eve of the World Cup two years ago.

No surprise, then, that Brazil bookings are on the up. Emily Underhill, Assistant Product Manager, Americas, at Travel 2, says, “We have seen a steady rise in bookings over the past seven months with the most popular region in Brazil being Rio de Janeiro followed by the Iguassu Falls.”

Although some operators are reporting relatively flat bookings during the period of the Games themselves, most are optimistic of positive long-term gains.

“Rio, and Brazil in general, will be in the spotlight for a prolonged period of time this summer, and we would certainly expect this to have an impact on the number of enquiries we receive,” says Sarah Moore, Product Manager at Great Rail Journeys.

“I would also hope that this major world event will help to dispel some of the myths or fears that clients may have about travelling to Brazil. It is an incredibly beautiful country and has a vibrant culture, which has for a long time lived in the shadow of a bad reputation.”

While Rio de Janeiro’s icons continue to draw the crowds – think Sugarloaf Mountain, the Christ Redeemer statue and Copacabana and Ipanema beaches – more visitors are spreading their net in exploration of the city as tourism infrastructure and transport links improve, says HighLives Travel’s Bibiana Tellez-Garside.

“Visitors can explore up and coming parts of Rio that were previously bypassed by tourists, such as Barra da Tijuca with its range of new hotels, pristine beach and shopping malls, or São Conrado with its extensive opportunities for golfing, paragliding and trekking,” she says.

“Having made the most of Rio during their stay, customers are then travelling further afield to more off-the-beaten-path destinations in Brazil, as well as to other countries in South America.”

Bonito is one such destination. The region, in the western state of Mato Grosso do Sul, is a past winner of Best Destination for Responsible Tourism at the World Responsible Tourism Awards yet is little known outside of Brazil, as Tellez-Garside points out.

“It is a mecca for nature-lovers seeking a hint of adventure, with at least 30 family-friendly mini-adventures including river snorkelling, wild

brazil

swimming among waterfalls, scuba-diving and cave exploring,” she says.

Beyond Rio de Janeiro and the Iguassu Falls, perennially popular on wider Brazil itineraries are Manaus and the Amazon rainforest, the colourful city of Salvador, the charming towns of the mountainous Minas Gerais region, the spectacular Chapada Diamantina National Park, the Fernando do Noronha archipelago and the northern beaches around Recife and Olinda.

Travel 2’s Emily Underhill, meanwhile, recommends the Pantanal wetlands and their rich wildlife to second-time visitors to the country or for longer first-time intineraries.

The hype surrounding the Olympic Games has superseded coverage of the zika virus outbreak, an issue that some travellers need to bear in mind despite the mixed messages about its impact. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (gov. uk/foreign-travel-advice) says travellers should follow the advice of the National Travel Health Network (travelhealthpro.org.uk), whose latest guidance (March 1) recommends pregnant women planning to travel to infected areas postpone their plans. There is further advice for couples planning pregnancy.

Tourism talk “As well as our magnificent coast and natural riches, exchange rate inflation has created a favourable environment for national tourism and for attracting international visitors. This environment is strengthened by improvements to infrastructure, connectivity and services offered to the public.”

Vinicius Lummertz, President of Embratur, the Brazilian tourist board.

Where to book it  TRAVEL 2 – 0800 0224 182 A ten-day Essential Brazil independent tour costs from £2,359 and visits Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls and the Amazon rainforest. A four-day Northern Pantanal Experience costs from £349pp. travel2.com  GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS – 01904 527 180 The 16-day Premium Brazil and Argentina tour costs from £7,295pp and takes in Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, the Serra Verde Express train to Morretes and the Iguassu Falls before moving on to Argentina and further train journeys on the Patagonian Express and the Tren Fin del Mundo (the ‘End of the World’ train). greatrail.com

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“Rio de Janeiro and Brazil in general will be in the spotlight for a prolonged period of time this summer and we certainly expect this to have an impact on the number of enquiries that we receive” SARAH MOORE, PRODUCT MANAGER, GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS

 LAST FRONTIERS – 01296 653000 A 15-day Olympic tour (August 10-24) visits Rio de Janeiro, the Iguassu Falls and the Amazon and includes Olympic tickets for swimming and basketball sessions. It costs from £5,295pp. lastfrontiers.com

 HIGHLIVES – 020 8835 7034 Brazil Odyssey is a popular 13-night tour that incorporates Rio de Janeiro, the Iguassu Falls, Panatnal wetlands and Bonito. From £3,500pp. highlives.co.uk 

Air Europa connects you to BRAZIL with daily flights to SAO PAULO and three weekly service to SALVADOR. All flights are from London Gatwick via Madrid.

Baggage allowance 2X32Kg.

For more information call: 0871 423 0717 or visit us at: www.aireuropaexperts.com

TAL K I N G S H O P

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- INSPIRED BY YOU The stuff that happens when agents get involved...

Destination Canada on the road SPOTLIGHT ON...

Destination Canada (DC) and its Canadian partners will be meeting with travel agents, tour operator reservation staff and those signed up to its award-winning Canada Specialist Programme (CSP) at three Canada Roadshow UK events in May. The events – to be held in Southampton (10), Leeds (11) and Liverpool (12) – will provide those attending with a night of learning and a chance to win a trip to Canada.

DC's Keep Exploring Quiz will also run for the third year over dinner. Interested agents should register by emailing: destinationcanadatrade@gmail.com

Contents 22 Out & About 23 On Location: Alberta 24 Botswana Destination Dialogue 25 On Location: South Africa 26 Wise Counsel 27 Québec Quiz Night

Look north NEW UK TRAINING LAUNCHED

AN ONLINE training programme named Agent North was launched in March to inspire and educate agents and tour operators about tourism in northern England. The online training kit is now online. agent-north.com

Antigua gifts

Avalon hosts 80 agents AVALON Waterways is providing trade partners with the opportunity of increasing their river cruise product knowledge by running a series of fam trips onboard one of the river cruise line's newest suite ships, the Avalon Tapestry II. This month, up to 80 agents from independents, consortia and

ica store Santa Mon

WIN WITH KUONI BOOKINGS

online travel agencies will be hosted on three- and four-night shortened itineraries of Avalon’s popular ‘Paris to Normandy Landing Beaches’ cruises.

A cruise ointly-hosted by CLIA and Avalon Tapestry II will also be taking place from April 6-8, with up to 20 agents invited.

CLIA has targeted cruise

tour

Jennifer Guiver, the UK Market Manager for Santa Monica Travel and Tourism, spent a week in March visiting every Flight Centre store in London.

The agent-training mission was to highlight the upcoming metro station opening in Santa Monica on May 20, and to promote the destination as a base location for Los Angeles.

Santamonica.com

agent members who have not experienced a river cruise previously but are looking to increase their product knowledge.

Avalon Tapestry II will also be the venue for the CLIA Cruise Travel Agent Advisory Council, hosted

by Andy Harmer, CLIA Europe VP Operations.

Avaloncruises.co.uk

AGENTS booking Antigua’s Keyonna Beach Hotel exclusively through Kuoni by April 30 will receive a £25 Amazon voucher for each seven-night booking they make for travel during 2016. The offer is also 'cumulative'.

Discover more at: info@sunrisemarketing.co.uk

Keep in mind...

16

– 20 APRIL ADVANTAGE CONFERENCE 2016 will be held on-board the MSC Fantasia, starting in Genoa and cruising to Barcelona, Palma and Ajacci (Corsica). Each day will feature talks and conferences and bring industry professionals together for networking.

Registration is now closed.

Advantageconference.com

COMING UP & ENDING SOON

19

APRIL LUXURY HOTELS ROADSHOW will be holding an event in Sheffield. Agents can meet a representatives from a selection of hotels from Tenerife, Lanzarote, Madeira, La Gomera and Fuerteventura.

To reserve a place contact: bookings@eventsfortravel.com Eventsfortravel.com More online at sellingtravel.co.uk/events

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BEEN THERE done that

Golf winners play in USA

Agents finish traini

ng

THE GLOBAL Travel Group members, Get Me Away and Sursom Tours and Travel celebrated after completing their two-week training course at the consortium’s dedicated training academy in Chester.

Globaltravelgroup.com

Shorts and short putts TRAVEL 2 took 10 winning agents on a VIP Golf FAM trip to Kissimmee, Florida. The trip was up for grabs as part of Travel 2’s last golf day when agents had the chance to win a place on the fam.

Colin Currie (pictured, red shirt) hosted the trip attended by (l-R) Doug Dorn (Kissimmee rep) Isabel Wiggins-Turner, Jean Peasnell, Michael Gibbs, Mark Johnston, Richard Fenton, Colin Currie, Simon Round, Richard Law, Andrew Rodgerson, Paul Baldwin and Paul Rushby. Travel2.com A

B

Barcelona winner ALEX JOHNSON (pictured) from Newell’s Travel in Truro won a two-night city break for two to Barcelona after completing an Osprey Holidays booking incentive. Osprey Holidays ran their Win Barcelona competition throughout January and February for all agents making a booking during that time.

Osprey received a record number of entries during the promotion.

Ospreyholidays.com

A TOURISME QUÉBEC brought together its partners and UK travel agents for a night of fun and education featuring a quiz show format.

Elliott Fisher (pictured, burgundy shirt) from Trailfinders won the top prize of a 16-night trip to Québec. The prize package featured accommodation, transfers and activities and attractions provided by event partners.

Quebecoriginal.com B Agents met Hong Kong hoteliers, ground handling agents and attraction providers at the Hong Kong Travel Mission to the UK. John Parker (pictured, right), product manager, Premier

Holidays met with Rob Haynes and Lucetta Chan (pictured) from Harbour Plaza Hotels.

Discoverhongkong.com C FUNWAY HOLIDAY is making a spring push for Tobago bookings that continues throughout April. The promotion is linked to its ‘Target Tobago’ training. Rebecca Evans (left) and Laura Smith (right) have been on the road visiting agencies around the UK. Tobago-themed merchandise is being handed out to agents, including stationary and specially designed agency window posters.

C

Funway4agents.co.uk D

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O N L O C AT I O N

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Mountain highs and city stunners in Alberta AGENTS ON TOUR "Our Mountain Escapes fam trip with Brewster Travel, Tourism Edmonton, Tourism Jasper and Icelandair saw us fly out of Heathrow on Icelandair's new direct service to Edmonton, where we kicked off with two nights in the city.

We took a trip out to Elk Island National Park, home to massive herds of free-roaming bison, and then zipped through Edmonton’s famous river valley on Segways – great fun! Then we left behind the urban city streets for the iconic peaks and glaciers of the Canadian Rockies.

Our first stop at Cline River included probably the highlight of the fam for me: a helicopter flightseeing experience with Rockies Heli. There’s no better way to see the spectacular Rockies then

soaring over the glaciers and lakes at around 100mph and admiring the snowy mountains from 9000ft – surely the ultimate way to travel!

We also stayed in Banff and Jasper and other highlights along the way included a cruise on Lake Minnewanka, an Ice Explorer Ride on the Athabasca Glacier followed by a visit to the Glacier Skywalk, and an evening of stargazing in Jasper.

The awe-inspiring drive from Banff to Jasper included an everchanging landcape of turquoise lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and snow-capped mountains, but my favourite stop had to be Peyto Lake – simply gorgeous. I learnt so much seeing it all first hand, it has really helped me."

Lauren Garner, Assistant Product Manager, Discover The World

We don’t just go there, we know there

EXPLORE THE LAND DOWN UNDER WITH THE EXPERTS A perfect way to introduce Australia to any first time visitor to the land downunder, combining the icons of Sydney, the fiery red sands of the Outback, and the spectacular colours of the Great Barrier Reef.

Austravel have included all the ultimate experiences to make your journey unforgettable. In Sydney take in the view of the spectacular harbour and Opera House. Enjoy a sunset tour at Uluru (Ayers Rock), and in Cairns cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkel with the vast array of marine life.

SYDNEY, ROCK & REEF

£1,895pp

12 Days from Save £270 per couple

Includes: 11 nights accommodation, Sydney Opera House tour, Uluru Sunset Tour & BBQ dinner, Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise and return international flights.

Based on select travel Jun 2016.

Earn £20 per booking, by signing up to mybookingrewards.com Call our expert Travel Designers on 0844 826 0833* Offer is subject to change and availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Normal booking T&C’s apply, see austravel.com for full details. *Calls cost 5p/min plus set up fee of up to 6p from a BT landline. Mobile and other providers’ charges may vary. ATOL protected 3355.

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A wild night with Botswana Tourism

Selling Travel and Botswana Tourism visited Newcastle, to jointly host 30 agents at the Malmaison Hotel for a fact-filled but fun evening themed around how to sell a Botswana safari.

THE HISTORY Missionaries, hunters and traders began to arrive in the area now known as Botswana in the 1800s.

In 1885 it became a protectorate of the UK and Ireland and was called Bechuanaland until becoming the Republic of Botswana in 1966. The country is bordered by Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

THE PRESENT There are over 85 tribes living in Botswana today and it is regularly listed as the 'least corrupt' country in Africa. Botswana's main industry, and the reason for its prosperity,

is diamonds. Unusually for Africa, it has a long record of democracy and economic and political stability.

Accommodation ranges from permanent and mobile tented camps to luxury lodges and city hotels.

THE CHALLENGES Botswana is more expensive than some other 'safari destinations.' There is no direct flight access (it is reached via Cape Town or Johannesburg).

THE OPPORTUNITIES Because safaris are all-inclusive they are, despite the high starting tariff, great value. There are only 10,000 beds in the country (with a maximun of 24 per game lodge) and game viewing numbers are restricted, so the quality of safari is very high.

Botswana offers some unique ways to see the wildlife and landscape: dug-out canoe, horseback, quad bike, and walking with San Bushmen while learning how they source food and medicine.

THE REGIONS The largest inland delta in the world and the only place where a river runs inland, the Okovango Delta is a bird watcher’s haven, home to over 400 species. Safaris are often by canoe or motorboat, as well as walking, or on elephant or horse.

Chobe National Park is just 70km from Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls and has Africa’s largest population of elephants, along with giraffe, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and much more.

In Makgadigadi/Naxi Pan the stark scenery is the pull rather than the wildlife. Salt pans and baobab trees hide black-maned lions, meerkats and flamingos, and there is also a zebra and wildebeest migration.

Scenery is also a big draw for the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, where game drives reveal giraffe, warthog, cheetah, leopards and lions.

A good place to add on to a trip to South Africa is the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, which offers off-road safaris and night drives. It’s also a great place for the ‘little five’, which includes the elephant shrew and rhino beetle.

The wildest safari spot of all is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which got its first two lodges in 2013.

sellingtravel.co.uk

From the event...

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS If I had to book a client for two weeks where and what would I book? If it’s their first safari head for Chobe because the wildlife is prolific there, and then move on the Okovango. If they are experienced safari travellers then combine the Okovango with one of the other regions.

How do I justify the price? Everything is included apart from the flights! The lodges feed you five times a day, including sundowner drinks and afternoon tea, and all game drives and activities are included.

DID YOU KNOW? A third of Botswana is dedicated to national parks or reserves, the army protects its rhino population and commercial hunting was banned from January 1 2014. An ecocertification programme encouraged all hotels and lodges to qualify by employing sound eco-initiatives, such as recycling.

Gaberone, Bostwana’s capital, didn’t exist until 1966. Visitors will find five-star hotels, casinos and golf courses. Literature fans can take the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency tour, visiting locations in the popular book.

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Travel counsellors explore KwaZulu-Natal THE DETAILS WHAT: SIX-DAY FAM TRIP TO KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA WHEN: FEBRUARY 16-22, 2016 WHO: TOURISM KAZULU-NATAL, YOUR AFRICA DMC AND TRAVEL COUNSELLORS WHY: EDUCATION TRIP FOR TRAVEL COUNSELLORS

What they said...

