Selling Travel June 2018

JUNE 2018 • SELLINGTRAVEL.CO.UK

TWO-TIME WINNER, TRADE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR

LATIN MOVES

As the Experience Latin America trade show comes to London this month we showcase the region's adventure options

how to sell...

Israel Ireland South Africa River Cruising Vietnam & Cambodia Weddings & Honeymoons 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 Weddings and Honeymoons: Give clients the wow factor 24 Dubai: Bigger and better than ever 38 Latin America: From jungle adventures to deep sea diving

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73 77 78 79 80

35 36 41 58 59 60

27 60

38 33

WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS

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QUICK READS 14 Alberta in pictures 27 48 hours in: Macao 30 Exploring: South Africa 33 My journey: South Africa Spotlight on: Newmarket Holidays Visit USA: Member news Hidden gems: Israel Exploring: Ireland 48 hours in... Dublin My trip to... Vietnam & Cambodia

41 24

RIVER CRUISING 65 Asia: Sell the magic of the Mekong and more Christmas markets: Why the festive period is best seen from the river Spotlight on: CroisiEurope My journey: the Seine Focus on: the Douro At a glance

78 79

DUBAI

24

SOUTH AFRICA

LATIN AMERICA

ISRAEL

RIVER CRUISING

33

38

THE REVIEW 45 Top news stories plus show reports

TALKING SHOP 15 News, competitions, incentives & fams

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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

sellingtravel.co.uk

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Travel Trade Publication of the Year

2016 Travel Trade

Travel Trade Publication of the Year 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 T

rade shows can be eye-opening affairs. No doubt if I visited one dedicated to something other than travel - trains or chicken farming for instance (and I'm sure these do exist) - I would be fascinated (maybe) and confused in equal measure.

They're eye-opening because they're often so specialist and offer a series of unique glimpses into an industry which never stays static for too long and always has the capacity to surprise and educate.

Last week I was in Denver, attending my first IPW, and although I'm about to celebrate 10 years in travel I was truly astounded.

Having been to WTM many times I've experienced the sheer stature of U.S. tourism, but in Denver I got to see so much more. Not just the states, big cities and theme parks but organisations representing unheard of Laura Gelder rural counties, tiny mountain villages and low-key beach towns across DEPUTY EDITOR this huge country. It made me realise that the possibilities for travel are always evolving, even in the destinations we might think of as "well-trodden".

Just before my trip to IPW, our editor Steve Hartridge was the only trade media representative who attended the Discover New England Tourism Summit in Cape Cod - that's right, an entire three-day show dedicated to one U.S. region comprising of just six states, but with a raft of even more niche products and exciting ideas for tour operators to add to their itineraries.

The reason the Selling Travel editorial team attend these events is to gather the little details and uncover titbits which can really make a holiday – and then pass them on to you, the frontline staff who must craft an experience not just sell a holiday.

This month we're excited to be hosting two events in London and Leeds, dedicated to one of the industry's fastest-growing sectors: river cruise.

It's a sector which is often misunderstood - many consumers still think it's just for the over 60s - but it's one that offers lucrative commission and high repeat rates.

Sign up at sellingtravel.co.uk/events

LOOK OUT FOR...

Your Guide to Selling the Caribbean From Anguilla to the Turks and Caicos, this comprehensive magazine is the ultimate guide to the region's islands and countries. There's a host of

features that explore the region's diverse culture, fabulous food, vibrant festivals, stunning hotels and wild places. Get inspired with the pick of the Caribbean's top activities, find out about eco-tourism in the region and learn how to create bespoke itineraries for families, honeymooners and even those on a budget.

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the big picture

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Moulin Huet Bay St Martins, Guernsey

Set-jetting summer Since the release in cinemas this spring of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, the island’s tourist board has seen a significant increase in holiday bookings. The post-war romance was actually filmed in Devon and Bristol (shhh) but shows the power of film when it comes to travel. VisitGuernsey has ran a trade campaign since November 2017, targeting agents with fam trip opportunities, sales incentives and tips on how to sell the island. visitguernsey.com

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It’s easy to explore Thailand with Qatar Airways With 2,000 miles of stunning beaches, vibrant, exciting cities and fascinating cultural sites, Thailand has a vast amount to attract UK holiday makers.

When travelling to Thailand from the UK most leisure travellers fly into Bangkok before travelling on to the north or the beaches of the south. Many don’t realise that you can travel to one of five international airports within Thailand - Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phuket and Pattaya. Our map shows some of the many and varied locations that can be reached via these airports.

Domestic flights can also be booked through Qatar Airways to discover much more of this beautiful country.

For more info visit: qatarairways.com/discoverthailand

Fly Qatar - the World’s Best Airline Qatar Airways fly to all five of Thailand’s international airports. And, due to their exclusive code share partnership with Bangkok Airways, they have opened up Thailand with numerous domestic flights to a whole host of exciting destinations. Qatar Airways fly from six UK airports - London Heathrow, London Gatwick (launched on 22 May 2018), Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Edinburgh. Customers will also enjoy smooth connections in the comfort of Qatar Airways’ state-of-the-art hub, Doha’s Hamad International Airport.

With supremely comfortable seats, delectable chef creations and up to 4,000 entertainment options it’s not surprising that Qatar Airways were awarded the World’s Best Airline at the 2017 Skytrax awards.

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weddings & honeymoons

stars in their eyes

Taking those vows abroad, and perhaps the honeymoon, can be the ultimate experience – and it’s cheaper too. Rowena Marella-Daw offers some bespoke ideas

T

he romance of the American West beckons as we drive through jaw-dropping cathedrallike formations, a preview to Zion’s phenomenal landscapes spanning 229 square miles of towering buttes, slot canyons and arches.

It took over 150 million years for these swirling patterns and towering red sandstone cliffs of striated contortions to form.

At Zion Mountain Ranch in Mt Carmel, our luxury cottage backs onto a sprawling prairie populated by buffalo – a scene straight out of a Wild West flick.

Under star-filled night skies, we are able to gaze at huge nebula clusters without binoculars. All the cottages benefit from privacy, particularly the Honeymoon Suite, which is equipped with a large whirlpool bath and a cosy fireplace.

Off-track and en route to the famous Monument Valley sits the irresistible five-star Amangiri, a retreat ensconced within Canyon Point’s moon-like terrain.

The stunning backdrop makes weddings here pretty special – if they wish couples can even opt for a unique Navajo sunrise

ceremony. The resort pool is wrapped around a million-year old canyon rock, while the spa is an oasis of calm – the perfect recipe for a relaxing honeymoon.

These days adventurous couples are spoilt for choice when it comes to wedding destinations and honeymoon experiences.

They can be swept off their feet in the Maldives, spoilt rotten aboard a luxury train to Venice, or chill out on a boutique cruise along the Mediterranean. But for my husband and I, it is this road trip through Utah and Arizona that delivers the magic.

The world’s their oyster

Getting married abroad brings many benefits, with the average cost pegged at £7,500 (excluding flights) or less, compared to getting hitched in the UK which, based on a recent survey, averages between £27,000 and £34,000.

Keeping wedding and honeymoon costs low can be down to timing – off-peak season bookings can slash the price of packages, accommodation and flights.

And, according to the Weddings Abroad Guide, some of the most affordable wedding destinations are

Mauritius, Malta and Sri Lanka.

Paul Britchford, Europe Product Manager for Elegant Resorts, says: “Most hotels that take weddings have co-ordinators who are invaluable in making the big day run smoothly.

Sometimes, once booked we even put these co-ordinators in direct contact with the client, and where possible, any extras booked are then commissionable to both travel agent and operator.

“Weddings abroad seem a particularly popular option for people entering into a second marriage.”

Foodies can indulge in Spain and Peru; carefree couples can hit the road in North America, Australia or South Africa, romantics can embark on rail journeys perusing the heights of the Andes or the Canadian Rockies, whilst wildlife lovers can fall for Africa’s luxury private reserves or Namibia’s haunting coastal landscapes.

Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge chose to honeymoon in the Seychelles in 2011 and with British Airways’ new Heathrow-Seychelles route it is easier than ever tie the knot in the Indian Ocean destination.

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weddings & honeymoons

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“As more customers look to marry overseas with a trusted company, weddings abroad present a great opportunity for agents. Many operators and resorts have wedding planners to provide support on topics such as legalities and organising bespoke ceremonies�

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weddings & honeymoons

In the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America the properties of AMResorts, which include Zoetry, Secrets, Breathless, Dreams, Now and Sunscape, offer a selection of personalised wedding and honeymoon packages. Each AMResort property offers a complimentary ‘symbolic’ wedding package for up to 10 guests.

Jamaica is one Caribbean island proving popular among British and Irish romantics: in 2016 40% more taking their nuptial vows there compared to the year before.

And then there’s Latin America. “This is a region that has something to please everyone,” contends says Graeme Bull, Product Manager at Abercrombie & Kent.

“When it comes to honeymoons you are able to create tailored experiences couples could not get elsewhere. For example, they can explore Lima’s gastronomic hotspots

First page: A couple under the Milky Way. From top left: Ayana Komodo Resort, Indonesia; Amangiri poolside sunset, Utah; Lion Sands Game Reserve, South Africa

restaurants, and private wine tastings in vineyards.

Stargazing: Couples can gaze at the constellations from the comfort of their romantic abode. Top destinations include Tenerife’s Teide National Park, andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge (andbeyond.com), which has an observatory in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, and Chile’s Atacama Desert, where the Elqui Top experiences Domos (milodge.com/en) resort incorporates Luxury sailings: Anantara Bazaruto an observatory, domed tents and timber Island Resort in Mozambique has a cabins with glass roofs. dhow sunset cruise wedding package Food and wine: Food is at the heart (bazaruto.anantara.com). of any culture and The Ponant (en.ponant. the route to the “Make sure you get an com) and Windstar soul of any ‘honest’ budget from the (windstarcruises.com) are destination – which perfect for intimate, makes foodie client. This allows us to superyacht-style experiences, from marry the best possible hotel gourmet dining to honeymoon cruises. options to the their wishes. street food, popular Romance by rail: Slow Travel agents can narrow the with couples. Wine travel by luxury rail is also options to say, three things tourism the civilised way to growing, and lesserthe client ultimately wants” known regions such watch the world go by. Belmond’s as Slovenia’s Vipava legendary Venice Simplon-Orient Express Valley, ‘Slovenia’s Tuscany’, make perfect travelsfrom London to Paris, Venice, honeymoon destinations. Stay at Castello Verona and Budapest, while Rovos Rail Gredič (gredic.si/), a fortress palace built over (rovos.com) offers exciting rail adventures 400 years ago. between Cape Town and Victoria Falls.

Themed weddings: Couples can tie Roadtrips: A tailor-made fly-drive the knot in the ‘local custom’, such package allows couples to stop and as a traditional Tahitian or Japanese stay wherever takes their fancy. The U.S. ceremony, complete with costumes, music and Canada open up myriad adventures, and rituals. In The Bahamas, the Grand while driving through South Africa’s Bahama Island Enchanged Encounter coastal Garden Route, from Cape Town package enables couples to exchange to Port Elizabeth, throws up romantic vows either underwater or in the open sea options, cosy beach properties, top in the presence of dophins. and discover the history of the Incas at Machu Picchu, before finishing on the Caribbean coast in the Riviera Maya.

He added: “Active couples can trek in the Andes, learn to be a Gaucho on the plains in Argentina, and search for Jaguars in the Pantanal. Latin America caters for those on a budget or those looking to splurge on their first holiday as a married couple.”

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AMRes

Weddings & Honeymoons in Paradise IT’S MORE THAN JUST THE ROMANTIC SETTINGS THAT MAKE DREAMS RESORTS & SPAS THE PERFECT PLACE TO SAY “I DO”.

YOUR CLIENTS’ WEDDING, AT ANY OF OUR FAMILY-FRIENDLY OCEANFRONT SANCTUARIES, OFFERS ALL THE INCLUSIONS OF UNLIMITED-LUXURY ® , AN ONSITE WEDDING COORDINATOR TO

FREE WEDDINGS

ENSURE EVERYTHING IS PERFECT, AND SO MUCH MORE!

Each of our resorts hotels offers a complimentar y symbolic wedding package, when booking the relevant room categor y and duration required, containing all the essentials you need for your special day.

UPGRADED WEDDING PACKAGES Celebrate your special day with your f amil y and friends! We offer upg raded wedding packages for up to 25 guests. Additional inclusions are a cocktail hour and dinner reception, f loral arrangements, makeup and hairstyling, spa treatments and much more.

HONEYMOONS, ANNIVERSARIES & RENEWAL OF VOWS Already married? Extend the celebrations by adding one of the honeymoon or anni versar y packages to your stay. Extra special touches include breakf ast in bed and a bottle of sparkling wine to help you celebrate in style.

CONTACT YOUR PREFERRED TOUR OPERATOR FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK EXPERIENCE UNLIMITED-LUXURY® FOR COUPLES AND COUPLES WITH CHILDREN IN COSTA RICA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: LA ROMANA • PUNTA CANA | MEXICO: CANCUN • HUATULCO • LOS CABOS NUEVO VALLARTA • PLAYA MUJERES • PUERTO AVENTURAS • RIVIERA CANCUN • TULUM | PANAMA

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weddings & honeymoons

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luxury Ayana Lako di’a Phinisi vessel.

Natural Selection’s Shipwreck Lodge

COURTESY OF TOM TILL

What’s new

Hotels: When it opens in September Ayana Komodo Resort (ayana.com/labuanbajo/ayana-komodo) will be the only five-star retreat on Labuan Bajo, Waecicu Beach, in Indonesia’s Flores Island. Couples can get married on the resort’s rooftop venue with ocean views, head for its private pier and sail away on board the

(naturalselection.travel/camp/shipwreck-lodge-2)

opens this month (June) on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. Nestled among the dunes are shipwreck-shaped chalets with views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The latest addition to the Time + Tide family is Miavana (timeandtideafrica. com/miavana) in Madagascar, an ecofriendly honeymoon retreat that blends luxury and progressive conservation on the island’s northeast coast.

Tour Operators: Caribtours’ current agents incentive, the ‘Royal Guest List’, sees several leading honeymoon and wedding resorts providing prizes such as three nights all-inclusive in the Cove Penthouse at Blue Waters, Antigua, and five nights all-inclusive at Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla. In addition to room nights, prizes include bottles of champagne, cases of wine and gift vouchers. It kicked off on May 12 and will run until June 30. Prizes can be claimed at caribtours.co.uk/royalwedding by July 9 2018.

“Whether just sitting on a beach or being active every day, Latin America can deliver the perfect honeymoon... agents just need to tell us what to provide” Aberkrombie & Kent

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weddings & honeymoons

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EXCLUSIVE OFFERS

Tourism talk

“From intimate gatherings to the most lavish affairs, outdoor celebrations, modern or historic venues, Malta has a wide selection of wedding venues. For those who wish to have a religious ceremony, the island is home to 365 churches. Malta is a welcoming and inclusive destination for all, which was cemented last year with the approval of same-sex marriages and the country topping the Rainbow index for the second year. Hotels like the refurbished Phoenicia Hotel offer plenty of luxury, whilst beautiful palazzos, including the Palazzo Parisio, provide an elegant backdrop to a fairytale wedding.”

Peter Vella, Director UK & Ireland, Malta Tourism Authority

SHERATON FULL MOON MALDIVES

SUPER TRAVEL TRADE DEAL 5 Nights’ Accommodation in Deluxe Room • Full Board Return Shared Speedboat Transfers • From £375 per person Valid for selected dates between now – 31 Oct 18

Where to book it

 SIMPLY LUXURY BY TRAVEL 2 – 0800 0224 182 The Brando Private Island in Tetiaroa is French Polynesia’s most luxurious destination. A 10-night package includes seven nights in a one-bedroom villa and three nights at the five-star InterContinental Tahiti Resort, both on a B&B basis. Also included are economy flights with Air New Zealand, private transfers in Papeete, and private plane transfers between Papeete and Tetiaroa.

The package deal starts from £9,999pp, for travel January 10 - March 23 2019.

COCOON MALDIVES

2019 RATES NOW AVAILABLE • Book now to benefit from 20% Discount Year Round!

• PLUS Free Nights Stay 7 Pay 6 for Summer Bookings • Upsell to Lagoon Villa or Lagoon Suite with Pool and receive a Complimentary Upgrade from HB to All Inclusive • All Offers now available to book on our website • FIND MORE EXCLUSIVE DEALS FOR TRAVEL TRADE PERSONNEL ONLY ON OUR WEBSITE

travel2.com

 CARIBTOURS – 0203 553 7543 Seven nights at the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island start from £4,245pp. The deal includes international and domestic flights, private transfers and the use of a UK airport lounge. Qualifying periods in 2019: May 12-June 14, June 28-August 19 and September 2-October 31. caribtours.co.uk 

OVER 200 HOTELS AND A SELECTION OF TOURS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE MALDIVES – SRI LANKA – MAURITIUS – SEYCHELLES INDIA – UAE – CARIBBEAN – GREECE – NEW CRUISING AND SAILING. INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR WINTER 2017 SUMMER 2018 AND WINTER 2018/19 RATES ARE NOW ONLINE

From left: Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona; Virgin River, Zion National Park, Utah; Natural Selection’s Hoanib Valley Camp, Namibia

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

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in pictures

star-quality

Alberta DENIS SEMENOV @SDLPHOTO

The ideal time for aurora borealis is September to mid-May.

WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK

DARREN ROBERTS @DARREN_ROBERTS

Jasper holds a dark sky festival every October

WOOD BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK

TRAVEL ALBERTA / CURTIS COMEAU

LENS ON NATURE / TRENT ENZOL

Fort McMurray is located within the auroral band

BANFF NATIONAL PARK

PARKS CANADA / RYAN BRAY

CYPRESS HILLS DARK SKY PRESERVE

PAUL ZIZKA @PAULZIZKAPHOTO

ALAN DYER / AMAZINGSKY.COM

Vast tracts of protected land across Alberta’s national and provincial parks make for dark velvet skies, unsullied by light and offering quality stargazing. Laura Gelder picks the best spots

JASPER NATIONAL PARK DARK SKY PRESERVE

Just east of Edmonton and comprising 300 sq km

 � Keep inspired at: travelalberta.com FORT MCMURRAY

BEAVER HILLS DARK SKY PRESERVE

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Talking Shop IN S PIR E D BY Y OU Th e i ns i d e t ra c k o n t ra v e l

Trip places up for grabs

UK to󰇻󰇶 op󰇪󰇶󰈜󰇺or󰇷 󰇺󰇧k󰈥 o󰈣󰇳󰇳 Ro󰇧󰈨 t󰇬e 󰇧󰈡n󰇼a󰇰 O󰈦󰇪g19 Ral󰇰󰈠 󰈢n 󰇴󰈜󰈪e

THE MAURITIUS Tourism Promotion Authority is giving agents the chance to win a place on a six-night fam trip to the island. The board has teamed up with Premier Holidays and British Airways for the competition. Visit the 'Agent Resources' section of the website for information.

premierholidays.co.uk/mauritiusfam

Flight centre a top workplace FLIGHT CENTRE has been recognised as one of the UK's Best Workplaces for the eighth year running in a survey published by Great Places to Work. Flight Centre climbed six places from 2017, taking 18th place in the rankings. flightcentre.co.uk

Contents 18

FACE TO FACE

21

Travel party

Jun󰇪 13, 14 & 20 THE CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION ROADSHOW 2018 Join the Caribbean Tourism Organization and its partners for an evening of networking, food and fun. Events will be held in London (June 13), Brighton (June 14) and Jersey (June 20). Similar events are being planned for September. Register online at sellingtravel.co.uk

TRAVFEST, the travel industry's annual free family festival, is back for 2018. Taking place on July 14, a huge line-up of bands and entertainers is planned. Register at:

IN THE OFFICE

22

eventbrite.com/e/travfest-2018registration-45229688215

DNSW ROADSHOW

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BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

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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 Hurtigruten, Red Hurtigruten's pole position HURTIGRUTEN joined up with Travel 2 to give agents the chance to experience a section of the Exploring Canadian Maritimes itinerary, one of the line's Pole-to-Pole expeditions, onboard the MS Fram. The trip, which involved three days at sea, started in Halifax where agents explored the culture and history of Celtic-influenced Nova Scotia. The group took in the dramatic coastline of North America and enjoyed hiking and whale spotting as well as attending lectures hosted by the expedition team.

Some even took the polar plunge, jumping into the near-freezing sea! hurtigruten.co.uk

Finding summer HOLIDAY Getaway in Wigan was visited by the Shearings trade team for some summer holiday training. Pictured are agents Ashleigh Mulholland (left) and Angela Lucas, Director (right). shearings.com

UK/Irish take California Cup!

