Travel Extra October 2018

R U VAL D’ISERE SAVVY MET CHALET O E Y D LINGUS TRANS-ATLANTIC SURPRISE A MORZINE AN IRISH CHALET IN FRANCE TR PER PA ITAA Conference agenda

Travel’s regulatory impasse

Asia Guide 2019

IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION Free

OCTOBER 2018

VOLUME 23 NUMBER 8

Big jumps What your client should know about winter sports 2018-9

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OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 3

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Louvre top again

Washington museums see drop off as China gains

The Louvre is once again the best attended museum in the world, according to the Themed Entertainment Association.

Regional museums had a strong year in 2017 with 5pc growth in attendances fed by some new entries and strong performance in Asia.

Several museums had remarkable years such as the Victoria & Albert (up 25pc), the National Gallery of Art (up 23pc), the Louvre (up 10pc) and the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC which drew 2.4m visitors.

On the whole, 2017 reflected a return to healthy growth with significant capital expenditures in the industry, both in traditional attractions, attraction-adjaThe Louvre: most popular museum in the world cent hotels, and new indoor attractions.

In 2017 tourism recovered in Paris, which had been beset the two prior years by bad weather and possible security fears.

WORLD’S TOP MUSEUMS This recovery in tourism numbers and the exhibition “Vermeer and the Masters of Genre 1 Louvre 9.5% 8,100,000 Painting” were the likely drivers of the increase 2 National Museum Of China, 6.8pc 8,063,000 in attendance at the Louvre of 9.5pc, restoring 3 NASA , Washington,. -6.7pc 7,000,000 it to its former position of the top-attended mu4 Metropolitan New York, 4.5% 7,000,000 seum in the world.

5 Vatican 5.9pc 6,427,000 The TEA says: With stabilised global econ6 Shanghai Science Museum, 1.7pc 6,421,000 omies, and significant planning occurring now 7 Museum Of Natural History, Washington, -15.5pc 6,000,000 for future investment, prospects look good for 8 British Museum. -8.0% 5,907,000 the industry in the short- to mid-term.

9 Tate Modern, London, -3.1% 5,656,000 The TEA says it start by reviewing publicly 10 National Gallery Of Art, Washington, 22.8% 5,232,000 available information about estimating visitor 11 National Gallery, London -16.5% 5,229,000 numbers he performance of the multi-park/at12 American Museum Of Natural History, NY, 0.0% 5,000,000 traction operators and also the individual parks/ 13 Palace Museum Taipei -4.9% 4,436,000 museums.

14 Natural History Museum London, -4.1% 4,435,000 Ireland’s top fifty visitor attractions for 2017 15 State Hermitage St Petersburg 2.5% 4,220,000 16 China Science Technology Museum, Beijing, 4.0% 3,983,000 included nine museums and libraries, led by 5.

Nat Gallery of Ireland (1,065,929), Book of 17 Reina Sofia, Madrid 6.9% 3,897,000 18 Nat Museum American History, Washington, 0.0% 3,800,000 Kells 983,410 (983,410), IMMA (489,295), Ulster Museum (533,153) and Nat Museum 19 Victoria & Albert Museum, London. 25.4% 3,790,000 Kildare St (474,564).

THE SLOPES ARE CALLING Stand on the edge of the world and conquer the mountain with Crystal. agent.crystalski.ie Crystal Ski is fully bonded and licensed by CAR (TO 021).

NEWS FLORENCE Tourists eating panini, pizza and focaccia on the pavement and on shop doorsteps in Florence now face fines of up to €500.

SPAIN dominates as the EU revealed the finalists in the competition for the EU’s European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019title: Brussels, Helsinki, Ljubljana, Lyon, Malaga, Nantes, Palma, Poznan, Tallinn and Valencia.

SYRIA Ancient Palmyra, which has been badly damaged after being occupied by Isis militants, could reopen to tourists as early as next summer, the Syrian government.

BALEARIC islands government launched ‘holiday rental check Mallorca” an app designed to check the legality of rental properties French feminists have vandalised the new PARIS open-air street urinals in Paris,

labelling them sexist and discriminatory. Ecofriendly urinals have been placed in public spots in recent months as an experiment to counter Paris’s problem of pee-soaked paths.

CAESARS Entertainment has broken

ground on Caesars Forum new 550,000-squarefoot conference centre in Las Vegas.

MILLENNIALS A survey of 13,000 adults found that over a quarter of millennials would not know how to travel from the airport to their accommodation without their smartphones, compared with only 5pc of baby boomers.

BALLYFIN Demense won two prizes

- second in the Favourite Hideaway category and first in the Hotel that made you feel special category in a US luxury travel site’s survey of members.

ITIC’s tourism pre-budget submission

(“supporting Ireland’s largest indigenous industry”) calls for maintaining tourism Vat rate at 9pc, monitoring labour and business costs and continued suspension of Airport Departure Tax, increasing current government spending on tourism by €50m per annum plus increasing capital spending to deliver new products of scale and international appeal

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 4

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CONTENTS

3 News Where to go,how much to pay 6 Postcards: News from the trade 8 Ski special: Winter fun

E

9 Austria and France ski destinations 14 The top six; our annual roundup 20 Asia: Thailand, Japan and China 26-30 Flying: Airline and airport news 31 Celebrity Edge: Pre launch preview

32 Afloat: Irish ferries plans 34 Global Village Inside the travel industry 36 Window seat: Our columnists 38 Pictures: Out and about

Selling a ski holiday

in the valley. The trip down from Les Arcs to Bourg St Maurice can be worthwhile and enhance the holiday experience.

xpectations of a skiing holiday are high at the best of times. Choosing the right package is down to identifying needs. If you get it right, your clients will book ski with you for winters to come. Get it wrong, and they won’t come back.

BUDGET It is all

about budget. This needs to be established at the very beginning of the conversation along with finding out their expectations of the resort, ski area or accommodation.

VALUE If you are

not tied to dates, travelling with a family, or in a job like teaching, look out for low season dates such as mid January or St Patrick’s week, where you can get really good value and ONLY from the tour operators.

GROUPS If people want to travel in a group, and stay in the same hotel, you need to plan and get your booking in early. Remind the customer that only agents and tour operators offer these group deals.

GEAR Skiing needs gear, and gear weighs a lot. Remind clients they need a proper luggage allowance if they are bringing their own, as ski boots can weigh up to 7kg.

The moguls begin at point of sale boots, buy them! Great Outdoors in Dublin have a great boot fitter called Neil. In resort, check out great deals in Livigno, Andorra, and end of season in Austria, especially in the Hervis chain. At home, check out TK Maxx in season, watch for deals in LIDL and ALDI but if you need serious kit head for places like Great Outdoors who know what they are talking about.

Tour operator clients can get discounts there on production of their invoice.

AREAS The days

MANAGE expectations. Some of the destinations come with well groomed reputations that are outdated or have been endangered by complacency. What is the skiing ability of the family members? Does the resort match their requirements?

TRANSFERS

BUYING GEAR WHEN you tell

If it is their first ski holiday, borrow from friends. Clients don’t need to buy skis. With changing technologies every year, it is much better to rent your skis in resort. BUT, if you find a comfortable pair of

people exactly what is included it removes all the hassle. What is included in the package – flight, hotel, transfer, meals, lift pass, ski hire, childcare? What can be pre-booked from home to save time on arrival?

when resorts operated their own slice of mountain ended two decades ago with the linking of huge ski areas with cable cars and funiculars, the Four Valleys, Les Trois Vallées, Espace Killy Skiwelt, Ski amadé, Kitzbüheler Alpen, Paradiski, Grandvalira, (there are more). That means you don’t have to stay in the flagship resort to enjoy all the skiing.

Look out for cheaper and less crowded options or niche resorts that link into large ski areas.

Remember transfers can be long and awkward, even if you reach the resort, which can be a three hour experience, on a slow bus navigating narrow winding mountain roads, the drop off at the hotel can add to the journey and occasionally there can be an unexpected stop when the driver is out of hours. Clients should be prepared for all eventualities. Some resorts have short transfers of an hour or less which can make it worth sacrificing other advantages, particularly

on a short break. The efficient public transport systems in Norway and Switzerland mean that clients can take control of their own transfers and travel by rail. Don’t forget you have to haul bags in and out of carriages, a factor for families. Short transfers offered in Austria from Salzburg are a bonus.

KNOW your piste:

do as much as you can to familiarise yourself (and therefore the client) with the product before they leave. Study piste maps for major resorts all available online, that way you can both start planning their first morning’s skiing before they leave. Attend the training courses offered by tour operators.

EXTRAS Get

them ready for the prices they might encounter, which might do them an injury not unlike the one they might encounter on the slopes. You can pay u100 for four drinks in the nightclub in Verbier. Drink is cheap in Andorra or Livigno, but everything up the mountain is three times what you pay down

MEALS Most resorts have a good reputation for cuisine and lively, if expensive, nightlife. The pattern is breakfast in the hotel, lunch up the mountain and dinner back in the town. Half board limits the options of the clients – do they really want to eat in the same hotel every night? Is lunch for children included? Does the operator have an early tea for kids to give parents a bit of peace?

FAMILY Some re-

sorts offer the non skier lots of facilities; if they have a mixed family, mention the towns that are natural spa towns for those who want the best of both worlds. Find out about childcare. Is it on site? Are staff qualified?

What is the staff-to-child ratio? Are staff local or employed by the tour operator? Is there an evening club, babysitting or baby listening service so parents don’t have to turn in at the same time as their kids? How close is the ski school?

NON SKIERS

If there are non-skiers in the party, make sure to tell them to pick a resort which is close to a major city such as Innsbruck, Salzburg of Annecy near Chamonix. Pick a spa resort such as Bad Hofgastein or head for duty free Andorra where you can indulge in shopping, as well as spa in the capital Andorra la Vella.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 5

NEWS

www.travelextra.ie

18 picks for 2019

T

AUSTRALIA’s Competition and Con-

sumer Commission is taking Trivago to court, alleging the hotel booking comparison site made misleading hotel price representations in ads. It claims that websites give the impression they are designed to benefit consumers but listings are based “on which supplier pays them the most money”.

New destinations lined up for the new year

2019 Aer Lingus destination.

he range of new detinations for 2018 is being finalised, offering a range of new choices for sonsumers.

MOSCOW: Pobedoa are listing a Sheremetyevo service.

BARCELONA: Shannon 1w from Ryanair, gateway to Daurada.

Ryanair, joining Cobalt on Cyprus

PARIS: Cork 2w year round SEATTLE : Dublin 4w from

Aer `Lingus

CARLISLE Dublin 7w from Loganair scheduled for spring 2019.

Arkia Israel

DALLAS

Dublin will be linked daily to Texas next year.

HONG KONG Dublin 4w

from Cathay Pacific,

KEFLAVIK: Dublin service from Icelandair to go daily from Oc-

CANADIAN wildlife photographer Christopher Paetkau took a bit of a detour when due to take a flight from Yellowknife to Inuvik. By accident, he got on a flight east to Iqaluit, 1,400 miles in the wrong direction.

service from Air France.

Hainan, exciting new route which alternates through Edinburgh.

Dublin 1w from Ryanair, new for 2018.

award goes to British pensioner Freda Jackson, who is demanding a refund from Thomas Cook holiday after saying her hotel in Benidorm was full of Spanish people.

PAPHOS: Dublin 2w from

BEIJING Dublin 4w from

DALAMAN

BENIDORM And the ‘you don’t say’

TEL AVIV: Dublin 1w from

Dalton Phillips of DAA

TORONTO:

tober, competing with Wow.

MARRAKESH: Dublin 2w resumed Ryanair route after short interruption.

MINNESOTA Aer Lingus 2019 destination.

MONTREAL: Will be an

Shannon 1w from Air Canada, opening Canada to the west.

VIENNA : Dublin 2w from Lauda, in competition with Aer Lingus.

ZAGREB Croatia Airlines

VIENNA replaced Melbourne as the most

livable city in the worldin the Economist Intelligence Unitannual survey compiled by Roxana Slavcheva (pictured). Listen hereto Nikita Sisaudia speaking about the news that Dublin Is the 41st most livable city in the world.

AFRICA A hippo bit and killed a Taiwanese tourist who was attempting to take a picture of it, according to Kenya Wildlife

Dublin 2w from

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OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 6

POSTCARDS FROM THE TRAVEL SCENE

T

o celebrate the year of Mandela, South Africa Tourism and Turkish Airlines hosted travel trade at a screening of Long Walk to Freedom.

The Mandela centenary has been celebrated with events across each of South Africa’s provinces, as well as exhibitions in the signature Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg and the Mandela capture site in kwaZulu Natal.

T

urkish Airlines hosted ten key members of the travel trade in Mauritius,.

Turkish were promoting their connections through Istanbul to the honeymoon island. Istanbul Atatürk Airport is the airline’s main base until the opening of Istanbul’s new airport in November, Turkish Airlines has been a member of Star Alliance network since 2008 Picture shows Michelle McMullen

C

harles Wilson from Germany Travel hosted trade and media in Dublin to update them on developments in German tourism..

Jeanette Schuchman of the Germany National Tourist Board (pictured) reported overnight stays from Ireland for January to June totalled 246.371, up 12.9pc. Irish access to Germany continues to grow wand there are now 180 flights a week to two Berlin airports,

Turkish flies to three South African cities among 302 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, making it the largest carrier in the world by number of destinations (excluding regional brands).

Picture shows Rachel Lewis of South Africa Tourism with Onur Gul and Sean Alper Kanburoglu of Turkish airlines at the event.

of O’Leary Travel, Siobhan Branaghan of Centre Travel, Milka LeBron of the Residence Hotel Mauritius, Clodagh Connolly of Corrib Travel, Martin Penrose of ifonly, Onur Gul of Turkish Airlines, Leonie Dale of Justsplit, Rachel Donnelly of Grenham Travel, Carol Anne O’Neill of Worldchoice Ireland and Shane Cullen of Killiney Travel.

Olivia Flanagan from Navan Travel was also on the trip.

Bremen, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt International and Frankfurt Hahn, Hamburg, Memmingen, Munich and Stuttgart. There were 47.992 overnights in June, up 13.7pc and this growth looks set to continue with a 3.3pc increase next year. Germany reported a total of 216,502 arrivals from Ireland in 2017, making it our fifth most important out bound market, ahead of Greece, Scotland, Turkey or Wales

I

t started with Rebecca Kelly in 2008, and since then MSC has grown exponentially in the Irish market to the extent it sold 17,000 cruise packages in Ireland in 2017, and hope to grow that number in 2018.

At an event on board MSC Meraviglia, Antonio Paradiso spoke about the decade of MSC Cruise Line operations in Ireland and pledged to continue MSC’s support for the trade.

P

icture shows Siobhan Learat Byrne wearing a Kwita Izina gorilla naming shirt at the annual gorilla naming ceremony in Rwanda This year’s Kwita Izina gorilla namers included Rwandan and international conservationists, sports personalities, renown philanthropists and diplomats.

23 baby gorillas were named in this years’ event.

The Kwita Izina gorilla naming

T

rentino tourism hosted a group of key Irish travel media on a media visit to Discover Lake Levico and the Sounds of the Dolomites in Val di Fassa..

The itinerary included stand up paddling on lake Levico, cycling on an electric bike to the village of Borgo Valsugana, dinner at Castle Pergine, a visit to land art park Artesella open sky art gallery, tour of the villages in

MSC Cruises is the world’s largest privately held cruise company, employing 16,500 people worldwide and having offices in 45 countries The cruise line recently announced that it would build the second cruise terminal in PortMiami for its World-class cruise ships.

Picture shows Rebecca Kelly of MSC with John Spollen of Cassidy Travel, President of the ITAA at the event.

ceremony took place in Kinigi Sector, Northern Province on September 7. The theme of this year’s Kwita Izina, a uniquely Rwandan event introduced in 2005 with the aim of creating awareness of conservation efforts for the endangered mountain gorilla, was ‘Conservation is Life’.

Kwita Izina celebrations have included a Conversation on Conservation forum in Kigali .as well as a community

Val di Fassa and visit to a local cheese factory, wellness at fabulous QC Terme spa centre.

Highlight of the visit was a hike to the Sounds of the Dolomites concert by English songwriter Graham Nash, and picnic on the grass. pictyre shows Elisa Salvim Narta Covi, Andrea Weiss and Roberto Keller of Val di Fassa toruism and Trentino Tourism.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 7

POSTCARDS FROM THE TRAVEL SCENE Reduced deposit from

THIS IS

T

ravel Department announced its new long-haul extension service at the 2019 brochure launch. giving customers the chance to add a few days onto their guided tour when travelling to far-flung destinations.

Long-haul extensions are on an individual basis rather than as part of a group and include a choice of built-in or tailor-made extensions.

Customers travelling on selected

dates on Travel Department’s Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai; Beijing and the Great Wall of China, and the Splendours of India tours have the option of a three-night extension in Dubai.

Highlights of Vietnam has a three-night Cambodia extension option.

Most popular long-haul destinations in 2018 include China, India, South Africa and Vietnam. Picture shows ManilaStrings playing at the event.

€85 pp†

THE WHOLE

PAC K AG E All inclusive on selected 2019 sailings*

+

H

apag Lloyd’s MS Europa II visited Dublin Port, with visits to the five-star ship by members of the trade.

It is he highest rated cruise ship in the world according to the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships, replacing her fleetmate, MS Europa, which had held that distinction for more than a decade.

Europa 2 has been described as “the ritziest ship in the industry.

She has the greatest space per passenger of any cruise ship,and her décor is contemporary. During the day, her reception area is bathed in natural light, which floods in through floor-to-ceiling windows extending over several levels.

The art collection aboard Europa 2 is one of the largest at sea, with 890 originals commissioned exclusively for the vessel. Picture shows Travel Etxra’s Aileen O’reilly aboard Eorpa II.

Buy one cruise fare, get one half price** Offer ends 5th November 2018

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*applies to first and second guests on selected sailings of 6 nights above. Third and fourth guests sharing the same eligible stateroom will receive a refreshment beverage package when over the age of two years. T&C’s apply. ** applies to selected 2019 sailings of 6 nights plus from UK, Europe and Caribbean in eligible staterooms. T&C’s apply. †Applicable to eligible bookings. T&C’s apply.

T

he Travel Partners Group roadshow in Kilkenny on 12th Sep hosted agents from the region.

The event saw short presentations from the suppliers, Amadeus, ANA, Blue Insurance, Bookabed, Caribtours, Classic Collection Holidays, Croisi Europe, Fred Olsen, Irish Ferries, MSC, OBEO Travel, SAS & Your Car Hire.

Travel partners initially started with seven suppliers but changed their for-

mat to put more emphasis on activities such as table quizes.