“The week gave me a good idea of the area and I can now sell this to my clients with confidence. KwaZulu Natal offers so much for visitors and you hardly have time to scratch the surface in one week.”

Moses Mabhida Stadium Sky Car, Durban L-R; Jeanette Coughlan, Marc Fitchett, Stuart Nairn (TKZN), Debbie Bosacki, Stephen Rowlay, Claire Walker

Marc Fitchett, Travel Counsellor “As a holiday destination, South Africa currently offers a huge bonus – and that is the fabulous exchange rate. The rand

THE HOSTS Natalie de la Porte, KwaZulu-Natal’s UK Marketing Manager, escorted a group of five Travel Counsellors on a fam trip which showcased the destination’s highlights. These included Durban, the Drakensberg mountain range and the Anglo-Zulu battlefields.

The visit was supported by Qatar Airways, which gave the group the chance to experience its new service into Durban. Your Africa DMC sponsored the ground arrangements for the group.

The group was also joined by Keith Matthews from the Tourism KwaZulu-Natal Durban head office.

THE TRIP Counsellors Marc Fitchett, Debbie Bosacki, Stephen Rowlay and Claire

Walker spent the first night on Durban’s Golden Mile staying at the fabulous Southern Sun Maharani & Elangeni hotel.

The following day featured a tour of Durban before departing to the Drakensberg mountain range, one of two World Heritage Sites in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

They spent the following two nights at Drakensberg Sun Lifestyle Resort. Exploring the KZN Midlands the group saw some of the region's art and craft galleries and visited the Nelson Mandela Capture Site.

The next stop was Isandlwana Lodge and the historic battlefields, where the most battles on South African soil were fought; here the group enjoyed a tour of the battlefield learning about the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer wars. Nearing the Jonzini area, the group spent the evening at Ghost Mountain Inn where they visited a local Zulu village.

The next day they departed for Hluhluwe Game Reserve. In the game park they

experienced a three-hour game drive in an open safari vehicle. The evening was spent at The Beverly Hills Hotel in the coastal town of Umhlanga Rocks before rounding off the trip, exploring Durban, sampling local cuisine and visiting the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

is approximately 21 to the pound, which means client's holiday spending money goes very, very far, I feel this is a very big advantage in selling this destination to my clients.”

Jeanette Coughlan, Travel Counsellor “This was my first visit to South Africa but it most definitely won’t be my last! I

THE VERDICT

loved the country and especially KwaZulu-

Natalie de la Porte said: “This trip was a great opportunity for Tourism KwaZulu-Natal and host partners to really educate the trade about their services and products, but also to expose them to the exceptional diversity that KwaZulu-Natal offers visitors. The area has a fascinating history, beautiful unspoilt beaches and fantastic game viewing, and the scenery is extremely varied.

There is so much to do and see, and this trip was really only a small taster of what is on offer for visitors of any age. The group was amazed by the excellent value for money, excellent service and delicious food, and I’m sure they are all converted into real ambassadors for KZN”.

Natal, which is so diverse. From the canopy

sellingtravel.co.uk

tour we did to the game drive to the battlefields to the beach at Umhlanga Rocks – I just loved it all.”

Claire Walker, Travel Counsellor

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WISE COUNSEL

 Barbara.Charltontravelcounsellors.com  01293 737290

Barbara Charlton

Croatia, a honeymoon and tastes of Canada TRAVEL HOMEWORK I’ve had to do a little homework for bookings over the last month or so, in particular on Croatia when a client requested more than just the usual city and beach combination. I have yet to visit Croatia and I knew it was time for some self-study when they started talking about National Parks, waterfalls and bears!

Luckily, a fellow TC was actually born in Croatia and with her brilliant advice I came up with options my clients loved.

I learnt more about the Rocky Mountaineer, Destination Canada and Prestige Holidays too at a recent travel evening event like no other. The Waitrose School of Cookery was the venue for a demonstration and class with an ex-Jamie Oliver chef. As this was a Canadian evening I wondered what we would be cooking in North London but was thrilled to discover it was lobster, clam and mussels chowder followed by a sweet pastry tart with a delicious butter, pecan and maple syrup filling. The tips we picked up will definitely be useful and the evening was a unique way to get us thinking about the culinary appeal of Canada and the truism that there is certainly more to the country than just fabulous scenery and wildlife.

And a Visit Orlando event with Universal, Merlin Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks and Disney World reminded me of the changes and upgrades agents need to keep up with.

This month I am attending Destination NSW and Qantas events. As Australia is a destination not many of us get to visit, such events and Aussie Specialist training are well worth our time.

Also last month, I had a very late honeymoon/mini-moon booking, literally two weeks before the wedding - that has to be a record. This elderly couple unfortunately had to deal with two close family deaths as well as

Surprising Croatia arranging a wedding for 100 people, and the honeymoon just got left until the last minute.

Of course I was happy to help but they had no idea what they wanted other than somewhere south of England and north of Africa! I know them well and I knew what they were likely to like, even if they didn’t know it!

The dates were not flexible, the budget was pretty static and with it being a late booking over the Easter school holidays I knew I would have my work cut out.

After Budapest, Geneva and Lisbon were ruled out, I finally hit the nail on the head with the gorgeous Grand Hotel Capodimonte in Sorrento.

They will get the peace and quiet they want this early in the season and a chance to visit the sights without the manic summer crowds.

I'm heading off myself this month for a short stay in the lovely Mallorcan countryside; hopefully by the time I get back I will be able to drive around with the car roof off again.

We are staying in two lovely-looking small country-style boutique properties, and one of them had the film crew from The Night Manager filming there last year.

That programme is just a destination's dream.

There was an interesting restaurant on a cliff edge featured and after some investigation I found it is a real place with, they say, great food, so I will be checking it out during my visit.

There are a few other TV programmes on at the moment that will get the public thinking, what with Bear Grylls in South Africa and Davina McCall all over the world with her Life at the Extreme programme. Hopefully both will get those enquiries moving for us...

"THERE IS MORE TO CANADA THAN JUST THE FABULOUS SCENERY AND WILDLIFE"

Happy Selling

travelksok.co.uk | travelks.com | travelok.com | 01292 313 969 Untitled-1 1

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Top prizes for Québec's quizzing agents EVENT DETAILS WHEN: MARCH 17, 2016 WHO: TOURISME QUÉBEC WHAT: GUIDE LAUNCH WHERE: LE MERIDIEN, PICADILLY, LONDON WHY: EDUCATE AGENTS ABOUT QUÉBEC AND ITS REGIONS

What they said...

“I found the Québec evening to be very informative and great fun. I was surprised that having been in the business for many years, I still discovered some new wonderful areas within Québec that I could offer to my clients.”

Jeff Lockwood, Business Development, Grove Travel “It’s always a great pleasure to meet travel partners and having the oppor-

For the first time in four years, Tourisme Québec brought together its partners and UK travel agents for an evening of fun and education – and handed out some great prizes on the night.

WHY The event enabled travel agents to meet face to face with Tourisme Québec’s regional tourism partners to forge mutually beneficial relationships.

Michel Carmichael, Account Executive Québec City, said: “At this time of year I think it’s great to get closer to the retail trade, Québec offers European flair, North American hospitality and Canadian prices.”

Jacinthe Doucet, Market Development Officer Québec Authentique, added: “The trade are the key people – they sell to the consumer, so if we give them

the means to sell Québec, they will sell it.”

Partners in attendance included Air Transat, Fairmont, The Laurentians, Québec Authentique, Québec City, Tourisme Charlevoix, Tourisme Saguenay Lac Saint Jean and Le Québec Maritime.

tunity to do this over dinner makes the

WHAT

to other events I have attended. It was

The event, held at Le Meridien Piccadilly incorporated a fun quiz show format, designed to educate agents on the region. Pre-quiz, each region gave a presentation over dinner, which was followed by quiz questions to reflect the presentation.

Caroline Maincent, Tourisme Québec said: “There is a real need for this kind of education for agents– this event gives them a great chance to interact with partners and increase their knowledge of the destination.”

The top prize of the night was a Québec holiday, which included 16 nights in the region, with various elements of the prize provided by the regional partners. Elliott Fisher from Trailfinders won the top prize after winning the quiz.

Elliott said: "The Québec agents evening was really good fun and truly informative. It was fantastic to meet with such a range of suppliers whose presentations were full of expert information, key local knowledge and that 'joie de vivre' which can make all the difference when selling such a wonderful destination."

very informative and the quiz show with

experience more enjoyable.”

Lauren Garner, Assistant Product Manager, Discover the World “I thought the event was very different

Above: Clockwise from left: Québec Original quiz night; Four agents compete in the quiz final; The event educated agents on the region and what's on offer; Québec regional tourism partners with quiz winner, Elliott Fisher.

sellingtravel.co.uk

the use of a proper buzzer was a really good idea. I learnt so much about Québec in four hours and the quiz really helped refresh my memory.”

Barbara Thompson, Mintex Travel “The event was very well organised, great presentations and the scoring was done fairly and accurately for the ultimate grand prize. From a cruise consultant angle, it opened up some great excursions and places to visit for our agents.”

Albert Garcia, Cruise Consultant, Go Cruise “It was great to be reminded how much there is to see and do in Québec.

The supplier talks were very informative.”

Sarah Watson, Director, Travel Impressions

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my experience on swiss rail

lakes, mountains & early starts in

SWITZERLAND S

witzerland’s extensive railway system provides the perfect way to tour one of the world’s most scenic destinations. The trains are comfortable, speedy and, of course, always on time come sun or snow, says Alan Orbell

Most countries seem like a ‘work in progress’ but not Switzerland. It feels very much a ‘job done’, not least its astounding rail network.

DON’T BE LATE

UP AND DOWN

has a) the world’s densest rail network and b) the

The change to our next train (for Basel) provides

highest use of rail per head of population (2300

the first comedy of the trip when, after all traipsing

km p.a.). For me, the beautiful Swiss scenery is

down to the subway via stairs and lifts, we then

sufficient. Like all our trains in Switzerland, this

ascend again… to the same platform! Arriving on the

one runs to the second in spite of the snow,.

We stroll for a couple of hours around the beautiful

Meeting up with our guide Mary at London’s impressive

French side of Basel we go through a customs and

St Pancras Eurostar terminal early one morning starts

immigration area devoid of staff into Switzerland to

old town of Lucerne full of architectural gems

with two mild shocks. The first is that we share the

board a double-decker train to Interlaken. A short

plus Saturday stalls selling everything from bread

Diamond Holidays’ Glacier Express Winter Magic rail

five-minute stroll has us checked into our delightful

and cheese to fruit and flowers. We then board

tour with 57 other people and the second that the

corner room in the three-star Carlton Europe Hotel.

the 284-passenger Europa lake ship and toast my

‘Important points’ sheet gives significant prominence

Dinner is in the hotel’s cosy Johnny’s Pub before

birthday with a glass of Gluhsecco as we sail in style

to the need for making use of every available toilet

a stroll through Interlaken’s empty snowy streets

to Vitznau to board the mountain railway to Mt Rigi,

throughout the trip. And the need not to be late. Ever.

and, after 12 hours of rail travel from London, bed.

Europe’s first mountain railway opened in May 1871.

An early indication of tour participants’ age profile!

Next morning a 7am breakfast sets the tone

The journey to Rigi Kulm is a non-stop viewfest

for the tour before we head to the station for

of snow-covered mountains and sparkling

and reaches Gare du Nord in Paris allowing plenty of

our train to Lucerne, which offers stunning lake

lakes. The summit is perfection; dazzling azure

time for the short walk through the Parisian drizzle to

and mountain scenery right from the start. The

blue skies, deep snow and the best bowl of

Gare d l’est. After further warnings about being late,

impressive attention to detail of both our guide

carrot soup I’ve ever tasted. Deep envy of the

we disperse to sample the culinary delights of the

Mary and Swiss railways shows throughout the

surrounding skiers and tobogganers sets in.

station before boarding our 18-coach 200 mph TGV to

trip such that she knows way in advance both

Strasbourg.

which platform and which carriage are ours.

Our comfortable 186mph Eurostar leaves on time

I overhear rail buff conversations about gauges, speeds, turntables, rails and Beeching who decimated the UK’s railways unlike in Switzerland which

After wandering around we head down the mountain to Alt Gathau then Lucerne and Interlaken with dinner in a nearby Asian restaurant.

THE GLACIER EXPRESS Valentine’s Day starts with a 5.45am alarm call to be sure of catching the 7am train to Bern, another to Zurich and a third to Chur – Switzerland’s

Clockwise from top left: the panoramic windows of the Glacier Express; my train awaits at the top of Mount Rigi; Bern where the city’s bears hid themselves away in hibernation; two men up a mountain; Mary and her orange flag to be kept in sight at all times!

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my experience on swiss rail

29

Top tips Layer up Land-locked Switzerland - though with loads of beautiful lakes - enjoys lots of sunshine but with varied temperatures so clients should take plenty of layers.

Mountain tops will be chilly.

oldest town – to board one of Switzerland’s most famous trains, the Glacier Express. Renowned as the world’s ‘slowest express train’ the fully sustainable train is also the highest in the world and affords endless breathtaking views.

Panoramic coaches have big side and roof windows giving outstanding views of the mile

Picture this Suggest clients try to find out which side of the train affords the best views and photographic opportunities.

after mile of Alpine scenery on the four-hour journey across Switzerland. Eventually the train descends down into Brig where there’s just time for a quick coffee and stroll through the main street before two trains to Spiez and then Interlaken.

Our delicious four-course special Valentine’s Day dinner is in the hotel’s Rudehuis restaurant.

BACK TO BERN Next morning’s departure allows time for a lay-in

from every pore of its World Heritage status.

We head back to Interlaken for a short bus ride

Board options Clients can opt for full board or B&B on Diamond rail tours. The former will invariably be the cheaper option.

before the 08.40 train to Switzerland’s capital

to board a lake cruiser at Neuhaus where we

WHERE TO BOOK IT

Bern. The attractive and grand city oozes affluence

share hot chocolates with a couple well into

(fortunately, for its inhabitants, with prices of

their 80s who regale us with tales of last year’s

£15 for two rolls and two coffees!) and class

holiday to Siberia! From Hinterlinden we take a

Diamond Rail Holidays offers the five-day ‘Glacier Express Winter Magic’ tour from £799pp, including return Eurostar from London to Paris; connecting rail journeys to Interlaken; four nights’ accommodation on a B&B basis; services of a tour manager; and excursions. Based on two sharing and departing December 16. Call 0844 544 7581 or visit diamondrailholidays.co.uk

bus to Thun. A very short stroll around the town and then a couple of trains back to Interlaken.

We stroll through the town, stop off for a drink, pass five-star hotels and endless watch shops full of young Chinese shoppers spending thousands. Dinner is in an Italian restaurant.

Yet another 05.45 alarm call starts our journey home with a 7am train to Basel (still completely free of customs/immigration staff) and then another to Strasbourg before the long-haul TGV to Lille to connect with Eurostar to St Pancras. For clients who love Swiss scenery and like train travel, Diamond’s Glacier Express tour is a great way to combine the two.

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philippines

frontiers new

From the popular island of Boracay to lesserknown gems such as Siquijor and Camiguin, the islands of the Philippines offers visitors a host of unique experiences, says John Oates

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philippines

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awe-inspiring sight, and a hike through them is a e’d been playing a waiting Worldwide. “It’s excellent value for money must-do for active travellers. game for more than 30 minutes, and the marine biodiversity is staggering.”

