Selling Travel April 2018

SELLING TRAVEL • APRIL 2018

APRIL 2018 • SELLINGTRAVEL.CO.UK

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR

India • Mediterranean Cruising • Florida • Theme Parks • Indonesia • Maldives • Hong Kong & Macao • Chile • Leeuwarden (Netherlands) • Qatar

TASTY COMBO

Agents with an appetite for selling twin-centre holidays should suggest the unique flavours of Hong Kong and Macao

how to sell...

Florida Maldives Indonesia Theme Parks Mediterranean Cruising and more...

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PRESENTS

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contents

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this issue FEATURES 08 Florida: 15 26 32 44 51

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A natural state well worth exploring Theme parks: Thrills await in the world's best parks Indonesia: Islands of adventure beyond Bali Maldives: Return to a safe and welcoming paradise Hong Kong & Macao: The twin destinations never stand still Med cruising: What's hot this year in Europe's playground

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54 44

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38 32

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THEME PARKS

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QUICK READS 14 Introducing: Chile 29 Introducing: Wisconsin 38 Hidden gems: India beyond the icons

42 How to sell: Portland 43 Introducing:

NATURAL FLORIDA

Leeurewarden 47 How to sell: Qatar 48 Visit USA: Association members' news 54 Introducing: Val Gardena

08

MALDIVES

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THE REVIEW 55 Top news stories plus hotel reviews

TALKING SHOP 19 News, competitions, incentives & fams

INDONESIA

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MEDITERRANEAN CRUISING

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

To benefit from this travel industry sales training resource visit www.sellingtravel.net

HONG KONG & MACAO

44 sellingtravel.co.uk

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welcome

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welcome

Travel Trade Publication of the Year

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 Business Development Manager: Craig McQuinn 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

T

he weekend of March 24/25 felt like a significant one in UK aviation, as it saw the first ever non-stop commerical flight from Australia to the UK – a near 17-hour odyssey from Perth in WA to Heathrow.

Just when you thought the airline industry had used up all its surprises, Qantas proved the business can still generate headlines.

Passengers reported an enjoyable journey aboard the Dreamliner, one of the most advanced and eco-efficient planes flying today.

On that same weekend, Norwegian took off from Gatwick on a first flight to Chicago and United Airlines kick-started a new service from Heathrow to Denver – a route it last served in 2010.

Oh, and then there is South African Airways, a financially troubled Steve Hartridge EDITOR airline that is shuffling aircraft around its network to maximise demand. At 7pm on Sunday March 25, its new A330-300 left Heathrow on its inaugural flight out of the UK en route to Johannesburg. For the past couple of months, the aircraft has been servicing the same Johannesburg route, but from Munich.

In fact, I am typing these words from 38,000 feet, in seat 7K, three hours into the flight. We were seen off at Heathrow by Zulu songs and drums and, even to this well-travelled hack, it felt like I was part of an ‘occasion’. Onboard, the service is excellent, the business-class seat seems as expansive, private and enjoyable as any I can recall and I am pretty sure the next few hours will pass as comfortably as they can (while sat on a plane).

You can read about my trip – three nights and four days, designed to show that South Africa can be a viable short break destination – in a future Selling Travel.

But for now enjoy this issue which includes updates on Maldives, Hong Kong and Macao, Florida and theme parks around the world.

Also look out for the spring/summer issue of Selling Canada. It is packed with holiday ideas and selling tips from one of the globe’s hottest destinations.

Look out for... Selling Canada

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! sellingtravel.co.uk/subscribe SPRING/SUMMER 2018 | TRAINING FOR THE TRAVEL TRADE

Just for fun !

Wordsearc True or h, Spot the Difference False... test your Canada , knowledg e on page

33

ATLANTIC CANADA

Blazing a trail

ROCKIES IN THE SUMMER

How clients can be driven to distraction far away from the crowds

BLUE PLANET

Where to spot whales and other marine life on Canada's three coasts

GIVE YOUTH ITS HEAD

Epic scenery and great adventures for younger family members

PLUS... CANADA SHARED, BACTA AWARDS, VICTORIA, B.C., WALKING WITH POLAR BEARS... AND MORE

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The Spring/Summer issue You can't fail to be inspired with our latest issue, which offers inspiration for a Rockies road trip in the sunshine, a focus on marine wildlife watching, how to sell Canada to the under 30s and a hair-raising account

of walking with polar bears!

There's also a city profile on B.C's Victoria, an adventurous itinerary through the Okanagan Valley, an interview with specialist operator Churchill Wild's founders and all the latest news - including a report from Destination Canada's annual trade showcase, Canada Shared.

sellingtravel.co.uk

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Experience a taste of Thailand Cardiff 24 Apr, Bristol 25 Apr, Jersey 4 Sept, Guernsey 5 Sept Bringing together some of our finest hotels, airlines and destination management companies (DMC’s). The Amazing Thailand Road Show is visiting the UK for 2018!

Join us at one of these exciting and entertaining evenings and you’ll enjoy a taste of delicious Thai food and chilled beer.

Win a Thai Fam trip On the night, you’ll also have the chance to win a fam trip!

These exclusive Travel Agent events fill up fast, so request your place as soon possible by emailing marketing@tourismthailand.co.uk

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Sell the Thai Life

Tourism Thailand and Selling Travel’s online guide has all you need to know about this amazing destination.

Including info on all the major Thai cities and beach resorts, the latest Thailand news, events, training and competitions.

Take a look now at sellingtravel.co.uk/sell-the-thai-life

Win a £50 Love2Shop voucher For your chance to win, simply complete our online training programme at: training.tourismthailand.co.uk

3/23/18 12:02 PM

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BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE 02/01/2018 12:41 21/12/2017 15:58

the big picture

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Denver Colorado, USA

Denver on a high United Airlines’ new daily service between Heathrow and Denver, Colorado, operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, runs through to October 27. British Airways also has a daily Heathrow-Denver service while Norwegian flies twice-weekly (non-stop) to the city from Gatwick.

Selling Travel’s Laura Gelder will be joining UK tour operators in the Mile High City next month for the USA’s largest travel trade show, IPW, which takes place May 19-25. visitdenver.com

sellingtravel.co.uk

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natural florida

things wild

It’s best known for its theme parks and other family attractions but Florida has a natural side that is well worth exploring, says Jeannine Williamson

Main image: Fisheating Creek

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natural florida

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circles 250 acres of sand dunes.

We spot a large gopher tortoise, the only tortoise native to North America. On the way back, we note those same tortoise tracks.

Junior rangers New Smyrna Beach is just one of the quiet, less-explored corners of Florida, with natural experiences waiting to be discovered.

And 2018 is a particularly good time to visit as a year-long calendar of special events is being organised to mark the 250th anniversary of the destination, first settled

by Scottish physician Andrew Turnbull.

The Everglades covers 1.5 million acres of wetlands and is home to numerous rare wildlife, including the elusive Florida panther, whilst John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park has the only living-coral barrier reef in the continental U.S. that’s teeming with marine life.

One of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the great outdoors is by water, with boat tours ranging from kayak hire and river cruising to dolphin spotting in the open sea.

For families, children can become Junior Park Rangers at many of Florida’s state parks and collect stamps to earn themselves a special ranger’s badge. Alternative natural attractions to the theme parks include the Ann Goldstein Children’s Rainforest Garden at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, with a

PETER W. CROSS

s our kayak glides along in a rather erratic fashion the only sound is the uncoordinated splash of our amateur paddling techniques.

Ahead, Laurel our guide cuts much more of a dash as she leads us through the lagoons of the Indian River on her paddleboard, her eyes constantly scanning the surface of the smooth, glistening water.

She suddenly motions for us to stop and we are rewarded with the memorable sight of a dolphin – the first of many – with a youngster at her side.

Even though Mickey Mouse and his cartoon chums reside little more than an hour away, I feel as if I am in a completely different world. Centred on a 13-mile sweep of unspoilt Atlantic coast (and despite what its name might imply) New Smyrna Beach is Florida’s second-oldest city after St Augustine.

On our tranquil trip we pass small islands with trees teeming with pelicans, often amusingly divided between the older birds on one side and youngsters on the other. Laurel tells us that Indian River, also known as the Intracoastal Waterway, is North America’s most biologically diverse estuary with more than 4,000 species of plants and animals, including sea turtles, manatees, bottlenose dolphins and a wide variety of sea birds.

The next day we visit secluded Dunes Park, where a two-mile boardwalk

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PETER W. CROSS

This page: flamingos feeding; Blowing Rock Preserve.

Opposite page: a manatee; tubing on the Ichetucknee River

wooden fort in a 100-year-old banyan tree. theme parks and attractions of Orlando,” Clare Dudley, Managing Director at Ponders said Ashley Pilkington, Assistant Product Travel, said: “When my children were young Manager USA & Caribbean, Gold Medal. the dream was to take them to Disney.

“For those looking to explore the Sunshine Despite it being a dream, it is also extremely State’s natural wildlife, my top tip is to head to tiring. So we also headed to the beach resort of Kissimmee. Known as the alligator capital of Boca Raton where the world, Gatorland we hired a villa. theme park and From here we took “Suggest seeing alligators in wildlife reserve is days out touring the home to thousands their natural habitat on a Florida Keys and of crocodiles and Boggy Creek airboat tour. If alligators.” had great fun trying to spot alligators Florida continues customers are extra intrepid in the swamps in to be the number they should opt for a night The Everglades. one long-haul tour for a greater chance of For clients that destination for British don’t want to miss the seeing the nocturnal reptiles” and Irish travellers, theme parks I would welcoming 1.7 million Ashley Pilkington, Assistant Product Manager USA & Caribbean, Gold Medal always recommend a visitors in the past Florida two-centre.” year, –so maybe it’s time to encourage some of them Get involved to take a walk on the wild side.

There are unique opportunities for visitors to Top experiences become involved in conservation work. The Diving: The Florida Keys is home to the Palm Beaches has the most densely-populated only living coral barrier reef in the U.S. turtle nesting beaches for loggerhead turtles and offers some of the best diving opportunities in the world, and the Loggerhead Marinelife in the world. In just one day anyone aged 10 Center is dedicated to rehabilitating them. and above can go from learning basic skills in a The extensive programme activities includes swimming pool to a coral reef dive with an the hatchling release experience every instructor with the Islamorada Dive Center August, where a behind-the-scenes tour ends (islamoradadivecenter.com). with a trip to the beach to see LMC staff Wildlife watching: One of the most release turtle hatchlings into the ocean. unique experiences you’ll find in Florida For active travellers, the Pinellas County is swimming with manatees in Crystal River at Paddling Trail stretches the length of St. Pete/ Homosassa State Park. Known as the manatee Clearwater and its calm conditions are perfect capital of the world, it’s the only place where for beginner and experienced kayakers alike. you can legally swim with them in North Scenic waterways stretch from Anclote Key America. The experience can be booked through Preserve State Park in the north to Fort de Do Something Different (dosomethingdifferent.com) Soto Park in the south, where manatees can for £106 for adults and £80 for children. be seen from March through to November, Bird spotting: Watch the birdie at Boca alongside dolphins almost every day.

Ciega Millennium Park.

“Florida has so much to offer beyond the

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Mantara

A major resting space for birds as they migrate south, it is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Wooden walkways and an observation tower provide the chance to spot birds such as the great blue heron, snowy egret, brown pelican and pileated woodpecker (visitstpeteclearwater. com). Tampa’s McKay Bay Nature Park is also part of the trail (visittampabay.com).

Resort (hilton.com) has recently completed a $25-million renovation.

Attractions: Gatorland (gatorland.com) has unveiled a $2.2 million expansion, the largest since opening in 1949. New attractions include an off-road adventure in 12fthigh custom-built ‘monster’ vehicles.

Boggy Creek Airboat Rides “South Florida appeals to (bcairboats.com) has been renamed clients looking to get more Boggy Creek out of a holiday than theme Airboat Adventures. parks. Children love seeing The exclusive new Romp in the manatees, dolphins, going Swamp activity, kayaking and participating bookable through Do in hands-on field trips” Something Different

11

Collect seashells: Get up early and head to the beach to perfect the ‘Sanibel stoop’ as you hunt for seashells on the world-famous shelling beach on the barrier Ruby Briggs, Managing Director, North America Travel Service (dosomethingdifferent. island of Sanibel. com) from £152pp, Each day the beaches enables visitors to drive an airboat. are carpeted with glistening seashells, and Sanibel Wildlife Refuge J.N. Ding Darling 250 different kinds have been identified. Some (dingdarlingsociety.org), which protects one of hotels offer special sinks and worktables to America’s largest undeveloped mangrove clean and pack the day’s yield (sanibel-captiva.org). ecosystems, is launching its seasonal What’s new summer programme of free guided walks.

Accommodation: New openings Watersports: Tampa Riverwalk (visittampabay. com) has new floating docks to give include Kissimmee’s 162-room Holiday boaters, kayakers and paddle boarders Inn Express and Suites (hiexpress.com) and beachside 114-room Springhill Suites more opportunity to explore the water. (marriott.com) in New Smyrna Beach.

Paddleboard rental hire is now available on The 178-room Hutchinson Shores Resort Hillsborough River with Urban Kai (urbankai.com).

Kiteboarding is an exciting new activity at and Spa (hutchinsonshores.com) is the first resort opening on Jensen Beach in almost two Next Level Watersports (nlwatersports-jupiter.com).

The Offshore Sailing School (offshoresailing.com) decades. The coastal-inspired property is expanding to the Westin Cape Coral Resort includes a spa, two pools and a beach bar. at Marina Village and Tarpon Point Marina, The new $65-million Residence Inn Miami offering a choice of learn to sail programmes.

Sunny Isles Beach (marriott.com) boasts 194 all-studio suites, many with ocean views. The Tourism talk Westin Cape Coral Resort (westincapecoral.com) has “When we talk about Florida’s natural 30 new one-bedroom suites with two doubleside most people immediately think of beds and a kitchen that are ideal for families. the Everglades, but what many don’t The Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront

MANTA RAY INN

PETER W. CROSS

18 08:59

natural florida

The MANTA RAY INN is a home away from home!

With one- and two-bedroom oceanfront apartments, this charming inn offers panoramic views of South Florida's best sandy beach Recommended by Fodor’s - winner of the acclaimed White Glove Award and Number one on TripAdvisor

www.mantarayinn.com 1715 S. SURF RD, HOLLYWOOD, FL 33019 T: 001 954 921 9666 | F: 001 954 929 8220 | E: INFO@MANTARAYINN.COM

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natural florida

flights from Gatwick. Boggy Creek airboat ride from £23pp. Gatorland from £21pp. goldmedal.co.uk

 PURELY AMERICA – 0844 804 4480 A seven-night fly-drive in the Florida Keys, with four nights in Key Largo and three in Key West is priced from £1,399pp for travel this June, including flights from Heathrow to Miami, car hire and room-only accommodation. purelyamerica.co.uk 

WILLIE J. ALLEN JR. / VISIT FLORIDA

PETER W. CROSS AND PATRICK FARRELL

realise is that Florida is home to another two national parks and 171 state parks.

“Whether it’s diving tropical reefs, kayaking through mangroves or relaxing on award-winning beaches, Florida has it all. It’s such a diverse state, with theme parks, culture and natural beauty, so it’s a perfect fit for visitors looking to turn their Florida holiday into a Florida adventure.

“We’ve seen a growing trend over the last few years for twin- and multi-centre itineraries, with the holidaymaker wanting the adrenaline rush and excitement of the theme parks, contrasted with a few days immersing themselves in a more natural environment. Visit Florida is investing in new product development and working with a wider range of tour operators on marketing campaigns that encourage multi-centre bookings and travel beyond the popular gateways.”

Gill Standeven, Senior Account Director, Visit Florida

Where to book it

Pictured, from left: Buzzing through the Everglades; Indian River Lagoon

NO 20

 GOLD MEDAL – 0800 014 7777 A seven-night self-catering stay in a superior villa at the Bahama Bay Resort, Kissimmee, is from £689pp for travel between November 6 and December 4, with

How you get there says a lot about where you’re going.

CAPTIVA ISLAND, FL

Islandology is our way of life. It’s rolling with the waves. It’s coasting every chance we get. It’s taking the scenic route and making it up along the way.

Register for our new online training course at Island-Findings.com

Learn more about Southwest Florida at FortMyers-Sanibel.com

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introducing

Chile Taking over 14 hours, the UK to Santiago direct flight is now BA's longest trip. But Chile's mix of history, nature and adventure make it a worthwhile journey, says Sarah Gilbert From the lunar-like landscape of the Atacama Desert in the north to the jagged peaks and glacial lakes of Patagonia in the south, this long, thin country is one of the most geographically diverse on the planet.

