Travel Bulletin 18th January 2013

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January 18 2013 | ISSUE NO 1,809 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

Caribbean

D O N ’ T M I SS. .

How the region is fighting off stiff competition to gain the recognition it deserves

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All About th

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Indian Ocean

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Your one-sto p guide to all the late st news and in the Indian

developments Ocean

Produced by

with this is

this week agent review 10 find out what one agent thought of her ski fam with Club Med

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conference report news from AITO Agents' domestic conference

winter sports research reveals skiers and snowboarders value destinations with a sustainable ethos

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www.travelbulle

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sue

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dynamic packaging operators unveil new properties, tours & offers

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newsbulletin One in ten charitable Brits take gifts abroad for locals

TICKLED PINK...Superbreak recently offered agents at the Thomas Cook/Co-op seminar the chance to enter a prize draw to win a concert package to see PINK live at the O2 Arena including tickets, one night’s accommodation and rail travel. Angela Turner (left) from Thomas Cook Crossgates was the lucky winner and is pictured with the operator's Laura Dawson.

This Week 3

news

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at home with eileen

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agent bulletin

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agent review

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puzzle bulletin

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conference report

key trends in 'What’s Hot 2013' report plus a round-up of the latest industry news find out what homeworker Eileen has been up to lately the latest agent incentives, competitions and announcements find out what one agent thought of her ski fam with Club Med win a £50 Hotel Chocolat voucher by playing Su Doku a round-up of news from AITO Agents' annual domestic conference

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turkey

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winter sports

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caribbean

Turkish Culture and Tourism Office puts focus on adventure tourism ABTA research reveals skiers and snowboarders value destinations with a sustainable ethos Caribbean Airlines highlights how the region is fighting off stiff competition to gain the recognition it deserves

scandinavia

24 dynamic packaging 27

operators unveil new properties, tours & offers Travel Counsellors sees rise in tailor-made breaks as customers look for personalised service

Cover Pictures: Main - British Virgin Islands Inset - Klum Hotel

THE BRITISH tea bag is the most well-travelled food item, according to a survey from The Co-operative Travel, with a third of holidaymakers claiming they can’t be without their favourite, quintessential brew while they are abroad on holiday, while one in ten charitable Brits forgo space for themselves to pack gifts to give to local people overseas.

Despite the rise of the all-inclusive holiday, the cherished tea bag has remained firmly on UK holidaymakers’ must-pack list, whereas tea-making travel items like the travel kettle, which had its heyday in the 80s and 90s, have now officially fallen out of favour – being replaced by gadgets including hair straighteners, Kindles, iPads and other mobile devices.

According to the poll, which surveyed 2,000 people, only towels have survived as a holiday item deemed essential enough to rival today’s electrical gadgets and the allimportant travel adaptor for space inside the suitcase. ● continues on next page

BRADENT BRADENTON ON AREA / ANNA MARIA ISLAND / LONGBO LONGBOAT AT KEY

DISCOVER ONE OF FLORIDA’S BEST KEPT SECRETS…

7 NIGHTS FR OM £779PP FROM For or more details or to book,, call

0844 557 0626 oorr vvisit isi t

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

January 18 2013

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newsbulletin Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines unveils new website

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FRED. OLSEN Cruise Lines has launched a new user-friendly website following months of research. The site features a complete re-design and improvements include the addition of UK departure port to a ‘Quick Search’ facility in response to the findings that, after destination, the departure port is the second most important factor in selecting a cruise.

The improved search function also means that it is now easier for agents to check availability, prices and special offers.

A selection of new images are also available to view from across the line’s fleet, along with more details on cabins and facilities.

The site also features a dedicated Travel Agent Centre, where agents can log on and find out agent-specific information and training modules developed in conjunction with the Association of Cruise Experts (ACE).

For details see www.fredolsencruises.com

Joanna Wild, the company's retail director, said: "The psychology of the suitcase is an interesting concept and reveals a lot about us as individuals and as a nation.

It’s not just what we pack, it’s how we pack too. Brits seem to have strict rules for folding or rolling, layering and ordering items inside their case.

Packing differs by country too with the suitcase of a Belgian or German tourist being arranged differently to a British holidaymaker, so it seems the art of packing reveals a true piece of our national psyche.”

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays reveal key trends in What’s Hot 2013 report JET2HOLIDAYS AND Jet2.com have released their annual travel trend report, revealing ‘What’s Hot’ for this year.

Combining research findings from more than 1,000 holidaymakers with customer data, the report offers an insight on where the hot destinations will be, how people are booking their holidays and also exposes how the UK is planning to use up precious annual leave this year.

Key findings include 87%

of Brits opting to discover somewhere new, with Croatia and Greece firm favourites; all-inclusive trips see an increase of 10% on last year; more than half of the UK will consult their travel agent and browse brochures when deciding their next destination; 40% will be travelling more this year thanks to an improvement in their personal economic situation; and only one in three parents book holidays with free child places.

The companies' chief executive Steve Heapy said: “With more than 40% more consumers determined to jet off this year, we’re predicting another exciting year for the travel industry. It’s encouraging that this increase is largely due to an improvement in family finances, though we’ve just had the second wettest year on record and with continued wet weather forecasts, it’s not suprising more of us are keen to

escape to dry and warmer climes!

“Squeezing every last drop from our holidays remains a key priority as budget-concious families opt for the all-inclusive, package break, to keep a close eye on costs. Our holiday planner will also help time-strapped holidaymakers maximise their days away, fitting in two relaxing beach holidays and a city break, using just ten days leave, by choosing when to go wisely."