Eat your fill: Eating plays a central role half a dozen of us sitting in Prime attractions include thresher sharks in Filipino culture. A fondness for vinegar a small outrigger boat and impatiently at Malapascua, drifts at Apo Island and and sour flavours, rather than spicy heat, makes scanning the calm turquoise sea.

World War II wrecks around Coron. dishes like chicken adobo stand out.

Then the urgent shout went up from our Yet it pays to think beyond the beaches and Discover an island escape: A day trip Filipino guide: “Right side! Go! Go! Go!” seas. The capital city, Manila, is infamously by bangka (outrigger boat) is a lazy way I leapt straight into the water, but when I congested but it has a fascinating history worth to explore the archipelago. El Nido in Palawan is peered through my mask I saw nothing out exploring. Further north on the same island are arguably the prime destination, boasting some of the ordinary. Was the guide mistaken? the centuries-old rice terraces of the Cordillera amazing snorkelling.

Suddenly there it was, the size of a bus mountains, and attractions such as the caves, Find underwater treasures: Worldand with a huge, open mouth. A whale shark hanging coffins and alpine scenery of Sagada. class scuba diving is a big draw. One – or butanding in With attractions highlight is Panglao, where Alona Beach provides Tagalog – officially spread out across “The best time to visit is excellent post-dive relaxation. Other hot spots the biggest fish in thousands of islands, include Anilao, Puerto Galera and Moalboal. the sea and coming a guided tour can between January and April Hang ten: The Philippines is a magnet straight towards me. when rainfall is lowest and there help visitors make the for surfers. Some head for the shores Despite their huge most of their time. are more hours of sunshine. northwest of Manila, but the prime destination is size, and those massive It can also lead The iconic Ati-Atihan festival the chilled out island of Siargao where the Cloud mouths, whale sharks to some unusual also falls during the third Nine break is legendary. pose little threat to experiences, as Andrea Head off the map: For customers who humans. They have Dalton, Product week of January” really want to get away from it all, narrow throats and Manager at Intrepid DAVID CARLAW, PREMIER HOLIDAYS Batanes is an enticing prospect. An isolated set of feed only on plankton, Travel, explains: “We islands, halfway to Taiwan, this is a rugged land although you wouldn’t take clients to places with few foreign tourists. want to get too close to their powerful tails. most tourists never get to see, like staying in Huge eyes: The most recognisable It was a breathtaking moment as the Ifugao villages with people farming rice the creature in the Philippines is the tarsier, a whale shark sailed beneath me, and I was way their ancestors did 2,000 years ago.” tiny primate with huge eyes. The best place to lucky enough to have more than a dozen It’s also worth considering combining see them is at a sanctuary on the island of Bohol. butanding encounters that day. Run with the the Philippines with another Sense the past: Many historical traces help of the WWF, the whale shark ecotourism Southeast Asian destination. were obliterated by Spanish and US project in Donsol started almost 20 years David Carlaw, Head of Faraway Product at colonisation, but in the cobbled streets of Vigan ago and is considered one of Southeast Premier Holidays, singles out one good choice: the past still seems to be within reach.

Asia’s best sustainable wildlife encounters.

“Singapore Airlines now fly to Kalibo, which is Following a blip in 2013 and 2014, when whale ideal for clients who What’s new shark numbers were way down, conservation want to combine a  Airlines: This year efforts have been redoubled and Donsol is once beach stay in Boracay “After a day’s exploring it’s Philippine Airlines again bustling with tourists. With whale sharks with a stopover nice to come home to some (philippineairlines.com) being seen on an almost daily basis in the peak in Singapore for traditional Filipino fare. celebrates its 75th season of February to May, there has never been little extra cost.”

Newcomers shouldn’t miss birthday, making it a better time to encounter these gentle giants.

The big emphasis for the Department lechón: Spanish-style suckling Asia’s longest-running Life’s a beach airline. Starting at the of Tourism this year pig roasted over a fire pit” Unsurprisingly for an archipelago, many end of June, it will is on repeat visitors, ANDREA DALTON, INTREPID TRAVEL of the Philippines’ main attractions are on offer daily non-stop with the year dubbed or under or beside the sea. But one thing London–Manila flights ‘Visit the Philippines agents should know from the off: the (an improvement on the current five-weekly Again 2016’. This follows a strong 2015, country does beaches very, very well. service). The flights offer a baggage allowance of in which tourism arrivals from the UK The most popular destination is still the two 23kg bags per passenger in economy class. were up 15.65% to 154,589 people. island of Boracay, where the incredibly white  Hotels: New hotel openings in Manila for Perfect ten sands have been revered for decades, but 2016 include the country’s sixth Shangri-La Get festive: They say there’s a festival there are countless other beach options. Island property (shangri-la.com/manila/shangrilaatthefort), every day of the year somewhere in the already up and running in the upscale Fort hopping around El Nido – on the island of Philippines. January is the busiest month in the district which was once the site of a US Palawan – is popular, while enchanting smaller festival calendar, with highlights including the military base. Also notable is the Conrad islands such as Siquijor and Camiguin have Sinulog Festival in Cebu City.

Manila (conradhotels3.hilton.com), an eight-storey equally lovely beaches but fewer tourists.

Hit the beach: The Philippines is home structure overlooking Manila Bay which has Then there are the water-based activities. to many of Southeast Asia’s best beaches. been designed to resemble a mega yacht. It’s Boracay is a magnet for kitesurfers, Look beyond the dazzling white sands of Boracay but it’s scuba divers who think of the Clockwise from top left: The white sand of Alona Beach, for hundreds of less developed options.

Philippines as something of a Paradise.

Panglao Island; Lake Kayangan in Coron, Palawan; swimming with whale sharks in Donsol; the tarsier, one of the world’s Rice above it all: The iconic UNESCO“It’s our number one destination,” says smallest primates which can be found in Bohol; Sinulog listed rice terraces of North Luzon are an Festival, Cebu City; Manila Yacht Club Sarah Wight, Product Manager at Dive

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philippines

When complete the hotel, entertainment and casino complex will cover an area of 44 hectares.  Operators: Following customer feedback, Intrepid Travel (intrepidtravel.com) has added more time in Manila to its Philippines Island Getaway.

After exploring the city in a jeepney, the elongated jeeps which serve as the country’s most iconic public transport, the tour continues to El Nido and the famous subterranean river in Sabang.

Tourism talk

accepting bookings from September onwards.

On the holiday island of Boracay, the former Sol Marina is due to reopen in June as Mövenpick Resort Boracay. The Swiss company’s second property in the Philippines, the 333-room resort is located on the attractive Punta Bunga Beach.  Entertainment: Set in Manila’s Pasay district, the two-billion-dollar Manila Bay Resorts development is behind schedule but its first phase is expected to open by the end of 2016.

Untitled-5 1

“It’s been a busy start to the year, which saw us participate at the Destinations show and London Dive Show. And we’re increasing our initiatives with the travel trade especially with the numerous PATA events.

“Alongside publicity generated by a host of press trips, one of the year’s highlights will come in October when Manila will welcome the TBEX conference and networking event for bloggers and online writers.

“We’re also constantly growing our online campaigns, starting with our newly- launched website itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk.

“We’re showcasing more of our enviable imagery, video and content to reach a

wider group of avid travellers.”

Gerard Panga, Tourism Attache and Director for Northern and Southern Europe

Where to book it  PREMIER HOLIDAYS – 08444 937 542 A seven-night beach holiday starts from £1,765pp including international flights, transfers and a deluxe room at the fivestar Shangri-La Boracay Resort & Spa. The deal is based on two adults sharing. trade.premierholidays.co.uk  DIVE WORLDWIDE – 01962 302 070

The ‘Philippine Secrets Dive Safari’ tour visits new and established sites, including chances to see mantas and thresher sharks. The package starts at £1895pp (six nights) or £2,195 (10 nights) including flights, accommodation and diving. diveworldwide.com

 UNDISCOVERED DESTINATIONS – 0191 296 2674 The 15-day small group tour ‘Emerald Terraces of the Cordillera’ includes rice terraces, historical towns and island hopping. An April 30 departure costs £2,499pp including flights, based on two people travelling. undiscovered-destinations.com 

10/03/2016 09:39

united arab emirates

33

bridging the gulf

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are pushing ahead with major developments while ‘lesser-known’ UAE emirates are moving forward as credible tourism players, says Karl Cushing

S

uitably fortified with hospitality from Emirates’ corporate enclosure, it was time to settle into the stands to watch the action unfold.

Much is often said of the conservative nature of the United Arab Emirates but no-one seems to have told the juiced up ex-pats who fill the stadium and cluster around the pitch at the annual Dubai Rugby Sevens. They are busily parading their finest fancy dress creations and shimmying along to the up-tempo music and dancers that pepper the breaks in play. And here come the Red Arrows, dropping in for a fly-over the stadium.

The pace of the action is lightning fast and as the day progresses and the beers and chat flow, I see less and less of the action. In fact, I’ll admit…..to this day I still don’t know who won! But one thing’s for sure, it was a top day out, with a few late nightcaps at Barasti back in the city capping the proceedings off nicely.

Big plans Hosting such events as the Rugby Sevens plays a key role in Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s multi-pronged inbound tourism drives. These provide some great options to sell off, from horseracing’s richest outing, the Dubai Gold Cup (March), to the F1 Grand Prix at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit (November), with packages available through the likes of Gullivers Sports Travel (gulliverstravel.co.uk) which also features the Sevens.

Extensive airlift options and the endless rollout of new luxurious spa-backed hotels and world-class attractions are also driving the local tourism boom, not least in Dubai.

Having attracted more than 14.2 million overnight visitors in 2015, a 7.5% increase over 2014, it aims to attract 20 million tourists by 2020.

Meanwhile the compact nature of the UAE and its seven emirates, backed by cruise growth, is facilitating a boost in regional multi-centres.

Of the other emirates Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah or ‘RAK’ are all investing heavily in tourism, albeit with a strong cultural focus.

Dubai Marina

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united arab emirates

“In Dubai be sure not to miss out on Friday brunch which is a lavish affair with many stations offering food and drink. I’d recommend arriving early to be able to sample as many of the dishes as possible” MELANIE BURTON ASSISTANT PRODUCT MANAGER, TRAVEL 2

Having flaunted its wares to UK tourism professionals while hosting the 2015 ITT Conference, northernmost emirate RAK aims to attract one million tourists by 2018. Key family-friendly tourism centres include its man-made Al Marjan island archipelago (rasalkahimahtourism.com) and the Hajar Mountains it shares with Fujairah, whose tourism assets include Islamic cultural sites, historic forts and its beaches edging the Gulf of Oman.

Alcohol-free Sharjah’s chief calling card is cultural attractions such as its impressive Art Museum, Heritage Area and Natural History Museum.

Tiny Ajman and Umm Al Quwain meanwhile remain tourism backwaters, although the former’s slow-paced vibe and hotels with private beaches, such as the Kempinski Ajman and Ramada, does attract some more intrepid travellers.

John Berry, Product Manager at A&K for the Middle East, says: “In the luxury sector Abu Dhabi is the most interesting case with the completion of some of the cultural developments due. Dubai has high growth targets and further developments in the pipeline, so will still dominate, but emirates such as Ras Al Khaimah are making some inroads with a slightly different offering.”

Perfect ten Clockwise from top: Sharjah waterfront; poolside at the Four Seasons; activities at a Sharjah Heritage Day

Just deserts: Switch off at a high-end desert resort such as Banyan Tree Al Wadi in RAK, Al Maha in Dubai or Anantara Qasr Al

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Sarab in Abu Dhabi backed by spa sessions and desert activities.

Safari so goodie: Wildlife encounters range from game drives on Sir Bani Yas Island to Atlantis The Palm’s Dolphin Bay to Sharjah’s toddler friendly Al Tamimi Stables.

Get the spa treatment: From Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray with its snow room to hammam treatments at One&Only Spa, Dubai is ideal for wellness fans.

Water works: Kids of all ages will love waterparks such as Dubai’s Wild Wadi and Aquaventure, RAK’s Iceland water park and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Waterworld.

Tee off: Dubai’s myriad championship courses offer world class golf. RAK has Al Hamra and Tower Links and Abu Dhabi’s options include Yas Links and Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Make it eventful: From horseracing’s Dubai Gold Cup (March) to the F1 Grand Prix at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit (November) local events offer some great sales hooks.

RAK up an adventure: Fujairah and RAK’s Hajar Mountains offer everything from hiking and biking to climbing with great diving offshore supported by schools at resorts such as the Hilton in RAK. Blue sky thinking: If a scenic tipple up Burj Khalifa won’t cut it consider seaplane tours, Dubai helicopter rides or two-seater microlight flights over RAK. Kid around: From Dubai’s KidZania and Sega Republic to RAK’s Fun City and Jungle Bungle and karting at RAK Kart or on Yas Island kid-friendly activities abound.

Bully for you: Head east to check out Sharjah’s splendid mountain backed, family-friendly beach at Khor Fakkan and catch Fujairah’s famous Friday ‘bull butting’ contests.

What’s new  Hotels: Abu Dhabi welcomed Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana (rotana.com/arjaanhotelapartments) last November and a Grand Hyatt (abudhabi. grand.hyatt.com) in March. This will be

36

united arab emirates

followed by Four Seasons Abu Dhabi (fourseasons.com) and Fairmont Marina Resort

& Residences (fairmont.com) later this year.

Hotly anticipated hotel openings in Dubai include Viceroy Dubai and a Nikki Beach Resort (nikkibeach.com) opening at Pearl Jumeirah this spring, with Madinat Jumeirah’s new Al Naseem extension set to add 430 rooms this summer.

Future openings include Bulgari Resort & Residences on Jumeirah Bay Island (2017); Jumeirah’s 300-room Venu on Bluewaters Island (2017); and the spectacular Royal Atlantis Resort, adjacent to Atlantis The Palm.  Attractions: Dubai is set to rival the world’s theme park capital, Florida, with the opening of IMG Worlds of Adventure (imgwoa.ae/en) and the humungous Dubai Parks and Resorts, opening in October (dubaiparksandresorts.com).

Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will open on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi this year, and will be joined by an Opera House and Zayed National Museum amongst others,.

Thrill-seeking fans will be more interested in Ferrari World’s pre-summer opening of Flying Aces, the world’s steepest steel rollercoaster (ferrariworldabudhabi.com).  Cruising: Abu Dhabi’s shiny new cruise terminal, which opened last December, is attracting ships such as MSC Musica and Celebrity Constellation, which will home port there from November until mid-January 2017.

Sir Bani Yas Island, with its three Anantara Resorts and Arabian Wildlife Park, is gaining popularity as a cruise call.  Airlines: Qatar Airways’ launched a fourtimes-weekly service from RAK to Doha in February; British Airways (britishairways.com) is now operating Dreamliners on its daily London-Abu Dhabi-Muscat service; and Etihad Airways (etihad.com) is set to unveil its new First Class Lounge at Abu Dhabi International Airport in May.

Tourism talk “The UK remains Dubai’s third-largest source market and Dubai’s popularity with UK travellers remains very healthy with almost 1.2 million coming in 2015, an increase of 11% from the previous year.

With the arrival of new culture and heritage attractions, family-oriented theme parks, Dubai Opera House and an enhanced festival and events line up — as well as more restaurant and shopping options — we anticipate another strong showing this year as families and couples are attracted by the year-round sunshine and world class hospitality. Furthermore, we are strengthening relationships with agents with famtrips, incentives and launching a new online training tool.”

Marc Bennett, Senior Vice President, International Operations at Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing “Sharjah’s tourism sector received a new direction with the launch last year of the SCTDA’s Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021, a strategic road map to attract more than 10 million tourists by 2021. For the UK market we are focusing heavily on family tourism.

One of the major launches is Al Noor Island in Sharjah’s Khalid Lagoon, which is set to become an iconic destination for us. We’ve launched Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort and our Kalba eco-tourism project on the east coast is underway.