RED SEA HOLIDAYS ran a fam to Egypt visiting Hughada, Makadi Bay, El Gouna and Sahl Hasheesh.

A UK and Irish team was victorious in the California Cup golf tournament, held in Napa Valley and Sonoma County, California.

The trade networking tournament took place April 23-26 and saw over 30 teams of key suppliers from over 10 countries compete.

Pictured in from left are: Maurice Veronique, The Appointment Group; Harry Hastings, Ocean Holidays; Ruby Briggs, North America Travel Service; Guy Chambers, Black Diamond; Gerry Boyle, Black Diamond, and John Devereux, American Holidays.

redseaholidays.co.uk

visitcalifornia.com

Touring Egypt

TM

Africa Tours 13nts, Complete Namibia Self Drive

7nts,Kruger And The Kingdoms

£1999pp

fr

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£2299pp

fr

0208 585 4020

holidays@travelpack.com

10nts, Giraffe Manor, Safari & Beach

£3699pp

fr

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BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

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

Sea Holidays, Ottawa, St. Kitts & Nevis Qatar hits the road THE Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) held a three-city UK roadshow showcasing Qatar and its cultural delights, top hotels and sunny weather to agents. The tour welcomed over 150 agents in Edinburgh, Manchester and London. At each event agents' knowledge was put to the test by an interactive quiz with a holiday to Qatar up for grabs. The tourism board partnered with Qatar Airways, Minor Hotels and Marriott. Pictured from left at the London event is Navdeep Hoonjan, Qatar Airways; Ava Mehta, QTA; Gemma Wilson, Kuoni and Laura Not, Marriott.

Canada duo

visitqatar.qa

Queen of romance

SANDALS Resorts showcased its latest wedding concept, 'English Royalty', to the UK trade last month at a special event hosted by its Director of Romance, Marsha-Ann Brown.

English Royalty is one of many style concepts agents can sell to couples from Sandals' Aisle to Isle wedding service. sandals.co.uk

Twinning is winning

ST. KITTS and Nevis' tourism authorities hosted a dinner at The Elephant Hotel in Pangbourne, Berkshire, for agency owners/ managers, who got an update on the twinisland destination. stkittstourism.kn; nevisisland.com

TM

15nts, Historic Route 66

£1499pp

fr

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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

USA Tours

holidays@travelpack.com

9nts, Colours of New England

7nts, California and the Canyons

£1529pp

fr

OTTAWA Tourism cohosted an event with Outaouais, western Québec, in London.

Around 50 travel industry members attended to learn how they can sell to clients a trip that combines urban and rural attractions.

Seven fam trip places to Ottawa and Outaouais were won and guests enjoyed maple syrup-themed canapes. Outaouais' main city, Gatineau, is home to the Canadian Museum of History. ottawatourism.ca

fr

£2499pp

5/29/18 05:51 PM

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

Here's your latest starter for ten...

Incredibly, this month marks the 10th anniversary of my first-ever column for this magazine – and in all that time I have never once worried that I would have nothing to say! Being a travel agent or arranger or whatever the latest fad is to call ourselves, we always have something to say. No two days are ever the same at work and, with the exception of city breaks, rarely do we get the same enquiry twice.

After Tanya's visit there we will be recommending the Cook Islands to New Zealandbound clients

Age󰇳󰇺s C󰇧󰇳 󰈋󰇱󰈣we󰇶

It is always a joy for me each time we get a brief for somewhere that requires plenty of research and tracking down extra advice from a specialist tour operator. When a lovely couple came in to see me, because they had heard I had been to South Africa a few times, I was not expecting to be asked for anything I have not arranged lots of times before. I was wrong!

They wanted details on the fynbos and flowers of the Northern Cape.

I had to admit to really not knowing too much about this area - I have never visited and I can't recall ever being asked about the area either.

But the couple was happy to leave things with me, so I called Rebecca at Africa Collection and the end result was a really wonderful trip for them – and some new South Africa product knowledge for me.

Lov󰇪 I󰇷󰇱󰈜n󰈧󰈤

Be󰇧󰇼ti󰈇󰇻󰇱 C󰈣ok󰇷

None of us ladies here in the shop have ever been to the Cook Islands, so Tanya (pictured opposite, second left, at an Essential Detail event) was happy to fly out to this slice of paradise in the South Pacific.

She travelled with Air New Zealand via

Los Angeles and was lucky enough to experience the airline's unique ‘sky couch’.

This made the very long journey for the group much more comfortable. A big thank you goes to the airline's Linda Marton for allowing the group to experience this wonderful product.

The trip was to visit two islands, Rarotonga and Aitutaki and, upon arriving in Raratonga on a Sunday morning, their first experience was a unique one – they were whisked off to church!

Tanya couldn’t believe how wonderful the singing was – there was no chance of them nodding off, even after the 26-hour journey!

She visited many hotels on the islands, with The Nautilus Resort being her favourite.

 

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

She would recommend this for honeymoon couples, due to the private garden suites with plunge pool and beachfront rooms. With two- and three- bedrooms villas it's also a good suggestion for a wedding group.

Tanya's highlight was flying from Raratonga to Aitutaki in a small prop plane, which gave lovely views of the islands and turquoise lagoons.

On Aitutaki she stayed at Tamanu Beach Resort. With its 'casual luxury', it's a place to get away from it all.

One country that has remained strong for us is Mexico – I am really looking forward to my trip there in November 2019.

Happy Selling!

Bar󰇨󰇧󰈦󰈜 Cha󰇶󰇱t󰈢󰇳

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ON LOCATION

19

O re g o n R o a d R a l l y , Ma rc h 2 0 1 8

Operators hit roads of the northwest “A brilliant trip to a hidden gem of a state!

The Oregon road rally is a great concept and really opened our eyes to what the destination has to offer – which turned out to be a lot more than we thought,” said Andrew Sullivan, Assistant Product and Commercial Manager for Travel 2 and Gold Medal.

Twenty-two tour operators from nine different countries were hosted on Travel Oregon's third 'Road Rally'. Aside from Sullivan the UK delegates on the trip were Nan Wimms, Vacations to America and Fawn Carr, Wexas Travel.

Starting in Portland, the cars headed out along the Oregon Coast to Pacific City where the group was treated to a night at the new Headlands Coastal Lodge and Spa. From there they continued down Highway 101 and experienced the thrill of a sand dune buggy ride before ending in Coos Bay. The following day highlights included Ashland, and the opportunity to watch a performance at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Crater Lake National Park. Next, the operators headed to Cottage Grove, Eugene and on to Salem for the overnight.

The final day took them on a scenic drive through the Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls before trying 'goat yoga' in Oregon City and finishing in Portland.

Delta Air Lines sponsored the UK delegates’ flights, to highlight its seasonal non-stop flight between Heathrow and Portland International Airport, which runs until October 26.

“The Oregon Road Rally gave those participating tour operators the time to discover and explore some of the key highlights of the state,” said Lisa Chamberlain, Director UK, Travel Oregon.

“The format of the trip allowed them to find their own way from A to B at their own pace, with some suggested stops from us and a map so they could experience Oregon as their clients might.”

Added Travel 2 and Gold Medal's Sullivan: “There were stunning coastlines with dramatic scenic lookouts and sandy beaches around every turn... and huge waterfalls that literally made our jaws drop....a beautiful and inspiring place.

Travel 2 & Gold Medal will be developing their Oregon product over the next year.”

OREGON

traveloregon.com

From left: The city of Portland; Crater Lake National Park; Scenic views on the central Oregon coast; Exploring Silver Falls National Park

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199

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3 - 2018

YE

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Untitled-7 Untitled-2 1

5/24/18 04:56 PM 22/05/2018 08:15

IN THE KITCHEN

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 B a r r h e a d Tra v e l

Fast start in Belfast This January marked the opening of the first Barrhead Travel store in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Selling Travel's Jessica Pook spoke to Branch Manager Kelly Hutchinson to find out how the store is already successfully growing its customer base.

with over 150 years of experience between them, However cruise and the Caribbean have been exceptionally popular, along with tailor-made USA trips, with favourites including Miami, Las Vegas and New York.

We have also seen demand for Dubai and shorthaul destinations such as Lanzarote, Barcelona and Rome."

We p󰇶󰇮󰈨󰈥 󰇮n󰇫 o󰇻r󰇷󰈥󰇱ve󰇷 󰈢󰈡 󰈥n󰇷u󰈦󰈢󰈡d o󰇻r 󰇷󰈥󰈦vi󰈛󰇪 󰇯󰈤 se󰈛 to 󰇳󰈢󰈡󰈥

Fir󰇲 󰈋󰇧󰇾󰈣ur󰇮󰇹󰈥󰈤

"We sell a real mixture of product as we have destination specialists

MEET...

JASMINE FRANCIS Owner of El Fredos and a participant in the island's Restaurant Week 2018

1

TELL US ABOUT EL FREDOS?

2

WHAT IS RESTAURANT WEEK?

3

WHAT MAKES A ST KITTS DISH?

4

DESCRIBE THE EATING SCENE?

5

WHY VISIT ST. KITTS AND NEVIS?

We are a small, family-run restaurant cooking Caribbean food straight from the heart. From our jerk pork to our fish stew, we let the flavours do the talking.

Sp󰇶e󰇧󰈨 t󰇬󰈥 󰈟or󰈧

"Since the opening of our Northern Ireland shop trade has been steadily increasing. Customers who already knew of the Barrhead brand have been delighted to be able to come in to talk to us and we have also had a really good response from new clients looking to book with a trusted travel agent.

"We have a whole range of marketing activity including targeted social media, television and radio advertising and SMS messages we send to clients. We also pride ourselves on ensuring our service is second to none, and as a result have had many repeat bookings along with recommendations through word of mouth."

21

Te󰇧m 󰇯󰇳󰈝en󰇹󰇮󰇾󰈥s

"Our team are kept motivated with regular training to ensure they are up to date on the latest product and destination information. Barrhead Travel has its own Training Academy, based in Glasgow, and the team regularly attend training events there.

"Plus, we have some incredible team incentives, with the opportunity to win holidays, gadgets and vouchers, to name a few."

"In-store client events are also a key part of our business – we hold experiential evenings with our travel partners to showcase destinations or cruises. It’s great for our clients to come in, enjoy a glass of Prosecco and chat to our specialists and partners in an informal setting.

"We've hosted loyalty evenings and partner events with Sandals and are planning some exciting events for the remainder of 2018."

Restaurant Week (July 20th - 29th, 2018) is a celebration of Caribbean cuisine where both high-end restaurants and street vendors get creative with their cooking. We all theme a menu around one ingredient and this year it's plantain- a sweet island banana and a must-try when in St Kitts.

It’s simple, homemade cooking that's full of flavour and made with passion. People from the UK have discovered a love of Caribbean food, and Restaurant Week is the perfect time to come and experience the best the island has to offer. Just follow your nose!

Everywhere you go, there's a new dining experience - from the street food to rustic beach bars to luxury dining. The local food here is healthy, hearty and if you want fresh, then our daily-caught snapper is a must!

We still hang on to our old-fashioned ways, which I hope never changes. And the food, of course, is world-class! So we hope you arrive hungry... restaurantweek.kn

barrheadtravel.co.uk

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DESTINATION NSW U n i t e d K i n g d o m & E u ro p e R o a d s h o w 2 0 1 8

Agents say g'day to Sydney and

N󰉍󰉎 is 󰇹󰇭󰇪 nu󰇲󰇩󰇪r 󰈣󰇳e de󰇷󰇺󰇮n󰈜󰇹i󰈢󰈡 󰇯n Aus󰇹󰈦󰇧l󰇯a Over 200 UK agents were transported from the beach to the bush to the Sydney Opera House as they met with top suppliers from Sydney and New South Wales (NSW) at the Destination NSW UK & Europe Roadshow 2018 in Manchester and London.

Fifteen tourism organisations were in attendance at the May events, including: AEA Luxury/Mount 'N Beach Safaris & Oz Whale Watching, Arts Hotel Sydney, Bear Rentals, BridgeClimb Sydney, Byron Bay and Beyond, Hunter Valley Resort, LUXICO, Merlin Entertainments, Minor Hotels, Opera Australia, Park Hyatt Sydney, Scenic World Blue Mountains, Sydney Opera House, Sydney - Melbourne Touring and Taronga Zoo, with agents able to visit during the course of a speed-dating style format.

Adam Marshall, NSW Minister for

Tourism and Major Events said: " The UK and European Trade Roadshow is all about tapping into key international markets and continuing to put NSW in the global spotlight." He added: "This is one of the many initiatives the NSW Government is doing to boost tourism, and with NSW being the number one destination in Australia for international visitors, there’s no denying that our hard work is paying dividends."

Tak󰇮󰇳󰈪 f󰇰󰇯󰈪h󰇹

Qantas, the official airline partner for the roadshow, operates a new London-Sydney service, via Singapore, in addition to the new non-stop UK to Australia flight which has numerous onward connections to Sydney. Markus Svensson, Regional General Manager UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa said: "We have a strong relationship with

our trade partners; they play an important role in helping us raise awareness about Australia and encouraging more visitors to travel with Qantas to Sydney and New South Wales."

A fi󰇶󰈩 f󰇧󰇽󰈣u󰈦󰇮t󰈥

Last year, NSW welcomed more than 381,000 visitors from the UK, who injected over £500 million into the state's economy.

With this as the backdrop, agents were keen to make new contacts and learn more about the destination.

Brandon Ives, from Bear Rentals, a company that offers 4WD campervan hire and rental in Australia, said: “These roadshows have been really successful for bringing existing and new products together to promote the beauty of Sydney and the state beyond. Bear Rentals is a new product

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DESTINATION NSW

23

U n i t e d K i n g d o m & E u ro p e R o a d s h o w 2 0 1 8

New South Wales

The 󰈖󰇮󰇳󰈡󰈥r󰇷 so it’s been great to make agents aware of what we offer so that they can recommend something new and exciting to their clients.”

Mark Reid, from Travel Counsellors, said: “I think the format of the event works really well. It’s nice to be able to talk in small groups and have my questions addressed by people that are actually supplying the services. They are passionate about the destination and that makes you excited about selling their products.”

Pri󰈃󰇪 󰈪󰇯ve󰇧󰇿󰈜󰈠

Prizes on the night included two return Economy flights to Sydney, courtesy of Qantas, to experience some of NSW’s best tourist attractions.

We h󰇧󰇽󰈥 󰇹 in󰇽󰇮󰇺󰈥d 󰇷o󰈩󰇪 󰈣f o󰇻󰇶 󰇩󰈥s ex󰇴󰈢󰈦t-re󰇧󰈧󰈠 t󰈣u󰇶󰇮󰈤m bu󰇷󰇮󰈡󰈥s󰇷e󰈤 ister for Adam Marshall, NSW Min nts Tourism and Major Eve

Flight Centre's Georgia Turner was the winner of a trip to Sydney and NSW. She said: “I’ve wanted to go to Australia for so long, so this is a dream come true.

"It was worth coming tonight even before winning, but knowing that I’m going to visit some of the places I’ve learnt about has really topped it off.” destinationnsw.com.au

P󰉊I󰉏󰈺 󰉈NE 󰈖󰈎󰉅N󰈶󰉊: Mak󰇮󰈫󰈣 Toy󰈢󰇬󰈜󰈦a, AW󰉁 󰈻ra󰇽󰇪󰇱 Lt󰈧.

A re󰇹󰇻󰈦n E󰈛󰈣󰈡om󰈂 󰈆l󰇮󰇫󰇭t 󰇹󰈣 S󰈠d󰇳e󰈠 w󰇮󰇹󰇭 Qan󰇹󰇧󰈤 󰇯n󰈛󰇱ud󰇮󰇳󰈪 t󰇬󰈦e󰇪 n󰇯󰇫󰇭t󰇷 a󰇺 Ar󰇹󰈤 Hot󰇪󰇰, t󰇿o A 󰈦󰇪s󰈥󰇶󰇾e t󰇮󰈛󰈬󰈥t󰇷 󰈟it󰇬 O󰇵󰇪r󰈜 Aus󰇹󰈦󰇧l󰇯a, t󰇬󰈦e󰇪 n󰇯󰇫󰇭t󰇷 a󰇺 P󰇧r󰈫 󰈍󰈠󰈜t󰇹 Sy󰈧󰈡ey, at󰇹󰈦󰇧c󰇹󰇯o󰈡 p󰇧󰇷󰈤󰈥s... an󰈧 󰈩󰈢r󰈥.

P󰉊I󰉏󰈺 T󰈖󰉈 󰉎IN󰉆󰈺󰉋: Ge󰈢r󰇫󰇯aT󰇻󰈦n󰈥󰇶, Fli󰇫󰇭t C󰇪󰇳󰇺r󰈥 A re󰇹󰇻󰈦n E󰈛󰈣󰈡om󰈂 󰈆l󰇮󰇫󰇭t 󰇹󰈣 S󰈠d󰇳e󰈠 w󰇮󰇹󰇭 Qan󰇹󰇧󰈤, t󰇬󰈦e󰇪 n󰇯󰇫󰇭t󰇷 a󰇺 Ar󰇹󰈤 Hot󰇪󰇰 󰉍󰈠d󰇳e󰈠, t󰇿o A 󰈦󰇪s󰈥󰇶󰇾e t󰇮󰈛󰈬󰈥t󰇷 󰈟it󰇬 O󰇵󰇪r󰈜 󰈸u󰇷󰇺r󰇧󰇰󰇯a, to󰇻󰇶 󰈟󰇯t󰇬 O󰈄 Wha󰇰󰇪 󰈖󰈜󰇺c󰇬i󰈡g 󰈢󰇶 S󰈠d󰇳e󰈠 Pri󰇳󰈝󰇪s󰇷 C󰈦󰇼is󰇪󰇷, ge󰇳󰇪󰈦󰈜l a󰈧󰈩󰇮s󰇷󰇯o󰈡 t󰈢 Tar󰈢󰇳󰈪󰈜 Zo󰈢.... an󰈧 󰈩󰈢r󰈥.

Don't miss our next Selling Travel Destination Dialogues, on River Cruising, on June 6 in London and June 7 in Leeds

sellingtravel.co.uk

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24

dubai

T

shiny and new

The diminutive emirate of Dubai packs a big punch when it comes to hotel launches and attraction openings. Ben Lerwill gets up to speed with the latest developments

ravel can be unpredictable. I’m a terrible shopper, but I discover on my latest trip to the UAE that I simply cannot get enough of The Dubai Mall. I don’t buy anything other than coffee – that would be a step too far – but I spend multiple hours wandering, watching and window-shopping.

As an experience, it is far removed from the classic spice-filled, sweltering Arabian souk, but really, the gleaming modernity is the point. This is somewhere designed for lingering, and with plush aircon malls virtually doubling as social clubs out here even the people-watching is world-class.

The shops themselves, mainly swish boutiques selling everything from camel milk chocolate to catwalk labels, are as pristine as expected.

But there are three other key things, however, that make the place so mesmeric: the vast size (this is Dubai, after all), the customer base (how is it possible to keep a powder-white kandura so spotless?) and the high-tech medley of other attractions (gargantuan aquarium? Olympic-size ice rink? multistorey water sculptures? they’re all here).

When I walk back outside, into the early evening desert warmth, I am right in the heart of things: the Vegasstyle fountain show is blasting away on the lake, and low sunshine is glinting off the impressive Burj Khalifa.

Westfield, eat your heart out.

Sky high reputation

Man-made structures have defined today’s Dubai. The destination has long been synonymous with high-end hotels, state-of-the-art malls and boundarypushing architecture, and thanks to a climate that seldom drops below 18C and a restaurant scene that keeps bettering itself, Dubai’s popularity is

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dubai

25

now a given. Certainly British travellers love the place: the UK represents Dubai’s third-largest overseas source market and saw its numbers climb by 2% last year to 1.265 million.

By design, the emirate is somewhere that’s almost constantly unveiling new properties and attractions. And with 2018 no exception, now is a great time to plan a visit, says Nikki Hain, Middle East Product Manager for Premier Holidays.

“There’s an influx of hotel openings at the moment, which is driving prices down, so this year is a fantastic time to snap up a Dubai bargain,” she says, before adding more advice. “Agents should use this to their advantage, although don’t make the mistake of thinking that a last-minute deal is the way forward. All of the best flight deals are to be had when you book early, so the best tip to give clients is to book now for a stay in Dubai later this year.”

Flights

Emirates (emirates.com) is launching two new routes to Dubai from the UK this year. A daily service from London Stansted begins on June 8, while a daily service from Edinburgh commences on October 1. The airline already flies to Dubai from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle and Birmingham.

Top tip: Non-stop flights from the UK to Dubai usually take around seven hours, with Dubai time GMT +4. Bear these factors in mind when planning an itinerary.