The Kilkenny event was followed by a table quiz with Collette Desmond from Manning Travel the overall winner. Picture shows Marie McCarthy of Irish Ferries, Brigid Hayes of Bowe Travel, Alan Sparling of Airline Sales & Marketing/SAS, Donna O’Gorman of Bowe Travel and Catherine Bowe

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OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 8

DESTINATION CHINA

B

eijing has become excited about alleys. And about time. The narrow hutongs are more exciting than the neon, gleaming mega city buildings.

They each seem to have found their own identity, according to width, history, architecture and traffic (traffic is the back story of modern Beijing, as bicycles gave way to the internal combustion engine with all its trappings and pomps).

They can be defined by how many times you need to jump out of the way to make way for gleaming in-your-face vehicles. Or by the architecture of old houses in the traditional courtyard home style of siheyuan, keeping their splendour for the inside but quietly declaring status by numerology or step adornments, in the same way that the passing automobiles do nowadays.

Or the visitors, in one street a small coven of white-attired brides and their husbands were lined up to be photographed.

China in our hands I

We went for a feng shui lesson from the youthful masterly Deifu Kong in the gardens of the temple of heaven, birds singing as we tried to move like the Chinese, without success.

Eoghan Corry flies direct Dublin to Beijing Haidilao hot pot restaurant Or noise.

It is always noisy. It is not just the ever increasing circular roads cutting across the fabric of the city that mean that the sound of cars is a constant in the capital.

There are enough people to make it noisy, at 26m, but Chinese con-

versations are boisterous and filled with laughter and aggression in equal doses.

That 18th century myth about the Great Wall of China being visible from outer space has long been laid to rest.

But even if that proved untrue, I am sure the

ITINERARIES

n Xiannongtan Ancient Architecture Museum n Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City n Beijing Square Page One, Muji hotel, Starbucks flagship store, n Confucius temple n Drum Tower Chinese Medicine Hospital with Chinese medicine museum and Chinese massage) n Houhais of Beijing, Yandaixiejie

(Pipe St), Nanluoguxiang, Yantai street, Shichahai n Kung Fu Show n Peking Duck n The Great Wall n Wudaoying Hutong n Donglaishun hot pot n Sanlitun bar street n Temple of Heaven n Red Bridge Market Shopping n Pear Garden Peking Opera

Clockwise: Laura Liao at the Forbidden City, feng shui lesson with Deifu Kong, hutong bridal photograph, and the Temple of Heaven

conversations of Beijing could be heard up there, the thick Beijing accent unmistakable for astronauts as anyone else.

T

he perambulating capital city of China with a population the size of Australia’s has found something impressive since our last visit, confidence.

You see it in the neon of the shopping districts and the architecture of the city skyscrapers (Rem Koolhaas’s controversial CCTV tower, is known as the “big underpants” due to its shape).

But most of all you see it in the faces of the young people, in the glamorous billboards, the buses crammed with cosmopolitan faces where once it was mono cultural, the spotless metro and the chains of restaurants thronged with people coming to celebrate the famed hot pot table cookeries, barbecued chicken or Peking Duck (one of the few cultural reference points where the old Latinised

name was kept when the Wade Giles system was ditched in 1957.

They have brought technology to levels that astonishes. The street bicycles and metro tickets are bought with wepay, people scan their way from A to B. It is like technology came from decades behind to decades ahead of the rest of the world.

Getting around is difficult because of traffic.

Going underground is cheap and rewarding.

The metro is surprisingly navigable for non mandarin speakers.

We went to watch a kung fu show, all dramatic and broken blocks, and a message of mind over matter over violence.

We also sampled some classic Beijing Opera, the battle against Ch’in the despotic emperor and Bawangbieji, farewell to concubine, with a Romeo and Juliet ending.

The falsetto singing was straining, but the mime dance entrancing, each movement calculated to carry the balance of mass and emotion.

t is two hours from the city, but the Great Wall has always been the city’s signature attraction. That experience has evolved, too.

When we first visited thirty years ago it was common to be told that it had just been built, not the original of course, but the tourist peep show of Badaling where Richard Nixon was among the celebrities that have been brought.

It is still the stadium point on the wall, alongside equally accessible Juyongguan, which is being renovated, 30 minutes from each other.

Badaling now has a cable car for visitors to ascend the wall.

Our vantage point at Mutianyu was hillier and more pockmarked with towers, and also had a cable car. It does not feel or look like Badaling with its granite watch towers. This wall might be on a different frontier.

There are other places which are even further and more exotic: Jinshanling and Sumatai, quieter and harder to climb and four hours away. The experts say Jinshanling is the most beautiful of all, and best climbed in winter when temperatures plunge.

T

hey have a limit of 80,000 visitors a day in the Forbidden city, a vastly spreads collection of temples with extraordinarily long and exotic names, that takes several hours to view. My smartphone told me I had walked 11,000 steps, and it did not feel it. But tens of thousands of others

n Eoghan Corry travelled to Beijing with Hainan Airways 4w service direct from Dublin. He was hosted by Beijing tourism.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 9

DESTINATION CHINA are taking the course, and like all great world attractions, something will have to give.

There are more peaceful and beautiful temples.

We stopped to hear what Confucius might say at his temple, tiptoeing over the threshold. “You do not step on that, it is like a shoulder to the owner of a home,’ said Laura Liao our guide.

The temple of heaven is more beautiful again, extensive gardens dissi-

O Great wall at Mutianyu, three hours form Beijing pating the crowds who shuffle in to see.

They say it takes six

hours to drive from the top of Beijing to bottom of Beijing. You need

somewhere to find peace of mind after that.

n Yandaixiejie (Pipe street) you might be in Temple Bar, with live music and iconoclastic lyrics.

The past is another country, even if the regime stays the same.

Elsewhere, respect for the elderly, o0r perhaps the elders, extends into the unexpected.

Li Jing showed us through a traditional medicine hospital. The entrance had a display

with the statues of the venerable doctors from ancient times.

Does acupuncture work, or bring incense on your back? Apparently so. The doctors give massages and prescribe shamanic cures, which this city combines with the more scientific medicine that works in other countries.

Place and placebo in one. So very, very Beijing.

REVIEW: HAINAN AIRWAYS BUSINESS CLASS THE FLIGHT: Flight HU750 from Dublin to Bangkok was delayed by three hours due to late arrival of the inbound flight. We were advised of this the night before. Departing Dublin at 14.24 (scheduled 11.10), we arrived 06.44. Flight time for the 8,290km was 9.13 which means we made up some time en route.

PRE BOARDING : Check-in in T1 area 11 was seamless and the Anna Livia lounge used by Hainan is close both to the security clearance (fast track available) and the 300 gates used by Hainan. Anna Livia lounge has been revamped to upgrade

the food offering (check out the honey Dijon chicken wrap) and the admission desk moved closer to the stairs and lift.

THE SEAT: We were in 17K, an aisle in Hainan’s most up to date configuration, the B789. Screens are smaller than competitors but responded quickly to commands. As well as Hollywood, there are separate Asian and Chinese sections offering interesting alternative films. The staff made the beds as the seat turned into a lie-flat bed that extended almost two metres long Hainan B787 business class with comfortable cushions and one of orange juice or warm water and a hot the best duvets in the sky. The space towel. Service was slow and the crew had its own power portal and USB port overworked and would have annoyed a and adequate laptop storage, something fussy traveller with indiscretions such lacking form the B788 on offer form the as pouring a second choice of red wine same airline. There is wifi onboard, into the same glass (special was a 2009 THE SERVICE: Hainan have Bordeaux, Moulin de la Jaumarde). five star status under the (somewhat They took cognisance of a seafood alcontroversial) Skytrax award system, lergy for the evening meal but forgot to perhaps because of their bed making do so for breakfast. They were friendly skills and fabulous pyjamas (not offered and could not do enough for us. on this flight). Before take-off were : The B789 is offered non alcoholic fruit cocktail, THE VERDICT an extremely quiet aircraft. While ser-

vice was well meaning but not up to the anticipated standard this may have been a once-off. Dreamliner humidity is considerable higher than most other aircraft (25pc v 2pc) which leaves the passenger less hollowed out and fresher at the end of the journey.

THE DETAILS:

Business class flights start from €3,000 return, Hainan are enthusiastic about the Irish market. Ryan Zhang has been appointed country manager for Ireland and will be relocating to Dublin inclusive of taxes.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 10

SKI & SNOWBOARD 2018-19

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ki market bookings are ahead of last year with families, groups, New year and half term (February 18-24), but the biggest growth is in groups.

The 2019 season will also see 20 years of the iconic Ian Dempsey ski trip.

Easter is later than previous years, April 21, which means an extended ski season across Europe.

Mountainous

Topflight has expanded the offering for groups with the launch of Topflight’s Group Ski Trips encompassing a blend of ski, entertainment, nightlife and some all-round good fun.

TRAINING FOR AGENTS

SKI CLUB Ski Club of Ireland report that they did 20,000 ski lessons last season..

TOPFLIGHT

will launch of two new Italian destinations for winter ski 2018/19., Madonna di Campiglio and Pinzolo. and continue to operate a comprehensive programme to Austria, France, Italy and Andorra for winter ski.

Topflight analyse and use key measurement tools when it comes to choosing the properties in the programme. They say all accommodations offered must reach a high standard in line with company policy with all properties chosen specifically because Topflight know that it has something that customers will love.

Livigno has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence in recent years.

As a resort, it offers high altitude and low prices thanks to it’s duty-free status. It is a great family choice alongside being ideal for groups. Livigno is proving extremely popular for the upcoming season. New Year’s in Livigno has been sold out for months now.

Additional capacity was also added, however, this is also sold out. There are also numerous other dates throughout the season that are also seeing an upsurge in early bookings. Livigno is definitely one to watch for this season. In Austria, the Gastein Valley & Mayrhofen will be key focuses for Topflight for

GROUPS

Ski bookings are ahead of last winter Jill Zivile Mikalauskiene from Navan Travel up on Penken ski area, Mayrhofen-Hippach the upcoming winter season. Topflight will offer an expanded range of accommodation options with more high-quality self-catering accommodations will be evident.

Mayrhofen was particularly popular amongst groups and families last season and early indications show very strong sales.

CRYSTALSki are offering 30pc off lift pass and equipment for all countries excluding midterm break. The programme for winter 201819 runs from Dec 22nd with the last inbound on March 30th, Dublin to Salzburg, Verona, Innsbruck, Chambery and Cork to Salzburg on Saturdays and Dublin to Toulouse and Turin on Sundays. The programme includes a new resort in Austria Serfaus, flights from Dublin to Innsbruck transfer time two hours 15 mins. A new Beanie Bear club

for little people who are new to skiing and aged 3 or 4 to 8 years old will operate 08:30 till 5pm.

There is a current offer of €100 off on childcare excluding Midterm break, a free upgrade to Area Lift in the resort of La Plagne on Jan 12 & 19 and March 23, family offers in Rauris, 2 for 1 lift pass offers in Galtur & Les Deux Alpes in France on select dates, and one and a half for one on select dates in Tignes and Val d’Isere.

CLUB MED Les

Arcs Panorama opens December 16s located in the Paradaski with easy access to 425km of slopes.4T Les Arcs Panorama, France, Family Friendly Resort, 7 Nights - All Inclusive, Includes Ski Tuition & Ski pass, From €2180pp, Departs: 3rd February 2019,,Other options: 4T Cervinia, Italy, 7 Nights - All Inclusive, Includes Ski Tu-

ition & Ski pass, From €1549pp, 3T Aime La Plagne, France, 7 Nights - All Inclusive, From €1365pp, Departs: 06th January 2019, 3T Arc Extreme, France, Adults Only, 7 Nights - All Inclusive, From €1305pp, Departs: 16th December 2018,. Club Med holidays include direct flights from Dublin & transfers, , Spacious en-suite accommodation , 3 meals a day with snacks, Open bar all day with premium brands, Kids clubs from 4 to 17 years*, Childcare available from 4 months to 4 years*, Great evening entertainment, live bands and shows, 5 full days ski tuition / guides for all levels, 6 Day Lift pass & ski/snowboard tuition

GASTEIN the

new Schlossalmbahn lift will open in December 2018. It is a single-cable gondola lift, running in 2 sections to the top of the Schlos-

salm. From December, queues will lessen as passenger capacity will double from 1400 to 3000 people per hour.

ANDORRA

Topflight changed flights for the Andorra service into Perpignan last year serving the resorts of Arinsal, Soldeu, and Pas de la Casa and say the change of airport last season proved very successful as i guests can get through the airport very quickly and be coaches in 30 minutes

FRANCE Irish

tour operators have boosted their chalet offering in France.

Topflight offer a large range of catered ski chalets (Over 50) in Val Thorens, Meribel, and Val D’Isere. Each chalet is fully inclusive of its own host, who will cook breakfast, afternoon tea & cakes, evening meals and also clean your rooms.

Topflight has announced a comprehensive nationwide training programme in September & October, which kicked off September 26th .

This decision was taken as a result of travel agent feedback and their desire to learn more about selling ski and to hear about first-hand experience of destinations featured by Topflight. Venues for the training roadshow include Portlaoise, Galway, Limerick, Cork, Donegal, Belfast, Kilkenny & Dublin. Attendees will be in with a chance to win a place on Topflight’s pre-Christmas fam.

TIROL Ireland is

performing really well.

We had an increase in arrivals by 19 % (+ 3.524 arrivals) and 16, 5 % in overnights (+ 18.202 overnights). In total we had 21.892 arrivals from Ireland and 128.289 overnights.

WESTENDORF In the family weeks, in December and March, children use the gondolas and lifts for free, if there is one adult (parent), buying a lift pass for at least 3 days or longer. They are also free on the trains.

SAALBACH

A modern 10-person gondola replaces the old Kohlmaisgipfelbahn.

KITSBUHEL

gets a new lift , Brunelle High speed chairlift (detachable) with bubble and seat heating, 1172m with carrying capacity/hour of 1800.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 11

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t may not be the world’s scariest slope, as some have claimed, but it is worth the look.

The top of the Hahnenkamm in Kirchberg is a good place to ponder mortality and existence, with stunning mountain tops and luxuriant shite in each direction.

We gathered there for the thrill of not skiing it, a bunch of journalists assembled by Topflight to showcase their favourite mountains.

Some of the world’s greatest skiers gather there, and plunge recklessly into the gradient to reach speeds of 130 kilometres an hour. The course has been iced over to heighten the speed.

It is also a great view from the bottom, over the rim of a glass of rottwein.

This is where the kiers end their death defying run and the celebs gather to share stories of the mountains. We NEVER admit we took the easy way down.

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opflight were showcasing the best of their ski experience for our group.

The trip was December, and December is the best secret of these ancient Alps: empty slopes and joyful runs.

Even when the snow comes late, as it did in four of the past ten years,

A-list

Eoghan Corry in the Austrian Alps Alex Feichter ski guide:: Après Ski is always with ski gear, you need to stink a bit the resorts have perfected techniques of manufacturing artificial snow and snow farming, keeping some of last year’s bounty cold through the summer, to get the slopes up and running at the end of November.

Pre-Christmas skiing is cheaper and often more rewarding.

Topflight collected us in Munich airport and transported us in a private limo that has been [patronised by the backsides of rock stars and other celebs.

Our tour took us through Bad Hofgastein, Kitzbuhel and Kirchberg.

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e stayed in the Hotel Norica Palais in Bad Gastein. The hotels here are gloriously Austrian in their ownership and culture.

Not for them the chains and the purpose built mountain eyesores of other countries. Very often a family runs the hotel with pictures of previous generations adorning the walls of the dining room.

Bad Gastein is spa town first, ski town second. There is so much thermal water flowing through the Gastein valley that you’re pretty much cured of everything as soon as you pass

within its boundaries.

The towns of Bad Hofgastein, Bad Gastein and Dorfgastein also make up a ski area 220km in size, with lifts sweeping you up to 2,700m and big wide pistes allowing you to carve down with ease.

A tunnel connects the hotel to the famous Alpentherme spa. It takes a bit of navigation, until you reach the labyrinth of natural hot springs, swim outdoors with the glorious mountains around you.

Visitors have the option of visiting the adult spa area (no clothes re-

quired, but wear a towel round the nether regions.

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e are of the mountain,” said Christopher Angerer of Gastein tourism. “We are cosmopolitan in these mountains, our idyllic Alpine paradise.”

He sums up the extent to which the scenery envelops everything and everyone here.

Once ice takes hold of the imagination. There are lots of other activities that embrace these mountains. Gastein hosts

an urban ice climbing event Our evening was spent listening to two musicians from Gothenborg, Martin Browall and Oskar Tössberg, singing Irish and Scani ballads in the Silver Bullet Apres Ski bar.

Everywhere you turn, those mountains prevail, and continue to do so when the light is low and the visitors have descended on the bars and restaurants.

“Après Ski is always with ski gear, you need to stink a bit,” ski guide Alex Feichter says.

THINGS TO DO PLACES TO SEE n Hotel Krone. Single rooms start at €38. Double rooms start at €33 pps Dorms start at €20pps – great for those skiers or walkers on a budget. All rates include breakfast and free WiFi. n Salzburg is 1 hour from the Gastein Valley, and 1 hour 15 mins from the town of Bad Gastein. n Bad Gastein is part of the Gastein Valley, with 220kms of accessible skiing and marked pistes. n The Felsentherme Spa in Bad Gastein. www.felsentherme.com Family Spa, Panorama Wellness Area and Massage, outdoor spa, and Fitness suites. Cost for 3 hours is €22.50 with your Gastein Card.

Schober is best for ski and boot hire, located conveniently beside the Gondola Station at Bad Gastein with excellent and free storage.

n Don’t miss seeing the wonderful unique feature that is the Waterfall which runs through the town of Bad Gastein. n Other activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice-climbing, ice skating, curling, husky-dog sledding, winter hiking trails, night toboganning, full moon ski touring, and a choice of Thermal Spas as well as the healing caves of the Gaisteiner Heilstollen. With Bad Gastein’s history, there is a Stars & Movie walk in Bd Gsatein, which is free of charge through the Bad Gastein Tourist Office. n Check out the local tourist board for details of activities throughout the winter season including many cool events, including Urban Ice and the Gastein Jazz Festival. n www.gastein.com

Finish of the Hahnenkamm n Eoghan Corry travelled on a press trip was organised by the Bad Gastein Tourist Board, with support from www.ryanair.com and The Salzburg State Board of Tourism n He stayed at the Hotel Krone, which is a 3 star hotel with direct access to the main gondola of Bad Gastein, as well as the Felsentherme Spa, and all shops and bars in the town. The hotel has a bar and restaurant with good food at good prices

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 12

SKI & SNOWBOARD 2018-19

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he lesson had started well, in poor visibility, the first ski of the year. Or so I thought.

Catherine Berthon the ski instructor had other ideas.

“I am sorry” said Catherine. “Marcel says you are too slow, and we have to leave you behind.”

I remember Marcel.