“We are also thrilled to see significant growth in cruise tourism. The 2014-15 season drew to a close with 35 international cruise calls bringing around 80,000 visitors to our world-class Khorfakkan Port.”

HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority

Where to book it  ITC LUXURY TRAVEL – 01244 355 600 Seven nights’ B&B in a Marina King Room at Yas Viceroy in Abu Dhabi is priced from £1,349pp, including flights with British Airways from Heathrow. itcluxurytravel.co.uk

 CELEBRITY CRUISES – 0844 493 2043 The cruise line has a 15-night Arabian Sea and India fly/cruise on Celebrity Constellation, in an interior stateroom, priced from £2,199pp.

It departs Abu Dhabi on December 18 2016 with calls at Muscat, Goa and Dubai. The deal includes flights from Heathrow to Abu Dhabi. cruisingpower.com

From top: Abu Dhabi’s Guggenheim Museum; Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana

 PREMIER HOLIDAYS – 08444 937 531 A five-night B&B stay at Dubai’s new Nikki Beach resort is from £899pp, for travel from August 11- September 10 2016, including flights from London to Dubai with Emirates.

An upgrade to a signature suite is priced from £59pppn. Agents can earn £25-£150 per UAE booking. trade.premierholidays.co.uk 

sellingtravel.co.uk

“Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the UAE’s stand-out attractions, and with the Louvre and Guggenheim museums under development, Abu Dhabi is a good recommendation for cultural travellers” ZOE SAUNDERS, SENIOR PRODUCT AND MARKETING MANAGER, ITC LUXURY TRAVEL GROUP

how to sell

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New South Wales

by Laura Gelder

H

ome to Australia’s most famous city - Sydney - New South Wales (NSW) is often eclipsed by its star attraction, but travellers will find almost everything they want to do in Australia can be done in the state.

A third of Australia’s population lives in NSW but it also hosts the tallest mountain and longest river. A 1,000km-plus coastline and 850 protected parks, forests and reserves offer an alternative to the bright lights of Sydney.

Why sell it?

With great airlift into Sydney, why not encourage your clients to take advantage of what NSW has to offer instead of jumping on another flight?

While Sydney has some of Australia’s most iconic attractions and a programme of worldclass cultural attractions and events, just two hours from the city are the Blue Mountains, where beautiful views abound and visitors can choose between bush walks and exploring cute little town or relaxing in spa resorts like Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley.

Sell what?

It’s the diversity that should be impressed on potential clients. NSW is home to Australia’s

Bright lights at Vivid Sydney festival

Blue Mountains look-out most famous urban icons and best-loved beaches, plus sub-tropical rainforest, Pacific islands, pristine bush, desert outback, snowcapped mountains and rolling vineyards.

Selling the sea The 1,000km-plus coast offers a wide range of experiences from lively towns to remote parks.

South of Sydney, the coast has a string of lowkey resorts and fishing ports, ideal for young families. The Grand Pacific Drive heads south of Sydney and takes in many beaches and national parks, the jewel in the crown being Jervis Bay. The Legendary Pacific Coast touring route takes in the Northern coast of NSW with long beaches, national parks, nature reserves and headland lookouts along the way. Coastal towns like Newcastle, Coffs Harbour and Port Stephens offer laid-back attractions, beaches and watersports as well as whale watching.

Byron Bay and the surrounding area is home to surf culture, hippy vibes and arty communities.

Sell to who?

Couples and friends can experience Sydney’s urban delights and cultural smorgasbord, taking in Darling Harbour, perhaps climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge or visiting Taronga Zoo, before heading off to chill out on the coast or have adventures in the national parks.

For foodies, sell the urban dining scene combined with the state’s many wine regions which are also hubs for great dining and local produce. Or book them a wine tasting tour in the Hunter Valley, Mudgee or Southern Highlands.

History lovers will appreciate remote historic outback towns like Broken Hill, which offers an insight into the gold rush era with mine tours.

There’s also plenty of Aboriginal history, such as the rock paintings of Mutawintji National Park.

Younger travellers and adventure junkies are spoilt for choice, with new activities added all the time, such as kayaking Brunswick River or swimming with wild dolphins in Port Stephens. 

Annual events and add-ons for your itinerary HANDA OPERA MARCH 24 – APRIL 24 2016 This year's Handa Opera presents Turandot: a Chinese fable of deathmarked love. The exotic fantasy will be presented at the water's edge in a popup opera house with skyline views. opera.org.au

VIVID SYDNEY MAY 27 – JUNE 18 2016 Mesmerising light installations illuminate iconic locations like The Rocks and Darling Harbour. Meanwhile, Vivid Music hosts an eclectic range of live performances citywide. vividsydney.com

SYDNEY FRINGE FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 1 – 30 2016 Set across five cultural villages, the Sydney Fringe presents 300plus productions in over 50 venues, celebrating local artists in everything from theatre and film to stand-up. sydneyfringe.com

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LORD HOWE ISLAND World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island is less than two hours' flight from Sydney. Only 400 visitors are allowed on the island at one time and it’s a haven for wildlife and nature, offering soughtafter birdwatching as well as hiking and watersports. lordhoweisland.info

38

focus on

Malta - Timeless appeal -

K

nown as the 'Silent City' Mdina certainly doesn’t disappoint, says Karl Cushing As I navigated the labyrinthine streets of Malta’s former capital, on the way to a restaurant on a damp, fresh February night, you could hear a pin drop. It was deserted but for the reflections of the lamp-lit walls on wet cobbles and the swirling echoes of our footsteps filling the air, lending an otherworldly feel.

By day tourists flock to trot the streets of the car-free walled city on foot or in the horse and carts that gather by the city’s entrance gate, but for me the streets are at their best in the evening and towards dusk when the groups are gone, the yellowy limestone of its medieval buildings darkening in the fading light as the somnambulant streets hunker down to another night of languor.

No trip to Mdina could be complete without a visit to local institution Crystal Palace, just outside the city walls, for some tea and to sample its excellent pastizzi. It's the perfect precursor to pacing the sunset walls and drinking in those sweeping island views as you work up an appetite for dinner at a local restaurant such as Medina or Bacchus.

PERFECTLY FORMED Malta and its sleepier neighbour Gozo undeniably pack a lot into their diminutive confines. Their affordability, historic British connections and accessibility — Malta’s well-served Luqa Airport is just over three hours away by plane — has helped establish an enduring appeal.

The proud islands wear their past on their sleeves and they’re awash with historic gems and architectural treasures, from neolithic temple

PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS A ONE-WEEK BREAK AT GRAND HOTEL EXCELSIOR, MALTA , STAYING HALFBOARD IN A SUPERIOR DELUXE ROOM, STARTS FROM £1,556PP INCLUDING FLIGHTS FROM GATWICK. DEPARTING SEPTEMBER 23 2016.

PRESTIGEHOLIDAYS.CO.UK BOOK IT

sites to citadels, ornate palazzos and baroque cathedrals from the time of the Knights of St John. More historic jewels await in Valletta’s neighbouring ‘three cities’, Gozo’s capital, Rabat, (Victoria) and regional highlights such as Naxxar and Mosta, with its famous dome.

Yet as architect Renzo Piano’s recent artful makeover of Valletta attests, the country’s eyes are firmly fixed on the future: 2018 will see the capital don its European Capital of Culture crown (valletta2018.org).

Valletta boasts old favourite, The Phoenicia, set to reopen in May following a refurb, and there's a wealth of offerings in nearby Sliema such as the Fortina (fortinasparesort.com), with its affordable spa and wellness offering.

Another popular location is family-friendly St Julian’s, which offers great dining and bars, a bayside promenade and five- star offerings including the Hilton, Corinthia St George’s Bay, InterContinti, Westin Dragonara and Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa. Nearby Paceville is good for younger crowds.

Malta isn’t renowned for its beaches but good bets include Paradise Bay and Golden Bay, partly for its water sports facilities, while St Peter’s Pool in the south is a great swimming spot.

Options on Gozo include Ramla Bay and the less accessible but lovely Ix-Xatt L-Ahmaron.

Events to sell off include the spectacular Malta International Fireworks Festival in late

sellingtravel.co.uk

April and Rabat’s Festival Mediterranea for opera fans (mediterranea.com.mt). During February’s carnival week, Valletta is awash with colourful outfits while Gozitan revellers put a singularly dark twist on events — a must see.

Currently, Malta specialist Belleair Holidays (sales@belleair.co.uk) is offering agents the chance to earn LOVE2SHOP vouchers worth up to £60 on sales of air-inclusive packages of three or more nights, with top sellers entered into a lottery to win a place on a VIP fam trip in May. For this summer, Ryanair has increased the frequency of its flights from Birmingham to three times weekly, Edinburgh to five weekly and London to daily.

Classic Collection Holidays (classic-collection. co.uk) has introduced two new hotels: the Osborne on Malta and Cornucopia on Gozo

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

WHICH CLIENTS? Winters can get ‘nippy’ but they will still enjoy more sun than in the UK and bargain low-season accommodation deals draw long-staying snowbirds. Meanwhile events such as Malta Music Week have gained traction amongst younger visitors, bolstered by recent additions such as Lost and Found (March 31 – April 3) (lostandfoundfestival.

Clockwise from left: A sunny Mdina courtyard; a traditional Maltese fishing boat, or 'luzzu'; Gozo's Azure window.

CMY

K

focus on

com) and the inaugural Groovefest (April 29 - May 1) (groovefestevents.eu).

One of the world’s best dive spots there’s a good choice of schools (visitmalta.com/en/divecentres) and the sailing is first class, attracting events such as October’s Rolex Middle Sea Race.

The coastline is great for exploring on foot or even by Segway, not least in autumn and early spring when the islands are at their greenest.

On Gozo, featured by walking specialists such as Ramblers Worldwide (ramblersholidays. co.uk) and Inntravel (inntravel.co.uk), agents can book with active specialists such as Gozo Adventures (gozoadventures.com).

Thanks to its affordability and excellent choice of historic venue options, Malta also remains a big hit with couples looking to tie the knot (belleair.co.uk/weddings).

ATTRACTIONS Take a day trip to Gozo, Comino and the Blue Lagoon, where you’ll stop off for a scenic swim, and cruise Valletta’s Grand Harbour on a traditional Dghajsa.

Marvel at the impressive caves and arch of the Blue Grotto before swinging by Marsaxlokk fishing village for lunch and to see the colourful boats and fish market.

Wash down excellent seafood or dishes such as rabbit stew (fenkata) with a cold Cisk beer or wine from local growers such as Marsovin.

Boggle at baroque gems such as Gozo’s Rotunda of Xewkija and St John’s CoCathedral in Valletta, a city whose Baroque past is celebrated in a two-week festival each January (vallettabaroquefestival.com.mt).

Head to Gozo for sites such as Ggantija,

Ramla Bay beach and the coastal rockscapes of Dwejra before exploring Victoria’s famous walled citadel and striking St George's Basilica.

TOURISM TALK "Last year was a remarkable one for the Maltese islands with a record number of more than 1.8 million inbound tourists visiting. October was a particular strong month, testament to our ongoing efforts to position Malta as a year-round destination. We continue to improve Malta’s accessibility and have made a concentrated effort to broaden our tourist outreach by focussing on niche markets, primarily history and culture, LGBT, diving, sports, weddings and festivals. We have several roadshows, fam trips, industry dinners and training planned for 2016."

Peter Vella, Director UK, Malta Tourism Authority

Malta half page Mar 16.pdf 11/03/2016 10:12:53

MALTA

Prestige Holidays offer the best prices in Malta and Gozo.

We have fantastic offers including early booking offers, free nights and free meals.

Prices from only £574 at a 5 star hotel for a week in October.

We can book any flight from any airport, for any length of stay.

Don’t forget you will receive Love to Shop vouchers for each booking made.

 Prestige Holidays on 01425 480400 or  www.prestigeholidays.co.uk/malta

39

The Review O N LY T H E T R AV E L N E W S T H AT R E AL LY M AT T E R S

43

42

NEWS TO USE Dubai mega-resort on the way GET ONLINE

ANDY HUNTLEY

H O N G K O N G O N A M I S S I O N : Agents and operators attend UK tourism mission

47

S H OW R E PO RT PATA Exchange

48

CHECKING OUT Le Royal Monceau, Paris

R E A D A L L O U R M A G A Z I N E S A N D C H E C K O U T O U R D A I LY S E L L I N G T I P S AT S E L L I N G T RAV E L.C O.U K

sellingtravel.co.uk

42

the review

T O U R I S M U P D AT E

Dubai mega-park on way

SuperBreak packages Holland’s Efteling S H O RT

break

specialist

SuperBreak has launched packages

CAROL HAY UK Manager, Caribbean Tourism Organisation

to Efteling Theme Park Resort near Amsterdam in Holland.

Bookable by agents and fully

WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT IN APRIL

commissionable, the park can be

THE Caribbean Tourism Organization is

packaged

looking forward to welcoming the travel

accommodation

trade to its Edinburgh and Glasgow

various transport choices including

roadshows this month.

flights and ferry travel.

with

two

onsite

options

and

The events take place on April 18 at

Efteling, Europe’s third-largest

Surgeons’ Hall, Edinburgh, and on April 19 at

theme park, has a range of

The Grand Central Hotel Glasgow, and both

attractions that includes a world of

will run from 18.00-21.30.

fairies and trolls in the dark ride

If you are based in Scotland and you

‘Droomvlucht’;

a

live

show

haven’t yet registered to attend, what are you

‘Raveleijn’, featuring a five-headed

waiting for? You’ll have the chance to enjoy

fire-breathing dragon; and, for the

an informative evening of networking and

smaller ones, the sounds of the

will have a chance to win some great prizes.

Fairytale Forest.

The following partners will be present with the CTO in Scotland: Bahamas Tourist

More

extreme

attractions

include the dual-tracked wooden

BY BENJAMIN COREN

Office, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.,

DUBAI Parks and Resorts is spreading

to the family segment. We’re starting

roller-coaster ‘Joris en de Draak’; a

Cayman Islands Department of Tourism,

the word about its four new theme parks,

from scratch and we have some

second rollercoaster, ‘Baron 1898’,

Elite Island Resorts, LIAT Airlines, Nassau

which are set to open in one mega-

amazing intellectual properties.

with its 123ft freefall into a

Paradise Island Promotion Board, Nevis

entertainment resort in October.

Munoz added: “We are working to raise

mineshaft; and Aquanura, the

destination-within-a-

awareness among the trade as it will be

biggest water show in Europe.

Resorts, Sunrise Marketing and Trinidad &

destination will spread out over 25

a key player in our success. We will drive

Prices are from £378 for a family of

Tobago Tourist

at

square miles and will include three

education, engagements, fam trips and

four staying two nights at the

caribbeantravelguru.com/reg-form.html or

theme parks: Legoland Dubai, the

roadshows. We want agents to be Dubai

Holiday Village Efteling Bosrijk.

RSVP at RSVP@caribtourism.com

world’s first Bollywood Park, Motiongate

Parks & Resorts’ best advocates.”

Including ferry from Dover to Calais.

Tourism Authority, Sandals and Beaches Office. Register

But if you’re not based in Scotland, you won’t miss out – the CTO and its partners

The

new

Dubai and one water park, Legoland

Munoz said Dubai Parks and Resorts

will come to you! Our other roadshows

Also coming off the drawing board

taking place are: May 1: London; May 18:

are the 500-room Lapita hotel resort,

“It’s very important for a travel agent

Chelmsford; September 14: Chester;

which will be part of Marriott’s

to get an understanding and experience

September 15: Birmingham.

Autograph Collection, and Riverland, a

the destination, selling it with emotion

large

and from their own experiences.”

