Selling Travel July/August 2018

SELLING TRAVEL • JULY/AUGUST 2018

JULY/AUGUST 2018 • SELLINGTRAVEL.CO.UK

TWO-TIME WINNER, TRADE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR

Canada • Costa Rica • Daytona Beach • Escorted Touring • Italy • Kissimmee • Madagascar • Middle East • New England

LEADING LIGHT Fabulous autumn colours remain the main draw but New England is broadening its year-round appeal

how to sell...

Canada Costa Rica Kissimmee Middle East Escorted Touring Western Australia and more...

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PRESENTS

YOUR WINDOW INTO ALL THINGS CALIFORNIA

SIGN UP BEFORE JULY 30TH AND BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING ONE OF 20 SUPER-SOFT HOODIES OR A PAIR OF RETURN TICKETS TO CALIFORNIA!* Visit California STAR Training Programme & Sales Companion ★★ Discover California through a series of inspiring, thematic modules ★ Enjoy all-new chapters on San Francisco, Greater Palm Springs and Monterey ★ Download and share any images, videos or other content to help inspire your clients ★ More content for Anaheim, LA, High Sierra, Santa Monica and Napa Valley coming soon

*Terms & Conditions apply

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contents

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this issue FEATURES 08 Escorted touring: Adventurous itineraries with a helping hand 34 Costa Rica: Nature and soft adventure 40 New England: Back to the future in 2020 48 Middle East: From Dubai to Bahrain, an adventure playground awaits

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40

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QUICK READS 17 48 Hours In: Sydney 30 My Journey: Italy 32 Focus On: Western

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17

Australia

37 48 hours in: Morocco 47 Spotlight On: Travelpack

51 How to Sell: Daytona

ESCORTED TOURING

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

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32

Beach

52 My Journey: Madagascar

THE REVIEW 57 Top news stories plus hotel reviews

TALKING SHOP 19 News, Competitions, Incentives, Barbara Charlton, River Cruise Dialogue

SELLING CANADA 69 A 20-page update on Canada including a Rendez-vous 2018 report, ski season preview, a journey around Cape Breton, a paddle up the Yukon River, Halifax

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 sellingtravel.net

COSTA RICA

NEW ENGLAND

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40

MIDDLE EAST ADVENTURES

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SELLING CANADA

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sellingtravel.co.uk

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Travel Trade Publication of the Year

Travel Trade Publication of the Year

FINALIST

TRADE PUBLICATION

OF THE YEAR – PRINT Travel Trade Publication of the Year

Proudly published by BMI Publishing Ltd 2018 © 2018.

Suffolk House, George St, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1SR, UK T 020 8649 7233 | F 020 8649 7234 enquiries@bmipublishing.co.uk bmipublishing.co.uk sellingtravel.co.uk Publishers: Steve Thompson & Sally Parker Editorial Director: Steve Hartridge Deputy Editor: Laura Gelder Staff Journalists: Ben Coren & Jessica Pook Contributing Journalist: Jo Austin Group Editor: Andy Hoskins Contributing Editor: Julie Baxter Advertisement Manager: Lisa Merrigan Creative Director: Matt Bonner Lead Designers: Louisa Horton & Monica Notarnicola Designers: Ross Clifford & Zoë Tarrant Production Manager: Clare Hunter 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: istockphoto.com

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! sellingtravel.co.uk/subscribe

welcome I

n the end, football didn't come home. England didn’t win the World Cup, but what a (slightly hysterical) ride it was. If you’re reading this in Wales or Scotland you probably never cared anyway.

Temporary distraction from 'real world' issues, like Brexit, is all very well but burying your head in the sand isn’t an option in our industry.

According to a recent report from the Local Data Company (LDC) 679 travel agency outlets closed in 2017, the third highest number of closures on the high street after pubs and banks. Stories like these make for depressing reading but are not necessarily harbingers of doom for agents – although they should be seen as a wake-up call.

When I chatted to Vishal from Travelpack recently (see page 47) he admitted that direct sell competition is a threatening force to be Laura Gelder reckoned with, and one that will only grow, but he also pointed out DEPUTY EDITOR that as long as travel sellers can add value and service they will put themselves in a strong position to offer the type of service that no amount of clicks on a mouse will ever match.

And while agents can't afford to be distracted, these uncertain times do offer an opportunity to provide some much-needed distraction for customers, in the form of a carefully planned holiday.

In this issue we review our two recent river cruise-dedicated events (page 26). Those agents who joined us discovered a lot about this growing sector, and how to turn it into a lucrative revenue stream.

More than ever, clients are looking for 'something different' and, in their own ways, every destination can offer this.

Mark Stratton certainly found it in Madagascar. Read about his adventure there on page 52.

Even tried and tested destinations must strive to 'reinvent' themselves with new attractions and the key for agents is to keep up.

Our special Canada section (from page 69) includes Halifax's growing foodie scene and a wild trip up the Yukon River.

We'll keep on travelling the globe, if you keep on selling it!

Industry comments...

"It is the people that make Maine and New England so desirable: you might meet a lobsterman on his boat, a lumberman in the woods, a craftsman in a small pottery studio or someone running a tiny restaurant in a small village. These are the encounters that make rich holiday memories.”

"Halifax, Nova Scotia, is probably Canada’s best-kept city break secret.

Just six hours' flying time from the UK, the city is packed with attractions, has a growing culinary and craft brewery scene and there are plenty of half-day or day trip excursions from the city worth taking."

Steve Lyons, Director, Maine Office of Tourism. See page 40

Steve Hartridge, Editor, Selling Travel. See page 77

sellingtravel.co.uk

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the big picture

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Stiniva Beach Vis, Croatia

Vis-ion of beauty Mamma Mia 2 is out, making us yearn for simple Greek holidays where all that’s on the agenda is lazing on a beach and dinner in a quayside taverna with a bottle of dodgy retsina and a horde of cats watching you. But the sequel was actually filmed in Croatia! The furthest isle from the mainland and an ex-military base cut off to visitors until 1989, Vis is loved for its peaceful beaches. Let’s hope it stays that way because despite that semi-final enquiries for Croatia, and especally Vis, are bound to rise. croatia.hr/en-GB

sellingtravel.co.uk

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escorted touring

crowd join the in

It still attracts those who prefer the comfort of a tour guide and a group situation, but these days escorted touring is also enticing those with an adventurous spirit, says Debbie Ward

sellingtravel.co.uk

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itting around a campfire ablaze with the dead wood we brought here strapped to the top of our four-wheel-drive minivan, we’re having a safety briefing.

The subject is what to do to avoid wild camels entering the camp.

This is something of a concern as we’re sleeping under the stars in Australia’s Outback without so much as a tent to stand between us and a big camel foot.

But what stars they are! The full Milky Way is visible above us, looking like – our guide points out – an elongated emu.

We hear Aboriginal creation tales before braving a Heath Robinson-like woodpowered shower.

That same morning we’d risen to see Uluru and Kata Tjuta at dawn – just our small group on a wooden platform.

It was a far cry from how most people

experience the Red Centre and though we may have been at a greater distance from the rock I was happy to forgo the scrum I’d witnessed the night before, with coach parties descending on the main toilet and shower blocks, girls somewhat desperately searching for somewhere to plug in their hair straighteners.

Exotic locations While the escorted tour market has traditionally attracted those who appreciate a bit of virtual hand holding, it is by no means impervious to the wider travel trend for lesser-trodden destinations and immersive experiences.

Trafalgar has just launched the first Africa programme in its 72-year history, featuring 10 trips over five destinations – Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.

The operator is offering three different trip

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styles and durations: Country Explorer, Regional Explorer and Mini Stay, with a fly-in-fly-out safari in the Botswana Delta among the shorter options.

Meanwhile, Wendy Wu has brought to market its first dedicated collection for South America. Nine new experiences feature Peru and Colombia, Argentina and Chile, and Brazil, Panama and Costa Rica.

The operator has doubled its trade sales team to eight in support of the expansion.

It is also noting clients branching out within its existing programme.

“We’ve seen a huge demand for exotic destinations with unique boutique properties, eco-friendly lodges and some lesser-explored countries in Southeast Asia,” said Wendy Wu’s Southeast Asia product manager Linh Farid.

“While Vietnam and Cambodia are still the best-selling destinations in the area, Borneo is also trendy at the moment. All our group departures this year have been sold out and we’re receiving lots of bookings for 2019.

She added: “The destination attracts lots of customers seeking wildlife

JAMES FISHER/ TOURISM AUSTRALIA

sellingtravel.co.uk

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VOYAGE TO ANTARCTICA – THE GREAT WHITE CONTINENT 14 days from £6,999PP • Step ashore on the world’s least visited continent • Wonder at the diversity and abundance of wildlife in the icy wilderness • Experience the incredible sights of calving glaciers, vast ice sheets and iceberg-filled bays amongst the mountainous terrain of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands

E NTICI NG ESCO RTE D TOU RS

• All shore excursions on the MV Ocean Atlantic’s fleet of Zodiac dinghies • A programme of fascinating lectures by the on-board team of enthusiastic and knowledgeable expedition guides • Photography advice from our specialist tour manager • A polar expedition parka • A nine-night cruise on the ice strengthened four-star MV Ocean Atlantic, including all meals • Stay in four-star hotels in Ushuaia and Buenos Aires Departing 22nd January 2019

JORDAN & PETRA 7 days from £1,389PP • Guided tour of the amazing ‘Rose-Red City’ of Petra • Enjoy the unique experience of staying overnight in the heart of the Wadi Rum desert and see the staggering ‘Seven Pillars’ rock formation, made famous by ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ • Stay by the shores of the remarkable Dead Sea • Discover Jerash, the remarkably preserved ancient Roman city, with a local guide • Visit the biblical site of Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the Promised Land Departures from April to November 2019

BRUGES FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS 4 days from £449PP • Welcome dinner on the first evening • Guided walking tour of historic Bruges, arguably Europe’s most perfectly preserved medieval town • Visit to a traditional chocolatier creating exquisite Belgian chocolates, probably the world’s finest • Visit to Ypres and a thought-provoking tour of the First World War battlefields • Return rail connections available on selected dates from over fifty regional stations (supplements may apply) • Return standard class reserved seat on Eurostar from London St Pancras International, plus all hotel transfers Departures up to November 2018 and March to October 2019

SO MUCH IS INCLUDED ON ALL OUR TOURS • A programme of included tours and excursions • The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout • Return flights plus all hotel transfers • Hand-picked accommodation and all local taxes

CALL RESERVATIONS 7 DAYS A WEEK Travel Consultant

Call to book: 01283 744370 Book online: www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents

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ABTA No. V4744

Riviera Travel booking terms and conditions apply.

Prices correct at time of print.

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UMBRIA, PERUGIA & ASSISI: THE HEART OF ITALY 8 days from £899PP • Enjoy a guided tour of Perugia • Wander medieval Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis • Cross into Tuscany and explore hilltop Cortona • Take the ferry across Lake Trasimeno to the island of Maggiore • See Spoleto’s ancient Roman and Romanesque architecture • Sample the spoils of the verdant Umbrian countryside at a local producer of Sagrantino di Montefalco wine • Descend deep under Umbria’s undulating landscape to explore the enchanting Frasassi Caves • Journey to Gubbio, on a land train tour of the sights • Take the funicular up a volcanic rock-face to the hidden town of Orvieto • Visit a 101-year-old chocolate factory and learn the story behind the iconic Perugina Baci chocolate • Taste traditional fare at a rural restaurant Departures from April to October 2019

SPAIN’S BASQUE COUNTRY, LA RIOJA & BURGOS 8 days from £899PP • Enjoy a guided tour of beautiful Bayonne • Ascend to the peak of La Rhune mountain by vintage cog railway • Take a guided walking tour of Burgos and explore its outstanding Gothic cathedral (audio guide included) • Tour one of Rioja’s most revered vineyards and enjoy a tasting • Visit the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao • Enjoy a guided tour of Pamplona • Explore Santillana del Mar, a picture-postcard medieval town • Discover San Sebastián, an alluring coastal beauty • Sample delicious pintxos at a traditional bar in San Sebastián • Marvel at the prehistoric cave paintings of UNESCO-listed Altamira Departures from April to October 2019

GRAND TOUR OF CHINA FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS 16 days from £3,399PP • • • • • • • • • • •

Visit the astonishing Great Wall of China Discover the world-famous Terracotta Army Tour of the Panda Breeding & Research Centre with a local guide Guided tour of the Temple of Heaven and the imperial gardens at the Summer Palace in Beijing See the man-made wonder of the Longshen Rice Terraces Enjoy a full-board, five-star Yangtze River Cruise and travel through the world’s largest ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam City tour of Shanghai Guided tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City Travel from Shanghai to Beijing on one of China’s new 186mph high speed trains Cruise the world-famous Li River A welcome dinner on the first evening to meet your fellow travellers

BRAND NEW BROCHURE AVAILABLE NOW COMING SOON SOLO TRAVELLER COLLECTION BROCHURE

Departures from March to September 2019

CONTACT OUR AGENCY SALES TEAM Call for support: 01283 744307 Email: agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk

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G ADVENTURES

Darren Mussell, Agency Sales Assistant Manager, Riviera Travel

Clockwise from top left: Songkran or Thai New Year; an Indigenous experience in Queensland, Australia; trekking Torres del Paine; Hawaii; a tree lion in the Tanzanian Serengeti

Top experiences Do Wat’s Best: Cambodia’s Angkor Wat complex is a must-see but savvy suppliers who avoid crush times at the most

popular temples can make all the difference. Some small group adventure operators will even whizz clients between ruins by breezy tuk tuk – a wonderful experience.

Sail Sri Lanka: You can now sail Sri Lanka’s less discovered East Coast. G Adventures has added an eight-person catamaran cruise to the region following the success of a similar experience off the country’s southern coast. The coasts have opposite seasons and the cruises have been scheduled to hit peak whale-watching times.

Fest is best: Timing a tour to coincide with a local festival can add an unforgettable extra dimension to a holiday - from water-throwing Songkran in Thailand to colourful Holi in India and the cultural White Nights in St Petersburg. On The Go is among operators with festival departures, while TransIndus can tailor-make relevant itineraries in India.

Past and Present: Go beyond the headlines and highlights in Israel with a new 10-night Holy Land: Past and

G ADVENTURES

“Videos can bring tours to life and are more engaging than a static image in a brochure. Our trade website features 61 short video clips which agents can use as a fantastic selling tool”

like orang-utans, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants. They can also have some cultural experiences or simply relax on a beautiful white sandy beach.” The operator has also noted great Borneo demand from solo travellers.”

Escorted group tours to Indonesia are also booming for Wendy Wu, prompting it to add a new tour.

Small group adventure-style operators are particularly well placed to tap into the trend for experiential itineraries.

G Adventures reports a 26% increase in UK trade sales this year for its National Geographic Journeys collection, first launched in 2016, and has recently introduced Botswana, Mongolia and Southern Tanzania. It now features 83 immersive tours.

“The collection has gone from strength to strength, with fantastic feedback from agents. The combination of destinations, upgraded accommodation and exclusive experiences is seeing us enjoy great success here in the UK,” commented Brian Young, G Adventures’ Managing Director.

Escorted tours to Jordan, Egypt and Turkey are also booming for the operator with Jordan bookings more than doubled and Turkey up over 130% this year. It puts this in part down to the extra dimension offered by its multisport adventures in the country.

The latest winning ways to entice clients, it seems, are adventurous itineraries and activities that engage them in active of learning experiences while they are there.

sellingtravel.co.uk

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GET TO KNOW G ADVENTURES Over 700 tours. 7 continents.

Countless lives changed.

G Adventures has defined small group travel for over 25 years. From cities to villages, we opt for local business and services wherever we can and create self-sustaining community initiatives along the way. Today, 65% of our tours visit a social enterprise so while your travellers are having the time of their lives, together we’re supporting local communities and making travel make a difference.

Why book G Adventures?

A tour for every traveller › Lifetime Deposits™ › No Single Supplements › Private Groups option › Up to 70% Agent Discount* ›

24/7 Agent Hotline: 0344 272 2200 gadventures.com *Terms and conditions apply

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34 NEW TOURS OFFERS AVAILABLE LOW DEPOSITS

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escorted touring

Present tour from Prestige. Besides Jerusalem and Galilee it includes a visit to both a refugee camp and a Bedouin community.

Order our BRAND NEW 2018-2020 brochure at www.tradegate.co.uk

Private perks: You can personalise the touring experience by using a private driver-guide. Perfect for families, honeymooners, or those with special interests, the option’s available from operators including Kuoni, First Class Holidays, Premier Holidays, Cox & Kings, Regent and Travel 2.

What’s new Operators: G Adventures (gadventures. co.uk) has rebranded its tours for 18-39 year

Your escorted tour specialists Visit www.newmarketholidays.co.uk Call 0330 160 7999

A family safari in Africa

olds. Previously called YOLO (You Only Live Once) they are now ‘18-Thirtysomethings’ for clarity. Eight new trips have been added including a Thai Full Moon Party experience and new tours in Japan, the Philippines, Laos and Indonesia. In its regular programme, Hawaii tours are new.

Riviera Travel (rivieratravel.co.uk) has six new tours for 2019, some expanded from excursion destinations that proved popular with clients. They include Umbria, Perugia and Assisi: the Heart of Italy; Montenegro: Budva, Cetinje & the Bay of Kotor; and Antarctica for January 2019.

Newmarket Holidays (Newmarketholidays. co.uk) has extended its £79pp deposits for 2019 holidays till August 31. The operator has also recently updated its training programme which gives agents 15% off personal holidays and access to prize draws.

New Flowers and Festivals of Japan tours to Tokyo and Kyoto, timed to coincide with either spring cherry blossom or autumn colours, are being offered by Saga

CRUISE LINES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Online Agent Training: www.training.newmarketholidays.co.uk Benefit from working with us – email: travelagents@newmarketholidays.co.uk

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005707

Worldwide 2019 brochure is out now Featuring more than 200 carefully planned itineraries, each one packed with moments to remember.

• Guaranteed departures

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• Solo departures

• Prices starting from £799pp

£99pp deposit

Book by 31 August 2018

Win a £4,000 Titan holiday Share your perfect moment with us!

Just post your picture on our Facebook – TitanagentsUK or Twitter @Titanagents with the #titanperfectmoments. Ends 31 August 2018. We will pick the winner, plus 10 runners up will win a Polariod instant camera to capture more perfect moments. †Excludes Scottish islands and Sark, where vehicle access is restricted. *International flights from local airports are offered subject to daily schedules and availability.

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(travel.saga.co.uk).

Meanwhile, those China-bound with Wendy Wu are currently being offered free ugrades to business class one way on international flights with Tianjin Airlines.

Shearings Holidays’ (shearingsagent.com)

“An escorted tour is a good way to combine the bright lights of Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon at sunrise in one trip. Access the canyon from the eastern entrance for the best desert views” Mark Henderson, Senior Product and Commercial Manager, Touring Specialist, Travel 2

Autumn, Winter and Spring 2018/19 brochure has 27 tour additions. New seasonal breaks include A Tyrolean Christmas, and Four Countries Christmas Markets, featuring Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland in seven days. There is also a new Holland in Springtime river cruise.

Tropical Malaysia with TV presenter and wildlife expert Nigel Marven, departing this October, is among Prestige Holidays’ (toursprestigeholidays.co.uk) new 2018 tours. Other newcomers include a nine-night adventure to Georgia and Armenia.

More adventurous still, Intrepid (intrepidtravel.com) is seeking clients for an epic Uncharted Expedition for its 30th birthday with few details given in advance. It will start in Kazakhstan on June 30 2019 and wind up in Mongolia after three weeks.

Tourism talk

Clockwise from top left: Saint Petersburg; boat safari in Botswana; Sri Lanka’s east coast: learning to make sushi on a Saga tour of Japan; snapping cherry blossom on a G Adventures tour of Japan

enhance their holiday – appealing to specific interests or to provide another authentic experience – another trend in the sector. We’ve also increased the number of dates that are available exclusively for solo holidaymakers in response to growing demand.”

Darren Mussell, Agency Sales Assistant Manager, Riviera Travel

Where to book it G ADVENTURES – 0344 272 2060 The new 14-day Discover Mongolia journey sees travellers visit a monastery with a Buddhist monk, visit world-renowned palaeontology site the Flaming Cliffs and spend time with a family of nomadic camelherders. The trip costs from £3,299pp excluding flights. gadventures.com

NEWMARKET – 0330 160 7701 The six-day Christmas in Andalucia, with a day in Granada, includes entry to the Alhambra, Christmas Eve in Seville and a Christmas lunch. It costs from £799pp based on Luton-Malaga flights on December 23. newmarketholidays.co.uk 

“Like many other retailers, Riviera Travel has found that customers are keen to take advantage of ways to personalise their holiday. For upcoming 2018 and 2019 tours, the choice of UK regional airports and railway stations has been increased to make travel arrangements more convenient for customers.

They can also extend their holiday on selected tours with an iconic rail journey, short cruise or additional destination. Personalised Your Holiday elements that are available on many of Riviera Travel’s tours also allow customers to pre-book extra activities to

sellingtravel.co.uk

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exploring...

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Sydney Australia’s harbour city is one of the most handsome on the planet, but how should first-time visitors go about exploring it beyond the beaches and iconic sights? Ben Lerwill reveals all

The 16-day By The Beach itinerary starts with time in Sydney before heading north to the Hunter Valley wine region, Port Stephens and the beaches of the east coast, and culminating in the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

It is priced from £3,155pp, including car hire and international flights. audleytravel.com

ALL IMAGES ARE COURTESY OF DESTINATION NSW

BOOK IT WITH... AUDLEY TRAVEL

JAMES HORAN

(sydneyfishmarket.com.au).

BRONTE BATHS

ANDREW GREGORY

Sydney might be half a world away, but it never fails to make a powerful first impression. One look at Circular Quay in the sunshine and it’s easy to understand what all the fuss is about: Harbour Bridge standing high and mighty, boats lazing on the water, the Opera House sitting pretty on the foreshore.

The same applies when visitors see the beaches. Widely famed and popular sands like Bondi and Coogee don’t so much fringe Sydney as define it: the capital of New South Wales has a relaxed, blue-sky feel virtually year-round.

The city’s real heartbeat, however, lies beyond the obvious centrepiece 'must do' sights. You'll find this in the markets and festivals, the bars and restaurants, the parks and galleries.

You can recommend, for example, that first-timers take in the Saturday morning vibe at Carriageworks Farmers Market (carriageworks.com.au), enjoy a saltwater dip at Bronte Baths or, for the best nine bucks they’ll spend all trip, taking the ferry across to Manly. Most of all, Sydney is a city that’s best experienced unrushed.

There’s a huge amount for active visitors to enjoy, from cycling in the Centennial Parklands (centennialparklands.com.au) to sunrise kayak tours on the harbour.

Be aware too that after 20 years, management of the iconic Harbour Bridge Climb has changed hands, so look out for a likely updated range of climbs and packages coming soon (bridgeclimb.com).

Too active? The enormous Sydney Fish Market has become a go-to spot for visiting foodies, with fresh seafood and a bottle of Aussie white wine a classic combo

VIVID SYDNEY

SYDNEY FISH MARKET

The main event

What’s new

One thing the city does extremely well is There are two big new openings for big events. Vivid Sydney, the world’s food-lovers: Barangaroo House is an largest 'festival of light, music and ideas' eye-catching waterfront venue overseen recently had its 10th anniversary, and will by celebrity chef Matt Moran next take place in late (barangaroohouse.com.au), May and June 2019 while Alibi has a 100% “The city’s real (vividsydney.com), lighting plant-based menu and heartbeat is in the up the city's iconic is based in the suburb markets and festivals, buildings during the of Woolloomooloo (alibibar.com.au). colder season. the bars and The ever-vibrant In hotel news, restaurants, the parks Paramount House Sydney Gay & Lesbian and galleries” Mardi Gras celebrated Hotel is a hip new its 40th outing this year, 29-room property in and returns again in 2019, with the main trendy Surry Hills (paramounthousehotel.com), and parade on Saturday March 2 the same district has also welcomed the (mardigras.com.au). Before then, Prince 112-room Veriu Central (veriu.com.au/central).

Harry’s Invictus Games comes to Sydney In late 2017 the city opened its first newOctober 20-27 2018, with more than 500 build luxury hotel this millennium in the competitors (invictusgamesfoundation.org). form of the 590-room Sofitel Sydney Darling Other dates for clients’ calendars include Harbour (sofitelsydneydarlingharbour.com.au).