Accommodation

As ever, Dubai’s hotel scene is busy. Key openings this year include the 350-room W Hotel The Palm (wdubaithepalm.com), designed to resemble a letter W and set to be unveiled in September; the 528-

room Gevora Hotel (gevorahotels.com), which became the tallest hotel in the world when it opened at the start of 2018; the 384room Rove Dubai Marina (rovehotels.com), which has been welcoming guests since April and is now the fifth Rove Hotel in the emirate; and two new properties from Rotana (rotana.com), the five-star Al Bandar Rotana and the fully furnished serviced apartments of Al Bandar Arjaan Rotana.

Looking ahead, eye-catching properties in the pipeline include the Middle East’s first Dorchester Hotel (dorchestercollection. com) and the 100% solar-powered, 143-room Hotel Indigo Dubai Sustainable City (ihg.com/hotelindigo).

And, perhaps most interestingly of all, the QE2 cruise liner has softopened as a luxury Dubai hotel at Port Rashid, with a full opening scheduled for October. (qe2.com)

“A new Heston Blumenthal restaurant will debut at the new Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences in 2019”

Top tip: Dubai Marina, where the new Rove Hotel is located, is packed with good places to eat, shop and unwind.

Dining

Heston Blumenthal is to open a restaurant in Dubai next year. Dinner

by Heston Blumenthal – a concept that already exists in London and Melbourne – will debut at the new

From left: Burj Khalifa; Rustic Ravine; quadbiking across the dunes; couple enjoying the view; Bvlgari Resort; Riverland Boardwalk; W Hotel

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dubai

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Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences (theroyalatlantisresidences.com) in 2019.

Meanwhile, recent openings include Aqua Pod, the world’s first floating sustainable drive-through restaurant, and Hoseki, an exclusive nine-seat Japanese restaurant at Bvlgari Resort (bulgarihotels.com).

There have also been numerous reports that Wyndham West Bay Dubai Marina will open a MasterChef-themed restaurant by the end of the year, showcasing the food of the show’s contestants from around the world.

Top tip: Friday brunches are a local institution in Dubai. The best of them involve opulent seafood buffets and free-flowing champagne. Don’t think of it as a quick bite – many diners linger for hours.

Entertainment and activities

Dubai Tourism has launched the Dubai Pass (dubaipass.ae), a pre-paid card that gives cash-free access to 33 events and venues across Dubai. These include At The Top and Ski Dubai. Agents selling the pass are eligible for commission.

The Desert Palm Hotel & Resort (desertpalm.ae) has a new Samana Spa, while Atlantis the Palm (atlantisthepalm.com) is offering ‘underwater yoga’ sessions in a room surrounded by an aquarium.

Burj Khalifa (burjkhalifa.ae) has a new ‘virtual reality experience’ that simulates the feel of climbing to the very tip of the tower – that’s 160 habitable floors – before descending, parachute-style, back to ground level and The Dubai Fountain.

Jumble (jumble.ae) is a new Crystal Mazestyle attraction, billing itself as the world’s first indoor urban maze and involving various physical and mental challenges.

Dubai Safari (dubaisafari.ae), a 119-hectare wildlife project with 250 different species and over 2,500 animals,

has opened its doors. It has a drivethrough crocodile park and a drivethrough hippo and tiger exhibit.

Top tip: “Dubai Parks & Resorts is at the top of most peoples’ wish list and if you’re a fan of animation, the DreamWorks zone is a must-visit.

It’s entirely indoors, perfect for when it’s too hot outside.” Melanie Burton, Assistant Product Manager: Middle East & Indian Ocean, Travel 2

“The Frame is a 150-metre high landmark built in the style of an old picture frame. It is esentially a viewing deck”

Culture and developments

The Frame (thedubaiframe.com), a 150-metrehigh landmark built in the style of a huge picture frame, opened at the start of the year. It is essentially a viewing deck, but also gives an overview of Dubai’s history.

Architecture fans can also now admire The Opus (omniyat.com), a multipurpose building and the brainchild of late architect Dame Zaha Hadid – it’s due to welcome an ME by Meliá hotel by the year’s end.

Elsewhere, La Mer (lamerdubai.ae) is a major new beachfront development located between Pearl Jumeirah and Jumeirah Bay. Top tip: Try visiting The Frame in the hour or so before sunset, to see the city’s electric skyline appear from the dusk. 

From left: Bollywood Parks entry; Burj Al Arab; market shopping; Dubai Safari Park; skydive above the Palm Jumeirah

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48hrs in

27

Macao Multicultural Macao might be small but in tourism terms it's hitting big. The territory drew 32.6 million visitors in 2017 – and they didn't all come for the casinos, says Ben Lerwill Day 1: Culture and history

Day 2: Fun, food and nightlife

Morning: Start in the heart of the Morning: Clear any hangover city by exploring Macao’s busy, from the night before by UNESCO-listed Historic Centre. venturing up the Macau Tower to Centuries of Portuguese rule – twinned try the world’s highest commercial bungy with an ongoing Chinese influence – have jump. Steel yourself – it’s a cool 233 metres left it with some unique and fascinating above ground. Then make your way to attractions. Among Studio City Macau these are the for entertainment “Centuries of Portuguese photogenic Ruins of of a different kind: St Paul, which date among other rule – twinned with an back to the 17th there’s a ongoing Chinese influence – attractions century, and the figure-of-eight have left Macao with some Ferris Wheel, a 4D A-Ma Temple, built in 1488 and dedicated Batman Dark Flight unique and fascinating to a Chinese sea ride and a familyattractions” goddess. Take a friendly Warner break at Senado Bros Fun Zone.

Square, with its fountain and wavy cobbled Afternoon: The food scene here design – it’s great for people-watching. is seriously strong. The latest Afternoon: Calm things down Michelin guide to the region by heading south to the sleepy named 18 starred establishments in island of Coloane. The place to Macao, including five with two stars and spend time is Coloane Village, a laid-back one – The Eight – with the maximum three. waterside settlement of bakeries and Opt to eat at Wing Lei, which offers flowerbeds. Then visit the nearby Macao exceptional lunchtime dim sum, or Tim’s Giant Panda Pavilion. And for those clients Kitchen, which specialises in Cantonese in search of something more active, there’s cuisine. They both have one star a golf course close by – The Macau Golf & designations, so book well ahead.

Country Club which has previously hosted Evening: It seems churlish to stars such as Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and come to Macao and not even Padraig Harrington. sample its famous gambling halls.

Evening: Head to Miramar, a There are countless options but two of the traditional Portuguese best are at the classy Wynn Palace and the restaurant in Coloane. super-sized Venetian Macao, complete Beachside, it serves up seafood dishes like with its own waterways plyed with clams, fish stew and stuffed crab. Then stripe-wearing gondoliers. Or head to the head back into the city to round off new MGM Cotai to take in The Spectacle, a the night at Sky 21, a rooftop vast atrium designed as a 'multibar with widescreen views dimensional sensory experience', using of the evening skyline.

LED screens and digital art. 

BOOK IT WITH WENDY WU TOURS Wendy Wu Tours has a five-day Hong Kong & Macao itinerary, including two nights of four-star accommodation in both destinations, ferry transfer and a day coach tour of Macao. From £720pp exluding flights. wendywutours.co.uk – 0808 2748 595

From the top: Multi-coloured Taipa, a popular part of Macao; the Giant Panda Pavillion; the glittering casionos of Cotai are not to be missed

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traveluni.com

GDS | TRAINING | REWARDS

Training, competitions, events June 2018

THIS MONTH'S TOP STORIES

First to Amsterdam INCENTIVE

Quick Quiz Are you a Malaysia Travel Expert?

1. The population of Malaysia is split into three main ethnic groups, Malay, Chinese and Indian.

VOYAGES-SNCF is offering travel agents the chance to nab a pair of First Class return rail tickets to Amsterdam. To be in with a chance to win, agents need to sign up and complete the Be A European Rail Expert course by the end of June. The online training site has been designed to help agents enhance their knowledge about all things rail related.

Discover how Voyages-sncf can help you sell beach holidays, ski trips or city breaks by rail.



raileuropeexpert.co.uk

TRUE / FALSE

Hot Incentive

Win a fam trip to Thailand

2. Malaysia is eight hours behind GMT. TRUE / FALSE

Amazing Thailand I Modules: 7 TOURISM THAILAND and Thai Airways are giving agents the chance to win a place on a fam departing in October. To put yourself in the frame, visit training.tourismthailand.co.uk and complete all of the course modules by June 30.

The Amazing Thailand Roadshow will continue later this year and will include Thai food, Thai beer and the chance to win an all-expensespaid fam trip and many other prizes.

The events usually book out so request a place by emailing

Mobile 'Brainz' NEWS

BOURNE LEISURE has made its 'Train with Brainz' online course mobile friendly, enabling agents to train on the go. The launch comes alongside an incentive giving agents the chance to win ÂŁ25 Amazon vouchers by completing the course between May 21, and June 10, 2018.

Additionally, on completion of each module, agents will have a chance to win prizes including a free day pass to experience a brand property at any location and spa vouchers by registering a booking and completing the course. bourneexpert.co.uk

malaysiatravelexpert.com

marketing@ tourismthailand. co.uk. They will

tourismthailand.co.uk

Answers: 1: True 2: False

be held in Jersey (September 4) and Guernsey (September 5).

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Training courses to help travel agents and advisers sell more!

Summer in New York

COURSE LIST

NEWS

NEW YORK City & Company is highlighting 18 experiences in New York this summer – and there's still time for late bookers to take advantage of some of the city's numerous events and festivals.

These include the 12th staging of the annual Make Music New York festival on June 21, which features over 1,000 free concerts.

New York City Restaurant Week, from July 23 to August 17, will return with discounted dining, but be sure to book when reservations open on July 9.

Plus, look out for tickets for OffBroadway Week (24/10-7/11). nyctrainingacademy.com

New Deals AETHER-IMAGES

LGBTQ Vegas NEWS

LAS VEGAS is welcoming more LGBTQ events. Las Vegas PRIDE returns this year with the annual night PRIDE parade on October 19, as well as the PRIDE festival from October 20-21. The Golden Crown Literary Society's annual conference is a lesbian literary event for both authors and readers and will be held at Bally's from July 4-8, with speakers including Jane Bledsoe and Rachel Gold.

The Nevada Gay Rodeo Association trots into Las Vegas for the Big Horn Rodeo which will be held from September 21-23. Events include bull riding and barrel racing at the event in Horseman's Park. lasvegasvirtuoso.com

Working in partnership

Make savings with Newmarket

Newmarket Holidays Training I Modules: 5 NEWMARKET HOLIDAYS has introduced discounts on new bookings for a range of escorted tours to India and Ireland.

The operator launched a £100 pp saving under its 'Discover India' promotion, covering all new bookings made up until June 12. Agents can save clients money using the promotional code FARAWAY. Additionally, agents can save clients £50pp on escorted tours to Ireland as part of its 'Magic of Ireland' campaign. The saving can be made on all bookings made by June 12, using the promotional code EMERALD. There are five escorted tours running in the campaign, including 'Jewels of the Emerald Isle', priced from £990 pp. training.newmarketholidays.co.uk

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

powered by

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exploring...

South Africa Sun City has reinvented itself as a family resort offering a vast range of activities and entertainment options. Steve Hartridge checks it out The wheels of my mountain bike spin then slip on the sandy ground as I pull hard on the brakes.

One moment I have the wind in my face, as I zip past trees and rocks in Letsatsing Reserve, admiring the distant peaks of the collapsed (and long extinct) volcano that is home to the Pilanesberg National Park, the next I am startled by four giraffes crossing immediately in front of me.

I feel them just before I see them, their pounding hooves vibrating the reddish ground beneath me. While three of the animals lumber away to their next feast of acacia leaves, twigs and thorns, one stands obstinately on the trail ahead, its head cocked towards me, its chestnut-brown eyes and long, thick eyelashes locked on mine.

It’s a waiting game- and I am the one doing the waiting.

I stand transfixed until the male – there's time to 'sex' it: aside from the more obvious tell-tell signs male giraffes are heavier set, their heads are squarer and their horns are spaced further apart – seesaws away to join his mates.

We resume our cycle – and ride straight into a 30-strong herd of startled wildebeest.

Family entertainment Cycle tours – around £15 for the twohour experience – are offered by Mankwe Gametrackers, an activities company that operates out of Sun City, South Africa’s original adventure playground.

Once known mainly for its casinos, top-

BOOK IT WITH PREMIER A seven-night holiday is priced from £1,649pp, with two nights in Johannesburg at Protea Balalaika Sandton, two nights at Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge in Pilanesberg National Park (including meals, one game drive a day and a free shuttle to and from Sun City), and three nights in Sun City's Cabanas.

The deal includes flights from Heathrow with South African Airways and transfers and is based on two people sharing. Travel is in September 2018.

Agents can earn up to £150 per booking. trade.premierholidays.co.uk

STEVE HARTRIDGE (RIGHT) WITH JON DANKS, SAA

LION IN PILANESBERG NATIONAL PARK

name cabaret acts and as the home of the Miss World pageant, Sun City in recent years has been busy transforming itself into the country’s leading family resort On offer today are a host of activities and attractions that include Valley of the Waves, a popular man-made beach complete with waves and a background disco beat); Sun Central, where you can shop, eat, watch a movie, go ten-pin bowling, visit the South African Sports Hall of Fame, and much more;, water slides, a zipline, and even a maze.

A little further away from the hotels there are two championship golf courses, water sports on a man-made lake, running trails, balloon rides, quad biking, tours to a local village and a second, more extreme zipline experience called Zip2000 that until recently could claim to claim to be the world’s longest, highest and fastest zip slide.

But for many the highlight will be the game drives available in Pilanesberg, a fabulous wildlife-rich sanctuary that surrounds Sun City.

SHAWU, A LIFESIZE BRONZE SCULPTURE AT THE PALACE HOTEL

This 55,000-hectare reserve – fences keep the animals well away from the hotels – offers a top-class safari experience at a fraction of the price you would pay in a private reserve (about £37 for a threehour drive).

True, all vehicles have to stick to the paved roads – in the national parks there’s no beating around the bush in search of wildlife – and there is no limit put on the number of cars, minibuses and Land Rovers that are permitted to gather around an animal sighting, but the chances of seeing members of the elite ‘Big Five’ of elephant, lion, leopard and rhino are excellent.

During our four-hour drive around just a quarter of the park’s 200km of roads, we see some of the 250 resident elephants, buffalo, a female rhino and her calf and, memorably, a male lion which looks confused as he continually criss-crosses the road right next to our vehicle.

We also get our cameras out for blackbacked jackals, steenbok, Nile crocodiles, hippos, zebra and, of course, impala

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31

seemingly gathered around every corner.

With four hotels – including the grandiose Palace of the Lost City – offering rates at various different price points, Sun City has accommodation to suit all pockets. Just a two-hour or so drive from Johannesburg, Sun City makes the perfect start or end of any trip to South Africa.

Affordable National Parks Pilanesberg National Park is one of several affordable malaria-free safari options available in South Africa – so a great option for families. Others include Madikwe, in the same North West Province, and several reserves in the Eastern Cape and the Waterberg, in Limpopo.

All of the above are great suggestions for clients who have previously experienced Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route and are looking for an alternative South Africa itinerary.

As Tricia Birmingham, Senior Product Manager: Africa for Gold Medal, notes: “South Africa is a country with a huge range of accommodation, day tours and activities, and incredible natural wonders... there really is something to suit everyone.”

Top experiences

Rise above: It’s a tad pricey (about £275), but for an unforgettable experience book clients an early-morning balloon flight over Pilanesberg National Park. Balloons take off and land close to a hippo-stocked lake/ Crocs and quads: Sun City is geared up for the kids – from the Crocodile Village to mini-quad bikes for three to 12-year-olds to Kamp Kwena, which runs a range of fun and educational activities.

Fly to the Sun: To maximise holiday time, suggest clients fly to Sun City from either Johannesburg and Cape Town. SA Express operates four flights a week to Pilanesberg Airport, located just 10km outside Sun City.

LOST CITY GOLF COURSE, SUN CITY

ON SAFARI

PALACE OF THE LOST CITY

BALLOON IN PILANESBERG

Shuttle away: For a stylish stay in Johannesburg, suggest The Maslow, located in Sandton. The hotel runs a free shuttle bus to the bars and restaurants of nearby Nelson Mandela Square.

What's new

Airlines update: South African Airways

(flysaa.com) has put its new A330-300 aircraft

on the daily Heathrow-Johannesburg route.

Virgin Atlantic (virginatlantic.com) will this winter introduce a second-daily service between Heathrow and Johannesburg’s OR TAMBO airport, operated by new Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The new flight takes off on October 28.

British Airways (batraveltrade.com) will start operating Europe’s only direct flight to Durban on October 29. Boeing 787-8 aircraft will serve the three-times-weekly service. The airline also operates a twicedaily service from Heathrow to Johannesburg, flies year-round to Cape Town (daily) and has a threetimes-a-week service to the same city from Gatwick during the winter.

“If you can include it in a booking, a South African Braii under the stars in Boma is a culinary experience that your customers will never forget. I can’t recommend it enough” Tricia Birmingham, Senior Product Manager: Africa for Gold Medal

suninternational.com; mankwegametrackers.co.za 

STANDING TALL

• Steve Hartridge was a guest of South African Airways and Sun International.

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my trip to... south africa

33

the land where the sun rises

Jessica Pook enjoys Johannesburg before venturing to Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces where she is rewarded with dramatic vistas and some close-up calls with nature

C “

ome quick!” Says our ranger.

These are words that conjure a mixture of excitement and fear whilst on a morning game walk in the Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa. As we huddle together, I’m slightly underwhelmed by what appears to be a pile of elephant dung.

“This holds so much moisture, it could keep you alive for days if you were stranded in the bush,” enthuses Richard, as he starts picking at the dry, grassy remains. The next thing we know we are passing it around like it’s a rare jewel!

Limpopo

I’m travelling around the provinces of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng, courtesy of South African Tourism, and I’ve been counting down the days until I can experience some of the wildlife that this country is known for.

Our home for the night is Mtomeni Camp, situated on the African Ivory Route in Limpopo. The camp is owned by the local community, something that the rangers –

also locals – are extremely proud of, and shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park – a top pick with visitors looking to spot the Big Five.

The Letaba River runs through the middle of the camp, attracting a rich source of animal activity almost within touching distance, and consists of 12 comfortable safari tents which gives the camp a small, intimate feel. Mtomeni can justifiably be called exclusive – it’s the only camp in a 42,000 hectare reserve!

In single file we follow Richard – I am mindful not to be too close to the back! – until we reach the bank of the river, where we are met by a big group of hippopotami, with everything except a few ears and snouts submerged. It’s very special when we spot a calf playfully nudging against her mother’s side.

“How did you know they would be here?”

I ask Richard, astounded that his tracker’s nose had sniffed them out. “They are always here” he answers casually. “They never move from this spot unless they come onto the riverbank – and when they

do they can run up to speeds of 30 mph!”

With the thought of outrunning a hippo at the forefront of my mind, we move on.

In the cool evening air we settle at a spot which overlooks giraffe and elephant in a gorge below. With a gin and tonic in hand we finish the day by witnessing a spectacular sunset - an experience that will stay with me for a long time.

Mpumalanga

There are some places in the world that have the ability to make you feel insignificantly small. Looking out across the endless vistas of the Panorama Route in South Africa, I realised I had found one of them.

I had an inkling that this leg of our journey wouldn’t disappoint. Mpumalanga translates from Zulu as ‘The Land Where the Sun Rises’. And with names like ‘God’s Window’ and ‘Paradise Country’ being thrown around, it didn’t take long for us to understand why.

Bordered by Swaziland and Mozambique, Mpumalanga is sculpted

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my trip to... south africa

Top tips

by plunging canyons, cascading waterfalls and the seemingly endless Lowveld plains. Visitors who are prepared to venture beyond Kruger will discover the stunning Panorama Route, which maps out some of nature’s most dramatic terrains.

From the Blyde River Canyon to Bourke’s Luck Potholes to the appropriately named God’s Window, each offers a new frame of the Drakensberg Escarpment and makes stopping off along the way essential.

When to go May - September is the prime time for game viewing. It’s South Africa’s summer time so it will be hot, but vegetation is dry which makes for better photos and more frequent animal sightings.

Beat the crowds Kruger National Park can feel overcrowded with safari vehicles, so suggest that clients spend a night in a smaller reserve as an add-on. They will leave feeling they have had a more authentic experience.

Johannesburg

I’ll admit, I had mixed thoughts on Johannesburg, however I found myself being wowed by the mix of history and colourful streetlife. Of course, you have to have your wits about you, but as I walked the streets as part of a Past Experiences

From left: Blyde River Canyon; women dancing by Eleanor Muller; Orlando Towers, Johannesburg; Ribola Art Route; Mtomeni Camp

street art tour, I was overwhelmed by the vibrancy of the graffiti, the rawness of the street musicians and the sense of community from projects such as ‘iwasshot in Joburg’, a photography project designed to keep young people off the streets.