Tourist-friendly with good transportation links and direct flights from British Airways, in 2017, Chile was named the World’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination for the second year running. It’s ideal for active travellers and has accommodation to suit all budgets.

Santiago and around

TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK

Cosmopolitan capital, Santiago, is a vibrant, modern city where Latin America meets Europe and colonial mansions sit next to skyscrapers. Historic barrios like Bellavista, Lastarria and Italia have been given a makeover, with stylish boutique hotels and a thriving arts and nightlife scene.

To the east are the Andes and two ski resorts, Valle Nevado and Portillo, which can be visited in a day.

The historic port city of Valparaíso, a maze of narrow streets lined with brightly-coloured buildings perched on steep hills, is an hour’s drive to the west. Santiago also makes a great base for visiting the wineries of the Maipo, Casablanca and the San Antonio valleys.

The altitude, arid climate and lack of light pollution make it a top spot for stargazing.

The Atacama Desert

The Lake District

The adobe village of San Pedro de Atacama is the jumping-off point for exploring the north’s spectacular landscapes, including the multi-coloured rock formations of the Valley of the Moon, the Atacama Salt Flats, dotted with flamingos, and the El Tatio geysers.

Don’t miss floating over the world’s highest and driest desert with Balloons Over Atacama.

South of Santiago, the picturesque Lake District is all snow-covered peaks, azure lakes, fast-flowing rivers and quaint villages.

The ‘Adventure Capital of Chile’, budgetfriendly Pucón – set on Lake Villarrica with its still-smoking volcano – offers hiking, cycling, horse riding, rafting, kayaking and volcano climbing, as well as a buzzing nightlife.

VISITING THE MARBLE CAVES IN THE AYSÉN REGION

THE DETAILS CURENCY: Chilean Peso (CLP) £1=CLP858 VISAS: Not required by UK nationals LANGUAGE: Spanish TIME ZONE: GMT -4 FLIGHT TIME: British Airways flies direct to Santiago. The 14hr, 40min flight is its longest service

GET TING THERE: batraveltrade. com; avianca.com; aircanada.com; airfrance.co.uk

USEFUL CONTACTS: chile.travel/en BOOK IT: Travel 2 offers the 12-day Magic of Chile, including tours of Moon Valley and Atacama salt flats, a cruise to Peulla, a

visit to Chiloé Island, return flights from Heathrow, internal flights, transfers and B&B accommodation, from £3,359. travel2.com; 0800 022 4182

OTHER TOUR OPERATORS journeylatinamerica.co.uk audleytravel.com intrepidtravel.com

ATACAMA ACTION

Patagonia Chilean Patagonia stretches from Puerto Montt down to Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. It’s a land of majestic mountains, ancient forests, glaciers and lakes, with abundant flora and fauna, including guanacos, Andean condor and the elusive puma. In the north, the region of Aysén is starting to open up, cut through by the scenic Carrera Austral, the ultimate Chilean road trip. Puerto Natales in the south is the gateway to the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park - a hiker’s paradise, from tackling the famous W Trek to gentle rambles.

Island life Far-flung Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, sits over 3,700km west of Chile in the southeast Pacific. It’s home to over 800 mysterious monolithic statues thought to have been carved between the 11th and 14th centuries.

A short ferry hop across Canal de Chacao from Puerto Montt is misty Chiloé, known for its stilt houses, UNESCO-listed wooden churches and the wildlife-rich parks of Chiloé and Tantauco. 

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theme parks

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up! buckle

Selling a city break, beach escape or culture trip? Add extra thrills by including a visit to the world’s most exciting theme parks, says Lauren Jarvis

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ravity slams the full weight of my body against my shoulder harness.

I’m already upside down and have climbed a dizzying 150 vertical feet – and that’s before being flipped and sent into freefall through a 360-degree ‘heart’ roll.

It’s a manoeuvre that leaves my actual heart lodged somewhere between my pounding chest and screaming mouth.

Appropriately, considering my current predicament, I’m Down Under, swapping the relatively safe rollers of Queensland’s Gold Coast beaches for the roller coasters of Dreamworld, Australia’s largest amusement park.

Blood is surging to my head as my brain – which clearly wasn’t engaged when I boarded the park’s ‘BuzzSaw’ – starts questioning the science. “Will the harness carry the full weight of me and my bonzaidea-at-the-time breakfast?” and then,

inevitably, my sanity: “What am I doing?”

My question is answered, in a fashion, as I’m plummeted earthwards, the wind whiplashing my hair. My stomach rolls, adrenaline and dopamine flood my body and loud, unabashed laughter replaces my screams.

Freed from the harness, I exit on shaky

Above: Dare you ride Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest roller coaster, in Abu Dhabi? Right: The terrifying Wicker Man ride, new to Alton Towers this spring

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theme parks

“As well as saving your clients money, combination and multi-park tickets offer greater flexibility and allow them to park hop, so they’re not restricted to one park for the entire day” Malcolm Davies, Product Destination Manager, Funway Holidays

This page, clockwise from top: a brainy Smurf at Dubai Parks & Resorts; the Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta, Texas; bottoms up, Disney-style.

Opposite: Efteling in the Netherlands; Legoland

legs, smooth down my mid-Eighties Bon Jovi hair and rejoin the queue.

With rollercoaster rides, I’ve found that one hit is never enough…

High rollers Worldwide attendance figures would suggest that I’m not the only one addicted to the thrill of an amusement-park ride.

The Global Attractions Attendance Report 2016, published by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), recorded a 4.3% increase in visitors among the major theme park operators, growing from 420 million to 438 million attendees over the year.

“While weather, tourism and political issues have tapped the brakes on growth a bit this year,” says TEA’s Senior Vice President, Economics, John Robinett, “we feel confident that the business, through some exciting new investments and operational improvements, along with strong leisure consumption globally, will continue its characteristically steady growth pattern over the long run.”

Florida’s iconic parks are still setting the pace, but other markets are definitely in the race and catching up fast.

“There are hundreds of theme parks around the world, varying massively in both quality and popularity,” says Kevin Brett, Managing Director of HAT Tourism Marketing, which represents a range of attractions in the U.S. “North America remains the leading market, and is the home turf of giants Disney and Universal. But Asia and the Middle East are emerging hotspots for thrillseekers, while Europe offers some outstanding attractions.”

With amusement parks opening up in more

varied destinations, agents have a great opportunity to incorporate pre-booked tickets into their customers’ holiday packages.

Annabel Cove, Head of Trade Sales & Marketing at DoSomethingDifferent.com, says: “The key to selling attraction tickets is to remember that there’s always something extra you can recommend. This isn’t a case of hard selling, but providing the best possible experience for your customer.

They’ve come to you because they trust your knowledge and you’re uniquely placed to make recommendations to enhance their holiday and save them money.”

Purchasing attraction tickets in the UK prior to travel allows customers to take advantage of special deals and avoid the risk of an activity being sold out on arrival.

“Car hire and airport hotels are often added to holidays without a second thought,” continues Cove. “However, some agents are missing out by not offering experiences.

Selling tickets can reap great rewards – our average booking is £800 for tickets alone – improving margins and the bottom line.”

Selling T

T f

The Americas A triumphant mix of human imagination, expert engineering, commercial cunning and a sprinkle of marketing magic draws millions of visitors to the U.S amusement Meccas each year: seven of the world’s top 10 most-visited theme parks are here (Japan scoops the other three).

Orlando in Florida is the main attraction, with giants Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and Legoland Florida Resort.

The west coast is home to Disneyland Resort, plus Universal Studios Hollywood

At fou

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theme parks

and Legoland Resort, while across the U.S Six Flags has 18 action-packed parks, plus two in Mexico and one in Canada.

In South America, Brazil’s Beto Carrero World, Fantasilandia in Chile and Argentina’s Parque de la Costa are all worth a visit.

Europe & the Middle East

“Alongside the major theme parks, many small players offer good value for money and great commissions that some agents aren’t tapping into” Kevin Brett, Managing Director, HAT Tourism Marketing

Disneyland Paris remains the biggest European draw. At the end of February Disney announced a €2billion investment project for Paris that will add three new areas, based on Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars, at the Walt Disney Studios Park.

Though work won’t begin until 2021, visitors can get in the superhero mood early since a new Marvel show, featuring the likes of Spider-Man, Thor, Captain America and Black Widow, arrives this summer.

Elsewhere, Europa-Park in Germany, Efteling in the Netherlands, Denmark’s Tivoli Gardens, Spain’s PortAventura, Liseberg in Sweden, Gardaland in Italy and Puy du Fou in France are all worthwhile additions to a continental break.

In the UK, Legoland Windsor, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures are all perfect staycation additions.

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The Middle East has seen several highquality openings. Abu Dhabi boasts the fastest rollercoaster on earth, Formula Rossa at Ferrari World, along with six themed lands at Warner Bros World.

IMG Worlds of Adventure in Dubai is the world’s biggest indoor park and Dubai Parks & Resorts offer combo-tickets for entry to its Motiongate, Bollywood, Legoland and Legoland Water Parks.

Selling Travel - Disneyland Paris - HP April 2018_Layout 1 22/03/2018 11:10 Page 1

Top Performing Leisure Groups Operator for Disneyland Paris ®

Greatdays has been named the Top Performing Leisure Groups Operator for Disneyland® Paris the past three years running, and our dedicated Disney team is here to help ensure that the booking of your group’s trip to Disneyland® Paris is as simple as possible.

Assisting groups of 12 passengers or more, Greatdays provide discounted rates for group travel, family celebrations, incentive travel, school groups and more! We can offer a tailor-made package including Disney Hotel and Park Tickets plus extras such as meal plans and shows to make your group’s trip as magical as can be, and we will be on hand throughout the booking process to help you every step of the way.

With two parks to explore, there is something for everyone. Dreams, fantasy and fairy-tale come to life in the Disneyland® Park while at Walt Disney Studios® Park you can discover the magical worlds of cinema and animation. Zoom through the galaxy, brave a ghostly mansion, embark on a high seas adventure during the age of piracy and plunge 13 unlucky floors into the Twilight Zone.

The fun doesn’t have to stop when the Disney Parks close with entertainment going on until late in Disney Village, and after a busy day rest those weary legs at a choice of seven onsite Disney Hotels each boasting unique themes and magical Disney touches.

A typical package at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe costs £576, based on a family of four sharing. Includes 3 nights accommodation and 2 Day Disney Park Ticket.

Booking a group visit to Disneyland® Paris is easier than you may think with the award winning Disney team at Greatdays here to help ensure your group’s trip to the land where dreams come true is one they will never forget.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US

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theme parks

Asia-Pacific “The key to selling attraction tickets is to remember that there’s always something extra you can recommend. This isn’t a case of hard selling but providing the best possible experience for your customer” Annabel Cove, Head of Trade Sales & Marketing at DoSomethingDifferent.com

Clockwise from top: a firework spectacular at Disney Orlando; meeting Batman at the Warner Bros Movie World in Queensland’s Gold Coast; Universal Studios Orlando’s new Volcano Bay

For customers heading to Asia there are plenty of world-class parks to lighten any culture-heavy trip. Japan is leading the charge with Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka and Tokyo Disney Sea. In China, Overseas Chinese Town (OCT) has six parks in the region’s top 20, including Window of the World and Happy Valley in Shenzhen, while leading Chinese themepark brand Fantawild will have more than 30 parks operating in the next eight years.

Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016, with Universal Studios Beijing slated for 2020.

Australia’s biggest park, Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, is worth incorporating into itineraries, along with neighbouring Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet ’n’ Wild, all available on a combo-pass.

Efteling: World of Wonders (efteling.com) in the Netherlands in September 2018.

Alton Towers Resort’s (alton-towers.com) new Wicker Man attraction, a wooden rollercoaster, opens this spring.

The Isle of Wight’s Blackgang Chine (blackgangchine.com) is celebrating its 175th anniversary throughout 2018.

The Walking Dead: The Ride (thorpepark.com) will arrive at Thorpe Park for Easter 2018.

Other: Disneyland Hong Kong (hongkongdisneyland.com) is undergoing a $1.4billion expansion plan.

The Batman-themed Gotham City opens at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi (wbworldabudhabi.com) this summer.

A new Virtual Reality Park has opened at The Dubai Mall (vrparkdubai. com) with an indoor rollercoaster.

What’s new

Where to book it

USA: Pixar Pier (disneyparks.disney. go.com) comes to Disney California Adventure Park in summer 2018.

Toy Story Land (disneyworld.disney.go.com) opens at Florida’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios in June 2018.

Universal Orlando’s Fast & Furious – Supercharged launches in Spring 2018 (universalorlando.com).

The Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster (sixflags.com) opens in spring 2018 at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (sixflags.com) in California will add a new Harley Quinn Crazy Coaster in spring 2018.

Europe: France’s Puy du Fou (puydufou.com/en) is developing new venues in Spain and China.

New acrobatic show, CARO, comes to

 GREATDAYS – 0161 928 3242 A typical package at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe in Disneyland Paris costs £576, based on a family of four sharing. Includes three nights’ accommodation and a two-day Disney Park Ticket. Greatdays is a group travel specialist tour operator and has its own award-winning Disney team. greatdays.co.uk

 AMERICA AS YOU LIKE IT – 020 8742 8299 The 14-night California’s Pacific Coast Highway: San Francisco to San Diego itinerary costs from £1,840pp, based on a family of four sharing. Includes return international flights, accommodation, car hire and Southern California CityPass tickets. americaasyoulikeit.com 

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Talking Shop INSPIRED BY YOU Th e st uf f t h at h a p p e ns w he n a g e nt s g e t i nv o l v e d ...

Book it agents one more time

UK op󰇪󰇶󰈜󰇺or󰇷 󰇶󰇮󰈨󰈜's ex󰇴󰇱󰈢r󰈥 o󰇳󰇪 󰈣󰈆 Flo 22 t󰇶e󰇧󰈤󰇼re󰇷 󰈢󰈡 p󰈜󰇫e

SUPER BREAK is offering one pop-loving agent the chance to meet pop icon Britney Spears and watch her perform. To land the top prize and see Britney Spears strut her stuff in Blackpool, agents need to book the operator's new Britney in Blackpool package and email their booking reference, name and ABTA number to sales@superbreak.com before June 30. superbreak.com/agents

Saint Lucia springs into action THE Saint Lucia Tourism Authority's Spring Roadshow is underway, with events across the UK holding the chance to win some great prizes. The first were held last month with the next on April 17, 18 and 19 – in Chester, Manchester and Cambridge respectively.

For further details and to attend, email ncompton@stlucia.org

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Olympic prize

May 10 & 14

DESTINATION NSW UK & EUROPE ROADSHOW 2018 Destination NSW is inviting agents to two events to discover Sydney and beyond. Agents will meet suppliers and maybe walk away with a prize, including flights to Sydney. Sign up to attend in Manchester (May 10) or London (May 14) at sellingtravel.co.uk/events

AGENTS can earn a £10 Love2shop voucher on any package booking with Olympic Holidays before April 30. Plus, Greece and Cyprus bookings for Summer 2018 will be put in a draw to win a £250 Love2Shop voucher. olympicholidays.com

BARBARA CHARLTON

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BEEN THERE DONE THAT

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FACE TO FACE

20

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

Feeling the love at work and home There was a great turnout for our first Travel Show , with existing and potentially new customers coming through the doors on a very cold Sunday afternoon. We received fantastic support from 20 suppliers - proof we are on the right track for our continual growth.

A special mention must go to Adrian Croft at Canopy Marketing, who donated five nights' accommodation on Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Kihavah in the Maldives, and Joanne Peters for offering two nights' stay at The Hard Rock Tenerife. And we sold nice extended stays to the winners of both prizes!

had one of the best massages I've ever had.

The poor girl doing it had her work cut out working her way through three months of ‘Peak Neck Knots’. Our stay was completed by a wonderful dinner in the awardwinning Oak Room Restaurant, where we were treated to seasonal and signature dishes.

We were blessed with brilliant sunshine throughout our visit so, although it was freezing, we enjoyed lovely walks in the beautiful 66 acres of parkland. Coming across hidden ponds and frosty lawns was a photographer's dream. In the summer months there's even an outdoor pool to relax around. The property is bookable through Superbreak, and is perfect for clients in search of a romantic few days away - or an agent in need of a break!

Dom󰇪󰇷󰇺󰇯c 󰇨󰇱is󰇷

I was recently very lucky to go to Tylney Hall Hotel, near Hook, for my 28th wedding anniversary. The incredible service started from the porter at the front door, and continued into the spa where I

Bar󰇨󰇧󰈦󰈜 Cha󰇶󰇱t󰈢󰇳

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ON LOCATION

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Martin x x x aCounty, d a p t a bTreasure l e t e m p l aCoast, t e - t Florida, a l k t o d January e s i g n ! x x2018 x

Undiscovered Florida Marina. The group also tried their hand at feeding stingrays, went on a Segway tour, spooked themselves on a ghost hunt and visited the House of Refuge, the last remaining lifesaving station on Florida’s Atlantic Coast.