New Year’s Eve – crowds, fireworks and all Early 2019 will see the opening of Sydney – and the city-wide party that takes place Zoo, a ‘safari-like’ zoo in Western Sydney each Australia Day, on January 26. (sydneyzoo.com). 

sellingtravel.co.uk

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Talking Shop INSPIRED BY YOU T h e i n s i d e t ra c k o n t ra v e l

Shopping with the US

PREMIER HOLIDAYS is runnina Discover America campaign throughout the summer, where agents can earn between £25 and £150 in shopping vouchers for every booking to U.S. destinations. The operator is giving a push on lesserknown areas with clients including Philadelphia's countryside, Scottsdale and Illinois. trade.premierholidays.co.uk

We j󰈢󰇯󰇳e󰈨 󰇧 󰇯 S󰇶 lu󰈀󰇻󰈦y 󰈇󰈜󰈩 t󰇶i󰇵󰇼󰇺t󰈢mo󰇶󰇪 Lan󰈫󰇧. Fin󰈧 󰈢 on 󰇴󰇧󰈪󰈥 21

Jet2 VIP Conference JET2HOLIDAYS has revealed that the fivestar Gloria Golf Resort in Antalya, Turkey, will host this year's VIP conference for independent travel agency partners. The event will be held from November 26 to November 29. trade.jet2holidays.com

Contents 20

FACE TO FACE

22

Golf Sandals

Oc󰇹o󰇩󰇪r 8,9,10 & 11

SELLING TRAVEL AGENTS CHOICE AWARDS EVENTS Selling Travel is planning four BIG evenings to celebrate our Selling Travel Agents Choice Awards finalists. Our networking events will be held in London (October 8), Birmingham (9), Leeds (10) and Glasgow (11). Register online at sellingtravel.co.uk/events

SANDALS Resorts hosted its third annual golf day at Bearwood Lakes in Berkshire on June 25.

Money was raised for The Sandals Foundation which benefits the Caribbean community. sellingsandals.co.uk

BEEN THERE DONE THAT

26

CARIBBEAN ROADSHOW

sellingtravel.co.uk

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20

FACE TO FACE w i t h B a r b a ra C h a r l t o n

It's all Greek to me and I love it What with the fantastic weather and England doing so well in the World Cup for a change, we've found that the ‘lates’ booking season this year was a bit later than normal– so it was a perfect time for me to head off on my two-week holiday to Greece, island hopping along the way!

I say to customers that the best places for 'away from it all'’ holidays are often the ones that are the hardest to get to. it's a truism that the vast majority of people don't want to get on a ferry for two hours after a flight, but that's fine by me because it means fewer tourists in Alonyssos!

We spent six nights there and it was my favourite. We were on the sunrise side of the island but visited a number of beaches, swimming in the crystal-clear waters, eating dinner in small fishing harbours and sitting under ancient olive trees by a beach in the evenings – just my idea of heaven. I'm sure that I was a Greek in another life because I always feel so at home!

In Skopelos we spent six nights in a

Untitled-2 1 face.indd 20 TS – Face to

hard-to-reach hilltop villa but the remote position was worth it.

The only sounds we could hear were the goats' bells and the crickets and our lone visitor was our James Villa rep, a lovely local lady who arrived armed with a wealth of knowledge.

In Skiathos, after a hilly trek, I found a fabulous restaurant on the outskirts of town, once again proving the adage that the harder it is to get to the better it is.

So󰇻t󰇬 A󰈆ri󰈛󰇧

We've had a few training events lately, including one held by Caribtours and partners in Tunbridge Wells. It was a lovely evening, with educational presentations, great company and tasty food, plus a lovely Elemis gift which I won from Clear Marketing - thank you guys!

In September I'll be making an epic trip to Mozambique and then driving from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape in South Africa. It'll be my fourth trip to SA but includes a few places I've not been to.

Watch out for a full report in Selling Travel.

Happy Selling!  

Bar󰇨󰇧󰈦󰈜@The󰇷󰇻󰈤s󰈥󰈀󰇺ra󰇽󰇪󰇱c󰈣󰇲󰇵an󰈂.co.uk 01403 276684

Bar󰇨󰇧󰈦󰈜 Cha󰇶󰇱t󰈢󰇳

16/07/2018 14:46 7/18/18 04:28 PM

ON LOCATION

21

Sri Lanka fam with Uga Escapes, April 20–29, 2018

Touring Sri Lanka’s coasts Luxury hotel operator Uga Escapes partnered with Maitland & Knox and Tour Blue to host a group of UK tour operators in Sri Lanka. The group enjoyed Uga Escapes' luxury properties along with some of the best experiences the teardrop-shaped Island has to offer. Selling Travel’s Benjamin Coren joined the tour.

Uga Escapes showcased not just its properties but also their proximity to key cultural sites. The trip also explored the lesser-known east coast of Sri Lanka, known for its beaches.

Highlights included a bike tour of Sri Lanka’s first capital, the ancient city of Anuradhapura and a centre of religion in Sri Lanka with many crumbling temples; a walk up the rock fortress of Sigiriya to catch the sunset; and a visit to Dambatenne Tea Factory to see the tea plantations and house originally built by tea tycoon Sir Thomas Lipton.

A long transfer down south to Yala National Park gave everyone a chance to enjoy the wild luxury of Uga’s Chena Huts and a chance to go on safari in Yala National Park, which is well known for its leopard population but also has elephants and sloth bears.

The trip ended at Galle Fort with an afternoon walking the seaside ramparts before a stay at the colonial Galle Fort Hotel.

The group stayed at Ulagalla Wallawwa, Uga Jungle Beach Resort, Uga Bay Resort and Uga Chena Huts. For the Maitland and Knox brands, they stayed at Galle Fort Hotel and Thotalagala Bungalow.

Lisa Darchambaud, Head of Sales UK and Ireland, Uga Escapes said: “Uga Escapes’ strategy has always been to work closely with the travel

trade. Tour operators and agents may have a reasonable knowledge of Sri Lanka, but this type of trip focuses on the hotels, ground services as well as lots of unique local experiences along the way.

“Sri Lanka is bursting with different adventures and experiences and Uga has five great properties across the country, from the Cultural Triangle to Yala National Park. The destination and our properties are now sold by a diverse mix of large and niche tour operators.”

Ian McIlwraith, Trailfinders said: “Sri Lanka is a perfect first step for anyone wanting to experience a different Asian culture without the shock.”

Matt Parr, Audley Travel said: “Emphasise how good it is to have your own private chauffeur guide with you.

You can head into markets, stop at roadside stalls and learn about the food, history, and culture.”

SRI LANKA

ugaescapes.com

From left: The ancient city of Anuradhapura; Sir Thomas Litpon's tea plantation house; an elusive sloth bear in Yala National Park; Koneswaram temple at Trincomalee; the ramparts of Galle Fort; cooking traditional Sri Lankan fare at Ulagalla Wallawwa

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BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

22

Tra i n i n g , e v e n t s a n d f a m t r i p s

Out and about with Shearings, TIPTO, Capital attraction in Canada OTTAWA TOURISM and Outaouais Tourism hosted a trip for UK tour operators.

The group are pictured here at the Canadian Museum of Natural History. They also visited Diefenbunker, Canada’s Cold War Museum, enjoyed wine tasting at Soif bar à vin, relaxed in Nordik SpaNature and got VIP access to Ottawa’s Bluesfes, where they saw Bryan Adams live! ottawatourism.ca

Training time

CRUISE SELECT trained up on Shearings Holidays' 2019 river cruise programme over breakfast.

Pictured is Shearings' Mike Bowers with Julie, Tracey, Sarah and Bella. cruiseselect.co.uk

Travel agent ultimate chef

MALAYSIA Airlines treated a group of travel agents to an exclusive Malaysian cooking experience. Thirty travel partners from London agencies including Trailfinders, STA Travel, Southall, Audley and Flight Centre visited School of Wok in Covent Garden to engage in a friendly cookery competition against each other. Each participant on the winning team won a pair of tickets to the Legends Lounge to watch Liverpool FC play at Anfield in the upcoming season.The carrier is a key partner of the club.

Wolfpack rugby AIR Transat invited agents to train at London's New River Stadium with the Toronto Wolfpack rugby league team. airtransat.com

malaysiaairlines.com

TM

£1325pp

holidays@travelpack.com

8nts, Tigers Trail

7nts,Tour of Golden Triangle fr

0208 585 4020

India Tours £1785pp

fr

14nts, Coconut Tour of Kerala

£2299pp

fr

Prices are based on twin share, includes flights, accommodation & transfers

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BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

23

Tra i n i n g , e v e n t s a n d f a m t r i p s

Cruise Select, Air Transat and Carnival TIPTO goes off road

TIPTO hosted its first-ever ‘off road’ training event onboard Cruise and Maritime Voyages’ Columbus ship at Tilbury Docks. There were 100 attendees including 75 agents and many TIPTO supplier members.

Agents got to network with key suppliers and picked up some unique selling tips – all whilst enjoying lunch and drinks onboard the stunning cruise ship. tipto.co.uk

Super Iceland

A festive day out

WESTWAY Travel in Thorpe Bay, Southend, recently made its first winter 2018/19 Incredible Iceland booking with Super Break, direct from London Southend Airport. Pictured are Claire King, travel consultant (left) and Donna Smithson .

THE CARNIVAL Cruise Line UK team hosted 40 divisional managers, regional sales managers and cruise experts from Thomas Cook at Royal Ascot on Ladies Day. The line prides itself on its relationships with travel professionals and this was one of a few 'rewards' it has planned. carnival.com

superbreak.com

TM

9nts,Vietnam Classic Tour

£1499pp

fr

BRIGHT Bristol

BRIGHT invited 36 agents from 26 outlets to its workshop and dinner in Bristol. Agents were hosted

by BRIGHT's members and a top prize from Inside Asia was won by Travel Counsellor Ruth Harper.

Hisham Mahmoud, chairman of BRIGHT said: "We had excellent attendance at our latest event and guests were keen to learn about our members' plans for the next season." brightconsortia.com

Have you enjoyed an interesting trade event or been on a trip or fam that you would like to see featured on this page? Email editorial@bmipublishing.co.uk

0208 585 4020

Far East Tours

holidays@travelpack.com

12nts, Chiang Mai, Elephant Hills & Krabi

13nts, Singapore, Bangkok & Hua Hin

£1999pp

fr

£1685pp

fr

Prices are based on twin share, includes flights, accommodation & transfers

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24

CARIBBEAN ROADSHOW June - September

Get together and feel alright Agents were treated to an evening of education, fun, and, of course, a little rum at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Roadshow 2018, where Selling Travel was proud to be the media partner.

From Liverpool to Jersey, the CTO and several operators were keen to showcase all that the Caribbean has to offer and highlight 2018 as the year of rejuvenation and wellness.

Carol Hay, Director of Marketing UK and Europe for the CTO, said: "As well as spas and retreats, the Caribbean has plenty of natural resources to explore. As a multigeneration destination, the Caribbean has what it takes to pull teenagers away from technology and give the whole family a digital detox."

Hay added: "Travellers are more adventurous now. We have seen a greater demand for island hopping with people favouring ferry transfers or even chartering a yacht instead of flying between islands."

2018 ma󰇶󰈬s 󰇹󰇭e y󰇪󰈜󰇶 o󰈆 re󰈅󰇻󰇾󰈥na󰇹󰇮󰈣󰈡 an󰈧 we󰇰󰇱n󰇪󰇷󰈤

New󰇷 󰇺󰈢 󰇼se

The Cayman Islands has a trade focus this year with a new monthly newsletter and a dedicated trade section available at visitcaymanislands.com.

The Grenada Tourism Authority has launched its Pure Grenada Specialist & Loyalty Programme, complete with e-learning platform and rewards initiative.

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants' Kawana Bay and five-star Silversands resort are both due to open this year on Grenada.

The recent opening of the Rosewood Baha Mar on the Bahamas marks the completion of this mega resort, which also houses Grand Hyatt and SLS properties.

Sandals is adding an over-the-water wedding chapel and bar to its flagship resort, Sandals Montego Bay, in Jamaica.

Sandals also offer a 'Romantic Culinary Retreat' at its Barbados property.

Barbados has billed 2018 as 'The Year of Culinary Experiences'. Its Food and Rum Festival takes place in October.

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ON THE GREEN

I N T H E O F FIIN C ET H E O F F I C E

with���

St Kitts

w i t h A u s t ra v e l

Movin' on up in Leeds Business is booming for Leed-based Austravel, which recently relocated to new premises to meet the growing demand. Selling Travel's Jessica Pook spoke to Lucy Hauck, Assistant Sales and Operations Manager, to find out how the Australiasia specialists are coping with the rise in bookings.

Oz i󰇳 󰈨󰇪m󰈜󰇳󰈨

"Earlier this year, Austravel commissioned data on how Australian tourist numbers performed in 2016 compared with 2012 and the results showed a growth of 37%. Australia also compared well with the rest of the world, generating the biggest increase in the number of personal holidays compared with other regions, at 45%. These figures prove that not only is tourism to Australia thriving, but it’s a destination that travellers return to in following years.

MEET...

ZEKE PERCIVAL Professional Golfer on St Kitts and Nevis

1

TELL US ABOUT THE COURSES

2

CAN ANYONE PLAY?

3

WHY IS GOLF SO POPULAR?

4

WHAT IS THE PRO-AM EVENT?

5

WHY VISIT ST KITTS AND NEVIS?

The Royal St Kitts Golf Club and Robert Trent Jones II, Nevis, are among the most beautiful championship courses in the world.

Where else can you look out across the Atlantic Ocean on every hole?

We accommodate all levels and offer lessons for beginners. The courses are never overcrowded so you can just relax and enjoy the game at your own pace, which is ideal for those who are trying golf for the first time.

Big󰇫󰇪󰈦 󰈜n󰈧 󰇩et󰇹󰇪󰈦

"The Austravel brand continues to grow from strength to strength.

After 20 years in our old office we had outgrown the space and needed larger premises. We are now attached to Leeds train station, in the Bruntwood's Platform Building, so you really cannot get more central!

19

"The new direct Qantas flight to Perth has created a lot of interest. We are confident that the route will increase tourist numbers to not just Perth and Western Australia but to other regions of Australia too."

Top 󰇷󰇪󰇱l󰈥󰇶󰈤

"All our staff are specialists in everything Australasia and are required to complete specific courses on these regions even before they start their induction training!

"For first-time visitors, ‘Sydney, Rock & Reef’ is particularly popular and one we like to recommend. It allows travellers to see how diverse Australia is in a relatively short space of time.

"Bookings to New South Wales, with Sydney in particular a favourite for many travellers, especially the Rocks and Darling Harbour, are strong. And the South Pacific continues to increase in popularity year-on-year.

"Currently we are promoting our last-minute summer escapes collection, which includes special prices on self-drive itineraries, the Ghan Expedition rail journey, a Great Barrier Reef cruise, a New Zealand escorted tour and a South Pacific island discovery itinerary."

Visit austravel.com/campaigns/late-summerescapes for the full collection of last minute breaks.

Our repeat customers always want something different

Golf is one of the top activities for visitors in St Kitts and Nevis. It's a sport that mirrors the peaceful and calm nature of the Islands and we've even hosted celebrity golf tournaments, not bad for a small island!

It's a five-day team tournament played annually in February. Teams from all over the world can participate in either the Pro-Am or the new Am-Am for amateurs. The UK were our 2018 champions, let's see if they can hang on to the title next year

While I can't promise a hole-in-one, I can promise that you will be met with warmth by Kittitians and leave with fond memories of the Caribbean...and hopefully a better golf swing. golfstkittsandnevis.com

sellingtravel.co.uk

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26

River cruise

Dialogue

The ev󰇪󰇳󰇺

The event WHAT: River Cruise Dialogue WHERE: London and Leeds WHEN: June 6 and June 7 WHY: River cruising is a fast-growing and lucrative sector, so we brought together six of the top operators in the industry – Crystal, CrosiEurope, Fred Olsen, Newmarket, Riviera and Titan –to give agents a chance to learn all about their products and win some fantastic prizes.

#agentstalkrivercruise

Wha󰇹 󰈠󰈢󰇼 t󰇿e󰇪󰇺󰈥d... @lisadesouza2003

“REPEAT BUSINESS FOR RIVER CRUISING IS HIGHER THAN OCEAN CRUISING”

CroisiEurope is the ONLY operator to offer a river cruise in the Loire Valley”

Learnt a lot at the @TitanagentsUK stand for River cruises #agentstalk

@lisadesouza2003

Having fun at the river cruise in London. Did not know that allinclusives were so readily available @sellingtravmag #agentstalk

@DriftersTravel

Great evening learning about River Cruises. Didn’t know that CroisiEurope offer free cruising for kids under 16

Titan

Don't 󰇲i󰈤s 󰈢󰇼󰇶 󰈡ex󰇹 󰇪󰇾󰈥n󰇹 󰈝om󰇮󰇳󰈪 n󰈥a󰇶 󰈠󰈢󰇼. Vis󰇮󰇹 󰈤󰈥l󰇰i󰈡g󰇹󰈦󰇧v󰈥󰇰.co.uk/ev󰇪󰇳󰇺s sellingtravel.co.uk

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7/18/18 02:43 PM

27

River cruise

Dialogue

#agentstalkrivercruise

Pos󰇹󰇪󰈨 󰈣n I󰇳󰈤ta󰇫󰈦󰇧m... @Angeflange2014

An excellent, informative evening Thank you @sellingtravel (fun fact: Newmarket works direct with independent agents and Riviera Travel doesn’t apply single supplements) #agentstalkrivercruise

@susiesluxurytravel.co.uk

Thanks to the cruise companies who attended there’s nothing we don’t now know about river cruising #agentstalkrivercruise

@travelinkuk

@sellingtravel Great event with top cruise lines #rivercruise #agentstalkrivercruise :-)

Ocean cruises take you to a country, river cruises take you through a country” “95% OF CREW ARE FIRST AID-TRAINED AND ON REMOTE RIVERS THERE SHOULD BE A DOCTOR ONBOARD” Riviera Travel

Fol󰇰󰈢󰈟 󰇼s o󰇳 󰇮󰈡s󰇹󰈜󰈪ra󰇲 @se󰇰󰇱󰇮n󰇫󰇺r󰈜󰇽e󰇱 󰇧n󰈧 󰇺w󰇯󰇹󰇺er @se󰇰󰇱󰇮n󰇫󰇺r󰈜󰇽󰈩ag sellingtravel.co.uk

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28

River cruise

Dialogue

Cruisers are getting younger as itineraries are more activity focused and ships are modernising”

BEFORE THE EVENT:

44% described

their river cruise knowledge as being ‘POOR’

53% 10%

have seen AN INCREASE in river cruise bookings since last year

of your business comes from river cruise sales...

...but you could earn up to 15% COMMISSION on river cruise bookings.

28%

DIDN’T KNOW THIS!

72%

AFTER

Fas󰇹 fa󰈛󰇺s

read our Selling Travel River Cruise specials

THE EVENT:

83% said they

had ‘EXCELLENT’ knowledge

What age group does river cruising appeal to?

43% think 55+ 24% think 40+ 13% said all 9% said 18-30 7% said families 2% said honeymooners

2% said 30+ sellingtravel.co.uk

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7/18/18 02:43 PM

Eve󰇳󰇺

pa󰇶󰇺n󰇪󰇶󰈤

29

River cruise

Dialogue

CroisiEurope Cruises CroiseEurope has introduced its first Canada cruise, Canada’s Great Lakes and Waterways, sailing on the St Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. Departures begin in August and continue through to October. A big renovation programme will see many Standard Class ships remodelled as Premium. CroiseEurope plans to launch a new module on CLIA’s training programme for agents. croisieurope.com

Crystal River Cruises

Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines New to the river cruise sector Fred. Olsen offers sailings on the Danube, Moselle, Rhine and Main rivers aboard Brabant.

The Fred. Olsen Enjoyment Promise guarantees that clients who book more than 12 weeks ahead for a cruise of five nights or more can claim a full refund and complimentary return flights to the UK if they decide within 48 hours of sailing that cruising is not for them.

Crystal River Cruises feature eight shorter itineraries on the Rhine and Danube, with free excursions in every port. The new collection of six- to nine-night voyages are aboard the Crystal Bach, Crystal Mahler and Crystal Ravel, which are all-suite and all-balcony ships. Agents can earn up to £385 bonus commission when booking clients onto selected river cruises by August 31, 2018.

fredolsencruises.com

crystalcruises.co.uk

Newmarket Holidays As well as becoming a member of the CLIA executive partner programme, Newmarket Holidays has dedicated its entire 2019 river cruise programme to A-ROSA products. The new partnership will see Newmarket’s existing portfolio replaced with all six of A-ROSA’s ships sailing on the Rhine, Danube, Rhône, Saône and Seine – a line-up that provides a more premium cruise product. newmarketholidays.co.uk

Riviera Travel

Titan

Riviera Travel is to launch two new ships in 2019, with MS William Wordsworth and MS George Eliot joining its European river cruise programme.

New cruises for solo travellers include the Blue Danube Cruise, the Burgundy River Rhone and the Provence River Cruise. Imperial Cities & Yuletide Markets River Cruise is a new Christmas markets cruise. Also new is a Budapest to the Black Sea cruise.

Titan has an Early Booking Bonanza brochure for its 2019 holidays, which includes an expanded range of river cruises. Titan is also selling 40 of its most popular tours at discounted prices as part of its ‘40 Offers to Celebrate 40 years’ campaign. River cruises such as Legends of Germany with Lucerne, Delights of the Low Countries and A River Odyssey from Amsterdam to Vienna are included. titantravel.co.uk

rivieratravel.co.uk

sellingtravel.co.uk

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30

my journey

..

. n 󰇯 󰈨 󰈢 o 󰈇 d 󰈡 󰈜 󰇷 s 󰇪 Wel󰇰󰈡

Ita󰇰󰈠

ho󰇻󰇷󰈥󰈤 Pa󰇮n󰇹󰈥󰈨 i’s in R󰇮󰇲󰇯󰈡 ’s 󰈜󰇳 Fis󰇬󰇪󰈦m 󰇹 r 󰇧 Qu 󰈥󰈦

󰇪 󰇼l󰇹i󰈩󰇧t󰈥 󰇴󰇱ac󰇪 󰇹󰈣 fi󰈡d 󰇹󰇭 be 󰈨 󰇼󰇰 c󰈢 󰈠 l󰇰e V󰈜 󰇷󰈤 n󰇪 Emi󰇰󰇮󰈜-Rom󰇧󰇫󰈡󰈜’s We󰇰󰇱 of fi󰇹󰈡󰇪s󰇷 󰈜󰈡d 󰈇o󰈢󰈨 󰈛󰇭 󰈜r 󰈤󰇪 i󰇳 󰈥s 󰈪󰈢 󰇶 te 󰇼󰈡 a b󰇪󰇹󰇺󰈥r 󰈂o󰇻. Cla󰇶󰇪 󰈍

F

ree-wheeling downhill at 40mph, the colourful fields and vineyards around moutaintop town Bertinoro are almost a blur. Luckily there’s time to appreciate the view and it’s worth pausing to take in the magnificent patchwork panorama stretching out below Piazza Della Libertà.

Bertinoro, the Balcony of Romagna as it’s often referred to, is one of the highlights of the Wellness Valley, a relatively new tourism concept created to boost tourism to the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. The aim is to make it a leading wellness destination.

Starting out from the Grand Hotel Terme della Fratta, this eletronic mountain bike tour, led by guide Luigi Barilari, is just one of many activities we have planned.

After a generous lunch at the hotel, we are taken to the headquarters of Technogym, a famous fitness equipment brand and ‘gateway’ to the Wellness Valley project. Just 30 minutes later we’re all drenched in sweat again after being put through our paces on various machines. Then it’s off to check into Grand Hotel da Vinci on the Cesantico coast – and to dinner.

You’re probably starting to see a theme here: this is a trip that mixes bracing exercise with indulgent Italian meals and luxury hotels – or a sort of ‘sweat and reward’ situation for those who, like me, are not natural exercise freaks! The idea is for us to come away sated but invigorated.

mixed fried fish from the Adriatic: clams, juicy shrimp and fries – and all are fully ‘deserved’ after today’s calorie-burning activities. I can’t help but feel nostalgic looking at the old black-and-white photos of local fisherman which adorn the walls.