And no visit to Joburg is complete without a day spent in Soweto, once home to Nelson Mandela and the scene of the harrowing Soweto Uprising in 1978 when thousands of students were gunned down in a protest for equal rights. The day became emblematic in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid.

It may have had a turbulent recent past, and has many modern day problems to work through, but South Africa’s raw appeal remains as strong as it always has.

It’s a place you leave knowing that one day you’ll come back. Some countries you just can’t resist – and South Africa is definitely one of them. 

Make time for culture South Africa has eleven official languages, including English, which is widely spoken.

The different ‘tribes’ and cultures make for a range of diverse experiences, so make time for a tour of the Modjadji Cycad Reserve, watch a rain dancing ceremony or visit salt harvesters at Baleni, doing a traditional Tsonga activity dating back 2,000 years.

Where to book it

Acacia Africa offers a seven-day Kruger, Swazi & Beach overland itinerary from £425pp, with the additional option of an Adventure Pass from £120pp. Starting in Johannesburg and ending in Durban, this package is offered as a camping or accommodated tour and includes transport, accommodation, most meals and the services of a tour leader/driver.

The price excludes international flights. acacia-africa.com

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spotlight on

35

Talking...

Newmarket Holidays In conversation with... Richard Forde, Head of Trade Sales, who discusses the future of escorted touring

Q

What sets Newmarket apart from other tour operators?

A: It has to be our breadth of portfolio.

We offer everything from events such as Wimbledon or theatre shows to short haul holidays and long haul touring. Then there’s river cruising and our own unique charters to Lapland! So we really do have something for all agents and all clients – all with exceptional quality and value. We have won Best Escorted Tour Operator for five years in a row at the British Travel Awards. Our USPs are price parity across all channels and a price promise.

Q

How does Newmarket assist the UK trade in selling its products?

A: As well as myself we have a three-strong onthe-road sales team, plus my colleague Jess as dedicated agent sales support. We also have a special call centre team for agents and a fully-bookable website. We provide trade-friendly posters and we are always happy to help and educate with presentations, in–store events, roadshows and meeting with managers. Plus agents can always direct questions to our Facebook buddy, Nic Newmarket.

Q

How has escorted touring changed in recent years?

A: There’s a much greater variety of holidays to a greater breadth of

destinations, with operators offering more flexibility, such as tour-only or options to extend. There’s also higher-quality hotels which appeals to a younger demographic who want value for money and to see a lot in a short space of time – it’s not just about coaching holidays these days!

Q

Where are you seeing growth?

A: Long haul is our biggest area of growth, with India the standout destination. Also, small group touring is becoming more popular. We work with groups of around 16 but have launched private tours too.

Ireland is seeing a resurgence and we now have 10 fascinating itineraries there.

“We offer everything from sporting events and theatre trips to long and short haul touring and river cruising. Newmarket Holidays are always happy to help agents!”

Q

What’s new?

A: We will be launching a new booking engine in the summer, which will lead to a quicker more functional trade website with more connectivity to API/XML feeds. We have a new partnership with A-Rosa river cruises for 2019 and our new eight-day Jerusalem, Galilee & The Holy Land tour (from £1,399) is selling really well.

Q

What’s the future of touring?

A: Continued expansion of multicentre holidays aligned with themes, like a rail trip with wine tasting, and more interaction and immersion with communities and local culture. 

TOP PACKAGE The lead-in India holiday, the 10-day India Tigers & the Taj Mahal, is from £1,249pp, with B&B, eight nights’ dinner and five lunches, four- and five-star accommodation and flights from Heathrow, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Manchester. September 18-October 19 2018. newmarketholidays.co.uk

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June 2018

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

New look Eden Roc THE iconic Eden Roc Miami

Beach hotel has completed a $250-million makeover including the refurbishment of all 415 guest rooms

Gettin

g the in

side know

ledge

L.A. Insider training tool

THE Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board has launched L.A. Insider, a new training tool for agents wanting to sell more holidays to the The City of Angels.

The online programme features a series of modules designed to keep agents up to date with the latest tourism offerings. Completion of the training will give agents access to discounts from L.A. members, along with fam trip opportunities and the chance to win a trip to one of the city's award-winning shows. Agents will also receive a certificate.

L.A. Insider also provides easy access to L.A. Tourism’s marketing assets, maps and videos and neighborhood tours in virtual reality.

An L.A. Insider app is also available to download. insider.discoverlosangeles.com

“Chicago recorded a record 2.33 million overnight stays in the first quarter of 2018 - tourism means jobs"

and suites, a ‘re-imagination’ of Morris Lapidus' 16-seat lobby bar by interior designer David Rockwell, a signature Nobu restaurant and the flagship Nobu Hotel tower. rochotelmiami.com

Norwegian to NY

NORWEGIAN is to launch an additional daily flight between London and New York, starting on October 29, 2018. The extra frequency will depart from Gatwick at 09.50 and land at New York JFK at

Rahm Emanuel

13.00, with the return flight departing

Mayor of Chicago

JFK at 19.40. The new service will give the airline up to three flights a day on the route. norwegian.com

Remembering MLK GEORGIA'S new Footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Trail has been launched as part of memorial commemorations marking the 50th anniversary of his death. The self-guided tour aims to connect travellers with Georgia’s role in the Civil Rights movement.

exploreGeorgia.org

THE USA in brief...

TRAVEL INCENTIVE agents can earn up to £150 for every California booking made with Premier Holidays until the end of June. The tour operator is promoting the state via a new marketing campaign which focuses on San Francisco, Sacramento, Yosemite, Santa Cruz, West Hollywood, Greater Palm Springs and San Diego. trade.premierholidays.co.uk.

THE Illinois Office of Tourism has launched a new Frank Lloyd Wright trail which features 13 Wrightdesigned buildings where Wright lived and worked during the first 20 years of his career. Stops along the way include Oak Park, Chicago, Geneva, Rockford, Belvidere, Springfield, Kankakee, Hampshire and Dwight. enjoyillinois.co.uk ATTRACTIONS

NYC & Company is this month expecting more than two million visitors to descend on New York City to celebrate the 49th anniversary of the world's first LGBTQ Pride event.

The various celebrations across the five boroughs include Manhattan's Heritage of Pride (June 23), Brooklyn's Annual Pride Week (June 4-9) and Queens Pride (June 3). NYCpride.org ATTRACTIONS

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

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

MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT SEAWORLD’S NEW SESAME STREET SeaWorld Orlando is to open a brandnew themed attraction in spring 2019.

Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando will bring the famous TV street to park visitors by featuring “a colourful and creative world brought alive by immersive theming and interactive play." seaworldagents.com

VIRGIN OFFERS HIGH TEA Virgin Atlantic has partnered with celebrity chef Eric Lanlard, who has designed a series of afternoon teas for the airline.

The offering, which includes handmade sandwiches, scones and macaroons, will feature in Upper Class, Premium and Economy in August. virginatlantic.com

introducing...

Experience Kissimmee JO PIANI ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

New 20 19

When did Experience Kissimmee join Visit USA? We have been a member for the past five years.

brochure s

Gold Medal’s Florida prize

GOLD MEDAL has a new agent incentive to celebrate the launch of its latest 72-page Florida brochure, which features nine new properties including the latest addition to Universal Orlando Resort, Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites, set to open in 2019, and four new attractions: WonderWorks Orlando, Gatorland, Boggy Creek Airboat Adventure and Orlando Mucky ducks.

Agents also have the chance to win a Florida holiday, including flights, accommodation in Orlando and New Smyrna Beach, car hire and theme park tickets to Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, and Kennedy Space Center. To win, agents need to book a 2019 Gold Medal Florida holiday before June 30 2018. (qualifying bookings can be dated from April 19) and send the booking reference to win@goldmedal.co.uk. goldmedal.co.uk

First Class USA options

FIRST Class Holidays is offering guaranteed pricing across its long-haul programme of holidays. USA options start from £2,627pp for a 14-day ‘Golden Triangle’ independent tour of Western USA, based on a December 2018 departure. The price includes all flights, transfers, car hire, 12 nights’ accommodation and some excursions. visitcalifornia.co.uk

Kung Fu in California

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS will open its new DreamWorks Theatre, featuring ‘Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest’, on June 15. Universal says ‘guests won't believe the projected imagery is an illusion’. A day ticket costs from £82 per adult and £76 per child. universalstudios.com

What are the main benefits of membership? We attend events like Unite and the Meet the Media evening, and it provides a platform to meet buyers, airlines, and other USA specialists.

Is Kissimmee still attracting the Brits? Our UK visitor numbers are up and I think that is because the destination offers a greatvalue product.

Why is Kissimmee known as the ‘Vacation Home of the World’. There is a huge amount of vacation rental homes, and for all budgets and clients – anything from two-bedroom condos to a 14-bedroom mansion. They are proving very popular – we are seeing a lot of multigenerational families staying in them.

What is there to do outside of the theme parks?

Kissimmee offers some great natural attractions and escapes, like kayaking along the waters of the Everglades, airboat rides or golf on a PGA course. The new Margaritaville Resort will open later this year, with hotel rooms, condos, cottages and a freshwater lagoon and waterpark. experiencekissimmee.com/uk

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

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latin american adventures

capital

venture

Latin America is the ultimate region of adventure, a continent offering unique thrills from the high Andes to the salt deserts. Adam Coulter suggests some ideas

T

he night before we’re due to land at the end of the world, the captain of the Stella Australis announces that our arrival at Cabo de Horno (Cape Horn) is far from guaranteed. He’ll update us at 7am tomorrow, but bad weather and big swells means that the landing may have to be abandoned, though he reassures us the ship achieves it eight times out of 10.

The next morning we’re all up early waiting... the Captain comes on the PA and announces that we have a

window – a short one – but it’s on. We rush back to our cabins to don our gear and make our way to the back of the ship, where the Zodiacs are kept.

From the beach at the base of the cliff it’s a slow journey up the rickety wooden staircase to the summit. As we reach the top we lean into the wind, which is blowing at a steady 100 km/h, with gusts up to 120 km/h. That’s mild for this part of the world.

At the end of a long wooden walkway lies a promontory where, in theory, the Pacific and Atlantic meet. Due south lies Antarctica, just 600 miles away.

Thrilling escapes

From driving across the lunar landscapes of Chile’s Atacama desert to cruising the fjords of Patagonia, hiking the Ecuadorian Andes or diving with whale sharks in the Galapagos, Latin America offers an extraordinary and varied array of adventures to suit the most intrepid traveller.

As well as the ‘classic’ adventure experiences, there are a number of new and exciting alternatives on offer – such as Puma tracking in Torres del Paine, horse riding in Argentina and the

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latin american adventures

Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu (staying diving in the Caribbean, with perfectlyin comfortable lodges instead of camping preserved reefs. In the nearby island of and avoiding the busy Inca Trail).

Utila, there’s the opportunity to swim with “There’s a growing appetite to visit Latin whale sharks. Add some culture to this America and thanks to beach and diving flights to Chile, Costa holiday with a day and Rica and Peru with “There is no better way to a night at Copan, site British Airways, this see Buenos Aires than by of one of the most corner of the world perfectly preserved bike. The city is flat, has Mayan ruins in has never been easier wide roads and many to reach,” explains Central America.

Laura Rendelldedicated biking routes” Dunn, Marketing Top Tip: Central America Adam Coulter, Travel Writer Manager with Journey is small enough to Latin America, add on a country which offers all these trips. or two on any tour: suggest a few nights in BA’s direct flights have led to a sharp Nicaragua and a stay on an island volcano on increase in interest to these two Lake Omatepe with kayaking and trekking. countries, according to Cox & Kings’ Marketing Manager Katie Cosstick.

“Peru and Chile are selling really well,” Peak performance she said. “Visiting the Andes is best Tailor a tour through the heart of the during the UK summer – clear skies, Andes, visiting Chile, Bolivia and Peru. warmer days (cold nights) and no rain.

Your clients will discover dramatic It’s a perfect time for Machu Picchu.” highland scenery and traditional cultures including the stunning Atacama desert Young crowd: Emily Opie, Travel Designer for and the otherworldly Uyuni salt flats in Latin America at Jacada Travel, said: “We are Bolivia; Lake Titicaca, legendary birthplace noticing a natural shift from our traditional of the Incas; and the ancient sites of customers – over 50s – to a younger demographic the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. of over 30s, which is opening up new avenues.”

For a luxurious twist, suggest clients add on the Belmond Andean Explorer train which offers one- and two-night Scuba action journeys travelling in Peru’s high altiplano.

The island of Roatan, off Honduras, lies at one end of the second-longest barrier reef Sell it: Cox & Kings (coxandkings.co.uk) offers this 19in the world and offers some of the best day and 16-day tour which includes international

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and internal flights and accommodation at three- and four-star hotels from £3,895pp.

Steamy jungle

Suggest a stay in Mashpi Lodge, an ecoresort in a 1,300-hectare (3,200-acre) bio-sphere reserve which has both cloud forest and rainforest. Mashpi Lodge sits in the heart of the globally-important ‘Choco’ area of biodiversity in Ecuador.Activities include visiting the Life Centre with its butterflies and plants, climbing the eightstorey observation tower, riding on the Sky Bike through the forest canopy and

Opening page: A fruit seller in Colombia’s Cartagena. This pag, clockwise: The Lost - but hugely popular - Incan City of Machu Picchu, Peru; view of glacier Perito Moreno in Patagonia; divers have the chance to swim with whale sharks in the Galapagos

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taking the Dragonfly – a canopy cablecar – up to 200 metres off the forest floor.

Sell it: Cox & Kings (coxandkings.co.uk) offers a an eight-night private tour including international flights, a two-night stay at Mashpi Lodge and a three-night Galapagos cruise. The lead-in price is £5,495pp.

Adrenaline trip

White water rafting on the Urumbamba River in Peru’s Sacred Valley; climbing up a 300m rock face in Pachar, Peru, then zip-lining back down; hiking up to Machu Picchu; four days trekking through the

From left, clockwise: Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia; street art in Buenos Aires; Marine iguana on Isabela Island, Galapagos

stunning landscapes of Torres del Paine in Patagonia; ice trekking across a glacier in the Perito Moreno National Park; and riding across the Argentine Pampas – all part of one extraordinary tour. For the ultimate adventure, add on three-nights exploring the Chilean fjords with Australis, including a trip to “Visiting Cabo de Horno.

(bikingbuenosaires.com) and you can choose from various bike tours through the city including Hidden Graffiti & Urban Art ($55/half day) and Bike & Kayak in Tigre ($150 full day includes lunch).

the Andes is best during the UK summer. You can expect clear skies, warmer days and colder nights and no rain. It’s a perfect time for Machu Picchu”

Wildlife watching

When it comes to getting up close Sell it: Jacada Travel’s 16and personal day South America with wildlife, it’s for the Action Adventurer impossible to beat tour includes luxury the Galapagos – accommodation there is simply and private tours nowhere else on from £8,844pp. earth where animals Katie Cosstick, Marketing Manager, Cox & Kings are completely unafraid of you.

Urban adventures Highlights include snorkelling with There’s no better way to see Buenos sea lions, walking amongst giant Aires than by bike. The Argentinian tortoises, tiptoeing through mounds capital is flat, with wide roads and of sunbathing marine iguanas or many dedicated biking routes. Take in dodging blue-footed boobies. the iconic sites of colourful La Boca, Underwater, visitors can spot sealions, posh Puerto Madero and the heart hammerhead sharks, turtles and, if they of the city, Plaza Dos de Mayo. are lucky, whale sharks. A couple of days ‘BA’ is also home to some stunning in Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel in Santa Cruz graffiti (including a Banksy), which is a good place to base clients who dive. you can book as a theme tour.

A good tour to add for adventurous Top Tip: You can’t take a Galapagos cruise types is a kayak ride through the and scuba dive, you have to either take steamy deltas of the River Plate, a ‘live aboard’, where you dive every day followed by a barbecue on an island. but can’t go on land, or base yourself in Puerto Ayora and do daily dive trips. All the Top Tip: Book through Biking Buenos Aires dive centres are based in the capital. 

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Israeli

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Compact Israel is best known for modern Mediterranean Tel Aviv, Jerusalem’s ancient sacred sites, the beaches of Eilat and the Dead Sea. Laura Gelder looks beyond

Haifa

Caesarea

Masada

Seaside town Haifa is the Silicone Valley of Israel and is often dubbed the country’s best example of Arab-Jewish co-existence.

The city’s most famous tourist attraction is the Baha’i shrine and tropical gardens which cling to the slopes of Mount Carmel, looking over the Med. At the foot of this is the German Colony, founded in the 19th century as a Christian community and home to charming stone houses.

The beaches are a draw for sun worshippers and surfers and the port area is a bustling area of commerce. Nearby is the Carmel Hai-Bar Nature Reserve which aims to save endangered species like the griffon vulture and fire salamander.

This half-ruined port city is considered one of Israel’s greatest Roman sites. The area has been occupied since 586BC, by Phoenicians and Byzantines too, but at its height the megalomaniac King Herod transformed it into a thriving fortified city.

Visitors can still see the remains of a bathhouse, aqueduct and an amphitheatre, where gladiators once fought to the death with ferocious beasts. Today the amphitheatre also holds modern concerts and an onsite museum uses coins, jewellery and other relics of the past to explain its history. There’s also a golden beach and a scuba club offering divers the chance to explore the parts of the city lost to the sea.

This mighty clifftop fortress is a place of a legendary resistance. The 450-metre plateau rises sharply between the arid wastes of the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea and offers panoramic views of both from its summit – reached by cable car or a walk up the Snake Path. Masada was Herod’s winter residence and, despite its remote location, hosted luxurious palaces, well-stocked store rooms and elaborate cisterns which fed the bathhouses so beloved by Romans. After the death of Herod, Masada was the site of the last stand by the Sicarii, an extreme Jewish sect who sacrificed themselves rather than be killed by the Roman troops.

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Safed This tranquil hilltop town is famed for its connection to Jewish mysticism, or Kabbalah (famously followed by Madonna). Safed’s elevation guarantees a cool climate and clean pine-scented air while its narrow streets are filled with art galleries and cafes perfect for browsing and people watching. The crowd is eclectic – traditionally-dressed Hasidic Jews to bohemian spirituality seekers. In its old Arab Quarter is an artists’ colony while the old Jewish Quarter is lined with synagogues and craft stalls.

Nazareth

Acre

Said to be the home of Jesus, the site of the angel Gabriel’s night time visit to Mary and one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations in the world, Nazareth is also Israel’s largest Arab city. It’s a buzzing, traffic-jammed mini-metropolis famous for a great dining scene that ranges from rough and ready falafel houses to chic bistros. The Old City still has crumbling Ottoman mansions and many churches, including the Basilica of the Annunciation which marks the spot where Mary found out she was with child.

This many-layered port has a subterranean Crusader city, Roman remnants and an Ottoman quarter – it’s been continuously occupied since the Phoenician period (1500 BC). Underground are atmospheric souks selling everything from spices to trainers; above ground are stone ramparts looking out to sea. Visitors can wander the city walls, watch fishermen mend their nets or join the locals and nurse an obligatory coffee amongst the sweet scent of Shisha.

Hof Habonim Ramon Crater

Culinary Jerusalem

The Negev Desert’s dramatic rocky canyons stretch all the way to the Red Sea in Israel’s south. The Ramon Crater is the largest of its kind in the world, 40km long, between two and 10km wide, and shaped like an elongated heart. A jeep tour through this geological phenomenon offers a chance to understand its formation, from erosion rather than a meteor impact or volcanic eruption.

There’s also the chance to spot the wildlife which manages to pick out an existence from the dry rubble, including gazelles and wild ibex with long, curved horns.

While Tel Aviv is often lauded for its trendy dining, Jerusalem is more often talked about for its religious monuments – but the city offers equally eclectic cuisine, with influences from the Middle and Far East, North Africa and South America. At its heart is Mahane Yehuda, a market home to piles of ruby red pomegranates, spices, meats and coffee stalls. It is also an openair gallery, with spray-painted murals of contemporary and historical figures on its window shutters. It inspires many of the city’s top restaurants, like Jacko’s Street with its menu of international fusion food.

This area on the Mediterranean coast is blessed with the white sands Hof Dor Beach as well as Dor-Habonim Nature Reserve. Visitors can explore walking trails along sandstone ridges and past rocky inlets and clear water bays, visit the famous Blue Cave and snap the rusty shipwreck.