Charlotte Forrester, Product Manager at Southall Travel, says: “Martin County’s beautiful countryside and coastal region make it perfect for second-timers to Florida - those who have already experienced the faster-paced, built-up cities. It's a great place to explore, with lots of local-feel restaurants and bars."

Participants on the fam included Johnathan Poole from Travel Up Group, Philippa Westwood from America As You Like It, Simon Miles from North American Vacation Homes, Janice Wall from JAC Travel, Charlotte Forrester from Southall Travel, Amy Shine from Funway Holidays and Alison Murphy from If Only.

Simon Miles, Commercial Director at North America Vacation Homes, added: “Martin County is a hidden gem, full of history, beautiful beaches and picturesque waterways. Complementing the rest of Florida’s incredible attractions, this is a coastal region well worth exploring.”

MARTIN COUNTY OFFICE OF TOURISM AND MARKETING

A group of UK tour operators discovered a lessexplored side of the Sunshine State, heading to Martin County on the Treasure Coast.

Seven buyers headed to the region, which sits on Florida's Atlantic coastline, following the annual Florida Huddle trade show. It was the first trip hosted by the county for UK product managers and buyers.

The group stayed at the recently-opened Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa, located directly on the beach, and everyone in the group said that they would be keen to sell the resort moving forward. The property opened at the end of 2017 and is the first resort to open in almost two decades on Jensen Beach.

Amy Shine, Product Manager at Funway Holidays, says: “Surprisingly, it is not somewhere that has previously been on my radar but a combination of good-quality hotels, lovely beaches and history make it a definite for inclusion in the UK market.

"It would make a perfect fly-drive option or a twin-centre with Orlando for customers looking for something a little more indicative of the real Florida.”

The most popular activities on the itinerary included yoga on the beach, learning to paddleboard and a seafood lunch at Baha Grille at the Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and

FLORIDA

Main picture: Shops in Hobe Sound Inset, from top: The group set off on the cool Ohana Bus; The historic House of Refuge at Gilbert's Bar; Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa; Sunrise yoga on the beach

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SAY G'DAY TO SYDNEY & NEW SOUTH WALES AT THE DESTINATION NSW

UK & Europe ROADSHOW 2018

MANCHESTER: The Refinery Spinningfields – 6pm on 10 May 2018 LONDON: OXO2 (Level 2, Oxo Tower) – 6pm on 14 May 2018 Meet top suppliers from the region at this fun and informative event and be in with a chance to win great prizes on the night, including one of two flights to Sydney with Qantas!

DON’T MISS OUT – REGISTER NOW! sellingtravel.co.uk/dnswroadshow

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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

Circus tricks with Las Vegas, heady heights in A night at the circus LAS VEGAS Convention & Visitors Authority and Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas hosted 20 UK travel agents on a night out to see Cirque du Soleil's OVO at London's Royal Albert Hall.

The group comprised of agents from US Airtours, Trailfinders, Virgin Holidays, Best@ Travel, Do Something Different, Attraction Tickets Direct, Attraction World, Lotus/ Dialaflight and Travelbag. Selling Travel's own Jessica Pook also joined the group to catch up with readers and see the show.

Agents can find out more about Las Vegas and Cirque du Soleil and increase their knowledge via both organisations' training programmes with Travel Uni.

South Africa winner

SOUTH African Airways (SAA) Director Chris Fortescue (pictured) drew Suzanne Taylor of Wotton Travel out of the pot to win a fam trip place to South Africa with SAA and Africa Collection. flysaa.com

lcva.com; traveluni.com

Birmingham gets a little brighter

Our members always enjoy the worshops we hold - we get a very enthusiastic response!

BRIGHT (Bringing Real Information & Guaranteed High Quality Training) held a workshop in Birmingham recently. In attendance were 31 travel agents from 26 agencies as well as home workers. Pictured from left is Travel Counsellor Julie Crumpton, Michelle Stammers from Holidays Please and Rachel Wilcox, also a Travel Counsellor.

BRIGHT's next two events take place in Glasgow on April 17 and Newcastle on April 18. The Bright Consortia consists of 13 specialist tour operators and its workshops allow agents one-on-one meetings with at least seven members.

Hisham Mahmoud, Chairman, BRIGHT

brightconsortia.com

USA

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0208 585 4020

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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

South Africa, a taste of New Zealand & more Global Gatherings success THE GLOBAL Travel Group's Sales and Business Development Manager, Darren Bond, hosted 11 of the travel consortium's members at the Global Gathering in Harrogate's Hotel Du Vin. Agents undertook a day of networking and development and were joined by Gold Medal and Travel 2 Key Account Manager, Leigh Lavery. The events give agents the chance to meet other Global members within their areas and share best practice. Events have been held in Harrogate, Leeds, Reading, Hemel Hempstead, Derby, Cardiff and more. Each one includes visit from various suppliers along with the chance to win prizes including shopping vouchers and Champagne. globaltravelgroup.com globaltravelgroup

Journey to South Africa

THE BLYDE RIVER Canyon, the world's thirdlargest, in Mpumalanga, South Africa, presented the perfect photo opportunity for Julie Gooding from Abbotts Travel, Sherwin Arends from Audley Travel, Tricia Birmingham from Gold Medal/Travel 2 and host Bonnie-Sue O’Garey from South African Tourism. The action-packed trip saw the group travel through Mpumalanga, Limpopo and on to Johannesburg with plenty of wildlife and adventure along the way - including a taste of a local caterpillar delicacy! The trip was held from March 11-19 and followed the country's Panorama Route. southafrica.net

Exclusive Escorted Canada Tours

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8nts, Best of the Canadian Rockies

A better way to fly

AIR NEW ZEALAND invited agents and operators to a special event in London this March. The 'better way to fly' night took trade guests on a journey to New Zealand via Singapore. Attendees tried the country's most famous wine, Villa Maria, as well as craft beers from Wellington and New Zealand lamb. Agents could also experience Air New Zealand's luxury leather seats and sample a Singapore Sling cocktail to celebrate the route. airnewzealand.co.uk

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

holidays@travelpack.com

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indonesia

records island

Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands yet many Brits know just the one. And that is why Visit Indonesia’s current message is simple: ‘Look Beyond Bali.’ Laura Gelder does just this

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indonesia

B

ali is undeniably alluring but the tiny, mostly Hindu island isn’t really representative of this huge, predominantly Muslim nation, which is home to many ancient cultures and a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Even Java, the country’s most populous island and the home of its capital, is somewhat off the beaten track for Brits. From Sulawesi to West Papua, stops range from low-lying reef islands with white-sand beaches and palm trees to large, mountainous islands with opportunities for trekking, wildlife safaris, scuba diving, cultural adventures and much more.

Lombok Just east of Bali, adventurers alight here to tackle the dizzying heights of Mount Rinjani, an active volcano which can be scaled via various paths.

Longer treks descend into the crater and finish

at its lake and hot springs. There are plenty of beaches for a relaxing end to a trek, including Senggigi, which has some upmarket options, and Kuta (not to be confused with Bali’s Kuta, this one is a quiet fishing village offering surfing, diving and other watersports). Just off Lombok are the car-free Gili Islands: Gili Trawangan (known as the party island), quiet Gili Meno and Gili Air, which lies somewhere in-between.

New product: The Legian Lombok (lhm-hotels.com) is set to open in 2018, with 39 guestrooms, eight villas and five ultra-private Joglo houses, the latter with a multi-tier infinity pool, dining pavilion and wellness facilities.

Java Most visitors to Java will spend some time in the chaotic capital of Jakarta, which has both skyscrapers and Dutch colonial architecture.

Also popular is cultural Yogyakarta, a centre for Javanese art like batik paintings, shadow puppet shows and music, and nearby Borobudur – the world’s largest Buddhist monument. Pegged for development and ripe for adventure is East Java’s Mount Bromo National Park. Its eponymous

27

volcano is more accessible than many of the country’s peaks and the smoking crater looks out over a sea of sand to many more sizzling cones.

In the far southeastern corner of Java is worldclass surf at Grajagan Bay, also known as G-Land and home to surf camps from April to October.

Sell it: Hayes and Jarvis has a nine-day trip of Java from £1, 882pp for travel in June with flights. Highlights of Indonesia includes Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Solo, and Bromo.

Sumatra Jungle, wildlife, wild beaches and more volcanoes await. Top attractions include Gunung Leuser National Park’s population of orangutans, Sumatran tiger, rhinoceros and elephants.

Lake Toba, the world’s largest crater lake, has captivating green vistas along with traditional Batak villages with their exaggerated pointed roofs, hot springs and the steep island of Samosir at its centre. Trekkers can also head to Sianok Canyon, with its sheer cliffs and underground caves and bunkers, a legacy from Japanese occupation in World War Two. The Karo Highlands also offer tribal culture, waterfalls

The pristine Raja Ampat archipelago off West Papua

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indonesia

Sell it: Intrepid Travel (intrepidtravel.com) has a Sumatra Adventure itinerary which includes trekking Gunung Leuser National Park, climbing Sibayak for a picnic and time in Lake Toba.

Sulawesi This strange shaped island’s four limbs are mountainous, cloaked in dense jungle and surrounded by rich seas. Wakatobi National Marine Park comprises 1.4 million hectares and is recognised as having the largest number of reef and fish species in the world, with over 50 spectacular dive sites. Inland are rare species such as nocturnal tarsiers and flamboyantly-coloured maleo birds. The island is also home to several unique cultures whose traditions have survived modernisation thanks to the impenetrable topography. The Toraja highlanders live in unique wooden houses with huge boat-shaped roofs and have elaborate funeral rites involving colourful processions and burial sites carved into rocky cliffs and guarded by life-like effigies.

Stay: The five-star Wakatobi Dive Resort (wakatobi. com) operates it own charter flights from Bali and offers villa accommodation, a fine dining restaurant, spa and activities like kayaking, village and cooking workshops.

Komodo National Park Declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, over 30 years ago, Komodo National Park encompasses 29 volcanic islands (including Rinca, Padar and Komodo) and is home to approximately 2,500 Komodo dragons and otherreptiles, birds and mammals. The park’s terrain is exceptionally diverse, featuring mountainous hillside, tropical rainforests, grass-woodland savannah and pristine white-sand beaches which lead to sea rich in marine biodiversity and plied by many liveaboard dive boats.

Sell it: Dive Worldwide (diveworldwide.com) offers an

11-day liveaboard onboard the Mermaid II from £2,895pp, including all meals and tanks and one night in Bali.

Flores The 670km Trans-Flores Highway runs the length of this fertile island, crossing mountains, passing emerald paddy fields, traditional villages and tumbling waterfalls. The volcanic spine soars to 2500m and torrential wet seasons result in a lushness that accounts for the island’s name. Islanders are mostly Catholic, which gives it a slightly different cultural feel.

Aside from many hidden beaches the three craters of the extinct Kelimutu volcano are a top destination: each has a different, vibrantlycoloured lake which constantly changes its hue.

New product: AYANA will be launching the first and only five-star resort on Flores Island’s Waecicu Beach, AYANA Komodo Resort, Waecicu Beach opens summer 2018 with 12 suites and 189 premium guest rooms..ayana.com/en/labuan-bajo/ayana-komodo

Kalimantan The Indonesian portion of Borneo is by far the largest part of this biologically diverse island, the third largest in the world. The main reason to alight here is the vast swatches of jungle, criss-crossed by countless rivers and home to bucket list wildlife like proboscis monkeys and orangutans. Tajung Putting National Park is home to crocodiles and 220 species of bird as well as Camp Leakey, an Orangutan Preservation Centre.

Sell it: Audley Travel’s 14-day Heart of Indonesia: Borneo and Java tour is from £3,460pp and includes a cruise around Tanjung Puting National Park and visiting orangutan feeding stations.

Raja Ampat Situated off West Papua, Indonesia’s most eastern Island, Raja Ampat is an archipelago of over 1,500, mostly unnamed small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool. Meaning ‘The Four Kings’, the territory is home to around 75% of the world’s marine species, including pigmy seahorses manta rays, dugong, turtles, tuna, giant sea clams, giant trevallies, snappers, batfish and barracudas.

On land are pristine beaches and various bird species including the bird of paradise.

Sell it: Audley Travel (audleytravel.com) has a 15-day Cruising Raja Ampat itinerary from £7,445. Guests will visit fishing villages, discover wildlife and swim and snorkel. Ends with a few days relaxing on the white-sand beaches of Lombok.  Above: Tenth century Hindu temple Prambanan in central Java. Left: a sleepy orangutan (found in Sumatra and Kalimantan) and a crater lake in Flores’ Kelimutu Volcano

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introducing

29

Wisconsin Wisconsin vehicle plates proudly proclaim it as 'America’s Dairyland' but there’s far more to this land of milk and honey than its famous cheeses, says Peter Ellegard Edged to its east by Lake Michigan and to its far north by Lake Superior, while the Mississippi River borders Minnesota and Iowa along its western flank, this Great Lakes state is great for exploring by road.

There is everything from the urban delights of lively Milwaukee and elegant capital Madison, to rolling farmland dotted with distinctive red barns, 820 miles of lake shores, thousands of lakes and rivers and vast swathes of forest, besides many quaint towns and villages.

Last year saw the creation of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail, marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of America’s greatest architect. The 200-mile self-drive links nine of his buildings, from Kenosha on Lake Michigan near the Illinois border, to Richland Centre, his birthplace.

MILWAUKEE'S GLITTERING SKYLINE

Milwaukee musts

MONONA TERRACE

What made Milwaukee famous, as in the Rod Stewart song, was its beer. The one-time beer capital of the world was home to the country’s four largest brewers. Just one, Miller, remains and is open for tours. But the city now has a vibrant craft beer and microbrewery industry, with the Lakefront Brewery on Lake Michigan offering tours and a huge beer hall. Downtown has 17 museums, while the three-mile Milwaukee RiverWalk has restaurants, a public market, statues and kayaking along the Milwaukee River.

The city is also the home of century-old American icon Harley-Davidson and visitors can soak up motorcycling history at the HarleyDavidson Museum (harley-davidson.com).

The world’s largest music festival, Milwaukee’s Summerfest (summerfest.com), runs for 11 days from late June and sees around 800 bands play.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S MONONA TERRACE

STATE CAPITOL, MADISON

GIBRALTAR ROCK, DEVIL'S LAKE STATE PARK

Capital attraction The Wisconsin State Capitol’s granite dome towers over everything else in the city, thanks to legislation prohibiting buildings taller than the dome’s supporting columns. Madison has been named America’s greenest city for its profusion of parks, lakes and hiking and cycling paths. It also has several Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, with Monona Terrace and First Unitarian Society Meeting House both on the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail (wrightinwisconsin.org).

“Wisconsin offers great outdoor experiences and natural beauty. Explore the great lakes of Michigan and Superior to enjoy charming lakeside villages and taste

fabulous cuisine”

Ruby Briggs, Managing Director, North America Travel Service

Rural Wiscon0sin Some 46% of Wisconsin's land area is forested.

There are four national parks: the 21 Lake Superior islands, comprising the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; the St Croix National Scenic Riverway, offering 200 miles of paddling, boating, fishing and camping; and two national scenic trails – the 1,200-mile glacier-grazing Ice Age trail near Madison and the North Country Trail, which traverses seven states. The 70-mile-long Door Peninsula juts into Lake Michigan from Green Bay. Door County’s 300 miles of coastline, including many islands, is the most of any county. 

BOOK IT WITH NORTH AMERICA TRAVEL SERVICE The 14-night Journey the Great Lakes circular fly/drive costs from £2,499pp, including return Chicago flights, accommodation and car rental for the duration, with five days in Wisconsin, visiting Madison, the Door Peninsula and Milwaukee. northamericatravelservice.co.uk

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traveluni.com

GDS | TRAINING | REWARDS

Training, competitions, events April 2018

THIS MONTH'S TOP STORIES

Las Vegas Lights FC NEWS

Quick Quiz Are you an Flanders Master?