This three-day trip is action-packed but there’s much more to see and taste in this region of Northern Italy, which includes iconic foodie destinations like Bologna and Parma as well as seaside stops like Rimini.

The Wellness Valley sits in the east of the region and many of the places we visit are firmly off the tourist map.

Long an important centre for wellness, Bagno di Romagna is known for the thermal waters that flow directly from its springs. The town is positioned off Via Emilia, a road completed by the Romans in 187 BC to connect Picenza and Rimini.

After a ‘light’ lunch of just the four courses, we head out for a stroll around this ‘slow-life’ rustic town and watch two local women filling bottles with the flowing sulphurous-bicarbonate mineral water which flows from the spring here. It has a distinct eggy odour, but apparently it’s good for the liver.

Our three-hour trek in the nearby Nocicchio region is shortened to five kilometres, due to the rain which makes the mountainous area pretty slippery underfoot. I don’t mind too much since it means more time at wellness resort Roseo Euroterme, where several of us opt to try their indoor/outdoor thermal bath before dinner. Discarding my white fluffy robe and slippers, the steaming water is a

The 󰇿󰈢󰈦l󰈧’s fir󰇷󰇺 di󰇷󰇺r󰇮󰈛󰇺 d󰈥󰇽o󰇺󰇪d y to 󰇿󰇪󰇱l󰇳󰈥󰈤s a󰇳󰈨 q󰇻󰈜󰇰i󰇺 of 󰇰󰇮󰈆󰈥

My 󰈅u󰈡󰇮󰈣r su󰇮󰇹󰈥 a󰇺 Gr󰇧󰇳󰈨 Hot󰇪󰇰 󰈨󰈜 Vin󰈛󰇮

M󰈘 󰉃AG 󰈎󰈉󰈷󰉂 MO 󰉄󰈺󰉅T󰉍 E-bi󰈫󰇮󰈡g 󰇹 󰇭 r o 󰇻 󰇫󰇭 t󰇬 co󰇻󰇳󰇺r󰈂󰈤󰇯d e 󰈢󰈇 B󰈥󰈦ti󰇳 󰈥 󰈦ol󰇰󰇮󰈡g 󰈢󰈦 in 󰈧󰇪󰇱󰇯ci󰈢󰇼 󰇷 󰇱oc󰇧󰇰󰇱y-p 󰈣....in󰈧󰇻󰇱g󰇯󰇳󰈪 󰇶o󰈨 f󰇶o󰈩 g󰇪󰇰󰈜 󰇺o t󰈢 󰇫󰈣u󰈦 󰇻c󰈥󰈧 󰈆o󰈢d󰇷 m󰇪󰇹 󰈨󰇯ni󰇳 ba󰇹󰇭󰇮n󰇫 󰇯󰈡 󰈪.... t󰇬e 󰈟󰇧r󰇲 󰇺 wa󰇹󰇪󰈦s 󰈜󰇹 h Ro󰈤󰇪󰈣 Eur 󰈥󰇶󰈩al 󰈢󰇹󰈥󰈦me

Fo󰈢d, g󰇰o󰈦󰇮󰈣us 󰈇󰈢󰈣󰈨 My junior suite with a Versace-styled bathroom and partial sea views is a relaxing place to catch my breath before dinner.

Later, on a short stroll along the colourful and lively promenade that flanks the canal, we find Stefano Bartolini’s warm but low-key Osteria del Gran Fritto. We feast on its speciality -

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󰇰󰇱y t󰇬e 󰇱󰈢c󰈜 a 󰇯󰇳 d Pi󰇧 󰇪󰈜󰈨 󰈧 fla󰇺b󰇶 󰈥 c 󰇻 󰈨 o 󰇶 p 7/18/18 04:59 PM

my journey

Pos󰇮󰇳󰈪 󰈜t 󰇹󰇭e R󰇮n󰇫 Col󰇻󰇲󰈡 󰈜t Pi󰇧󰈃󰈄󰈜 de󰇰󰇱󰇧 L󰇯be󰇶󰇺à

31

Ris󰇹󰈢󰈦󰈜n󰇹e P󰇧󰈣󰇱o 󰈓󰇪v󰈥󰇶i󰈡󰇮’s qu󰇮󰇶󰈬y 󰇰󰈜󰈦d 󰈛a󰈡d󰇰󰇪

constant 45 degrees and has a silky texture which feels good. It’s certainly relaxing but there’s no time to rest –we’re in another town renowned for it gastronomy.

We dine at Ristorante Paolo Teverini, an eatery awarded a Michelin Star for over 30 consecutive years.

Our specially-prepared gourmet menu oozes with wonderful creations made from local produce, each course more appetising than the previous and tasting even better. The lard candle with bread is quirky and the wild pork tenderloin melts in my mouth – and all accompanied by locally-produced Albana wine.

The󰇶󰈩󰇧l 󰈥󰇳e󰈦g󰈂 Back on the coast our final day begins with a Nordic walking session, starting with a short demo on the uncrowded sandy beach of Milano Marittima before heading into the cooling pine woods, which provide a welcome relief as the temperature is already over 70C and it’s only 09.00!

The poles hang loosely from my hands as I struggle to get synchronised. I never thought walking could be this complicated! But soon I’m striding like a true pro and hopefully burning 50% more calories!

This is a good thing because Rimini offers us a feast in all senses. We visit the excavation of an ancient doctor’s clinic, where operations were performed.

Walking through the bustling streets of this historic walled town and across the solid Roman Bridge of Tiberius, we come to Osteria de Borg, tucked away in the old Fishermans’ Quarter. We indulge in platters of bruschetta and the local speciality piadina, a light-asair flatbread stuffed with melted cheese and spinach.

The breathtakingly beautiful Grand Hotel Rimini is our last home from home and, with its Liberty-style façade and 18th century antique furnishings, it really does live up to its name. The last supper is a gourmet fish treat and my favourite meal of the trip. Each course is delicately presented, fresh and fused with colour and bursting with flavour.

Heading home I reflect on the last few days and the concept of ‘wellness’. It’s made me realise it’s not just exercise or diet but a lifestyle, combining a healthy mind, being active and a nutritious diet.

It makes perfect sense now I’ve experienced it – I’ve just got to apply it at home! vi󰇷󰇮󰇺w󰈥󰇰󰇱ne󰇷󰈤v󰇧󰇰󰇱󰈥y.co󰇲

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Be󰇧c󰇬 Mil󰇧󰇳󰈣 Mar󰇮󰇹󰇺󰇯ma

The󰇶󰈩󰇧l 󰇴󰈣o󰇱 at H󰈢󰇹󰈥󰇱 󰈓er󰇲󰇪 de󰇰󰇱󰇧 Fr󰈜󰇹󰇺a

󰈩ic 󰇽󰇮󰈥󰈟 Pan󰈢󰇶󰈜 a 󰈨󰇪l󰇰󰈜 z󰈃 f󰇶o󰈩 P󰇮󰈜 󰇺à Lib󰇪󰇶 Gra󰇳󰈨 󰈍󰈢t󰈥󰇰 󰉋 i󰈩󰇮n󰇯 o󰇳 t󰇬e A󰈨r󰇮󰈜󰇹i󰈝 S 󰇪󰈜 sellingtravel.co.uk

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country profile

Western Australia With new direct flights from the UK and improved tourism infrastructure, Australia’s westernmost outpost is now an attractive gateway Down Under, says Jessica Pook Don’t miss Golden Outback The outback coast around Esperance has Australia’s whitest beaches, with kangaroos joining you on the beach at Lucky Bay. It also has the Wave Rock at Hayden, a three-billionyear-old rock in the shape of a giant wave.

North West Experience the Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay, the result of masses of water being squeezed through a narrow gap in the coastline at high tide, or explore the rugged gorges of Karijini National Park, a geological marvel.

Coral Coast North of Perth, the Coral Coast is home to the Ningaloo Reef, the world’s largest fringing reef. Depending on the season, clients can swim with whale sharks, humpback whales and manta ray.

South West Visit the Valley of the Giants and walk 40 metres above the ground among 400-year-old red tingle trees. Many of the species are native to the South West. Then explore the wineries of Margaret River.

Perth There are plenty of day trip options from Perth.

Take a cruise on the Swan River to Fremantle, with its colonial streetscape.

Rockingham is an aquatic playground and Rottnest Island is known for its crystal clear bays.

Each time I look out of my helicopter window I’m struck by the everchanging landscape. Red earthy tones of the outback merge into shiny white beaches and turquoise waters – and then an unexpected flash of bubblegum pink catches my eye!

Lake Hillier in the Esperance region is one of Western Australia’s famous pink lakes. The pink phenomenon is caused by the high concentration of algae in the water, which adds another striking shade to this multi-coloured landscape.

Including Perth, The Coral Coast, the North West, the South West and the Golden Outback, WA occupies one-third of the country’s total landmass and is, roughly, the size of Western Europe.

Perth is Australia’s sunniest state capital, and even beats the Sunshine Coast when it comes to good weather.

The Golden Outback is home to Mount Augustus, Australia’s biggest rock and double the size of Uluru, and The Coral Coast is where the outback meets the ocean, and a place to see whale sharks.

Clients can also explore World-Heritage listed Purnululu National Park and tap into Aboriginal culture in the North West, while a tour of the South West will take them to Margaret River’s wineries, craft breweries, boutique shops and surf beaches.

Speaking at a Western Australia UK trade roadshow in June, Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s Coral Coast, David O’Malley said: “WA offers the world in one state. There aren’t many places that

NINGALOO REEF

LAKE HILLIER

have such diversity in the landscape, from dense forest down south to the subtropical climate of the red deserts in the far north....and you can always find that beach holiday somewhere.”

New flights Perth, one of the world’s most isolated cities, made the news earlier in the year when it welcomed the first non-stop flight between the UK and Australia.

The launch of Qantas’ 17-hour flight between Heathrow and Perth has made the state both more accessible and more attractive as a tourist destination.

In addition, there is added capacity with Emirates, which now operates a twice daily service to Perth from Stansted (via Dubai).

Over 30 daily domestic flights also operate out of Perth, making it the ideal gateway to the rest of the country.

Elissa Caldwell, Marketing Manager for Destination Perth, said: “With the new (Qantas) direct flight we are definitely seeing an influx in visitors. Perth used to be considered ‘out of the way’ but it is now a genuine hub and gateway for those travelling to Australia. The city is growing, with new hotels and major tourism development, and within reach of the downtown area is the colonial architecture of Freemantle, the wine regions of Swan Valley and 19 beaches.”

Investment in Perth’s city projects is impressive: Elizabeth Quay is undergoing

Spa wit fro Kin Cit ent Enj WiF fac

Web Ema

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ABORIGINAL EXPERIENCES

a $2.62 billion development, with new retail, entertainment and food and drink offerings.

Scarborough, a coastal suburb of Perth, is also reinventing itself with a new beachfront precinct featuring upgraded retail and dining options, a public beach pool and club, while Perth’s central business district will be reconnected with Northbridge (known for its hip boutiques, galleries and Asian-inspired eateries) for the first time in 100 years when the new Perth City Link urban renewal and transportation improvement scheme is completed in 2020.

“Perth is a city that is almost unrecognisable from a few years ago and looks especially fantastic down by Elizabeth Quay,” says Rachel McMurdo, Assistant Product Manager at Oceania, Travel 2.

“Agents selling Western Australia should advise customers to allow plenty of time to explore. A couple hours’ drive south of Perth is the Margaret River region, renowned for its world-class wineries.”

“One of the key selling points of WA is that it hasn’t been commercialised,” says Glen Chidlow, Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s North West. “There’s no big

DIRK HARTOG ISLAND

theme parks. From tree-top canopy walks to Aboriginal experiences, we’ve just made the most of what was already here.”

Follow in the footsteps of gold prospectors with Gold Nugget Tours or drive a sidecar motorcycle around the coastal town of Esperance with 4U WE DO Sidecar Tours.

For the ultimate outback experience Camping with Custodians in the North West operates outback camping combined with Aboriginal experiences operated by indigenous communities.

What’s new The luxury 368-room Westin Hotel, overlooking the Swan River opened in April, while the ultra-luxurious Ritz-Carlton at The Towers is due to open in 2019.

Pinky’s Eco Resort in Perth will open 86 chic tent-style accommodations by the end of this year. Abbey Beach Resort in the Margaret River region is due to finish a major refurbishment next year. 

“We offer 25% off for agents to come and experience Mounts Bay Waters Apartment Hotel and Waldorf Geraldton Serviced Apartments for themselves.

Use code: TRAVEL” Sari Lawidjaja, Revenue Manager at Waldorf Apartments

BOOK IT WITH TRAVEL 2 A 12-day Perth and South West WA tour starts from £1,079pp. The deal includes four days at the three-star Metro Hotel Perth, four days at the four-star Margarets Beach Resort and four days at three-star Ibis Styles Albany. Valid for travel between September 10-24, 2018. 0800 0224 182; travel2.co.uk

Your home away from home in Western Australia Mounts Bay Waters Apartment Hotel

Perth

Geraldton

The ideal place to stay on the Coral Coast with apartments in a resort-style setting, just 100m from the beach. Take advantage of our hotel facilities such as free parking, free WiFi, swimming pool and spacious BBQ areas.

Spacious apartments within a 10-minute walk from Elizabeth Quay, Kings Park and Perth City's shopping and entertainment precincts.

Enjoy free parking, free WiFi and extensive leisure facilities.

Website: mounts-bay.com.au Email: perth@mountsbay.com.au

Western Australia.indd 33 MountsBay-advert.indd 1

Waldorf Geraldton Serviced Apartments

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Website: geraldton-waldorf-apartments.com.au Email: geraldton@waldorf.com.au

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34

costa rica

wild times

If your clients are looking for wild nature and experiential soft adventure then Costa Rica’s ‘Pura Vida’ tourism offering is hard to beat, reckons Karl Cushing

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RALPH LEE HOPKINS

A

s soon as I cast off my hiking & Kings. It’s supremely family friendly with gear and lay back in the a proven record in sustainability, and, geothermal waters of the Río thanks to its regional microclimates can be Chollín, hopping upstream from pool to enjoyed year round. pool as the mood takes me, the aches Many first-timer tours take in inland and strains of the day’s extended hikes areas such as Arenal and Monteverde, around Arenal’s volcano and Hanging with its cloudforest and ziplines. On its Bridges simply melt away. two coastlines Tortuguero and Cahuita The experience costs nothing but are standouts on the Caribbean side while all manner of the Pacific is home affordable wellness to spectacular “Put a fair few days aside operations await in for a true jungle experience national parks such my nearby base of as Manuel Antonio, in Corcovado, the jewel in La Fortuna, such as Corcovado and the crown of Costa Rica’s Baldi Hot Springs. the biodiverse Osa Pricier pampering national parks, and a trip to Peninsula. packages feature at World-class Caño Island, one of the best nearby honeymooneco-lodges such snorkelling and diving tastic retreats Nayara as Heliconias destinations” Springs and Tabacón.

Lodge; Lapa Rios Ross Sinclair, Senior Product Manager, USA,

Guanacaste in the Osa; and Caribbean & Canada, Travel 2 province, my next Esquinas Rainforest destination, proves yet another happy Lodge are another highlight, with hunting ground for wellness. Here my Pacuare offering the chance to raft in favourites include Los Altos de Eros near and out. Chimu Adventures is among Tamarindo, with its Indonesian Soaking Tub those advocating the panoply of smaller overlooking the rainforest. properties such as the stunning Hacienda Travel 2’s Senior Product Manager Ross Altagracia, set among the hills and Sinclair favours the Rio Perdido (rioperdido. mountains of Pérez Zeledón. com). “A thermal river runs past the Meanwhile the northern Pacific resorts property and guests can unwind in the such as Tamarindo and properties like gentle rapids and waterfalls...plus, there’s the Westin and Four Seasons are a focus plenty of activities to do such as yoga, for winter sun operators Caribtours and hiking and mountain biking.”

Thomson, backed by TUI Airways’ GatwickLiberia service.

Regional leader Self-drives such as Pura Aventura’s With its wildlife-rich rainforests, 11-night Costa Rica – Osa Uncovered are ‘experiential’ soft adventure, idyllic another good bet while operators noting beaches and world-class wellness, Costa increased demand for tours mixing Costa Rica features on tours by operators such Rica with other countries include Journey as G Adventures, Hayes & Jarvis and Cox Latin America, whose new 13-day ‘Explore

and Relax’ tour blends the Osa Peninsula with Panama’s Bocas del Toro. It is priced from £2,721pp, excluding flights.

Top experiences Surf’s up: Costa Rica’s Pacific coast has some excellent year-round waves and surf schools. Top spots include Dominical, to the south, while the resort of Tamarindo is among the north’s most accessible options, with great surf spots such as Playa Langosta within easy reach.

In the saddle: Pedal off on a cycle trip with the likes of Explore, Exodus and Intrepid Travel, whose options include the 16-day ‘Cycle Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama’ (from £2,062).

Paddle time: Kayak through mangroves at eco-lodges such as Lagarta, near Nicoya, or along the inland waterways of Tortuguero, while spotting the wildlife. See turtles nesting between April-May and July-October.

Main picture: Poás Volcano. This page, clockwise from top left: rafting on the Pacuare River; Playa Palada Norte; a jungle walkway; Arenal Volcano

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ALEXANDRA DALEY CLARK

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Feast on the east… Cahuita National Park combines reef snorkelling and idyllic tree-lined Caribbean beaches with nature trails.

Seek sanctuary: Popular picks among Costa Rica’s wildlife refuges include Aviarios del Caribe Sloth Sanctuary near Cahuita; The Jaguar Rescue Centre near Puerto Viejo and Eco Centre Danaus.

Nature spots: Rack up wildlife sightings from toucans, tree frogs and tapirs to Costa Rican classics such as sloth and resplendent quetzal. Good spots for the latter, best seen during the breeding season from mid-February to May, include Los Quetzales National Park, San Gerado de Dota and Savegre Cloud Forest.

Caño believe it: Caño Island, accessible by boat from mainland Drake Bay, is home to mysterious manmade spherical stones and its waters are a haven for dolphin, orca (December to April) and Humpback whales (July to November).

Clockwise from top left: ziplining in Monteverde cloud rainforest; a tree frog; hiking in the rainforest; Nayara Springs

What’s new Tour operators: Elegant Resorts (elegantresorts.co.uk) is launching Costa Rica in Autumn 2018 while the country features strongly in Wendy Wu’s (wendywutours.co.uk) new South America programme, which includes two 16-day options — ‘Colours of Costa Rica’, from £3,490pp, and ‘Costa Rica & Panama’, from £3,590pp – and a fiveday Manual Antonio National Park beach extension option.

Rainbow Tours (RainbowTours.co.uk) is to offer its first ever small- group escorted tour to Costa Rica in late 2019 while parent brand ITC Travel Group is to add a number of small luxury hotels such as Aguas Claras (hotelaguasclaras.com) in Puerto Viejo, and Three Sixty Boutique Hotel (hotelthreesixty.com) in Ojochal.

Hotels: Sunvil (sunvil.co.uk/latinamerica) has added Piedras Blancas National Park and two Pacific coast lodges: the eight-room Playa Cativo in Piedras Blancas, accessible only by boat, and the 26-bedroom Lagarta Lodge, set in a private 90-acre biological reserve near Nicoya. Seven-night B&B breaks start from £1,566pp, including British Airways flights from Gatwick to San José.

Journey Latin America has also added Isla Chiquita (islachiquitacostarica.com), offering ‘glamping’ in the Nicoya Gulf.

Expedition Cruise: One Ocean Expeditions (oneoceanexpeditions.com) has a new 10-day Central American Adventure on its new ship RCGS Resolute. It will depart San José on April 23, 2019).

Alternatively, National Geographic Expeditions’ new nine-day Private Expedition promises wildlife spotting in three separate rainforest areas, including Arenal and Osa, in the care of expert

naturalists (from £3,656pp, excluding flights (nationalgeographicexpeditions.co.uk).

Tourism talk “We have re-designed our online training portal, Pura Vida University (puravidauniversity.eu/uk), and will launch a new UK-focused section on our main website (visitcostarica.com). September will see ICT Travel Group take 18 UK travel agents — winners of its 2017 UK sales mission, carried out in partnership with Selling Travel — on a Costa Rica FAM. “Costa Rica received 25,450 visitors from the UK in the first quarter of 2018 – 8.8% up on last year – and with the addition of new itineraries and packages from the trade we are confident this upward trend will continue.

Together with nature and wildlife, other key themes we will be promoting in 2018/19 include luxury and wellness.’

Rob Wilson, UK Representative for the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT)

Where to book it GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS – 01904 527180 The 15-day Enchanting ‘Costa Rica & Panama’ combines parks such as Arenal, Monteverde and Corcovado with time on the Panama Canal and Railway. It’s priced from £3,995pp, including flights, with departures in March and November 2019. greatrail.com

COSMOS – 0800 668 1365 New guided tours include the eight-day ‘Gateway to Costa Rica’, covering San José, Arenal and Monteverde and experiences such as a tour of Doka Coffee Estate.

From £1,792pp based on an April 27, 2019 departure from Gatwick. cosmos.co.uk 

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48hrs in

37

Fez Morocco’s oldest and arguably most fascinating city doesn't have the stylish riads of Marrakech but there's still plenty to discover among its alleyways, says Sarah Gilbert Day 1: Medina and Souks

prices – try Médin’Art (facebook.com/MedinARTFES) the medina’s first concept store.

After one splurg, another, at finedining NUR (nur.ma), where chef Najat Kaanache’s daily changing seven-tonine course tasting menu is inspired by market produce. He uses sophisticated culinary techniques and creative flavour combinations.

Morning: Dating back to the eighth century, Fez El Bali is the world’s largest living medieval medina, with souks, workshops and mosques tucked into its jumble of more than 9,000 alleyways.

Enter through the Bab Boujeloud, or Blue Gate, and dip down the Talaa Sghira – one of the medina’s two main arteries – in Day 2: Crafts and Cooking search of the 14th-century Medersa Bou Inania, the only building still in religious Morning: On a private Artisanal use that non-Muslims can enter. Its carved Affairs tour with Culture plaster and cedar wood and dazzling zellij Vultures (culturevulturesfez.org) you’ll tiles are a masterpiece of Islamic artistry. get to chat to Fez’s renowned craftspeople Delve further into the spice-scented in their workshops: weavers, wood souks before stopping to peer through the painters and leather makers. doorway of the vast Afternoon/ Kairaouine Mosque evening: to watch the copper Moroccan “Spend the afternoon beaters in Place cuisine is a genuine souk shopping for Seffarine. melting pot, with the butter-soft leather coats, Arabs, Moors and Then head to the bags and babouche iconic Chaouwara French among those Tanneries – you’ll smell slippers - but remember that left their mark. them before you see One of the best ways to haggle!” them – for the striking to appreciate it is on a spectacle of an age-old souk tasting trail with process.

Plan-it Morocco or a class at Café Clock’s To avoid getting lost, take one of Plan-itcooking school (cafeclock.com), where you’ll Morocco’s (plan-it-morocco.com) guided tours. learn to rustle up three classic dishes after Afternoon/evening: Lunch alfresco shopping for ingredients in the souk. in the leafy Ruined Garden After a hard day’s sightseeing, there’s no restaurant (ruinedgarden.com), with a better place to be steamed, scrubbed and menu of Moroccan tapas, tagines and massaged in to a state of utter relaxation hand-rolled couscous. For dinner Fassi than Riad Laaroussa’s (riad-laaroussa.com) specialties, such as pigeon b’stilla, can be private 17th-century hamman. ordered in advance.

Then watch the sunset with a cocktail on Spend the afternoon souk shopping Dar Roumana’s (darroumana.com) rooftop bar. for butter-soft leather coats, bags and Their dinner menu mixes seasonal local babouche slippers, and more produce and Mediterranean flair and is – and remember to haggle! Or served in the romantic, candlelit courtyard for a contemporary take of this beautifully restored house.  on traditional crafts – and fixed

BOOK IT WITH COX & KINGS

The operator has three nights in Fez staying at the five-star Palais Amani on a B&B basis.

Priced from £575pp, the deal includes return flights from London and transfers. coxandkings.co.uk; 020 3642 0861

From the top: Bab Boujeloud (Blue Gate); traditional tagine; the colourful Chaouwara Tanneries

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a dv e r t or ia l

magic closer to the

I

n Kissimmee your clients can shake hands with a mouse, zipline over alligators, blast off into outer space or fly through the air on boats, balloons, and broomsticks.