BOOK IT WITH RIVIERA TRAVEL Jerusalem, Galilee and the Dead Sea is an eight-day trip priced from £1,299 and includes guided tours of Acre, Masada, Caesarea and Nazareth as well as a boat cruise. rivieratravel.co.uk – 01283 880 264

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Walk the streets of Jerusalem and experience 3,000 years of history in a day.

Live like a local in Tel Aviv and hit the beach, enjoy the restaurants, fashion and nightlife until dawn! Israel, come enjoy the journey of a lifetime!

Book You Trip Now! www.citiesbreak.com

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

VISIT RWANDA

RWAN DA: THE EYES HAVE IT

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DISCOVER NEW ENGLAND THE NEWS FROM CAPE COD

I N DABA, S OU T H AF R IC A A ROUNDUP FROM DURBAN

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

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Tourism Update

Selling Travel writer scoops top LATA gong

CAROL HAY UK Manager, Caribbean Tourism Organization

WE would like to thank those readers who attended our recent Caribbean Agent Training Roadshows in Ireland and Scotland.

If you were unable to make it but are interested in learning more about the Caribbean region, while networking with key trade partners and having the opportunity to win some great prizes, there’s still time to join the CTO and our partners at the following locations: June 13, London; June 14, Brighton; June 20, Jersey; June 21, Guernsey; September 19, Newcastle; and September 20, Liverpool.

Don’t miss out, register now to secure your place at https://www.caribbeantravelguru. com/reg-form.html

Also, look out for the CTO’s new Guide to Selling the Caribbean. To request a copy contact Ann-Marie Brooks at abrooks@caribtourism.com or by calling 020 8948. 0057.

FREELANCE writer Ben Lerwill, a regular contributor to Selling Travel, was one of the winners at this year’s Latin American Travel Association’s Media Awards.

Lerwill landed the ‘Best Trade Publication Feature of the Year’ award for a piece titled ‘Andes to Amazon’, which appeared in the June 2017 issue of Selling Travel.

The winners were revealed at an event that took place at the RSA House in London attended by key members of the Latin American travel industry, the diplomatic community and some of the UK’s best-known travel writers and photographers.

With Lerwill overseas, his award was picked up on the night

by Selling Travel editor Steve

Hartridge (pictured front row, third from right).

Colin Stewart, Chairman of LATA, commented: “The quality of the entries for the 2018 LATA Media Awards was extremely high and LATA would like to thank all the talented journalists and photographers who entered the awards. They brought the Latin American region to life through creative and interesting stories and powerful photography.”

The headline sponsor on the night was Wendy Wu Tours.

Previously known as an Asian specialist operator, Wendy Wu has expanded into Latin America and offers a collection of tailor-made holidays and group tours.

Caribbean flora wins gold at Chelsea

BY JESSICA POOK

THE Caribbean islands of Barbados and Grenada both celebrated a gold win for their exhibits at the Chelsea Flower Show 2018.

Pure Grenada’s ‘The Road to Success’ incorporated a traditional open-sided bus surrounded by tropical ferns, orchids and spices native to Grenada.

Lesley John, lead designer of the Grenada stand, said: “We have seen a real increase in tourists wanting to explore the flora of the island and we hope that we can continue to represent Grenada at future shows.”

Barbados’ ‘Where Rum Comes From’ exhibit was a floral representation of a rum still featuring sugar cane, barrels and rumbased cocktails set amongst tropical flora. grenadagrenadines.com

lata.travel

Rwanda has image makeover to reflect confidence in tourism assets VISIT RWANDA

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

RWANDA has a new brand identity, logo and slogan – ‘Visit Rwanda’ – as part of a strategy to attract more tourists.

The fresh direction is inspired by Rwanda’s landscape, volcanoes, flora and fauna and the Rwanda traditional art form, Imigongo.

A tourism spokesperson said: “Rwanda has made an impressive transformation over the last few years into a modern, safe country with world-class infrastructure and

an expanding premium tourism sector. Substantial investment is being made into roads, a new international airport and new premium hotels across Rwanda.”

The country’s best known tourism asset is Volcanoes National Park, for its mountain gorillas, but visitors can also experience walks over jungle canopies, cycling, kayaking, birding and culture and heritage at Nyanza and Huye. visitrwanda.com

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One Ocean tees off in Scotland ONE Ocean Expeditions (OOE) is expanding its cruise programme to Scotland and Ireland next year, with a new itinerary focusing on golf, whiskey and history.

Leaving June 5 2019, the eight-day Scotland & Ireland Golf Expedition aboard OOE’s newest vessel, RCGS Resolute, will include stops in Dublin, Northern Ireland, the Kintyre Peninsula in Scotland, the Hebridean Islands, Inverness, and Edinburgh, where guests can extend their stay in the and play a final round at the Old Course at St Andrews. There are also activities in each stop for non-golfers.

Price start from $4,395pp. oneoceanexpeditions.com

Could it be magic from Shearings?

SHEARINGS Holidays has short-break packages for Barry Manilow’s UK concerts this September.

A five-day coach break, including four nights at the Charlecote Pheasant hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon and the concert at the Birmingham Arena on September 4, starts from £414pp. The deal includes coach travel available from south-east pick- up points. Manilow’s hit songs include Mandy, Could It Be Magic and Copacabana. shearingsagent.com

Australis has second way around Cape Horn

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NEWS TO USE IN BRIEF ROYAL Brunei Airlines is to launch daily non-stop flights between Heathrow and Brunei International Airport, starting October 28 2018.

The non-stop flight to Brunei, a result of the airline dropping its Dubai stopover, will see guests enjoy faster journey times, with the Brunei-Heathrow route reduced from 18.1 hours to 14.6 hours and the Melbourne-BruneiHeathrow route reduced to 23.2 hours from 28.4 hours.

Flights will be operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. flyroyalbrunei.com

BY JO AUSTIN

CHILEAN expedition cruise company Australis visited the UK to celebrate 25 years of sailing the waterways of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego and spread the word about its second vessel, Ventus Australis, launched in January.

Australis, which has just two ships, take passengers out to the most southerly tip of South America, Cape Horn, and around the Patagonian islands and fjords.

Like its sister ship, Stella Australis, Ventus Australis offers clients the opportunity to cross between Argentina and Chile between Punta

Arenas and Ushuaia, with a stop on the island of Magdalena, home of the Patagonia penguin colony where Australis has initiated a penguin conservation project.

Catering to a maximum of around 200 passengers, the two ships undertake three-, four- and seven-night itineraries between September and April.

Clients can add a cruise to create a wider Latin America itinerary with operators such as Cox and Kings, Abercrombie & Kent, Travel 2 and SAGA, who all sell Australis. australis.com

Reethi Beach Resort Maldives TRADE-FRIENDLY Wholesaler Osborne & Ebel has a special deal for Reethi Beach Resort Maldives.

Five Nights start from £349pp on a B&B basis, including return domestic flight and boat transfers.

Travel between now and October 31 2018. The resort is set in the UNESCO BioSphere site of Baa Atoll, close to incredible snorkelling and diving spots.

It’s a real Robinson Crusoe gem! For details contact: sales@osborneandebel.com

AZAMARA Club Cruises will debut in 2020 with a series of ‘sail and safari’ cruises aboard both Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey. Six 10and 11-night fly-cruise and cruise-and-stay options will be available from Cape Town.

The cruises will run in January and February and at the end of the year. The Mother City will also be the starting point of a 109-night sailing to London in February 2020. azamaraclubcruises.co.uk

EDEN Rock, St Barths, an Oetker Collection’ property, will reopen on December 22 following extensive renovations. The changes include remodelled suites and private pools. The hotel was devastated last year by Hurricane Irma. oetkercollection.com

AGENTS booking flights with James Villa Holidays that depart between June and September can claim at least £400 a week on selected villas in Greece, Mallorca, the Algarve, Portugal, Cyprus, the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Bookings by August 6. jamesvillas.co.uk

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 DUBAI – APRIL 22-25

Growth is sustainable Lisa Merrigan and Jane Wilson round up the news from Dubai

Green is the theme RAS Al Khaimah has three new eco-friendly projects on the UAE’s highest mountain, Jebel Jais, positioning it as the nature adventure hub of the Middle East.

These include a luxury sustainable camp featuring the latest technology to minimize energy use, conserve water and minimize waste to protect the mountain range.

In Jordan, Feynan Ecolodge uses solar energy and sources and controls the usage of local spring water.

Hotel Indigo Dubai Sustainable City will be powered by solar energy and recycle waste to meet international environmental sustainability standards.

Jane Ashton, Director of Sustainable Development, TUI Group added: “Sustainability is a priority for today’s travellers. We sell the people and the environment, so we have an interest in protecting both”. en.rasalkhaimah.ae

Dubai’s hot summer DUBAI Tourism is working with the UK travel trade to inspire bookings during the summer months by highlighting more affordable rates and the wide range of family holiday options.

The UK is Dubai’s thirdlargest source market for visitors: last year saw a 2% year-on-year increase in UK visitors (1.265 million travellers). visitdubai.com

ATM’s responsible stance

Abu Dhabi on up ABU Dhabi continues to gain in popularity among UK visitors, the emirate’s thirdlargest overseas market.

UK arrivals for February 2018 stood at 24,957, up by 21% for the same month in 2017. One of the destination’s newest attractions is The Louvre Abu Dhabi (pictured).

THE Arabian Travel Market (ATM) celebrated the 25th staging of the event at The Dubai World Trade Centre.

His Highness Sheik Maktoum and his accompanying delegation opened an event that attracted over 2,500 exhibitors and an estimated 40,000 visitors.

With a global spotlight on sustainability, ATM adopted Responsible Tourism as its official theme as the Gulf countries seek to diversify their tourism offerings.

The Middle East and North Africa regions can point to one of the world’s largest tourism and

hotel development ‘pipelines’: the UAE currently has 194 projects, and 55,264 rooms in the construction phase.

Simon Press, ATM’s Exhibition Director said: “In a region renowned for some of the world’s tallest hotels, buildings, theme parks and infrastructure, responsible tourism is not just about a carbon footprint it’s multidimensional, taking in resource efficiency, environmental protection, climate change and preserving cultures while opening new areas to tourism to bring economic development to local communities.”

Dubai port keeps country cruising along

Dusit’s heady growth DUSIT International has plans to add more than 75 properties worldwide.

Currently with 27 hotels across eight countries, there are more than 50 projects in the pipeline in destinations including China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Thailand and the UAE. Below: the new Dusit Princess Moonrise Beach Resort, Phu Quoc, Vietnam. dusit.com

CRUISE TOURISM in Dubai is expected to grow significantly with the expansion of DP World’s Hamdan bin Mohammad Cruise Terminal at Mina Rashid. Since the terminal was inaugurated in 2014, there has been a 68% increase in cruise ship calls. visitdubai.com

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Rotana lines up 48 new properties

Emmar’s expansion push

jumeirah.com/Jumeirah-Hotels

rotana.com

A NEW Warner Bros park, with 29 rides and six immersive lands, will be the latest addition to Abu Dhabi’s line-up of family attractions when it opens in July.

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will bring together some of the world’s most iconic characters and stories.

The 1.65 million sq. ft. indoor theme will be the third Miral theme park on Yas Island, joining Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld.

Yas island draws around 25 million visitors a year, but Miral predicts an increase to 30 million with the opening of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. wbworld.com

ATM SHORTS JUMEIRAH Hotels & Resorts’ expansion into new markets is continuing apace in 2018. The Jumeirah Royal Saray in Bahrain opened earlier this year and next up are Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah Bali, Indonesia and Jumeirah Nanjing, China.

Linda Lewis, VP of Global Sales, for the Jumeirah Group said: “Jumeirah continues to strengthen its position as one of the most successful UAE brands.”

ROTANA is planning to open 48 new properties between now and 2020.

Among the key hotels on display at ATM were the three latest openings in UAE, including Saadiyat Rotana Resorts and Villas, a five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi that features 354 room suites with 13 private villas.

Aiming to extend its geographic reach, Rotana plans to expand into new markets in Africa as well as adding 32 new properties in ‘home regions’.

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EMMAR Hospitality Group, the company behind brands such as The Address, Vida and Rove Hotels & Resorts, has marked a milestone of 50 operational and new hotel projects.

Currently operating 12 properties and three serviced apartments in Dubai, the company has a ‘development pipeline’ of over 35 projects in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey and The Maldives, Olivier Harnisch, CEO of Emaar Hospitality Group, said.

Speaking at a press conference at ATM, he said that each of the three brands had gained “significant traction and are fast

expanding their footprint to meet the fast needs and aspirations of a quickly-changing tourist demographic…we are highlighting millennial travellers and a new generation of entrepreneurs.”

Harnisch, said Emaaar has noted a steady increase from the UK market and expects this to grow further.

“Our digital transformation strategy, which offers intelligent rooms and a seamless service where guests can check in/out anywhere, appeals to the rising number of millennials and the new generation of entrepreneurs,” he said. emaar.com

Mövenpick has eyes for Oman foothold MÖVENPICK Hotels and Resorts has earmarked Oman for its next expansion. The company says the plan is to open a third property, Mövenpick Hotel Muscat Airport, by 2021.

The news comes against the backdrop of the renovation and expansion of Muscat International Airport, which will increase capacity to around 48 million. movenpick.com

THE Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) will enjoy a spectacular opening in October as a luxury hotel and museum that will offer visitors insights into the history and legacy of the famed ocean liner and cruise ship. qe2.com

BLUEWATERS Island is scheduled to open later this year off the coast of Jumeirah, close to the Dubai Marina. It will boast the world’s largest observation wheel, Ain Dubai, at 210 meters tall. bluewatersdubai.ae

EMIRATES’ new daily route between Stansted and Dubai will launch on June 8.

The service will be operated by the airline’s new threeclass Boeing 777-300R aircraft.

With the introduction of the Stansted service there will be 10 Emirates flights a day between London and Dubai. jumeirah

NEXT year’s Arabian Travel Market will be again be held in Dubai. It will take place from May 28-May 1. arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com

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 DNE, CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – APRIL 21-16

Falling for the region Steve Hartridge, the only UK media at DNE, reports from Cape Cod

Plymouth gets ready for 2020

‘New’ business is healthy

PLYMOUTH, Massachusetts, is

already gearing up for a year of celebrations in 2020.

The year will mark the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, aboard the Mayflower, and a calendar of events that will appeal to international visitors is taking shape, said Michele Pecoraro, Executive Director of Plymouth 400.

“We will be telling all sides of the story – not just that of the Pilgrims – and really hope to move the needle on how the story of the Native Americans of that period is told.”

Plymouth 400 has developed a special 400th anniversary tour itinerary, that it discussed with UK operators at DNE. It starts in Boston and ends in Provincetown, Cape Cod, taking in key historical sites.

Meanwhile, just three miles from Plymouth is Plimouth Plantation, a ‘living’ historical village that has recreated the ‘English Village’ of those early settlers. Also on site is a separate homestead that tells the story of the Native Wampanoag Indians. plymouth400inc.org; plimoth/org

THE 23rd staging of the Discover New England (DNE) Annual Tourism Summit trade show took place in Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, against the backdrop of one of the six member states dropping out of the organisation.

However, despite the absence of Vermont this year, business on the trade show floor at the Sea Crest Hotel was brisk and participants praised the effectiveness of three days that showcased the tourism products in the host state along with those of Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine.

The show attracted 300 suppliers who held meetings with 85 international buyers from 15 countries. “It was one of our best

shows yet,” said Lori Harnois, Executive Director, Discover New England. “DNE provides the setting for many smaller tourism providers to show off their products in a place where everyone is thinking New England.

The people of Cape Cod really put out the welcome mat for us.”

UK tour operators at the show included Titan, America As You Like It and Vacations to America.

Titan’s Jayne White said: “At DNE you get to find out about so many regional products that you don’t see at the bigger shows like IPW. “Everyone wants to go to New England in the fall – but it is a lot more expensive then and more difficult to get space, so I am trying to develop tours that work well at other times of the year as well.”

DNE SHOW SHORTS OCEAN House in Rhode Island, one of just 13 ‘15star’ resorts in North America – five stars each for dining, accommodation and spa – is looking to attract more international guests after completing a multimillion-dollar guest-room renovation. Located close to the beach, key features include a kids club, squash courts, a cinema and a croquet lawn. Guests have the use of a hotel Mercedes. oceanhouseri.com

THE $8-million restoration of the Mayflower II, a fullscale replica of the wooden sailing boat that carried the Pilgrim Fathers to the New World in 1620, is taking place in Mystique Seaport, Connecticut. The remodelled ship, which dates from 1957, is expected to make its first public appearance in 2020.

When she returns she will be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. mysticseaport.org

BOSTON, NEW ENGLAND’S MAIN GATEWAY CITY

A whale of a trail in Massachusetts A NEW tourism route dedicated to the history of whaling was launched at DNE. The Massachusetts Whale Trail, which tells the story of the state through its connection to whales, features nearly 40 stops along the coast linked with the marine mammal. whaletrailma.com

THE Shining Sea Bikeway is a 10.7-mile (17.2k) paved pathway in Cape Cod that that takes cyclists and walkers through four picturesque villages. Bulit on an old rail bed, it provides views of salt marshes, barrier beaches and open water. Look out for ospreys, turtles and deer. falmouthmass.us/bike DNE Summit 2019 will be held at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Connecticut (April 14-17).

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 DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 7-10

Southern highlights Selling Travel was in Durban for Africa’s Travel Indaba. Jo Austin reports

Agents impressed

by Durban show TRAVEL agents invited to attend Indaba by SAT were impressed by the event.

“This was my first visit to South Africa. Speaking to the various providers at the show opened my eyes to what South Africa and the surrounding countries can offer my customers, said Lynne Jordan, a Travel Counsellor.

“My takeaway from Indaba is that the unrealised potential for tourism in South Africa and beyond is quite remarkable,“ said David Sutherland of Explorer Travel.

“Indaba is a vibrant event and as a result of the show we will be offering holidays beyond The Western Cape, where we currently do our business. I now have several new destinations to our golfing clients,” said Terry Rawding, Managing Director of Golf to a Tee.

Rules for children to be relaxed STRICT entry rules on families arriving in South Africa with children are to be revised, Tourism Minister, Derek Hanekom, confirmed.

Introduced in 2015 in an attempt to combat child trafficking, they have had a negative effect on the number of families visiting, the minister admitted.

Brits on the way back

SHOW SHORTS SOUTH African Tourism and the Nelson Mandela Foundation have joined forces to commemorate the centenary celebrations of the former president. SAT has identified 100 experiences and destinations around the country with historical and social ties to his life. madibasjourney.southafrica.net

IN an ambitious bid to attract five million additional visitors by 2021, South Africa’s government has embarked on a campaign to highlight the country as a value-formoney destination that has plenty to offer beyond the traditional tourist routes and seasons.

Tourism figures out of the UK and Ireland have slowed down over the past 12 months. Reasons cited for the drop include the ‘Day Zero’ messages on Cape Town running out of water and uncertainty over Brexit.

However, Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom says he believed UK interest is in a ‘holding pattern’ rather than a period of

permanent decline. “We think that our UK and Ireland visitors have simply put South Africa ‘on hold’ this year....but we are still confident we will meet our target of 5% growth on the almost 45,000 visitors that arrived in 2017,” he said.

“We want to reassure visitors that Cape Town is open for business following its worst drought on record. Water supplies are back to near normal levels.”

Africa’s Travel Indaba, hosted by South African Tourism (SAT) attracted over 6000 exhibitors, buyers, visitors and media from 80 countries. visitdurban.travel

Durban gets direct British Airways service

WILDERNESS Safaris has introduced a War on Plastics campaign, starting with its camps in Botswana. It includes a reduction of cling wrap, plastic straws and plastic food punnets. wilderness-safaris.com

OPENING November 1 2018, MORE’s Stanley & Livingstone will be Victoria Falls’ first boutique hotel.

On a private game reserve, it will form a quiet retreat in one of Africa’s most visited destinations. Two suites are ideal for families. more.co.za

ROVOS Rail will host a 15-day expedition in July 2019, visiting Tanzania, Zambia the Congo and Angola. The trip will include a visit to Selous Reserve and a fly-in safari to South Luangwa.

BRITISH Airways will become the only European carrier to operate a non-stop flight to Durban when it launches a three-times-a-week service from October 29, 2018. The service will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

IT was confirmed that Africa’s Travel Indaba will continue to be held in Durban for at least the next five years.

batravelttrade.com

indaba-southafrica.co.za

rovos.co.za

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the review: show preview

Experience Latin America ela, the largest Latin American event in Europe is back for its fifth consecutive year.

Here’s what to expect from the three-day show ela is Europe’s only trade event dedicated to Latin America. This year (June 11-13) 127 exhibitors will join buyers and travel operators at Canary Wharf, London, for a programme of seminar sessions and key speakers.

founder of the CREES Foundation and Danny Callaghan, General Manager of LATA.