He was the Dutch lorry driver who came close to me when we stopped and said “not very good at this are you.” He did not like the French, and clearly did not like me.

When Catehrine said as a beginner came down the slop, do you remember you used to ski like that, marcel sneered and said: “she stil does.”

Marcel had started a movement. Catehrine was now a member.

“You are holding us up,” she said. “Bye.” I wanted to ask where I was and point out I did not have a map, but she was having none of it.

And there she was.

Gone.

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hen Tignes resort was constructed, it promised a playground of snow on a vast terrain shared with Val d’Isere.

Club Med was expanding, so Tignes was one of the first snow resorts of the group.

They brought all the signatures of Club Med, attitude and altitude combined: the fact you can ski in and ski out, the terrific French-approved food and wine and nightly entertainment, music, dance and family activities, big, spacious bedrooms and the joy of

Ski-in Tignes

Philip Airey of Sunway, who represent Club Med, atop Toviere between Val d’isere and Tignes having your equipment hire and locker room in your own basement (wine cellar?).

Most of all, it is all inclusive, avoiding the dangers to the wallet of staying in one of the priciest ski areas in the Alps.

And while Club Med Tignes is not as spectacular, huggy or memorable as the new Club Med Val Thorens on the adjoining mountains, you cannot imagine a closer encounter with an Alp. Or with the great playground that was named for local hero, the first rock star of the slopes (and fourth generation Tipperary man), Jean Claude Killy.

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lub Med Tignes is at the tail end of the street that snakes through Val Claret,.

Tignes has a big playground of its own in the

mountains above, en route to the spectacular Aguille Percee.

The main resort is being rebranded as Tignes 2100. Some say it makes the better base than Val with its 14th century church and old town feeling. For the Club Med Val d’Isere, take the village lift and ski around the path to land amid the two storeyed lunch quarters.

Tignes is higher, more convenient, has more intermediate terrain, and quicker access to the Grande Motte glacier.

The lift system has improved beyond recognition over the past five years, with newer faster chairs on the western side of the Tignes bowl.

The disadvantage of Tignes is that it can be quite a journey over to the more mature and sophisticated surroundings of Val d’Isere, and the town is unusual in that all of the descents to the

THE CLUB MED EXPERIENCE

n Club Med emphasises the stress free holiday experience it offers families:. n Ski lift pass and daily ski lessons included n Ski holidays include ski tuition for children from age 4 n Ski from the door - Ski school departs from the ski room! n Kids clubs from 0 -17 years in-

cluding childcare with a daily activity program n Hassle free ski rental within the resort n Gourmet Buffets and Specialty Restaurants including wines, beers & soft drinks n Evening entertainment with professional English speaking GO’s

heart of the village are perilous.

For a day of pleasure, travel the width of the piste map quickly in the morning and return slowly, up Tufs, down Edelweiss or Creux/Mont Blanc, to Marmottes, Fountaine Froide, Santons down to the village, the new Solaise Express, Loulette, Glacier, Leissieres, over the mountain to Col de l’Iseran and Pyramides, the gentle ski down to Le Formet, take the bus back to Val and

the Olympique cable car home.

Non. Je ne regrette rien.

E

space Killy is big, with 90 lifts, 300km of piste and the capacity to put 100,000 skiers on mountain at one time.

It is undergoing long overdue development: the Solaise, a central artery to the left hand side of the Espace Killy piste map, has been replaced by a bubble and a new

beginners area has been constructed where it reaches the top.

It is also a bit of a lottery, for the piste classifications here are notoriously unreliable.

The various runs have acquired their own skilore: Prarirond, for example, is nicknamed “paranoid” by those who made it to the bottom with fright in their eyes.

Skiers have been known to get the names of runs tattooed on their arms: the favourites are Combe and Anemone (reached by lift Palfour).

In the afternoon as the music boom from the Follies Douce (it featured in “Snow, sex and suspicious parents,” ‘nuff said), they talk of their falls and their conquests like medieval pilgrims: the iconic Face overhanging the village like a cross-browed forehead, the treacherous Joseray, a blue worse than most reds you will meet on the mountains, the Monchet express “scary chair which carries you up and over a mountain ridge, Diebold, Orange, Genepy.

And the best run of all?

Double M. With friends like this, who needs Anemone?

n Eoghan Corry flew to Geneva with Aer Lingus. n It is a three hour transfer to Club Med Val Claret where he stayed as a guest fo

The iconic aguille percee

WHAT’S INCLUDED

n Club Med holidays include direct flights from Dublin & transfers, n Spacious en-suite accommodation n 3 meals a day with snacks n Open bar all day with premium brands n Childcare available from 4 months to 4 years*

n Kids clubs from 4 to 17 years* nevening entertainment, live bands and shows n 5 full days ski tuition / guides for all levels n 6 Day Lift pass & ski/snowboard tuition

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 13

DESTINATION SKI

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hen the snow came, it made up for lost time. The warmest early winter in the memory of Europe’s ski resorts came to an abrupt end just before new year.

Most resorts across the Alps now have all lifts open. In Kirchberg thy say that when it is about to snow the sheep move up the mountain because they know something.

And the deer move down because they know something too, When I visited the sheep were still in the valley. Like sheep fleece or layers of cotton wool the fog, too, sat in the valley in the morning, luxuriant deep-carpetted mountain beauty that was as surprising as the under-performance of the snow conditions.

Two worlds, one below and one above.

Austria’s advantage is that skiers stay in real villages before they take to the mountain, not 1960s concrete tourism constructions.

It explains why Austrians still win two out of every three world cup races. Grow up in one of these villages and the snow becomes your schoolmate. Gastein has 11,000 full time residents and 30,000 beds for those who come to play.

Then the sun erupted, glorious and bright. The jetstream of an aircraft has put a spray foam on the sky, like the pilot was attempting to spell

Cloud in the vally

White magic

Evening in Kitzbuhel out the name of someone they loved high over the ski lift.

Snow conditions turned bright again, and then, as we skied downhill we encountered a line across the piste like a micro-climate, than back into ice again, with the grating grizzling sound that conjured up out nothing so much as a broken leg. The ski instructor is Hans Steinkasserer but goes by the name Sem: “of 180 ski instructors on the first day, 13 had the name Hans, so I was Sem from Hoefgarten.”

K

itzbühel is the plush cousin, often compared with Cortina. It got its artsy reputation early, from the opening of the fin de siècle Grand Hotel just before World War 1 and as the homestead of legendary ski champion Tony Sailer (the “Blitz from Kitz”) and painter Alfons Walde, the first artist to successfully bring skiing as a subject into painting. His windblown art deco Stakhanov snow heroes feature on posters throughout the town.

As you rise the Hahnenkammbahn lift, the names of the downhill champions name of the famous race are affixed to each gondola car.

The shops, bars and accommodation are more chic and expensive than Kirchberg and a small casino brings a James Bond air to the place.

We stayed late and ate mouth-melting tenderloin with Claudia Waldbrunner of the tourist board.

Kitzbühel has 6,000 beds (Kirchberg has

7,000), a population of 8,200 and a further 3,000 beds in the valley: offering a mix of local and invader at peak season.

That sense of being in somebody’s home prevails in many of the hotels. At Aegidius “Gidi” Koiel’s family run Hotel Bräuwirt, the dining room with an austere grand father and officious looking grand mother peer on the diners from a brown wood frame, still very much part of the family.

At a nearby schnapps distiller Tonni De Man popped open the bottles of Obst schnapps, made from two flavours, straightening out the digestive tracts like a snow-making cannon.

Back in Kirchberg we sleigh-rode through the snowy streets in the hands of a pleasant charioteer Maria hochkogler and horses are called Cissi and Cora.

Someone called for a Ballyfermot gallop.

Eoghan Corry travelled to Austria courtesy of Topflight, who offer charter flights to Salzburg. +3531 2401000 www.topflight.ie or your local travel agent.

He stayed in Kirchberg, a resort with access to both the Kitzbüheler Alps and Pass Thurn ( 170kms of piste) as well as access to the Ski Welt, Austria’s largest interconnected Ski Area.

Topflight have direct charter flights from Dublin, Cork and Belfast to Salzburg every Saturday for the Winter Season.

Kirchberg and Kitzbühel, its snazzier ski neighbouring resort have an array of après ski activity from sports centres to sleigh rides, to toboganning, to shopping, to whet your appetite, as well as Kitzbuehel’s famed Casino where 27.50 gets you 30 worth of chips.

If you are a good intermediate skier, we recommend purchasing the Kitzbüheler Alpin All Star Card which gives access to both these ski areas. If you are a beginner – you can use the Kitzbühel Kirchberg Lift Pass at u241 (the other lift pass is €249 you must decide which card before you purchase) You can also try snowshoeing, winter hiking, cross-country skiing, and ski touring – it could be the year to try a new snowsport.

Prices including Topflight charter flights direct from Dublin, Cork and Belfast and full luggage allowances, transfers to resort and accommodation:

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 14

SKI & SNOWBOARD 2018-19

6 TO WATCH

Snow6

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ix resorts we’re looking at in 2018/2019 Val D’Isere, Espace Killy, France.

New lift infrastructure in one of our favourite European resorts opened up extra terrain in the Solaise area last winter. This season Val will become home to the highest hotel in France with the opening of le Refuge de Solaise at 2,551 metres.

The hotel will only be accessible via the slopes and the Solaise Gondola lift so when that closes each evening, guests will be cut off from the world. That’s bliss in our book.

To cater for all budgets the hotel will include 34 bedrooms, three apartments and a dorm with 14 beds as well as a spa and restaurant.

Madonna di Campiglio, Brenta Dolomites, Italy.

Madonna is back in Topflight’s brochure this winter and with good reason. Known as a glamorous resort, this gem in the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Brenta Dolomites is also a true mountain village.

Nicknamed ‘The Queen of Snow’ by Italian VIPS who flock there each winter it has hosted celebrities through the ages – Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sissi in the glory days of the Habsburg Empire and up until his accident, racing driver Michael Schumacher who loved staying at the familyrun Hotel Gianni.

The resort hosts

Catherine Murphy’s annual pick of the best places to ski, stay and play on the slopes this winter Catherine Murphy is Ireland’s leading ski writer the World Cup Men’s Downhill slalom race on December 22nd.

After the festivities we’ll be heading up the mountain to Chalet Fiat which has just been refurbished to include new suites and a spa.

It also serves the best panna cotta we’ve ever tasted.

Mammoth, California, USA. While European resorts were getting heaps of snow last season, their American counterparts had a slow start to the winter but Mammoth in California is still top of our list when it comes to US resorts we want to visit.

The combination of city (San Francisco), ski (at Mammoth of course) and sip (wine tours) is just too good to miss in our opinion. If we’re not back by April, send out the ski patrol!

Bad Hofgastein, Salzburgerland, Austria.

Bad Hof has just in-

vested a whopping ¤85 million in a new stateof-the-art lift and we want to be there to see it in action. Once a sedate spa village, Bad Hof is now a popular destination for Irish skiers who will love this new easier access to other parts of the mountain. The Gastein valley is an area we’ve fallen inexplicably in love with in recent seasons and believe us, we don’t fall easily.

And lest we forget, the hugely popular Ian Dempsey Today FM ski trip will return to Bad Hof in January 2019.

Count us in!

Borovets, Bulgaria with Travel Solutions, a Belfast-based company which also offers ski trips from Dublin.

For those of us who learned to ski in budget Borovets more than 25 years ago, returning to re-live the wonder and joy of our first ever mountain holiday is on the ‘must tick off’

list. The Rila hotel is still going strong and the slopes we fell down survived the bashing.

Add in a day trip to Sofia and our trip down memory lane will be complete.

Val Thorens, Three Valleys, France.

Val Tho is never off our must-visit list.

Amidst a growing range of high-end hotels, we’re keen to experience Club Med’s Sensations resort with its foyer climbing wall, vast entertainment areas and all-inclusive offers – all at 2,300 metres.

This ski-in ski-out resort’s all-inclusive packages include full board, open bar, ski pass and lessons by ESF plus nightly entertainment but we’ll be heading straight to the Epicurious Gourmet Lounge for high altitude gastro delights.

TRENDS

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ome of the top trends we have been noticing in 2018/2019 *High end vs budget.

One on hand, skiing is becoming more highend each year with increasing numbers of four and five star hotels/ residences on offer. On the other hand we’re noticing that a number of new properties in the Alps – including the new Folie Douce hotel in Chamonix – are offering a mix of accommodation including hotel bedrooms, apartments and hostel dorm beds with rates from ¤24 per person per night. We like it! *There’s a move away from traditional ski schools like the ESF in France. A number of new companies – Maison Sport, Ongosa and SkiBro – offer skiers the opportunity to book private instructors or

guides, to discuss online with them what they want from a class and to pay around 15 per cent less than if they were booking through a large school. The trend is mainly in France and Switzerland at the moment but is likely to spread. *If you’re a US ski fan, then you need to know about the growing trend for discounted collective ski lift passes like the Epic Pass which allows you to ski at resorts like Vail, Whistler, Stowe, Park City, Crested Butte (as well as resorts in France, Switzerland and Italy); the Ikon Pass which gives you access to 35 North American destinations including Mammoth, Squaw Valley, Aspen Snowmass, Steamboat, Revelstoke and the Mountain Collective pass which gets you to Jackson Hole, Alta in Utah and many others.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 15

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6 BEST SWSS

Our focus returned firmly to Switzerland last season, not because it has suddenly got cheaper but because resorts are actively working to offer better value for money. Along with the now-famous ¤200 Saas Fee season lift pass and the Valais Magic Pass which allows skiers to ski in multiple resorts, hotels and tourist boards try to squeeze value into packages.

On top of that, using the Swiss Pass to travel by rail to different resorts adds great interest and variety to your holiday.

Wengen, Jungfrau region.

Adorably old-school, the little mountain village of Wengen is special with stunning views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. You have the sensation of being cocooned, safe from the rest of the world.

The village is home to Bond stunt man Stefan Zurcher and also to the Schonegg hotel which will fill you with gourmet delight and mountain hospitality.

One of the most wonderful things about skiing here is taking the train to Kleine Scheidegg or other parts of the mountain –seeing the rail system operate in high altitude conditions is just great.

Davos.

What can we say?

Visit just before the World Economic Forum kicks into action and see the town transform into a centre of high finance. If money truly is no object or you’re looking for a very special corpor-

End of the lineinto the ate trip check Tivoli Lodge, a highly-refined residence which will blow your mind with fine dining, a beautiful spa area, discreet personal service, a children’s play room to beat them all and a master suite fit for a mistress. If you can drag yourself away, go skiing with a private mountain guide and enjoy some of the best snow in the Alps.

Andermatt. Loved by off-piste skiers for its gnarly terrain, the little village of Andermatt is going through changes. The Radisson Blu is opening a new hotel there in time for this winter while new luxury apartments also opened last winter.

The jewel in Andermatt’s crown may be its ski touring and freeride options but the five star Chedi hotel – complete with ipad check-in, sumptuous suites and restaurant ‘cheese tower’ (you have to see this cheese cathedral to believe it) is pretty special too.

Engelberg gets a second mention for 2018/19 because it offers such easy access to charming Lucerne and its many delights. Drop into the Rosengart mu-

seum to see an impressive Picasso exhibition, take a boat to the ski lift each morning but above all, we beseech you, check out the Lucerne Carnival which transforms the city early each February.

For a city with a population of around 80,000, its carnival is mind-blowing, starting on Fat Thursday with the ‘Big Bang’, including three parades and involving some of the best fun you can have near a ski mountain. A word of warning – don’t go without dressing up.

Everyone else goes to great effort to dress up in out-of-this-world costumes.

Les Crosets/Champoussin, Portes du Soleil.

Get away from the busy slopes of Avoriaz and experience Swiss solitude in Les Crosets.

Last winter we skied with Swiss guide Nick Evquoz, our mouths open in awe as we reached the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil, the empty slopes of Les Crosets and the little hamlet of Champoussin. If you do visit the Portes du Soleil this winter, make it your business to ski over to this side.

Zinal, Valais region.

Nick Parks is one of our favourite mountain guides in the world. If he chooses to base himself in Zinal we reckon

it must be pretty damn good. Nick runs an offpiste/touring adventure operation from Zinal, a peaceful settlement which lies at the end

of the Val d’Annivers valley. Zinal is also one of 25 Valais resorts you can ski in if you buy the Magic Pass.

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SKI & SNOWBOARD 2018-19

6 FOR GROUPS

*Arinsal, Vallnord, Andorra.

Skiers are fiercely loyal about their favourite resorts and in new research from the Ski Club of GB, Andorra topped the table in terms of visitor loyalty with many planning to return.

Beginners and easy intermediates will enjoy skiing Pal while more advanced intermediates can take on the slopes at Arinsal. Off-piste fans in the group can drive or take a bus to Arcalis, a little gem of a place that offers up Alpine-style freeride terrain along with easy blue runs.

What we love most are the reasonable prices and excellent ski schools. *Mayrhofen, Austria.

Not only does it have the Van Penkens snow park - one of the best in the world with six different areas for different levels - it also hosts the Snowbombing music festival (see our best festivals section) each April. With its traditional rustic Tyrolean ambience, Mayrhofen also attracts families who can opt to stay in family-run pensions slightly outside the village or in a central hotel. *Sauze D’Oulx, Italy.

Part of the Milky Way ski area that takes in Sestriere and Claviere, we rate Sauze as a group destination because its runs meet up at the Sportinia area – perfect for lunch meetings among groups of different abilities.

Prices are reasonable and the resort is also known for its lively nightlife. *Livigno, Italy.

Lovely Livigno is firmly back on the Irish ski map this winter as Topflight

takes its Copper Face Jacks trip there from March 3-10th.

Yes, the transfer is lengthy – over four hours – but you quickly forget that once you arrive in the resort. Livigno mixes ancient old buildings with duty free shops and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by its combination of charm and very reasonable prices. If you’re organizing your own trip, watch out for free lift pass offers at the start and finish of each season. *Alpe d’Huez, France.

We think Alpe d’Huez has something for everyone – plenty of beginner slopes at the base of the mountain, glorious offpiste routes on the glacier and a good mix of intermediate runs. Alpe D also offers lots of other activities that are perfect for groups of friends – ski-joering, snowmobiling and paragliding are all on the menu. Look out for Crystal Ski chalets that can cater for larger groups. *Kirchberg, Austria.

Just 6km from glitzy Kitzbuhel, Kirchberg is set in the heart of the Kitzuheler Alpen area and offers skiers access to Kitzbuhel’s 170km of slopes on one side and the Ski Welt’s 280km on the other. Nightlife is young and lively so it’s no surprise that Topflight are returning there in January with the Ian Dempsey Today FM trip.

6 SKI SCHOOLS

Supreme Ski School, Morzine, France. Owned by dynamic 20-something Nick Robinson, we were supremely happy with our lesson and guided tour of the slopes from instructor Rachel

Checking the route Hallewell.