If this sounds a bit fantastical then you can always draw their attention to the fact that it’s known as the Vacation Home Capital of the World – with more than 25,000 holiday homes to choose from and 50,00 accommodation options in total.

Add to that the world’s most famous theme parks and entertainment, amazing shopping and dining and a pristine natural environment waiting to be discovered and you can see why it’s a winning place to base clients in central Florida.

And Kissimmee is only 20 minutes from Orlando International Airport or an hour from Tampa International Airport.

Park life World-famous attractions are on Kissimmee’s doorstep. The beloved characters, white-knuckle rides and old-fashioned family fun of Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Universal Orlando Resort are minutes away. Just a short drive away is Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Legoland

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Florida and Busch Gardens. But there’s loads more that Brits won’t be as familiar with – like sweet surprises at Chocolate Kingdom, a factory adventure tour, or up-close encounters with Florida’s famous cold-blooded beasts at Gatorland.

Home is where the heart is Despite being so close to the parks, Kissimmee is great value and there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets: luxury resorts to value hotel chains, home rentals to campgrounds.

Kissimmee is famous for its vacation homes and can offer neat one-bed condos for couples or super-size villas with bowling alleys and cinemas for families who want to go all out. Your clients can have a home away from home but they can also have concierge and maid services – it’s their holiday after all!

Nature calls Staying in Kissimmee means your clients can be in the shade of the Disney Castle one minute and sitting in the cool of a 100-year old cypress tree the next. Outdoor activities include hiking through one of Kissimmee’s nature preserves, fishing

7/18/18 03:15 PM

a dv e r t or ia l

for bass on Lake Tohopekaliga, bird watching in the home of the second-largest population of nesting bald eagles in the USA, ziplining through the treetops at Orlando Tree Trek or catching an airboat tour through the Everglades.

pedestrian-friendly retail options. There’s Florida Mall and the Mall at Millenia and outlet shopping at Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores and Orlando Premium Outlets, while boutiques abound in the downtown districts of Kissimmee, St. Cloud and Celebration.

Unexpected charms

Having a ball

For a slice of small-town Florida, suggest a visit to the historic downtown districts of Kissimmee and St. Cloud or a day wandering the streets of Celebration – a town created by Disney himself. Its Art Deco streets are full of character and visiting its little cinema or ice cream parlour is like stepping back in time. Before Disney arrived and it became a dream vacation destination, Kissimmee was a town where cracker cowboys tended to their herds of cattle. This heritage is relived at the twiceyearly Silver Spurs Rodeo, the largest east of the Mississippi River.

Kissimmee has 397 holes of golf spread over more than a dozen courses. Golfers can tee off on greens designed by some of the game’s legends including Johnny Miller at Harmony Golf Preserve, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer at Reunion Resort and Greg Norman at ChampionsGate Golf Resort.

Talking shop Shopaholics can find great deals on everything from designer clothes to one-of-a-kind antiques in Kissimmee. The Loop and The Loop West offer more than 400,000-square-feet of open-air and

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Entertainment central As if the theme parks aren’t enough, Kissimmee has a year-round calendar of concerts, sporting events, dinner shows, theatrical performances and live music.

Quirky nights out include cheering knights at the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament and a speakeasystyle evening at Capone’s Dinner and Show.

Find out more at experiencekissimmee.com

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new england

future back to the

Autumn colours remain its main draw card but from Vermont to Rhode Island there are a host of reasons why New England is the perfect year-round recommendation, says Steve Hartridge

C

nest, covering the top of a telegraph pole, a little further down the track.

All too soon the joggers, cyclists, walkers and views of barrier beaches and freshwater wetlands are behind me and the scenic, easy-riding 17-kilometre Shining Sea Bikeway Trail, built over the bed of a long-defunct railway line, drops me into Falmouth Village.

Here, in this quintessential Cape Cod community, the attractions on tree-lined Main Street centre around locally-owned shops selling gourmet-brewed coffee, homemade cake, artworks and books.

Pilgrim Fathers New England will be inviting visitors to take a trip back in time in 2020 when communities across the region mark the

400th anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers.

First a short history lesson: in 1620 around 100 Puritan Separatists – or ‘Pilgrims’ – and a few farm animals fled England aboard the Mayflower in the wake of reforms introduced after the separation of the English church from the Catholic Holy See in Rome.

After a stormy 66-day crossing they arrived first in Cape Cod before moving down the Massachusetts coastline and settling in a community they named ‘Plimouth’, after their departure port in Devon.

The rest, they say, is history but it’s a history that will be relived through a series of events and festivals being planned by a special organisation called Plymouth 400.

“2020 will be a great time to be in New

JAMES WHITE

hilly early-spring breezes are pricking my face as I pedal past a bog ablaze with brightred berries: cranberries have been harvested in this part of Cape Cod for more than 100 years.

On I cycle, past the distant West Falmouth harbour, before I stop at a viewpoint that looks out over an oyster pond.

Less than a mile on and I am off my bike again, gazing over Great Sippewissett Marsh, a protected 140 acres that make up one of the few undisturbed salt marshes in New England. Through the tall wispy grasses I see gulls, herons and egrets.

A birder peers through binoculars, looking for the endangered Roseate Tern.

“It’s out there somewhere,” he says, before telling me to keep an eye out for an osprey

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England…we will be telling all sides of Beyond the history there is plenty to the Pilgrims’ story and have asked the attract visitors to a region comprised of Wappanoag Native American people, who Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New were here when the Pilgrims arrived, to tell Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut. us their own story in their own voice,” said “New England is the only region of Michele Pecoraro, Executive Director for the U.S. that has such a strong and Plymouth 400. distinctive collective name,” said FrancoisAn official Plymouth 400th anniversary Laurent Nivaud, Executive Director of The tour that starts in Commonweath Boston and ends “My favourites include the of Massachusetts in Provincetown, dunes of Cape Cod National Office of Travel and Cape Cod, taking Tourism.

Seashore, Martha’s Vineyard “Many even think in several historical and picture-perfect sites along the way, New England is a is available to UK state and Boston is Nantucket” operators, said its capital. Visitors Malcolm Davies, Funway Pecoraro. come to ‘New For clients arriving before 2020, the England’ rather than to Massachusetts or impressive Plimoth Plantation, located Vermont...they might not know all that about three miles out of town, provides they can do in Connecticut or Rhode Island an entertaining look at life for those early but they certainly know what they can do settlers and the Wappanoag Indians. in New England,” Nivaud added.

Their story is told in separate villages The individual tourism bodies of five brought alive by characters in period dress of the six states – Vermont is currently and daily re-enactments. the odd one out – market themselves Of course, history abounds in New collectively under a single organisation: England: it is also the birthplace of the Discover New England. The body is American Revolution, with Boston, charged with the task of increasing the Lexington and Concorde particularly 267,000 UK visitors it welcomes each year. associated with this nation-forging event.

New England is, of course, known for its In Boston the Freedom Trail offers a coastal communities, sleepy villages with walking history lesson, taking in places such white-picket fences, seafood – particularly as American patriot and revolutionary Paul lobster and crabs – whale-watching Revere’s house. excursions and some of the best beaches

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on the east coast. But most popular is the annual explosion of autumn colours.

“The remarkable fall foliage remains king here….the majority of visitors still come to see our kaleidoscope of colours,” admitted Randy Fiveash, Director Connecticut Office of Tourism. “And you really don’t have to go anywhere further north than Connecticut to enjoy these colours in all their glory,” he added.

Julian Appleyard, Commercial Director at Great Rail Journeys, said: “If there is a time to visit New England it has to be in the autumn as the colours are stunning. The North Conway Scenic Railroad in New

Previous page: Nantucket; this page: a typical rural scene in Vermont; Provincetown, Cape Cod; the writer on the Shining Sea Bikeway Trail, Cape Cod; North Conway Scenic Railroad, New Hampshire

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Hampshire passes some of the finest natural scenery in New England… which is covered in a stunning blanket of reds, yellows and browns.”

Beyond ‘leaf peeping’, Discover New England is currently pushing outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, watersports and off-season travel, particularly in the winter months.

Top experiences Show some claws: Join a working lobster boat (rugosalobstertours.com) in Maine and learn all you will ever need to know about the crustacean that draws seafood lovers from around the world.

Island break: Take the ferry from Cape Cod to Nantucket, a picturesque island complete with white churches and cobbled streets. Stay in the cosy Brass Lantern Inn (brasslanternnantucket. com), and stroll the couple of the minutes to the Whaling Museum to learn all about an industry that had its heyday on the island between 1818 and 1840 (before the Gold Rush and U.S. Civil War combined to spoil things).

Go Native: In Connecticut visit the fabulous Pequot Museum (pequotmuseum.org) that tells the story of the Indian tribe. Exhibits in the world’s largest Native American Museum include a ‘village’ with realistic, life-sized characters and extinct animals such as the mastodon and giant beavers. Nearby is one of the state’s best-known hotels, the elegant Simsbury Inn (simsburyinn.com), with 92 rooms, a hearthstone fireplace and an awardwinning Sunday brunch. Guests enjoy complimentary transportation to and from Hartford’s Bradley International Airport.

Martime lore: Mystique Seaport and Mystique Aquarium (mystic seaport.org) in Mystic, Connecticut, bring alive the history of America and the sea amidst an ambient seafaring village featuring homes, gardens, shops, craft workshops and cooking demonstrations that

reproduce dishes from the 17th century.

Say Ciao: Learn about the influence of Italian immigrants in Providence, Rhode Island, by taking a culinary tour of the city’s Federal Hill district

one of the U.S.’s most charming and traditional sports stadiums?

What’s new

Attractions: The Massachusetts Whale Trail (whaletrailma.com) com). Between 1898 is a new initiative by “Connecticut offers outdoor and 1930, more than the Massachusetts adventures, small-town 54,000 Italian Office of Travel and experiences, wonderful immigrants arrived Tourism (MOTT). It in the city and their features 40 stops beaches and terrific influence is still including whaleattractions” strong today. A watching tours Randy Fiveash, Connecticut Office of Tourism guided food tour of from Provincetown ‘Little Italy’ takes in delicatessens and to Newburyport, museums like the restaurants. Then have coffee and Nantucket Historical Association Whaling desert at Scialo Bros. Bakery, Museum, and the Melville Trail in Western which has been making Massachusetts, a series of small towns authentic Italian cakes and with a connection to Herman Melville, who pastries since 1916. penned Moby Dick.

Home run: Clients Visitors to Maine can enjoy the wilderness don’t need to be of New England’s largest state by staying in baseball fans to appreciate restored fishing and hunting lodges. the historic beauty of For example, Medawisla Lodge near Fenway Park, home Moose Head Lake sits on 70,000 acres of of the Boston Red conserved forestland and guests stay in Sox. This year private cottages. There is a main lodge with marks the 100th a restaurant and bar for common meals anniversary of the Red Sox (mlb.com/ and activities include hiking, paddling, redsox) winning the World Series, so fly-fishing, canoe camping, and in winter what better time to take a tour of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. (rhodeislandredfoodtours.

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Airlines: In May Primera Air (primeraair.

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co.uk) started a four-times-weekly service

in a small village. These are the encounters that make rich holiday memories.”

with us, jump out of a plane, take a helicopter tour, or get into a shark cage!”

between Boston and London Stansted.

Steve Lyons, Director, Maine Office of Tourism

Mark Brodeur, Director of Tourism, Rhode Island

Tourism talk

“Rhode Island is nicknamed the “When people come to Maine it is ‘Ocean State’ and we are the sailing usually for the coastal scene, the capital of the world. We are the only fabulous seafood, the quaint little North American destination for the Volvo villages and the quirky shops. But inland Ocean sailing race, the world’s longest-running Maine has great fishing, hunting and outdoors sporting event, but we host 22 other regattas. activities and is not featured as often by tour Then there’s the annual induction at the Tennis operators as it should Hall of Fame and the be.

“In 2019 we are introducing Jazz and Folk festival, “We are also both in Newport, as a new escorted Inns of New well as many other a four seasons England tour - staying in destination but this music and seafood characteristic inns rather festivals. is a challenging message to get across.

“However, we are than hotels ” “Of course, people now talking about Jayne White, Titan Travel typically come to ourselves a little Maine for the fall foliage and summer, but bit differently. For example, Rhode Island we have a lot of winter product like crossis 60% forested and we have started to country skiing, snowshoeing and hut-toinclude that in our sales materials because hut trails. Snowmobiling is also huge in the public are telling us that whether Maine – there is 14,000 miles of snowmobile driving, biking or walking, they want to trails and many rental operators. get out to explore our natural areas.

“It is the people that make Maine and “National Geographic named Rhode Island New England so desirable: you might meet as one of the top 12 adventure destinations a lobsterman on his boat, a lumberman in anywhere, for our kayaking canoeing, scuba the woods, a craftsman in a small pottery diving – with 700 wrecks – and boating. studio or someone running a tiny restaurant “Tell your clients to come sail a boat

Where to book it AMERICA AS YOU LIKE IT – 020 8742 8299 A 10-night fly-drive to southern New England starts from £1359pp. The deal includes Norwegian flights between Gatwick and Boston, two nights in Boston, two nights in Plymouth, two nights on Nantucket, two nights in Providence, two nights in Hartford and nine days’ car hire. americaasyoulikeit.com

GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS – 0800 240 4470 The 10-day New England in the Fall rail tour includes Martha’s Vineyard, the White Mountains, North Conway Scenic Railroad, a whale-watching cruise, a ride on the historic Mount Washington Cog Railway and a stay in Boston. Prices from £2,395pp with departures September 21 and September 30 2018. In 2019 the tour has 11 departures (September and October). greatrail.com  Previous page: Clockwise: Scialo Bros. Bakery has been making traditional Italian pastries in Providence, Rhode Island, since 1916; Next year sees the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower Pilgrims; the Pequot Museum, Connecticut; This page: Boston Common; Faneuil Marketplace, Boston

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July/August 2018

VISIT USA NEWS T H IS M O N T H ' S TO P S TOR I ES FROM V I SI T U SA' S MEMBERS • V I SI T U SA. O RG.UK

Viva Las Vegas

LAS Vegas hosted in excess of 3.6 million visitors in May, which took the year-to-date total to more than 17 million, an increase on

Tour op er

ator

Grand new American thrills

GRAND American Adventures, the group adventure specialist for 35-65 year-olds, has launched a new series of 'In-Depth' USA tours featuring challenging excursions for thrill-seeking clients.

Examples include the Canyoning Country In-Depth tour, where adventurers will get to climb, jump, abseil, rappel and swim on a canyoneering excursion in Moab, Utah, the red rock gateway to Arches National Park. The lead-in price for six days is £2,359pp, with departures from April to October.

The Yellowstone Winter Wildlife In-Depth option visits Yellowstone National Park, where clients will don snowshoes and join a wildlife tracker to look for wolves, elks, bison and Bighorn Sheep. Six nights start from £2,299pp, with departures in January. grandamericanadventures.com

"Visit USA's Independence Ball raised over £6,000 for Just a Drop, the charity that transforms lives by supporting communities around the world with sustainable safe water solutions" Sarah Lax, Chair of Visit USA (UK)

the same time last year. The month was also the busiest month on record for McCarran International Airport: 4.4 million passengers passed through it.

lvcva.com

Miami booming

GREATER Miami welcomed a record-breaking 15.9 million

overnight visitors in 2017, who generated an economic impact of $26 billion and employed a record-breaking 144,800 tourism jobs in Miami-Dade County. The trend has continued this year: hotel occupancy was up by 4.3% between January-April. miamiandbeaches.com

Canopy in Dallas CANOPY by Hilton is the latest hotel choice for visitors to Dallas, Texas. Opened this summer, the 150-room property is located in Uptown Dallas, known as the city's most 'walkable' district. It is close to upscale shops, parks and trails, breweries and an arts district.

hilton.com; visitdallas.com

THE USA in brief...

ALABAMA STATE plans to commemorate the 200th anniversary of its statehood over the next two years.

The state's official bicentennial commemoration will feature travelling exhibitions, festivals, genealogy workshops and more. The Alabama Passport project will let visitors mark off historical and cultural sites they visit via a book or app. alabama.travel

MORE than 250 Aer Lingus employees, friends and families took part in the 2018 Dublin Pride Parade this summer.

As official airline of Dublin Pride 2018, Aer Lingus made its mark at the parade by managing to ‘land’ a speciallydesigned Pride aircraft on the streets of Dublin.

U.S cities served by the airline include New York, L.A., Miami and San Francisco. aerlingus.com AIRLINE

TITAN'S new Worldwide 2019 brochure has a new America's Historic Cities tour.

Departing August 22 2019, the escorted tour is priced from £2,799pp. Agents can win a £4,000 Titan holiday by sharing their 'perfect travel moment' before August 31 on Facebook TitanagentsUK or Twitter @TitanagentsUK with #Titanperfectmoments. titantravel.co.uk OPERATOR

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

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

MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT VIRGIN'S BIG PLANS FOR MANCHESTER VIRGIN Atlantic is to increase by 20% in 2019 the number of flights it operates from Manchester across the Atlantic. Next year will see the airline operate up to six daily departures, including a new route to Los Angeles and more services to Boston and Las Vegas. uk.visitnc.com

VACATIONS GROWS KEY TRADE TIES VACATIONS to America is to grow its ties with agents by paying more shop visits to independent agencies and providing them with point-ofsale display materials.

“We are committed to working with agents and are prepared to invest in them,” said Richard Wimms, the company's MD. vacationstoamerica. com

introducing...

Accor Hotels ALEXANDRA DOCHERTY LEISURE SALES DIRECTOR

Cities

Pittsburgh shows UK steel

TOURISM officials from Pittsburgh visited the UK to spread the word about the Pennsylvania ex-steel town that’s enjoying a major renaissance.

Speaking before a trade event at the new U.S. Embassy in London, Craig T. Davies, Chief Marketing Officer for Visit Pittsburgh said: “We have been delighted by the reaction of the UK tour operators we spoke with…they had a genuine interest in learning more about the way our city is transforming itself.”

Among the city major developments is a $1.1 billion-dollar ‘modernization plan’ for Pittsburgh International Airport designed to improve the traveller experience. Work is due to start next year and be completed by 2023. Pittsburgh’s resurgence is also seen in the number of new hotel openings, which has increased accommodation options in the city by 25% over the past eight years.visitpittsburgh.com

Cosmos adds more U.S.

COSMOS' new tours to the U.S. include 'Highlights of the Canyonlands', with stops in Utah and Arizona at Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks together with Monument Valley. It is priced from £1,469pp.

The Grand Alaskan Adventure includes Denali National Park, the Thompson Pass and a cruise across the Prince William Sound.

Prices start from £2,529pp. cosmos.co.uk

L.A.'s iconic H

THE Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LATCB) helped bring a piece of iconic Hollywood history to London’s O2 this summer. The Heart of Hollywood Tour exhibits touring the globe includes the original, 14-metre-high 'H' from the famous Hollywood sign.

Discoverlosangeles.com

What are the main benefits of being a Visit USA member? We are privy to so much USA-related information and market intelligence. It allows us to explore ways in which we can work with other Visit USA members and provides exposure to tour operators, travel agents and other USA-interested partners.

Tell us about Accor’s huge portfolio of hotels. Between them the Accor brands comprise around 4,300 properties – but obviously we don’t expect UK agents to sell all of these! Brands include Fairmont, Sofitel, Pullman, Raffles and Grand Mercure. Fairmont, whose U.S. hotels number The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, and the Fairmont Dallas, is very strong in the UK market.

What's new? We have just opened the Fairmont Austin, and in Los Angeles, the historic Century Plaza hotel, which has long been associated with the Hollywood set, will reopen as a Fairmont next year.

Tell us something that might surprise readers. In the Fairmont San Francisco's Tonga Room a 'thunder and lightening storm' takes place every 20 minutes. That surprises people! accorhotels.com

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

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VISIT USA ROADSHOW A M E R IC A H ITS T H E ROAD • V I SI T U SAROADSH O W. COM

Prizes

MANCHESTER

• Virgin Atlantic to San Francisco • Stay at the Handlery Union Square Hotel San Francisco • 7 nights Cruise America RV Rental

BIRMINGHAM

Great

• Virgin Atlantic to Miami • Stay at the Eden Roc Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, Ocean Pointe Suites Key Largo and Marriott Beachside Hotel Key West

prizes

LONDON

THE VISIT USA 2018 ROADSHOW will take place in Manchester, Birmingham and London during the early evening of October 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

The popular events have been designed to maximise the networking opportunities for both agents and exhibitors.

All three Roadshows are being held in selected premium hotels where over 30 Visit USA exhibitors and agents can exchange information

and discuss business development opportunities.

Food and drink will be provided. The format will include speed networking - which will see agents visiting all exhibitors - goody bags and a holiday to the USA will be up for grabs at each location (see opposite for prize details). Plus a special bonus prize to be won on the final night by an agent who has attended any one of the three 2018 Roadshows.

• Delta Air Lines to Boston • Stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston, the Sheraton Boston Hotel and The Freepoint Hotel West Cambridge, Boston

BONUS PRIZE

THE VENUES

• United Airlines to Texas • 7 nights Cruise America RV Rental

EARLY EVENING, FROM 6pm onwards

visitusaroadshow.com

See for more details.

Tuesday October 2 MANCHESTER

Wednesday October 3 BIRMINGHAM

Thursday October 4 LONDON

Radisson Blu Edwardian

Jurys Inn

Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington

2018 EXHIBITORS...

AER LINGUS • AMTRAK VACATIONS • APOLLO MOTORHOME HOLIDAYS • ARLINGTON CVS • THE BEACHES OF FORT MYERS & SANIBEL BRAND USA UK & IRELAND • BROADWAY INBOUND • CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT • CIRQUE DU SOLEIL (US) INC • COLORADO TOURISM OFFICE CRUISE AMERICA RV RENTALS • FLORIDA KEYS & KEY WEST • GRAND CANYON TOUR AND TRAVEL • GREATER MIAMI CVB HANDLERY HOTELS • VISIT HOUSTON • KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX • MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF TRAVEL & TOURISM MAVERICK AVIATION GROUP, GRAND CANYON & LAS VEGAS • NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY AND LOUISIANA OFFICE OF TOURISM VISIT NORTH CAROLINA • PAPILLON GRAND CANYON HELICOPTERS • SAN DIEGO TOURISM AUTHORITY • SANTA MONICA TRAVEL AND TOURISM EXPERIENCE SCOTTSDALE • TRAVEL TEXAS • UNITED AIRLINES • USAIRTOURS HOLIDAYS • VIRGIN ATLANTIC/DELTA AIR LINES

Register now VUSA Roadshow_V2.indd 33

to attend one of the Roadshows by visiting visitusaroadshow.com

7/18/18 03:23 PM

spotlight on

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Talking...

Travelpack In conversation with... Vishal Patel, Sales and Marketing Director, Travelpack

Q

What does Travelpack specialise in?

A: The roots of the company are in flight sales but now we are tailor-made long haul specialists. India is our star destination as our team have an immense wealth of knowledge on it. They’ve lived there or been multiple times and know it very well. Our sister company is an Indiabased supplier, meaning we have access to a huge range of value products and an ability to be creative and add value. We can request special extras like Champagne in your client’s room or book a local restaurant, quickly and at a reasonable price.

Q

Why should agents book with you?

A: Our team work tirelessly to help agents. If an agent rings saying their client has a better quote from a direct sell operator we will do our absolute best to try and match or beat it and help the agent keep their business – even if it means cutting our margins.

If things go wrong we are always on hand to help: my sales guys can access me 24/7.

And if we make an error we’ll honour it. We also have lots of initiatives to help agents drum up business. We provide promotional materials and Facebook banners and support agents with their events like wedding showcases. We value the business we have and we nurture it – 99% of our holidays are sold through the trade.

Q

Do you have any new product that agents might not know about?

A: Travelpack still leads in selling holidays to North America, India, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand, but one of our fastest-growing areas is Europe, where our passenger numbers have gone from nothing to almost 1,000 this year.

We also offer packages through partner tour operators like Intrepid and G Adventures. We excel at events and have packaged holidays around sporting events from the World Cup, cricket and boxing to more unusual ones like the World Figure Skating Championships and niche music festivals in the USA. We’ve managed the impossible – including tickets to sold-out events across the world, from Ed Sheeran gigs to NFL finals!