The trade media partner for all these

retail,

superbreak.com/agents

intends to run fam trips before and

Water Park.

restaurant

and

events is Selling Travel and further details

entertainment district located in the

can be found on the CTO’s online training

heart of the complex.

after the opening.

Dubai Tourism is working to achieve 20 million visitors by 2020 and expects

programme – Caribbean Travel Guru. If

Julien Munoz, Vice President Sales, for

the new parks to contribute to this

you’re not already a member, register now at

Dubai Parks & Resorts, said: “The UK

figure. Dubai Parks & Resorts estimates

caribbeantravelguru.com.

has an affinity with theme parks and

the new parks will contribute 6.7

Our Travel Guru prize winners in March

we believe adding a theme park

million visitors in 2017.

were: Suzanne Barney from Travel

destination to Dubai will open the door

Dubaiparksandresorts.com

Counsellors, who won £50 Love2Shop vouchers for becoming a Caribbean Travel Guru during the month. And Floyd Walcott

NEWS TO USE IN BRIEF

from Sackville Travel who won a Virgin Experience Day for Two for making and logging his Caribbean bookings.

Caribbean Tourism Organization 22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1BP Tel: 020 8948 0057 Fax: 020 8948 0067 caribbean.co.uk

Eurostar targets agents: Eurostar has

Save with Princess: Princess Cruises

Bermuda deal: Thomas Cook has

a new website for UK travel agents that

is offering couples up to £1,000 off the

seven nights at the three-star Coco Reef

provides all the latest Eurostar product

cost of flights when they book a cruise

Resort and Spa, departing on May 2 and

and service information as well as

and flight, available on bookings made

priced from £1,899pp. The deal includes

timetables and operational updates.

before May 2. It applies to 221 selected

return flights from Edinburgh on British

Eurostar links the UK with Paris,

voyages in 2016 in Asia, the Caribbean

Airways, private transfers on-island and

Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort

and the Americas. Examples include

seven nights’ accommodation in a

Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.

£500 a couple off a Caribbean cruise.

deluxe room on a room-only basis.

Eurostar4agents.com

princess.com

thomascook.com

sellingtravel.co.uk

the review

43

HK tourism on a mission SPECIAL OFFERS ONE & ONLY REETHI RAH MALDIVES

and Northern Europe, said: “Around

BY BENJAMIN COREN

O P E RATO R S,

and

91% of UK visitors are stopover

homeworkers had the chance to

visitors, with 55% visiting for the

meet with Hong Kong’s hotels,

first time and 45% returners.”

agents

and

Page added that HKTB aims to

attractions at last month’s Hong

develop more unique experiences

Kong Travel Mission to the UK event.

for agents to sell which will add

ground

handling

agents

The Hong Kong Tourism Board

further value to the destination.

to

“We have a co-operative campaign

increase its marketing presence in

with Travelbag and are talking to our

the UK as well as offering agents

other trade partners. We think sales

more opportunities and incentives

staff should be equipped as best as

to sell the destination.

possible to sell the destination.

(HKTB)

has

been

working

Anthony Lau, Executive Director,

“Often, the first time British tourists

HKTB, said: “HKTB is working with

visit they do the top 10 attractions.

other nearby destinations such as

The second time they want to get

Taiwan,

and

under the skin of Hong Kong and

mainland China to capture stopover

we’re responding by adding more

visitors and include Hong Kong as

authentic

part of a multi-centre visit.“

‘Evening Kowloon Tour’ and ‘Hong

Dawn Page,

Kong Island Tours’.” HKTB.com

Thailand,

Macao

HKTB’s Director, UK

tours,

including

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a warM fijian welcome

beFore yOu Arrive

With a route network that spans 21 destinations in 12 countries, our airline provides unequalled access to the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand through our hub in Nadi, Fiji. Travellers from Europe will find convenient flights departing to Fiji and beyond from Singapore, Hong Kong and Los Angeles with up to 11 flights per week using Airbus A330 aircraft, offering world-class service in both Business and Economy class. Fiji Airways is also a partner in the Qantas Frequent flyer, American Airline Advantage and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan programs and members can earn and redeem points.

For more details and the latest fares and schedules, contact us on europe@fijiairways.com or call +35623981111. For Fiji Airways Reservations, call +6793304388.

the review

A taste of paradise

TUESDAY MARCH 15, 2016

The 9th annual UNITE Pacific Australasia & Far East event welcomed 70 exhibitors and 60 buyers representing 250 companies.

Laura Gelder went to meet them

Fiji is open for business

AAT Kings adds Uluru experience A NEW sunrise tour to Uluru from AAT Kings takes in recentlyopened art installation, Field of Light, by artist Bruce Monroe.

The Field of Light Sunrise Tour is from £50 for adults and £25 for children and takes visitors on a walk through the artist’s space under the cover of darkness, before retiring to the dune top viewing area with a hot drink to watch the colours of the desert come to life.

An acclaimed British artist, Monroe is noted for his immersive installations that employ light to evoke emotional response. Field of

TOURISM FIJI had a positive message

economy needs visitors back in order to

Light is in a remote desert area

post-cyclone Winston, citing record

recover. “Most of the resorts affected

looking onto Uluru and employs

visitor numbers for 2015 and new

will be open by May/June – I’ve never

more than 50,000 stems topped

flights set to boost levels further.

seen a relief effort happen so quickly,”

with

spheres

of

light.

aatkings.com

Cyclone Winston hit the islands earlier

she told us.

New resorts will open on Fiji this year.

recorded in the Southern Hemisphere.

Kokomo Yaukuve Island describes itself

Speaking as the event sponsor, Jane

as a “private sanctuary with an emphasis

West, Regional Director UK/Europe,

on

Tourism

environmental

and

cultural

the

sustainability,” and has five luxury

destruction but urged the industry to

lagoon-view villas and 21 exclusive

help by boosting business: “Sadly we

bures nestled in rainforest. The five-star

lost 44 people but amazingly Winston

boutique hotel Island Grace is part of

only affected 5% of Fiji. The best thing

Vunabaka, a new residential resort on

people can do to is spread the word that

Malolo Island, including two private

we’re open for business.”

marinas and luxury private residences.

ackowledged

West says that the main tourist areas were largely unaffected and the local

Donate to the Cyclone Winston appeal at communitiesfiji.org.uk

NEWS TO USE IN BRIEF Fiji airlift. Fiji Airways has added new

Get smart on Samoa. The Samoa

New stock for Air Tahiti Nui. In 2018

flights via Singapore (twice-weekly) and

Tourism Authority has launched the

Air Tahiti Nui’s entire fleet will be

seasonally via San Francisco (twice-

Samoa Smart Guide app, which is a

replaced with four new Boeing 787-9

weekly from June 16). Korean Air will

local insider’s guide for visitors, telling

Dreamliners. The Tahitian atmosphere

add a new A380 to the London-Seoul

them where to stay, dine, be entertained,

can be experienced on all Air Tahiti

route with Prestige Class seats. Korean

and shop for local handicrafts. No 3G or

Nui flights, as passengers receive their

Air flies to Fiji three times a week.

data roaming is required. Available on

own

fijiairways.com; koreanair.com

android and iPhone. samoa.travel

airtahitinui.com

Tiare

sellingtravel.co.uk

KARLA EGGLETON, SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR,

this year and was the strongest ever

Fiji

“2015 was a record year for the Cook Islands and so far our visitor arrivals are even better this year! We’re looking to promote the personality of the destination with our new branding: ‘Love a little paradise.’ Airlift is improving, with Air New Zealand now offering the first premium economy service into Rarotonga from LA, new Jetstar flights from Auckland and, from May, a new route from Christchurch with Virgin Australia.”

flower

on

boarding!

COOK ISLANDS TOURISM

“Tahiti Tourism’s new global brand aims to re-position the islands as both a destination of beauty and cultural discovery. ‘Embraced by Mana’, references a Polynesian word meaning ‘life force’ and promotes a deeper connection to the islands. It is aimed at a new generation of travellers who seek authentic experiences.

We will be launching a new training programme, Tiare, and running more fams later this year.”

JULIAN MILLS , EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,TAHITI TOURISME UK

45

46

the review

Oceans of news

MONDAY MARCH 7, 2016

The 8th annual UNITE Indian Ocean & Middle East event was sponsored by Selling Travel, Tourism Mauritius and Movenpick Hotels & Resorts. Report by Jo Austin Families are made welcome in Maldives

Island-hopping Seychelles

Sri Lanka update: THE Sri Lanka Collection,

JUMEIRAH VIT TAVELI on

representing some of the island’s

Bolifushi Island, South Atoll, is one

finest hotels and DMCs, now

of two Jumeirah properties in the

features The Fort Bazaar in its

Maldives. The resort is offering

portfolio. The

free stays for children under 12

boutique hotel is located in the

years in stunning two-bedroom

heart of the 17th century UNESCO

family villas and features one of

World Heritage Site of Galle Fort,

the largest kids’ clubs in the

on the island’s southern coast. Its

Maldives, Kuda Koli.

sister hotel is The Wallawwa near

new

18-room

Colombo. srilankacollection.com

Located just a short catarmaran ride from Malé, the resort also and

ANANTAYA is a small hotel

wellness facilities including a five-

group in Sri Lanka that aims to

star PADI dive centre. Every villa

take visitors to the lesser-known

has its own private pool and

parts of the island. Situated on

guests have complimentary use of

the stunning East Coast and

bicycles and full snorkelling gear.

accessible via Cinnamon Air,

offers

extensive

leisure

Anantaya

jumeirah.com

Resorts

&

Spa,

VISITOR numbers into the Seychelles

successful years and increased air access

Passikudah is a four-star property

DUSIT THANI Maldives has

are showing a growth of 23% over last

is essential. Doha is only four hours from

on the Bay attracting wildlife and

added a spacious three-bedroom

year, according to latest tourist office

the Seychelles.”

beach lovers. Off the beaten track

villa designed for the perfect

figures. Supporting the growth is Qatar

Island-hopping is proving the popular

family holiday. Built on the Baa

Airways which will resume flights out of

choice of visitors who are spending two

greenery in a peaceful location,

Atoll,

and

surrounded

by

tropical

the luxury Mudhdhoo

Doha into the Seychelles this December

or three nights at each of Mahe, Praslin

the property features 45 rooms

Island resort also has a newly-

(2016) after three years’ absence. There

and La Digue as well as some of the

and five villas.

renovated Baan Sanook kids’ club

are no direct flights to the Seychelles

smaller outer islands

which comes complete with a

out of the UK.

tree house!

The secluded Hilton Northolme Resort

Passikudah property

and

Chilaw,

its

sister

north

of

Said Sherin Naiken, CEO of the

& Spa on Mahe’s west coast has added

Colombo, are sold in the UK

Children can stay at the resort

Seychelles Tourism Board: “Qatar’s

15 new deluxe ocean view villas with

through Hayes and Jarvis and

free of charge and the offer

announcement comes at a perfect time

infinity pools and a two-bedroom

Premier Holidays. anantaya.lk

includes complimentary meals,

for us. We are working to consolidate

presidential suite.

activities at the resort and round-

our tourism industry after a number of

seychelles.travel

trip seaplane transfers. dusit.com

NEWS TO USE IN BRIEF Online booking for Indian Ocean

Beachcomber’s Le Paradis make-over

Maradiva Villas Resort and Spa is

Magical picnic in Mauritius

Hummingbird Travel, wholesaler and

This luxury hotel on the Le Morne

promoting a luxury day package for

ground handler for the Indian Ocean,

Peninsula is getting a make-over with its

two featuring a four hour picnic

specialising in the Maldives, Sri Lanka,

Beachfront Deluxe rooms and suites all

including a chauffeured ride in a

Mauritius and Seychelles, has launched

undergoing renovation and re-opening

Rolls Royce Phantom. A personal

a fully automated online system to

in September 2016. Junior and senior

butler will prepare and cook a

help tour operators with instant

suites and Paradis villas remain open as

sumptuous

availability, pricing and special offers..

normal

hummingbird.travel

operational. beachcomber-hotels.com

meal

location. maradiva.com

in

a

magical

sellingtravel.co.uk

and

all

facilities

remain

the review

Trade looks east

TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2016

This year’s PATA Exchange hosted 74 exhibitors and nearly 100 attendees at London’s Australia House.

Laura Gelder was on the show floor to find out more “The quality of the people at PATA Exchange is excellent and I would say 90% of them are decision maker, which makes it very worthwhile to be here”

Aquatic and coastal focus

“The size of this event just demonstrates the success of it.

The timing of it, just after ITB, is great because it guarantees a good turn out. We had a very productive day and as result we hope that five new tour operators will soon be adding Korea to their itineraries“ MICHAEL MICHAEL, MARKETING MANAGER OF THE KOREA TOURISM ORGANISATION

“This is the only forum where I can get in front of senior buyers and give them a snapshot of the destination. It’s great to meet specialist operators who are well matched to our destination” ROBIN RUSSELL-PAVIER, ACCOUNT DIRECTOR, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

New and improved Amari Koh Samui AMARI Koh Samui (formerly Amari Palm Reef Koh Samui) is

RUNG-AROOM KUMPALUNUWAT, DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING, HOLIDAY INN RESORT PHI PHI ISLAND

currently undergoing a complete transformation and is slated to re-open April 1 2016.

The all-new resort will have 197 guest rooms across three wings: Thai Village, Garden and Beach.

The facilities will include a signature all-day dining concept

by Amari called Amaya Food Gallery; an all-new Italian dining experience, Prego; the Amaya FOLLOWING the success of David

more interative elements such as maps.

Café and Amaya Bar; a Voyager

Reef

Tourism Australia’s research shows

Lounge; the Breeze Spa; a FIT

documentary, Tourism Australia is putting

that 70% of international visitors to

Centre; and Kid’s Club.

the focus on its seaside product.

Australia rank Australia number-one for

amari.com

Attenborough’s

Great

Barrier

The new $40 million multi-platform

marine wildlife, coastal beaches and

global marketing campaign highlights

aquatic locations. Said Pete Mills,

the country’s world-class aquatic activities

Distribution Development Manager,

and coastal attractions.

UK/Northern Europe: “It’s about making

The campaign is backed by the

people aware of the Aussie coastal

Hyatt opens in iconic Bangkok building

recently re-launched Aussie Specialist

lifestyle and outdoor living.”

PARK Hyatt Bangkok will open in

programme which has new content and

tourism.australia.com

the fourth quarter of 2016, housed in the top 24 floors of the twisted-

ANZ NATURE TOURS GOES INTERACTIVE

coil structure topping the Central Embassy, a fashion, dining and lifestyle destination.

AGENTS can now take advantage of a digital itinerary builder from ANZ Nature Tours, designed to help them sell better.

The online planner lets agents present a visual itinerary, with a slide show showing the tour from A to B and interactive maps.

Clients can download the itinerary via a hyperlink and refer to it on their trip. They can also receive updates and messages meaning agents can keep in contact, issue reminders and add personal touches like a birthday message.

ANZ Nature Tours offers tailor-made itineraries, in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands. anznaturetours.com

sellingtravel.co.uk

47

The Bangkok hotel aims to offer a “refined and uniquely Thai experience reflecting the country’s rich culture.”

The 222-room property will feature numerous outdoor terraces with lush gardens and city views.

There will be 24 premier suites with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Spanning the 34th, 35th and 36th floors of the complex will be a grill restaurant, cocktail bar, speakeasy bar, VIP mezzanine lounge,

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sky

bar

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unobstructed views of the city. hyatt.com

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the review

Checking out...