Skischule Bad Gastein, Austria. Okay we’re totally biased - seeing your seven-year-old nephew happily learn to ski in safe surroundings is the best recommendation of all. The nursery slope is small (much smaller than the one at Angertal near Bad Hof Gastein) but this may have been an unexpected plus as children could really focus on learning solid technique. As the week progressed, they were taken up on a chair lift to ski their first blue run.

Evolution 2, la Clusaz, France – We like Evo 2 ski schools in all French resorts to be honest but have a particular soft spot for their La Clusaz school which runs a Freeride group for children – how cool is that?

Wilder Kaiser, St Johann – George, Hannes and their team are wellknown to Irish skiers who return again and again to the slopes of St Johann in the Austrian Tirol. One of the things they return for is friendly instruction from these guys.

European Ski & Snowboard School, Les Deux Alpes, France. We were impressed by the standard of instruction at this English-owned ski school in party town Les Deux Alpes. Brothers Simon and Laurence Edwards ski fabulously and offer wise, encouraging instruction with video foot-

age at the end of classes.

Scuola sci Livigno, Italy. Ski instructor Devid Bormolini laughed happily in the face of challenges (namely our ski technique) then introduced us to both the Italian ski team and the local beer. What can we say, the guy is a legend.

6 FOR FAMILIES

Catalunya.

For families who enjoy road trips, the Catalan Pyrenees are a great option. Fly into Barcelona, spend a night at the very clever Yurbann hotel so that mum and dad can experience a local Food Lovers tour or visit Gaudi’s La Pedrera. Then hop in the car and make the two hour journey to Lleida region’s ski areas.

They may be small compared to many Alpine resorts but they produce world class athletes like Killian Jornet and dining options to rival the best of the Alps.

Last winter we visited La Molina, La Massela and Port Aine – it was great to see lots of children learning to ski and having the time of their

lives in family-friendly hotels that definitely won’t break the bank.

Arc 1950, Paradiski, France.

If ski-in ski-out convenience is the most important thing for you and your young family on holidays, look no further than Arc 1950. Purpose-built but with more of a north American feel, this is a tiny little resort with just a few car-free streets, a very lovely Deep Nature spa and just enough bars, shops and restaurants to satisfy parents after a day on the mountain. Step outside your ski locker room, put your skis on and ski straight to the lift – perfect accessibility.

All Arc 1950 residences are rated five Star and operated either by Pierre & Vacances Premium or Radisson Blu. Take the family for an evening snowshoe hike to the igloo village for fondue and during the day, ski to Arc 1800 to visit the Mille 8 entertainment area which features a luge track, swimming pool, restaurant and is a great meet-up point for all the family after a morning’s skiing.

St Martin de Belleville, Les Trois Vallees, France.

Don’t get us wrong, we love skiing in the Three Valleys with its massive ski area and off-piste terrain but staying in St Martin de Belleville offers families the best of

both worlds – traditional village life with access to that vast ski area but without the lively nightlife. The village, although tiny, also has a reputation for great gastronomy and a very entertaining museum detailing the history of the village.

Galtur, Austria.

Situated just a few kilometres from Ischgl, Galtur might as well be a million miles away.

While Ischgl is all about night-life and fine dining, Galtur is calm and perfect for young families.

It’s also a great spot for learning to cross country ski if you don’t fancy downhill.

The French Pyrenees.

Fly Aer Lingus to Toulouse, hire a car and ski around one of Europe’s most unpretentious ski regions. Stop off at La Mongie (home to the famous Tourmalet) then visit Luz Ardiden and Cauterets.

Each area has its own style and character, and prices are cheaper than the French Alps but what we love most of all is the friendliness, local ski vibe and normality of town life.

Pal/Arinsal, Vallnord, Andorra.

Our top bet for family group holidays. Check into the Magic Ski hotel in La Massana which boasts a great buffet dinner, is just 50 metres from the lift station and bustles with the noise of Spanish families.

La Massana is the base for Vallnord’s ski areas – Pal which is idea for beginners and early intermediates, Arinsal which has more to offer intermediate skiers and Arcalis which has a mix of easy pistes for intermediates and off-piste for experienced skiers in the family.

Prices are reasonable – around €1.50 for a beer in local La Massana bars – while on the mountain, Vallnord’s restaurants and bars are becoming much more fashionable.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 17

SKI & SNOWBOARD 2018-19

6 ALPINE RUNS

Grand Paradis, Champery, Portes du Soleil, France.

Ski resort bosses say it’s best skied in the morning but we enjoyed it greatly after a beer fondue at La Pisa restaurant.

One of our most memorable runs of last season, this gorgeous tree-lined run to Champery wowed us as it opened up stunning views of the Dent Du Midi. 10 kilometres long, it spans a variety of landscapes from wide groomed slopes at the start to a thigh-burning schuss in the middle and that magical path through snow-covered forests with the Dent Du Midi in the distance.

Chassoure-Tortin, Verbier, Valais region, Switzerland. You need a parachute to get off the steep moguls at the top of this marvellously long field of bumps.

Definitely not for the faint-hearted but Tortin is a great run for practising mogul technique and improving your ski fitness. Best attempted when snow conditions are good as it can be dangerous when icy.

The Tunnel, Alpe d’Huez, France.

You hear them in the cable car queue, groups of skiers discussing whether they’ll attempt to ski the infamous Tunnel run. Many opt out and do the easier Sarenne run but for those who go for it, the reward is a tricky entry into steep moguls. Like most of these runs, the level of difficulty depends on whether conditions are icy or not.

Andorra public art The Sarenne is a 16km run that starts from the top of the Pic Blanc cable car and has a long flat run out to Auris en Oisans. It’s officially a black run but in good conditions, can seem like an easier red.

Much more interesting for advanced skiers is the long off-piste route to the right of the run.

Highland bowls, Aspen, Colorado.

Okay so it’s at least a 30 minute hike to the top or longer if you’re unfit but there are various drop-in points and a variety of excellent powder bowls to ski.

You’re more than likely to hear Chris Davenport, famous for skiing all of Colorado’s 14,000 ft peaks in a year, hollering with enjoyment on this fantastic offpiste run.

Vallee Blanche, Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, France.

The Vallee Blanche is an off-piste route (22km long) which can be completed by decent intermediate skiers with a guide. The scariest part for many people is the walk down a roped track to reach the slope but from then on, the main route is a great intro to off-piste skiing for those who want to give it a go. More expert skiers can hire a guide to take them down one of many other routes.

The VB can also be done on full moon nights with a guide from the Compagnie des Guides in Chamonix.

Ventina, Cervinia, Italy.

The 8km long Ventina is a slope of joy for progressing intermediates and experts alike.

For less experienced skiers, it’s a slope to aspire to mastering by the end of a week-long holiday.

Equally, it allows boy and girl racers to blast rapidly down the mountain (vertical drop 1430m). Even after years of skiing, racing down the Ventina at the end of the day (when everyone else was gone) remains a favourite memory

6 BEST FOR SNOW

A

fter a lean start to the previous three seasons, 2017/2018 stunned us all with the best snow in two decades. While huge snowfalls present logistical problems for resorts and increased

avalanche risks, once things calm down they also bring fantastic skiing conditions.

Here’s hoping that next season will bring the same bumper conditions across European resorts. Here’s where we skied the best powder last winter; La Rosiere, France.

We couldn’t believe our eyes when we arrived in the family resort of La Rosiere late last January. By then, the resort had received an incredible eight metres of snow and chalet roof-tops were literally vanishing under heaps of white gold. If conditions are as good this coming winter, skiers are in for a huge treat with the opening of the new Mont-Valaisan area which will include five new red runs, two new six-man chairlifts, easy access to a vast range of off-piste skiing and a new high point of 2,800 metres.

Baqueira Beret, Val d’Aran, Catalan Pyrenees.

Not even the flu could stop us from getting out on the mountain in Baqueira Beret last February. BB simply had some of the deepest loveliest powder we had skied all season and we couldn’t understand why this resort had eluded us for so long.

The slopes are Alpine in

nature while amenities can equal the best of the Alps with champagne bars, five star hotels and fine dining.

The people of Val d’Aran speak Aranese and are rightly proud of their heritage. If you’re a history and culture fan, stay down in Vielha (a fifteen minute bus ride) to sample local pintxo bars and an intriguing museum which catalogues the history of this wonderful region.

Vielha is also a cheaper option for skiers on a budget with good-value hotels and restaurants.

Engelberg, Switzerland.

By January 2018, Engelberg already had four metres of snow on its upper slopes.

Famous for the stunning views from the top of the revolving Titlis cable car, Engelberg is also well-known for its off-piste routes and cosy village restaurants.

Check into the very lovely Spannort hotel, tuck into a fondue and prepare to hunt that pow down.

Westendorf, Ski Welt, Austria.

We always talk about Westendorf as an ideal resort for beginner skiers and young families because of its compact size but last December was the snowiest we’ve ever seen it. The snow just kept falling so we just kept skiing that fluffy stuff.

When the snow is this good in Westie it’s a great opportunity for intermediate skiers and boarders to throw themselves into powder on easy slopes.

Tignes, Espace Killy, France.

We could only look on in awe as Tignes got battered by storm after storm last winter bringing ‘once in a generation’ snow falls.

With two metres dumping down in less than 48 hours at the start of January, both Tignes and Val d’Isere were

placed in lockdown with guests confined to their hotels.

Not ideal for in-resort guests that week but excellent news for people who had booked trips for later in the season and for off-piste fans who flock to Tignes for its vast freeride terrain.

Zermatt, Switzerland.

One of the enduring stories of last season came from Zermatt where 13,000 people were stranded and had to be airlifted by helicopter after heavy snow fall closed mountain lifts, ski runs, walking paths and train services from Taesch to the village.

Switzerland’s Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research said that at least 80 cm of snow had fallen in the area during 24 hours, raising the avalanche risk to a maximum level of five.

Again, for early January visitors it may have been a traumatic affair but for powder-hounds, it was a dream start to a season which lasted well into April.

Be clever; skip Cham’s equally legendary aprèsski and get up early for the first lift of the day – queues for Grand Montets/Argentiere/Aiguille du Midi can become frustratingly long when powder hounds smell fresh snow or when lifts are slowed down due to windy conditions.

Andermatt, Switzerland. So Switzerland isn’t cheap but sometimes you’ve just to chase that pow. This little mountain village is famous for the Gemsstock couloir, Castlehorn, Giraffe and Guspis (all expert level) as well as Pazola and Rossbodenstock (advanced level) and beginner routes like Russi and Natschen powder. If you’re an off-piste fan and haven’t been, think about getting there soon.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 18

SKI & SNOWBOARD 2018-19

6 HIDEAWAYS

La Folie Douce, Chamonix, France.

La Folie Douce, the famous après-ski chain which has dominated French resorts for the last decade, is opening its first hotel and where better to open it than Chamonix. FD has taken over the historic Savoy hotel and will feature a Roaring Twenties style to reflect Cham’s Olympics heyday.

As well as 141 premium bedrooms it will have hostel-style dorms sleeping up to six people in each, three restaurants including a street food kiosk, Italian, traditional Savoyard dishes and gourmet dishes in La Fruitiere. Guests can also expect a spa, pro shop, kids club and of course… lots of après ski!

JW Marriott Parq and Douglas in Vancouver/ Four Seasons Whistler, BC Canada.

For a dream city/business/ski trip, spend a few nights in the brand new JW Marriott Parc in Vancouver – the scale and quality of its suites are impressive as is the jewel in its crown, the Sky Suite, which overlooks BC Place stadium on one side and Vancouver’s waterways on the other.

If you can afford to stay in the Sky Suite you may not want to leave.

For the next part of your trip, drive to Whistler via the scenic Sea to Highway route and check into the Four Seasons resort and residences which offers a customized ski experience from ski concierge to gourmet meals or even a round of glacier golf if you fancy

it. Not to mention those cocktails and the most comfortable beds ever.

La Ferme du Lac Vert, Montriond, France.

Probably the best fun we had last winter took place in this beautifully restored 18th century farmhouse in the little village of Montriond near Morzine. Owners Rob and Lucy Mundell put their hearts and souls into this gorgeous gem while Irish man Tadhg Ryan runs the property with panache.

From the interior design (most of it master-minded by Lucy who somehow manages to combine humour and a respect for history) to delicious cocktails and canapés at the bar to very fine food and an open fire, my only complaint was that I had to sleep in the honeymoon suite – alone!! This was our top spot for winter 2017/18.

Hotel Termag, Jahorina, Bosnia.

Thanks to a company called Ski Sarajevo it’s now possible to explore both the history of this region and its skiing.

We flew from Dublin to Istanbul and onwards to Sarajevo so a perfect trip would also include a few days stop-over in Istanbul.

For a resort that has a neat 35km of pistes, Jahorina boasts some exceptional hotels, chief among them the four star

Termag. Buffet breakfast and dinner were excellent while the suite we stayed in easily matched any Alpine luxe accommodation – except with a far lower price tag at the end.

The slopes of Jahorina bear the marks of Bosnia’s troubled political past with the ruins of buildings still in place.

The pistes are best suited to families and intermediates so make the most of your visit by combining the mountains with the history and culture of Sarajevo.

Hyatt Centric, La Rosiere, France.

This brand new four star hotel is a welcome addition to La Rosiere, a family-friendly resort which has needed and is now getting lots of investment.

The hotel is already proving popular with Hyatt business customers from around the globe and while it may take a while to grow into itself and develop character, there were a number of things we particularly liked – the fact that we could ski straight from the property of course; the wine list with featured wines only from high altitude vineyards and above all, the outdoor hot tub. Our view of the Aiguille Rouge was stunning and definitely our favourite hot tub view of the winter.

Salzburgerhof hotel,

Bad Gastein. There’s no shame whatsoever in wanting to return to the same ski hotel year after year. It means you have found a place you love and feel comfortable in.

What do we love about the Salzburgerhof in Bad Gastein? The same staff members have worked there for years and welcome us back each season; the hotel bar is one of the nicest we’ve seen and has a good atmosphere on live music nights; the bedrooms are classic but very comfortable; the spa area is bright and appealing and best of all, it’s a five minute walk to the main ski lift.

6 AVTIVITIES

Exploring the ice caves of the Pemberton Ice Cap, near Whistler, Canada.

This is truly a oncein-a-lifetime experience.

Take a Heli Ice Cave Explore excursion with guide Doug Washer to experience these beautiful ice caves beneath the southernmost ice field in Canada.

Couples hire private helicopters to get engaged here but you may be more fascinated by the ice structures, ice worms and history of these ice blue caves.

Afterwards, enjoy a cocktail at the newly renovated Four Seasons hotel back in Whistler Blackcomb. Not just any cocktail mind you – this one will be freshly made by a mixologist using ancient ice that Doug has chipped away from the cave.

New zip wiring in Val Thorens.

Val Thorens is already home to the excellent La Tyrolienne zip wire but this winter it gets a new zip adventure. Similar to La T in Orelle, the new zip will take you back to the heart of the resort from the top of the Moutiere chair lift and there’s an added surprise – it’s a double zip so you can scream the entire 1600 metre line (65 metres above ground) with a friend for double the fun.

Stubnerkogel Suspension Bridge, Bad Gastein.

The only activity you have to engage in here is taking your skis off and walking across the bridge but for those with even the slightest fear of heights that’s no mean feat. As suspension bridges go this

is one of the most impressive we’ve seen.

140 metres long and the highest in Europe it takes you from the terrace of the Stubnerkogel restaurant and across the bridge with great views of the Hohe Tauern and an admirable feat of high altitude engineering to admire.

Winter kayaking, Interlaken, Switzerland. Come down from mountain villages like Wengen or Murren to Interlaken where you can kayak on pristine lakes in winter. Just don’t fall in!

Follow the Freeride World Tour. Athletes like Aymar Navarro continue to stun us with their extreme skiing feats on the FWT each winter. If nothing else, you get to see what the terrain is like in Japan and European stop-offs like Vallnord, Fieberbrunn and Verbier.

Or just take a stroll…

All ski resorts have developed winter walking trails for non-skiers to enjoy and it really is a great way to experience and appreciate the beauty of the mountains. Walking on snow shoes under the light of the moon and stars in Madonna di Campiglio or walking the Kaiser Wilhelm Promenade in Bad Gastein, will make you fall in love with the mountains.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 20

IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION

DESTINATION ASIA

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ever has Ireland enjoyed so many connections to so many Asian destinations, through Istanbul, Dubai.

Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Hainan Airways now fly direct to beijing. cathay Pacfic fly to Hong Kong.

Qatar arrived on the scene in 2017 and say they intend to incease the service to double daily, joining Emirates, Etihad and Turkish Airlines who already have double daily services. Further good news came with the arrival of a dict service from Dublin to hong kong with cathay Pacific with Hainan also in discussions about openig a route form Dublin to Beijing.

Over 200,000 seats each were filled by Emirates and Etihad out of Dublin last year with a big increase coming this summer with the move to double daily.

Qatar also removed visa requirements for Irish citizens to boost direct tourism to the indepnendent emirate.

There was further good news on visas from India, which now can be applied for electronically boosting Irish touirsm to unprecedented numbers.

Here is a brief guide to some of the riches on offer:

CAMBODIA The great Khmer tem-

Singapore

The visa for Vietnam is now easier than ever to acquire

Bright stars that are shining in the east Asia one stop options becoming ever more accessible

ple complex at Angkor is the country’s biggest tourist attraction with 2m visitors each year. Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in south-east Asia, passing bird-filled

wetlands, rickety fishing boats and villagers waving excitedly from the shore. Phnom Penh sights include the Royal Palace, whose gilded pagodas are similar to those in Bang-

kok. The Tuol Sleng Museum and collection of bones at the Killing Fields recall the horrors endured under Pol Pot’s regime.

CHINA The Great Wall is best known from its Badalingcelebrity stop, a short trip from Beijing, but Juyongguan and Mutianyu are also easily accessible from the capital, now a direct flight from Dublin, while Jinshanling and Sumatai are well worht the extra time spent in transit getting there. Other signatures include Xian where the terracotta army as located, the Yangtse river and the soaring skyscrapers of Guangzhou.

Wedny Wu has made inroads into Ireland as a high end tour operators selling luxury tours

through the country. Direct flights to Hong Kong with Cathay pacific wil commence in 2018.

INDIA Irish visitor numbers to India rose 10.5pc to 36,440 in 2016 and has been growing since the launch of the e-visa facilitywhich has now been extended to irish customerss. The Golden triangle of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Fatehpur Sikri is where the first taste tourists go. An easier introduction to India is Kerala, with its Arabic charm. Once past those you can spend a lifetime discovering the different palaces, landscapes and cultures. What may be the most beautiful landscapes on the entire planet can be found high in the Himalayas at Ladakh. Teeming Mumbai,

the deserts of Rajastan, and the rich cultures of the Ganges and Indus rivers are worth a look.