“We work with some amazing agents who really know their product and our team will continue to work tirelessly to support them and nurture their business – 99% of our holidays are sold through the trade”

TM

Q

What does the future hold for Travelpack and the industry?

A: We’re planning for growth but it will be controlled. We’re investing in staff and technology and strengthening agent relationships will continue to be key.

We’re extremely grateful for agent support – agents are our bread and butter! It’s not an easy industry and direct sell competition will only increase. But if we can continue to add value and service we will be ok! 

BOOK IT WITH TRAVELPACK The Golden Triangle (Delhi, Jaipur and Agra) tour is priced from £1,499pp for seven nights this September, including B&B accommodation, return flights from Heathrow with Emirates, all transfers and guided tours, plus a cycle rickshaw ride in Delhi and a jeep ride at the Amber Fort, Jaipur. travelpack.co.uk

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middle east adventures

M

ground the middle

It might be best known for its towering hotels offering sevenstar service, but the Middle East is in a league of its own when it comes to adventure options, says Adam Coulter

y foot slips on a loose stone and I watch as it tumbles down the cliff into a valley 900 metres below. My heart pounds but I quickly regain my balance and continue along the narrow path cut into the cliff face of the sparse, barren and rocky Wadi Mujib.

Located to the east of the Dead Sea, in the southern part of the Jordan Valley, Mujib was declared a biosphere by UNESCO in 2011 for its incredible variety of plant life. It’s a truly breathtaking setting: the rock ochre and parched, the views extending for miles all around, and down to the river below, which empties into the Dead Sea. The hiking here is not for the fainthearted, but the sheer drops and a lack of guide ropes, plus the narrow paths, make it both truly exhilarating and rewarding.

Adventure playground This region’s mountains, wadis, deserts, oceans, gorges, nature reserves and oases are the perfect playground for hiking, 4WD adventures, zip-lining, scuba diving, canyoning, safaris and mountain biking, to name just some adventure options.

Intrepid saw a 130% increase in bookings for its Explore Jordan product (which involves a lot of trekking) from January to May and the more challenging Trek Jordan, has seen a 58% increase in the same period.

Janet Parton, Sales Director for Cosmos said: “The Middle East offers a great playground for adventure-based exploring, with popular activities including sand dune bashing in 4WDs, sand-boarding and skiing.”

Dubai Just over an hour’s drive, but what feels like going back in time hundreds of years, lies the oasis of Hatta. Craggy mountain peaks, cooler air and a completely undeveloped environment makes Hatta perfect for mountain bikers, hikers,

Above: The Rose City of Petra, Jordan. Opposite page, clockwise from top: rock climbing in Oman, CLYMB, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain Fort

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birders, kayakers and nature-lovers. Head to the Hatta Dam, where you can hire kayaks or paddle boats and go out into the middle of a reservoir.

Add-on: Book your client in at the Hatta Fort Hotel, a four-star property with 52 mountain view rooms, nestled in the heart of this rocky wilderness.

Abu Dhabi The team behind Yas Island has announced its latest project, CLYMB, which will bring the world’s widest flight chamber and tallest indoor climbing wall to Abu Dhabi towards the end of 2018. Visitors will be able to mimic the experience of skydiving within a width of 9.75 metres (32 feet) and tackle a 43-metre climbing wall.

Add on a day trip to the Liwa Oasis on the edges of the Empty Quarter for sand skiing.

Sell it: Etihad Holidays (etihad.com) has five nights at Radisson Blu Hotel Abu Dhabi Yas Island. Its from £579pp, based on two adults sharing a standard room including breakfast, return flights and a 30-minute flyboarding session.

Sell it: Explore (explore.co.uk) has a nine-day trip from the mountains of Jebel Akhdar to the Wahiba Sands including visits to Nizwa and Muscat. Priced from £1,629pp, the deal includes flights, accommodation with breakfast and some additional meals.

Ras al-Khaimah

Bahrain

This little-known emirate provides a glimpse into how neighbours Dubai and Abu Dhabi once were. It also boasts the world’s longest zip wire, which opened in February this year. Almost three kilometres long and reaching speeds of almost 100mph, the experience is literally breathtaking. Adding to the fun is that there are two lines side by side, so you can race your mates!

For scuba divers looking to try something a little different, the Kingdom offers a unique excursion – pearl diving. There’s a choice of four sites, each with an abundance of oysters. Divers are able to collect up to 60 oysters from the Gulf seabed – and if they find a pearl they can keep it! Ras Rayyah, the northern tip of Muharraq Island, is the departure point for all pearl diving activities. (pearldiving.bh/delma-marine)

Top tip: RAK offers luxury at an extremely affordable price. Five-star hotels include the Waldorf Astoria, where rooms start from £176.

“For the more hardcore visitors to Jordan there is also canyoning, walking the water tributaries at the base of the canyon and even mountain biking tours to the Dead Sea” Adam Coulter, Travel Writer

Add-on: For land lubbers, suggest riding on a pure blood Arabian horse – on the beach.

Oman Oman’s mountains reach heights of 2,000 metres and are ideal for hiking.

Open since January 2017, are Via Ferrata, mountain routes with fixed wire cables, metal rungs, and ladders which allow climbers to ascend steep rock faces without having to carry heavy mountain climbing equipment.

The mountains are stunning, rugged and barren, but studded with green terraced fields and dotted with small villages.

Alternatively, suggest a scuba diving adventure in Musandam in the far north with a stay at the Six Senses Zighy Bay Hotel.

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middle east adventures

Qatar For a small country Qatar has a lot to offer: Take a 4WD desert safari and stop off at Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea) – one of the few places in the world where the sea encroaches deep into the heart of the desert. Explore the mangroves by snorkelling or kayaking. Or try a Skydive using a parachute system built for two.

salt flats and the rose city of Petra – all accessible by bike.

Sell it: Globus’ (cosmos.co.uk) seven-day ‘Passage to Petra’ escorted tour is from £1,865pp including excursions like a 4WD trip, flights, accommodation, some meals,and VIP private home pick-up service. 

Sell it: Jetset Holidays (jetsetholidays.co.uk) is offering overnight stays at the four-star Mercure Grand Doha City Centre Hotel. Proces are from £178 a night, on a B&B basis in a Superior Room.

This price includes a private half-day desert safari experience.

Jordan

Above: Dune bashing in Qatar. Right: Hatta Dam Green Lake, Dubai

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Middle east adventures.indd 50

Jordan is perfect for cycling, with both excellent roads (where you’re more likely to see a camel than a car), and off-road trails. The country has a lot to see and do in a small area: the Dead Sea, the Mujib Reserve, the River Jordan, Wadi Rum,

17/07/2018 09:38

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Daytona Beach With a new Hard Rock Hotel, upgrades to its popular attractions and a host of familycentric activities, the reinvention of Daytona Beach is complete, says Peter Ellegard Once notorious as a spring break haven for partying college students, Daytona Beach has reinvented itself as a stylish holiday destination with broad appeal.

Underlining this transformation is the May 1 opening of the oceanfront Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, the culmination of more than $2 billion worth of investment in new and refurbished hotels, new attractions and new dining and shopping experiences over recent years.

Why sell it Daytona Beach is an affordable family beach destination and a twin-centre option within an easy hour’s drive from Orlando.

It is also an ideal base from where to explore the Space Coast.

Some UK operators feature it as a standalone destination but it's also popular as a twin-centre beach option after a week in Orlando’s theme parks.

It features 23 miles of beach and its best-known attraction, the Daytona International Speedway (daytonainternationalspeedway.com), has undergone a $400-million revamp and includes the Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Who to sell to Daytona Beach is a destination for families.

Aside from those long, sandy beaches there's the Boardwalk and Pier and the Marine Science Centre (marinesciencecenter.com) at Ponce Inlet, with its touching tanks and sea turtle rehabilitation unit.

PETER ELLEGARD

DRIVING EXPERIENCE

POOLS AND MILES OF GLORIOUS BEACH

Petrolheads will be in their element, too.

Daytona International Speedway hosts thrilling events including the Daytona 500 race and annual Bikeweek.

Motor racing in Daytona first started on the hard-packed sands of its beach in 1902 and cars can still drive and park on several areas, for a $10 fee (there's a 10mph speed limit). Those with a need for speed can enjoy a 170mph Speedway ride in a NASCAR race car with the Richard Petty Driving Experience (drivepetty.com), and even take the wheel themselves.

Golfers can tee off at the LPGA International (lpgainternational.com) – headquarters of the Ladies PGA – and Hammock Beach (hammockbeach.com), both of which boast two championship courses.

What to sell Other attractions include the Museum of Arts and Sciences and the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Florida’s tallest at 175 feet high. Shoppers can bag bargains at Tanger Outlets (tangeroutlet.com/daytona).

Wildlife-spotting eco cruises tour the St Johns River, Florida’s longest river, and Three Brothers Boards (threebrothersboards. com) offers stand-up paddleboard tours to see dolphins and manatees.

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What's new The Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach (hardrockhoteldaytonabeach.com) soft-opened with 200 rooms, from deluxe to Rock Royalty suites. Guests can borrow vinyl records or Fender guitars to play in their rooms. The Hard Rock Roxity Youth Club is for kids and teens, while the Rock Spa offers musiccentric Rhythm & Motion treatments.

ONE DAYTONA (onedaytona.com) is a new dining and entertainment complex opposite the Daytona International Speedway that includes two hotels, the 105-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Daytona Beach that opened in January, and The DAYTONA, a 145-room Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, opening in late 2018.

The art deco Streamline Hotel (streamlinehotel.com) reopened in late 2017 as a 44-room boutique hotel with a rooftop lounge, bar and terrace. 

BOOK IT WITH GOLD MEDAL Seven nights, on a room-only basis, at the new Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach leads in at £1,199pp with return flights from Gatwick to Orlando. goldmedal.co.uk

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my trip to... madagascar

natural selection

Some 80 million years ago continental drift separated Madagascar from the rest of Africa and its wildlife has been quietly evolving in isolation ever since. Mark Stratton discovers the consequence: a cast of characters

W

ith a countenance like a cathedral gargoyle and scything Edward Scissorhands fingers the aye-aye will never win any prizes for beauty. Yet speeding across Lake Ampitabe by boat after sundown I’m thrilled by the prospect of seeing this rare evolutionary wunderkind that had eluded me on other trips to Madagascar.

In humid darkness our boat wedges into the soft sand foreshore of Aye-Aye Island.

My 300mm-lens is locked-and-loaded and we move in single file into the shadowy palm forest ahead.

“There are seven Aye-Ayes on the island.

They’ve been relocated here for their protection,” says my guide, Miandriarijawna Razafimahefa, whose name is so hard to pronounce he insists I call him ‘John’.

Besides the loss of its habitat due to deforestation ‘John’ says the superstitious Malagasy people believe the aye-aye is a harbinger of death, so they kill them.

“They are becoming rare in the East coast rainforest so let’s hope we are lucky.”

And lucky we are. It takes just 10 minutes to come face to face with Frankenstein’s glorious creation.

As part of a habituation process coconuts are placed on the lower branches of trees to draw the omnivorous Aye-Ayes from their usual deep canopy nocturnal existence. Two of them are

gnawing at the coconut husks as I arrive. I’m so aghast at their appearance I forget at first to raise my camera. Larger than a fox they possess bushy tails and black fur thinning to the point of alopecia around their skull.

They stare intensely with bright-orange eyes from an anaemic Gremlin face supporting Spock-like ears. Then I notice their freakish hands: long bony fingers with a middle digit twice the length of the others.

John explains how naturalists first thought them to be a kind of rat or squirrel. “But then they realised they had the fingers and palms of a primate so they are a lemur,” he whispers. What makes them so unique is they are percussive hunters who fill the niche of woodpeckers.

When not shredding coconuts they echolocate deadwood hollows of beetle larvae by tapping at branches, then gouge them open, scooping out the spoils with their elongated finger.

Conservation guidelines dictate we’re allowed 45 minutes with this critically endangered lemur but I depart on a metaphorical high by boat to a lakeshore

lodge called La Palmarium. The comfortable bungalows are surrounded by a private reserve for lemurs, who take little finding.

Next morning, during a typically French breakfast of croissants and coffee, several miscreant black-and-white ruffed lemurs hover table-side eyeing up the patisserie.

Community is key

Like many visitors to Madagascar I’d come to be entertained by the island’s otherworldly endemic biodiversity, which is showcased, in particular, by over 100 species of lemurs and a multicoloured spectrum of chameleons.

Yet while this unique fauna has evolved slowly, human development has been rapid and is threatening the wildlife’s very existence with deforestation for timber and rapid population growth.

So during my week-long fam with UK tour-operators around the central eastern coast I visit sustainable community and ecotourism ventures assisting to secure a future for species like the aye-aye.

On my way to the aye-ayes I spend my first night out of the capital Antananarivo at an inspiring exemplar for community tourism at Vohimana village.

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my trip to... madagascar

ALL IMAGES ARE COURTESY OF MARK STRATTON

In partnership with a French NGO, ‘L’Homme et L’Environment’, villagers’ invite paying guests to stay overnight and enjoy nature walks. The accommodation is basic thatched huts but I thoroughly enjoy an evening dining on a local dish of chicken cooked with cassava-leafs and sampling rum fermented from wild ginger.

Villagers are trained as guides and next morning I hike through the riverside forest spotting bamboo lemurs, birds, and myriad chameleons – including one with a protruding rhinoceros-style horn.

“Guests have helped fund a clinic and classroom and we’re planting native trees to reforest land cleared for agriculture, which is good for our wildlife,” explains project coordinator, Sophie Rakotomala.

Opposite page: Chamelion. Above, clockwise from top left: the Aye-Aye; Vohimana village; Tamatave Port; Lemur Island; hiking, Chemin des Escaliers; the Indri; kids also benefit from the Vohima community project

Noisy neighbours

I experience community tourism again in the spectacular context of what is arguably Madagascar’s most iconic wildlife display – the call of the world’s largest species of lemur, the Indri.

The adjacent Analamaozaotra Special Reserve is a 100-hectare upland forest.

Managed by a community association, the entrance fees add value to the local wildlife, fostering protection of the forest including the replanting of endemic hardwoods.

“We have 10 species of lemurs,” says my morning guide, Remy, as we venture into dense forest where every bough drips with epiphytes and delicate orchids alongside tree-ferns resembling perforated parasols.

With its black-and-white pattern and huggable looks, Indri bear a passable resemblance to pandas. Remy says the locals call them ‘Babakoto’ (‘Koto’s father’), referring to a Malagasy myth of a little boy rescued by an Indri.

We find them and wait until sunlight pierces the canopy around 22.00 – then pandemonium breaks out. The Indri let rip with howling calls from the treetops: imagine a submarine sounding an urgent alert coupled with whale-song amplified at ear-splitting decibels. It’s deafening.

“They’re calling to other Indri to mark their territory,” shouts Remy.

We trek back through the reserve listening to distant Indri groups issuing their piercing calls. It’s a theatrical ending to a trip packed with a peculiar cast of wildlife.

If any sleeping Aye-Ayes were nearby, they probably rolled their bright orange eyes and hoped the indri would soon shut up. 

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Top tips My magical moments Seeing Frankenstein’s miracle, the Aye-Aye, feeding at night. Hearing the Indri bellow high-pitched calls. Watching multicoloured chameleons hunt unsuspecting prey with the dart of an elasticated tongue.

Enjoying the rich Malagasy culture.

Where to book it

Pioneer Expeditions has a 12-day tour focusing on South West Madagascar’s wildlife, visiting An-dasibe, Ranomafana, and Isalo National Parks. It is priced from £2150pp, based on two sharing full-board and includes internal but not international flights. 01202 798922; pioneer expeditions.com

How to get there

Air France flies from London to Antananarivo. From £864 return airfrance.com

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traveluni.com

GDS | TRAINING | REWARDS

Training, competitions, events July/August 2018

THIS MONTH'S TOP STORIES

Get train trained INCENTIVE

Quick Quiz Are you a Cirque du Soleil Expert?

1. There are seven Cirque du Soleil shows on the Las Vegas strip.

TRUE / FALSE

Hot News

Sports mad in New York City

2. Mystere can be seen at The Mirage Hotel TRUE / FALSE

NYC Travel Training Academy I Modules: 6

discovercirque.com

railtravelexperts.com

Qatar's Angry Birds NEWS

THE WORLD'S first Angry Birds World theme park has opened in Qatar. Located in Doha Festival City, the park is themed around the popular mobile game.

Attractions include Blast Bomb, a drop and twist tower; Big Tree, which offers an entertainment experience encompassing science, music and art; and Own the Sky, a 106-metre zipline. This is the first of four major developments in Doha Festival City including Snow Dunes snow park, VituoCiTY digital gaming park and Juniverse, a city in space. tawashqatar.com

Answers: 1: True 2: False

NEW YORK CITY is playing host to numerous major sporting events this summer.

With more professional teams than any other city in the U.S. – think the Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Red Bulls, Giants and more – the sports scene is unlike any other. From football to wrestling to soccer to tennis, there is plenty going on.

Until August 7, the International Champions Cup will be held in the city; football fans can also see Real Madrid vs. AS Roma on August 7, at the MetLife stadium.

WWE Wrestling Summer Slam comes to Brooklyn on August 19, and Tennis fans can follow the US Open in Queens from August 27 until September 9. nyctrainingacademy.com

RAILBOOKERS and Amtrak Vacations are offering the chance to win one of five £30 Love2Shop vouchers and a squeezy train for your desk.

Agents completing the online training will be entered into the draw. The course enables agents to navigate the world of rail holidays from North America and Europe to India, Australia and more. By sucessfully completing the three modules they can become a worldwide travel expert.



traveluni.com

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Training courses to help travel agents and advisers sell more!

Haven sports

COURSE LIST

NEWS

HAVEN is encouraging families to take fishing and golf-themed breaks across its parks. Fishing breaks are available at numerous Haven parks, including Burnham-On-Sea, Allhallows and The Orchards, and instructors are on hand to help people learn. Haven has 11 spacious parks where families can play golf. These include Berwick, Church Farm, Craig Tara, Haggerston Castle, Hopton, Seton Sands and Thorpe Park.

Prices for a three-night break start from £159 for the whole family, based on four sharing a standard two-bed caravan at Allhallows (departing September). bourneexpert.co.uk

New Opening

Arabian nights with Jumeirah

Jumeirah Beacon I Modules: 10

Sweet music OFFER

NEWMARKET HOLIDAYS is reporting soaring demand for Christmas packages featuring UK concerts by violinist André Rieu.

Two-day coach-inclusive breaks in the UK start from £199 and include a seated ticket, accommodation, coach travel, transfers and a tour manager. Concert venues include The Arena in Birmingham, The Hydro Arena in Glasgow and Wembley Arena in London.

Newmarket goes to market early with priority on sales, meaning customers usually get to choose which show they attend and where in the venue they sit. training. newmarketholidays.co.uk

Working in partnership

AL SEEF HOTEL by Jumeirah is due to open this Septemer on the banks of Dubai Creek. The 200-room hotel is spread across 22 traditionally-designed Arabian Bayt (homes). It's located in the second phase of Al Seef, a new district of restaurants, cafes, shops and a plaza on the south bank of Dubai Creek. The rooms feature Middle Eastern woven fabrics, rustic ceilings and antique light switches with traditional colour schemes.

They also have Barjeel, traditional wind towers used to ventilate homes, and handmade and organic amenities.

The hotel started taking bookings from the end of July and will welcome guests from September 1. It will be the brand's 12th opening in Dubai and 23rd globally. jumeirahbeacon.com

A-Z of available courses ABTA Alaska Amtrak Vacations Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Aruba Beaches Resorts Boucan Hotel Chocolat Bourne Leisure Butlins Centara Hotels & Resorts Cirque de Soleile Corsican | Sardinian Places Costa Rica Cruise Adviser Elegant Hotels Essential Detail Flanders Fort Myers & Sanibel GDS Haven Hotels Hawaii Heritage Resort Jerusalem Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts Las Vegas Macao Malaysia Melia Hotels & Resorts New York city New York state Namibia Newmarket Holidays Ontario Qatar Railbookers SAGA Saint Lucia Sandals Resorts Serenity Holidays Seychelles Simon Malls Solus St Kitts Thailand TIPTO Turks & Caicos US Airtours Veranda Resorts Virgin Limited Edition Voyages SNCF Warner Leisure Hotels Windjammer Landing Hotel traveluni.com

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Fly with the World’s Best Airline Enjoy our twice daily service from London Gatwick to over 150 places worldwide, via Doha. London Gatwick is now our sixth gateway from the UK along with Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and London Heathrow.

With the World’s Best Airline, your customers can enjoy delectable meal choices, up to 4,000 entertainment options and world-class hospitality – all on board one of the youngest fleets in the skies. qatarairways.com/tradepartners

Untitled-1 1 Untitled-2 1

23/05/2018 12:49 7/18/18 05:05 PM

T H E T R A VE L N E WS THAT R E ALLY M ATTE R S

S H AM WAR I: SOUTH AFRICAN PRIVATE GAME RESERVE REDESIGNS ITS LODGES

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E L A S HOW R E P OR T NEWS FROM LATIN AMERICA

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THAILAND TRAVEL MART FOCUS ON ROMANCE & LUXURY

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C H E C K I NG OU T PALAZZO VERSACE DUBAI

GET ONLINE – READ ALL OUR MAGAZINES AND CHECK OUT OUR DAILY SELLING TIPS AT SELLINGTRAVEL.CO.UK

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the review

Tourism Update

Riviera’s new short haul

carol hay UK Manager, Caribbean Tourism Organization

We would like to thank those agents who recently participated in the ‘Courses in the Caribbean’ fam trip, which visited St. Kitts, Nevis and Antigua.

The trip was open to agents who had completed the CTO’s Caribbean Travel Guru online training programme, and had subsequently made some bookings to the three fam destinations.

Sponsored by British Airways, St Kitts Tourism Authority, Nevis Tourism Authority, Elite Island Resorts and National Tours and Services DMC, Antigua, the fam included opportunities to network with key Caribbean suppliers, enjoy exciting excursions and activities and undertake site inspections at a range of properties on the islands.

If you are interested in joining one of our future trips, register now at caribbeantravelguru.com to achieve your ‘Caribbean Travel Guru’ status. There are also some great prizes to be won in our monthly prize draws.

For further details on the programme, please contact Ann-Marie Brooks at abrooks@ caribtourism.com or call up on 020 8948 0057. caribbean.co.uk

Caribbean Tourism Organization Suites 52A & 53, 5th Floor AMP House, Dingwall Road, Croydon, Surrey CR0 2LX Tel: 0208 948 0057 caribbean.co.uk

By steve hartridge

Riviera Travel’s 2019 short haul escorted tours programme, now on sale, features several new destinations and extended options on some best-selling favourites.

New is a seven-night tour in Montenegro that includes Budva old town, the Bay of Koror and Shkoder in neighbouring Albania. Prices start from £849pp with flights from London or Manchester.

“Croatia is selling very well for us and clients who have been there will love Montenegro,” said Joanne Lynn, Riviera’s Head of Product – Short Haul.

Sardinia also joins the programme with Alghero, The Costa Smeralda and Corsica the

key attractions on a seven-night trip that starts from £899pp, with flights from UK regional airports.

An expanded seven-night Ireland option features Belfast, Galway and the Ring of Kerry with prices starting from £949.

Other new itineraries include Spain’s Basque country and the foothills of the Pyrenees, a combined Jordan, Petra and Jerusalem tour and Umbria, Perugia and Assisi in Italy.

Accommodation on all of the above tours is in four-star properties. The programme also features a range of new ‘immersive activities’ like cooking classes, truffle hunting or a concert.

Go two-centre with Finnair CLIENTS flying from the UK with Finnair can now claim a free stopover in Finland.

The airline’s StopOver in Finland initiative offers the option of breaking the journey in Helsinki en route to destinations that include Tallin, Stockholm and St Petersburg and other regions of Finland such as Kittilä and Finish Lapland.

Andrew Fish, Finnair General Manager UK, Ireland and Benelux, said: “Flying with Finnair from Heathrow, Manchester or Edinburgh offers the perfect opportunity to experience a two-centre city break for the price of one.”

The StopOver initiative is also available to those flying to Finnair’s 19 destinations in Asia. Finnair flies Heathrow to Helsinki five times a day and twice daily from Manchester and Edinburgh. finnair.com

rivieratravel.co.uk

Luxury Morukuru Lodge opens on South Africa’s Garden Route clients heading to South Africa’s popular Garden Route now have a new accommodation option after Morukuru Beach Lodge opened in July.

