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florida
Funway Holidays (funway4agents.co.uk) has launched its biggest-ever Florida Beaches programme with over 32 new hotels. North America Travel Service (northamericatravelservice.co.uk) is offering new Florida Parks & Beaches and Miami & The Keys fly-drives. New to Travel 2 (travel2.com) is ChampionsGate Resort Platinum Homes near Walt Disney World. Accommodation: The new 343-room Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach (wyndhamgrandclearwater.com) is the first beachfront property in the group’s portfolio. Fairfield Inn and Suites (marriott.com) opens this summer in Daytona followed by the exclusive Marriott Autograph Collection property, The Daytona, in 2018. Kissimmee’s Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Centre (marriot.com) has a new $4.2-million waterpark with Florida’s tallest slide. The 184-room Hutchinson Shores Resort and Spa (hutchinsonshores.com) is Hutchinson Island’s first new resort in two decades. Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa (hiltonmarcoisland.com) has undergone a $40-million refurbishment. South Florida’s second Mandarin Oriental property (mandarinoriental.com) is one of five hotels opening in the Palm Beaches. Fort Lauderdale’s new laid-back Plunge Beach Hotel (plungebeachhotel.com) is ideal for watersports enthusiasts. Transport: The Brightline (allaboardflorida.com) train, connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando, launches mid-2017.
Tourism talk
Above, from top: The Rip Ride Rockit coaster at Universal; Wild Florida Everglades Airboat Tours & Wildlife Park
“Florida welcomed nearly 1.7 million UK travellers in 2015. We are still awaiting final numbers but 2016 looks to have been another strong year. This year there is increased capacity from nearly all the airlines, with new routes into Fort Lauderdale with British Airways and Miami
with Aer Lingus. And British Airways’ New Orleans service opens up the northwest region and fly-drive itineraries ending in Orlando. “Florida’s theme parks are always evolving, and its nature-rich and varied landscape offers endless outdoor activities and 825 miles of beautiful beaches. It’s really not just for families. “Agents should complete our online training course and become a Visit Florida expert (visitfloridaexpert.com). It will give them a comprehensive overview of all the Sunshine State has to offer.” Gill Standeven, Account Manager, Visit Florida
Where to book it PURELY AMERICA – 0844 804 4480 An eight-night room-only stay in the Florida Keys is priced from £1,479pp for travel in September, with four nights at the new-build Playa Largo Resort & Spa and four nights at the recently-opened Oceans Edge Key West Hotel & Marina, including Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow to Miami and economy car hire. purelyamerica.co.uk
GOLD MEDAL – 0800 014 7777
A seven-night room-only stay in a one-bedroom resort view suite at the newly opened 878-room Grove Resort & Spa (six-acre Surfari waterpark on-site and five minutes from Walt Disney World) is priced from £799pp including flights from Heathrow. goldmedal. co.uk
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