HOTELS / RESORTS / TRAIN JOURNEYS / CRUISES / AIRPORT REVIEWS

S T A Y : NOVO T E L T I M E S S QUAR E – New York

BY JULIE BAXTER

THE BACKGROUND: Part of the Accor

Hotels group, this property is in the heart of New York and is Novotel’s flagship property in the US. THE LOCATION: Located just off Broadway on West 52nd Street, the hotel’s position puts you in heart of the NY action - overlooking the buzz and excitement of Broadway and neon-clad Times Square.

THE ROOM: My room on the 23rd floor had fabulous views over Times Square and two comfy double beds. There was an in-room coffee machine, work area, LCD TV and refrigerator. The ensuite was modern and compact with shower and bath and the integral mirror lighting added a show-biz touch!

KEY FACILITIES: First impressions are stylish and contemporary. The reception and main public area is open-plan urban chic, all on floor seven, with widespread use of funky lighting, digital displays and textured wall finishings in chain, steel and chrome. Wifi is free and good throughout the hotel and there is a fitness centre.

RESTAURANTS/BARS: Beyond the check-in desks, the open plan lounge leads to an eye-catching centre-piece bar and the Supernova Restaurant with impressive floor-to-ceiling windows - all hugged by an open-air terrace with great cityscape views. This area also includes six Apple desktops, digital

T H E V E R D I CT Location, location, location!

It’s a truism that certainly applies to this hotel which as well as being very well positioned for all the key sights, is well above the buzzing melee and well sound-proofed to ensure a good night’s rest. Breakfast in the restaurant with a fab view over Times Square sets guest up well before they hit the streets.

games tables, TVs, two Playstations and complimentary photo booth all popular with guests and giving the space a hightech, cutting-edge feel. There is also an airline check-in centre with printers for boarding passes, and concierge service for tours and transfers.

Address: 226, West 52nd St, New York, NY 10019, United States

RATES: Leads in at $199 + taxes a night for a double bedded room

 novotel.com  +1 (212) 315-0100

S T A Y : L E R OYAL MONC E A U, R AF F L E S – Paris

BY JO AUSTIN

THE BACKGROUND: The European

flagship of Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Le Royal Monceau was entirely transformed in 2010 by the French designer, Philippe Starck to become a truly iconic property.

THE LOCATION: Between the Champs Elysées and rue du Faubourg SaintHonoré, the hotel is ideally located in

the elegant heart of Paris, just a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe.

THE ROOM: My stylish room was infused with art and colour. Massive mirrors, oversized lampshades, a walk-in wardrobe and a wall-to-wall stainless steel bathroom gave the room a sense of space and individuality. For those inclined, an acoustic guitar stood in the corner beside a functional desk with free wifi connection.

KEY FACILITIES: The luxurious property has a gracious reception hall and eager staff who go out of their way to help in every way. The Spa My Blend by Clarins is a haven of peace and features a 23 metre infinity pool and fitness centre. Le Petit Royal is a fun-filled programme for young guests. A quiet, treed courtyard offers respite from the city and for those on business there is a range of meeting and function rooms.

RESTAURANTS/BARS: Guests are spoilt

T H E V E R D I CT Parisian elegance at its very best with all the glamour and prestige of the city combined with a sense tranquillity once inside its doors. Fabulous location just a short walk from the shops and the sights, and a special place for those in search of grand luxury.

RATES: Leads in at ¤1400 a night for an executive room

for choice. Il Carpaccio is a Michelin star Italian restaurant, and just opened is Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s first restaurant in Paris serving up the very finest of Japanese delicacies. Contemporary French food is served in La Cuisine.

Address: 37 avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris  leroyalmonceau.com  +33 (0)1 42 99 88 36

sellingtravel.co.uk

city profile

49

New York City

© NYC JOE BUGLEWICZ

- Go slow Times Square Brash and bright, buzzing Times Square is a must but to really savour its razzamatazz in style step back, pick a rooftop terrace, such as at Novotel Times Square, and admire its hypnotic lights from above.

JULIE BAXTER

© NYC JCHRISTOPHER POSTLEWAITE

Broadway Shows New musicals and established favourites vie for attention but my top pick was School of Rock based on the movie and with a cast with incredibly talented children. Fun and inspiring.

Central Park Escape the highrise with time out in Central Park, an oasis within the metropolis, where you can mingle with locals or be a true tourist with a horse and carriage or pedicab tour.

Ground Zero Located on the site of the former World Trade Center, the vast memorial pools inscribed with the names of those who died here can’t fail to move you. The 9/11 Museum tells the story of that fateful day.

Rockerfeller Centre Head to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck on the 70th floor for stunning 360 degree views of the city. It’s open 8am til midnight but the night time view gets my vote as the best!

TOP TIPS

BOOK IT

PRE - BOOK BROADWAY COLLECTION SHOWS TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT OR QUEUES attractionworld.com; virginholidays.co.uk; superbreak.com SAVE UP TO 40% ON ADMISSION TO SIX CITY ATTRACTIONS WITH A NEW YORK CITYPASS VALID FOR NINE DAYS citypass.com

N

obody wants to miss New York’s iconic city highlights but to truly get under the skin of the city that never sleeps it is best to simply slow down, stop and stare, says Julie Baxter Racing through the tick list of sights is tempting in a packed city like New York but rather than end up somewhat exhausted and aching after pounding the streets for hours, encourage your clients to slow up in this hectic, fastpaced city and find one or two great places to just rest up, admire the view and absorb the vibe.

SITTING BACK Take a seat in an iconic yellow taxi or on a New York bus and as they drive the wide avenues and pass the picture-book skyscrapers they’ll immediately feel a part of the city. Or suggest they find their place in one of the many cafes within Grand Central Station and all city life will pass before them from slick city bankers to binrummaging ‘bums’. The station is the city in a nutshell.

Pull up a bar stool anywhere in the city and the bartender will doubtless regale them with local tales, and the views beyond the optics can range from serene sunsets over the Statue of Liberty to the extravagant electric neon of bustling Times Square. Take

a table at a classic diner and they can tuck into a giant slab of American cheesecake or ridiculously overfilled pastrami sandwich. Or pre-plan them a sit down in a Broadway theatre and they’ll be able to combine a comfy sit down with a world-class performance. Sit back aboard one of the many boats to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or a scenic Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise and they’ll effortlessly catch the skyline to its maximum effect.

“Encourage your clients to slow up in this hectic, fast-paced city and find one or two great places to just rest up, admire the view and absorb the vibe” JULIE BAXTER TRAVEL WRITER

sellingtravel.co.uk

STEPPING OUT Inevitably clients will want to step out too so recommend they save energy for exploring distinct areas - Greenwich Village, the High Line Path and Battery Park were my favourites - and of course they can easily walk miles within the city’s stunning galleries and museums. MOMA and the Guggenheim turned my head for their architecture as well as their contents but there are many more beyond.

LEARN MORE Tourist info: nycgo.com ESTAs: esta.cbp.dhs.gov Hotel suggestion: Novotel Times Square see page 48 

VISIT USA NEWS APRIL 2016

T H I S M O N T H ' S T O P S T O R I E S F R O M V I S I T U S A ' S M E M B E R S • V I S I T U S A .O R G .U K CITIES

New York's record year



Events

Visit USA members Unite in London THE Mermaid Exhibition Centre in Blackfriars, London, was the venue on March 17 for the largest-ever Unite Visit USA event. Over 50 exhibitors enjoyed the opportunity to meet with a similar number of buyers and tour operators at this now-annual popular event.

Daytona Beach CVB, Greater Miami & Beaches, Kansas & Oklahoma Travel & Tourism, Rocky Mountain International and Air Europa were among the Visit USA members who participated.

Speaking at the event, Jonathan Sloan (pictured), Chair of Visit USA said: “Unite Visit USA has proved to be very popular with our members.

Exhibitors are able to talk to a large number of tour operators and buyers in one place during a single day. Also, as Unite falls the day after the Visit USA General Meeting it allows our members from all over the country to participate in both events.”

During the lunch session Brand USA's Gerry Boyle presented an update regarding the recent launch of the Brand USA-sponsored film America Wild: National Parks Adventure and other relevant 2016 initiatives. visitusa.org.uk

“Unite Visit USA's full day of appointments and an informal networking session over lunch with buyers gave members the chance to update their credentials for 2017” Jonathan Sloan Chair, Visit USA

LAST year was a record one for tourism to New York City, with the Big Apple welcoming an estimated 58.3 million visitors, an increase of 1.8 million arrivals over 2014.

Almost 6,000 new rooms were added to the city's hotel inventory last year and new attractions included the Whitney Museum of American Art, Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration and One World Observatory. ncygo.com TOUR OPERATORS

Ops have agents in mind TREKAMERICA and Grand American Adventures have introduced new online training schemes for travel agents. The platforms offer rewards and incentives and agents completing all five modules become a Trexpert or a GAApro. They will also put themselves in the frame to bag an epic free Mini Adventure.

The mini-breaks up for grabs include: New York to Niagara Falls, San Francisco to Yosemite, Vegas to the Grand Canyon or Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon.

Agents also benefit from up to 75% off the price of holidays. trekamericagaaspecialist.com; grandamericanadventures.com

THE USA in brief...

EVENTS PURE Michigan hosted a party of leading travel industry contacts at the UK premiere of the new Motown the Musical. The production at the Shaftesbury Theatre London showcases 66 Motown hits from legends like Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and The Jackson Five. It tells the story of how Motown was born in Michigan through the central character of Berry Gordy, who founded Motown soul music and is pictured above (centre). michigan.org



CITIES EVENT BIRMINGHAM, Alabama's largest city, has become the first city in North America to install an electric pedal bike share system. Visitors can now choose from 400 electric pedal-assisted bikes to explore this history-rich city and its parks, monuments and museums. Key attractions include the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and 16th Street Baptist Church, the scene of a bombing in 1963 during the height of the American Civil Rights Movement. zypbikeshare.com; deep-south-usa/alabama

HOTELS EVENT HYATT has launched a new brand, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, a global collection of 'unique and independent stay experiences'.

The Unbound Collection by Hyatt includes both new and existing luxury properties including historic urban gems, boutique hotels, resorts and others. The collection launched with properties including The Driskill Hotel (pictured) in Austin, Texas, and the Coco Palms Resort in Kauai, Hawaii, which re-opens in spring 2018. hyatt.com

Look out for our Visit USA Association online Travel Update for the pick of members' news



MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

introducing...

AGENTS can earn themselves 10% commission by selling the Kids Eat Free Card +PLUS Orlando.

The value-added card offers big savings on rides, attractions and more and is valid at over 120 eateries in Orlando and Kissimmee. In addition, when visitors present their Kids Eat Free Card +PLUS at Artegon Marketplace Orlando they will get a free membership card which offers dozens of shopping, dining and attractions savings.

Agents can buy the card through dosomethingdifferent. com and attractionworld.com



TWO operators are highlighting their Florida Keys holidays.

Jetsave has a sevennight multi-centre deal starting from £1,099pp.

Included are three nights at the four-star Hilton Key Largo, two nights at the four-star Amara Cay Resort Islamorada and two nights at five-star The Reach Resort Key West with car hire and flights with British Airways. It is based on travel on October 8 2016.

North America Travel Service has a seven-night deal to the Florida Keys from £1,979pp. jetsave.com;

northamericatravelservice. co.uk



Kentucky Tourism VIARA CHALLIER,

LOFTHOUSE ENTERPRISES

ATTRACTIONS

Snakes alive at Busch Gardens BUSCH Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida, has completed construction on the two highest points of Cobra’s Curse, a ‘snake king’ ride that is due to open this summer.

Weighing more than 13,000 kilograms and with a 70-foot vertical lift, it will take riders within inches of the snake’s four-foot-long fangs.

The three-and-a-half-minute ride will also feature a second inclined lift that sets up for the free-spin finale of the ride. The trek will cover more than 2,100 metres of track at 40mph.

Guests will be just inches away from the ride’s snake exhibit, which will include Jameson’s mambas, Angolan pythons and rhinoceros and gaboon vipers.

The best-value ticket for visiting SeaWorld Parks in Florida is the Discovery Cove Ultimate Package and the three-park SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens Ticket – now including free parking.

It offers 14 days of unlimited entry to three parks for the price of two – SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa. seaworldparksagents.co.uk

HOUSTON GALLERIA BEAMS UP SHOPPERS

AIRLINES

Icelandair to Chicago ICELANDAIR has begun a new year-round service to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

The flights operate fourtimes-weekly from Iceland with convenient connections from six UK airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and, its newest route, Aberdeen.

Other U.S. cities served by the the airline include Seattle, Denver and New York. icelandair.co.uk

THOSE heading to Houston this spring will be among the first to enjoy a brand-new state-of-the-art Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store.

The iconic New York superstore, located in the heart of uptown Houston, will be one of the highlights at the newly-renovated Houston Galleria, the Texas city’s premier shopping and tourist attraction and the fourth-largest retail space in the USA. The shopping centre, a Simon property, offers visitors luxury tax-free shopping in 400 stores and features restaurants and two high-rise hotels. simon.com

When did Kentucky Tourism join Visit USA? We rejoined in 2014 after several years away from the organisation. Being back with Visit USA underlines our current commitment to the UK market.

What are you hoping to gain from membership? It is very useful to work so closely with others involved in the U.S. sector. We attend events like the Unite Visit USA workshop day, and in 2014 partnered with Visit USA on its agent roadshows. We also get involved with Visit USA promotional activities.

Do you have any fam trips planned? There is nothing currently in the pipeline for agents but we are looking at running an operator trip in October. Our fams concentrate on experiences in the state.

Give an example of some of these experiences? It is all about discovering that there really is a wide range of things on offer in Kentucky. In general, knowledge of the state is quite low, and most would probably mention Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Kentucky Derby then maybe bourbon.

But there is also our Bluegrass music heritage, Corvettes, gangster tours in Northern Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park and Paducah, a UNESCO Creative City!

How should agents position Kentucky? They should sell it as a gateway to the southern states. For example, Lousiana and Tennessee are both a natural fit as they share a deep-rooted cuisine and music heritage with Kentucky.

kentuckytourism.com

Subscribe to the Visit USA Association online Travel Update at visitusa.org.uk

Inspiration. Incentives. Bookings.

April 2016

THIS MONTH'S TOP STORIES

Viva Las Vegas Roadshows!

ROADSHOW

Quick Quiz Are you a Malaysia expert?

1. More than 700 species of bird can be found in Malaysia TRUE / FALSE

Hot News

Ready for two new programmes?

2. Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands TRUE / FALSE

THE LAS VEGAS Convention and Visitors Authority will be hosting two Las Vegas Roadshows in May. The events will educate agents on the attractions of the destination, and will also give them the chance to win some fabulous prizes.

Glasgow will be the first city to host the event on May 4 at the Hard Rock Café, Glasgow. On May 5 it will be Manchester's turn, with the roadshow taking place in the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester.

To register: russellm@hillsbalfour.com lasvegasvirtuoso.com;

The benefits of being friends with Thailand

New Training Programmes

COMPETITION

AGENTS should keep an eye out this month for the new Gambia Guru training programme. It will give agents all the tools, tricks and insider tips they need to sell this vibrant west African destination. Also on the horizon this month is a new training programme on Jewel Resorts and Hilton Rose Hall. The programme will allow agents to wise up on the four Caribbean based hotels in the collection: Jewel Runaway Bay, Jewel Dunn’s River, Jewel Paradise Cove and Hilton Rose Hall. traveluni.com

www.traveluni.com

Boucan Caribbean Travel Guru Cayman islands Chile England Gambia - NEW Grenada

Answers: 1: True 2: True

COURSES Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Aruba Barbados Belmond Botswana

Guadeloupe Hotel Extras Jamaica Jewel Resorts - NEW Kenya Las Vegas Macao - NEW

Malaysia Miami Namibia Nassau Norway Norwegian Cruise Line Poland

TOURISM THAILAND is giving away hotel nights this month to agents who complete their training programme. Or, if agents have already completed the Thailand's Treasures training programme, they can earnt he stays by recommending their friends to TravelUni. Agents can win five-nights at the Rawaii Palm Beach Resort and five-nights at the Kata Beach Resort, both situated in Phuket, as well as three-nights at the Rembrandt Hotel, Bangkok and a half-day cycling tour around Bangkok. The incentive closes April 22. training.tourismthailand.co.uk

Qatar Samoa Selling Cruising Seychelles St Kitts Tenerife - NEW Thailand - NEW

The Crane Trinidad & Tobago - NEW Tunisia www.traveluni.com

Destinations • Cruise • Tour Operators • Hotels & Resorts • Rail

Training courses to help travel agents and advisers sell more!