Located in the 36,000-hectare De Hoop Nature Reserve, the boutique eco-hotel is made up of five luxury glass-fronted suites (four with an ocean view and one with a dune view).

Suitable for couples and families with children of any age, activities

sellingtravel.co.uk

on offer include land-based whalewatching, hiking, snorkelling, mountain biking, bird-watching and sandboarding.

All meals and soft drinks and two guided activities daily are included About a three-hour drive from Cape Town, De Hoop is a coastal reserve with 50km of white-sand beaches. Nearby are limestone cliffs, rock pools, wetlands and the Cape Floral Kingdom. morukuru.com

the review

Vegan travel from Intrepid INTREPID Travel has three new tours targeting vegans or those interested in a plantbased diet.

The limited edition trips are to India, Thailand and Italy and depart in 2019. They were developed by Intrepid’s food product team who consulted global vegan influencers.

The trips explore local areas from a vegan perspective, and feature the best places to eat plant-based food.

According to the Vegan Society survey, veganism has increased 350% in a decade.

“Our local tour leaders are receiving more vegetarian/ vegan food requests from UK travellers and ‘vegan’ is now one of the most commonly searched words on the Intrepid website,” said Regional Product Manager Tara Kennaway. intrepidtravel.com

New markets for Mauritius

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NEWS TO USE IN BRIEF SHEARINGS Holidays has launched its autumn, winter and spring 2018/19 brochure including 27 new products. The brochure features 15 new tours in the UK, 10 in Europe and a new Holland in Springtime river cruise. Digital copies of the brochure along with posters, images and window cards are now available at: shearings.com/toolkit

BY JESSICA POOK

NEWLY appointed Director of Tourism for Mauritius, Arvind Bundhun, has revealed plans to launch two campaigns targeting both the over-50s and millennials.

To celebrate 50 years of independence, the Mauritius tourism board is focusing on the over-50 market as part of its ‘Life begins at 50’ campaign.

Bundhun said: “We know that empty nesters want to enjoy their disposable income beyond the beach and Mauritius offers rich interior experiences from culinary to culture. We are a luxury destination where visitors can count on our high level of service and attention to detail.”

The island will also be hoping

to appeal to millennials through a new sport-themed campaign to encourage young professionals to be more adventurous.

“Mauritius is particularly popular for kite surfing. with many hotels booked out in advance for the annual kite surfing competition in November. We also offer lazer sailing, jet skiing, parasailing cycling and hiking,” added Bundhun.

“We are a safe destination, with no language barrier, and I think that that appeals to millennials.”

The Tourism Minister announced that plans are being drawn up for an incentivised trip for Travel Counsellors in October, with more details to follow. tourism-mauritius.mu

New property cascades into Red Sea holiday resort SOMABAY, a Red Sea resort near Hurghada, Egypt, has welcomed a new property, the Cascades Golf Resort, Spa and Thalasso.

Formerly the Westin Soma Bay Golf Resort and Spa, the hotel sits on the highest point of the Somabay peninsula, with the 166 revamped rooms overlooking the fairways of a Gary Playerdesigned golf course.

Next to the hotel is the refurbished Cascades Spa and Thalasso, the largest Thalasso Spa in Africa with 65-plus treatment rooms.

Other Somabay hotels are The Kempinski Soma Bay, The Sheraton Soma Bay, The Robinson Hotel Soma Bay and The Breakers Diving and Surfing Lodge. somabay.com

RAS AL KHAIMAH Tourism Development Authority is offering a free shuttle service connecting Dubai Airport to Ras Al Khaimah. Running until September 30, 2018, the service transfers passengers from terminals One and Three on a 45-minute journey to any of the main hotels in Ras Al Khaimah. Complimentary WIFI, water bottles and maps are provided onboard. rakshuttle.com

TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT) will launch a new Eat Thai, Visit Thai campaign with seven major Thai restaurant groups across the UK: Busaba Eathai, Giggling Squid, Koh Thai, Minor Group, Rosa’s Thai Café, Thai Leisure Group and Thai Square. The aim is to increase visitors to Thailand through their love of Thai food. Operators and agencies will be paired with local restaurants to promote the campaign. tourismthailand.org

CROISIEUROPE’S 2019 worldwide river cruising programme featuring an expansive 170 itineraries on waterways across 37 countries, including the Seine, Rhone, Loire, Lake Kariba and the Mekong. croisieurope.co.uk

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the review

Shamwari’s growth plans

EXCLUSIVE OFFERS SONEVA FUSHI MALDIVES

EXPERIENCE THE BRAND NEW OUT OF THE BLUE! 5 unique new dining outlets and more in new Over Water Hub To celebrate book 4 nights and Receive Complimentary Half Board PLUS A Free Signature Cocktail at Out of the Blue!

Valid for stays between now – 20 Dec 18

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osborneandebel.com

BY BEN COREN

SHAMWARI Private Game Reserve in South Africa is redesigning three of its existing lodges and will create three new ultra five-star lodges, with completion expected in the next two years.

Eagles Crag Lodge will reopen on September 1 with a new guest-dining lounge on the upper level with a wraparound veranda and guest dining pods.

It comprises nine guest villas, each with their own sundeck and heated plunge pool.

Reopening on September 14, Riverdene Family Lodge will have nine interleading

rooms with bathrooms and bush views, a ‘Kids on Safari Adventure Centre’ with a playground and kids activities.

Historical Long Lee Manor will feature a new reception, lounges, garden-based dining with a bar pavilion and infinity pool, a wellness centre, teen entertainment and a gaming room. The property has 17 guest suites and a luxury Presidential Suite. Long Lee Manor closes on November 1 and reopens on December 1.

There will also be new culinary offerings specific to each lodge. shamwari.com

New deal for Osborne & Ebel TRADE-FRIENDLY Wholesaler

Osborne & Ebel has a special deal for Sheraton Full Moon Resort Maldives. Five Nights start from from £375pp on a full-board basis, including return speedboat transfers.

For travel between now – 31 October 2018 and 01 May 19 – 30 Sept 2019. Only a short boat transfer from Male Airport with excellent access to great diving spots. Enjoy pristine beaches and great F&B Options. For details contact: sales@osborneandebel.com

All above offers are subject to availability. Terms & Conditions Apply

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the review: show report

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 DENVER, USA – MAY 19-24 2018

Mile high meetings Laura Gelder and Sally Parker round up the news from Denver

Brand USA to dispel myths BRAND USA chief Chris Thompson reassured IPW delegates that the U.S. can be “welcoming and secure at the same time”.

The President and Chief Executive of the tourism body was replying to questions about President Trump’s travel ban and said that part of Brand USA’s role is to clear up misperceptions about travel to the US. Thompson also claimed that Brand USA’s marketing initiatives have generated 5.4 million incremental visitors and $17.7 billion in incremental spend over the last five years. thebrandusa.com

Birmingham feast BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, is being touted as the USA’s biggest foodie destination after its Highlands Bar and Grill won the prestigious 2018 James Beard Foundation Award for the most outstanding restaurant in the country.

The restaurant, in the historic Five Points South district, is seen as one of the pioneers of the farm-totable style of dining and combines French countrystyle cooking with rich Southern traditions.

Bloomberg wrote: “The country’s biggest food destination this year is Birmingham, Alabama.” alabama.travel

Is visitor slump fake news?

IPW SHOW SHORTS NEW York was shouting about Hudson’s Yard, the largest private real estate development in U.S. history.

The 18 million square feet of commercial and residential space in Manhattan will include more than 100 shops, restaurants and 14 acres of public space. Opening in 2019, highlights will include a 1,296-ft high observation deck and arts centre, The Shed, which will feature everchanging exhibitions. nycgo.com

THE USA’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) predicted that its 2017 arrivals figures for overseas visitors may be higher than reported and has suspended data releases until a full review has been carried out.

The suspected ‘miscalculation’ is being attributed to technical issues in the systems used to process overseas arrivals to the USA. The NTTO noted that data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed an increasing number of non-U.S citizens travelling on visas to the

U.S. being classed as U.S. residents and therefore being automatically removed from the country’s visitor figures.

This means visiting Brits not using an ESTA could be miscounted as returning Americans.

A spokesperson at IPW said: “All sources other than Immigration were saying visitor numbers were up and this could explain why.

Everything we do relies on accurate data so it’s a high priority to fix it.

Accurate results should be available by the end of the year. tinet.ita.doc.gov

Universal Studios to get 2,800 more rooms OPENING in 2019 and 2020 respectively, Surfside Inn & Suites and Dockside Inn and Suites will comprise the Endless Summer Resort, located just off International Drive in Orlando. It will have three pools with bars, two food courts and a ‘laid-back coastal feel’. universalorlando.co.uk

FOOD tourism was a tasty topic at IPW, in particular food halls which bring small local food businesses together under one roof. In Raleigh, North Carolina, Morgan Street Food Hall and Market and the Transfer Company Food Hall are both opening imminently.

Tampa Bay, Florida, has opened Hall on Franklin and Heights Public Market, housed in the iconic Armature Works building, while in Austin, Texas, Fareground at One Eleven is now operating in the downtown district.

ANAHEIM, California, will host IPW 2019 (June 1-5). The opening ceremony will be at Disneyland with the closing event at Knott’s Berry Farm.

Visit Anaheim unveiled a new brand campaign, Uncommon Character, which uses people to showcase its unique experiences. visitanaheim.org

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 LONDON – JUNE 11-13

The Latin appeal Jessica Pook reports from the Experience Latin America (ela) show

Making Latin America green SEVERAL organisations have already signed-up to the LATA Sustainability Charter, a scheme launched at Experience Latin America.

The charter is an attempt to encourage eco-tourism and grow environmental awareness in Latin America.

It tries to ensure that companies operate in a way that minimises negative impact on the environment and helps local communities to benefit from tourism.

LATA is currently developing a sustainability ‘toolkit’ to provide members with achievable goals that can help further improve their environmental credentials.

Revealed Travel, Select Latin America, St Helena Tourism, the Brazilian Tourism Board (EMBRATUR), Muda! Brazilian Collective for Responsible Tourism and the Belize Tourism Board all signed up at the show while Latin Routes promised to remove single-use plastic bottles from private transfers and tours and will instead provide a three-in-one filter bottle for every client. lata.org

KAREN BEVANS, DIRECTOR OF TOURISM FOR BELIZE, AND COLIN STEWART, CHAIRMAN, LATA

Latin America goes for growth

SHOW SHORTS WENDY Wu Tours has launched its first collection of escorted group tours and tailor-made holidays to South America.

The operator now offers nine combination tours to Peru and Colombia, Argentina and Chile, Brazil, Panama and Costa Rica. wendywutours.co.uk

SELLING TRAVEL’S STEVE THOMPSON AND JESSICA POOK AT ELA

DELEGATES at the Experience Latin America (ela) show credited additional air capacity and a big increase in destination awareness for a surge in bookings to the region this year, with Columbia and Argentina showing the strongest growth.

Visitor figures from the UK to Costa Rica between January and March 2018 recorded a 8.8% increase compared to the same period last year; Peru saw a 16% increase and Columbia registered 50.2% growth. Argentina was up 27% and figures to Belize increased by 21%.

LATA Chairman, Colin Stewart said: “It’s an exciting time to be travelling to Latin America and this is reflected in the continued year-on-year growth.

Ela provided a great opportunity for suppliers to meet tourism representatives from the UK and further build relationships.”

British Airways and Iberia are both increasing capacity to Chile this year while Air Europa has a new three-times-weekly service between Gatwick and Recife in Brazil, via Madrid, along with new flights to Quito, Ecuador. lata.org

LATA Achievement Awards winners 2018 AUSTRALIS, Belmond, Air Europa, Audley Travel, EcoCamp Patagonia, Cox and Kings, Peak DMC, Latin Routes and Amazon Nature Tours were all recognised in the LATA Achievement Awards 2018 for their contribution to the development of Travel to Latin America.

BELIZE is putting the focus on luxury with topend hotels including Itz’ana and Blackmore Caye opening later in the year and a Four Seasons due for 2020.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is building an 104acre eco-resort on a private island off the coast of Belize, which is due to open before the end of the year. travelbelize.org

QUITO, Ecuador’s capital, has launched a new ‘Your story begins in Quito’ campaign complete with an online platform, app and trade webinar promotions.

The app provides visitors with details of events, festivals, accommodation, maps and more. quito.com.ec

THE LATA Foundation, a charity supporting social and environmental projects throughout Latin America, has partnered with Amazon Smile, a website operated

by Amazon that will donate to one of 10 core projects supported by the charity. thelatafoundation.org

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 PATTAYA, THAILAND – JUNE 13-15 2018

Eastern outlook TTM focused on romance and luxury. Laura Gelder reports

Pattaya chosen for 2019 TTM+ PATTAYA will host Thailand Travel Mart again next year ,after the location was hailed a success by delegates.

Pattaya is set to receive a sum of investment from the Thai government – it’s located on the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a region pegged to be a leading economic zone for Southeast Asia, with tourism one of its four core sectors.

Said Pataraporn Sithvanich, TAT’s Executive Director: “This is the year for Pattaya to make a comeback. We are proud to present Pattaya as a ‘bleisure’ destination and front and centre to that are the Eastern Seaboard’s culinary and cultural diversity, new attractions and Pattaya’s ‘urban chic’ resort renaissance.”

The city’s nearby airport, U-Tapao International, continues to add international services, including Qatar Airways’ new flight from the UK. Bus services into the city are also being improved.

Romancing the trade

INTERVIEW PATARAPORN SITHVANICH, Executive Director, TAT UK & Ireland

UK arrivals are up by around 0.5% so far this year, do you anticipate more growth? We expect to see steady growth so our marketing efforts will focus more on quality tourism, with a greater emphasis on luxury, the weddings and honeymoons market, families and other high-spending niche markets as well as longstay visitors like the over-50s.

THE theme for this year’s Thailand Travel Mart was ‘A Million Shades of Romance’, with delegates encouraged to push Thailand as a leading weddings and honeymoons destination.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects to see a growth of around five per cent for these associated market sectors in 2018 and its goal is to see Thailand among the top five world-class destinations for both.

Weddings and honeymoons are still relatively small niche sectors for the country, with

around 104,090 visitors getting married (21% European) and 98,900 honeymooning last year (10% European).

However, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Tane Petsuwan, gave an audience of TTM delegates five main reasons why Thailand is a great choice for romance: choice of locations, diversity of themes (from beach to luxury yacht or under the sea); choice of accommodation, quality of cuisine and Thai hospitality.

Why did you choose ‘A Million Shades of Romance’ for the TTM+ theme?

Thailand offers a wide array of attractions for couples: a rich culture, pristine beaches, top cuisine, a full range of accommodation and attractions and fantastic Thai hospitality. We’ve encouraged more luxury and romancerelated tourism businesses to attend TTM+ and seen a 50% increase in new buyers.

tourismthailand.org

Gastronomy is a focus for TTM+ 2018 DELEGATES at TTM+ 2018 were served meals from six Thai celebrity chefs as well as local street food vendors. Delegates were also told to think of Pattaya as a gateway to Thailand’s Eastern Fruit Corridor, a region famous for its fruit orchard tours.

What are you doing to support environmental travel to Thailand? We’re supporting projects like ‘Upcycling the Oceans, which sees beach trash transformed into stylish clothes and bags.

TAT UK & Ireland is working on an initiative to provide reusable water bottles to every agent they bring to Thailand and eco-activities such as beach clean-ups will be added to fam itineraries.

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In conversation with... TEATA

“I believe that luxury tourism is the key to helping poor villages and farmers” Buranakan Jumbo Chatupornpaisan, TEATA

tourism management and the environment as well as green networking. The aim is to connect businesses all over Thailand so that they can learn from each other and share tips and advice. We also educate our members not to support animal tourism.

NEERACHA HU WONGMASA, Thai Eco and Adventure Travel

also engage in community projects, with initiatives in eight villages so far.

Association (TEATA)

What is TEATA? We are a group of tour operators and accommodation and activity providers in the eco-tourism sector. We represent 60 members across Thailand and

What is your goal? We support sustainable and green tourism. We don’t tell people what to do but we access their capability and encourage and support them to be more, giving them specific training in

How to you support communities? One of our missions is to help villagers ensure that tourism works for their own economy. Many Thai farmers need a second income and tourism is perfect for this, but we encourage villagers to make their activities green and use natural products and no plastics and upgrade their activities to make them suitable for the luxury market. teata/or.th

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Checking out...

HOTELS / RESORTS TRAIN JOURNEYS / CRUISES AIRPORT REVIEWS

DUKE OF RICHMOND HOTEL – St Peter Port, Guernsey

BY JULIE BAXTER

THE BACKGROUND: It is thought there has been a hotel on this site since the early 1800s. The Duke of Richmond was a Master of Ordnance who commissioned a famous early map of Guernsey (1769). The property was taken over by Red Carnation Hotels in 2011 and since then it has had a complete refurbishment.

THE LOCATION: It is set in a quiet residential area, seven minutes walk from the heart of Guernsey’s capital and key island attractions.

THE ROOM: My Classic Double Room had distinctive lavish drapes, fabric-clad walls and a decorative headboard. Compact, it included a queen double bed, a small seating area and a desk/dressing table.

The small en suite included a bath/power shower and luxury toiletries. The room came with

THE VERDICT This boutique hotel has characterful rooms and striking public rooms, with a bold black-and-white check flooring and dramatic wild animal print furnishings – which, to some, might seem a little incongruous in the Channel Islands. The terrace and pool offer a quiet oasis looking out to

mineral water, tea/coffee making facilities, hairdryer, safe, and wifi.

KEY FACILITIES: The heart of the hotel is the Leopard Bar and Restaurant, a light and airy conservatory-style dining room leading to the wide open-air terrace from where a spiral staircase leads to a pool

with cabanas and sunbeds.

RESTAURANTS/BARS: As the weather was fine during my stay, I ate on the terrace looking out over the Candie Gardens and down to the port and the sea beyond.

the sea. The hotel’s

Address: Cambridge Park, St Peter Port,

RATES: From £160 per

Guernsey, GY1 1UYT;

room, per night.

�+44 (0)1481 726 221

location makes it a great base from which to explore the island. Families and dogs are welcome.

 dukeofrichmond.com

PALAZZO VERSACE DUBAI

BY LISA MERRIGAN

THE BACKGROUND: Donatella Versace-designed, the hotel opened in November 2016.

THE LOCATION: In the heart of Culture Village, adjacent to the business and entertainment districts, a few minutes from Dubai

Airport and a 10-minute drive from Dubai Mall and The Burj Khalifa.

THE ROOM: My spacious Grand Suite oozed opulence, with beautiful peach silk Versacedesigned bedding, matching furniture including plush peach sofas against dark wooden floors

and a striking bed, which was the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in. There was a butler service, two 42-inch TVs, a Nespresso coffee maker, Versace amenities, wifi, a Jacuzzi bath and rain shower.

KEY FACILITIES: An award-winning spa and three pools: an infinity with views over the Dubai Creek, a kids pool with a sandy play area and an adults-only pool.

RESTAURANTS/BARS: Italianthemed Vanitas, Persian Enigma, which has a two-star Michelin Chef from Iran. Fantastic food can also be had at Giardino. Q’s Bar offers a living room-style experience for live entertainment, all selected by Quincy Jones. A free shuttle takes guests to Nikki Beach, Dubai Mall and other popular locations.

Address: P.O. Box 128431, Dubai, UAE;  palazzoversace.ae;

THE VERDICT You can feel Versace’s presence as you enter the grand reception, where Gianni’s original design drawings hang above the beautiful Italian marble mosaic flooring. Orchids, bred exclusively for the hotel, are everywhere. This Neoclassical masterpiece is in a fabulous location and has all the luxury and glamour you’d expect – but a sense of tranquillity too.

RATES: If Only... offers three nights in a deluxe city view, half-board from £1,135pp, with flights.

�+971 4 556 8888.

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Exuding European grandeur and urban glamour, discover a space that mirrors your sense of style and live the iconic Versace lifestyle in a cosmopolitan city that echoes the charms of tradition.

Explore our family, business, honeymoon and other stay offers at www.palazzoversace.ae/en/specialoffers

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YOUR GUIDE TO

selling Canada

CONTENTS • 70 Rendez-vous 2018 • 74 Ski Preview 76 Ontario fam trip • 77 Halifax • 78 My Journey: Nova Scotia • 80 Yukon 84 Alberta: Six of the best • 85 The Thousand Islands • 86 Cruise Canada 87 Air Canada • 88 News to use round-up sellingtravel.co.uk

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rendez-vous 2018

 HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, MAY 13-16

The record breakers Steve Hartridge reports from Canada’s annual tourism marketplace

UK is looking good DESTINATION Canada UK is predicting a small increase of UK visitors in 2018.

Rupert Parker, Regional Managing Director UK, said the tourism board was planning on numbers of around 825,000, which would represent a three per cent increase over 2017.

“Air access from the UK is getting better all the time and we are now blessed with plenty of direct flights from many places in the UK. Moreover, sterling has strengthend and is worth around six percent more than it was this time last year.”

Challenges to this rosy picture include uncertainty over Brexit and a drop off in the Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) sector, with more travellers deferring plans to visit Canada. Hotel rates, particularly in Vancouver, have also increased in 2018.

The UK is Canada’s secondlargest source of international travellers. The average trip spend of UK travellers in 2017 was $1,262.

Tourism buoyant in Halifax

CANADA’S buoyant tourism industry was exemplified by a record attendance at this year’s Rendez-vous Canada (RVC), the country’s signature international tourism marketplace.

Held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the first time since 2002, the 42nd staging of the event attracted 1,910 sellers and buyers, beating the previous record, set in 2017.

The 1,154 sellers represented every province and territory in the country, with buyers and media drawn from 30 countries.

In 2017, Canada had its best year ever for international arrivals, welcoming 20.8 million visitors from around the world, with

revenue topping $21.3 billion.

Bardish Chagger (pictured) Minister of Small Business and Tourism, was in Halifax to outline aspects of Canada’s Tourism Vision, a five-year approach launched at RVC last year to increase international tourist numbers by 30% by 2021. The minister also aims to see Canada among the top 10 of the world’s most popular tourist destinations by 2025.

Promoting Indigenous tourism products is a key plank of the government’s tourism strategy.

In 2017 it allocated $8.6 million to work on projects with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).

Sun Peaks and Via Rail on track with four-night break offer

COLIN BROST, SUN PEAKS

SUN Peaks, Canada’s secondlargest ski area, has joined forces with Via Rail to create a four-night package that sees travellers spend two nights at the BC resort and two nights on The Canadian train. Available winter 2018/19 from December-April, and with Tuesday-Saturday and Friday-

Aboriginal tourism keeps growing THE largest-ever line-up of Indigenous tourism product at a RVC was on display in Halifax, with 41 companies, direct operators and marketing organisations showcasing indigenous owned or operated products.

“We started with a small vision four years ago (at RVC) and to see how far this has evolved in a very short period of time is very significant and satisfying,” said Keith Henry (pictured), President and CEO of Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).

“We now have a diversity of product, from outdoor adventures to cultural centres to hotels – one of our goals is to expand our offering into all areas of the tourism industry.”

Destination Canada has a ‘’Memorandum of Understanding” with ITAC that sees it offering support on several levels, said David Goldstein, the body’’s President and CEO. “What we are all striving for is export ready products that can be used in our promotional materials,” he said. indigenoustourism.ca

Wednesday options, guests board the train in Vancouver, spend a night on The Canadian, two nights at Sun Peaks and a night back on the train.

Activities at Sun Peaks include skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, a moonlight snowshoe tour and ice fishing. sunpeaksresort.com

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rendez-vous 2018

Québec invites visitors to ‘let go’ QUÉBEC is inviting visitors to ‘let go’ as they explore the province.

Québec Original’s new marketing campaign is built around multiple variations of the letting go theme, such as ‘let your plans go’, ‘let expectations go’, let play begin’, ‘let bedtime go (instead head out to the woods for some star gazing), ‘let the ground go’ (go out onto the water) and ‘let time go’ (take your time exploring).

Québec has divided its visitor experiences into eight categories: Outdoor Adventures, Life of the St Lawrence, Natural Getaways, Wildlife Watching, Indigenous Traditions, Local Flavours, Vibrant Cities and Living Culture and History.

The province attracted 70,900 UK visitors in 2017. quebecoriginal.com

Alberta beyond the Rockies

ALBERTA is encouraging visitors to look beyond the mountains to discover other lesser-known parts of the province.