1. The main language of Flanders is Dutch, but it is often referred to as Flemish.

TRUE / FALSE

Hot News

Macao's year of gastronomy

2. There are 36 UNESCO sites located throughout Flanders.

TRUE / FALSE

Macao Specialist I Modules: 4

macaospecialist. co.uk

On a rail NEW PRODUCT

NEWMARKET Holidays launched a new escorted tour to Lake Como as part of its growing 'Railways' range. The Lake Como & Alpine Railways tour starts from ÂŁ599 for six days with departures from November to February. Highlights include the historic Como-Brunate funicular railway in Italy and a trip on board the scenic Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps to St. Moritz. The package also includes stays on the shores of Lake Como with a choice of hotel and board bases. training.newmarketholidays.co.uk

flandersmaster.com

Answers: 1: True 2: True

THE MACAO Government Tourism OďŹƒce has launched the 2018 Macao Year of Gastronomy, with a line up of activities and celebrations throughout the year. The aim is to raise awareness of Macao's culinary credentials with the introduction of new culinary walking tour routes, experiences and gastronomy-themed activities. The Macao government launched a special website (gastronomy.gov.mo), which has more information on the destination's food heritage and upcoming events. Agents can also increase their knowledge on Macao's dining scene and more by completing Travel Uni's Macao Specialist training programme.

LAS VEGAS' newest professional sports team, the United Soccer League's (USL) Las Vegas Lights FC kicked off its first regular season match last month. The team's season is currently scheduled to run into October, with tickets available at lasvegaslightsfc.com. The Lights are the latest in a growing number of sports teams moving into the city since the opening of the T-Mobile arena in 2016, which hosts the Vegas hockey team and music events. lasvegasvirtuoso.com

traveluni.com

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Training courses to help travel agents and advisers sell more!

Jumeirah opening

COURSE LIST

NEWS

JUMEIRAH GROUP'S first hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Jumeirah Royal Saray, opened in February this year. The property has a private beach in northern coastal district Seef.

Jumeirah says the property "blends history and modern culture with a chic dining, spa and pool scene."

Jumeirah Royal Saray offers 174 rooms, summerhouses and royal residences as well as poolside cabanas, a gin bar and PLAY Restaurant & Lounge, a Dubai concept by chef Reif Othman serving 'Mediterrasian' cuisine. jumeirahbeacon.com

New Deals

Thailand road show continues

Amazing Thailand I Modules: 7

Dog-friendly Haven NEWS

HAVEN Holidays is now offering dog-friendly accommodation at 33 of its holiday parks. Families can choose from numerous accommodation options including Standard, Deluxe and Prestige caravans to suit most budgets with dogs catered for.

Haven even accepts more than one pup per family and dog-friendly breaks include a deep cleaning service for fresh accommodation providing more time with pets.

Prices for a four-night break start at just £99 for a family of four sharing a Standard two-bedroom caravan for four nights at selected parks in 2018. bourneexpert.co.uk

Working in partnership

TOURISM THAILAND is continuing its road show across the UK and Ireland, providing agents in each city the chance to win a fam trip place. Four more cities are on the schedule for this year: Cardiff (April 24), Bristol (April 25), Jersey (September 4) and Guernsey (September 5).

Places fill up fast so email marketing@tourismthailand. co.uk to secure your place Agents will have the chance to refresh destination knowledge as well as enjoy Thai food and win some fabulous prizes. Details of all further events can be found at TAT's training hub at sellingtravel. co.uk/thailand-events.

Don't forget to continue training with Thailand online and win more great prizes. training. tourismthailand.co.uk

A-Z of available courses ABTA Alaska Amtrak Vacations Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Aruba Beaches Resorts Boucan Hotel Chocolat Bourne Leisure Butlins Caribbean Tourism Centara Hotels & Resorts Cirque de Soleile Corsican | Sardinian Places Cruise Adviser Elegant Hotels Essential Detail Flanders Fort Myers & Sanibel Gambia Goa Experience GDS Haven Hotels Hawaii Heritage Resort Insider Journeys Jerusalem Jewel Resorts Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts Kenya Las Vegas Macao Malaysia New York Namibia Newmarket Holidays Ontario Qatar Railbookers SAGA Saint Lucia Sandals Resorts Serenity Holidays Seychelles Simon Malls Solus St Kitts Tenerife Thailand TIPTO Travel 2 Turks & Caicos US Airtours Veranda Resorts Virgin Limited Edition Voyages SNCF Warner Leisure Hotels Windjammer Landing Hotel Your Car Hire traveluni.com

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maldives

paradise return to

Known for its idyllic ring-shaped atolls, beautiful beaches, blue lagoons and extensive reefs, the Maldives is a safe and welcoming destination, says Clare Walsh

sellingtravel.co.uk

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33

T

he seaplane glides to a graceful anxious about the safety of the destination. halt, touching down on its floating And In late February, the Embassy of the platform. During the 25-minute Maldives in London announced that a state transfer from Malé, the mesmerising seascape of emergency was to be extended for another of the glittering Maldivian atolls has ensured 30 days – but this was lifted on March 22. my camera hasn’t had a moment’s rest.

The Embassy’s underpinning message was Stepping off the plane and breathing one of reassurance that the politics would in the warm fragrant air, my shoulders not impact visitors and, where tourism is relax. Switching to ‘island time’ is easy. concerned, it’s very much business as usual.

The Maldives, in all its white-sanded, palmThe UKs Foreign Office current advice takes treed glory, is the stuff of dreams and a trip a slightly more cautious tone, suggesting that here is a perfect dose of natural medicine for further political demonstrations in the capital stressed-out Brits looking for a little escapism. are likely and advising visitors to stay well clear With no busy of any demonstrations. schedule or work It also notes that “Gold Medal and Travel 2 deadlines to worry “Most visits to the about my most continue to work alongside Maldives are trouble pressing concern is free, with the most our industry partners which spa treatment common problem to support any agents to try at my allfaced by British inclusive resort. But nationals being with customers querying first port of call: the lost passports”. the current state of beach. I’ve long been Certainly many in emergency in Malé” dreaming of stepping the travel industry Tricia Birmingham, Senior Product Manager of Middle into these worldremain unpreturbed East and Indian Ocean at Gold Medal renowned waters and with Hayes and immersing myself in Jarvis confirming the ethereal world that lies beneath. that the Maldives remains one of its The Maldives won a raft of travel awards best-selling destinations and that they last year, including the ‘Indian Ocean’s “hadn’t received any cancellations”.

Leading Dive Destination’. The impossible Taylor Oliver, the operator’s Indian Ocean clarity of the water provides perfect viewing Destination Specialist, commented: “Made up conditions for the multi-hued array of of over 1,000 islands, the Maldives is one of the exotic fish that dart between vivid coral; world’s most geographically dispersed countries, something I’ll be witnessing first-hand with all resorts and businesses throughout the later in the week during a scuba lesson, nation’s atolls unaffected by any recent events. courtesy of the resort’s dive school.

“All flights and resorts are operating as usual and remain very safe to tourists.

Business as usual We are continuing to promote the Time spent in the Maldives feels like destination with confidence as a safe being spirited away into an otherworldly and incredible place to visit.” bubble. However, its hard-earned ‘Edenlike’ status has recently come under threat Clockwise from left: A blissful view you could never tire of at Anantara Kihavah Maldives; watch the stars under from ongoing political unrest in Malé, the the stars during movie night at Mirihi Island Resort; capital, leaving some potential visitors a clown fish takes a break

sellingtravel.co.uk

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Kanuhura, Maldives Adventurers Island Escape

·

Three private islands to discover

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Underwater activities or overland exploring

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· Half board, 7 night offer from £2,495pp ·

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Prices are per person and based on 2 adults sharing. Valid for stays from 16 May to 12 July 2018 and must be booked by 14 April 2018. Please call in for more details. Subject to availability.

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by ATOL scheme.

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maldives

And Tricia Birmingham, Senior Product Manager of Middle East and Indian Ocean at Gold Medal, said: “Very localised protests and rallies have taken place in the capital, Malé, but there have been no reports of similar protests at Malé International Airport on Velana Island or on the outlying islands where the majority of resorts and hotels are located.”

Top experiences Culture: Clients hoping to infuse a little culture into their holiday can enjoy a unique experience at the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi (sirrufenfushi.com).

Set to open this month (April), the lagoon resort will feature the Maldives’ first underwater sculpture museum. Created by celebrated underwater artist Jason deCaires Taylor, his work has been hailed by National Geographic as one of the top 25 wonders of the world.

Adventure: Why discover just one island when there are so many more out there to explore? Dream Yacht Charter (dreamyachtcharter.co.uk) has just started selling through travel agents and selected tour operators, having recently appointed Sunrise Marketing to handle its trade relationships. It offers adventurous clients the chance to go island hopping onboard luxury catamarans.

The itineraries (between seven and ten nights) visit unspoiled lagoons and uninhabited islands that are ideal for snorkelling and swimming. A crew takes care of the sailing and meal preparation.

Health and wellness: At Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas (kihavah-maldives.

35

anantara.com), health-conscious clients can start

their holiday with a personal consultation from a resident wellness coach who draws up a tailored programme.

A holistic chef prepares customised menus with a focus on raw plant-based cuisine and works with the resident yogi to create Ayurveda cuisine. Clients can also enjoy meditation and yoga with one-on-one training.

Sport: Scuba enthusiasts can get their fix on a seven-day cruise offered by Carpe Diem Maldives (carpediemmaldives.com).

On board the Carpe Vita, expert tuition is offered to up to 20 divers after their PADI Open Water Diver Certificate. Starting in Malé and ending in Baa Atoll, it will also include a snorkelling visit to the region’s annual manta ray migration in Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, a UNESCO-protected marine biosphere area.

What’s new Offers: Clients travelling on their own can take advantage of solo travel by Mirihi Island (mirihi.com/en), which runs from May 20-September 30, 2018.

The resort has removed the single supplements on rooms, and guests can socialise on sunset sailing trips, whale shark safaris, diving trips, group yoga classes and at weekly beach cinemas.

Activities: New for 2018, Six Senses Laamu (sixsenses.com/resorts/laamu/destination) plans to open a dive centre, Deep Blue Divers. Both PADI courses and daily-guided trips will be on offer in the reefs surrounding the resort.

The Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort

Clockwise from top left: a deluxe beachfront villa; testing the nerves with giant Jenga in a paradise setting; Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa; cute bikes for the newlyweds

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maldives

EXCLUSIVE OFFERS CENTARA RAS FUSHI

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Clockwise from above: heading onto Mirihi Island; striking beach villas on Kuredhivaru Island; Sip Sip bar at Six Senses Laamu

(accorhotels.com) opens in 2018 and guests can train at its over-water fitness centre before relaxing in an award-winning spa.

Hotels: Hard Rock Hotel Maldives (hardrockhotels.com/maldives.htm) and Hard Rock Cafe Maldives is set to open October 1 2018.

Located within one of the country’s largest lagoons, it will feature 178 guest rooms, family suites, beach villas and over-water villas. It will offer complimentary use of Fender guitars and Crosley record players for in-room jam sessions.

Mӧvenpick Resort & Spa (movenpick.com) is opening its first resort in the Maldives later this year. Situated on the remote Kuredhivaru Island in Noona Atoll, it will feature 32 beach villas and 70 over-water villas. The first Marine National Park in the Maldives is a 15-minute speedboat ride away - ideal for clients interested in diving.

Set to open in spring 2018, Carpe Diem Beach Resort & Spa (carpediemmaldives.com/carpe-diembeach-resort-spa/) will be the first resort opening for Carpe Diem Maldives. Located in Raa Atoll on one of a trio of uninhabited islands on the edge of Baa Atoll, it will feature 115 pool villas, a spa, a selection of restaurants, and a private water park of inflatable slides.

Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts is opening OBLU SELECT at Sangeli (oblu-sangeli.com) on July 1 in Malé Atoll. The four-star deluxe resort will feature 137 villas and over-water honeymoon pool suites.

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa completed a refurbishment last year. Two new villa categories, a Deluxe Park Pool Villa and a two-bedroom Park Pool Villa, offer an additional 100- and 135-squaremetres of space respectively.

Set to open in the latter half of 2018, JOALI Maldives (joali.com) will feature 73 private beach and water villas. It also boasts

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UNP

ULTIM

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maldives

four restaurants, an art gallery and studio, whisky lounge, library and museum.

Tourism talk “We would like to reassure Selling Travel readers that all travel-related businesses in the Maldives continue to operate as normal. The message to our UK tourism partners is the same: the Maldives continues to be a safe holiday destination for UK travellers.

“All international airports, domestic airports, hotel resorts and guest houses are in full operation and tourists can look forward to a wonderful holiday experience. We would therefore ask that all our tourism partners continue to confidently promote the Maldives to their clients as a safe place to visit.”

Mr Haris Mohamed, Managing Director of MMPRC

available from Heathrow with Qatar Airways.

This package is valid for travel between May 21 and June 18 2018. travel2.com  TURQUOISE – 01494 678400 Seven nights all-inclusive at the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa in a Park Villa is from £4,079pp, low-season. Includes return flights, domestic flights and return private speedboat transfers. turquoiseholidays.co.uk 

Where to book it  TRAVEL 2 – 0800 022 4182 Seven nights at the four-star Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, staying in a beach villa on an all-inclusive basis, starts from £1,269pp.

The deal includes free accommodation for one night, an early-booking discount, and return seaplane transfers. Flights are

EXCLUSIVE BAREFOOT LUXURY UNPARALLELED DIVING AND SNORKELING ULTIMATE PRIVACY AND RELAXATION DEDICATED AND PERSONALIZED SERVICE

2 Bedroom Park Pool Villa

The Park Hyatt™ trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt International Corporation. © 2018 Hyatt International Corporation. All rights reserved.

“Customers do not travel via Malé Island when transferring from Velana Island to other atolls by seaplane or speedboat”

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Deluxe Park Pool Villa

Fall in love with the serenity of a rare escape to Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa. Experience the fine simplicities of personalized luxury as you discover one of the healthiest house reef, savor exquisite dining and indulge in Maldivian inspired spa treatments.

Located at the heart of one of the largest and deepest natural atolls in the world, Hadahaa is untouched and authentic, providing you a private and secluded island resort hideaway.

To discover more, call +960 682 1234 or visit maldives.hadahaa.park.hyatt.com

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38

hidden gems

Indian es󰈛󰇧󰇵󰈥s

The vast sub-continent of India holds many treasures beyond its most obvious icons. Laura Gelder & Neal Baldwin look beyond the Taj Mahal

Gilded Amritsar

Little Tibet in McLeod Ganj

Get your Ganges in Haridwar

Holy Hindu city Varanasi is a staple part of most northern India itineraries, but the Punjab city of Amritsar, home to the Golden Temple, is the spiritual and cultural centre for the Sikh religion and well worth a visit too.

The complex is composed of a series of sparkling white buildings arranged around a serene pool, with the gleaming Golden Temple extending into the centre and reflecting into the still water.

For a real local experience, tourists are welcome to eat at Guru-Ka-Langar, an enormous dining room where an estimated 100,000 pilgrims come to share a meal every day after praying at the temple. The food is simple but delicious.

When the Dalai Lama and his faithful monks escaped the Chinese invasion in Tibet they found a new home in the Indian district of Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.

Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, the little town of McLeod Ganj feels most un-Indian.

Prayer flags flutter amongst the pine trees, the smell of momos - the steamed or fried dumplings beloved by Tibetans - wafts from the little cafes and maroon-robed monks are everywhere, sipping chai in cafes and playing pool in the local halls.

The village is a jumping-off point for treks into the hills, threading through nearby villages Bhagsu and Dharamkot, the former famous for its ancient Shiva temple and waterfall.

India’s sacred river flows fast in Haridwar, a city serendipitously located at the point where it emerges from the Himalayas.

Uttarakhand’s holiest Hindu city has a festive vibe, less sombre than Varanasi and its smoking funeral pyres. Excited pilgrims crowd around the boisterous Har-ki-Pairi Ghat to immerse themselves in the eddying water which glows with the light of floating candles by night.

Visitors to Haridwar can also check out Chandi Devi Temple, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Chandi Devi. Perching on a hilltop and reached by rickety gondola, it offer great views of the Ganges.

Rishikesh, the holy Ganges town which the Beatles famously visited, is an hour north.

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India hidden 1gems-2.indd 39 Untitled-13

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hidden gems

Mountain air in Spiti The trans-Himalayan region of Spiti, meaning middle land, is another piece of Tibet, marooned in India’s high altitude desert.

The stark, brown landscape is surrounded by snow-capped peaks and blue skies. Monasteries cling onto craggy outcrops on the vertiginous slopes, looking down on whitewashed villages and green barley fields.

The obvious draw is the mountains but motorcyclists are lured by the spectacular roads which access this remote region - old trade routes to Ladakh and Tibet.

41

Kutch, India’s wild west (east)

Arid action in Osian

This district of the Indian eastern state Gujurat is a geographical phenomenon, surrounded by the Gulf of Kutch and the Arabian Sea in the south and west, while the northern and eastern parts are surrounded by the Great and Little Rann of Kutch.