Incredible India say first time visitors favour their 6 night group tour Classical India from u649 and their 12 night group tour ‘Classical Rajasthan covers the majority of the North in one trip. Martin Penrose of If Only has organised a major fam to India from the Irish trade.

INDONESIA

Bali is the tourist hub but you can escape the crowds out on the tiny island of Nusa Lembongan. Ubud is the Bali’s cultural heart there are great art galleries and countryside to wander in. Lombok has a scaleable volcano, Mount Rinjani, and is growing in popularity. The most ob-

IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 21

DESTINATION ASIA vious resort is Senggigi, flanked by white-sand bays. Gili Trawangan is a hot spot for divers.

On Java you can find the Buddhist and Hindu temples of Borobudur and Prambana.

JAPAN Urban and

rural culture in equal measure, stunning landscapes, crowded cities and amazing food.

Visitors cngregate at Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area, Himeji-jo, Shirakami-Sanchi, Yakushima, Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities), Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome), Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, Shrines and Temples of Nikko, Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, Shiretoko and Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape.

LAOS

Star attractions in landlocked Laos are the Mekong islands of Si Phan Don, home to fishing villages, waterfalls and rare Irrawaddy dolphins. Boutique hotels can be found in the country’s capital, Vientiane, alongside colonial villas, pleasant boulevards and Laos’s most important golden stupa, the 150fttall Pha That Luang.

Luang Prabang is one of

Phuket beach the most beguiling cities in Asia, with Unesco World Heritage status and faded French charm.

MALAYSIA

Beach-lovers can choose between islands off both the east and west coast, Pulau Langkawi, and Palau Tiomen. The Perhentian Islands are the least developed. Malaysian Borneo attracts wildlife fanatics to the lush states of Sabah and Sarawak. At Sabah you can view orang-utans, dive at Pulau Sipadan and climb Mount Kinabalu (4,095m). Sarawak is famous for river trips to see indigenous tribes living in communal longhouses. Cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Malacca have a rich heritage

and well-preserved colonial architecture.

urban rainforest, at Bukit Timah.

PHILLIPINES TAIWAN A new slogan: More Fun In The Philippines and increased air lift through Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Istanbul, this archipelago has a mixture of pastry beaches and heritage sites, the baroque Churches, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, the historic Town of Vigan and Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

SINGAPORE

is clean and respectable in its modernity, with ageing colonial relics, vibrant nightlife at Clarke Quay and even

Three key attractions in its armoury, the beautiful Taroko Gorge, the first tall building in the world to reach more than 500m, Taipei 101 and the ancient imperial treasury of China, now housed in the Palace Museum. Travel Extra’s Eoghan Corry was suitably impressed on a recent visit there.

THAILAND

Famous beaches can be found on two separated coastlines of what is easily the most popular Asian destination with the Irish. who travel in numbers (68,982 in 2017 and possibley 72,000 in 2018) and base them-

Petronas touwers Kuala Lumpur, Bali, festival of the dead in Taipei, monks in Laos

selves in Phuket, now accessible with just one stop by all four airlines serving Ireland through the middle east. They can also fly to Bangkok and go overland to Pattaya or by short flight to Koh Samui,, Krabi or Chiang Mai. Huge investment has kept hotel standards high and opened new possibilities. You can spend a lifetime exploring all 77 provinces so don’t stop there, especially attractive are the highlands and rich cultures of the Mekong.The resilience of Thiland as a destinatoin has eearned the nickname TeflonThiailand.

VIETRNAM

Signature attraction, a contender for natural

wonder of the world, is the soaring limestone peaks of Halong Bay. At Mui Ne you can find sand dunes, watersports and luxury hotels. The signature cities are historic Hue and Hoi An, where tailors cut silk to order in streets lined with Unesco-preserved houses. Tours generally begin and end in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, home to the moving War Remnants Museum and a jumping off point to try out the impossible narrow Cu Chi tunnels, and Hanoi where you can visit the simple cottage headquarters Ho Chi Minh and his embalmed tomb. Best hikes are in the misty hills of Sapa.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 22

DESTINATION JAPAN

I

n the Hoshinoya hotel in Tokyo, you take off your shoes on arrival. Somehow, the concierge gets to sort them all and identify them and give them back again on leaving.

After that you have entered an otherworld, a parallel existence of chopsticks and polished wood, soft tone corridors and Tatami floors on the elevator. You feel like you are tiptoeing through a museum with “do not disturb” signs on ever side, and in a sense you are.

If a holiday maker ever despairs that the world is becoming homogenised, take a trip to Japan.

Daria Slattery of Unique Japan Tours has taken us there. Darina studied Japanese in college and came out to learn the language. In 2002, the soccer world cup brought several thousand Irish fans to the country. They spent the entire duration lost. It convinced Darina that Ireland could do with a Japanese specialist tour

Land of rice And rugby Eoghan Corry visits Japan in advance of the 2019 rugby world cup Kobe beef experience with chef Hidenobu Tanaka at Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel and (below) Yokohoma Stadium operator.

Now there is another world cup, this time for egg chasers. The rugby fans of Ireland need not be lost.

Local knowledge counts. Many signs and

announcements (as on the bullet train) are in English, but an awful lot is not, or is so convoluted that it cannot be negotiated.

The culture is deceptively complex behind a

THINGS TO DO PLACES TO SEE n Kobe is justly famous for its highly regarded beef. It has many other culinary delights including fresh fish such as sea bream and octopus from the nearby Akashi Kaikyo Channel (which is spanned by the world’s largest suspension bridge called Akashi Kaikyo Bridge). Mt Rokko behind Kobe is the setting for one of Japan’s first “onsen” spa resorts, namely Arima Dnsen which has been used as far back as the 8th Century and is still providing restorative soaks today’ Mt Rokko also provides a breath-taking view of the city and sea beyond. n Hamamatsu was once a castle town, and later flourished as a post station for travelers. located in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture and situated about midway between Tokyo and Osaka, it sits near the center of Honshu. The city’s total area is quite large. The city has Lake Hamana-ko to the west, in the area extending from Hamamatsu Station along the Pacific Ocean. To the south is the Enshu-nada Sea, which hugs the Nakatajima Sakyu (sand dunes). To the north are mountains covered with lush greenery. and the Tenryu-gawa River. With the sea, lakes, mountains and rivers, the area displays a var-

iety of expressions,Gyoza, a type of Japanese dumpling, are a popular dish in this city. n Yokohoma offers the landmark Tower which is the tallest building in Japan and on a good day you can see not only Yokohama and Tokyo, but Mt Fuji rising up In the distance.

There are some lovely parks and walking routes around the city as well as great shopping. The Ramen noodle museum is not to be missed and in the basement there is a recreation of old Japan where you can sample a variety of noodles from all over the country.

It also has the largest China Town in Japan.rooms offer views of the lake and are decorated with traditional local weave items. Meals feature eels from the lake, a local delicacy. while activities include regional tea tastings.

Some rooms have their out outdoor hot spring. Free shuttle bus departs to and from Hamamatsu station at set times throughout the day. n Hoshinoya Tokyo - Tokyo Deluxe Ryokan, From the moment guests arrive and slip off their shoes to step onto fragrant tatami mats, HQSHINOYA Tokyo, in the prestigious Otemachi district (the political and financial districts of the city),

simple, insanely polite front, and a bit of help can save a lot of time and anxiety. Call Darina.

T

here is a standard itinerary that first timers to Japan generally follow, the Golden route of three nights in Tokyo, a trip to Mount Fuji out of Tokyo, a night in a traditional Ryokan in Hakone, three nights in Kyoto 3 nights

and onwards to Hiroshima and Miyajima island UNESCO site, back to Tokyo or Osaka and the flight home.

Travelling vast distances is easy, and is what Japan does. The bullet trains are sleek and modernistic and comfortable.

Trains keep to stereotype and run not just to the minute but to the second.

Ireland’s world cup itinerary follows it surprisingly closely, but in

reverse. We face Scotland in Yokohama in the south of the island, Japan in Fukuroi, Russia in Kobe, Samoa in Fukuoka and then (here’s hoping), a quarter final in Chōfu, semi-final and final in Yokohama.

W

here’s the beef? Kobe, of course. Hidenobu Tanaka, sous chef at Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel,, showed

n Eoghan Corry travelled to Japan with Finnair and Unique Japan Tours. UJT’s Founder, Darina Slattery, began her research 20 years ago at Meiji Gakuiin University in Tokyo. Today, she leads a team of Japan travel experts, working with various local suppliers in Japan directly, and selling tours to Japan globally. UJT prides itself on offering a personal service and welcomes face·to-face meetings in our Dublin city centre office (54 Dawson Street,

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 23

DESTINATION JAPAN us the birth certificate of the beast we were about to consume, in fact, the entire edible family tree.

He flamed the tender pink beef theatrically before a tasting with a fabulous harbour backdrop behind, talked about marbling and presentation like a sommelier with a fine wine. There is more than beef to the city, but every fast food stall has a reminder of the food that brings tourists here.

Haruka Toyoizumi of Kobe tourism brought us to the roof top to show us the city at night, twinkling around the seafront.

This being Japan, there are gardens, and we walked them too, finishing with tea at Shinrin Shokubutsuen, the difficult bit having been overcome by a gondola ride to the top.

We stopped in to the sake brewery, to learn about how rice alcohol brings you closer to heaven. Drinking sake at festivals allowed people get closer to the gods, our guide in Fukuroi, Craig Kingsley had told us.

He brought us through the temples, ring the bell to let the Gods know you want a chat, then bow twice and put in your request for good luck in the state exams.

At Kyushu National Museum we saw something remarkable, Buddhist images that looked like Christian art, from the hidden history of Christianity in Japan.

Darina Slattery of Unique Japan Tours purchases Ekl-Ben bento box,

W

e dined on something even more exotic, Fugu pufferfish at KAI Enshu. It came in sections, sitting at a low table in our dressing gowns, with silken tofu and umami-rich tangles of dried fish, plump, gossamer-skinned gyoza and fritters of sweetcorn interspersing our meal.

Nobody got poisoned.

Which does not make for as exciting a story.

In Yokohoma they dedicated an entire museum to ramen, the standard Japanese dish that came, the storyboards point out, from China.

All of Japan’s history

is here, and the reconstructed streets are of a wooden Tokyo that perished in a bombing raid that was one of the most horrifying war crimes of WW2.

W

e finished our trip in one of the world’s great social playgrounds, the ShinJuku district of Tokyo.

It is one of those familiar cityscapes, like Manhatttan or San Francisco, pushed into our imagination by years of cascading popular culture references that help to prepare you for the images, the

Clockwise: memorabilia form 2002 in Yokohoma stadium, the Ramen museum, Eoghan Corry eats Fugu, Darina Slattery with Andrew Fish of Finnair.

neon, the colours and the strobe-explosion.

It is still not enough.

This is an amazing place, tasking western neon but keeping it Japanese on its own terms. It is a joy to breathe in the air, hear the sounds, inhale the smells. Where to? A karaoke booth of curse.

An hour with a microphone and beer supplied.

Our music choice was western but like so much of this country, it stopped being western once the door closed and became a truly Japanese experience.

Even the rugby bar owned by an expat with the Guinness coasters is Japanese, an izakaya of oval, with yakitori – meat grilled on sticks over hot

coals and served with beer, sake or shochu.

Businessmen and tourists sit shoulder to shoulder in a tiny underground alcove with the frenetic energy of Tokyo somewhere outside. We ate fish and toasted our host and told them to prepare.

There are more Irish fans on the way.

Ramen to that.

PLACES TO STAY n Hakata Excel Hotel Tokyu - Fukuoka. Offering classically decorated rooms with a 37-inch LCD satellite TV, a Tempurpedic pillow and a private bath, Excel Hotel is 100 metres from NakasuKawabara Train Station.

Guests can enjoy meals at the 2 restaurants and at a tea lounge. Free Wi·Fi is available in all rooms. Tenjin Subway Station is about a 7-minute walk from the hotel. Hakataza Kabuki Theatre is just as-minute walk, while Kushida Shrine is a IO-minute walk. n Kobe Meriken Park Oriental HotelKobe, ship-like hotel is surrounded by the ocean on three sides with Kobe’s harbor, Port Tower, and Maritime Museum stretching out beneath your eyes.

Each guest room has a balcony so that you can enjoy the glittering ocean and urban nightscape, which change with each passing hour. With a passenger ship terminal on its second floor, the hotel invites guests to enjoy Kobe’s unique ambience as a port town as they watch luxurious passenger liners

and yachts arrive in port from voyages that have taken them around the world. n Kal Enshu - Hamamatsu, from a selection of Japan’s top five star ryokans. KAI Enshu is a hot spring ryokan situated by lake Hamana in the historic city of Hamamatsu, just 1 hour from Nagoya or 2 hours from Tokyo (by train). All rooms offer views of the lake and are decorated with traditional local weave items. Meals feature eels from the lake, a local delicacy. while activities include regional tea tastings.

Some rooms have their out outdoor hot spring. Free shuttle bus departs to and from Hamamatsu station at set times throughout the day. n Hoshinoya Tokyo - Tokyo Deluxe Ryokan, From the moment guests arrive and slip off their shoes to step onto fragrant tatami mats, HQSHINOYA Tokyo, in the prestigious Otemachi district (the political and financial districts of the city), promises sublime and authentic Japanese ryokan hospitality..

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 24

DESTINATION THAILAND

P

hi Phi Island is one of those familiar names when travel people converse. How is it faring? Is it losing the magic? Is the wind behind it?

Three decades or more ago Phi Phi embarked into the tourist game as a backpacker magnet. Now it is as top shelf as you can get, honeymooners and even junketing tour operators will find much to impress them here.

We joined the tour operators to find out how impressed they would be. Tourism Authority of Thailand chose the itinerary: n La Vela hotel in Khao Lak, avant garde white triangular design with long dark corridor approach to the spa and a centre piece pool, spectacular beach and rock lobster on the menu for lunch n Le Coral Hideaway Beyond Phuket, lazy pools and a bridge over the river estuary to the beach, Travel Extra lay flat in the pool in the dark looking up at the moon n speedboat transfer from Royal Phuket Marina n Zeavola eco resort on Phi Phi Island, an eco resort built on the edge of an aggressive jungle which has to be managed a cooking course lunch n a tour and snorkel of Maya Cove, picture postcard Phi Phi, iconic and crowded n longtail boat transfer

Eoghan Corry at Paradise Koh Yao

The honeymoon islands of Thailand Eoghan Corry swims Phi Phi and its neighbours

n Phi Phi Island village, luxury pool villas layered into the hillside to offer beach views, the nearby bars offer a counterpoint between the honeymoon and back-

packer cultures n another boat transfer to the Racha on Koh Racha, via Chalong Pier on Phuket, a smaller island with more pool villas and a signature

lighthouse suite n overland to Yacht Haven Marina n boat on to the se-

cluded Paradise Koh Yao to see the tree house villas due to open in November, built to enhance

the beach lodges and unencumbered beach resort n boat to Cape Kudu, n Santhiya Koh Yao Yai with the best poolside party n boat from Santhiya Koh Yao Yai to Ao Po Grand Marina Pier in Phuket.

But first, the journey there took us through Phuket, Thailand’s biggest island, a place of once pristine beach areas that has come under pressure from the scale of development that has put infrastructure under pres-

n Eoghan Corry travelled to Thailand as a guest of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. He flew with Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi.

Clockwise: Signature lighthouse at Racha on Koh Racha, view from Le Coral Hideaway beyond Phuket, overcrowded Maya Bay, karst outcrop

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 25

DESTINATION THAILAND sure, not least the roads that get tourists to and from the place.

The ferry from Phuket to the island cluster of Ko Phi Phi takes nearly two hours along the warm Andaman Sea, past the iconic giant limestone karsts that give this seascape its distinctive feel, some of them reaching 100m or more into the air. These are a classic of south east Asia, James Bond used one in one of the franchise moves, and it never loses the knack of seducing backpacker, honeymooner, tour operator or wizened travel writer alike.

L

ike Cape Clear and Sherkin, Phi Phi is an archipelago of two halves, Ko Phi Phi Don, and its neighbouring smaller sister, Ko Phi Phi Le. Most visitors have come to see Maya Bay, that picture-perfect cove where Leonardo DiCaprio and others were filmed in The Beach in 1998, acting out the story of a backpacker community that sought an untouched, off-themap tropical island all to themselves.

You could find that here in 1998, but when the boat finally pulls round the high cliff (in low season) we find the cove congested. I count 23 boats, some speedboats, some smaller boats, some large passenger boats and one of the crew tells me there can be twice this number in high

Ferry port at Phi Phi season.

This is stadium tourism, but what a product.

It really is green like the movie, given the Everyone is offered a snorkel and we are given half an hour to swim in the tepid water before the boat will leave for the main pier at Ko Phi Phi Don. There is another, less crowded s, scenic spot to swim before we return.

The water is like creme de menthe, it is so green, and the dive or snorkel is through colourful fish to the coral below.

The next stop ashore, the one we did not take, is a selection of bars, restaurants and shops

serving the large throng of backpackers, not quiet Bali, but given time this could turn into a Magaluf of the Andaman.

The director of The Beach, Danny Boyle, said: “We got a chance to speak for Thailand, to tell these westerners to go home and stop treating it like a playground.”

That is not going to happen anytime soon.

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he key to Phi Phi is that it today’s backpacker is tomorrow’s luxury tourist.

The people who came here for their post Leaving Cert runaround will be back on their honey-

moon. They don’t want the backpacker experience when they come.

There is no shortage of high end hotels to give them something more luxurious instead.

Getting there is now suddenly easier. All four airlines operating over Eastern Europe and the Middle East from Ireland offers services to Phuket with the arrival of the Turkish airlines service in July. It means no messy transfer through Bangkok.

Thailand’s already burgeoning visitor figures from Ireland, a record 67,273 visits from Ireland in 2016, up 3.9pc

and overtaking Australia for the first time, should be enhanced by this development. And what about direct flights? Chris Lee of the London office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand is optimistic.

One of my only concerns is that we have great one stop services form Dublin with Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Turkish. I would love to see a direct service but it has to be sustainable.

What we have seen in another source markets, one particular case is South Africa where we have had some frustration, is that direct carriers have come and gone, come

and gone, three times. It leads to frustration and it does not reflect well on the destination as well as the airline.

“If we are going to get an airline partner that is looking to fly Dublin to Thailand, that’s great.

“As long as we think we have a truly long term relationship model that is going to work, we will back them all the way

L

e Coral has an executive lounge at Phuket International Airport complete with a 15 minutes massage. It makes for a great finish to a great trip.

Clockwise: Tree House Villas at Paradise Koh Yao, beach at Koh Racha, pool view at Phi Phi Island Village, and tractor operating at low tide

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 26

THE FLYING COLUMN WATERFORD Airport Chairman Dan Browne said that to secure the future of the airport for scheduled service it would be necessary to invest €12m to widen and extend the runway to cater for more commonly used machines like the B737 favoured by Ryanair and the A320 of Aer Lingus.