New flights to Guadeloupe Graduate Reward Scheme

FLIGHT

NORWEGIAN AIRLINES is now offering flights from London, Gatwick to Pôle Caraïbes International airport gateway to the Islands of Guadeloupe.

The route will be accessed via daily flights from New York or four times weekly flights from Boston.

The airline is offering passengers on the flight a stopover experience in either one of the US cities before jetting onto the Caribbean islands. Fares start at £210 one-way including taxes.

How the system works for you!

RECOGNITION Recognising agents for their training and bookings.

norwegian.com

Your incentive

guadeloupeislandsexpert.com

Sheraton opens in Samoa

Hotel nights with LearnTrinbago

PRIZES Learn and you'll be in with the chance of winning great prizes.

POINTS Earn by completing quizzes, attending events and more...

LearnTrinbago I Modules: 4

HOTEL

WIN! Four nights at the Blue Waters Inn, Tobago.

The Inn has a plethora of activities on offer, with diving and fishing as well as relaxing and birdwatching being just a few things visitors can do.

The challenge: To be entered into the prize draw agents must complete the LearnTrinbago training programme and then make booking to the islands including the Inn. Agents must log these on MyBookingRewards to be eligable for the prize.

Closing date: April 30, 2016 Where to enter: learntrinbago.com

SHERATON will be opening a new property in Apia, the capital of Samoa.

The Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Hotel and Bungalows will have 175 rooms, two pools, plus a spa and fitness centre.

The family friendly resort will be opening May 27, and promises to provide a luxury experience with local touches inspired by the destination. sellsamoa.com starwoodhotels.com

REWARDS Log bookings for a chance to win even more prizes!

GRADUATE Register, recommend a friend, pass 10 programmes, pass five quizzes, upload 10 bookings and attend one event to become a graduate.

WIN: HOTEL CHOCOLAT CHOCOLATES FIND OUT MORE: MIAMIUNCOVERED.COM

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The prize comes courtesy of Hotel Chocolat. Learn all about the company's beautiful Saint Lucian cocoa plantation hotel, Boucan by Hotel Chocolat, at: boucantraining.com

Courses • Articles • Quick Quizzes • Rewards • Prizes

www.traveluni.com

TOP AC TIO S N O N N NEW IN SUMMER 201

AND THE CHANCE

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O O T L L TO CHI

A Discovery Cove Ultimate Package is like 2 holidays in 1.

Scream for pulse-racing coasters, exhilarating water rides and new thrills like Mako at SeaWorld and Cobra’s Curse at Busch Gardens.

There’s also the chance to make new friends with amazing animal encounters, and then relax on white sand beaches, lazy rivers and more. It’s Orlando like you’ve never experienced before.

Experience all four parks with the Discovery Cove Ultimate Package. Includes an all-inclusive day at Discovery Cove (dolphin swim or non-dolphin swim), 14 days unlimited admission to SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Aquatica. Free unlimited parking too!

For more information contact your preferred ticket provider or visit www.seaworldparksagents.co.uk Package includes one all inclusive day at Discovery Cove and unlimited admission to SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens for 14 consecutive days from first use. Guests must be at least 6 years of age to swim with the dolphins. Guests aged 6-12 must be accompanied by a paying adult who is also participating in the dolphin swim experience. Children aged 3-5 must purchase the non-dolphin swim package.

Free bus transportation is available to Busch Gardens on the Busch Gardens Shuttle Express. Unlimited free parking at SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens is only valid for the duration of the ticket. This offer can be withdrawn or changed at any time. © 2016 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

florida road trips

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time drive

From Pensacola and Amelia Island in the north to the Keys in its southern extremes, Florida offers those taking to its highways and byways a holiday overflowing with fulfilling experiences, says Jeannine Williamson

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s our small boat crosses the crystalclear water I feel I’m being watched.

Our guide points out an alligator, gazing at us unblinkingly from its perfectly camouflaged position on a partially submerged log. Then a manatee, Florida’s state marine mammal and the fascinating aquatic relative of the elephant, glides past before disappearing into the depths of one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs.

We’re four hours from Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, but could be on a different planet.

That said, our 45-minute jungle boat cruise in Wakulla Springs State Park shares a link with the Sunshine State’s man-made silver screen themed attractions.

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one we saw earlier. This 11ft gator was shot by a poacher in in 1966 and now resides in a glass case as the lodge’s unofficial mascot.

Walk on the wild side

Previous page: Driving into St. Petersburg. This page: Snorkelling in the Florida Keys. Opposite page: Horse riding on Amelia Island; driving in Tallahassee

Passing dense undergrowth and cypress swamp trees veiled in Spanish moss it’s easy to see how it provided the ideal backdrop for two 1940s Tarzan adventures, starring Johnny Weissmuller, and the 1953 horror flick Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Situated 14 miles south of Tallahassee, off the Scenic Coastal Highway, it’s an interesting and very different place to visit during a fly-drive tour.

Back on dry land I decline the opportunity to take a Tarzan-style plunge from the two-storey diving platform. Instead we walk back to the atmospheric 27-room park lodge, dating back to 1937, and relax with a root beer float at the original soda fountain and bar where the 70ft counter is one of the longest in the world.

Nearby sits ‘Old Joe’, who wasn’t as lucky the

Whilst theme parks are Florida’s top attraction, there’s never been a better time to discover the state’s natural, wilder side.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Parks Service and Florida has three national parks – the Everglades, Biscayne and Dry Tortugas – in addition to 171 state parks.

The independence and flexibility of a road trip - with the lure of well-signposted, wide open highways and cheap petrol –is a perfect way for clients to explore off-the-beaten track destinations and discover another side of Florida.

With an eight per cent increase in the total number of overseas visitors for the second consecutive year, (2015) Visit Florida anticipates the UK market will grow to 1.7 million by the end of 2016. The year-on-year growth has been a catalyst for the ‘billion dollar bed boom’, a surge of investment in existing hotels undergoing refurbishments, brand-new hotel openings and future developments.

Equally, the airline gateway cities of Miami, Orlando and Tampa open the door to a variety of fly-drive routes.

Miami provides easy access to the Everglades and Florida Keys, the sub-tropical archipelago of around 1,700 islands that extend 121 miles offshore to Key West, the southernmost point of mainland America, and 70 miles out to sea to Dry Tortugas, the seven uninhabited islands lying in the Gulf of Mexico.

The classic way to experience the Keys is a road trip on US-1, better known as the ‘Overseas Highway,’ which includes crossing the spectacular Seven Mile Bridge.

Orlando is off I-95, the east coast interstate

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highway linking diverse destinations such as iconic Daytona Beach with historic St. Augustine and pristine Amelia Island with its 13 miles of beautiful beaches.

Alternatively, take a leisurely drive inland to Silver Springs, home to Ocala National Forest, for walking, cycling, horse riding and watersports.

From Tampa the I-75 runs along the Gulf Coast, taking in the mangroves and beaches of Sanibel Island, entertainment-filled neighbouring resorts of St Petersburg and Clearwater and state capital Tallahassee. From here head to the lesser-known, and underrated, Florida Panhandle with the cute Seaside town of the same name and the sweeping beaches and sand dunes of Pensacola and Panama City.

Perfect ten Rev up: Experience the thrill of being driven around Daytona International Speedway by a professional driver (drivepetty.com) or steer your own way along the famous hard-packed sand of Daytona Beach (daytonabeach.com).

Step back in time: Settled by the Spanish in 1565, St Augustine is America’s oldest continually inhabited European-founded city and the 17th century fort is a sightseeing highlight (augustine.com).

Dine with a spaceman: Find out about life in space at Kennedy Space Center’s daily lunch hosted by a veteran NASA astronaut (kennedyspacecenter.com).

Shell seekers: The beaches of Sanibel and Captiva Islands are covered with shells. Low tide is the best time to find new ones (sanibel-captiva.org).

Go wild: The Everglades, America’s largest sub-tropical wilderness, is the only place in the world where crocodiles and alligators co-exist, and it’s also home to the state animal, the elusive Florida panther (nps.gov/ever).

MANTA RAY INN

www.mantarayinn.com

Take off: Pensacola’s National Naval Aviation Museum is free. On certain days of the week there are thrilling practice sessions by the Blue Angels, the US equivalent of the Red Arrows (navalaviationmuseum.org).

Saddle up: Rural Ocala is Florida’s horse country and visitors can tour studs that breed champion racehorses and saddle up and go trail riding in Ocala National Forest (ocalamarion.com).

Go Greek: The former sponge fishing village of Tarpon Springs is home to the country’s largest Greek and lined with shops selling baklava, kebabs and other specialities (ctsfl.us).

Highland Fling: Discover a wee corner of Scotland in Dunedin, settled by Scots in late 19th century and with a highland games held each April (visitdunedinfl.com).

Push the boat out: Paddle your own canoe, or go out with a guide, at Hillsborough River State Park which opened in 1938 and is one of Florida’s first state parks (floridastateparks.org).

“St Augustine is a must on any Florida fly-drive. It is Florida’s oldest city with cobbled streets, a fortress and quaint shops, and the nearby beaches of Jacksonville are perfect for relaxation” MAGGI SMIT, MANAGING DIRECTOR AMERICA AS YOU LIKE IT

The MANTA RAY INN is a home away from home!

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florida road trips

What’s new

This page: Otters in Sarasota; the overseas highway into the Keys. Opposite page: Rollercoaster in Daytona Beach.

 Attractions: Two record-breaking thrill rides open this summer at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa (seaworldparks.co.uk).

SeaWorld’s 200ft, 73mph, Mako will be Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster, and Busch Gardens’ spinning Cobra’s Curse will be a world first.

Naples Botanical Garden (naplesgarden.org) has unveiled a new visitor centre and three new gardens, including one devoted to orchids. The newly-extended 1.8 mile Tampa Riverwalk links museums, restaurants and attractions (visittampabay.com).  Accommodation: Opening this month (April), is Key Largo’s 14-acre, 144-room Playa Largo Resort & Spa (playalargoresort.com), the latest addition to Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Themed around the famous building bricks, and steps away from the

Agent Offer

theme park entrance, is the recently opened 152-room Legoland Hotel (legoland.com).

Boasting Universal Orlando’s (universalorlando. com) largest on-site pool, the 1,000-room Caribbean-style Loews Sapphire Falls Resort opens in July. Debuting in autumn 2016 is the 37-room boutique Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club (mainsailhotels.com), the first full-service resort on Anna Maria Island.  Restaurants: Dine on Gulf Coast grouper, fried catfish and other Floridian and Southern favourites at the new Florida Kitchen restaurant at Miromar Outlets (miromaroutlets.com) discount mall in Estero, between Naples and Fort Myers,  Events: Daytona International Speedway (daytonainternationalspeedway.com) is hosting the Ferrari World Finals from December 1-4.

Tourism talk “This is a very special year for the state as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Parks Service through its three national parks. Clients can take to the open road on a self-drive holiday and explore the state at their own pace. Hiring a car provides independence and total flexibility, whilst enjoying petrol at half the price in the UK.

CREDIT NAME

VISIT SARASOTA COUNTY

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florida road trips

59

“To see the east coast’s hidden gems, avoiding the major highways, take State Road A1A which hugs the coastline most of the way between Fernandina Beach in the north and Key West in the south” RUBY BRIGGS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NORTH AMERICAN TRAVEL SERVICE

“A 12-hour drive could take you from the most northerly point of Pensacola to the southernmost point of Key West.

“We have an abundance of new airlift from British Airways, Virgin, Thomas Cook and Thomson into our key gateway cities of Miami, Orlando, Tampa and, recently, Norwegian into Fort Lauderdale.

“January saw our biggest-ever consumer, shared-brand campaign in the UK. We worked with 13 trade partners, including British Airways, Thomas Cooks and Hertz on a month-long, London-wide ‘Love, Florida’ campaign.”

Colin Brodie, Director UK Ireland, Visit Florida

Where to book it  NORTH AMERICA TRAVEL SERVICE – 0113 246 1466 The 14-night Florida A1A fly-drive itinerary, from Jacksonville to Miami, is priced from £3,478pp.

Departing July 5, the deal includes flights, room-only accommodation and car hire. northamericatravelservice.co.uk

 AMERICA AS YOU LIKE IT – 020 8742 8299 A seven-night Florida Keys escorted motorcycle tour is priced from £2,030pp, including flights to Orlando, room-only accommodation, motorbike rental, helmets and fuel. americaasyoulikeit.com  JETSAVE – 0844 415 5500

A nine-night Miami and Florida Keys fly-drive on an accommodation-only basis is from £1,449pp departing July 14, including flights and car hire.

CREDIT NAME

jetsave.com/agents 

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namibia

sands Shifting

Sparse, often desolate but always spectacular, Namibia is a land of surprises where unique and memorable experiences await visitors, says Lottie Gross

This page: Deadvlei at night. The white clay pan is located near the more famous salt pan of Sossusvlei, inside the Namib-Naukluft Park. Opposite page: A guide looks out over the Namib Desert.

namibia

I

61

t was nearing midnight and my 04.00 the world’s most extreme and dry deserts. The alarm was weighing on my mind, but I country’s social and political landscape has simply couldn’t tear myself away. been shaped by periods of tough German and I stood in near-total darkness, completely South African rule, much of which is reflected silent, holding my breath and waiting to catch a in Namibian life today: from the cuisine – try glimpse of Namibian mountain zebras. cream-laden German cakes and delicious cured I was staying at Zebra River Lodge, a beautiful meats – to the architecture in the coastal towns property with a boutique feel that’s built into the of Swakopmund and Lüderitz. rocky hillsides around 400km from Windhoek.

The draw for Namibia isn’t only its exceptional It was our first night in Namibia and after a wildlife, although Etosha National Park is truly dinner of succulent game steaks most of our teeming with game and black rhino numbers are party had retired, but I stuck around. indeed increasing at an astounding rate in the “The zebra were here late last night,” the northern Kunene region. landlady had told us. “They come to drink from Namibia is the place to go for entirely unique our watering hole.” people, experiences and landscapes: there are Just as I was about to get an early night, I’d traditional tribes like the Himba and Herero, heard the thunderous rumble of hooves galloping surreal scenery at Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, nearby. There were no while the Fish River horses on the lodge Canyon is one of the grounds: it had to be the largest natural chasms “Namibia is easily combined zebra. in the world. with South Africa and Namibia is the second It’s a vast land with Botswana, should customers least-densely populated enormous variety and wish to have a longer holiday” an ever-improving country in the world, LUCY COOK, VISIONS HOLIDAY GROUP but it’s teeming with tourism infrastructure: a different kind of life: the roads are well setgame, big and small, that can be seen almost up for self-drive safaris and the Air Namibia run everywhere – in its national parks, private regular domestic routes connecting all corners of reserves or even on the route from the airport to the country. the capital, Windhoek.

What’s new?