During the dry season, the Ranns are vast expanses of dried mud and bright-white salt flats. Come the monsoon they’re flooded by sea and river water, transforming into wetlands.

The stark landscape is inhabited by many tribal groups who produce brightly-coloured textiles inlaid with glittering mirrorwork.

The Little Rann is home to the Wild Ass Sanctuary, a safeground for this rare mammal.

The intricately-carved Jain and Hindu temples in the desert town of Osian are among some of the ancient world’s most impressive and wellpreserved religious buildings, yet are relatively unknown to westerners. It’s well worth making a 65km pilgrimage from Jodhpur to experience the majesty of this former trading centre.

The fact it has a tented camel camp offering rides and safari trips is an added bonus!

Hyderabad, cultural hub Say bonjour to Puducherry Formerly Pondicherry, this Tamil Nadu city in the south was under French rule until 1954 and many locals still speak French (or English with a Gallic/Indian accent).

Typically Indian, with its colourful but chaotic streets, the city feels ever-more French the closer you get to the sea. Faded pastel houses with peeling wooden shutters, tree-lined boulevards, dusty squares with games of boules in-play and French bakeries wafting out their wares all create a Riviera-style atmosphere.

Just north of the city is Auroville, an experimental community founded in 1968 by spiritual leader Mirra Alfassa for people from all over the world to live in harmony. Its futuristic, spherical temple is covered in gold discs.

Beach break in the Andamans With their long and empty beaches, unspoilt forests and ocean teeming with pristine marine life, the Andaman Islands offer visitors the archetypal castaway experience.

Until recently, the islands - which form an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal - have mainly been the preserve of scuba divers, but mainstream tourism is beginning to reach out.

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa recently opened a 72-villa property on the Havelock Islands and the region is tipped to become a hot beach destination. Flights are available from major Indian cities - go now and beat the crowds.

At the centre of southern India, this city is a cultural hub, where north and south mesh to make an eclectic mix of food, fashion and art.

The Charminar is a monument and a mosque and Hyderabad’s most famous landmark in a city characterised by grand Islamic architecture, but the Old City is the most evocative area, with life and colour spilling out of its chai shops and spice merchants. 

BOOK IT WITH INTREPID TRAVEL A 15-day Classic South India tour exploring rural Kerala from Chennai to Kovalem, including colonial Pondicherry, is from £1,660pp, based on a September 24, 2018 departure. Includes accommodation, transfers, breakfast and excursions. intrepidtravel.com

s.

18 18:49

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SPONSORED FEATURE 42

how to sell

Portland The hipster capital of the USA will be firmly in the sights of travelling Brits this year, with Delta Air Lines reinstating seasonal flights between London and the Oregon city, says Laura Gelder Why sell it now?

Delta’s non-stop flight between London Heathrow and Portland International Airport resumes on May 4, operating four times a week until October 26 2018 – and the trade should expect a rush of enquiries on the back of some creative marketing around the new route.

A three-week pop-up event, You Can, In Portland, will take over London's The Old Truman Brewery April 19-May 7, showcasing some of the city's inspired products, and the people who create them, to potential travellers.

Who to sell to This friendly and funky city, the gateway to the USA's Pacific Northwest region and the wild coast, lakes and mountains which characterise Oregon, has something for every client.

Portland is a city which takes its food and drink seriously: it is home to over 700 innovative street food carts as well as farm-to-table fine dining, mostly using top-notch fresh produce that is grown and sourced from the city’s own soil.

There's a huge number of craft breweries, cideries and wineries to satisfy even the most demanding epicureans and it's also one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world, with a host of 'clean eating' options.

The creative capital of the region, Portland is proud of its open-minded and independent spirit and is a city where boutique usually beats big brand. Portland will appeal to anyone drawn by creativity and culture, (particularly counterculture), as well as health and fitness devotees.

SIGN OF THE TIMES

QUIRKY PORTLAND IS THE CREATIVE CAPITAL OF OREGON

What to sell Portland - known as America's bicycle capital - is a cyclist's dream, home to over 350 miles of bike lanes. The Springwater Corridor is the southeast segment of a 40-mile cycle loop, excellently maintained and offering a mix of city sight-seeing routes and forest trails, with chances to see wildlife in the parks it passes.

There are numerous green spaces throughout the city, notably Lan Su Chinese Garden, the International Rose Test Garden and Portland Japanese Garden.

Culture vultures can visit museums such as the interactive Oregon Museum of Science and Industry or Portland Art Museum.

Portland's shopping options are eclectic and unique and include the vast Powell’s Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore that covers an entire city block. Open every weekend from March to December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S. and the Pearl District's converted warehouses host art galleries, local boutiques and international brands.

The city puts on numerous festivals ranging from Portland Spring Beer and Wine Fest to the Waterfront Blues Festival with many quirky events in-between - McMinnville’s long-running UFO Festival includes Alien-themed parades, and pet costume contests for those who want to believe.

What's new?

Opening this spring is a Hilton Curio Collection addition, The Porter, featuring a library, indoor pool, meditation spa and a Neapolitan pizza window.

Jupiter NEXT opens in the summer, an expansion to the original Jupiter Hotel next door, with 67 rooms, a restaurant, jungle-themed cocktail bar and a focus on art and design, with a Pure Fix Cycles rental hub onsite.

Hip brand The Hoxton opens in October with 113 bedrooms, a rooftop restaurant and basement bar. Interiors and menus will be collaboratively designed with local talent.

The Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center will open in 2019. 

GETTING THERE Delta Air Lines offers four weekly direct flights from London Heathrow to Portland International Airport.

Fares start from £497, including taxes. delta.com

Icelandair offers five flights a week from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow and Dublin. icelandair.com

For more information and to order a free guide, see: travelportland.com

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introducing

43

Leeuwarden Leeuwarden, in the Netherlands, is a 2018 European Capital of Culture and the attractive city certainly warrants a journey beyond Amsterdam, says Stuart Forster "Its European Capital of Culture status offers us the perfect opportunity to highlight Leeuwarden to British visitors and showcase how much Holland has to offer beyond Amsterdam," says Sandra Ishmael, Director UK and Ireland, Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions.

"With its quality hotels and restaurants, museums and historic buildings, it is a great city to discover. During 2018 there will be wonderful events, exhibitions and festivals taking place including the Giants de Luxe and the Storm Rider theatre production,” she adds.

VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE OLDEHOVE

Prison breaks Also the capital of the province of Friesland, Leeuwarden has a compact core. The viewing platform, 48 metres up, on top of the freestanding Oldehove tower, offers urban panoramas. The city’s icon tilts almost two metres from vertical, at an angle steeper than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The views also impress from the eleventh floor of Leeuwarden’s World Trade Center, the location of the Michelin-starred restaurant élevé. It’s one of several noteworthy places to dine and drink in the city. Chef Willem Schaafsma prepares dishes showcasing local produce at Drink en Eetlokaal Proefverlof, which offers the option of tables on a waterfront terrace or in former prison cells.

Ex-jailers guide tours around the 16th century Blokhuispoort, which served as a prison until 2007 and whose facade features conical towers reminiscent of the Disney castle.

The Gothic landmark also houses Café de Bak and Leeuwarden-Freisland 2018’s information centre, which provides details about the many Capital of Culture events.

THE OLDEHOVE, LEEUWARDEN'S LEANING TOWER

As part of the European Capital of Culture programme, 11 fountains will be unveiled across Friesland, designed by international artists, including the UK’s Cornelia Parker.

There will be one in each of the cities along the route of the 200-kilometre ice skating marathon, the Elfstedentocht, a race that begins and ends in Leeuwarden. Additionally, from August 3-6, the Tall Ships Race will sail into nearby Harlingen.

Flower lovers and photographers are likely to enjoy visiting Leeuwarden on May 10 to see the Bloemetjesmarkt, the Netherlands’ longest flower market, with more than 200 stalls.

Art for art's sake

ONE OF LEEUWARDEN'S MANY CRAFT BEER STORES

Overlooking Leeuwarden’s central Wilhelminaplein, a square hosting a market each Friday, the Fries Museum tells the story of the province since its earliest settlement and has an insightful permanent exhibition about the resistance movement during World War Two. Art lovers may also enjoy viewing sculptures at the Pier Pander Museum, in the waterfront Prinsentuin Park, and the porcelain collection at the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics (princessehof.nl), formerly a royal palace.

Leeuwarden is easy to stroll or cycle around.

CITY STREET ART

A Guide to Leeuwarden (aguidetoleeuwarden.nl/en) leads free, English-language walking tours each Saturday at noon. The tour includes a pause outside of spy Mata Hari’s birthplace.

The stylish Post-Plaza Hotel and Grand Café (post-plaza.nl), in converted bank and post office buildings, plus the Hotel Paleis Stadhouderlijk Hof, a former palace, count among the top places to stay in Leeuwarden’s centre.

On April 4 Eurostar launches its direct rail service from London to Amsterdam. The journey will take three hours 41 minutes, with single tickets priced from £35. Though the return leg will take longer, the service is likely to broaden the appeal of the Netherlands to UK travellers.

Onward intercity rail services to Leeuwarden take a little more than two hours. leeuardenholland.nl/en 

BOOK IT WITH PLANET RAIL A five-night Double Dutch tour, priced from £825pp, includes first-class rail travel (Standard Premier on Eurostar) between London and Leeuwarden, plus accommodation with breakfast in four-star hotels (two nights’ in Leeuwarden, three in Amsterdam).

01347 825292; planetrail.co.uk

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44

hong kong & macao

two

of a kind

The twin destinations of Hong Kong and Macao can never be accused of standing still – and visitors are in a rush to see all the changes, says Ben Lerwill ŠMGTO

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hong kong & macao

45

S

©MGTO

o, have you been to Hong Kong or Macao recently?

There’s a decent chance the answer’s yes. In tourism terms, things have rarely been so busy for the pair.

Research by Euromonitor in 2017 saw Hong Kong named as the most visited city in the world, while figures from the same year show visitor arrivals into neighbouring Macao grew more than 5% to some 32.6 million.

For Brits, it’s a part of the world that’s increasingly simple to reach. “We now have 70 direct flights a week from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester with Cathay Pacific, BA and Virgin Atlantic,” says Dawn Page, Director UK and Northern Europe, Hong Kong Tourism Board. “Hong Kong has firmly solidified its place as a must-visit destination for many British travellers.”

It’s not just the tourist board that’s reporting good health. “We are seeing an increase in travel to Hong Kong on the back of an increase in tours to China,” says Paul Ingram, Product and Category Manager for escorted touring at Kuoni.

“Many people are choosing to extend in the city before coming home. It’s always a good time to visit Hong Kong. Any time of day or night, it’s buzzing. I think North Point area. what makes it special “Escape Macao’s urban Its 671 rooms are is the fast pace of the city – it’s crowded and areas and travel south to see being billed as ‘affordable luxury’. noisy, but small enough the countryside and St Regis to explore and not beaches. This region also (starwoodhotels.com) is feel overwhelmed.” has plenty of shopping, set to open its first The same could property in Hong be said about the including markets and Kong in 2019. dimensions of Macao, a designer mall” Over in Macao, which is marketing Rebecca Turner, Senior Product Manager Asia the 1,400-room 2018 as the Macao and Australia, Gold Medal MGM Cotai (mgm.mo) Year of Gastronomy. opened in February It’s somewhere this year, with headline-grabbing features that’s serious about working with agents, too. including a cutting-edge spa and a football“We’ll continue to support the travel trade pitch-sized atrium full of sensory digital art. with fam trips, promotions and events,” says Two other major openings are scheduled Lesley Wright, Sales and Marketing Director of for 2018. The first is the 39-storey, 780the Macao Government Tourism Office. “We’ll room Morpheus, a figure-of-eight shaped also be updating our Macao Specialist online structure designed by the late Zaha Hadid training programme, macaospecialist.co.uk, to help agents learn more about the destination.” and forming the fifth tower of the City Of Dreams Macau complex (cityofdreamsmacau.com).

Accommodation The second is the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort In Hong Kong, The Murray Hotel (marcopolohotels. (sjmholdings.com), featuring three upscale hotels: com) opened in January with 336 rooms and the Grand Lisboa Palace Hotel (approximately suites and a rooftop-bar restaurant. The 1,400 rooms), the Palazzo Versace Macau luxury property occupies an existing building (approximately 290 rooms) and the Karl in the Central Business District and has Lagerfeld Hotel (approximately 290 rooms). been redesigned by Sir Norman Foster.

Food & drink Later this year, the 43-floor, 413-room In November 2017, UNESCO designated Macao Rosewood Hong Kong (rosewoodhotels.com) is due to open in September on the harbourfront. a Creative City of Gastronomy in recognition The same month will see the introduction of the role that cuisine has played in shaping of Hotel VIC (hotelvic.com) to Hong Kong Island’s the city’s east-meets-west character.

Clockwise from top left: Kowloon’s bright lights, Hong Kong; apartments in Macao; delicious Macao cuisine; a beautiful Hong Kong beach; the Tian Tan Buddha, Lantau Island, Hong Kong; Macao’s Portuguese architecture

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services to London by the end of 2018.

Cathay Pacific will also begin a fourtimes-weekly service between Dublin and Hong Kong from June 2018.

The inauguration of the multibillion-dollar Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will also take place this year, creating a road link across the Pearl River Estuary and providing direct vehicle access between Hong Kong and Macao.

Arts, culture & events One of Hong Kong’s former police stations will open in late 2018 as a large-scale dining, entertainment and arts hub. Tai Kwun (taikwun. hk) is being described as ‘Hong Kong’s centre for heritage and arts’, with 16 historical buildings currently being adapted for public use.

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (heritagemuseum.gov.hk) has a major exhibition on the Kung-Fu icon Bruce Lee, running until June 2018.

The Macao Museum of Art will feature works by celebrated French artist Marc Chagall from June to August 2018 (mam.gov.mo).

Shopping

Clockwise from top left: Taipa Village, Macao; Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong; an iconic tram in downtown Hong Kong; a local lady dances with fans in a Macao park

Hong Kong’s malls are scaling down their luxury offering, according to And the Macao a Bloomberg “We take travel agent government report in late 2017. subsequently training seriously; since the This has been launched the 2018 put down to the launch of our Hong Kong Macao Year of changing buying Specialist Club (specialist Gastronomy, with habits of Chinese hk.com) in 2017, 256 agents tourists. The likes new culinary walking routes, promotions and of Burberry are have registered for the foodie experiences cutting back on programme” all on offer. floor space to make Dawn Page, Director UK and Northern Europe, November also saw room for juice bars Hong Kong Tourism Board the release of the and yoga studios in latest Michelin Guide shopping centres to Hong Kong and Macau, with like Pacific Place Mall (pacificplace.com.hk).

Macao’s Taipa Village (taipavillagemacau.com) 92 restaurants earning stars. is a traditional culture and shopping hub, Attractions known for providing an antidote to the glitz Two of Hong Kong’s most iconic attractions of the mega-casinos. A number of new shops are marking milestone anniversaries in 2018. and cafés have opened there recently, among The Peak Tram (thepeak.com.hk) has carried them Bella Taipa and Bare Nutrition. millions of people up Victoria Peak since Where to book it opening in May 1888, 130 years ago, while the  TRAVEL 2 – 0800 022 4182 similarly popular Star Ferry service (starferry. com.hk) across the harbour turns 120 this year.

Four nights at the Harbour Grand Hong Kong, in a Superior Harbour View Room, Access room-only, with return Emirates flights from Since Cathay Pacific (cathaypacific.com) increased Gatwick and transfers, starts from £739pp. travel2.com its Manchester-Hong Kong services from  GOLD MEDAL – 0800 014 7777 five-times-weekly to daily in December, the Four nights at The Venetian Macao in a number of direct flights between the UK and Deluxe Suite, room-only, with return Emirates Hong Kong currently stands at 70 per week. flights to Hong Kong from Gatwick and This may rise further – it’s been reported ferry transfers, starts from £1099pp. that locally based carrier Hong Kong Airlines (hongkongairlines.com) is to introduce non-stop goldmedal.co.uk 

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how to sell

47

Qatar New direct flights from the UK and continued investment in its tourism offering is helping Qatar make its mark in the Middle East, Benjamin Coren reports Why sell it now?

With Qatar Airways adding new twice-daily flights to its Doha hub from Gatwick Airport this summer, and new direct daily flights from Cardiff taking off in May, Qatar can expect a boost to its inbound UK numbers. The new routes mark the airline's fifth and sixth UK destinations alongside Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh, making the destination more accessible to Brits than ever.

Last year it was announced that nationals of 80 countries were eligible for visa-free entry, without prior application or fees. This has made Qatar the most open country in the region.

Qatar will also be running a mega-fam this November – register your interest by emailing uk-marketing@visitqatar.qa.