Latin America appeal LATA member Cox and Kings has registered a 5% increase in bookings to Latin America since the beginning of this year, compared to the same period last year. Bookings to Peru overall are up by 38%, but the strongest by far is Mexico which is up by close to 300%.

Revealed Travel reports an increase in Chile bookings due to improved connectivity and related destination publicity arising from the direct British Airways flight from Heathrow to Santiago, which launched in 2017. Peru continues to be a mainstay due to the continuing popularity of Machu Picchu while Argentina bookings are up, thanks to Norwegian Air, which facilitated the connection.

The exhibitors Returning are the tourist boards from Peru, Belize, Quito, Mexico and Brazil, airlines that include Air Europa, Copa Airlines and Gol Airlines, LATAM Airlines and United Airlines, and hotels and DMCs from across the region like Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa, Argentina Travel Partners, Araras Eco Lodge, Belmond, Crillon Tours, Inkaterra, and Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira & Sol y Luna.

The first-time exhibitors include local tour operators Camino Travel, Careli Tours Nicaragua and Cuba Private Travel and (hotels) Hotel B in Lima, Hotel Carlota in Ecuador, Hotel Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa in Colombia and Jashita Hotel in Mexico.

Achievement awards The LATA Achievement Awards, recognising the efforts of LATA partners, will take place on June 11 and will feature six new categories. The extended accolades include: Tour Operator of the Year, Airline of the Year, DMC of the Year, Hotel of the Year, Cruise of the Year, Destination of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Product Launch

of the Year, People Award and Innovation in Sustainability.

A new judging panel will be fronted by Derek Moore, Chairman of AITO and co-founder of Explore Worldwide. He will be joined by Aneil Bedi, Director at M&C Saatchi; Barbara Kolosinska, Director at C&M Travel Recruitment; Quinn Meyer,

LATA Foundation The LATA Foundation works closely with the travel industry to support social and environmental projects throughout Latin America. The goal is to encourage the travel industry to give something back to the countries they operate in and provide more ethical tourism practices. latafoundation.org

THE SCHEDULE

ela takes place June 11-13, 2018 at Canary Wharf, London

DAY 1 12:30pm – 13:15 Destination Spotlight: Peru, The Richest Country In The World 14:30 – 15:40 The emergence of the sharing economy and its impact on tourism 16:05 – 17:15 Shaping the Future: What’s next for the travel industry?

DAY 2 12:30 – 13:15 Destination Spotlight: Brazil: A journey into Brazilian Responsible Tourism 14:30 – 15:40 Like, Share, Post! Rethinking

the Social Media revolution for profit 16.05 – 17:15 Your Eco Reputation in the Age of Drastic Plastic: championing a greener footprint DAY 3 12:30 – 13:15 Destination Spotlight: Your Story begins in Quito, Ecuador 14:30 – 15:40 Content Marketing: Tips & Tricks 16.05 – 17:15 Pay it Forward: Sustainable, Responsible, Ethical footprints

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Ela goes green Responsible tourism is a key theme at ela 2018. Here LATA Chairman Colin Stewart reveals how he plans to put sustainability in the spotlight Since being appointed Chairman of the Latin America Travel Association (LATA), Colin Stewart has made sustainability a priority. Here he tells us what we can expect from this year’s ela event and why the green theme is top of this year’s agenda.

Q

What’s new for ela 2018?

A: ela has continued to exceed expectations. Since its conception we have shown there is a real need to deliver an event which allows our Latin American partners to meet with suppliers and do business with UK buyers and tour operators.

This year we are expecting more exhibitors than ever before, including 30 newcomers.

Every year we oversubscribe, which demonstrates the demand for such an event that has become the number one Latin American show in Europe.

Q

Is there a focus you are pushing?

A: This year we are pushing the sustainability element. It’s one of the commitments I made when I was appointed Chairman and something I feel strongly about. ela gives us the perfect platform to drive this message within the Latin American regions and our members.

We plan to launch the new LATA Sustainability Charter, which will promote

“We plan to launch the new LATA Sustainability Charter at ela, promoting 10 key principles of sustainability” 10 key principles of sustainability and encourage the travel industry and all of our members to adopt these principles.

Q

How will ela go green?

A: We have created a new ‘green’ logo this year to identify that we have aspirations to becoming as green as we can be. To support this we have eliminated plastic cutlery at the event, will reduce food wastage and introduce a zero collateral footprint policy – this means getting our partners to think about the amount of marketing materials they bring to the event. How we preserve and sustain the environment is so important.

Q

What trends are you predicting for travel in Latin America?

A: The experience of getting to Latin America has vastly improved compared to just 10 years ago. These are destinations that were not on the radar then and are only starting to be discovered now. We see trends forming in places such as Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.

Q

Which destinations are experiencing growth in 2018?

A: It’s an exciting time to be travelling to Latin America and year-on-year more travellers are looking to discover more countries in the region. Also, a lot of investment has been pumped into tourism and governments seem to be realising just how crucial the tourism industry is for their economies. Colombia alone has registered a 50% increase in tourism. Additional air capacity has helped boost arrivals and the economy there is already improving.

Register for ela at: experiencelatinamerica.travel

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 MIAMI, FLORIDA, USA – MAY 10-12

Miami advice Benjamin Coren reports from this year’s Advantage Conference

New member training captures ‘Silver Market’ ADVANTAGE has launched a training programme in association with Silver Travel Advisor to help members capture the growing over-50s market A special edition of Silver Traveller magazine, produced specifically for Advantage, is also being sent to all consortium members.

The new courses are available in classrooms and online. Once agents have completed the training they become Silver Travel advisors and receive additional marketing materials. They are also added to a list of accredited agents on Silver Travel Advisor.

A website provides travel advice and information for the 50-plus market. Debbie Marshall, founder of Silver Travel Advisor, said this market is ‘huge’ and growing by around 17,000 each week.

It is predicted the number of people over 65 will double within the next 20 years – which offers attractive revenue potential for agents, said Marshall. silvertraveladvisor.com

Advantage launches Tour Finder comparison tool

WHAT IS ADVANTAGE? DAVID MOON, Marketing Manager, Advantage

THE Advantage Tour Finder tool, launched at this year’s conference, helps agents compare more than 10,000 tours worldwide.

Advantage members can now source detailed tour information, itineraries and pricing via a platform customisable by tour type, duration, cost, destination and operator. Access for members is free via the Advantage intranet.

Tour Finder is designed and powered by TourHound, which created a white label platform that can be placed on an agent’s

website or Facebook page for a monthly fee.

Joanne Smethurst, Commercial Director, TourHound, said: “Tour Finder is a one-stop solution for all agents’ touring needs.

“Our platform uses API feeds from all major UK touring and adventure operators ensuring the tours, prices and information are the latest available.

“We also offer comprehensive technical support to all participating members.” advantagemembers.com

Conference heads to Cadiz in 2019 THE Advantage Travel Partnership announced that next year’s event will be held at the Cadiz Conference Centre in Spain, from May 17-20. Cadiz was unveiled by Advantage CEO Julia Lo-Bue Said (pictured above). Next year will mark Advantage’s 40th birthday.

Selling Travel caught up with Advantage’s David Moon to find out more about the agents’ consortium.

“We’re an independent consortium for independent agents and we currently have 350 members with a combined turnover of £4.5 billion”, said Moon.

Two types of membership schemes are available to Advantage members: the first is traditional membership and second is Advantage Managed Services (AMS).

Traditional membership suits long-established businesses who pay a subscription for Advantage’s marketing services.

AMS offers a back office system and licensing services, “We provide payments to suppliers,” added Moon. “It frees up time for members to focus on things like marketing. As a member they get full access to the full suite of Advantage products and we can negotiate commercial terms for agents. We also have a preferred supplier policy.

“We interpret for our members issues like GDPR and package travel regulations, and give them guidance.

“And for PSD/2 (payment services directive) we provide a suite of advise on negotiating better deals and increasing profits.”

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the review: checking out

Checking out...

HOTELS / RESORTS TRAIN JOURNEYS / CRUISES AIRPORT REVIEWS

THE LENOX HOTEL BOSTON – USA

BY STEVE HARTRIDGE

THE LOCATION: In the central Back Bay neighbourhood, the 11-storey, 214-room red brick hotel has been peering down on Boyleston Street since 1900. Boston Common and the boutiques and galleries of Newbury Street are close-by.

THE CHECK-IN: I was warmly

welcomed by door staff who had my bag into the lobby before I had settled the taxi fare. The reception, with its chandeliers and Turkishlooking carpets, is offset to the right of a busy area flanked by a bar and a restaurant. It is both historic – with quirky features like a working mailbox from the early

1900s – and super-stylish, although a little on the dark side thanks to its caramel tiled floor and brown wooden features.

THE ROOM: My 450 sq-ft Junior Suite was chic and stylish, with two queen beds, a 55-inch TV, couch, Bluetooth stereo system, a crystal chandelier and lamps and an ironcaste lobby with a working fireplace (the staff will light it for you). The large marble bathroom had ecofriendly Beekman amenities.

RESTAURANTS/BARS: City Table is a popular spot for breakfast and dinner; a lively pub, Solas, serves beers, spirits and pub grub for pre-game baseball crowds heading to nearby Fenway Park; and the upmarket City Bar has a table menu and a list of classic cocktails.

61 Exeter Street at Boylston, Boston, MA.

THE VERDICT Located in one of Boston’s hippest neighbourhoods, this ultra-comfortable hotel has classy and attentive staff – from the bell hops to the room cleaners – who go out of their way to preserve the hotel’s reputation for service. It’s also reasonably priced throughout – $13 for a cocktail in one of Boston’s top hotels is a steal! My whole experience here was top-drawer.

RATES: Junior Suites from $300 a night (midweek) in September 2018.

 lenoxhotel.com;  1 617 536 53 00

NAJETI HÔTEL CHÂTEAU TILQUES – France

BY RICHARD WILLIAMS

THE BACKGROUND: The impressive Château Tilques was built in neo-Flemish style in 1891 on the site of a 17th-century fortified manor house. It has the remains of a moat, which is now a lake, and extensive grounds, with dovecotes, peacocks and modern sculpture. It is owned by the Najeti group, which has eight hotels and three golf courses, mainly in northern France.

THE LOCATION: Set in the countryside about seven kilometres from the market town of St-Omer, In the Pas-de-Calais region. It’s about 40 minutes’ drive from the Eurotunnel terminal at Calais.

THE ROOM: We had a large corner room in the Pavillon du Parc annexe, with lovely lake and garden views from the balcony.

The room is furnished in a modern

THE VERDICT Value accommodation in a historic building in beautiful grounds. The hotel has a three-star rating only because it has no lifts. St-Omer’s bars and restaurants serving Flemish-style cuisine are close by, as are boat trips on the Audomarois marshes. It also makes a relaxing rural stopover

style and is ideal for a family, due to an extra bedroom upstairs.

KEY FACILITIES: There’s a 15-metre swimming pool, with kids’ paddling pool, in an annexe in the grounds.

There is also a hard-surface tennis court, and a giant chess set.

RESTAURANTS/BARS: The Bar and Lounge are three comfortable

connecting rooms with ornate French period furniture, dark oak panelling and lawn views. The restaurant is a light, airy conversion of the old stable block and its signature ‘filet de boeuf’ is cooked to your taste over an open fire.

for travellers enroute to

12 rue du Château, 62500 Tilques.

a flexible pricing system.

Champagne or Paris using the Eurotunnel.

RATES: €136 to €190 per room per night (€16 extra for breakfast), but there is

 tilques.najeti.fr.co.uk;  +33 3 21 88 99 99

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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

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exploring...

Ireland From the Causeway Coast and Wild Atlantic Way to the sunny southeast and everywhere in between, Ireland is ripe for exploring, says Gilly Pickup The 195 mile Causeway Coastal Route offers scenery in bucketloads, from dramatic cliff-top castles and blastfrom-the-past villages to white-sand beaches and even an extinct volcano.

En route, take in locations from Game of Thrones including the magnificent Giant’s Causeway, a volcanic formation of thousands of hexagonal rocks.

There’s also Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, spanning a 30-metre deep chasm. Bold folks who cross to the rocky island of the same name are rewarded with fantastic views. Start or finish the route in Belfast, birthplace of Titanic, or Londonderry, Britain's only completely walled city.

GIANT'S CAUSEWAY

Wild Atlantic Way With culture and natural wonders from the island’s western edge, the Wild Atlantic Way offers hiking, coasteering, kayaking and some of the best surfing in the world.

And you’re almost guaranteed to spot a whale or two. The route is littered with gardens blooming with sub-tropical plants, blue flag beaches, ancient sites and coastal forts. An often-overlooked Wild Atlantic Way treasure is Inis Óirr, the smallest Aran Island. Take the ferry over and walk or cycle round. Revel in the panoramic views of the Cliffs of Moher and discover its fishing village and castle ruins.

The ‘new’ Reeks District The Mid-Kerry region on the south-west coast, close to Kerry Airport, a two-hour drive from Shannon and four hours from Dublin, has re-branded as the Reeks District. The new name is a nod to the region’s MacGillcuddy’s Reeks, Ireland’s

BOOK IT WITH COSMOS New for 2018, the nine-day Scenic Ireland Globus escorted tour explores the north and south of Ireland. The deal, based on a July 31 departure, is priced from £2,024pp and includes flights from Heathrow, private home collection service, accommodation, transfers, tour director services, selected meals and wi-fi on the coach. cosmos.co.uk/tours/scenic-ireland; 0800 4402797

CARRICK-A-REDE ROPE BRIDGE

highest mountain range. A new tourism marketing strategy is based on the region’s strong outdoors and experiential proposition, encapsulated in the associated strapline, ‘Ireland’s Adventure Playground’.

Pilgrimage Routes and Hidden Heartlands Five of Ireland's ancient 'Camino' pilgrimage routes (pilgrimpath.ie) are enjoying a recent revival as travellers seek alternatives to the Spanish Camino.

Meanwhile Failte Ireland’s latest tourism campaign to boost tourism in the middle of Ireland sees the area rebranded as ‘Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’. The focus is on the development of new food networks, cycle trails and boating on the River Shannon. This region also includes the historical Beara Breifne Way, the longest walking trail in Ireland.

Ireland’s Ancient East East of the River Shannon, Ireland’s Ancient East, a vast region from Cavan

HIGH TEA WITH VINTAGE TEA TOURS OF DUBLIN

to Cork, promotes the castle and legendfilled southeast and oozes magical tales, standing stones megalithic tombs and heritage sites.

Limerick, Ireland’s first city of culture, has an impressive castle and cathedral, tranquil riverside walks and fabulous restaurants while Cork hosts 24 major festivals yearly including the Cork Film Festival and a worldrenowned jazz festival in October. Wexford is home to Ireland’s National Opera House and has several art galleries. Just outside town the National Heritage Park offers an insight into prehistoric times and the chance to stay overnight in a ringfort – fun for children of all ages!

Underrated Ireland "With stunning scenery, castles and coastlines, it is a mystery that more do not see Ireland as a holiday destination. With centuries of history, myths and legends the Emerald Isle is a wonder waiting to be discovered," said Julian Appleyard, Commercial Director, Great Rail Journeys 

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Dublin So much more than live music, pubs and historic buildings, this UNESCO city of Literature is a Fair City that makes for the ideal short break, says Gilly Pickup Day 1: Picasso and a pint

(book online for 10% off). It’s open until 20.00 in summer, 19.00 otherwise. Visit the facility's rooftop Gravity Bar to savour a free glass of the black stuff.

Morning: Start the day with some culture by heading for the free National Gallery of Ireland (nationalgallery.ie). It has collections from every Day 2: Castle and cruise major European school of painting, with works by Rembrandt, El Greco, Goya and Morning: After you’ve succumbed Picasso. Don't forget the Yeats Collection – to a traditional Irish breakfast more than 30 works by the Irish (bacon, sausage, black pudding, Impressionist. The child-friendly gallery runs soda bread) walk off the calories with a tour regular events, like drawing workshops in of Dublin Castle (dublincastle.ie), the historic the atrium where there is a cheerful café. core of Dublin City. This sprawling complex The Little Museum of Dublin (littlemuseum.ie) houses free museums, a Viking-era Undercroft and ornate State Apartments.

– something of a misnomer, because it’s not Hop on a boat for a stylish cruise on the so little – is located in a Georgian townhouse Liffey (dublindiscovered.ie). See the Georgian and is crammed to the gills with a happy collection of eclectic knick-knacks. There's quaysides, the Jeanie Johnston tallship on a lectern used by JFK on his visit to Ireland which impoverished emigrants sailed across in 1963 and an entire the Atlantic in hope of room devoted to the future, and “Most attractions in this athebetter history of local boys, U2. state-of-the-art 3 Buy a three-day Dublin seaside city are within a Arena, Ireland’s largest pass (dublinpass.ie) for relatively compact area, indoor entertainment €94 to get free entry to spread either side of the venue. over 30 attractions and Lunch/ River Liffey on the retail and restaurant Afternoon: discounts.

Skip lunch and Northside or Southside” Afternoon: experience Dublin Fallon & Byrne (fallonandbyrne.com), a differently by climbing onboard a food hall, restaurant and Routemaster for a Vintage Tea Tour (vintageteatours.ie) while tapping along to a basement wine bar in the heart of town, serves delights such as Carlingford Lough soundtrack of 1950s jazz. The one-and-aoysters and charcuterie boards spilling over half hour trip goes past many of Dublin’s with cured hams and salamis, cheese and sights, including St Patrick’s Cathedral, cornichons. The Old City Temple Bar offers a O’Connell Bridge – the only traffic bridge in calm alternative to the bustling city centre.

Europe that's wider than it is long – and Outdoor cafes and pedestrianised streets Phoenix Park, one of Europe’s largest and offer fashion, food, art and jewellery. home to deer and the Irish President’s Evening: Head for the Guinness official residence. The tea itself is top class Storehouse (guinness-storehouse.com), – a generous selection of finger sandwiches, Ireland’s most popular tourist fruit scones and more sweet treats than the attraction at the heart of the brewery district average person can handle. They cater for dietary requirements and give a takeaway box for those who don't finish.

BOOK IT WITH SUPER BREAK Evening: Take in some dramatic A two-night city break including flights from delights at the Abbey Theatre Luton and staying at the Plaza Hotel Tallaght (abbeytheatre.ie) or, if live music’s is priced from £139pp, based on an August more your want, head for Whelan’s of 7 departure. Super Break has a number of Wexford Street (whelanslive.com) add-on tours including the Grand Wicklow & The Leap Visitor Card is a reusable, preCoastal tour. superbreak.com; 01904 717 362. paid smart card for travel on bus, tram and train (Dart) around Dublin. (leapcard.ie) 

From the top: Reflections on the River Liffey; Temple Bar, perhaps Dublin's most famous pub; Dublin Castle

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my trip to... vietnam and cambodia

trade colonial

They overflow with bustling streetlife and have a turbulent recent past, but Vietnam and Cambodia fascinate at every turn, says Andy Jordan

F

rom Heathrow to Hanoi at dawn and straight into the mad scramble that is Vietnamese traffic. There appears to be no rules and you can forget the Green Cross Code.

The best way to deal with it – and this doesn’t sound sensible – is to step off the pavement and stroll straight into it at a leisurely pace, letting the hundreds of scooters steer right around you. After a short time it feels completely natural.

Our base in Vietnam’s capital for two days is the centrally located Silk Path Hotel, in the atmospheric Old Quarter and a short walk to all the major sights. We take a rickshaw tour and stare in amazement at the great spider webs of overhead cables which power this area and its multitude of

shops and tiny coffee houses.

It’s worth braving the big queues at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, if only to experience the adulation which many Vietnamese still bestow on the excommunist leader. Afterwards, we head to peaceful Hoan Kiem lake. The location for many wedding photos and morning workouts, it provides a calming contrast to the frenetic atmosphere elsewhere.

Karsting off

Whilst there’s plenty to see in Hanoi we take a day excursion to the stunning Tam Coc, location for the recent King Kong Skull Island film and described as Halong Bay on land. The highlight is a gentle boat ride through the meandering waterways which carve through vast paddy fields dotted with imposing limestone karsts and caves. The journey is even more dreamlike thanks to our navigator, who uses just her feet to row and steer the boat through the mesmerising landscape.

Next up is the real Halong Bay and a onenight cruise with Paradise Cruises.

As we arrive the company puts the red carpet out – but alas it is not for us but down to welcome a catwalk procession of models and actresses.

The service and accommodation onboard

is exceptional and we upgrade to a $200 package, which includes unlimited drinks, a relaxing hour-long massage in the ship’s spa and the use of a canoe for one of the three excursions.

We manage to tear ourselves away from the teak deck and cold drinks, visiting the weird and wonderful rock formations of Surprise Cave and braving an early morning hike to the top of Ti Top Island for a stunning panoramic view of the bay.