“An aim of our marketing campaigns is to get travellers to travel beyond the Rockies – we have hidden gems in every part of the province,” said Karen Soyka, Vice President, Business Development, Travel Alberta.

Alberta, which with 60-plus partners at RVC boasted one of the strongest delegations in Halifax, showcased a host of new experiences that would “inspire tour operators to think differently about the province,” said Sokya.

New RVC exhibitors included the Indigenous Chiniki Cultural Centre, located 30 minutes from Calgary (on the way to Banff). The venue celebrates First Nations culture

and traditional food. Guests meet an Elder inside a black-tipped tepee to share tea and stories, and create their own dreamcatcher.

Overnight stays are an option.

Also making their RVC debuts were Red Deer River Adventures, which offers guided kayak and canoe trips from Drumheller, where guests see rocks from 70 million years ago and get a glimpse of the world’s largest-ever dinosaur find, and Kananaskis Nordic Spa, a four-season alpine sanctuary with outdoor pools and saunas.

Sokya said Travel Alberta is encouraging its product partners to devise strategies and special offers to “lengthen the tourism season” by attracting tourists in April and October, the off-season months.

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Oh Canada Eh? celebrates 25 years ONE of Canada’s most popular shows will be celebrating 25 years of entertaining guests in 2019.

Based in Niagara Falls and performed in a 250-seat logcabin style theatre, Oh Canada Eh? Is an awardwinning musical revue.

It features songs by Canadians including Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Steppenwolf, Shania Twain, Neil Young and Justin Bieber.

“The show is a wholesome, patriotic all-Canadian experience garnished with fun facts about the country,” said the show’s Group Sales Manager Ricarda Romain.

“We cover all the main Canadian stereotypes – so we have fishermen from Nova Scotia, Klondike Kitty from the Yukon, a Mountie and even Anne of Green Gables.” ohcanadaeh.com

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Haunting tales chill Ontario walkers TAKING a ghost tour around York during a visit to the UK sparked a business idea that, 23 years on, is spooking tourists in Ontario.

“I loved the stories of ancient York, and thought ‘I can do this at home’,” said Glen Shackleton, CEO and Founder of Haunted Walk Inc which operates scary tours in Kingston, Ottawa, and Toronto and employs around 100 tour guides.

“We have after-hours access to several historic spots, such as the now-closed Carleton County Jail in Ottawa, one of the most haunted buildings in North America. And new near Toronto is Black Creek Pioneer Village, an old farm with old buildings that recreates life in the 1860s. We go at night - people have seen things… which is great for business,” he laughed. hauntedwalk.com

Parks Canada aims to build

RVC 2018 IN BRIEF NOVA Scotia’s tourism industry had its best-ever year in 2017, with 2.4 million visitors. The UK is the province’s largest overseas source market. novascotia.com

PARKS Canada will build on last year’s bumper number of visitors by continuing its free admission policy for under-17s, adding new experiences and accommodation options and offering free transportation transfers to some of its most congested parks.

“Last year, when we celebrated Canada 150 through a range of initiatives, was an excellent one for Parks Canada. We recorded 27 million visits and sent out Discovery Passes to 200 countries,” said Stéphanie Sirois, Manager Tourism Industry Relations, Parks Canada National Office.

The Discovery Pass, which agents can access, offers admission to over 80 places that charge a daily entrance fee, faster entry, greater convenience and big savings.

Parks Canada is focussing on

families in 2018, so is continuing free admission for children and expanding its range of ‘hands-o 10 n’ opportunities, with a focus on conservation, science and even culinary experiences.

“International visitors now want to do more than just look at scenery...they want a deeper understanding of a park or heritage site,” added Sirois.

New accommodation options include ‘The Ôasis, which looks like a water droplet hanging from a tree or metal support, and the micro-cube, a tiny space with just a bed and window.

Parks Canada has also introduced shuttle services to ease congestion at some of its most popular spots, such as Banff National Park.

VANCOUVER’S first Indigenous food truck is now serving up traditional Squamish Nation dishes. Mr. Bannock, one of 100 food trucks across the city, is owned by Paul Natrall who prepares Indian Tacos, honey waffle bannock with a juniper berry dry rub, and slow smoked chicken served with apple slaw and hot sauce. mrbannock.com

MAISON O’Brien, a former millionaire’s mansion built in the 1930s, has reopened as a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Gatineau Park in Outaouais, Quebec.

Overlooking Meech Lake the hotel has 11 guests rooms in the main house and two tree houses nestled in the forest with views of Gatineau Park. theobrienhouse.ca

NEXT year’s Rendez-vous Canada (RVC) will be held in Toronto (May 28-31, 2019). rendezvouscanada.travel

pc.gc.ca

DISCOVER CANADA FROM COAST TO COAST www.viarail.ca

For more information about VIA Rail visit www.viarail.ca or contact info@viarail.co.uk sellingtravel.co.uk

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Slip, sliding away From coast to coast Canada offers world-class ski resorts, so take advantage of the current batch of early-booking offers, says Benjamin Coren TRAVEL ALBERTA

Why sell it?

The UK might be In the throes of a sweltering summer but now's the ideal time to start thinking about booking skiing holidays for the coming winter season.

At this time of year, many ski operators are offering various deals, with huge savings to be made – so start selling today.

The good news is that when it comes to a ski holiday in Canada, there are plenty of world-class resort options to choose from, all with stunning vistas and vast ski areas.

What to sell?

The high slopes of Alberta have long been popular with UK visitors. Banff, Sunshine, Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay can all be visited on one multi-centre itinerary, making use of the SkiBig3 (skibig3.com) lift pass deal. The pass is a great way to explore the region and discover almost 8,000 acres of terrain.

And new this year is the new Ikon Pass (ikonpass.com) that provides access to 27 destinations including the SkiBig3 resorts.

Also out west, British Columbia is home to the well-known resorts of Whistler, Sun Peaks and Big White - and several others.

On the east coast, Québec adds some French flair to a ski holiday.

In Alberta, both Banff and Lake Louise are located around 90 minutes from

LAKE LOUISE SKI AREA

Calgary, which is served by regular flights from the UK by WestJet, Air Canada and British Airways.

British Columbia stretches from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and benefits from a weather pattern that sees some of its winter resorts receive over 10 metres of snow each year, adding up to some of the best skiing in North America. There is plenty of ski-in ski-out accommodation, less crowds (than in Europe) and a huge amount of terrain.

Advanced skiers will enjoy the steeps of Kicking Horse and local skiing at

Red Mountain and Whitewater. For intermediates and family groups, suggest Big White and Silver Star, or the worldfamous Whistler and Sun Peaks which between them offer a great multi-centre option between the two mammoth resorts.

What's new?

The aforementioned Ikon Pass provides access to 27 different destinations across North America. In Canada the pass includes the Alberta's SkiBig3 resorts, Lake Tremblant, Blue Mountain, Revelstoke

Ski-i Selling Canada Advert 1.qxp_Layout 1 05/07/2018 17:57 Page 1

Huge Savings on 2018/19 Canada Ski Holidays Save up to 50% in Whistler when booked by 31 August 2018

0131 243 8097 www.ski-i.com

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DESTINATION BC/REUBEN KRABBE

spending C$66 million and the showpiece lift will be a 10-person, state-of-the-art gondola that will take skiers from the base of Blackcomb to the Round House, where the Peak 2 Peak Gondola departs for Whistler Mountain.

"They’re also changing the old (slow) Catskinner Chair and upgrading the Emerald Chair from a four-person to a sixperson high-speed chair. These changes will improve uphill lift capacity by over 45% – meaning more time for skiing and less time in lift lines!”

APRES SKI AT REVELSTOKE MOUNTAIN

Where to book it?

SKI INDEPENDENCE – 0131 243 8097 A seven-night deal in Whistler at the Hotel Aava is priced from £1,153pp, based on two sharing, and including flights from London and transfers. ski-i.com

KICKING HORSE SKI RESORT

DESTINATION BC/ANDREW STRAIN

Mountain CMH Heli-Skiing and Summer Adventures operations, accessing its 12 lodges and snow stashes in B.C. Whistler has something new to offer skiers this winter. Nick Laver, Ski Independence Product Manager, North America said: “The lift crews there are very busy this summer, with a huge amount of work going on to make the resort's already world-class lift system even better. They’re

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FLEXISKI – 0208 939 0867 Seven nights at the four-star Banff Caribou Lodge and Spa with flights from Heathrow to Calgary starts from £995pp for a standard

room, and includes shared transfers. This price includes a 25% early booking discount when booked by August 31. flexiski.com

INGHAMS – 01483 791 114 Seven nights at the Caribou Lodge in Banff, followed by seven nights at the Crystal Lodge and Suites in Whistler, start from £1,819pp, with return flights and transfers. agents.inghams.co.uk 

Take me to the top

Enjoy the #1 Ski Resort in Eastern North America!

XXXXXXXXXX

Come and enjoy a unique global destination and its many attractions and live an exhilarating experience at the heart of a picturesque pedestrian village with undeniable charm.

New major investment for the upcoming ski season!

• • • •

New quadruple high speed chairlift 5 new glades Expanded lodge at the summit And more!

Book your stay now through your favourite tour operator.

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fam trip to...

Ontario Beyond the bright lights of Toronto, Ontario offers an almost endless menu of outdoor adventure activities and adrenalin rushes, as a recent UK fam group discovered Destination Ontario's spring fam was put together in partnership with British Airways, to mark the airline's new Gatwick-Toronto route.

The UK trade group landed in Toronto then headed to Blue Mountain Resort, which offers a range of activities and adventure options.

These include the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, where riders reach speeds of up to 42kph; the Gondola ride to the top of the mountain; the Scandinave Spa, with its soothing baths, massages and expansive views of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; the Scenic Caves, where guests explore a series of self-guided trails into the mountain; ziplining (from platform to platform) and a 420-ft suspension bridge, 25 metres above the Blue Mountain floor.

In Muskoka the group enjoyed a cranberry Bog to Bottle Discovery Tour, a Canadian Signature Experience.

Algonquin saw the group spotting moose and canoeing on Oxtongue Lake with Algonquin Outfitters. En route to Toronto they saw the famous Muskoka Steamships and wrapping up back in the city the group explored St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery Historic District, Ripley’s Aquarium, the CN Tower and the Eaton Centre.

"It was a jam-packed itinerary that showcased just some of the highlights of this beautiful province," said Emma Morgan, Destination Ontario. 

TORONTO “Toronto is a very vibrant city and our city tour was great. The CN Tower and Ripley’s are 'must-do' attractions. The Fairmont is a superb hotel and the Chelsea is good for families. For shopping, Vaughan Mills and the Eaton Centre were both brilliant.”

Diane Wright, First Class Holidays

BLUE MOUNTAIN RESORT “The resort offers a fabulous range of activities – there's just so much to do up there. The property has a great vibe and atmosphere – it's a real fun place that would appeal to families.”

Lindsay Smith, North American Travel Service

ALGONQUIN “It was great to see a moose! I love the outdoors and would come back on my own holiday. The Visitor Centre here is excellent.

Arowhon Pines is wonderful, with outstanding food. The canoe experience was very exciting!”

Diane Wright, First Class Holidays

A view to thrill

Niagara Helicopters Flightseeing Tours

Niagara Helicopters 905 357 5672 niagarahelicopters.com sellingtravel.co.uk

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Halifax Less than six hours’ flying time from the UK, packed with attractions and enjoying a culinary boom Halifax could well be Canada’s best-kept secret, says Steve Hartridge Top stops Canadian Museum of Immigration Between 1928 and 1971 one million newcomers arrived at Pier 21. Learn some of their stories and search for any of your ancestors that might have passed through here.

The Citadel Looming large over the city on a hill overlooking the harbour, the fort was occupied by the British Army until 1906. It’s now a National Historic site operated by Parks Canada. It’s worth the hike up for the views.

Halifax Public Gardens Covering six hectares in the centre of the city, close to the citadel, this is one of North America’s finest formal gardens, with flower displays, fountains and, in summer, free concerts.

Alexander Keith’s Brewery Tour Learn all about the history of the 200-yearold brewery from characters in period dress, then taste a range of beers and sing a few shanty songs in the facility’s tavern.

On the water Get out onto the water by taking the ferry from the Halifax Ferry Terminal to the Alderney Ferry Terminal in Dartmouth.

The 10-minute crossing costs just $2.50 – and you don’t have to get off the boat before returning.

Move over Toronto and Montréal, there’s a strong new contender for Canada’s best all-round city break.

Halifax is a provincial capital with a view, has a lively nightlife scene and is transforming its waterfront into one of the country’s most appealing entertainment hubs.

The details It’s certainly got its fair share of hills but Halifax is made for walking.

Start down at the revitalised waterfront – you can hardly fail to notice the big development at the Queen’s Marque District close to the water. Currently just a big hole, the project includes a new boardwalk, three public plazas, a boutique hotel and several pubs and restaurants.

Then stroll along the three-kilometrelong boardwalk for great views of the harbour. Along the way you’ll find several brew and gastro pubs serving local ales - try the Halifax-made Propeller Pilsner– and on-trend restaurants like The Bicycle Thief. Head to the Seaport Farmers’ Market for souveniers like jams, preserves, hot sauces and jewellery.

Close by is the Halifax Seaport, which between April 22 and November 6 this year will welcome over 200 ships and 300,000 cruise passengers.

Walk back into town along Lower Water Street, head up one of those hills and grab lunch at Durty Nelly’s Authentic Irish Pub. Halifax’s more upmarket culinary scene is booming, with well-known chefs opening up a variety of eateries. Suggest Chives Canadian Bistro or The Kitchen Table.

A taste of the city For a literal flavour of food in the city, sign up to a walking and tasting tour. Rachel Shepard, owner of Local Tasting Tours (localtastingtours.com), escorts visitors on a gentle stroll around what she has dubbed ‘SOMO’, (‘south of Morris Street’).

Close to the cruise terminal and train station, this neighbourhood was once filled with thirsty and lustful merchants and, until recently, was something of a no-

go area. Now its reclaimed warehouses and merchant homes are filling up with eateries serving vegan food, Vietnamese spring rolls, artisanal pizzas and more.

Get out of town The most popular excursion is a trip out to Peggy’s Cove, about 45 minutes west of the city. The tiny village is known for its famous lighthouse, possibly the most photgraphed site in eastern Canada.

Less than an hour from Halifax is one of Nova Scotia’s best-kept secrets: a thriving wine industry. With the Bay of Fundy as its distant backdrop, the Annapolis Valley is home to 23 wineries that are putting viticulture in Nova Scotia on the map with their excellent sparkling wines, pinot noirs, chardonnays and rieslings.

Some, like Luckett and L’Acadie, are winning international awards. At Luckett enjoy a lunch made from locally-produced ingredients on the terrace and then make a free call from a red UK telephone box, incongruously placed in the middle of the rows of vines. 

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my trip to... Nova Scotia

high road taking the

Scottish culture and heritage lives on in Nova Scotia, along with the bonniest of coastal drives, says Steve Hartridge

I

Highlanders across the Atlantic to a new life in the Canadian Maritimes.

Out the back of the museum, residing on water that leads into the lobster-rich Northumberland Strait, is a currently rundown but still impressive full-size replica of the three-masted Hector.

When the ship was launched in 2000 it attracted thousands of people to the town, but the money soon ran out and the ship has been left to rot. Now, restoration and a concerted fundraising effort is underway and the museum hopes to have The Hector shipshape again by 2023, when it’ll be fitted with a motor for harbour tours.

I step on the boat and head to the hull.

Seeing the cramped living quarters I try to imagine the horrors of that early sea crossing which, by eyewitness accounts, was a rough one.

The Kilted Chef

That evening I enjoy a dinner at the home of local foodie and celebrity Alain Bosse, aka the ‘Kilted Chef’. Alain travels the world – visiting kitchens and culinary schools – to share his passion for creating masterpieces from local ingredients.

He gives us a taste of the 12-hour cooking classes he offers visitors in the summer and autumn. For $500, a couple

get to learn all about key Nova Scotian ingredients – like lobster, snow crab and wild blueberries – visit fishing boats down on the wharf and drop by a local market to buy produce before returning to Alain’s house to help him prepare dinner.

We feast on lobster rolls and smoked mackerel and make Bloody Marys that come complete with lobster claws. “Those who sign up with me leave with a set of new knives and a refreshed diet to last them a lifetime,” said Alain There’s a limited range of accommodation in Pictou, a town which makes for an ideal overnight stop on the way from Halifax to Cape Breton Island.

Options offered by UK tour operators include the Pictou Lodge Resort and the Evening Sail B&B. I stay in the latter, run by Gail and her daughter Michelle, and wake to the smell of brewed coffee and freshlybaked pecan and chocolate muffins.

Leaving this little slice of Scotland behind I head north, past New Glasgow, before crossing the causeway to Cape Breton Island.

Cape Breton Island

I motor on through the centre of the island, before joining the coastal Cabot Trail, a 297km-long route that is one of the world’s most scenic drives. I stop

CREDIT LINE HERE PLEASE IF ANY

had anticipated some Gaelic influences – perhaps the sounds of a fiddle or the strains of a bagpipe coming from a local pub – but my visit to Nova Scotia (or ‘New Scotland’) this spring revealed that the province is nothing if not aptly named.

In the small town of Pictou, located about 90 minutes north of Halifax, the impact made by its Scottish immigrants is evidently a lasting one. Strolling through a downtown area consisting of just two blocks, I pass ‘Mrs McGregor’s Shortbreads’, two pubs named ‘The Scotsman’ and ‘Highlander’ and ‘McLean and McDonald’, a firm of solicitors.

A store called ‘Whigmaleeries’ claims to offer the largest selection of Scottish goods found in Nova Scotia – a wealth of clancrested items ranging from thimbles to cross-stitch kits. There’s even two snowwhite Scottish terriers tied up outside.

The story of the beginnings of the Scottish ‘invasion’ – Nova Scotia’s flag is a combination of the flags of Scotland, The Saltire and the Lion Rampant – is told at Hector Heritage Quay, on Pictou Waterfront.

Here, in an eye-catching three-storey wood-built museum overflowing with tartan colours, visitors learn the story of Hector, nicknamed ‘The Mayflower of Canada’.

In 1773 the wooden shop carried Scottish

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for lunch in Chéticamp, a small fishing town with an Acadian heritage. At Harbour Restaurant and Bar I enjoy chowder and mussels and views of colourful fishing boats bobbing on their moorings.

In Cape Breton Highlands National Park there are beaches, campgrounds and several look-outs offering views of the mountains and ocean. There are also 26 hiking trails but the ‘must do’ one is the Skyline Trail, which cuts a path through the top of French Mountain.

There’s just the one other car in the parking lot as I set out along the 6.5km path to the ocean. The wind is picking up and it feels unseasonably cold for mid-May. Signs that read “Caution! Wild animals can be dangerous: bears, moose and coyotes are in the area” are a little foreboding. I stroll

Previous page: A replica of the good ship Hector that carried Scottish immigrants to Nova Scotia; this page, left to right: Bloody Marys with claws; exhibit at the Hector Heritage Quay; Steve Hartridge on the Skyline Trail; lunch with a view at Cheticamp; fabulous golf at Cabot Links

past wooded areas that lead into open grassland and through an enclosed moose area before reaching a dramatic headland cliff that offers sweeping views of the rugged coast and Cabot Trail, winding its way down the mountain.

I can’t linger – it feels as if the high winds could push me straight into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence – but on calmer days the viewing decks along the trail offer the chance to look out for whales.

The Cabot Trail joins with another of the province’s scenic byways, the Ceilidh Trail, which also hugs the ocean. Ceilidh is Gaelic for ‘party or gathering’ and at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique professional musicians are on hand to share the culture and music of Cape Breton.

In the small town of Inverness the star attraction is not Highland fun and games but Cabot Links, a fabulous resort featuring two golf courses – one of which is influenced by those famous Scottish links courses. Opened in 2012, both the Cliffs and Links courses are already listed in any ‘Top three golf courses of Canada’ list.

In Cabot Links’ Panorama restaurant we dine on the tastiest of oysters, farmed in the fresh waters of nearby Mabou Harbour.

Other activities offered by the familyorientated resort include cycling along the Celtic Shores Coastal trail, sea kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and tubing on the Margaree River, where you could spot salmon and otters.

Close to Cabot Links are salmon fishing, deep-sea fishing, whale watching and, you guessed it, a whiskey distillery (called Glenora) offering tours and tastings. 

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Top tips How to get there Air Canada’s London-Halifax flight takes around six hours, arriving into Halifax at 14.00. Factor in approximately four hours and 20 minutes for the drive from Halifax to Cape Breton. For those clients not stopping the night in Halifax, suggest Pictou, New Glasgow or Antigonish for an overnight pit stop on the way to Cape Breton.

Celtic Colours Nova Scotia is awash with Tartan, clan gatherings and Highland Games, but the biggest annual Gaelic event is the Celtic Colours Festival. The 22nd staging of the event, taking place on Cape Breton Island between October 5-13 2018, will feature singing, fiddling, accordion playing, theatre shows and plenty more. Several of Scotland’s finest Gaelic singers are expected to attend. celtic-colours.com Other Cape Breton Attractions Baddeck, for the Alexander Graham Bell Museum; Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site; Sydney, for its waterfront, art shops and boutiques - and the world’s largest fiddle. novascotia.com

Where to book it

First Class Holidays has a five-day escorted Cape Breton tour that includes overnights in Halifax and Baddeck, Cabot Trail touring and the Fortress of Louisbourg.

Prices start at £1,606pp, including flights. fcholidays.com

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yukon

beyond back from the

CHRIS BREEN

The Yukon may be one of the world’s last great wilderness destinations but it’s more accessible than ever thanks to creative companies which take clients beyond its historic frontier towns, says Lauren Jarvis

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ometimes you just have to say yes.

Situated in Canada’s northwest corner, “Are you sure we can do this?” asks the Yukon borders Alaska, with its capital my concerned travel companion, (and only city) Whitehorse just a two-hour as we step into a canoe in Whitehorse flight from the international gateway of and set off to paddle 450 miles down one Vancouver in British Columbia. of the world’s most mighty rivers.

“Many visitors decide to pair a trip to I have no idea, but – despite previously the Yukon with Alaska, another wonderful only having kayaked for a couple of days – it wilderness and adventure destination,” feels like the right says Denise Hunn, time to accept a 14Canada and USA “Clients who challenge day challenge that Manager for Prestige themselves on a ‘bucketwill see us paddling Holidays. “They hit list’ canoe trip from up to 60 miles a the Alaska Highway Whitehorse to Dawson City in a hire car or day through the will be immersed in a truly motorhome to wilderness, camping with bears. wild and unspoilt location, explore both.”

“Of course!” I lie, as There’s history rich in history from the we push off, catch the here, too. The Gold Rush era” current and float into Klondike Gold Rush Richard Harpham, Director, Adventurer the great unknown. drew thousands – & Yukon Guide, Canoe Trail the Yukon River, here including The Call we come! of the Wild author Jack London – to the Thankfully, we’re not alone. Experts from region in the late 1800s. The frontier town UK-based adventure company Canoe Trail of Dawson City still feels like the wild west, are guiding our team of 10 in five canoes, with historic inns, wooden boardwalks, giving advice and sometimes paddling us, paddle steamers, Jack’s cabin, and even a too, when tiredness sets in. gambling hall complete with Can Can girls, The river doesn’t disappoint. Vast and the infamous Diamond Tooth Gerties. And in wildly beautiful, we pass through valleys summer, there’s endless time to stay up and covered with willow and pine, cruise by enjoy it all, in this land of the midnight sun. bears and moose, navigate sandbanks where beavers tail-slap salutes, cross the Epic Yukon adventures silently still Lake Laberge, and ride the Follow the northern lights: From rumbling Five Finger Rapids (and survive). mid-August to mid-April the magical Close to the Arctic, the nights are cold Aurora Borealis dances bright across the and bright, as we explore forests and Yukon’s big skies. Catch it if you can. abandoned trapper camps under the travelyukon.com midnight sun, while crackling fires and Hike a historic trail: Follow in the whisky warm our blistered hands and lift footsteps of thousands of our spirits before bed.

Is this one of the hardest things I’ve ever done? Quite probably. One of the best?

Without a doubt.

The river’s a fantastic way to travel, but for those who prefer exploring by road the Yukon has 3,000 miles of highway, opening up more opportunities for visitors to discover the treasures waiting in pristine wilderness that covers 80% of the territory.