Who to sell to Qatar is quickly establishing itself as a city break destination thanks to its capital, Doha. It's not short on things to see and do, including its Museum of Islamic Art, a vibrant, traditionalstyle souq and a buzzing sports, arts and culinary scene. It's home to sandy beaches and desert landscapes, so whether it's an actionpacked break, a sunny beach escape, or culture and cuisine, Qatar is suitable as a holiday in its own right or as a stopover destination for those heading to the Indian Ocean, Asia or Australia.

What to sell Top attractions include the Pearl-Qatar, a manmade island buzzing with cafes and restaurants,

TRADITIONAL QATARI DHOWS

and the desert. Adrenalin junkies won't want to miss a dune-bashing experience in a 4WD, followed by a feast in a desert camp.

Some great ways to get to know Qatar include the Doha Bus, a tour which stops at the Katara Cultural Village, or a trip out on a traditional wooden dhow.

The thrilling, but slightly bizarre, spectacle of camel racing at the Al Shahaniya track with remote-controlled jockey robots is another must.

History buffs should head to Al Zubarah on Qatar's north-west coast. The restored 18th century fort and ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site and a glimpse into how life once was in Qatar.

After sunset, a popular spot to hang out is Souq Waqif for food and people-watching.

What's new

SOUQ WAQIF

There are two hotels opening this April. Mandarin Oriental, Doha in Musheireb (adjacent to the Souq Waqif and near the city's business centre) offers the usual elegantly-styled guestrooms and suites as well as apartments and a spa. The five-star Al Najada Doha Hotel by Tivoli is located within walking distance of many major attractions.

The National Museum of Qatar is set to open

this year to much pomp, showcasing Qatar's past and future. It will also feature a dedicated food forum for preserving culinary traditions.

Shopping got a boost in 2017 with the opening of the Mall of Qatar, Doha Festival City Mall and Al Hazm Mall.

When to sell Qatar has plenty going on, from March's Qatar Motorcycle Grand Prix or Qatar International Food Festival, featuring over 60 diverse food stalls, to November's Dhow festival.

This year's Ramadan takes place May 15 to June 14. It can place some restrictions on activities, although many hotels and restaurants hold excellent Iftar feasts at sundown. 

BOOK IT WITH BRIGHTSUN A stay at the St. Regis Doha starts from £911.50pp for a four-day package on a b&b basis in a Superior room, including return flights with Qatar Airways, departing October 15, 2018. Add-ons include upgrade on arrival and early check-in/ late check-out. brightsun.co.uk; 0208 819 0531

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April 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

Baltimore roots THE Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture in Baltimore traces more than 350 years

Visit U S

A

A rich resource for agents

“The Visit USA website is a rich source of ideas for anyone wanting to fully exploit the diversity of the USA"

of Maryland African-American history

Tracey Spuyman

piers, with opportunities to sail, kayak

CEO, Visit USA (UK)

or hop on the water taxi to Georgetown

AGENTS are being encouraged to take advantage of Visit USA's newly redesigned website, which is packed with inspirational content from Association members.

"It has been designed as a tool for consumers looking to plan their perfect USA holiday, but works equally well for agents plotting an itinerary for their clients," commented Tracey Spuyman, CEO, Visit USA (UK).

"It is not a static site, we are adding new content all the time but it is already an impressive resource for those selling the USA," she added.

Key features include a large interactive map with information and experiences from each state and a blog with tips and travel ideas such as movie locations, top music festivals and art hotspots. visitusa.org.uk

and culture and covers the story of the abolitionists and the challenges and consequences faced by freedom seekers. capitalregionusa.org

Hyatt House in D.C. HYATT House, located threeblocks south of the National Mall, is Washington D.C.’s newest extended stay hotel. The hotel offers easy access to the Wharf’s waterfront

and the suburbs beyond. Rooms start from $129/ £92 a night hyatt.com

Pittsburgh highs MT. WASHINGTON, which

looks down on Pittsburgh’s city skyline, is one of the best sites in the world for viewing a cityscape.

Visitors enjoy a clear view of where the city's three rivers meet. Roundtrips on the Duquesne Incline that scales the mountain cost just $2.50.

visitpittsburgh.com

THE USA in brief...

THE first HOTELS ever dual-branded AC Hotel

by Marriott and Moxy will debut in Atlanta’s Midtown neighbourhood later this year.

The European-inspired hotel will feature 288 rooms, deck-top amenity space and a rooftop bar and pool. A pedestrian connector named the ‘Arts Walk’ will allow guests to easily access the Midtown Arts District. explore.Georgia.org

THE family home of U.S. literary legend F. Scott Fitzgerald in Montgomery, Alabama, is now welcoming overnight guests.

The quaint two-bedroom apartment is housed in the former home of the Jazz Age celebrity that is perhaps best known for penning The Great Gatsby, and his wife Zelda Fitzgerald, a well-known painter, writer and dancer. Alabama.travel ATTRACTIONS

MICHIGAN'S Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation has been voted one of the coolest museums in the world for families. The accolade by the New York Times was awarded for the facility being "chock-full of inventions, machines and pieces of Americana”. A National Historic Landmark, the museum is in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn. Michigan.org ATTRACTIONS

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

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

MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT TITANIC DISPLAY AT BILTMORE “GLAMOUR on Board: Fashion from Titanic the Movie,” is on display at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, until May 13.

Forty-five costumes are featured at the 250-room home of George and Edith Vanderbilt, who cancelled plans to board Titanic a week before it sailed. uk.visitnc.com

FLORIDA'S FAST TRAIN BRIGHTLINE, an express inter-city railway service, now links West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale (30 minutes) and Miami (60 minutes).

Phase Two of Brightline is expected to connect West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport in just two hours. the palmbeaches. com

introducing...

Santa Monica Travel & Tourism ROSANNA NORTH, ACCOUNT MANAGER

Tour op er

When did Santa Monica join Visit USA? We joined in March 2014.

ator

TTT&T gets kicks in Orlando TRAVEL Trade Tickets and Tours, part of NAR UK LTD, have added a new product to its Orlando programme: Orlando City Soccer Tickets.

Various tickets options, including for the ‘Supporters Section’ which sees home fans dressed in the club’s purple colours, start from £23pp.

The team’s season kicked off on March 3 with a 1-1 draw against D.C. United, played in front of a sell-out crowd of 25,527.

Upcoming fixtures at Orlando City Stadium include against San Jose Earthquakes (April 21), Real Salt Lake (May 6) and Chicago (May 27).

Agents receive 10% commission on all tickets sold.

Lisa Fuller of Travel Trade Ticket and Tours said: “The atmosphere in the new stadium is great, it’s family friendly, clean, easy to get to... and they even sell good beer!” tttandt.com

Do you plan to sign up to Visit USA’s trade activities?

Absolutely! We exhibited at Unite Visit USA in March and will sign up for its annual roadshow this year.

Do you have any other trade plans this year?

Aside from co-operative marketing activity, we have our Sales Mission this June 18-22, visiting agents and product managers in Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester and London, we’re hosting a client event prior to IPW and a fam trip in November for luxury product managers.

Why should LA visitors stay in Santa Monica?

It's 20 minutes from LAX, and just 20 more minutes on the Metro to downtown, so it's the perfect place for those looking to enjoy a Southern California multi-centre itinerary with a beach.

Anna Friel hits the road

VISIT California and British Airways are partnering on a campaign featuring actress Anna Friel for the second year running. The co-funded initiative sees Anna showing her best friend Lauren around Southern California during an off-road trip. The pair's video adventures can be viewed across Facebook and on British Airways' own homepage. visitcalifornia.co.uk

Tastes of Phillly

PHILADELPHIA'S Reading Terminal Market, one of America’s largest and oldest public markets, turned 125 years old in February. It features over 80 merchants selling food, groceries, gifts and Amish country products. The market is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. discoverPHL.co.uk

Tell us more I have been in the role for just a month but will be heading to Santa Monica in May for an extended visit.

What are you looking forward to doing out there?

Every Saturday morning on Santa Monica pier is Roga - a free workout class with a beach run and yoga session. santamonica.com

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

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mediterranean cruising

med domination

The popularity of Mediterranean cruising shows no sign of slowing down, with a host of new ports, excursions and itineraries. Jo Austin goes in search of the best in the Med

51

I

f my worries about seasickness are ever going to be put to at bed then this is surely the moment.

My evening departure from Piraeus, outside Athens, onboard the five-star Hapag-Lloyd Europa 2 is so seamless that it is not until the early hours that I notice the open sea out of my window and realise we are on the move.

This is a ship built for the utmost comfort and on my island-hopping Mediterranean journey to Palermo my only bumpy ride is on the ship’s rib, when I am invited to circumnavigate the ship to get a fish-eye view from below her bows. I am glad I have left my camera behind!

After an alfresco breakfast in the Yacht Club Restaurant I take a look at the “Programme of the Day” that has been slipped under my cabin door and choose a shore excursion on the picture-postcard island of Santorini.

One of Greece’s most stunning islands is easily reached via a simple boat ride.

Looking down from the cliff-top into the caldera in the crystal waters of the Adriatic, I am reminded that Santorini is still an active volcano.

I buy myself an ice cream and a brimmed straw hat and start exploring the streets of Oia, with their white churches and iconic blue domes, which are thronging with tourists.

Drawing the crowds Cruising in the Mediterranean continues to attract record numbers and it remains Brits’ favourite cruising destination with plenty of departures out of UK ports. While overcrowding in some ports has made a few headlines, the flip side is that some operators are now moving into new ports – such as Crystal’s maiden calls to Menorca, Monopoli and Galipoli.

Says Andy Harmer, Senior Vice-President of Membership and Director CLIA UK and Ireland: “Cruise ships are one of the more high-profile and easy-to-target flash points

From left: A view of the harbour of Kotor, Montenegro, Above: A house with flowers in Monopoli, Italy

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when overcrowding is discussed. However to head out on their own mini adventure.“ the cruise industry is only a small part of this Themed cruises are also increasing and problem and we are liaising with governmental, wine seems to be a top tipple of choice. local and port authorities in key destinations.”

SeaDream is featuring exclusive Wine Voyages A Med cruise offers the perfect combination for beginners to connoisseurs and Regent of beach, culture, activity and exploration and Seven Seas Cruises has a range of ‘Spotlight on it ticks the boxes across all budgets and ages.

Wine’ Med cruises aboard Seven Seas Voyager.

Ideal for multi-generational holidays, threeTop experiences and four-berth cabins can be found on most of Small ship cruising: Travel 2’s (travel2. the larger ships as well as connecting cabins. com) new 10-night Cruise Plus itinerary MSC cruises offers spacious ‘superfamily’ on the new Azamara Pursuit combines a accommodation on MSC Preziosa and Divina three-night stay in Venice with the chance to for up to six people in two connecting triple see Croatia’s Inside Passage – where the big cabins at a fixed price regardless of how many ships cannot go. people actually use it.

Destinations include Meeting an increased demand for onshore “I suggest drawing attention Rijeka, for great seafood and activities and cultural to the less obvious ports of museums, Zadar for excursions, cruising call. A personal favourite of the waterfalls in Krka Excursions.com has added family friendly mine is Kotor in Montenegro, National Park and an overnight and a tours such as a a gem of a location which late-night stay in Split Dubrovnik Game of always over delivers” and Dubrovnik. Prices Thrones walking tour Rachel Poultney, Director of Sales, UK, Princess Cruises start from £2,919pp. and sea kayaking Travel in around the city style: A walls. Late seven-night Greek Islands cruise on Celebrity night and overnight stays give Constellation (celebritycruises.co.uk) includes an opportunity for further exclusive VIP air charter, with its Jet Set Sail immersion in a destination. package in an ocean view stateroom starting Says Tony Roberts, Princess from £3,310pp. Beyond the luxury of the private Cruises’ Vice President UK jet terminal lounge and all transfers, this and Europe: “ We know how package is half-price for the second guest and important it is for guests includes unlimited drinks. Departing from to immerse themselves Venice on July 28, the cruise calls at Corfu, in the destinations Santorini, Naples and Rome. they visit and our new Take an Expedition: Crystal Yacht excursions cover Expedition Cruises’ (crystalcruises.com) all tastes and 62-guest Crystal Esprit will sail along the budgets, from Dalmation coast for seven nights visiting foodies to history Diocletian’s Palace in Split and the bellelovers, from those époque villas of Opatijato, while the sun sets looking to take over the peninsula in Piran. A brand- new in the sights to itinerary for 2019 will feature the Monaco those who want

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53

Grand Prix as Esprit follows a round-trip from Nice that calls into Monte Carlo.

Follow the whales: Whales and dolphins are prolific in the straits of Gibraltar and they apparently love swimming alongside Star Clippers’ sailing vessels. Guests relaxing in the bowsprit ‘net’ or watching from the teak decks often get a close-up view of these intelligent marine mammals. Royal Clipper will call into Gibraltar this October as part of a 12-night sailing from Cannes to Lisbon, visiting Corsica, the Balearics, Malaga, Marbella, Cadiz, Motril and Tangiers. Prices start from £3,040pp. starclippers.co.uk

Cruising for non-sailors: Newly converted to the trade, Dream Yacht Charter has introduced a new seven-night ‘By the Cabin’ cruise in Mallorca, giving non-sailors the chance to experience sailing with a crew who take care of all the sailing!

Prices start £979pp, full board.

Muse will visit Rovinj and Rab for the first time while Silver Whisper will venture into the Dodecanese ports of Symi and Patmos. Oceania Cruises’ Riviera will call in at Calvi (Corsica), Huelva and Roses in Spain for the first time and Nautica will add Santiago de Compostela to its five Med voyages.

Schools are out: Celebrity Silhouette will be newly based out of Southampton and will sail three Mediterranean itineraries in the school summer holidays in 2019. Says Claire Stirrup, Sales Director UK & Ireland, Celebrity Cruises: “Since announcing that Celebrity Silhouette will make Southampton home, the response from agents has been phenomenal.

It was key for us “With Crystal’s return to that we launched a the Med this year after a Mediterranean cruise year away our sailings are from the UK to fit with the school holiday selling extremely well and you need to book now dates, to make it an easy sell for agents before we sell out!” recommending familyfriendly packages.”

Elaine Gillard, Senior Sales & Marketing Manager, Crystal Cruises P&O Cruises’ Aurora is to join Arcadia and Oriana as an adults-only ship.

dreamyachtcharter.co.uk

What’s new Linger Longer: For winter sunshine the Med is attracting some cruise operators going well beyond their traditional summer boundaries, with ships such as MSC Grandiosa spending her inaugural 2019 winter season in the Western Med. Sailings on Norwegian Epic and Spirit are year round with various durations from four- to 12-day cruises, while Crystal Serenity will spend the months from April to November 2019 sailing following a major refurbishment .

New ports and itineraries: As operators expand their itineraries they are also venturing into news ports.

In Croatia, Silversea’s Silver Wind and Silver

Where to book it  PRINCESS CRUISES – 0344 338 8663 A 14-night Mediterranean Adventurer roundtrip from Southampton on Sapphire Princess costs from £1259pp. Departing July 28 2018, ports of call include Barcelona, Rome, Florence/Pisa, Genoa, Marseille and Gibraltar. princess.com

 SEADREAM CRUISES – 0800 783 1373 This seven-night special interest wine voyage from May 12-19 2018 sails from Nice to Civiavecchia (Rome) visiting some of the world’s most renowned wineries in St Tropez, Cannes, Portofino and Elba. Prices start from £4230pp (excluding flights). seadream.com 

From left, clockwise: MSC Cruises’ Divina; Night-time on Burano Island; Patmos Island in Skala, Greece; Shearings operates cruises to Croatia; Take in the architecture of Barcelona; Krka National Park, Croatia; The iconic roofs on the island of Santorini; Explore coastal cities with Hurtigruten; The old harbour of Myknonos; Coffee with a view of Mount Vesuvius in Naples

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introducing

Val Gardena Ski fans will recognise this magical valley in Italy's South Tyrol from the Alpine Ski World Cup downhill race, but it's great for beginners too, says Rachel Roberts Encircled by the magnificent massifs of the Dolomites – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Val Gardena is part of the Dolomiti Superski area, which offers 12 skiing zones and 1,200km of slopes. It's even home to the Gardenissima, the world’s longest giant Slalom race.

Val Gardena itself comprises three mountain villages, Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva, which is perhaps the best-known destination for snow-sports seekers headed to this corner of northern Italy.

Val Gardena offers a decent selection of runs for skiers of all abilities, with a choice of 57 blue slopes, 79 red slopes and 11 black slopes.

Alternatively, head off to Alpe Di Siusi and Dolomiti Ski for even more variety.