Temple time

From natural wonders to manmade splendour, the next morning we fly to Siem Reap in Cambodia and the Temples of Angkor Wat. Just like Halong Bay, this unique place is recognised by UNESCO and every effort is being made to protect the dramatic ruins which were once lost to the surrounding jungle.

It’s difficult to put into words how just how spectacular these ruins are – the pictures really don’t do Angkor Wat justice.

Our local guide navigates us around just three of many temples, including the Bayou temple with its 216 faces set in stone for hundreds of years. The highlight has to be Ta Prohm, the location for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Muscular, snake-like roots penetrate the ornate buildings which act as

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Top tips

anchors for the ancient trees.

Angkor Palace Resort and Spa is our home for three days and after our temple tours we take the opportunity to rest and relax in the tranquil gardens and soothing waters of the landscaped pool, followed by a traditional Khmer massage in the spa.

Rejuvenated, we head back into Vietnam and the colourful ancient trading port of Hoi An. It’s an eclectic mix of French colonial architecture and traditional Vietnamese tube houses overlaid with Chinese and Japanese influences.

Just relax Whether they travel south to north or the reverse in Vietnam, make sure clients schedule some time for lazing by the pool.

No stopping Direct flights with Vietnam Airlines are a plus, especially if they are going to be taking connecting flights in the schedule.

Fusion city

Mustard-painted restaurants and cafes line the canal and provide a perfect

Previous page: The emerald waters and limestone islands of Halong Bay; this page, clockwise: ‘Tomb raiders’ at Ta Prohm Temple, Angkor, Siem Reap; ‘hat tricks’ from a Hanoi street vendor; Andy Jordan tours Saigon on two wheels; hide and seek in Cu Chi tunnels – not for the claustrophobic

61

setting for long lazy lunches, but it’s at night when the city comes alive.

Those famous lanterns hang from every building, reflecting a rainbow of colours into the still water – a magical setting for romantic boat passengers who cast their candlelit wishes into the water.

This is not a city of late night parties –the old town closes down around 22.30 – but our hotel, Hotel Royal Hoi An, boasts the highest vantage point in town so we head to the 10th floor for a nightcap cocktail.

Most hotels in Hoi An offer free bike hire and just a few kilometres away is An Bang beach, where we recover from our exertions by relaxing on the white sand and sipping cool drinks in the casual bars.

Before flying home we negotiate another bustling metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly called Saigon, it has some impressive landmarks from the French

Who wants to be a millionaire?

For just over £30 your clients will be in possession of a million Vietnamese Dong!

Suggest they take sterling rather than dollars to avoid additional exchange rate fluctuations.

Bargain Hunt Take 50% of the first price quoted and negotiate from there for all your souvenirs, it’s expected!

Where to book it

THG Holidays 0845 1286524 The 14-night Enticing Vietnam and Cambodia tour is priced from £2,019pp.

Included are international flights, all transfers, two excursions, Angkor Wat, the Cu Chi Tunnels and a city tour. An English-speaking guide, with knowledge of the region’s history and culture, is provided at each location.

The deal includes the option of a onenight luxury Halong Bay cruise. thgholidays.co.uk

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my trip to... vietnam and cambodia

Clockwise: An enchanting meal surrounded by lanterns in Hoi An, on Vietnam’s central coast; a romantic evening boat trip in Hoi An

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Colonial days, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, designed by Gustav Eiffel.

It is an easy walk from our hotel, the Pullman Saigon Central in District 1, to key city attractions like the iconic Reunification Place, where a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its main gate to end the Vietnam War. An alternative way to see the city is by taking a motorcycle tour. A Saigon on Bikes’ excursion takes around a dozen or so districts, leaving us mesmerised by fleeting glimpses of colourful street markets and intoxicated by smells of coriander, fresh baguettes and exhaust fumes.

A classic day trip from Ho Chi Minh City is the Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast underground network which provided crucial communication and supply routes and an impenetrable base for the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. You can try crawling through them yourself.

But it’s the War Remnants Museum back in town which gives them context. The full

horror of the war is set out across three floors of powerful imagery and military hardware. This is no place for selfies.

It’s a sober end to a trip which is mostly characterised by smiles. Cambodia and Vietnam might share troubled pasts but they also share a bright future being driven by tourism.

We’ll certainly be back. 

21/05/2018 11:48 5/29/18 11:50 AM

your guide to

River Cruising

Contents • 65 The rivers of Asia • 73 Christmas Markets 77 Spotlight on: CroisiEurope • 78 My Trip on... the Seine 79 Focus on the Douro • 80 At a Glance sellingtravel.co.uk

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Crystal_OC_SellingTravel_Ad_May18.qxp_Crystal_OC_SellingTravel_Ad_May18 08/05/2018 19:03 Page 1

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Itinerary Highlights: Dover, Guernsey, Le Verdon/Bordeaux (two overnights), Oporto/ Leixoes, Lisbon (overnight), Barcelona (overnight), Cassis, Monte Carlo (overnight)

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Fares are per person, cruise only in UK sterling based on double occupancy in an outside stateroom and include port, security and handling charges, which vary by departure. All fares, offers and itineraries are subject to change and availability and can be withdrawn at any time. Fares may fluctuate and should be used as a guide only. Prices may go up or down. You should contact us on 0207 399 7601 before booking, or visit our website www.crystalcruises.co.uk. The fares are available to new bookings only and are only available to UK & Eire residents. Restrictions apply. See crystalcruises.co.uk for complete terms and conditions of all offers. ©2018 Crystal Cruises, LLC. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas.

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oriental expression

Cutting through cultural heartlands, Asia’s rivers offer a smooth and luxurious experience. It’s little wonder they are selling so well, says Jane Archer

S

o who else wants some?” Thang asks, as he pours himself a measure of rice wine fortified with snake. “It will help you sleep. Well maybe not one but four will for sure.”

Hands go up, but not mine. There are some cultural experiences I can live without. Live snakes are bad enough, dead ones are a real no-no, especially in my wine.

It is the only thing I have ducked out of on this Mekong River cruise with APT, which has been packed with amazing experiences.

During a week sailing from Siem Reap in Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam we have zig-zagged around Phnom Penh in tuk-tuks, been blessed by monks, dodged slimy eels destined for the dinner table in markets and been transported through Tan Chau, a town in Vietnam, in rickshaws.

I’ve watched the sun rise over the

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Call: 0330 160 7999 Visit: www.newmarketholidays.co.uk Email: travelagents@newmarketholidays.co.uk Training: www.training.newmarketholidays.co.uk RC – Asia.indd 66 Untitled-4 1 TA Selling Travel A-Rosa - Full page A4 Advert - May 2018.indd 1

We’ll enter you into a free “Book it & Win it” prize draw, for every booking you make! That means the more you sell, the more chance you’ll have to experience Premium All-Inclusive River Cruising for yourself!

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t e l l

asia river cruises

900-year-old temple of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap and, coming up in Ho Chi Minh City, I’m going to be crawling through underground tunnels the Viet Cong lived in during the Vietnam War. As for help sleeping? After all these adventures I’m off home for a rest!

Fam-tastic

Virtually unknown until a little over a decade ago, the Mekong is now the top-selling river in Asia and is set to grow even faster after being showcased to more than 120 agents during CLIA UK & Ireland’s Asia Cruise Forum in April.

As well as learning about river cruising in Asia during conference sessions in Ho Chi Minh City, the agents were hosted on three- and four-night cruises on the Mekong, an experience which will no doubt push up sales for the river (already the third biggest-selling in the UK for AmaWaterways and achieving three times as many sales since last year for APT’s UK office).

But there are numerous other rivers to explore across the region.

“A river cruise in Asia takes you through a country and not just to it,” said AmaWaterways’ UK Managing Directo, Stuart Perl. “Agents should target clients who want adventure but are wary about going it alone.”

In India, the up-and-coming Ganges pairs nicely with a tour of the Golden

Triangle (Delhi/Agra/Jaipur), while threeand four-night cruises on the Yangtze in China are a perfect accompaniment to longer tours of the country. Titan Travel’s 14-night Treasures of China combines a three-night cruise with Beijing, Chengdu and Xian to see the Great Wall, pandas and the Terracotta Wwarriors.

Until the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar, the Irrawaddy River was also going great guns. Bookings have dropped, but Pandaw’s Vice President Sales and Marketing, Marco Rosa, is confident this will be temporary.

“Myanmar sales have been up and down over the past 20 years. It is a wonderful destination and will be back,” he said.

Pandaw offers plenty of other rivers for agents to sell – adventurous clients will love cruising the Upper Mekong in Laos and China, the Red River in Northern Vietnam and the Lower Ganges in India, a new itinerary launching in December. Rosa added: “Asia river cruising is all about exploring off the ship.”

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“The Mekong is now the top-selling river in Asia and is set to grow even faster after being showcased to more than 120 agents during Clia UK & Ireland’s Asia Cruise Forum in April”

Shore things

Off to market: Asia’s colourful markets buzz with locals buying live chickens, fish and exotic fruits, and things you don’t want to think about, such as pigs snouts in China, deep-fried crickets in Cambodia and rats on sticks in Vietnam.

Clockwise from top left: The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata is a staple visit on a Lower Ganges cruise; a colourful cabin on Sanctuary Retreats’ Sanctuary Ananda; durian, a staple fruit on the Mekong; Indian spices

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asia river cruises

Getting around: Getting around in Asia is fun. Think an ox or horse-cart, a rickshaw or tuk-tuk. Those cruising the Mekong with APT can even get into the midst of the action in Ho Chi Minh City by taking a tour on the back of a motorbike (the guide follows on another bike).

Temple stops: Clients can see the sun rise over the temple of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and the sun set over 2,000-plus pagodas and stupas in Bagan in Myanmar. In China, Viking’s river cruises on the Yangtze stop at the spectacular 12-storey Shibaoshai Temple. Avalon’s new Ganges cruises visits the vast Iskcon temple in Mayapur, home of Hare Krishna.

Learn a trade: Ever wondered what gold leaf is or how silk is made? All is revealed on trips to artisan workshops.

In Bagan, cruisers visit workshops to learn how bamboo, wood and black paint is turned into beautiful lacquer products.

Dip into the past: On the Mekong, clients learn about the horrors of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime and the Vietnam War. In China, cruise tours visit Xian to see the Terracotta Army built more than 2,000 years ago by Emperor Qin Shi Huang to protect him in the afterlife. On the Ganges, clients can hear tales from the British Raj and find out why a Greek-style palace in Murshidabad has 1,000 doors.

What’s new

Pandaw (pandaw.com) is launching cruises on the Lower Ganges in India in December.

Seven-night cruises between Kolkata and Farakka on the Orient Pandaw visit the Hare Krishna HQ in Mayapur and the site of the Battle of Plassey where, in 1757, the British East India Company defeated the Nawabs of Bengal and their French allies to take control of India.

India is hot property. Avalon Waterways (avaloncruises.co.uk) is also launching on the Lower Ganges. Starting 2019, it is pairing a one-week voyage with a Golden Triangle (Delhi/Agra/Jaipur) tour.

Optional extensions in Kathmandu or Varanasi – or both – are available.

Emerald Waterways (emeraldwaterways.co.uk) is venturing into Myanmar in 2019 with new 14- to 19-day holidays that combine a cruise on the Irrawaddy River with hotel nights in Mandalay, Yangon and Inle Lake.

Sanctuary Retreats (sanctuaryretreats.com) has revamped its Yangtze River tour programme with new excursions to a former nuclear base built into the mountains in Fuling or a museum 148 feet below the water that contains centuries-old rock carvings.

Riviera Travel (rivieratravel.co.uk) has a 16-day cruise-tour in China for solo Clockwise from top left: Golden stupas line the Irrawaddy in Myanmar; the Sun Deck on Avalon’s Ganges Voyager; Pandaw in Halong Bay; cocktail time with Pandaw

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by 29 June 20

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Titan River Cruises Introducing our new Titan cruise ship...

MS Bellejour

2019 brochure OUT NOW!

What’s included on a Titan river cruise aboard MS Serenade 1 and MS Bellejour Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service*

Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner

Return scheduled flights from the UK

Bottled water in your cabin, replenished daily

Spacious 15m2 or 16m2 river view cabins with en-suite bathroom

Tea and coffee at all times

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Wi-Fi on board

Welcome buffet

Port charges and airport taxes

Gala dinner

Onboard entertainment

Excursions and visits

Book any river cruise and receive a £10 Lifestyle voucher for every booking in June** *Excludes Scottish islands and Sark, where vehicle access is restricted. **To claim please email agentincentives@titantravel.co.uk. For more information visit titanagents.co.uk

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travellers. Clients will see the Great Wall from Beijing, panda breeding centre in Chengdu and spend three nights on the Yangtze River. The departure date is March 19 2019.

Tourism talk

“Holidays used to be about fly and flop. Now people want to explore places and sight-do rather than sight-see They want to try something different. An Asia river cruise is perfect. It is all about experiences –- the food, the people, even trying to cross the roads in Ho Chi Minh City! They are the things visitors will take away from their holiday and always remember. The only way agents can sell Asia effectively is to have that knowledge, to showcase those experiences and match them to what their clients want.”

Andy Harmer, Senior Vice-President Membership, CLIA UK & Ireland.

to Siem Reap is priced from £2,167pp, cruise-only and including excursions and gratuities. croisieurope.co.uk  RIVIERA TRAVEL – 01283 888 196 Seven-nights aboard the four-star RV Bengal Ganga in a stateroom, plus three nights in five-star hotels, is from £3,199pp and includes Delhi, the Taj Mahal and Varanasi.

Departs February to April. rivieratravel.co.uk 

Where to book it Above: A Vietnamese woman navigates the Mekong. Right: a Grand Suite on the Amadeus Mekong Navigator

 CROISIEUROPE – 020 8328 1281 A nine-day cruise from Ho Chi Minh City

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RC – Asia.indd 70

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A DV E R T OR IA L

logo Brabant sailing the Rhine through Cologne

european river cruising

T

he stylish and comfortable river cruising boat Brabant is the latest addition to the Fred. Olsen programme, adding a whole new dimension to your clients’ choice of cruising.

Brabant’s classic design is a little smaller than many river boats. This smaller-scaled vessel has the style, ambience and understated quality of a country house hotel.

Customers can experience the warmer, friendlier atmosphere that Fred. Olsen guests come to know and love.

An inspirational journey every time On each of the carefully crafted itineraries there are captivating destinations to uncover, complemented by the effortlessly beautiful landscapes of Europe’s most inspirational rivers.

Guests can choice to visit the Netherlands in full bloom during tulip season, or pick from a choice of sailings of the Danube, Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers.

Every river cruise sailing includes daytime scenic cruising as well as interesting ports of call, so your customers will find every moment of their cruise rewarding.

Food, glorious food The cuisine on board Brabant is of high quality with ‘early riser’ coffee, tea and pastries or a hearty breakfast buffet, an indulgent lunch in the Panorama Restaurant, or a lighter alternative in the Panorama Lounge.

Fred Olsen advertorial.indd 46

The five-course à la carte dinner menu typically features classic favourites and regional dishes inspired by the destinations on the itinerary, along with vegetarian alternatives. All meals are open seating. Evening dinner is one sitting, normally at 7.30pm.

Accommodation to unwind in Many rooms feature Juliette Balconies with panoramic windows.

There’s large flat-screen TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, individual climate control and well-equipped en-suite shower room.

There are two spacious suites on Mozart Deck, with a bathtub and complimentary bathrobe and slippers too.

British on board In line with the company’s ocean product the river product has been designed for a British audience. English is the only language on board and guests can pay in pounds. The product has been adjusted to a British taste, including food, service and shore tours.

June to September 2018 sailings are included in the current Fred.

Olsen Summer Sale.

The much-anticipated 2019 itineraries are now on sale. The new programme has a limited number of return flights from Manchester and Scotland available, in addition to the standard London airport options.

For further information visit your dedicated agent website: fredolsencruises.com/agent

5/29/18 07:04 PM

C A P TIVAT IN G C RUIS ING WITH RIVIERA TRAVEL

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Joseph

Darren

Tamzin

Mia

Riviera Travel booking terms and conditions apply. Prices correct at time of print.

Paul

ABTA No. V4744

5/24/18 05:00 PM

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trimmings all the

Christmas is a big seller for river cruise lines and some of the continent’s best markets are best reached by boat.

Jeannine Williamson finds out more

T

Above:Frankfurt in all its festive glory

he smiling stall holder beckons me towards his flaming concoctions but I’m not quite brave or cold enough to try ‘feuerzangenbowle’.

It’s a fiery German mulled wine involving a rum-soaked piece of sugarloaf which is floated on the top and set alight.

Instead I settle for a warming glass of regular glühwein and, like many visitors, forfeit the €3.50 deposit and keep the colourful mug to take home as a souvenir.

All around the square there are hundreds of twinkling lights lining the wooden huts and behind is the shadow of Cologne’s landmark twin-spired cathedral, or ‘Dom’. It’s arguably the most impressive of the city’s six Christmas markets, but as we’re moored overnight I’ve got plenty of time to discover the others.

The festive ambience is further enhanced by the aromatic, spicy scents filling the air around the tempting gingerbread and food stands. Further on I stop to buy some charming wooden toys that remind me of my childhood – and don’t need batteries or a degree in rocket science to make them work – along with handmade decorations and handicrafts that will make unique gifts to take home.

Festive departures

Christmas markets are the highlight of Europe’s winter calendar, with their roots based in history and tradition.

The main heartland is Germany, but they can be found throughout neighbouring countries too.

River cruises are a fantastic way

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christmas markets

Clockwise from above: Uniworld’s SS Maria Theresa cruising past Rheinstein Castle on the Rhine; German festive cake; Erfurt, central Germany, at Christmas; Carol singers aboard AmaWaterways; dining with Uniworld

to visit them as ships moor in the of the German wine-making town of centre of towns and passengers can Rüdesheim and a great place to buy soak up the magical atmosphere within presents. When it’s time for a break head to minutes of stepping ashore – and one of the many cafes selling Rüdesheimer don’t far to carry their shopping. coffee, a wickedly rich mix of coffee, brandy, Janet Parton, Director of Sales for Avalon sugar, whipped cream and dark chocolate.

Waterways, which is adding more festive Enchanting crib: The fairy-tale sailings, said: “These cruises are hugely market at the Volksgarten gardens in popular, which is why it’s very important Linz features Austria’s largest wooden crib for customers to book as early as possible, with life-size, hand-painted figures. Every 30 guaranteeing their minutes, from 15.00 preferred departure to 20.00, there is a “Demand for our festive and stateroom. short nativity play Christmas Time on with special effects itineraries is showing no the Danube, from a classical music signs of slowing down, with and Prague to Vienna, soundtrack.

Christmas market sailings is our best-selling Amazing winter cruise this advent selling out in the last year and we still calendar: For more few years” have some 2018 than 15 years, David Winterton, Global Brand Curator, Emerald Waterways departures available.” quaint Gengenbach, Riviera Travel near Strasbourg, is also responding to demand. Katja has turned its town hall into a giant advent Hildebrandt, Head of River Cruises, calendar. Twenty-four windows are commented: “Following the popularity of decorated with a Christmas scene, with a our Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets new one revealed each night until Christmas River Cruise, this year we introduced Eve. Excursions to Gengenbach are offered the new Danube’s Imperial Cities and on Basel to Amsterdam sailings.

Yuletide Markets itinerary which covers Chocolate Christmas cake: Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava in one Sachertorte, the mouth-watering trip, with departures available from chocolate cake lined with apricot jam, was London, Dublin, Bristol and Manchester.” created in Vienna in 1832 and the original AmaWaterways is reporting a yearrecipe is served in Hotel Sacher’s cafe. It on-year sales increase. James Loizou, can be bought in various sizes to take Sales, Marketing and Digital Director, home and lasts for up to a fortnight, added: “Guests are wanting to get into making it a great alternative to a the festive spirit earlier and earlier, so traditional Christmas cake. having our programme start in the final Seasonal sausages: Nuremburg’s week of November and run into the Christmas market dates back to the new year gives ample opportunity to 16th century and is one of Europe’s oldest. find a date and river that suits them.”

When you’ve worked up an appetite shopping, try the city’s famous sausages, Tinsel-tastic ideas which are much smaller than traditional Festive coffee break: The bustling German wurst. In most restaurants you’ll be Drosselgasse street is the retail heart asked if you want six, eight, ten or more!

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What’s new

and will offer 16 winter river sailings Amadeus River Cruises’ (amadeus-rivercruises. on the Rhine and Danube. com) new flagship Amadeus Queen, which has the line’s first indoor pool, is Tourism talk sailing on a Passau round-trip cruise on “A river cruise is the ideal way to December 22 with prices from £1,829pp discover the festive gems of and reduced supplements for singles.