INISHTURK is to get a €174,000

helipad as part of a package of funding for Ireland’s islands.

LAUDAMOTION is to double its

Airbus fleet to 18 aircraft in Summer 2019 following the completion of Ryanair’s purchase of a 75pc share from founder Niki Lauda.

DATALEX results for half year to end June 2018 indicate double digit growth across key metrics including commencement of platform revenue at Lufthansa and at the new South American loyalty coalition network customer, Multiplus, part of LATAM airlines group, both of which will go live in late 2018, and continued organic growth at existing customers.

KELOGG is to move its European HQ

from the Airside Business Park in Swords to be the anchor tenant at THREE Dublin Airport Central, which is a daa-developed six-floor office block located close to T2.

WESTON Airport in Celbridge is seeking to ramp up executive jet services to create 200 jobs.

FINNAIR will continue growing in Asia in summer 2019 with the capacity to Japan increasing by 15pc and to China by 12pc.

RYANAIR hopes its long-considered tie-up with Aer Lingus re connecting bookings will be in place by the March 19 end of Ryanair’s current financial year.

AIR MALTA Ryanair customers

will now be able to book Air Malta flights on ryanair.com in a new flight partnership between the two airlines.

QANTAS Groupr eported a record Underlying Profit Before Tax of $1.6bn for the 2018 financial year. “Our investment in free Wi-Fi and cabin improvements are delivering a better experience for customers as well as higher earnings for Qantas and Jetstar. The overall value for the travelling public remains extremely strong, with domestic sale fares almost 40pc lower in real terms than they were 15 years ago,”said CEO Alan Joyce.

AER LINGUS Regional, operated

by Stobart Air, announced a 10pc increase in passengers on the Dublin-Kerry (12pc) and Dublin-Donegal (8pc) Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes in the past six months since the PSO renewal.

AMERICAN The new Dublin-Dallas route is just part of a new focus by American Airlines on Europe, and scaling down on Asian routes. Citing high fuel costs and the tough competition, it is to suspend flights from Chicago O’Hare to Shanghai and cut frequencies to Tokyo Narita.

Aer Lingus cabin crew Muriel Cooke; Aer Lingus Chief Executive Stephen Kavanagh and Aer Lingus cabin crew David Kennedy.

MSP & Montreal

A

Surprise Aer Lingus T/A announcements

er Lingus’ announced new daily non-stop services to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, and Montreal, Quebec, Canada next summer, apparently year-round.

Minneapolis-St. Paul (Twin Cities) is to commence on July 8 2019. Dublin to MSP is about 60 miles further (great circle) than Chicago, so it will be the longest route from Dublin by narrow-body twin, initially B757.

Aer Lingus will offer connections from 12 UK and other European and points to Minneapolis-St. Paul, including Amsterdam, Paris, Edinburgh, London, Manchester. MSP is relatively poorly served to Europe (as are Seattle and Hartford).

The airport is dominated by Delta (71pc of passengers) which operates to Amsterdam, Paris CDG, Heathrow and seasonally Reykjavik.

T

No other IAG airline has announced regular transatlantic service to MSP. Total passengers at MSP in 2017 were 38.0m. n EI089 DUB1410 1655MSP 757 D n EI088 MSP1900 0840+1DUB 757 D Montreal is to commence on August 8 2019 using A321LR, the first Aer Lingus A321LR transatlantic route.

Aer Lingus will offer connections from 20 key UK and other European airports to Montreal, including Amsterdam, Paris, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes and Bordeaux and others.

The schedule shows a westbound departure 2.5 hours later than any current Aer Lingus flight, one of the latest from Europe. This is probably driven by a drive for connections

from French-speaking Europe.

It does mean that there are unlikely to be significant connections onwards available at Montreal (none to NYC).

It seems likely from the timetable that the A321LR will do some European flying during the day, possibly aimed at connections. n EI099 DUB1850 – 2050YUL 321 D n EI098 YUL2220 – 0940+1DUB 321 D Aer Lingus previously operated to Montreal service (via Shannon) 1966-1979, a period in which scheduled service to Toronto was closed to most European airlines.

Since the ban was lifted, most of them have shifted service to Toronto and relatively few serve Montreal in their own name, although the Air Canada Lufthansa group joint venture fills some gaps.

TAP TO FLY LISBON DUBLIN 2D

AP Portugal are to fly Lisbon Dublin twice daily from March 31 2019 operated by A319/320.

Tap offers onward connections to Madeira, the Azores and 26 airports in Africa and South America. It will compete with Aer Lingus 11w and Ryanair 9w on the Lisbon route, which has seen prices spike in the past summer. Aer Lingus are due to resume Cork Lisbon in October.

n TP317 LIS0705 – 0950DUB 319 D n TP319 LIS1400 – 1645DUB 319 D n TP316 DUB1035 – 1315LIS 319 D n TP318 DUB1730 – 2010LIS 319 D Dublin is the 17th busi-

est route from Lisbon. According to daa, Dublin-Lisbon is already a strong market for Dublin Airport with about 276,000 passengers taking flights between two capital cities in the 12 months to the end of June.

There is a strong market for onward connections to South America from Dublin Airport. There is a significant Brazilian community in Ireland with 10,000 Brazilians living in the Republic of Ireland, ac-

cording to the 2016 census.

Last year, about 152,000 people travelled from Dublin on connecting flights to destinations that are served via the TAP network.

Lisbon-Dublin was previously served by TAP from June 1988 to October 2000 and by Portugalia from March 2003 to May 2006.

The Dublin route is part of a plan by TAP Air Portugal to add eight destinations per year for the next five years, including Basel,

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 27

THE FLYING COLUMN Free th nking ble independent

The new airport at Arnavutköy, Istanbul seen from the air

November 1 opening

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New airport will keep IST code

urkish Airlines will be moving to its new hub in Istanbul on the 29th of October.

From November 1 all flights to and from Istanbul will be at the new airport, 35km from the city.

The new airport will have a capacity of 90m passengers in stage one and 200

million once all construction is finished.

The new airport will keep the code IST and the old Ataturk airport will become ISR. The old airport will continue in use for grade C and D checks.

Turkish Airlines is also waiting to receive its new A350 and Boeing 787

Dreamliner’s in 2019.

Turkish Airlines has unveiled a new cabin crew uniform designed

by Milan-based Haute Couturier Ettore Bilotta.

The design celebrates the airline’s 85 year history and will begin to be worn by crew from the opening of the Istanbul New Airport.

DAA CHOSES HOTELIER

D

AA has shortlisted the Irish hotel group Tifco and UK-based Arora Hotels for a contract to design, build and run a 400-bedroom hotel linked to the airport’s Terminal 2.

Tifco and Arora have been selected from nine parties that submitted expressions of interest

in the €100m hotel earlier this year. The seven parties to lose out are understood to include the quoted hotel group Dalata, property company Tetrarch and billionaire John Malone’s MHL Hotel Collection.

Tifco owns or manages 24 hotels and is the second-largest hotel group in the country. It

he Comm ission for Aviation Regula tion proposed increas ing the

runway limits at Dublin airport.

They plan to increase by two in hour from

We jump through hoops for our customers You’ll love doing business with us!

is backed by Goldman Sachs but is in the process of being acquired by the US private equity group Apollo Global Management.

Arora operates three hotels at Heathrow airport, including a 605-bedroom Sofitel, and has two hotels at Gatwick airport. It does not have any Irish properties.

RUNWAY LIMITS UPPED

T

Isabel Harrison Shannon Airport

18.00 and one from 0800, 0900, 1700 and 1900.

Declan Power declan.power@shannonairport.ie

Isabel Harrison isabel.harrison@shannonairport.ie

shannonairport.ie

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 28

THE FLYING COLUMN GATE GOURMET Pre-tax profits at Gate Gourmet- whose main business is food production and in-flight catering facilities at Dublin Airport - rose 57pc to €1.384m last year.

CAR The Commission for Aviation Regu-

lation said half of all the complaints submitted to the CAR last year were related to flight cancellations as complaints in 2017 rose 57pc to 1,480, so much that Cathy Mannion said she and had trouble keeping up with them all., “arrangements will be in place” to improve the level of service throughout 2018. The commission managed to deal with 345 of the complaints and the rest are “still under investigation or awaiting attention”. Staffing costs and consultancy fees are up 29pc to €455,000

KNOCK Airport CEO Joe Gilmore is

looking for outside investors as a development partner willing to take a longer-term look at a return on investment, and is talking to Aer Lingus and Ryanair about Germany and France - with Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Paris potential destinations that could be reopened.

LOGANAIR again postponed the launch of Carlisle Airport services including Dublin and Belfast to next spring, because the airport did not receive all certifications by the planned date of September 3

Dalton Phillips being interviewed

Piers and plans

RYANAIR plans to build a six-storey office block adjoining its headquarters in Dublin. eyeing additional office space for its own staff, as well as potential leasing opportunities.

DUBLIN Airport announced a record

July, with more than 100,000 passengers a day using it.

NORWEGIAN Air International,

the Dublin-based arm of the carrier, made a €391m loss last year, double the loss it posted in 2016.

DUBLIN Chamber Chief Executive Mary Rose Burke said the 17pc rise on last year of transfer passengers is “further validation of Dublin’s standing as an international hub for air travel” and improves the likelihood of airlines introducing new routes there.

IRISH airspace had a record July, with 115,834 flight movements, 3.2pc up on July 2017, the Irish Aviation Authority reported.

It said commercial flights were up at the main airports: Shannon (up 8pc, 68 average of daily movements); Dublin (up 4.3pc, 706 daily movements) and Cork (up 0.5pc, 70 daily movements).

EUROCONTROL figures showed

Dalton Phillips sets out post-north runway ambition

D

ublin Airport Chief Executive, Dalton Philips said DAA hopes to award the North Runway contract next month and will commence building of that third runway towards the end of this year.

DAA intends spending €500m on new piers and aircraft stands at the southern side of Dublin Airport and €400m on doing the same at the northern end by 2022 or 2023 on an expansion that will allow it to handle up to 40m passengers a year, in addition to the estimated €320m on the north runway.

The €900m will increase the

the airport’s exit road. A second block of boarding gates, accessed by bus, will sit across an aircraft parking area from this. On the southern side, a new pier with gates will extend down into an existing cargo area that will be moved to a new zone of its own. [No illustration provided]!

He pledged that daa would do this without increasing passenger charges, the fees it levies on airlines to help pay for Dublin Airport’s facilities, arguing it is necessary to stave off competition from rival gateways in Britain and Europe. “We are constrained and we rapidly need this infrastructure and we need it now.”

RYANAIR NOT TO REDUCE FLEET

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he Board of Ryanair Holdings decided to restore six Dublin based aircraft which were due to transfer to Poland in LAUDAMOTION CEO Andreas November for the winter Gruber plans to cut back on the number of wet 2018 schedule.

Ryanair’s Chief People leased aircraft from Ryanair in winter 2018/19, Office, Eddie Wilson, said: as there is plenty of room for independent growth. Laudamotion Austria is considering a “We regret that mediation stake sale of the remaining 25pc, possibly as a became necessary after five days of unsuccessresult of owner Nikki Lauda’s health.

growth at Ireland’s top airport pairs in July: Schiphol–Dublin (up 13pc); Dublin-Birmingham (up 9.8pc) and London City-Dublin (up 9.2pc).

number of aircraft stands from 112 to 147 giving it the space to handle up to 40m passengers annually. With adjustments, Dublin’s two terminals can handle more than 40m people a year.

He sees the Minister’s concept of an independently-run T3 as “never been done anywhere else in the world” and thinks “to trial something when you’re so utterly dependent on one airport as the gateway to the country and the driver of the economic engine brings huge risks.”

The route to the new northern gates would run behind existing hangars to an unused area that can be seen from

ful strikes which, despite causing minimal damage to Ryanair’s schedules, did damage our forward fares and yields to/from Ireland because of the perception of possible disruptions.

The Board and management of Ryanair are committed to union recognition, and working constructively with our

people and their unions to address their reasonable concerns, as long as this does not alter Ryanair’s low cost model or our ability to offer low fares to our customers.

Since December last year, when the Board announced that we would recognise unions, Ryanair’s people have enjoyed sig-

nificant pay increases, improved terms and conditions, and we have agreed to improved seniority structures, base transfers and annual leave. We have done this in a year when we expect profits to fall by 15pc due to a combination of higher fuel prices and higher staff costs.”

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 29

THE FLYING COLUMN NEIL PAKEY, Chairman of Regional And Business Airports Group has been appointed as the new CEO of Nieuport Aviation, operators of Toronto City Airport terminal, effective September 24. As well as the new Canadian role, Pakey will maintain his non-executive Chairman position with RABA, which represents the 40 smaller regional and business airports of the UK. Pakey has previously been CEO of Shannon Airport Group.

STOBART Air is recruiting Captains for a Dublin-based Embraer 190 operation

Simpler times at Collinstown

18.6bn question

Report calls for growth in investment at Dublin

A

report from EY suggests that an extra €18.6bn over the next 15 years could be added to the economy if Dublin Airport was developed as an airport hub.

Aer Lingus commissioned EY to compile the report, which concludes that investment in hub infrastructure at Dublin Airport could also generate 33,950 new jobs - the bulk of which would be in the tourism sector.

The report also suggests that another €6 billion could be generated for the Exchequer from increases in a number of taxes, including VAT, excise, corporation and income tax.

The report also suggests that another 1,147 jobs could be created in the construction phase of the hub facilities from 2018 to 2023.

EY said that Dublin Airport already has several advantages which

would support its development as a hub. However, it also makes it clear that investment in infrastructure will be needed to transform the airport into a hub.

The EY report predicts that about 24pc of Dublin Airport’s passengers will be using it as a hub by 2033, and that 15pc of all passengers will have an overnight stay in Dublin.

Paul O’Kane, chief communications officer with the DAA, said Dublin Airport is enjoying the fruits of success but that success brings its own challenges. We are enjoying record passenger numbers and that has a hugely positive impact across the economy. The passenger numbers we welcome into Dublin actually translate into visitor spending and visitor traffic right across the country.

Earlier this week, Aer Lingus and

accountants EY published a report that said developing the airport as a transatlantic hub could generate €18.6bn for the economy.

We will shortly begin a formal consultation process on a €900m capacity investment plan which will allow Aer Lingus - and all our other airline customers – to continue to grow their business at Dublin Airport.

That plan, which includes provision for a 30pc increase in aircraft parking stands, new boarding gate piers, enlarged immigration and CBP areas, and modifications to the two existing terminals at Dublin Airport, is complementary to the North Runway project which is also essential to enable the further development of the airport in line with the State’s National Aviation policy.

AER LINGUS STAR OF IAG GROUP

A

er Lingus passenger traffic in Aug18 was 9.3pc up on Aug17 with passenger load factor 88.0pc, up 0.7 points. Cargo carried (RTK) was down a reported 18.2pc.

For IAG as a whole,

R

passenger traffic was up 7.0pc with a 7.6pc increase on International European routes and an 9.3pc increase on North American routes. The Group passenger load factor was 87.0pc, up 0.5 points, with International Europe at 87.7pc,

up 0.4 points, and North America 86.5pc, down 0.4.

Cargo was up 0.4pc.

BA passenger traffic was up 4.7pc and passenger load factor was 86.4pc, up 0.3 points. Iberia passenger traffic was up 7.9pc and plf was 86.4pc, up 0.3 points.

Vueling passenger traffic was up 6.0pc and plf was 90.7pc, unchanged. Aer Lingus again did best in passenger volume growth and it achieved the biggest load factor gain. Overall August performance was very similar to July.

route to serve Cork to be announced with a non based aircraft, operating with a Cork-based aircraft on a Thursday and a Budapest-based aircraft on an Sunday.

Cork-Budapest was served by Malev in 2005-7.

Ryanair is also to fly from Cork Airport to Poznan with a twiceweekly service starting in March 2019 as part of

AVOLONAircraft lessor Avolon is committed to remaining in Ireland, said founder and CEO Dómhnal Slattery. “After the Chinese acquired us a couple of years ago, there was a debate internally as to whether we’d move to Hong Kong. I actually lived in Hong Kong for over a year, but we’ve decided unequivocally that Ireland is our long term home,” he said as Avolon opened its new global HQ in Dublin.

VOLVO introduced a fully autonomous

sleeping vehicle concept – the Volvo 360c which is said will offer an alternative to shorthaul flights..

SKYSCANNER Travel search site Skyscanner.ie reported a 6pc drop in average flight prices from Ireland to New York for users of the app since last summer.

DAA has introduced a new system to help

the eleven people a day have difficulty finding where they have left their car at Dublin Airport.

FLYBE is rolling out a new livery across all its Bombardier Q400 and Embraer 175 aircraft over the next six years, the first of which joined its fleet last week.

ARAN ISLANDS Minister Shane

Ross ruled out a helicopter service for the Aran Islands, after arriving at Inis Meáin in Air Corps AW139.

EVA Air

apologised for a “misunderstanding” after a gay couple said they were separated during priority boarding while straight families were allowed to board together.

AIRCRAFT journeys are taking longer

than a decade ago, according to a report that claims the change is down to airlines “padding” their schedules to create the impression passengers were reaching their destinations on time. Carriers are adding extra time to flight schedules, in some cases up to 30 minutes, to ensure they maintain punctuality and are theresummer 2019 schedule.

Ryanair to fly Cork- fore less likely to be liable for compensation Malta 2w from March payouts, the investigation by Which? Travel 31 among 10 routes an- claimed. nounced in Valetta. It International has new previously announced BELFAST owners, Vinci Airports Cork-Luton.

RYANAIR GROW IN CORK

yanair will introduce a twiceweekly service to Cork from April 2019.

Flights operate on Thursdays and Sundays.

This is the third Ryanair

KENYAN Airways is the first airline to pull the plug on Zimbabwe, suspending all ticketing from Zimbabwe, citing foreign currency shortages, which has blighted their fiscal operations. Kenyaaims to courtRyanair and EasyJet in an effort to attract low cost carriers to the east African country.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 30

THE FLYING COLUMN DUBLIN Airport is planning to expand

its immigration control area at its Pier 1 and Pier 2 facilities in an effort to have “greater queueing capacity” and to improve passenger flow and immigration processing.

SHANNON Airport has become Ire-

land’s first transport hub to be awarded Fáilte Ireland’s Service Excellence Programme’s Business Award. The award is presented when 75pc of staff and management in visitor facing businesses complete the training. Participating businesses included Shannon Airport, Aer Lingus at Shannon, American Airlines at Shannon, and Hertz Rent A Car at Shannon.

ALTON Aviation Consultancy opened

its new office in Dublin and appointed Enda Clarke as Managing Director.