With 19,000-ft peaks, forest-clad valleys, national parks, glassy lakes and incredible wildlife, it’s an adventurer’s playground: perfect for going ‘off-grid’ yet accessible enough for those who want to dip a toe into the wild and return to a comfy bed.

JAMES DRAVEN

West is best

Left: A brown bear. Above: Lauren paddling through the wilderness

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PADDY PALLIN/ NATHAN HENDRY STEFAN WACKERHAGEN

From top: Hiking on the river; Northern Lights on Lake Laberge; a dog team on Fish Lake

stampeders who trekked the challenging launched a twice-weekly service to Victoria Chilkoot Trail from Alaska to the Yukon in British Columbia, adding to its existing during the Klondike Gold Rush. pc.gc.ca network of routes to Vancouver, Calgary, Head out on a (photographic) bear Edmonton, Yellowknife and Ottawa. hunt: A fantastic wildlife destination, flyairnorth.com the Yukon is home to black and brown Alaska Seaplanes has launched its first (grizzly) bears, along with caribou, moose, scheduled service between Juneau in wolves and 220 species of birds. env.gov.yk.ca Alaska and Whitehorse in the Yukon, with Race through 50-minute flights the snow: “The Yukon is a year-round starting from Cross the Yukon’s US$249 (£142) adventurers’ paradise, wintery wilderness each way, plus tax. offering hiking, biking on a snowmobile, or flyalaskaseaplanes.com and kayaking in warmer try out the traditional transport Tourism talk months, and dog sledding of the north and “Tourism and cross-country skiing ‘mush’ your own to the in winter” dog-sled team.

Yukon is Laura Kirton, Assistant Product Manager, upnorthad-ventures.com increasing, First Class Holidays Ride the particularly in the railway to Alaska: Built during the winter where our product offering to Gold Rush, the White Pass and Yukon experience the northern lights and outdoor Route narrow-gauge railway climbs almost adventures is continuously expanding. The UK 3,000 feet during its 28-mile journey to remains the third-biggest international market Skagway. Alaska. wpyr.com behind Germany and Australia, and in 2017 Fly over a glacier: Get an eagle-eye we saw an 8% increase in visitors from the UK.” view of UNESCO World Heritage site, Jessica Ruffen, Market Manager, Europe, Kluane National Park, and Canada’s Yukon Tourism highest mountain, Mount Logan, on a flight-seeing tour. kluaneglacierairtours.com Where to book it Go with the flow: Travel the Yukon CANOE TRAIL – 01234 825499 River in style with a cruise on Paddle the Yukon River on a 14-day Dawson City’s Klondike Spirit expedition from Whitehorse to Dawson paddlewheeler, and learn about the Gold City, lead by professional adventurer Rush along the way. klondikespir-it.com and experienced Yukon guide, Richard Harpham. From £2,200pp, including canoe What’s new and camping equipment and meals. Pre-trip Accommodation: Enjoy a comfortable, training in the UK is available. canoetrail.co.uk off-grid experience in a Mongolian WILDLIFE WORLDWIDE – yurt on Fish Lake, just 30 minutes from 01962 302 086 Whitehorse. From C$120 (approx £68) with The 15-day Yukon’s Ice Bears tour offers Up North Adventures, which offers yearup-close viewing of grizzlies at Bear Cave round adventure tours.

Mountain for just four guests, and includes upnorthadventures.com return flights, helicopter transfers, cabin Northern Lights accommodation, food, a guide and Resort & Spa in the cold-weather gear. From £10,695pp, Yukon River Valley September-October. wildlifeworldwide.com has introduced three PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS – new Aurora Glass 01502 567 222 Chalets for minimum A 16-night self-drive trip through three-night stays the Yukon and during the 2018-19 Alaska with winter season. flights, three-star northern-lightsyukon. accommodation, com and car hire is from Flights: Air £3,290pp.

North have prestigecanada.co.uk� AR CH BO UL DP HO TO GR AP HY

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six of the best

y 󰈬 󰇶 󰇮 u q

urban adventures

ALBERTA

EDMONTON

CALGARY

Canada is famous for is rugged wilderness but its biggest cities offer excitement too. Laura Gelder has six quirky Alberta ideas for city adventurers

CALGARY

Cool runnings Calgary’s 1988 Olympic Park is still going strong. Visitors to WinSport can see where Eddie the Eagle took off and the Jamaican bobsled team slid to fame. Of course, there’s plenty of skiing and other snow sports in winter but visit in summer and you can take the summer bobsled ride (on wheels) which takes rider through 10 turns, hitting speeds of more than 80km an hour and a force of over two Gs. The site is also home to North America’s fastest zipline.

Public art safari Cowboy city Calgary isn’t all about steak and boot-tapping: it was named the cultural capital of Canada in 2012 and since then outdoor art installations have exploded.

In Stephen Avenue Walk there are 10 white metal tree sculptures, 21-26 metres high, which are lit up at night. They also reduce sudden wind gusts. The East Village River Walk has lots of murals and ContainR Park on Second Avenue is a pop-up arts and culture hub with an array of sculptures.

Surf in the city River surfing is an emerging sport and the Calgary area has some of the best waves. Outlier Surf offers private and group lessons. The best spot for beginners is 10th Street Wave, where surfers can ride next to a city bridge. Just 40 minutes out of town in Kananaskis Country is The Mountain Wave, purpose-built by surfers looking for bigger peaks to conquer. If your clients are balance-challenged sell a river rafting trip instead – they can paddle right through the city!

EDMONTON

Black Gold River Tours This jet boat experience on the Saskatchewan River is dedicated to raising awareness of environmental issues as well as providing a hair-raising ride. Guests can join a tour from Edmonton’s Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park and it goes in all weathers. The tour passes unique islands and invites guests to look for petrified wood, gold or driftwood along the rocky shoreline or relax on the sandy beaches as well as floating through the heart of Alberta’s capital city.

City by segway Edmonton’s River Valley is North America’s largest urban park and part of the TransCanada Trail, the longest continuous trail in the world. So what better way to explore it than on a Segway, which lets you cover more ground in less time. Tours navigate the Chinese Gardens, cross the mighty Saskatchewan river and wheel through the forest, with stops to learn about Edmonton’s history and how the river was an important highway for the early fur traders and explorers.

Monkey around Snow Valley Aerial Park is a freestanding high ropes attraction in Edmonton. The park features more than 100 routes, suspended at three different heights and of varying degrees of difficulty – categorized like a ski hill with either a green, blue or black marker. There’s everything from children’s challenges just off the ground to high-wire balancing acts for fearless adults. Of course, it’s completely safe – you’re clipped in a harness!

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The Thousand Islands, Ontario The 1000 Islands region is a delight for lovers of heritage, nature, light adventure and those in search of locally-made delicacies, says Stuart Forster Top stops Gananoque Boat cruises and helicopter tours of the Thousand Islands depart from this small town (pronounced ‘gan-an-knock-way’).

The town has several hotels and resorts.

1000islandstourism.com

The Rideau Canal This 136-mile waterway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, runs between Ottawa and Kingston, featuring 45 locks. Le Boat leisure craft now ply the canal, which opened in 1832. leboat.co.uk

Kingston Reenactors bring the story of the city’s Fort Henry built to defend the Rideau Canal - to life. Tales of incarceration feature on guided tours of Kingston Penitentiary, once a high security prison. visitkingston.ca

Frontenac Arch Biosphere The woodland and wetland habitats around Gananoque host a wealth of biodiversity: look out for beaver dams, map turtles, white-tailed deer and ospreys.

Straddling the border between Canada and the US are 1,864 – someone has counted them! – largely forested islands scattered along a 50-mile stretch of the St Lawrence River, downstream from Kingston, Ontario.

The heart of the Canadian side lies three hours’ drive from both Toronto and Montréal, and two from Ottawa.

The islands’ landmass is split between the two nations, which are linked by the Ivy Lea suspension bridge. Two-thirds of the isles are on the Canadian side of the border, ranging in size from rocky outcrops large enough to sustain two trees to Wolfe Island (18 miles long).

On the water Gananoque Boat Lines (ganboatline. com) offers sightseeing cruises of the

waterway, which is peppered with shipwrecks and fronted by grand summer houses known as Millionaire’s Row. Tour options include a sunset dinner cruise plus a five-hour excursion featuring a pause on Heart Island, the location of Boldt Castle.

George Boldt, the owner of New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel, ordered the 120room landmark to be built as a retreat to spend time with his wife, Louise. Her death, in 1904, prompted construction to be abandoned.

Coincidentally, Thousand Islands dressing, concocted aboard the couple’s yacht, is one of the region’s delicacies.

visitkingston.ca

ALL IMAGES ARE COURTESY OF STUART FORSTER

1000 Islands Tower

Others, including locally made cheeses, feature in gourmet picnics packed by Rideau Tours (rideautours.ca), a company offering boat, kayak and walking tours along the region’s canal network.

Hiring a bicycle or boat (leboat.co.uk/ rideau-canal) allows visitors to explore at their own pace, but a thrilling way to gain an overview of the Thousand Islands is via helicopter (fly1000islands.ca). The 1000 Island’s Helicopter Tours’ 20-minute Aerial Views and Seaway Hues flyover is now a Canadian Signature Experience.

To learn about the region’s wildlife and history, including how American troops invaded during the War of 1812, visitors can step inside the entry-by-donation Arthur Child Heritage Museum of the 1000 Islands (1000islandsheritagemuseum.com) and compact Thousand Islands Boat Museum (tiboatmuseum.org).

For light entertainment, the waterfront Thousand Islands Playhouse (1000islandsplayhouse.com) hosts a programme of shows until mid-October. 

BOOK IT WITH... PREMIER HOLIDAYS

Reached by the 1000 Islands Bridge, this 130-metre-tall landmark on Hill Island has an open-sided observation platform with fine views over the Thousand Islands and St Lawrence River.

100islandstower.com

BOLDT CASTLE

Priced from £1,945pp, the nine-night Ontario by Rail independent tour, which begins in Toronto and ends in Ottawa, includes two nights in Kingston, Economy class international flights, airport transfers and a 1000 Islands cruise.

TAKE A HELICOPTER VIEW

premierholidays.co.uk

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A home from home What better way to explore Canada’s natural wonders and glimpse its prolific wildlife than from the comfort of your own state-of-the-art customised home, asks Steve Hartridge Vast open spaces, light traffic and jaw-dropping scenic splendour at every bend in the road makes Canada the perfect choice for an RV holiday.

In fact, for those looking to experience Canada’s great outdoors – whether a couple, family or part of the millennial generation – the options are limitless: from camping at Pacific Rim National Park on the western shores of Vancouver Island to the big skies of the Canadian prairies to the remote beaches of the Maritime provinces.

In addition, Canada is seen as a safe destination, the exchange rate is good and there is plenty of capacity and choice when it comes to air travel.

On the road Cruise Canada, North America's largest renter of RVs, has been pointing visitors to Canada's highways and byways for the past 30 years – and its motorhomes are proving more popular than ever with UK travellers.

“Last year was a remarkable year for us.

Outdoor recreation is booming in North America and 2017 also marked Canada’s 150-year celebration, with free admission to the country’s national parks, ” said Tracy Thompson, Cruise Canada’s International Sales and Marketing Manager.

Fleet of vehicles When it comes to the choice of vehicles, Cruise Canada keeps things simple.

There are four options: a small C19 (C for ‘cab-over bed’) sleeps up to three, the medium C25 sleeps up to five, the large C30 sleeps up to seven and the T17 truck camper, which is attached to an F-150 truck making it easy to drive, is the perfect

recommendation for first-time renters.

All categories are fitted with amenities like a fridge, freezer, microwave, storage cupboards, shower, basin and toilet.

In today’s fast-paced world, adventures that lead to family bonding, such as a long road trip, are perhaps more important than ever. Added Thompson: “That old saying that 'parents never frame pictures of their children watching TV' has never been more true. Families who hit the open road in one of our RVs enjoy priceless experiences and memories.”

"The millennial sector is also a growing one for us...with the big growth of festivals, camping is now seen as a cool thing to do.

In addition, more people want to enjoy

CRUISE CANADA – SOME OF THE ESSENTIAL DETAILS To rent a vehicle the minimum driver age is 21.  No special license is required.  All motorhomes feature power steering, power brakes and automatic transmission.  Full ‘peace of mind’ insurance is included as standard.  Cruise Canada has five pick-up locations: in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.  Clients can opt to travel round-trip or one-way.  Cruise Canada operates a flexible pricing system: the earlier clients book the more affordable it is.  The 'shoulder seasons' (April/May and mid-September onwards) are the ‘value periods’.  To become a Cruise Canada Specialist see: cruiseamericaspecialist.com 

outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, cycling and canoeing."

A camping holiday represents great value for money – an overnight in a Parks Canada campground works out at around just $30 for the RV – you are spared the expense of multiple hotel rooms and can make savings by stocking up on food and drinks.

Campground options include small family-owned sites, full-service resorts, national and provincial parks and bedding down among the Canadian wilderness.

Adds Thompson: “'I love the freedom and flexibility 'RVing' affords. It's like being in a small home on wheels, and you don't have to keep unpacking and repacking – a big benefit when travelling with kids.” 

BOOK IT WITH HAYES & JARVIS An 11-night self-drive package in Canada starts from £979pp. The deal includes one night at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver and a 10-night Vancouver self-drive in a C-25 Cruise Canada Motorhome, based on a 1,500km package. Also included are Air Transat flights from Gatwick and a free vehicle provisions kit. Departures on April 29 2019. hayesandjarvis.co.uk – 01293 762 456

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Flying high Air Canada needs agents to spread the word about its increased flights from the UK and enhanced onboard services, the airline's UK General Manager of Sales tells Selling Travel STEVE GERRARD Air Canada General Manager Sales, UK and Ireland

Q

What is your main role at Air Canada?

A: I am responsible for all sales – that's direct and indirect passenger revenue for the UK and Ireland markets.

Q

What kind of year is Air Canada having, in terms of UK bookings?

A: Bookings are looking strong from both the UK and Ireland – it’s great to see sustained momentum this year following Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017.

Q

What's new that agents should be made aware of?

A: Our global expansion continues apace, with 25 new non-stop routes this summer.

We have increased the frequency of our Heathrow-Vancouver service to two daily flights throughout summer, with our new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on both services.

In Ireland we recently launched two new seasonal non-stop services: Shannon to Toronto and Dublin to Montréal. They are operated by our new single-aisle aircraft the Boeing 737 MAX 8.

We operate more daily flights from the UK to Canada than any other airline and we serve seven major Canadian cities non-stop from Heathrow. From our hubs, customers can also enjoy seamless connections to our extensive route network to destinations across Canada, throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.

SITTING COMFORTABLY IN AIR CANADA'S NEW SIGNATURE CLASS CABIN

Q

Tell us about Air Canada's new Air Canada Signature Service?

A: It's an enhanced experience for those in Air Canada Signature Class, our new and improved International Business Class cabin.

There are dedicated check-in counters, expedited security clearance, lounge access, exclusive boarding lanes, priority baggage handling, access to concierges and more. Onboard Signature Class customers enjoy updated menu items from award-winning Canadian Chef David Hawksworth, an impressive wine list and a new signature cocktail and Laurent-Perrier Champagne. Added comfort includes a quilted mattress pad, premium duvet and plush pillow, along with a new amenity kit featuring premium Canadian brands - Vancouver-based vitruvi and Montrealbased WANT Les Essentiels.

Q

Tell us about Air Canada's new policy for personal headphones.

A: From April 1, passengers on Air Canada flights have been able to use their personal headsets (of any kind) on our in-flight entertainment system or their personal mobile devices.

AIR CANADA'S EXCLUSIVE SIGNATURE SUITE IN TORONTO

Q

How do you assist travel agents?

A: Our UK and Ireland teams have longstanding relationships with the travel

agency community and we really value those partnerships. We have a highly experienced inside sales and groups team in our London office who are always just a phone call away for agents who have any queries about Air Canada, as well as a team of account managers who have many years’ experience “out on the road”.

Q

Tell us a couple of your most memorable experiences in Canada.

A: I had a fantastic trip to Whistler in British Columbia in April. The resort had had a significant amount of snow and the skiing was fabulous. As it was so late in the ski season, the local black bears were starting to come out of hibernation, so I was lucky enough to see one wandering around the golf course in the village.

Zip-lining through the trees was also a major highlight, as was the beautiful scenic drive up to the resort from Vancouver International Airport.

Q

Finally, you have an interesting name! Do you ever get confused for the ex-footballer who is now the Rangers FC manager?

A: All the time! But I don’t mind – he was, after all, a bit of a legend for club and country – and it does tend to mean that people remember me! 

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Funway goes all in with Air Canada Vacations FUNWAY HOLIDAYS has signed a marketing agreement with Air Canada Vacations to sell its product through UK travel agents.

Melissa Tilling, Managing Director of Funway Holidays, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Air Canada Vacations, a natural progression for Funway Holidays as we further build on our North America specialist credentials.

“Flying Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge from four airports around the UK to over 60 destinations throughout Canada and myriad beyond points offers incredible flexibility and choice to our customers”.

A four-night Vancouver City Break, in the Comfort Inn Downtown Vancouver, starts from £679pp, including flights with Air Canada.

A five-night Montréal & Québec deal, staying in Comfort Suites Downtown Montréal and two nights at the Best Western Plus City Centre in Québec, is priced from £929pp. funway4agents.co.uk

Rocky Mountaineer has new destinations for 2019

ROCKY MOUNTAINEER has added four new packages for 2019 and is offering an early booking bonus for agents whobook before August 31.

Clients receive up to £600 in added value per couple, to spend on additional hotel nights, tours, Alaska cruises and more if they book one of the four packages for a minimum of eight days.

The new itineraries have been designed to showcase more of the Canadian Rockies by combining the luxury rail journey with selfdrive, helicopter or hiking options.

The First Passage to the West Canmore self-drive, a seven-day

package, includes lodging at the Malcolm Hotel in Canmore, while the seven-day First Passage to the West Kananaskis self-drive features two nights at Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge.

The First Passage to the West Sunshine Village self-drive has two nights at Sunshine Mountain Lodge while the 10-day Journey through the Clouds Mountain Adventures includes three nights at the CMH Cariboos Lodge, located in the Cariboo Mountain Range.

All four tours include two days onboard Rocky Mountaineer.

Princess heads to Eastern Canada PRINCESS CRUISES has a new 24-night Canada and New England cruise that starts and ends in Southampton.

Departing September 14 2019, Sapphire Princess will make calls in St. John’s, Newfoundland; Sydney, Nova Scotia and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, before moving on to New York, Boston and Newport and returning for two final stops in Canada in Saint John, New Brunswick (for the Bay of Fundy), and Halifax Nova Scotia, before the sailing back across the Atlantic.

Prices start from £2,400pp for an Interior room. princess.com

rockymountaineer.com

Ffestiniog Travel on track in Eastern Canada RAIL operator Ffestiniog Travel has an escorted trip to eastern Canada this autumn.

Clients will witness Canada’s autumn foliage as the train takes them through a vast wilderness region to northern Québec and Ontario.

Seasonal colours will be on display along the St. Lawrence River and on the Abitibi train

during a scenic journey to Senneterrre. Also featured is Moosonee, a remote town of just 1,360 residents (mostly First Nation Cree) in James Bay, Niagara Falls, and time to explore Montréal, Québec and Toronto (pictured). The 14-day tour departs October 3 and costs from £3,585pp, with flights. ffestiniogtravel.com

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First Class train travel on the rise, VIA rail FIRST CLASS HOLIDAYS, the UK sales agent for all Canadian rail journeys with VIA Rail, says it has seen a 30% year-on-year increase of sales for the train operator.

“Since being appointed as VIA’s general sales agent in 2002 we have helped over 40,000 passengers explore Canada using its vast rail network,” said Managing Director, Daniel Gathercole.

VIA Rail’s flagship service The Canadian links Toronto and Vancouver. Taking four days to complete, It crosses the Northern Ontario lakelands, the prairies and the Rocky Mountains.”

First Class Holidays’ 14day Trans Canadian Rail Extravaganza trip, taking in Banff, Jasper, Toronto and Vancouver, starts from £3,492pp. fcholidays.com

Heritage Park’s new old car

IN BRIEF BRITISH AIRWAYS has a three-times-weekly GatwickToronto service this summer.

Flights leave Gatwick at 11.35, arriving in Toronto at 14.25.

The return departs Toronto at 19.50, arriving 07.55. batraveltrade.com

KIMPTON’S first Toronto hotel, the 14-storey, 188room Kimpton Saint George, opened in the city’s Annex neighbourhood this summer. kimptonsaintgeorge.com

HERITAGE PARK, Canada’s largest historical village and museum, is getting ready to unveil its latest attraction.

A major restoration of what is considered a national treasure – Canadian Pacific Railway Colonist Sleeping Car #1202, which dates back to 1905 and is the oldest Colonist Car in the country – is now complete and will be unveiled to the public on the park’s annual Railway Days event on September 22, 2018.

Visitors to the park in Calgary, Alberta, can see an exhibit and a performance that focuses on the train car and the new settlers who travelled in it in the early 1900s.

Colonist cars helped to populate Canada, they facilitated the two

war efforts and they helped to unite Canadians during peacetime. Although 1,000 CPR colonist cars were built between 1884 and the 1930s, only two are known to still exist – and Heritage Park’s is the oldest.

Said the park’s Sandy Wilde: “The restoration process was pretty cool as some of the pieces were completely missing and due to the age of the car we were not able to find them in existence anymore. We ended up taking the one light fixture and one remaining bolt and replicating them with a 3D printer to create duplicates. It’s pretty amazing when you can use super-modern technology to restore an artifact.”

MONTRÉAL’S newest hotel, Hôtel Monville, has opened close to the city’s Old Town and Chinatown. The 269-room hotel enjoys spectacular views of the city. hotelmonville.com

FAIRMONT Le Château Frontenac, perhaps the most photographed hotel in the world, has finished a $75 million-dollar renaissance.

The hotel is 125 years old this year. fairmont.com

THE Mount Royal Hotel in Banff, Alberta, reopened in July following a devastating fire in December 2016. The 133-room hotel is located in the heart of the town. mountroyalhotel.com

heritagepark.ca

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the quirky side of travel Venture into the unknown

Ever had a client ask to go 'off the beaten track'? Well, Intrepid Travel has really gone off grid by announcing it will offer a one-off 'Uncharted Expedition'– a trip covering parts of the world that can't even be found on Google maps!

The adventure company is calling for 10 hardy travellers to embark on a 22-day 'mystery trip'. Departing June 30, 2019, the expedition will start in Kazakhstan and finish in Mongolia, with the rest of the itinerary remaining secret.

“You won’t know where you’re going or where you'll stay. There will be long travel days, intermittent electricity and wifi and a few treats, including fermented mare milk," says Intrepid Travel Co-Founder Darrell Wade. Visit intrepidtravel.com to find out more.

TOP 6… late-night snacks Football fever

The Selling Travel team were feeling rather deflated after England lost to Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals.

The two discarded blow-up lion costumes worn on the day by Jessica Pook and Myles Powponne are now hidden deep in the stationary cupboard – that will teach us for browsing Amazon Prime during our lunch break. Congratulations to France – but we'll roar again in 2022.

Popular midnight munchies pairings from across the globe, according to travelsupermarket. com

CAPE TOWN

Boerie roll and wine

LONDON

See you later, alligator

Kebab and gin & tonic

Passengers on Spirit Airlines' Flight 389 had an unexpectedly wild time when, after landing, their aircraft was brought to a sudden standstill by a jaywalking alligator at Orlando Airport. The reptile caused a slight delay as it sauntered across the tarmac to an adjacent pond.

It is not known how many passengers managed to snap a photo.

TOKYO

Ramen and sake

spirit.com

AMSTERDAM

Vlaamse frites and Heineken

NEW YORK

1$ Pizza slice and Brooklyn lager

RIO DE JANEIRO

Acaraje and caipirinha

THE SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE OF SELLING TRAVEL WILL FEATURE: Australia – wellness & spa • Falkland Islands • Kenya • Korea • Malta • Peru • Seychelles • South Pacific • USA – Carolina Coast • USA – Southern Florida • Over-50s Holidays • Northern Lights Cruises CONTACT US sales@bmipublishing.co.uk; editorial@bmipublishing.co.uk PLUS ONLINE Daily Selling Tips • Destination Guides • Features • Photo Galleries • Reviews • Blogs

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