TAKING IN THE DOLOMITES

Serious skiing The village of Selva is the gateway to the Sellaronda, a circuit on every intermediate/ advanced skier’s bucket list. Known as one of the Dolomites’ most spectacular ‘circum-skis’, it’s a series of mostly red runs that traverse the mighty Sella massif. The Sellaronda offers 42km of downhill trails in a single day, all accessible by modern lifts.

The renowned ski circuit started to take shape in the 1950s, when the Marzola family turned from farming to skiing. Today, the latest generation are committed to improving the resort and most recently opened a Piz Seteur gondola this season. With 77 cabins and heated seats, it whisks 3,450 people up to an altitude of 2,102m every hour. Ski slots in the floor of the cabins also removes the mad scramble in peak times: a clever touch by designers Pininfarina, who also work with Ferrari and Maserati.

ANCIENT CHURCH IN PASSO GARDENA

Beginners welcome La Piz Sella is a cute snow/funpark for children and adults finding their wobbly ski legs for the first time and the beauty of Selva is that you can quickly be up on the blue runs, instead of languishing on the nursery slopes forever.

Feeling like you’re in the thick of the action is a great psychological boost and definitely helped my progress.

Apres ski

THE RESORT OF ORTISEI AND ITS FROZEN FOUNTAIN

Being Italy, mountain meals are top notch.

Emilio Comici is a fabulous mountain ‘hut’ serving fresh seafood caught daily down south along the Italian coastline. And with individual hooks for helmets, hats and gloves within easy reach inside every cubicle, it’s obvious a skier masterminded the build. Outside it has ‘turntable’ seating which rotates to follow the sun, as well as a fire pit for when night falls and the bombardinos come out (a cockle-warming egg nog-based drink).

Val Gardena attracts a fairly sophisticated crowd (predominantly Italian), so jagerbomb monsters need not apply. Sip on a Hugo, the

LAST YEAR'S ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP IN ACTION

local aperitif, instead. Made from prosecco, elderflower cordial and fresh mint, it’s very moreish. Ortisei has the liveliest off-piste scene and some fabulous restaurants and bars, where locals speak Ladin, a Rhato-Romance language that has been spoken here for centuries.

Sloping off For those fancying a day off from skiing, the Puez-Odle Nature Park has plenty of trails to explore, or go see the fine handiwork of the valley’s woodcarvers at the Art Studio Demetz in Ortisel – it's a centuries-old local tradition. 

BOOK IT WITH INGHAMS Seven nights at the four-star Hotel Continental, Selva, on a half-board basis is from £1,099 (based on two sharing) in January 2019, including return flights to Innsbruck and transfers. A six-day Dolomiti ski pass for adults costs from €284, with free passes for children up to the age of eight when purchased at the same time. Discounts of up to 30% available for those under 16. inghams.co.uk/ski-holidays

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O N LY T H E T R A V E L N E W S T H A T R E A L LY M A T T E R S

AM R E S OR T S: NEW HOTEL BRINGS ‘FAMILY-FUN’ TO CANCUN

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A U R OR A W I L DE R N E S S GLAMPING UNDER THE STARS

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U N I T E EV E N T S GALLERY AND NEWS ROUND-UP

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C H E C K I NG OU T THE GREAT HOUSE AT SONNING

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

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the review

Tourism Update

Anguilla lays on the luxury

CAROL HAY UK Manager, Caribbean Tourism Organization

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

BY STEVE HARTRIDGE

THE Caribbean island of Anguilla, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Irma last September, is looking forward to welcoming a clutch of new hotels this year.

“Our comeback is well on track and by the end of 2018 we will have at least six five-star hotels,” said the tourism board’s UK Manager, Carolyn Brown.

Quintessence, described as a tropical grand mansion, was the first new property to open when it started welcoming guests on January 1. Overlooking the white-sand beach of Long Bay, it features nine lavish suites and villas and a five-star restaurant, Julian’s.

Four Seasons was due to reopen late last month after a major restoration and The Reef by CuisinArt, which sustained minimum damage by Irma, will reopen on April 1. Sister property, Cuisineart Golf Resort and Spa, expects to be up and

running in November after a complete overhaul and design rethink.

In addition, Zemi Beach House Resort and Spa, which originally only opened in May 2016 but was badly hit by Irma, is already back receiving guests.

Two other properties, Belmond Cap Juluca (a November opening) and Malliouhana (date for opening unconfirmed) will complete Anguilla’s line up of premier hotels. A spokesperson for CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa said: “We refer to it as Saint Irma rather than Hurricane Irma, because it provided a restart button for both the hotel and the island.”

In July 2017, pre-Irma, UK figures were up over 100% and even though Anguilla ‘lost’ the busy winter season in the run up to Christmas, UK numbers ended the year 11% in the black, said Brown.

VIENNA has been named ‘the world’s most liveable city’ in the 2018 Mercy Study – for the ninth year in a row.

Each year, the international consulting firm carries out a study in order to assess the quality of life in 231 cities around the world.

Known for its abundance of parks and tree-lined boulevards – more than half of Vienna’s metropolitan area is made up of green spaces – Vienna is also the only major world capital with an extensive winegrowing industry operation within its city limits.

“One of the many factors in Vienna’s appeal is its broad cultural offer,” said Helena Hartlauer, Media Relations Manager at the Vienna Tourist Board .

“A great example is this year’s celebrations of Viennese Modernism.

More than 30 exhibitions focus on that era and its aftermath right up to the present day.” vienna.info

©WIENTOURISMUS CHRISTIAN STEMPER

EVERYONE at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is very much looking forward to welcoming the Irish travel trade to its upcoming Caribbean Agent Training Roadshows, taking place in Dublin, Galway and Cork between May 8-10.

If you are based in Ireland and you haven’t yet registered to attend, what are you waiting for? These events are always great fun.

To book your place, please email Michelle Ryan at TravelMedia: michelle@travelmedia.ie After Ireland, we have several roadshows taking place throughout the UK. We will be up and down the country over the next few months, visiting Aberdeen (May 21), Glasgow (May 22), London (June 13), Brighton (June 14), Guernsey (June 20), Jersey (June 21), Newcastle (September 12) and Liverpool (September 13).

You can register your interest at RSVP@caribtourism.com, or contact Florian Devillers on 020 8948 0057 or devillersf@caribtourism.com for further information.

Details can also be found on the CTO’s online training programme – Caribbean Travel Guru (caribbeantravelguru.com). If you’re not already a member, register now and start reaping the rewards!

If you have any questions or queries regarding this programme, please contact Ann-Marie Brooks at abrooks@caribtourism.com or call 020 8948 0057.

Vienna top again in ‘liveable city’ poll

visitanguilla.com

AMResorts brings ‘family-fun’ Sunscape resort concept to Cancun AMRESORTS will open its 10th Sunscape Resort & Spa on December 1, the first of its kind in Mexican resort Cancun.

Named Sunscape Star Cancun, the resort will be located on the beachfront along the Caribbean Sea and 30 minutes from Cancun International Airport.

The new property will feature rooms and suites, live entertainment, free wifi, a surf pool and a mini-bar that is restocked daily.

“The resort will be perfect for the kid in everyone: the ultimate setting for affordable, family-fun in the sun,” says

Kieron Sellens, Senior Marketing and PR Manager.

Guests can make use of the Unlimited Fun programme, which includes 24-hour bar and lounge services; unlimited fruit juice, soft drinks and snacks; land and water activities; and a kid’s club.

They can also upgrade to Sun Club for a personalised check-in/check-out with concierge; private snack bar and lounge; access to the adults-only rooftop pool, hydrotherapy spa; and lunch at the Bluewater Grill. amresorts.com

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Have skis, will travel TRAVELLERS to Northern Finland can now sleep beneath the stars and glow of the Aurora Borealis in a glamping cabin on skis in the remote Arctic wilderness.

The Aurora Wilderness Camp’s mobile cabins, located east of Kilpisjärvi, Finland, are towed to optimal Northern Lights locations.

Three rooms are available to book through Off The Map Travel until mid-April 2018, reopening in January 2019. Each moveable cabin comes kitted out with double bed, lavatory, heater and table – and has a transparent roof to see the sky.

An example three-night, fourday itinerary starts from £1,599pp, based on two adults sharing on a full-board basis.

This includes private transfers to and from the airport, accommodation for two nights in a log chalet and one night in the Aurora Wilderness Camp including meals. offthemap.travel

Hip Portland targets UK

BY STEVE HARTRIDGE

AGENTS should prepare for a rush of interest from clients curious about Portland, Oregon, after the destination completes its three-week awareness campaign in London.

The Pacific Northwest gateway city is bringing its You Can, In Portland (#YouCanInPortland) message to The Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch for a multifaceted takeover from April 19-May 7.

On show will be some of Portland’s most inspired products – and the people who design, create and celebrate them.

Features will include a showcase of Portland-made goods in a pop-up shop, a series of events that includes talks with leading designers and entrepreneurs, live

mural making, craft beer sampling, local wines, Portland coffee, DJ gigs, free vegan tattoos and the opportunity to pedal part of the 4,910-mile distance from London to Portland on a static bike. Riders will have the chance to win on-the-spot prizes, as well as being entered to win one of five pairs of round-trip tickets to America’s bicycle capital.

The hook is the relaunch of Delta’s nonstop flight from Heathrow to Portland International Airport, which begins flying on May 4. The four-times-a-week service will operate until October 26 2018.

For tips on how to sell Portland, Oregon, turn to page 42.

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Balmforth is back!

TIPTO has announced that its former Chairman and popular industry figure Graham Balmforth will host its new SuperShow.

Recently retired Balmforth, formerly at Super Break, will compere a new game show-style competition at each of this year’s four SuperShow events, in Southampton (March 27), Birmingham (May 22), Manchester (June 19) and Darlington (June 20). He will invite up to seven agents, chosen at random via a draw of completed quiz sheets, to compete for one of up to six prizes: a £1,000 holiday voucher to spend with any TIPTO supplier member; a place on a TIPTO fam trip; shopping vouchers worth up to £100; and other supplier gifts such as hotel stays or gift vouchers. Ten TIPTO Goodie Bags are also up for grabs.

Agents interested in attending an event should email tipto@fore-uk. com or call 0208 742 4077. tipto.co.uk

travelportland.com

Mercury website proves massive hit with agents MERCURY Holidays says its dedicated travel agent support website is attracting over 5,000 visitors a month, less than six months after its launch.

To support the website, and to help agents learn more about the brand and its products, the operator is developing a travel agent training website that is due to go live in the next few months.

The support website features news, promotions, incentives and information on fam trips and educationals.

It also enables agents to find local Mercury Holidays field sales agents to arrange appointments, choose from holiday deals and personalise them with their agency phone number and logo.

Mercury Holidays says feedback from agents has shown the most popular feature to be the window poster tool, which enables agents to create their own tailored window designs and PDF flyers.

The operator is also introducing 11 new escorted tours, six new destinations, a solo tours programme and package holidays to Thailand in its third-edition Escorted Tours and European & Worldwide Holidays brochures for 2018 – 2019.

Highlights include sailing Turkey’s Blue Coast region from £599pp and touring Rudyard Kipling’s India from £1,249pp. mercuryholidays.co.uk/travel-agents

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Malaysia spotlight PREMIER Holidays has launched a spring campaign to raise awareness of Malaysia to the travel trade.

The independent operator and Tourism Malaysia have joined forces to highlight Malaysia as a must-visit destination, as well as promoting tours and excursions in the country.

Agents will benefit from up to £150 in shopping vouchers for every Malaysia booking made during the campaign, which runs until April 30.

A host of tactical twin offers to Malaysia have been released to help agents sell the destination, including a 10-night Kuala Lumpur and Penang break from £899pp – saving couples up to £648; a 10-night Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi itinerary from £1,049pp, with savings of up to £818 per couple; and a family holiday to Kuala Lumpur and Penang from £999 per adult and £488 per child, with a free room upgrade.

Agents can visit Premier Holidays’ trade website to download glossy posters and flyers. trade.premierholidays.co.uk

Hurtigruten reaches for sky

BY LAURA GELDER

HURTIGRUTEN is celebrating 125 years of sailing under the Northern Lights with its largest winter brochure to date.

The 2018/19 offering includes a fleet of 12 ships and covers 34 ports along the Norwegian coastline. A range of classic voyages are available, from the 12-day full round trip, to the eight-day Arctic Wonders voyage, and a seven-day Voyage North or six-day Voyage South.

Adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts have the chance to customise their winter wonderland experience by choosing an array of excursions in Norway, including dog sledding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and mountain hiking.

Hurtigruten are the only company making a ‘Northern Lights Promise’: that all guests who embark on the 12-day Classic Round

Voyage or Astronomy Voyage will get a free six- or seven-day voyage if Aurora Borealis fails to make an appearance during their journey. The promise is valid for departures from October 1 2018 until the end of March 2019.

More handpicked expedition teams have been added to ten ships on the fleet for 2018/19 sailings. Made up of knowledgeable modern-day explorers, they are intended to enhance guest experiences by offering insights about local history, geology, biology, and activities on board.

The cruise line has also added departure dates to its flight-inclusive Classic Round Voyage, with charter flights departing from nine regional airports to Bergen throughout the winter.

Cirque Du Soleil has wedding with a twist CIRQUE Du Soleil is offering a wedding package inspired by its Zumanity show – an adult-themed burlesque and cabaret production based in Las Vegas.

The unique service takes place at the Zumanity Theatre Lobby in the New York – New York Hotel & Casino, L.A. where Edie, Zumanity’s ‘Mistress of Sensuality’ performs the marriage ceremony joined by two additional artists who escort the couple down the aisle.

The newlyweds celebrate with a sparkling wine toast and live music performed by a member of the Zumanity band before enjoying the show’s acrobats, aerialists and dancers from the VIP ‘love seats.

Couples also receive a keepsake marriage certificate and a professional photo and video package including a photographer, high-resolution images and video of the ceremony and a live webcast.

Packages start from £2,510. weddings.zumanity.com

hurtigruten.co.uk

Great Rail Journeys takes to the water with its inaugural river cruise programme GREAT Rail Journeys is branching into the river cruise market after chartering three vessels which will have their inaugural departures in April 2019.

Great Rail Journeys’ pitches its river cruise product as “five-star state of the art, modern luxury, offering some of the largest and most generous cabins on Europe’s waterways at some of the most competitive prices in the UK market.”

GRJ cruises will offer one-way itineraries on all rivers so that customers won’t have to see the same section of the river twice.

Agents booking with GRJ can offer their clients flexible ways to transfer to their cruise – by flight or escorted rail, as part of a tour and cruise itinerary, or as an add-on to an existing Great Rail Journeys tour.

Trade will also be able to select the exact cabin for their customers at the time of booking via the GRJ agent portal.

Charter itineraries include tours along the Rhine, Danube and the Waterways of Belgium and Holland.

Agents who book the product until May 31 2018 will be entered into a draw to win

a cabin for two on one of the new charters.

Lindsay Dixon, Head of Trade Sales, says: “We are particularly proud of our flexible approach, allowing customers to choose their own excursions and cabins at no extra cost, whether it’s an onboard concert with members of Vienna’s Philharmonic Orchestra, or exploring the Keukenhof Gardens with Charlie Dimmock.”

For more information, agents can contact their local Great Rail Journeys Business Development Manager. greatrail.com

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Saint Lucia events APRIL sees the start of The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority’s (SLTA) new roadshow series.

There are five events across the country, hosted by UK Director Patricia Charlery-Leon and taking place in London, Chelmsford, Chester, Manchester and Cambridge.

Along with hotel news and prize draws, the SLTA will showcase its new branding, preview its new training programme and run through the refreshed festival programme.

Hotel partners attending include Coco-Palm, Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, Sugar Beach, Eastwinds, Rendezvous and Calabash Cove.

Limited places are still available at the events in Chester (April 17), Manchester (April 18), and Cambridge (April 19). For details call 020 7341 7000 or email ncompton@stluciauk.org

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NEWS TO USE IN BRIEF MOMEM, the Museum of Modern Electronic Music, will open in Frankfurt later this year. Exhibitions will guide visitors through the history of electronic music and its subgenres. Well-known DJs and producers will also hold workshops at the MOMEM academy. momem.org

BY BENJAMIN COREN

NEWMARKET Holidays has joined Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) ahead of a new initiative it will announce this month (April).

The escorted cruise and touring specialist reasons that being a member of CLIA will play a crucial part in its commitment to a growth strategy with agent partners.

David Sharman, Newmarket Holidays’ Commercial Director said: “We have some exciting opportunities coming our way with a new partnership that we will be announcing shortly. Our trade team will focus on driving this specific partnership as we believe it provides agents with fantastic revenue potential. Through training and the support and opportunities of the CLIA environment, the platform is there to

enable our partnerships to flourish. ” CLIA works to provide a framework for cruise lines, agents and partnerships to cooperate in a network of qualitative training and programmes to grow sales for ocean and river cruises.