EASYJET will shift 1,400 UK pilot licenses to Austrian ones as it prepares for a no-deal Brexit.

VIENNA Airlines that base at least three aircraft at Vienna and grow to more than 750,000 departing passengers a year receive a rebate of €540 per 100 passengers, with more favourable tiers of refunds as passenger numbers climb.

AIR FRANCE will fly from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Dallas Ft Worth from 31Mar19, 5 pw with A330-200.

DUBLIN broke through the 90pc passenger load factor barrier in Aug18 – total AF-KL 90.5pc (+0.9 points), long-haul 91.8pc (+1.1 points, all regions, and both AF and KL, above 90pc), short & medium-haul 85.6pc (+0.1 points), Transavia 93.0pc (-0.6 points).

Higher than IAG or Lufthansa groups. Italy’s government is courting Air China as a minority investor in Alitalia, as Rome shifts away from the sale of the national carrier.

NORWEGIAN is to start B787 ser-

vice from London Gatwick to Rio de Janeiro in spring 2019. It will cease Gatwick-Singapore in Jan19.

ICELANDAIR is restructuring sched-

ules to have 2 waves of transatlantic connections and improve long-haul aircraft utilisation.

Keflavik Airport for Aug18 reported passenger numbers for Aug18 up 10pc to 1.19m, with 514,000 transit passengers, up 28pc. It has reported more than 1m passengers in Jun, Jul and Aug.

JETBLUE Airways Corp could radically lower the price of business-class travel across the Atlantic, CEO Robin Hayes said.

Martin St George, vice president for commercial and planning, said Wed 05Sep that a trans-Atlantic flight would likely run between Boston and London.

BOEING is bringing retired workers

back on the job as it tries to fix delays at its B737 plant outside Seattle.

INTERJET Mexico is reported as planning to sell its 22 Sukhoi SSJ100s and acquire 35 A320neos for delivery scheduled between 2019 H2 and 2023 H2.

Aer Lingus approaching Hartford, the airline has committed to stay until 2020

Hartford to 2020

Aer Lingus give commitment to Connecticut airport

C

onnecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy says that Aer Lingus service at Hartford Bradley International Airport will continue for at least four more years under a new agreement made with the State, committing the airline to continue its transatlantic service at the airport through Sep22.

Additionally, Aer Lingus has committed to placing one of its first four A321neoLR aircrafts on the Bradley

to Dublin route.

Under the original agreement, Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development was to provide Aer Lingus up to a $4.5m revenue guarantee the first two years if total revenue falls short of a pre-determined target. The new agreement calls for a reduced guarantee (limited to certain winter months) of not more than $3.8m in the 2nd year, dropping to not more than $3m in the 3rd

year, and not more than $2m in the 4th, bringing the maximum four-year potential subsidy total to $13.3m. In return, Aer Lingus has already committed to operating the service in the 5th and 6th year of service with no subsidy from the state. In addition to state support, in the first two years of the service the CAA contributed to the success of the route with landing fee waivers and the availability of substantial marketing support.

WATERFORD’S LAST CARRIER SHUTS DOWN

V

LM has ceased flying for the second time.

The airline formerly flew from Cork to Jersey and was the last airline to operate to Waterford in mid-2016, operating services to Birmingham International and London Luton. On Friday August 31 SHS Aviation

BV, the parent company of VLM, decided to halt all operations.

VLM has 2 exThomas Cook A320s which are on the ground at Brussels Airport most of the time, and around 40 employees, also ex-Thomas Cook, and they will switch to the new investor. The

Dutch investor will keep focusing on charter and ad-hoc flights, like VLM, but is also planning long-haul flights between Europe and Asia with A330s.

VLM carried Dutch Travel agents with Katie and Lauren Rodgers part of the welcoming party.

VLM poster from 2016

TRANSFER PASSENGERS UP 12pc

D

ublin Airport handled 3.2m passengers in Aug18, up 6pc on Aug17, making it the busiest August in the airport’s 78-year history, second only to Jul18 as the busiest month ever and in line with growth for the

year to date.

UK routes were static with almost 927,000 passengers. Continental route passengers numbers were up 6pc to more than 1.7m, transatlantic route passengers were up 14pc to more than 465,000 and

other international routes, to the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, increased by 16pc to 111,000 passengers.

Passenger numbers on domestic routes increased by 23pc to 12,000.

The number of passen-

gers using Dublin Airport as a hub to connect to another destination has increased by 17pc in the first eight months of the year, with almost 1.2m passengers transferring at Dublin so far this year (600,000 connections).

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 31

AFLOAT

O

n November 21st a cruise ship unlike any other will set sail on her maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades. She is Celebrity Edge and her inception is a futuristic response to the world’s insatiable love affair with cruising.

It’s a dull and misty morning in St. Nazaire when myself and selected travel media from New York, London and Tokyo arrive at Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the shipyard which has quietly been home to Celebrity Edge for close to 3 years now.

With a price tag in excess of $800m Celebrity Cruise’s latest offering is the first of five in their new Edge class where size is definitely no guarantee of strength - with a full capacity of just under 3,000 passengers she is small to mid-ship in size but the cruising experience she promises is one of 5 star quality as opposed to rubbing shoulders with 6,000 plus fellow passengers for a week.

A crew of 2,000 are currently working all the hours allowable by French law to get this lady ready for her November 21st inaugural sailing.

As we emerge from the shipyard’s offices clad in our safety helmets and goggles and headsets, our ears ringing with warnings to “watch where you’re going at all times and hold every handrail you see!”, there is a collective gasp as our quarry, formerly shrouded in mist, is

SHIPFACTS

n Cost: $800m Staterooms: 1,467 Double occupancy: 2,918 Crew,: 1,320 Guest Decks: 14 Specialty restaurants: 4 Tenders/lifeboats: 8 Length,: 1,004 feet Tonnage: 129,500 feet Beam: 138 feet Draught: 27 feet Cruising speed: 22 knots

Postcard from the Edge Aileen O’Reilly finds magic in Celebrity’s new build Rendering fo celebrity edge magic carpet struck by the emerging sunlight and revealed in all her glory.

All eyes are immediately drawn to the large red carriage set on vertical rails on the starboard side of the ship and thus Celebrity’s most innovative feature is spectacularly revealed…

This is the Magic Carpet - a floating deck which moves up and down between four of the 16 decks of the ship and serves a different function on each.

On Deck 2 the tennis court sized carriage will be used for boarding the tenders, on Deck 5 it’s available for casual Al fresco dining, on Deck 14 it acts as an extension of the pool deck for drinks and entertainment but it’s up on Deck 16 that it earns its astronomical price tag when it transforms into a candle lit restaurant under the stars.

C

osting in excess of $20m one might be tempted to speculate that this is something of a folly and the funds would have been better utilised elsewhere but this feature highlights everything that the new Celebrity Edge

class is about - taking passengers to the very edge of the ocean in absolute luxury...

“Guests can dine out over the water by candlelight with the stars above them and panoramic views of the sea below them. it’s magical” enthuses Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean International’s chairman who is personally taking us on this guided tour.

“With Edge it’s all about getting as close to the sea as possible while still being on the ship” he explains. “Everywhere you look, on every deck you can see the sea - all our cafes and bars have raised ceilings and floor to ceiling glass. We’ve opened up the entire interior, it’s flooded with light and spectacular views.

“Each of our staterooms has an infinity balcony where you can open your room to the sea by lowering the glass - even our pool deck is outward looking. It’s all about the sea”.

Mentally conjuring up images of what the long central promenade, intrinsic to most cruise ships, will be like with its shops and bars and cafes I’m unprepared for what

greets me when we arrive in the Grand Plaza with its calliope of gleaming lights and its atrium of sunlight flooding the vast circular space.

No long promenade...

If you have been lucky enough to dine in the Jules Verne themed restaurant in the Eiffel tower then you will recognise the unique vision of Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku to whom this space was handed.

E

merging from the cavernous wire strewn area a pulsing spray of elegant light rods fan up and out like a vast church organ and one is instantly reminded of the earlier art deco days of transatlantic travel when this central space would be used for dining, drinking and dancing.

Sweeping staircases take you off to the cafes and four different restaurants - The Tuscan, The Normandy, The Cyprus and The Cosmopolitan (which will feature over 1,100 bottles of wine).

One of the ship’s most striking features will be in the main dining atrium where the design duo have hung a 3 storey high art installation between

the flights of stairs - the pendulum will gently move in tune with the sea as a constant reminder to guests of where they are.

Everywhere underfoot one can make out the faint patterning of thick carpet which is swathed in plastic - I’m reliably informed it’s been bought in by the acre and as with every design feature which has been completed on this ship at the moment - heavily wrapped in plastic as ladders, drills, scaffolding and 4,000 work boots stomp around.

Both Richard and Lisa Lutof Perlo, CEO and President of Celebrity Cruises, are leading separate groups around the ship today - there’s good natured banter between both of them about who is better but it’s still a task one might have ex-

pected both to have delegated to others on their sizeable respective teams and therefore quite a testament to their uncontrollable zeal over this project.

Lisa’s particularly.

I

t is no secret that when Perlo took over in her role as CEO and President of Celebrity Cruises and joined the design meetings for Celebrity Edge she stopped the project in its tracks and took the entire team back to the drawing board (in this instance the 3D drawing board as Edge has used only one 3D drawing as opposed to the usual 400 plus 2 dimensional drawings a ship building project would generate). “when i came on board Celebrity hadn’t brought out a new ship for quite a few years and I remember thinking, when we introduce this new ship it has to completely blow everybody away and transform the Celebrity brand.

“That day when I walked in and looked at the drawings I thought mmmmmmmm, yeah that’s nice but I didn’t think that it was transformational. So yes” she smiles, “we went back to the drawing board and that took a year and a half before we started building it. But now - look at it” she grins, clapping her hands as she sits at a linen clad dining table in the Magic Carpet looking out over the sea blindingly glinting in the afternoon sunshine.

“Aren’t you impressed?”

Richard Fain and Lisa Lutof Perlo

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 32

IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION

AFLOAT DISNEY Two new Disney Cruise Lines hips - set to debut in 2020 and 2021 - will homeport in Florida’s Port Canaveral.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN has

trademarked the names Phenom of the Seas, Gallant of the Seas and Eon of the Seas with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The line launches its fifth Quantum-class ship in 2020, fifth Oasis-class ship in 2021, and first Icon-class vessel in 2022.

CARNIVAL Cruise Line’s new ship yet unnamed - will hast the largest passenger capacity in the world (6,600 maximum), and will homeport at Port Canaveral in Florid, holding up to 6,600 passengers, it features 17 restaurants and 23 bars.

MARELLA Explorer will feature 90s

acts on an ‘Electric Sunsets’ 90s theme cruise next September out of Newcastle in England, before visiting Amsterdam and Southampton.

P&O Cruises’ Aurora will have six new

single cabins as part of a planned dry dock next March, ahead of it becoming an adults-only ship.

CARNIVAL Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Horizon, has started life with a bang - and was slightly damaged after striking Manhattan Terminal’s Pier 90 in New York after a Caribbean cruise.

AZAMARA Club Cruises’ new ship Azamara Pursuit was officially named in Southampton on Tuesday. Previously P&O Cruises’ Adonia, she was overhauled in the Bahamas and Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

CORK-based Safe haven Marine boat

building company is attempting to set a new trans-Atlantic world record, Canada to Killybegs via Greenland and Iceland in its newest vessel - the XSV20 Thunder Child II.

PRINCESS Cruises announced its fifth Royal-Class ship will be named Enchanted Princess.

CORK Sixty-eight cruise ships called to

Cork and seven called Bantry in 2017, bringing over 142,000 passengers and crew to the region, the Port of Cork and Bantry Bay Port Company reported. This year, 96 ships will visit the Port of Cork, a 30pc increase on 2017 calls.

STENA Eight Stena Line ferries operat-

ing on the Irish Sea have received the Jones F. Devlin Award from the Chamber of Shipping of America, acknowledging “outstanding achievement’, exemplifying ‘devotion to duty and to the principles of maritime safety, which is worthy of the highest commendation.” The awarded ferries are: StenaAdventurer on the Dublin to Holyhead route; StenaHorizon on the Rosslare to Cherbourg route; StenaSuperfast VIII, Belfast to Cairnryan; Stena Precision, Stena Mersey, Stena Lagan and Stena Forerunner, Belfast-Liverpool; and Stena Performer, Belfast to Heysham.

WB Yeats in the shipyard: all went well until the electrical cable was fitted

No WB Yeats date I

Irish Ferries ferry delays combined to cost ¤13m

rish Ferries accounts for January to June 2018 report that performance against the market was adversely affected by a delay in the delivery of new ferry WB Yeats major disruption to schedules on the Dublin/ Holyhead route due to technical difficulties affecting the flagship vessel Ulysses.

It is estimated the WB Yeats delay cost €7m and the Ulysses disruption cost €6m, both to be taken in H2.

These related to the Ulysses’ starboard controllable pitch propeller which required an out of schedule drydock and the lead-time to machine specialist parts. Irish Ferries aid this level of cancellation was unprecedented given that vessel’s previous 99pc schedule integrity since entering service in 2001 to 2017.

The report says: While Irish Ferries undertook mitigating actions to reduce the effect of the disruption by rescheduling other vessels in its fleet, the disruption resulted in a significant reduction in Irish Ferries Ro Ro capacity in June.

The WB Yeats, a cruise ferry currently under construction by FSG, was due to enter service with Irish Ferries during July to provide enhanced services on the overnight Dublin Cherbourg route. This vessel was launched on schedule on 19 January. Due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the Group’s control, the subsequent delivery of the WB Yeats has been delayed by FSG. This necessitated Irish Ferries cancelling until further notice the 2018 schedule of this vessel due to the unavailability of a suitable alternative vessel. Irish Ferries very much regrets the inconvenience these cancellations caused our customers 88pc of whom were accommodated on alternative Irish Ferries sailings or via landbridge. The Group has not yet received a reconfirmed delivery date but the expectation is that the vessel will be delivered in late 2018.

All contract payments made to FSG are covered by financial guarantees with 80pc of the contract price not becoming due until delivery.

The performance of the Ferries

Division in the second half of 2018 up to 25 August has been significantly affected by the major disruptions to schedules on the Dublin to Holyhead route during July. The Ulysses missed 5 weeks of summer service due to technical issues with 4 of these weeks falling into the second half of the year. The disruption not only affected Irish Ferries carryings but also the overall performance of the tourism markets due to capacity constraints in what was the peak car tourism period.

The released accounts are quite complex due to sales of vessel in previous periods, one of which had used to earn significant lease income. Total revenue was up 0.7pc at €157.2m, but cash earnings (EBITDA pre asset sales) were down 11.8pc at €26.1m, largely due to the lower lease revenue. Freight traffic and port business showed increased volume but cars and passengers carried were down 2pc and 3pc respectively.

The Board has declared an interim dividend of 4.21 cent per ICG Unit compared with 4.01 cent last year.

U BY UNIWORLD LAUNCHES 2019

U

by Uniworld is offering travellers a 10pc Early Booking Discount, if booked and paid in-full by end September 2018.

U by Uniworld’s latest itinerary is Northern France at a Glance, eight days on the Seine River from 21 April

2019 with stops in Paris, Vernon, Les Andelys, Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, Rouen and Caudebec-en-Caux on The B ship.

The itinerary will begin and end on Sundays, allowing guests to spend a Friday and Saturday night in Paris.

Details include U’s chef to Rouen’s fresh local market to choose ingredients for dinner; climbing to the top of the Étretat’s legendary cliffs for breathtaking views of France; and tea time at Château du Champ de Bataille. Rates start at €1,499 per person including accommodations, daily

farm-to-ship meals, select offshore excursions, two dedicated U hosts, onboard activities, rooftop fitness classes and more.

Further excursions and onboard amenities will be added across the fleet in 2019.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 33

AFLOAT HAVEN SUMMER ’19 NOW ON

SALE!

Captain Marcel Schaar of the Stena Forerunner is welcomed to Belfast

by Belfast Harbour CEO Joe O’Neill (right) and Anna Breen, Stena Line’s Freight Commercial Manager (Irish Sea North)

Stena’s new Belfast ship

T

Adds 10pc capacity on corridor

he 3,000 lane metre Stena Forerunner will increase weekly freight capacity on the service by 10pc.

Stena Line grew 6pc on the Belfast to Liverpool route this year and future plans include the introduction of two new build ferries on this service during spring 2020 and early 2021.

P

Paul Grant, Stena Line Trade Director commented: “We are delighted to welcome the Stena Forerunner to Belfast and the introduction and investment of this larger vessel demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the freight market. This year we’re experiencing strong growth of 6% on the Belfast to Liverpool route

and future plans include the introduction of two new build ferries on this service during spring 2020 and early 2021.”

Stena Line is currently the largest ferry operator on the Irish Sea, offering the biggest fleet and the widest choice of routes between Ireland and Britain including Belfast to Liverpool and Heysham, Belfast to Cairnryan,

the P&O Cruises fleet, the company said.

P&O Cruises senior vice president Paul Ludlow said: “We take huge pride in giving guests a holiday experience that’s truly memorable and special. By removing the daily discretionary Service Charge, P&O Cruises will make enjoying a cruise holiday an effortless experience, knowing that great service comes as standard.”

Daily service charges

are common practice across most cruise lines as an additional cost on top of the cruise package. The charge is essentially a tip for all of the hardworking crew, dining room staff and housekeeping that make the cruise possible. The tipping system has been a hot debate by the crew and guests and bout groups were not satisfied because these “gratuities” can be removed by passengers request.

P&O REMOVES TIPS

&O Cruises is to scrap automatic gratuities on passengers from next May. The cruise lines says that fares will not rise and staff will still be paid the same.

Starting from May 2019, the current £7 daily service charges will be removed to ensure guests peace of mind once the cruise is booked knowing it has all been taken care of, the company states.

This will apply across

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3 & 4 night holidays also available. Low deposit from €50 or 10% per booking (whichever is the greater) when booking a Flexi fare as part of your holiday. Terms and conditions apply - see website. Holidays sold by Stena Line Travel Group AB (TA0733).

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 34

GLOBAL VILLAGE

Inside the Travel Business

WORLDCHOICE

launched a Fam Trip to Namibia with destination management company Obeo Travel and Ethiopian Airlines.

The 10 night trip will depart on December 6th with Ethiopian Airlines and will showcase the best of Namibia including Safari & Desert experiences and the coastal town of Swakopmund all arranged by Obeo Travel. The group will also get to experience what Addis Ababa as a destination has to offer on their return journey.

MASTERMIND This month saw the inauguration of a new Mastermind networking and mentoring group by some of Ireland’s younger travel agents: Ciara Foley of Platinum Travel, Andrew Lynch of Travel Advisors, Ciara Mooney of Freedom Travel, Jackie Spain of JK Travel.