Europe’s Christmas markets, and a Riviera Travel (rivieratravel.co.uk) has great way of enticing first-time river cruisers.

Who can resist those twinkling lights in city introduced the five-night Danube Imperial squares, crammed with festive goodies to eat, Cities & Yuletide Markets itinerary visiting drink and buy for friends and family? Plus, Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava, priced you’re not limited to from £879pp with one city’s markets. A flights from eight cruise on the Rhine regional airports.

“Christmas market Danube means Scenic (scenic.co.uk) itineraries tend to be short or multiple stops at has introduced a so give a great introduction markets in historic seven-night Rhine and Danube sailing to river cruise and its most cities like Cologne, from Nuremburg Budapest and popular destinations” to Budapest Vienna. A great Tim Fleming, Sales and Business Development Manager, which includes chance to get The River Cruise Line a gingerbread Christmas shopping baking class done, sampling a few and visits to Christmas markets glühweins along the way! in Regensburg and Vienna.

Andy Harmer, Senior Vice-President U by Uniworld (ubyuniworld.com/uk), the Membership, CLIA UK & Ireland new brand for the ‘young at heart’, offers the seven-night Dashing Through Where to book it the Danube and four-night Merry Little  CRYSTAL RIVER CRUISES Christmas sailings from £1,899 and £1,299 – 020 7399 7601 respectively on its ships The A and The B. Seven-nights, Vienna to Budapest on APT’s (aptouring.co.uk) 14-night Imperial Crystal Ravel, visiting Krems, Spitz, Melk Europe cruise between Amsterdam and and Bratislava, is from £3,055pp departing Vienna, from £2,795pp, now features a December 6, including meals and drinks fully-inclusive festive-themed itinerary on board, butler service, a choice of including private festive concerts and excursions in each destination, tips and local customs such as a traditional overseas transfers. crystalcruises.co.uk Krampus mask show in Salzburg.  CROISIEUROPE - 020 8328 1281 AmaWaterways will be decorating its The three-night Christmas Magic roundships and enhancing Christmas itineraries trip Paris itinerary on the hotel barge with garlands on every cabin door, MS Raymonde is priced from £532pp carol singing and a visit from Santa, cruise-only, departing November 29 and with presents for each passenger.

December 3 2018, including all meals Avalon (avaloncruises.co.uk) is expanding and drinks on board and excursions. its festive cruise portfolio for 2019 croisieurope.co.uk 

Clockwise from top left: Twinkly lights in Prague; beautiful handmade gifts; Cologne and its famous cathedral; sweet Christmas traditions; Lueftner Cruises’ MS Amadeus Princess in Regensburg on the Danube

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Why choose to cruise with CroisiEurope?

For your clients:

For you the agent:

• Excellent value for money • Stylish well appointed cabins with panoramic windows • Superb French cuisine • All inclusive drinks • Exclusive destinations • Largest choice of itineraries to choose from including river cruises, coastal cruises and barges

• Excellent commission rates • 24/7 online booking portal • Dedicated trade sales W rld-Wide River Cruises support team • UK reservations team • Fam trip opportunities • Training sessions • Generous group programme • Image and video library CANALS

•

RIVERS

•

COA S TAL

EUROPE’S LARGEST ISE RIVER CRU H IT W COMPANY 55 SHIPS

IM067100025

Your dedicated travel trade team: JOHN FAIR UK Sales Director ✆ 0787 253 6174 jfair@croisieurope.com

NATHALIE ANSEL Key Account Manager ✆ +33 3 8876 4197 nansel@croisieurope.com

SANDRINE DREWETT Reservations Manager ✆ 0208 328 1281 resuk@croisieurope.com

GABRIELLE ALAM Head of UK Sales & Marketing ✆ 0208 328 1281 salesuk@croisieurope.com

ZOLTAN BICZO Reservations Consultant ✆ 0208 328 1281 resuk@croisieurope.com

ELODIE CROMER, E-Commerce Manager ✆ +33 3 8844 9939 ecromer@croisieurope.com

KATE SELLEY PR Guru ✆ 01258 860003

www.croisieurope.co.uk Untitled-7 Untitled-2 1

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15/05/2018 14:52

Talking...

Croisi Europe In conversation with John Fair, the French river cruise line’s new UK Sales Director

Q

What are CroisiEurope’s USPs? A: We are one of the biggest secrets in river cruise! CrosiEurope has over 50 ships and is the biggest operator in Europe.

We do lots of work with tour operators but aren’t as well known amongst the trade.

We’re the only cruise line on the Loire River, France, and run lesser-known river cruises from Seville and Venice. We also offer canal barges in France, six ships on the in-demand Douro and five on Asia’s most popular river, the Mekong.

Q

What can guests expect from a cruise?

A: CroisiEurope doesn’t include excursions because our feedback shows that people don’t want a set number of guided tours. We offer Classic packages, touring the main points of interests in each destination, and Discovery packages, which offer guests more cultural immersion with things like cooking classes.

Q

Q

What is the vibe on your ships?

A: French flair but an international vibe! Our guests are about 50% French but the crew always speak English.

Our cuisine is very much French influenced but with an international twist.

We pride ourselves on our food and get a 90% satisfaction score for it. We’re still a family-run company after 46 years, and this shows onboard.

Q

Who should cruise with you?

A: CroisiEurope offers broad appeal.

The average age for guests is 55-plus but we’re starting to see younger cruisers. We offer great value, with £1,800 the average cruise price. CroisiEurope is an all-inclusive cruise line – from morning to midnight if clients wish. But it’s all about the destination when you cruise with CroisiEurope.

OLIVER ASM

EN USS

How important are agents to CroisiEurope?

A: I’ve come onboard to reach out to agents and grow our trade-facing team.

We’re planning lots of training and will be travelling all over the UK as well as launching a new module on CLIA’s training programme. There will also be more fam trips – the best way to sell it is to sail it!

“CroisiEurope is one of the biggest secrets in river cruising, offering French flair, an international vibe and excellent quality at a reasonable price”

Q

What is in the future?

A: We are seeing a rise in demand, especially for the Douro and French rivers, but long haul is on the up too. We just launched African Dream on Lake Kariba and coming next is Canada’s Great Lakes and Waterways. CroisiEurope is going through a big renovation programme, with many of our Standard Class ships being remodelled as Premium. We’re investing in technology and are the only commercial line sailing year-round on the Elbe because of it.

We’ve just reworked our consumer website and a trade version is coming soon. 

BOOK IT WITH CROISIEUROPE A five-day Seine cruise from Honfleur to Paris costs from £678pp including all meals and drinks onboard. Call CroisiEurope on 020 8328 1281 or visit croisieurope.co.uk

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my trip to...

the Seine Jessica Pook takes in medieval market towns and iconic landmarks whilst floating through France on the Seine

I

reach for my phone, my usual morning ritual, but today my alarm is not the cause of this rude awakening. I gingerly investigate the violent tap,tapping on the window – and discover an inquisitive family of swans bobbing below me. I’ve certainly had worse wake-up calls!

Rouen We dock in Rouen, the first stop on a four-night Seine river cruise with Shearings Holidays, and I’m instantly transported back to the Middle Ages. This northern region of Normandy is paved with cobbled streets and medieval halftimbered houses that are steeped in history and full of secrets.

Many giants of history have shaped the story of Rouen: it’s where William the Conqueror often held court; Richard the Lionheart was crowned Duke of Normandy; and, most famously, Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake having been tried and convicted of heresy.

Wandering through the town centre I’m confronted by the city’s most impressive

piece of history, the Cathedrale NotreDame de Rouen. The detailed arches and spires of this gothic masterpiece date back to the 12th century but the original stained glass windows are still glimmering.

Vernon We cruise further down the Seine and dock in Vernon on our second day, an impossibly picturesque town within walking distance of Giverny, the place where painter Claude Monet spent most of his life.

Visit Monet’s garden and you’ll instantly recognise the subject of one of his most famous works: the Japanese bridge seen in his Nympheas paintings. Some of Monet’s original works can still be viewed at the Musée Alphonse-Georges Poulain in Vernon’s town centre.

The Old Mill of Vernon was another of Monet’s favoured compositions. This 16th century wooden-beamed structure lies suspended between two stone pillars above the river, supported by nothing but a few timbers. It neighbours Chateau des Tourelles – a small 12th century castle that

transports me to a time when knights and kings held court.

Paris We reach Paris on the third day. The French capital comes with the dizzying heights of the Eifel Tower, the wow factor of the Sacre-Coeur, some bewilderment at the fashonistas that totter along the Champs Elysees and the reality that you simply cannot do all of Paris in one day.

Shearings Holidays is featuring A-ROSA River Cruises in 2018, packaged into commissionable, all-inclusive tours for agents to sell. There are 19 departures over 12 itineraries on six rivers. 

BOOK IT WITH SHEARINGS Shearings’ Paris & Versailles cruise is priced from £559pp, including return coach transfers. This four-night all-inclusive cruise departs November 27 or December 5, 2018 and includes two excursions plus an overnight stay on the outbound journey in Amiens. shearings.com

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Douro From sleepy wineries to the bustling hub of port production, the River Douro offers cruisers the chance to drink in Europe’s most scenic vistas, says Jessica Pook Top Douro attractions Pinhão This small Portuguese town is home to some of the country’s most historical quintas (wineries).

From here drive to Casal de Loivos for spectacular views overlooking the valley.

Peñafiel A treat for the tastebuds awaits in Peñafiel, situated in the Spanish province of Valladolid. Try the Lechazo, (suckling lamb). Also popular are the rabbit and veal dishes.

Like the wine this region is renowned for the Douro flows generously across Spain and northern Portugal, winding through one of the world’s oldest grape regions and four UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Historically, the Douro played an essential part in the transportation of port barrels by small wooden Rabelo boats. Today, it’s more common to see river cruisers winding the 556 miles through the Douro Valley with passengers enjoying a glass of Quinta do Crasto Douro as they pass the dramatic Urbion Mountains on their way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Hidden surprises One of the charms of a Douro cruise is that clients can switch off and really enjoy being transported through the rural terrains and peaceful mountains in this part of Portugal and Spain. The busy tourist traps along other European river cruises are replaced by a slower and more relaxed pace, with no hectic schedule of sightseeing.

The banks harbour small, quaint villages such as San Esteban de Gormaz in Spain, known for its cave dwellings carved from

the mountainside, or the rural Roman villages of Bitetos and Regua where locals greet tourists with a warm welcome.

History-lovers will enjoy Miranda do Douro, known as Portugal’s ‘Museum City’, while Tordesillas in Spain is home to religious architecture dating back to the 17th century.

The Douro Valley is dotted with quintas, (Portuguese wineries or vineyards) that mostly focus on the region’s sweet ports but are now tapping into the more popular red and white market.

When to go The Douro enjoys a long cruise season, beginning in March and running until November. September and October offer harvest season colours while th shoulder season months between March and May offer the best prices.

Agents should be aware that there’s no nighttime navigation on the Douro, which means ships must cruise during the day with stops for shore excursions. But being on the move offers the best views of the passing surroundings. 

Salamanca Known as the ‘Golden City’ for its buildings made from sandstone, Salamanca in Spain is a UNESCO World Heritage site with architectural wonders dating back to the Celtic era.

Porto Famed for the production of Port, Porto signifies the end of the Douro.

It is Portugal’s second-largest city and bustling with nightlife and latenight restaurants.

BOOK IT WITH TITAN Titan has a week’s cruise on the Douro, sailing on Queen Isabel. With prices from £2,749pp, the deal includes all meals and unlimited drinks onboard plus six excursions. The ship leaves from Porto and stops at Pinhão, Salamanca and Barca d’Alva. titantravel.co.uk

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0800 668 1843 avaloncruises.co.uk

£1,825pp, 8-day Taste of the Danube cruise, Vienna to Budapest, incl. UK transfers with VIP pick-up & flights

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Belmond

0845 077 2222 belmond.com

£990pp, 2-night cruise on Road to Mandalay with transfers, meals with wine

CroisiEurope

020 8328 1281 croisieurope.co.uk

£325pp for a four-day short break in Paris

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020 7399 7604 crystalcruises.co.uk

£2,068 pp, -night cruise from Nuremberg to Basel incl. meals, drinks, overseas transfers, choice of excursions

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0808 115 0469 emeraldwaterways.co.uk

£1,395pp, 8-day Danube Delights river cruise incl. flights, excursions and meals onboard onboard

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01753 598 555 europeanwaterways.com

£2,590pp, 6-night all-inclusive hotel barge cruises UK, France, Italy, Holland & Ireland

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Far Horizon Tours & Cruises

01252 714 477 perlrivercruises.com

£1,579pp, 7-night Brahmaputra cruise.

Cruise-only incl. excursions & international transfers

Fred.\River Cruises

0808 159 5256 fredrivercruises.co.uk

£599pp, 7-day (no-fly) Dutch Towns & Spring Gardens, full-board incl. return coach transfers

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0800 240 4470 greatrail.com/raildiscoveries. com

£795, 5-day The Path of the Seine, Paris to Normandy including rail, 11 meals and drinks

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Insider Journeys

01865 268 944 insiderjourneys.co.uk

£3,093, 16-day Mekong & Beyond small group journey. 7 nights’ cruise, 8 hotel)

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Mekong Prestige River Cruise

0808 168 1458 ewaterways.co.uk

£1,149pp, 8 night cruise only between Saigon and Siem Reap, full-board including drinks

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Mekong River Cruises

01252 714 477 perlrivercruises.com

£650pp, 5-night Luang Prabang roundtrip cruise incl. excursions and transfers

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Newmarket Holidays

0330 160 7999 newmarketholidays.co.uk

£269pp, 4-day Rhine Christmas Markets Cruise

Pandaw

020 8326 5620 pandaw.com

US$1,796pp 7-nights Mandaly to Bagan

Riviera Travel

01283 744 370 / 744 390 rivieratravel.co.uk/agents

£699pp for the Amsterdam & Dutch Bulbfields cruise

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Saga

0800 074 8021 saga.co.uk/rivercruises

£399pp 4-nights Holland in Bloom from April 2, 2019

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Sanctuary Retreats

+44 (0)1242 546609 sanctuaryretreats.com

£714pp, 3-night cruise from Bagan to Mandalay in 2016, based on two people

Scenic

0808 115 0463 scenic.co.uk

£1,795pp, 8-day Iconic Danube 5* river cruise, incl. flights, excursions, meals & drinks

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Shearings Holidays

0344 556 0888 shearings.com/rivercruises

From £444, 4-night Scenic Rhine New Year full-board cruise with return coach travel

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Tauck River Cruises

0800 810 8020 tauck.co.uk

£3,070pp, 8-day ‘Holland & Belgium in the Spring’ incl. flights & category one cabin

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Titan

0800 988 5800 titanagents.co.uk

£999pp, 8-day Riverside Cities of Holland & Germany incl. meals, flights and VIP transfers

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The River Cruise Line

01858 438 466 rivercruiseline.co.uk

£995pp, 8-day Danube, Vienna & Budapest full-board cruise on the fourstar Serenity

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Uniworld

0808 168 9231 uniworld.com/uk

£2,089, 8 day all-inclusive Castles Along the Rhine cruise from Basel to Amsterdam

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Viking

020 8780 7985 vikingcruises.co.uk

£1545pp, 8-day Romantic Danube incl. wifi, meals with wine and beer & daily excursions

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0800 902 0888 wendywutours.co.uk

£2,690pp, 14-day fully-inclusive Majestic Yangtze tour with flights and guided touring

0800 035 6411 amadeus-rivercruises.co.uk

£1,129pp, 7-night Danube Rhapsody, including flights, non UK transfers and port charges

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020 3290 5713 arosa-cruises.com

£999pp, 7-night Danube Classic cruise, incl. meals, drinks, and a 15% spa discount

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AmaWaterways

0800 520 2252 amawaterways.co.uk

£1,778, 7-night Melodies of the Danube, incl. all meals with drinks plus excursions

APT River Cruisesw

0800 012 6686 aptouring.co.uk

Avalon Waterways

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DUTCH Waterways

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ELBE, Czech Republic to Germany

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DOURO, Portugal

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DANUBE, Central Europe

RHINE, Switzerland to the Netherlands

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At a glance

MEKONG, Cambodia, Laos, and/or

river cruising directory

CHOBE, Botswana

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ALL INCLUSIVE OPTION

UK TRANSFERS

AMAZON

MURRAY RIVER, Australia

MISSISSIPPI, USA

YANGTZE, China

NILE, Egypt

IRRAWADDY/ CHINDWIN, Burma

INDIAN Waterways

MEKONG, Cambodia, Laos, and/or Vietnam

CHOBE, Botswana

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AGENTS EVENT

How does 15% commission sound?

Many river cruise lines offer amazing rates like this! Find out how to tap into this new revenue stream and meet representatives from top cruise lines at our Selling Travel Dialogue event all about river cruise.

LONDON

JU󰉆󰈺 6 LEEDS

JU󰉆󰈺 7

Attendees have the chance to win all this...

Fabulous fam trip places, ship visits in Amsterdam, Love2shop and gift vouchers galore, cute cuddly toys, several bottles of prosecco, and much more...

REGISTER TO ATTEND AT

Selected cruises

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sellingtravel.co.uk/events

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Come and meet...

Jhon

CroisiEurope

Gemma

Newmarket Holidays

Jon

Megan

Crystal Cruises Crystal Cruises

Mark

Newmarket Holidays

Paul

Riviera Travel

Julia

Fred Olsen

Tamzin

Riviera Travel

Kirsty

Fred Olsen

Alana Titan

Coach/ Air/Rail

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the final word

on the road with us On your bike

Just 40 minutes outside of downtown Denver you can bike through rolling green fields accompanied by just the crunch of tyre on gravel and the highpitched squeaking of hundreds of these fat little critters – prairie dogs.

The burrowing creatures are actually rodents that belong to the squirrel family and they pop up everywhere from mounds of earth dotted around the prairie grass.

Selling Travel’s Sally Parker and Laura Gelder were in Denver for IPW, a threeday trade show which attracts 1,000 US travel organisations from every region of the USA. They took a break to explore the foothills of the Rockies by bike and couldn't resist making some furry friends along the way.

TOP 5...

Cheap places for a pint Cuppa tea?

From journalist to tea picker, Selling Travel's Benjamin Coren did his best PG Tips impression on a fam trip to Sri Lanka hosted by luxury resort brands Uga Escapes and Maitland & Knox.

Ben selected some choice leaves from the vast Dambatenne Estate, one of few in the world planted by Sir Thomas Lipton himself. Ben's group also visited the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya and the capital, Colombo.

A pint in the UK can easily set you back £4.

But how many drinks would £4 get you across the globe? Price comparison expert Money Guru tells us. moneyguru.com

Prague

Johannesburg

Lobsters' big night in Halifax A dinner at trade show Rendez-vous Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia, last month saw 1.5 tonnes – that’s 1,500 kilograms – of lobster served up to 1,850 delegates. Paying homage to the crustacean that's worth $38 billion annually to Nova Scotia's economy are Steve Hartridge (left), Selling Travel's editor, and Rupert Peters, Destination Canada’s Managing Director for Europe.

Taipei

Krakow

Rio de Janeiro

THE JULY-AUGUST 2018 ISSUE OF SELLING TRAVEL WILL FEATURE: Canada • New England • Costa Rica • Western Australia Kenya • Madagascar • Middle East Adventures • Morocco • Escorted Touring • Sydney • Business Class Flights • Italy CONTACT US sales@bmipublishing.co.uk; editorial@bmipublishing.co.uk PLUS ONLINE Daily Selling Tips • Destination Guides • Photo Galleries • Travel Uni

sellingtravel.co.uk

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touchdown

Readers Offers

please visit our website.

For up to date arrivals sign /

0800 619 0707

www.touchdown.co.uk

holidays@touchdown.co.uk

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Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm; Sat 9.30am-1.30pm

Hotel prices are “from” per person per night and based on 2 adults sharing unless otherwise stated.

Offers subject to availability and maybe withdrawn without notice. Terms & conditions apply.

Book with confidence ACCREDITED AGENT

www.touchdown.co.uk

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JAMAICA

SA I N T LUC IA

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B A H A M AS

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INTRODUCING…

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Our English Royalty Wedding Inspiration creates a fairy-tale come true. From flowing blush chiffon and blooms of blush and lavender roses to tables layered in pink and royal purple silky linens and place settings that marry romance and beauty, your client’s happily-ever-after will feel like a dream.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORLD’S LEADING ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS Call Agency Sales 020 7590 0210 | Email agencysales@sandals.co.uk | Visit sellingsandals.co.uk 2017

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SELLING TRAVEL • JUNE 2018

JUNE 2018 • SELLINGTRAVEL.CO.UK

TWO-TIME WINNER, TRADE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR

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