Meanwhile, Newmarket Holidays has added a ‘Jerusalem, Galilee & The Holy land’ escorted tour to its programme. The trip will explore the places associated with Christ’s life with highlights such as Gethsemane, the ‘Wailing’ Wall, the Church of the Nativity, Acre and the Dead Sea. This eight-day tour starts from £1,399pp, and includes half-board accommodation with stays in Tel Aviv, Tiberias and Jerusalem.

INTREPID Travel has launched six itineraries designed to cater to solo parents holidaying with their children. The new destinations are: Egypt, Costa Rica, Thailand, Northern India, Vietnam and Morocco. The nine-day Egypt itinerary includes a Nile Felucca cruise, camel riding and dinner with a Nubian family. intrepidtravel.com/uk

AUSTRALIA’S cross-continental railway, the Indian Pacific, will introduce a new Blue Mountains Excursion on its Perth-Sydney route.

Passengers will be able to explore via scenic walkways, cable cars and the world’s steepest incline railway. greatsouthernrail.com.au

Paradise for less with Osborne & Ebel

newmarketholidays.co.uk

Riviera Travel expands with new ships and new itineraries

BY STEVE HARTRIDGE

RIVIERA Travel features four new ships, four new itineraries and one new destination in its 2018/19 River Cruise programme.

The operator has 14 European river cruise itineraries, serviced by 13 five-star ships, including its new ‘all suite’ ships.

Eight of Europe’s most popular rivers and waterways are the arteries for itineraries that put a premium on ‘authentic local experiences’ – whether that’s wine tasting in the vineyards of Burgundy or visiting Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg.

The four new itineraries include two dedicated solo cruises – on the Blue Danube (eight days from £1,699) and the Rhone Valley (eight days from £1,899pp). This year will see the launch of MS Douro Splendour and MS Robert Burns, while the 2019 will see the arrival of MS Dylan Thomas and the MS George Eliot. rivieratravel.co.uk

TRADE - FRIENDLY wholesaler Osborne & Ebel has a deal for Paradise Island Resort, Maldives.

Five nights start from £159pp on on a full-board basis, including return speedboat transfers for travel between May 1 and July 31 2018. The resort is set in North Male Atoll with a fantastic beach and vast selection of water and land activities. For details contact: sales@osborneandebel.com; osborneandebel.com

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the review: unite show report

UNITE PACIFIC & AUSTRALASIA – FEBRUARY 27, 2018

United around the globe Selling Travel was the media partner for three of Unite’s highly anticipated trade workshops, held in London. Business was brisk and those participating regions had plenty of news to share...

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S HOW SH ORT S TAHITI’S Manava Beach Resort and Spa is positioning itself as a resort for all – whether couples, honeymooners, families or divers.

Set between a white-sand beach and the mountains on Moorea, the 90 overwater, beach and garden bungalows are built in a Polynesian style. spmhotels.com T H E Cook Islands Tourism Corporation invited operators at Unite onto a specially-branded postshow party bus for a drive around London. It was themed around the destination’s Rehab Party Bus which, whilst pumping out dance music, visits several bars and nightclubs on Rarotonga. cookislands.travel TOURISM Australia showcased its Signature Experiences of Australia collection. The programme promotes outstanding tourism experiences in special interest categories such as luxury lodges, premium wineries, guided walks, wildlife encounters, fishing adventures and golf holidays. tourismaustralia.com

UK company Fred & Mildred represents three Kiwi properties: Eagles Nest is a collection of five villas in the Bay of Islands; Bay of Many Coves are one-, two- and threebedroom apartments in the Marlborough Sounds; and Annandale on the Banks Peninsula near Christchurch offers a farm escape in stylish villas. fredandmildred.co.uk TRANS Niugini Tours operates seven lodges in some of Papua New Guinea’s most scenic regions, operates its own fleet of vehicles, boats and aircraft and offers tours that focus on special interests such as birds or tribal art. pngtours.com

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UNITE INDIAN OCEAN & MIDDLE EAST – MARCH 5, 2018

S HOW SH ORTS JA Resorts & Hotels has joined the Global Hotel Alliance, adding a collection of seven hotels and luxury resorts to GHA’s portfolio of more than 35 independent brands and over 500 hotels in 78 countries. jaresortshotels.com

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of independence for Mauritius. The destination is also celebrating a 6% year-on-year growth in visitor arrivals from the UK. The tourist board will be hosting multiple fam trips throughout the year for agents, along with a golf and spa day for its trade partners in June. tourism-mauritius.mu

THE Maldives will welcome a new four-star deluxe OBLU SELECT at Sangeli resort, due to open July 1, 2018. Situated in the North-Western tip of Male Atol, the Atmospherebranded property offers 137 beach and water villas and is open for bookings. oblu-sangeli.com MARRIOT T Autograph Collection hotel Lapita, located in Dubai Parks and Resorts, is running its peaks campaign into the summer. Allinclusive packages include unlimited access to Dubai’s Wild Wadi Waterpark and food at the attraction. lapita.com

JUMEIRAH Vittaveli Maldives are offering a 30% discount on all half-board bookings with a ‘children go free’ policy for the summer months. The property will also feature the first ice rink in the Maldives, a new addition for 2018. jumeirah.com

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UNITE VISIT USA – MARCH 15, 2018

S HOW SH ORT S PHILADELPHIA will welcome several new tourism developments in 2018. Among the headline acts is the new Fashion District Philadelphia, which will offer 838,000 sqft of retail, dining and entertainment space when it opens later this year. The historic Bourse, which served as an exchange building from 1891 to 1960, is being transformed into The Bourse Marketplace, a large food court with ethnic fare prepared by local chefs. It is scheduled to open in the summer. discoverPHL.co.uk

VISIT California is to celebrate over a decade of its popular agents SuperFAM by operating its most ambitious trip to date in 2018. The fam, which will run from October 4-11, could involve up to 100 agents, who must be signed up to its California Star online training programme. The fam is co-sponsored by British Airways and American Airlines. superfam.visitcalifornia.co.uk

THE Great Lakes region – Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio – is expecting a bumper year of visitors on the back of new flights from the UK. Norwegian’s daily service between Gatwick and Chicago, which started on March 25, will be followed by Icelandair’s UK-ReykjavikCleveland four-times-weekly service which begins flying in May. greatlakesusa.co.uk

SEAT TLE and Washington State will benefit from the launch of two new flights this month. Thomas Cook Airlines start flying May 27, with two flights a week from Manchester to Seattle, while Aer Lingus kicks off its four-times-weekly service between Dublin and Seattle on May 18. seattle-washingtonstate.co.uk

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the review: checking out

Checking out...

HOTELS / RESORTS / TRAIN JOURNEYS / CRUISES / AIRPORT REVIEWS

T H E G R E AT HOU S E AT S ON N I NG – Berkshire, UK

BY PETER ELLEGARD

THE BACKGROUND: This Grade II-listed, timbered former Elizabethan coaching inn is a cosy Thameside retreat, in a pretty Berkshire village brimming with star residents. Its 49 rooms, some in a building opposite the main house, have been given a wonderful makeover blending modern facilities with clever retro touches.

THE LOCATION: Just 40 minutes by train from London’s Paddington Station, including a 10-minute taxi from Reading, The Great House sits alongside the Thames by the only bridge over the river between Henley and Reading. It is close to the M4 and has the Chiltern Hills on its doorstep.

THE ROOM: My Riverside Deluxe room oozed character, with walls, window frames and wood panelling of duck-egg blue, a wall of exposed brickwork behind the king-size bed, a bright orange office chair for the simple wooden desk and fun touches that included a retro-style digital radio, red vintage phone and duck-egg blue retro fridge,

THE

VERDICT

The Great House offers guests the chance to stay in style on the leafy banks of the Thames in Sonning, one of England’s most voguish villages - described by author Jerome K Jerome as “the most fairy-like little nook on the whole river”.

Neighbours include such luminaries as George Clooney, TV spoon-bender

as well as a 43-inch flat-screen TV. The large bathroom, beautifully tiled in muted browns, contained a free-standing, roll-top bath, walkin shower and ‘his and hers’ sink unit.

KEY FACILITIES: Free wifi and three room categories (Cosy, Relaxed and Retro Deluxe), all featuring full-size fridge with free milk and water, and luxury towels and bedding.

RESTAURANTS/BARS: The Coppa Club

serves as restaurant, bar and lounge area and is open from early in the morning until late at night. Sit on stools at the long pewter bar, on sumptuous sofas or at tables below oak beams. Terrace tables have protective ‘igloos’ for cool weather.

Uri Geller, Led Zeppelin’s

Address: Thames Street, Sonning, Berkshire RG4

£70 a night for a double

6UT;  greathouseatsonning.co.uk;

room (room only)

Jimmy Page and the area’s sitting MP, Prime Minister Theresa May. RATES: Prices start from

 0118 969 2277

S OU T H AF R IC AN AI RWAY S – Business Class, Heathrow to Johannesburg

BY STEVE HARTRIDGE

THE FLIGHT: Flight SA235 from London Heathrow to Johannesburg departed at 19.00 and we arrived in Johannesburg at 07.30 the following morning (+2 hours). This was the inaugural flight out of the UK on one of the airline’s five new A330-300 aircraft. On April 20, SAA will cut its Heathrow-Johannesburg

service from two daily flights to one, but the number of business class seats will remain almost the same.

THE CHECK- IN: It was a Sunday evening and Terminal 2 was busy, but SAA’s Business check-in desk was quiet.

THE SEAT: I was in 7K, a window seat. All business class seats are forward-facing with

aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration. There is a double seat-belt – one across the waist, one diagonally across the chest, which I had not seen before. The 15-inch HD touchscreen was impressive, and I liked the generous space on my right side and the storage behind. The seat turned into a lie-flat bed that extended almost two metres long and felt ultra-comfortable. The space had its own power plug and USB port. The RAVE inflight entertainment system features over 100 movies. There is no wifi onboard, but users can stream content to personal devices, via an app, before the flight.

THE SERVICE: Before take-off I was offered sparkling wine, orange juice or water and a hot towel. I enjoyed the dinner of salad, soup and a seafood trio of shrimp, scallops and cod – eventually! I had the suspicion that I had been overlooked but the head steward apologised and we laughed it off together – over an extra glass of bubbly.  flysaa.com;

THE

VERDICT

The A330-300 is an extremely quiet aircraft. It looked and smelled spanking new and the business seat and space around makes for a relaxing experience. Moreover, there is comfort to be had knowing you are flying on a modern, state-of the art piece of kit that doesn’t have many miles on the clock. A few more smiles from the crew would have been welcome.

RATES: Business class flights start from £3,469 return, inclusive of taxes.

 020 8576 5555

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ADVERTORIAL

Bula bulletin News from the islands of Fiji

Six Senses to open THIS April 14 Six Senses Fiji opens on the volcanic island of Malolo - the world’s first resort powered by solar using Tesla tiles.

The hotel will be comprised of 24 pool villas and 60 residential villas. Pool villas will range in size from 74-180 square metres and will feature a private pool, outdoor bathroom and wooden deck with sunbeds, surrounded by tropical gardens. The ten private residences of two, three, four and five bedrooms come with private pools, barbecues, kitchens and either beachfront, ocean or marina views.

A Wellness Village will include a Six Senses Spa, gym, wet area with hot and cold whirlpools, an alchemy bar and a treetop yoga pavilion and activities on offer include tennis, diving and surfing. sixsenses.com

New private isle GUESTS of Ahura Resorts properties Likuliku Lagoon Resort and Malolo Island Resort now have exclusive access to a private, uninhabited island. A 15-minute boat ride from the resorts, Mociu is a protected nature reserve for Ahura Resorts’ guests only. It will be used to develop environmental initiatives like dry forest restoration, marine transplanting and other bio-diversity protection projects. ahuraresorts.com

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Brits show love for Fiji

I N B RI EF MUSKET Cove oversaw a renovation of its Island Villas and the Beach Bures last year and this year it upgraded its pool area, adding mahogony cabanas, and Dicks Place Bar & Bistro, which now has a live cooking kitchen. musketcovefiji.com OUTRIGGER Resorts properties Castaway Island and Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort are shouting about added-value offers such as a complimentary helicopter transfer between the properties. outrigger.com

TOURISM FIJI is eyeing considerable growth from the UK market thanks to a ‘greater commitment’ from operators.

While international visitor arrivals leapt up 6.4% in 2017, the UK share of that rose a more modest 1.3% to 16,925. However, the tourist board is optimistic.

Speaking at Unite Pacific and Australasia, Jane West, Tourism Fiji’s Regional Director UK & Europe explained: “We are witnessing a greater commitment to the UK from our Fiji partners because visitors are spending more and we have many more tour operators including Fiji in their programmes, all

offering a greater range of accommodations and tours.

“The airlift and gateways continue to grow.

Fiji is a fantastic stopover when combined with Australia and New Zealand, but is also proving an attractive add-on to a stopover in the Far East or from West Coast US.” Fiji has been buoyed by increased airlift from Fiji Airways, which added routes from Singapore, Adelaide and San Francisco in 2017. A new service to Japan begins in July.

Tourism Fiji UK will soon welcome a new Trade Partner Manager and Marketing Manager, both starting this May. fiji.travel

Agents’ best chance to get on a Fiji fam...

FIJI MATAI is a online training tool for agents which Tourism Fiji uses as its main selection point for fam trip attendees.

The programme (meaning Fiji Expert) is comprised of four modules, each taking around 20 minutes to complete, and gives agents who complete it in-depth knowledge and perks such as access to marketing collatoral and event invites. matai.fiji.travel

FIJI Marriott Momi Bay was the second overwater resort to be built in Fiji last year and the only one the main island of Viti Levu. The villas are adults-only and the resort also has a hilltop hot tub and infinity pool reserved for grown-ups. marriott.co.uk

THE world’s first private island beach club, Malamala, opened last August 25 minutes from Port Denarau. A day pass offers the use of beachside cabanas with butler service and a resort-style infinity pool with views of the Mamanucas. malamalabeachclub.com

“Unique experiences available to those who visit Fiji include shark dives or a selfdrive, off-road” Jane West, Tourism Fiji

3/27/18 05:45 PM

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the final word

the quirky side of travel Take an A-list holiday Want to move like Mick Jagger in Munich or relax in the Maldives alongside the likes of Kate Moss? Many travellers turn to celebrities to get inspiration for a trip overseas, but the main stumbling block is likely to be cost. Help is at hand, though – comparethemarket.com has pinpointed worldwide hangouts of Hollywood's finest and revealed money saving tips for each destination. You'll obviously need to cut a few corners. For example, Samuel L. Jackson is listed as loving Beijing, and you could stay cheaply here in a guesthouse dorm with nine other people... an option probably not chosen by the great man. Travel to Bora Bora, frequented by Halle Berry and stay in an Airbnb from £40, or follow Chrissy Tiegen to Marrakech, where you can find a cosy room for £20. comparethemarket.com

TOP 6…

Gone but not forgotten Fear of flying Despite 2017 being the safest on record for commercial airlines, research from National Geographic concludes that over 21 million Brits are more afraid of flying now compared to 10 years ago.

The Snowflake Generation (that is those under-30 in the 2010s) fear flying the most, with 51% 'scared' before or during a flight. Perhaps this is because they may have to switch off their mobile phones in the air. nationalgeographic.com

Here are the top six travel traditions lost to the modern age, according to vervesearch.com

Handwritten letters

Postcards

Film cameras

Hitch-hiking

Train restaurant cars

Gate farewells

Home of the Big Mac As 2018 sees McDonald's reach 50 years of the Big Mac in the UK, Pittsburgh celebrates the invention of the opinion-dividing burger.

It was created by McDonald's franchisee Jim Delligatti in the city and visitors there can visit the only Big Mac Museum in the world (why would you want a second one?). Marvel at a statue of Delligatti and the world's largest Big Mac model – a tasty 14ft high by 12ft wide. visitpittsburgh.com

THE MAY 2018 ISSUE OF SELLING TRAVEL WILL FEATURE: Japan • Thailand • Singles holidays • Scandinavia's capitals • Mauritius • Cyprus • Caribbean cruising update • Alabama • Wisconsin • Ecuador and Galápagos • Croatia • Oman • Kazakhstan CONTACT US sales@bmipublishing.co.uk; editorial@bmipublishing.co.uk PLUS ONLINE Daily selling tips • Destination guides • Photo galleries • Travel Uni

sellingtravel.co.uk

Final word.indd 66

3/27/18 05:46 PM

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