ATTS are running a webinar week in

September, October, November and December based , they say, on the positive feedback they got from our August webinar month. Contact via email: sales@atts.ie or call 01 882 8680.

Agents are asked to keep an eye on their inbox for invitation links.

TENNESSEE Jody Henson and

Kirsty Dillury will be representing the state of Tennessee starting from the 1st September 2018.

ATTA Media Awards have been postponed

until 2019 and the 31st August deadline has now been extended to 31 December 2018.

Caribtours, preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, launched its 2019 brochure in Ireland offering twin centre breaks across the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Arabia, luxury escapes in Europe and America, best-sellers and new future classics. During September, Caribtours will give customers in Ireland the chance to save up to €300 on any 2019 holiday booked that month.

FREEDOM TRAVEL Ciara

Mooney’s Freedom Travel is to open a booth in Frascati shopping centre in Blackrock in the coming months. Her first two departures under her solo travel product will be to Malaga and Nerja on October 24 and Berlin on December 13. She plans to build her solo travel product is built around activity, beach and culture

CHEAPAIR US-based online travel

platform CheapAir revealed it has been hit by an extortion attempt by cybercriminals who threatened to flood its pages with negative reviews.

TRAVELPORT has been selected as part of a consortium to deliver a major marketing campaign to lure more Chinese tourists to Europe in 2018 and 2019.

747 TRAVEL Michael Caslin’s 747

travel, established since 1971 is offering a fully fitted licenced office to lease as a travel or airline office. Michael will continue to operate the sports side of the business.

OROKO is seeking staff, Brnedan Breen says: we have had a busy year and we want to grow the sales team.

John Barry got thefre first

Finalising Philly

T

ITAA Conference goes to USA for the first time

he ITAA has released details of fam trips before and three days after the travel agents’ annual conference on November 29.

Extra itinerary details released this month include Wednesday evening welcome reception at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, n Thursday evening dinner at Down Town Club, n Friday city tours followed by lunch n Gala dinner at Water works n options tours on Saturday,

The venue for Friday evening’s gala dinner, the Water Works, opened in 1815 and an American Historic Landmark, Civil Engineering Landmark, and National Mechanical Engineering Land-mark. It is situated on east bank of the Schuylkill River between historic Boat House Row and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and offers an enclosed heated terrace overlooking Boat House Row and the Schuylkill River.

The museum will be opened during reception showing the original

turbines.

Founded in 1897, Down Town Club. atop the Public Ledger Building. was exclusive to Philadelphia’s prominent families. Guests overlook onto Independence Hall and the Mall UNESCO World Heritage Site.

City tours will feature the signature attractions such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House, Franklin Court, Carpenters’ Hall, the Declaration House and the statue of John Barry, Wexford born founder of the US navy.

BOOKABED EXPANDS WITH PROMOTIONS

B

ookaBed appointed Emma Male to the role of Regional Sales Manager for the south of England.

Colleen Butler has been promoted to Head of Product & Connectivity at Bookabed.

“With the way things

are changing we’ve moved very much into connectivity - direct connections through channel managers to all the international chains,” Colleen told Travel Extra.

She added that while BookaBed has traditionally been a Med-focused

bed bank, “we’ve seen huge growth in long haul for sure, Europe has become more expensive but people have found value in the US and Canada in the resorts and we’ve added global chains in areas where we’ve never worked before”.

Collen Butler

MARGARET LATEST BLUE FINALIST

Margaret Kilduff from Joe Walsh Tours was the August finalist in the Blue Insurance car competition. She is now in with a chance to win a Toyota Yaris hybrid from Toyota Sandyford.

She follows previous finalists Toni Fennell

from Abbey Travel, Karen Thornton from KT Travel Dundalk, Theresa Davey from Mackin Travel Wexford, Sharon Fleming from Thomson Travel Lurgan, Elaine Harding from the Garda Holiday Club, Douglas Hastings from Travel Counsellors,

Yvonne O’Donohue from O’Donohue travel Gorey and Catherine O’Dwyer from Michael Bowe Travel.

The competition, run in association with Toyota Sandyford,,started in November of last year and will run until November of this

year giving one agent or broker the chance to win a brand-new Toyota Yaris Hybrid.

Every Blue Insurances policy sold each month automatically generates an entry in the monthly draw.

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 35

Inside the Travel Business

GLOBAL VILLAGE

Blue deal cleared Ciaran Mullligan sold Blue Insurances for €70m

C

CPC have cleared the buyout of Blue Insurance by CoverMore.

A short posting on the CCPC website said: The proposed acquisition by Zurich Group, through its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary Cover-More Australia Pty Ltd, of sole control of Blue Insurance Limited and its subsidiary, Blue Insurances Australia Pty Limited, has been cleared by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Blue Insurances, founded in 2003

by Ciaran Mulligan and Rowan Devereux, was sold for a speculated €70m to Australian based Cover-More, which is part of Zurich Insurance Group and the umbrella group for Zurich’s global travel insurance and assistance business. Cofounder and Managing Director of

SABRE Corporation launched Sabre

AirVision Dynamic Availability and Sabre AirVision Fares Optimiser, two next-generation pricing solutions that enable airlines to adjust their fares based on customer segmentation and competitor price checks. Etihad Airways and Aegean Airlines will be the first Sabre customers to implement the solutions.

WEBBEDS comprising the JacTravel, Sunhotels, Lots of Hotels, totalstay, FITRuums brands), has appointed tourism and hospitality veteran Ciara Doyle as Account Development and Customer Delivery Manager for the JacTravel DMC Division in Ireland, based in its Dublin offices.

TRAVEL CORPORATION’s Jason Whelan of Blue Insurances, Stephen Sands of Riviera Travel, Maeve Slalom and Ciaran Mulligan of Blue Insurances, best insurance provider award Irish Travel Industry awards Blue Insurance, Ciaran Mulligan, and his executive team will remain with the company.

Cover-More Australia Pty Ltd is part of the Zurich Group of insurance companies. Cover-More Group provides travel insurance services,

medical assistance and employee assistance cover, Blue insurance Limited is an Irishowned insurance company and is active in car, home, travel, gadget, car hire excess, pet, wedding, motor breakdown and bicycle insurance.

Sharon Jordan, Brian Hynes and Marissa Beck joined 360 of their fellow Travel Corporation colleagues in London, where they launched Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold, Trafalgar and Costsaver trips for the 2019 selling season.

TOPFLIGHT teamed up with Bellew-

stown Racesas the headline sponsor of the Best Dressed Competition on Thursday 30th August at the August Festival, won by Emma Jane Flynn from Termonfeckin who won a Topflight holiday for two to Sorrento

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taexpediaie@atts.ie

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 36

WINDOW SEAT Last month in numbers 133.6m Roiling annual passenger numbers for Ryanair to August 2018.

18m Number of objects in Brazil’s National Museum destroyed by fire 13.8m Number of passengers who flew

Ryanair in August, up 9pc and a record.

u7m Cost of delay of WB Yeats ferry to Irish Ferries.

u6m Cost of disruption of Ulysses ferry service to Irish Ferries.

5,435 Number of new hotel rooms to come to Dublin by 2020- still not enough say Failte Ireland.

4,000 Number of people who cannot find their cars in Dublin airport each year.

G

MOUNTAINOUS PILGRIMAGE

uy Stagg stopped believing in God as a teenager. He was not much of a walker (“my legs are short, my stride hurried, an anxious wasteful gait”). Yet he decided to attempt a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, along the Via Francigena, 3,420 miles away.

This meant crossing the Alps in the middle of winter alone, on foot, and with little more equipment than a borrowed pair of snow shoes. He was warned that the Great Saint Bernard Pass is far too dangerous to tackle in February but ploughs on regardless, in a blizzard.

There is a lot of landscape to describe: “the mountains were shining

The Crossway by Guy Stagg is published by Picador

plates of armour”, “frozen puddles scattered the dawn like smashed gemstones”, “sunlight spread” on a lake’s surface “like sequins sewn into the water”, “stars filled the night like metal filings”. In one single day, he splits his boots while wading in snow, falls off a footbridge into a stream, and has to sprint along railway tracks when a train emerges from a tunnel.

He asked strangers to take him in – monks, priests and nuns who offered food and shelter. One woman

washed and kissed his feet.

He cites Benoît-Joseph Labre, “patron not only of pilgrims, but also of vagrants, unmarried men and the mentally ill”, who wandered through western Europe for seven years in the 1770s, covering more than 30,000 km.

A nervous breakdown was behind his decision to “wander out of my life” for 10 months. “I thought the journey might build me up again. I walked to mend myself.”

Buck Whalley would understand.

Riona McGrath favourites: THAT enchanted castle from her childhood and (right)British Virgin islands the baths at Gorda

Busman’s holiday: Riona McGrath

Every month we ask a leading travel professional to write about their personal holiday experience. This month: Riona McGrath the new country manager for Ireland of Travelport.

I

was really lucky as a child to have family who worked in the airline industry. By the time I was 9 I had been to the US (in the jump seat!) Australia and Thailand.

I can still remember walking through Patpong market in Bangkok, mum looking for a tailor to make an outfit over-

T

night for her, and both of us slowly realising that this particular market probably wasn’t suitable for a nine year old!

The overwhelming culture shock holidays took a back seat the for the Disney World Florida trip. Not completely, though, as being a good Irish family, we had to tie in the trip with visiting elderly relatives living in Washington DC. Tasting Lucky Charms for the first time and experiencing all you can eat restaurants where even the desserts were

all you can eat were my highlights. The incredible history of DC went over my head completely. I really would love to go back some day and take it all in.

Florida was bit more my scene at the time. I was too small for most of the big rides, but perfectly happy on the Magic Tea Cups and It’s a Small World!

Now, I try to go somewhere new every year. My only 2 criteria are good food and good weather. I am lucky enough to have friends who live and work in some amazing places. My last big trip was sailing around the BVI, on a catamaran worth more than my house!.

Thanks to those friends who work for kind rich people who lend us their

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

he CSO stats on Irish aviation give some indication of the extent of the challenge that brexit will pose..

Post Brexit connectivity is a live issue for Irish airports. Six of Dublin’s top ten routes are due to leave the EU in March, as are four each of Cork’s and Shannon’s and all top five routes from Knock.

Dublin is growing at 6pc and

heading for 31.4m passengers, which raises questions of the urgency of the north runway and the viability of whether they need as third terminal,(which DAA says they do not).

It is interesting to see Amsterdam emerging as the hub of choice on mainland Europe for Irish passengers, ahead of Paris and Frankfurt, and also Faro creeping ahead

of Malaga as our choice of sun destination. They were 2,000 ahead for Q2 in 2017 and now 9,000 ahead, Faro having passed Paris CDG for the first time. But Europe is not growing fast enough for the health of the Irish flyer.

It will be a disaster if the Breat-imeacht process is not he box-ticking exercise players such as Willie Walsh claim it will be.

yachts of course. I come from a sailing background but this was a far cry from Malahide Yacht Club weekly club races.

The Caribbean is incredible, and somewhere I would love to explore more.

I have started exploring Italy these days. Italy ticks the food and weather boxes anyway, but it goes so far beyond.

The diversity of culture across each city and country side, the architecture, the people, the history and of course the coastlines. As much as I love long haul destinations, there is a lot to be said for a short flight and easy accessibility.

There is so much to be explored right on our doorstep.

IN YOUR NEXT TRAVEL EXTRA: Available to Travel Agents or online October 22 2018

CRUISE ISSUE Home port ships for Dublin: What next?

TRENDS

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 37

Out and about with the Travel Trade

S Sales & Marketing/SA Alan Sparling of Airline Manning Travel winner of with Colette Desmond Kilkenny in of the table quiz, TPG

Yvonne Boyle, and Joh n partment’s end of sum Roee, at the Travel Demer BBQ in the Trinity City Hotel.

MEETING PLACE

David Kennedy of Aer Lingus, Dalton Philips ceo Sara Zimmermann of the Travel Department an d of Dublin Airport and Muriel Cooke of Aer Lingus Marty Whelan at the Aer Lingus launch

Marie McCarthy of Irish Ferries, Brigid Hayes of Bowe Travel, Alan Sparling of ASM, Donna O’Gorman of Bowe Travel and Catherine Bowe

of m Travel, Mindy Shea Ciara Foley of Platinu Lynah of Savannah Airri Visit Savannah and Lo h Cocktail reception na port at the Visit Savan

South African ambasWillem Geerlings, acting d Rachel McAnaspie of an sador with Will Walsh urkish/SA Tourism Click & Go hosted byT

Jo Piani of Savannah, Ciara Foley of Platinum Travell with Kristin Skinner and Dee Burdock of American Holidays and at Visit Savannah

Alice Carrick and Polly Bond of Tour America Cruise Holidays enjoo and yin Bistro of the MS Europ g lunch in the French a2

Rebecca Kelly of MSC Cru of Cassidy Travel Presid ises and John Spollen MSC ten years in Irelan ent of the ITAA at the d celebration

Sandra Gildea of Club Travel with Rachel Lewis of South African Tourism hosted byTurkish/SA Tourism at a film screening

ht ll and Eve Walsh of Flig Kate Siddall, Jay Farre /SA Tourism at a film ish Centre hosted byTurk screening

m Yvonne Boyle. Sara Zimmerman,, Claire Stone, h Airportat, Ivan Beaco Lori Lynah of Savanna Shea of Visit Savannah .and Claire Doherty, at the Travel Department dy Min d san gu Lin ep- end of summer BBQ i of Aer Speakeasy Cocktail rec at the Visit Savannah tion

Charles Wilson of the Ge Peter Friedrich of Hotelb rman Tourist Board with man National Tourist Bo eds Group at the Gerard event

Andrea Power of TUI Tallaght and Olwen McKinney of Amadeus at the MSC ten years in Ireland celebration

Julie Hanna of Cassidy Travel pictured with As ling McLoughlin Hapa g on board the MS Eu hrop 2 where Hapag Lloyd hosted the travel trade a

h , of Turkish Airlines wit Alper Sean Kanburoglu vel and Onur Gull, at Tra Sandra Gildea of Club eening Turkish Airlines film scr

OCTOBER 2018 PAGE 38

MEETING PLACE

Out and about with the Travel Trade

Amanda Carroll ika Paul O’Kane of Dublin Airport,Danny McCoy et Tekalign and Ashm ser Me CEO of IBEC and Vincent Harrison MD of Dublin Bookabed and of TUI Kilkenny, Lee Osborne of , an eg Ke n rca Lo iop Mary McGrath of TUI Eth ing rat Kilkenny, Airport at the Aer Lingus launch Airlines celeb Travel partners Group Sukhdeo of Ethippian roadshow in Kilkenny, r. ian new yea

John Spollen of Cassi dy ITAA and Antonio Parad Travel President of the MSC ten years in Irelan iso of MSC cruises at the d celebration

Catherine O’Keeffe of Marble City Travel, Mary McGrath and Amanda Caroll of TUI Kilkenny, Lisa Croke and Jackie Doran of Marble City Travel TPG in Kilkenny

m vannah and Ivan Beaco Joe Marinelli of Visit Sa Savannah Speakeasy it Vis of Aer Lingus at the Cocktail reception

er- Aide Icardi and Patricia Kenny with Enda Larkin Sara Zimmermann of the her husband Willem Ge Driemie Geerlings and n ambassador hosted and Amber Murphy of Sunway and Helen Kelly of Marty Whelan and Roisin Travel Department with ica O’Hea of O’Hea PR lings, acting South Afr Travel Counsellors at Turkish/SA Tourism g at a film screenin sm uri To /SA ish urk byT

Adele Walsh and Jean Cla Tours at the German To ffey of Joe Walsh urist Board event in Du lin. b-

Claire Doherty and Danielle Farrell of the Travel Department enjoying the music and dancing at the Travel Department’s end of Summer BBQ on Wednesday 29th August at the Trinity City Hotel.

. isin Flynn of The Taste Sinead Smyth and Ro the at er mm Su of rm days ie enjoying the last wa of Summer BBQ d en t’s Travel Departmen

Sin- Mary King of Travelsavers and Carol Anne O’Neill As hlin en Ledwith and Maria Paulette Moran, Maure ns at the MSC ten years of Worldchoice Ireland ath the MSC ten years in Ste g McLoughlin of Hapag Lloyd with Michael itio ffi, who hosted the Iris hib Ex ess sin Bu of nott Ireland celebration on board the 5 star plu h travel trade and media s MS Europa 2 in Ireland celebration

Jeanette Schuchmann of Board pictured with Jen the German Tourist s Bachmann of Aviarep at the German Tourist s Board event

Aoife Gregg of United and Jo Thomas of US Travel at the Visit Savannah Speakeasy Cocktail reception

drea Hunt of the Dublin Sinead Murphy and An the Travel Department’s at Photography School d end of Summer BBQ

Presented by

RDS Hall 3, Ballsbridge THURSDAY 21st MARCH 2019

EXHIBITOR PROFILE

VISITOR PROFILE

• Airlines

• International Hotels/Resorts

• Airports

• Insurance

• Attraction Tickets

• Media

• Bed Banks

• National/Regional Tourist Organisations

• Car Rental

• Technology and Communications Companies

• Cruise Companies • Ferries • Financial Services including Credit Cards

• Theme & Leisure Parks • Ticketing Agents

• Golf Resorts and Related Services

• Trade Associations

• Ground Handling

• Tour Operators

Travel Agent Proprietors, Managers and Frontline Travel Professionals.

PROMOTION OF THE SHOW A comprehensive promotional programme will ensure a high turnout of travel agent proprietors, managers and frontline travel professionals.

FREE EXHIBITOR & VISITOR CAR PARKING

• Travel Agents

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BOOK YOUR STAND NOW! VENUE

2018 DATE AND TIME

ORGANISERS

CONTACTS

RDS Hall 3 Anglesea Road Ballsbridge Dublin DO4 AK83 Ireland t. +353 (0)1 668 0866 w. www.rds.ie

Thursday 21 March 2019 2.00pm – 6.00pm

The Irish Travel Trade Show is organised on behalf of The Irish Travel Agents Association by Business Exhibitions Limited 59 Rathfarnham Road Terenure Dublin D6W AK70

Maureen Ledwith - Sales Director t: +353 (0)1 291 3700 • e: maureen@bizex.ie

st

www.irishtraveltradeshow.com

Paulette Moran - Sales Manager t: +353 (0)1 291 3702 • e: paulette@bizex.ie Angela O’Rourke - Business Development Manager t: +353 (0)1 291 3705 • e: angela@bizex.ie

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2019

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EXHIBIT!

Maureen Ledwith Sales Director

t: +353 (0)1 291 3700 e: maureen@bizex.ie

Paulette Moran Sales Manager

Angela O’Rourke Business Development Manager

e: paulette@bizex.ie

e: angela@bizex.ie

t: +353 (0)1 291 3702

t: +353 (0)1 291 3705