It’s not unusual to see zebra grazing on the  Accommodation: Chobe Water Villas roadside as you’re driving down highways, but (chobewatervillas.com), open for reservations from nothing could beat the up-close encounter to be July 2016, is a new collection of boutique villas had at the lodge. with unobstructed, 180-degree views of the River The unmistakeable guttural huff of a zebra got Chobe. Prices start from £607pppn (sharing). my pulse racing and the occasional stamping of Wilderness Safaris (wilderness-safaris.com) opened hooves had me hooked on staring into the navy its latest addition in 2014: the beautiful Hoanib night. Before I knew it an hour had passed. At 1.00 I decided to call it a night, feeling somewhat Skeleton Coast camp sits among the stark mountains and vast plains of the private Palmwag defeated and foolish, as if the zebra had been Concession just southwest of Etosha National teasing me. But that was before I discovered the Park. Fully inclusive rates start from £364pppn. abundance of amazing wildlife encounters that The Gondwanda Collection (gondwana-collection.com) was waiting for me in the rest of the country. opened The Delight Swakopmund in November Only in Namibia 2015. Rooms start from £42 per night.

“Only in Namibia” is the slogan on the homepage  Operators: Hands Up Holidays of the Namibia Tourism website (namibiatourism.com. na) and it’s true!

Only in Namibia can you see all of the ‘big five’ just a day’s drive from a gorgeous, untouched coastline scattered with rusting shipwrecks and frenzied seal colonies.

Only in Namibia can you climb the world’s tallest sand dune at sunrise to look down on the oldest desert on earth. And only in Namibia will you queue in the supermarket alongside beautifully embellished Himba women.

Sitting just north of South Africa and south of Angola on the western coast of Africa, Namibia is a land of surprises: whether it’s spotting a lion among herds of oryx, zebra and impala, or discovering that life can thrive in one of

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62

namibia

(handsupholidays.com) has introduced Namibia as a new destination for 2016 and has a 14-day ‘ethical luxury’ trip that will see travellers staying in eco-luxury accommodation while ticking off the country’s top sights. Guests will also be invited to ‘make a difference’ by helping to dig new water sources for elephants to reduce the risk of the animals being killed by humans.

Natural World Safaris (naturalworldsafaris.com) is offering a new giraffe collaring conservation safari this summer. Visitors will assist a team of professionals in tracking and collaring giraffes.

Prices start from £4,595pp, including a $2,500 donation to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.  Trade initiatives: The Namibia Tourism Board is to run a number of trade campaigns and fam trips, and is in the process of revamping its online training programme, Namibia Know It All, which will launch in the summer with Travel Uni.

Tourism talk Above: sunset over the dunes. Opposite page: sun dried Namibian nibbles.

“Despite having no direct flights, the UK market is one of the fastest growing, with a 10% increase year on year in 2015.

“And the growth is set to continue, helped by a

number of hotel openings within the four-star market, notably in Swakopmund, along with new eco-tourism openings in remote areas.

“We have also seen an increase in average length of stays, which has now risen to over 17 nights, indicating that the UK is back to where it was when there was a direct flight route.”

Samuel Hancock, Sales and Marketing Director, Namibia Tourism Board

Perfect ten See sunrise at the sand dunes: Arrive among the dunes before sunrise, hike to the top of Big Daddy – the world’s tallest – and watch the dawn give way to a deep orange desert punctuated by bright-white mineral pans.

Get high: Take a scenic flight from Swakopmund over the Forbidden Coast and Sossusvlei. Nothing can prepare you for the stunning sights below: rusting shipwrecks and sand dunes that stretch from the ocean all the way into the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

Get low: For a challenge, explore the Martian-like landscape of Fish River Canyon on foot during a five-day hike.

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namibia

Sleep among leopards: Enjoy hilltop luxury at Namibia Wildlife Resorts’ Dolomite Camp in Etosha, where you might hear leopards skulking between your cabins after dark.

Spot big game: Park up at a watering hole in Etosha and wait for the wildlife to come. Or take a night-time game drive to get another perspective on Namibia’s wild world.

Get stuffed: Delve into the delights of the Atlantic, from fresh oysters to expertly grilled fish at The Tug seafront restaurant in Swakopmund.

Get your game on: From farmed (not wild) oryx to kudu to impala, there’s fresh steak and cured meats galore.

See the stars: NamibRand Nature Reserve is one of the darkest places on earth, making it an exceptional spot for star-gazing, even for those without a telescope.

Meet the Himba: Whether you stop at a roadside stall or head into a supermarket in Damaraland, you’ll likely come across some of the ornately decorated Himba women.

See a seal colony: Dotted along the Namibian coast are hundreds of seal

Luanda

colonies. A sight – and smell – to behold, thousands of seals lollop on the sand and bob in the waters beyond.

Where to book it  EXPLORE – 01252 884289 The 12-day Namib Lodge Safari trip takes in all the country’s major sights. Prices start from £2,649pp including return flights from London, accommodation in hotels and lodges, most meals, and an explore leader and driver.

“Namibia is fabulous value at the moment due to the weak dollar, which is linked to the South African rand” STUART DOUGLASS-LEE HEAD OF PRODUCT, SAGA

explore.co.uk

 AFRICAN PRIDE – 01904 619 428 The operator has a number of tours, including a 16-day self-drive option departing Windhoek and travelling through the desert, up the coast and back via Etosha National Park, priced from £2,822pp. african-pride.co.uk

 TUCAN TRAVEL – 01904 619 428 A 13-day Namibia and Botswana trip, priced from £839pp (no flights), is packed full with game drives, local encounters and sand dunes in Namibia after cruising down Botswana’s Zambezi river. tucantravel.com

to Frankfurt and beyond Lusaka

Ondangwa Rundu

Windhoek

Katima Mulilo

Victoria Falls

Maun

Harare

Walvis Bay

Oranjemund

Air Namibia operates a daily service from Frankfurt to Windhoek with connections available from selected UK regional airports Our modern fleet of Airbuses A330 has a total passenger capacity of

Luderitz Johannesburg

244 seats in a two-class service (economy and business).

Air Namibia also operates regionally with onward connections from Windhoek to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Maun,

Cape Town

63

Victoria Falls, Luanda, Harare and Lusaka

Carrying the spirit of Namibia

tel: 0844 482 2317 | email: info@airnamibia.uk.com | www.airnamibia.uk.com

64

my journey

My Anguilla journey...

es g and discovers surpris din ar bo le dd pa up dan fine dining, st Steve Hartridge enjoys nown destinatons -k er ss le ’s an be rib Ca e of the aplenty on Anguilla, on

I

had heard that Anguilla was one of the Caribbean’s sleepier islands, mostly an unassuming sunkissed escape for the well-heeled and celebrities hoping to spend a few days unrecognised and unharried.

But on this airless Saturday night the crowd at Elvis’s Beach Bar in the appropriately named Sandy Ground is making a good fist of disproving the ‘quiet Anguilla’ notion. Beneath a huge screen showing an NBA bar beach basketball match a DJ pumps ohnno’s J t a Sunday out familiar hits as dancers go through their moves and grooves nor, Con n diga Car with Golf on the sand and others drink Anguilla’s Secretary for Tourism beer as they swing in hammocks.

The following day, a few paces down the beach, leatherskinned expats and islanders in shorts and Crocs are whiling away their Sunday afternoon over snapper and stew conch while jiving to some reggae and jazz classics played by the resident band at Johnno’s beach bar.

‘Sprocka’, something of an Anguillian legend, seems at home whether on the guitar, keyboard, saxophone or trumpet. Open-air, casual and laid back, Johnno’s is just how a beachfront Caribbean restaurant should be.

At the other end of the island, on the east end, Junks Hole Road, little more than a red dirt track, leads to the Palm Grove Bar and Grill, or ‘Nat’s place - Where Happiness Awaits You’. Here the entertainment is more of the accoustic guitar variety.

It is not that the celebrities don’t come to Anguilla – they do – but they tend to either go under the radar or, as I discover, creep My magic up on you almost al momen Snorkellin g among unnoticed. ts turtles at round of golf with Little Bay During a Sunday the . En Stand-up paddle boar island’s Secretary joying a of Tourism morning round of golf on ding at C at the fa ro . bulous Str aw Hat. An cus Bay. Top dinin the sands the island’s only course g early-mor outside Z n e in m g jog on i Beach Ho Eating lob with the Honourable use at S ster and hoal Bay. crayfish on Sandy Isla Cardigan Connor, nd Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Sports, Youth and Culture, a guy in his golf cart

drives by with a cheery wave and a ‘good morning’.

He turns out to be Dan Brown, the millionaire author of The Da Vinci Code, who has bought a house on the course owned by the fabulous CuisinArt Hotel.

And rumour has it that Justin Beiber is also on the island and has been spotted in another Sandy Ground Bar, the Pumphouse. What is not in doubt is that Kate Winslett got married to Sam Mendes in a villa in the island’s West End while Denzil Washington spent his fiftieth birthday at Blue Waters in the same part of the island.

Tourism and sport

At Trattoria Tramonto, an unassuming eatery on the sands of Shoal Bay West, also in the West End, the walls are covered with photos of celebrities such as Hilary and Bill Clinton, Liam Neilson and Miranda Richardson and the stars of the US TV show Blue Bloods, amongst others.

But back to Anguilla’s tourism secretary. Anyone with an interest in cricket, and a memory that stretches back to the mid-1980s and 1990s will remember ‘Cardy’ playing for Hampshire, opening the bowling in tandem with West Indies legend Malcolm Marshall. Today he is charged with increasing tourism to the island, raising the profile of sports from golf to sailing and developing tomorrow’s next Anguillian sporting superstar.

On a boat ride out to Sandy Island, a small offshore island made of coral that serves up fabulous lobster and crayfish, he tells me that one of his aims is to identify a sportsman or sportswoman who can do for Anguilla’s tourism sector what athlete Usain Bolt does for Jamaica, and what cricketers Brian Lara and Viv Richards once did for Trinidad and Antigua respectively. He also wants to get the word out that Anguilla, with its three- and four-star properties, can cater to tourists of all pockets, not just five-star travellers.

“Tucking into seafood spring rolls, we sit watching the moon sprinkle mercury over the gently-lapping waves”

sellingtravel.co.uk

Caribbean’s best food

Anguilla, close to St Barts and St Marteen, has just six traffic lights and a population of 14,000 - but it seems a disproportionate number of residents have learnt the art of fine dining.

For such a tiny island, there is a wide range of great places to dine and several Anguilla eateries regularly win gongs at international and regional food shows.

From April to Nov many Anguilla ember beaches become nest ing grounds for turtles

my journey

Crayfish at Sandy Island

Take Straw Hat, run by Peter Parles, a New Yorker who for the past 19 years has been serving up the sort of fine dining that is rare in the Caribbean.

As we sit watching the moon sprinkle mercury over the gently-lapping waves, we tuck into spring rolls stuffed with locally-caught lobster and crayfish.

There’s also a fabulous range of accommodation on the island. Although the tourist board is keen to stress that there are options for every budget, the best and most popular options are at the top end.

The newest addition is Zemi Beach House, which opened across six acres on the relatively unpopulated West End in early February. The first new-build hotel to open on the island in six years, 70 ‘keys’ are available but by the end of 2016 the beachfront resort will grow this to 129.

One of the resort’s centrepiece attractions is a spa housed in an authentic Thai House that was transported from Thailand to Anguilla in the 1980s.

At Ani Villas, located on a bluff overlooking a sandy strip known as Little Bay – location names in Anguilla are nothing if not to the point – we sip evening fruit punch cocktails while watching the burning sky change through a spectrum of oranges and purples, as pelicans swoop and brown boobies soar.

The next day, back at Little Bay beach, we snorkel among fish and turtles whose heads bob inches from our facemasks. Our sailboat for that afternoon is Tradition, a classic West Indian sloop operated by partners Laurie Gumbs and Deborah Vos. This is a beach you can only access from the water – but getting to a fabulous beach elsewhere on the island is hardly an issue: there are more than 30 alone within just a half-hour drive from Ani Villas. On land and on the water, Anguilla ticks all the right quintessential Caribbean boxes.

65

Little Bay, on e of Anguilla’s dese rted beaches

Ani V illas

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No need to rush aboard Tradition, a classic Wes t Indian sloop

ddleboarding, Stand-up pa y one of man tions op t or sp water

tion Informah British Airways

t gua wit ebruary Lia F to Anti Flights rom £617. In ection flight’ n start f a daily ‘con guilla, which An ced ely, introdu Antigua and ernativ n rn. Alt uilla Air e tu e e r tw e b ng 269 with A from $ starts harter flights available. o c ls a d onwar rvices are a.com; itanguill Se TS: ivis h.com; tradition C A T N c CO a e om ib .c m ts e .com; z uillawaterspor anivillas om; ang .c g lin ia s

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66

the final word

the quirky side of travel – Ambassadogs, saying 'I love you' and teleportation –

V

isit Scotland is chasing all possible leads to find an International Canine Ambassador.

The ambassador, or 'Ambassadog', and its owner will experience the pet-friendly attractions Scotland has to offer and will verify them for other pets with a special 'paw of approval'.

The Very Important Dog (VID) will also attend photoshoots, launches and events. Plus, the pooch and its owner might also get the chance to meet some famous faces along the way.

The selected mutt will have to be well travelled, well trained and talented to become, one of six finalists selected to reach the 'interview' stage.

Any dog owners based in Scotland are eligible to enter; they will win an exclusive dog-friendly holiday in Scotland should their pet be selected.

TOP 10…

Solo destinations Exploring this Rock (exploringthisrock.com), a travel website, has compiled a list of the top destinations worldwide for solo travellers. Get inspired and started selling these to singles:

visitscotland.com

I LOVE YOU...TODAY How often should people say 'I love you?'

According to us love-shy Brits, saying it every day is way too excessive.

A survey conducted by EliteSingles found that the Brits mostly prefer a stiff upper lip, with only 23% wanting to hear 'I love you' every day.

This is compared to 73% of Americans who want to hear the phrase daily, the highest of any country surveyed. The Dutch are the most

*

Big fans

Europcar has rewarded the most avid Arsenal fan with tickets to a Gunners' match this month. The winner, Vanessa Finch, got married in an Arsenal scarf! Arsenal's car rental partner also ran a competition for the most-travelled fan this month.

reserved, with just 10% expecting to hear those three magic words on a daily basis.

1

New Zealand

2 Australia

elitesingles.co.uk

THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL? 'Teleportation' is the number one way people want to travel in the future, according to a survey by TUI UK and Ireland.

The survey asked participants across the UK and Ireland what they thought should be the next great travel innovation and 52% said that they hoped to travel in a 'teleporter' within the next 20 years.

Other suggestions included previewing a holiday through virtual reality and a soundbubble built into the seat on a plane.

3 Costa Rica

4 Spain

5 Western Balkans

6 Thailand

7 The Philippinnes

8 Mongolia

9 Laos

10 Chile

tuigroup.com

europcar.co.uk

THE MAY 2016 ISSUE OF SELLING TRAVEL WILL FEATURE: • Advantage Review • Belgium • Cook Islands • Go West Review • Perugia • Ireland • Korea • Maldives • New Zealand • North Cyprus • South Africa CONTACT US sales@bmipublishing.co.uk; editorial@bmipublishing.co.uk PLUS ONLINE Daily Selling Tips • Destination Guides

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NOW AVAILABLE TO BOOK!

A first-of-its-kind in the Caribbean, these innovative Over-The-Water Suites will be opening at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Jamaica later this year! Hovering above turquoise seas, these gorgeous Tahiti-style bungalows will feature glass floors, a Tranquility Soaking Tub, an Over-The-Water hammock and a private infinity pool for countless ways for your clients to enjoy the water.

2015

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK THE WORLD’S LEADING ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS Contact your favourite Tour Operator