Jakes Jamaica adds yoga & fitness breaks

LIFT OFF...pictured officially opening Leeds Bradford Airport's (LBA) £11million passenger terminal is the Rt. Hon William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with John Parkin, LBA's chief executive. The terminal now provides for a 65% increase in airside space over two floors, creating a new larger departure lounge, a range of new food and beverage units, a major walk-through Tax and Duty Free store and additional retail brands.

The security search zone has also been increased by approximately 40%, as has The Yorkshire Premier Lounge and boarding gate zones.

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January 18 2013

BOUTIQUE RESORT, Jakes, set in the seaside fishing village of Treasure Beach in Jamaica, is offering new yoga and five- and seven-day fitness and wellness retreats, the majority of which will take place on the property’s new yoga deck. Forthcoming retreats include Caribbean Yoga Conference pre- and post immersion workshops from January 28-31 and February 3-8, where guests can learn from celebrated yogis and practitioners; Sing Dance Fly: One Love Bhakti Healing from January 28-31, where AcroYoga co-founder Jason Nemer and master musician and healer John de Kadt, invite guests to embark on a retreat filled with inversions and acrobatics providing an insight into the healing power of bodywork, Ayurveda and Chinese medicine; and Awaken your Inner Activist from February 3-8, a five-day post-conference retreat.

Prices lead in at £962 per person based on two sharing and include transfers, three meals daily and the retreat programme.

For more information or to book visit www.jakeshotel.com

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newsbulletin Tweets of the Week Who’s saying what on Twitter...

SUPERBREAK IS expecting to see a surge in bookings for its theatre breaks to see Les Misérables following the recent launch of Les Misérables movie, and the operator is urging agents to capitalise on the media hype from the film and promote its short breaks to London with theatre tickets included.

Prices lead in at £111 per person for a one-night stay at the three-star President hotel on a bed-andbreakfast basis and a top priced ticket to the show from Monday-Thursday until April 30.

See www.superbreak.com/agents or call 0871-221 4444 to book.

@voyageantiquity We're going to be at the Destinations show in Manchester and London this month why not join us with #Free tickets! http://bit.ly/VKEF9X @GlobalHQ1 $500 FREE ON BOARD CREDIT: Golden Eagle private Trans Siberian train. Various eastbound departures. Book with IntouristUK & quote TOYE04 @ACEtweeting Calling all travel agents Selling Cruise Conference 2013 is available to book at Early Bird rate for a limited time: http://ow.ly/gzGfY @CosmosHolidays We're fully behind ABTA's new campaign http://youtu.be/BAOdi8Fm 95E to encourage UK holiday makers to book with members @ClassicHols Luxury Deal of the Day, 5* Hotel Es Saadi, Marrakech, 7 nights B&B, from £529pp departing 8 February

Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/ TravelBulletin

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Haven reports trend in short breaks is set to continue HAVEN’S LATEST figures show that 79% of holidays last year were for three- or fournight breaks with forward booking figures indicating that this trend is set to continue this year.

The company says that the statistics support the recent Mintel report that 60% of holidays taken in the UK were short breaks.

The operator's head of retail sales Allan Lambert said: “The continued growth in the number of short break bookings versus traditional seven-night stays suggests that families are looking to take several shorter holidays across the year rather than investing in just one main break away – a

fantastic opportunity for travel agents.”

Other figures released by the operator reveal that five out of every ten families booked with the company because they wanted to holiday by the seaside to give their kids the same traditional holidays they enjoyed as children.

A short break costs from £109 per unit based on a three-night stay in a Superior two-bedroom self-catering caravan that sleeps up to six people at Blue Dolphin holiday park in Yorkshire.

For more information visit www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0871-230 1919.

Western & Oriental launches Luxury India programme WESTERN & Oriental has launched its new Luxury India programme for 2013 – a collection of experience-led journeys with both tailor-made itineraries and fixed departures.

The collection includes Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and options to combine India with these countries, as well as the Maldives.

Prices start from £1,469 per person for an eight-day Golden Triangle Group Tour in midrange hotels, based on two sharing on a bed-and-breakfast basis, plus six dinners, flights and transfers.

For more information visit www.westernoriental.com or call 020-7666 1234.

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newsbulletin Tailormade stand-alone programme from Wendy Wu Tours offers bespoke itineraries WENDY WU Tours has launched a stand-alone, dedicated tailormade programme entitled ‘Asia Inspirations.’

As part of the company’s expansion and development strategy, the programme combines the operator’s on

the ground knowledge, service and expertise with increased flexibility and the ability to create personal, bespoke itineraries to suit each customer.

The programme covers China, Tibet, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos,

Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.

For more information visit www.asiainspirations.co.uk Meanwhile, the operator has launched a new river cruising programme featuring five itineraries taking in the

Yangtze River in China.

The company's partner on the water is Victoria Cruises and its three ships Jenna, Anna and Sophia will provide the river cruise experience.

For details see www.wendywutours.co.uk or call 0844-875 2436.

Two-for-one lift pass offers from Ski France for half-term getaways SKI FRANCE has announced a new two-for-one lift pass offer for all bookings departing on February 16 for half-term bookings made this month. The offer applies to all full area lift passes for both adults and children.

The company operates its own charter flights from Gatwick

Keeping an i on Apps

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January 18 2013

and Manchester with Monarch and offers a range of exclusive club hotels and chalets.

Selected holidays are still available for the half-term break with prices starting from £965 staying at the Club Hotel Les Airelles in Les Deux Alpes, based on Gatwick flights.

AIR FRANCE Music is now offering music lovers a new iPhone app, “Music in th e Sky”. The principle is as poetic as it is fun, with pieces of music hidden in the clouds . Users just have to catch them by raising their iPhone and adding them to their playlis t. Travellers will also have the oppo rtunity of disc overing new music de pending on where they are goin g, from Paris to Tokyo to Buenos A ires; each di fferent sky will have its own tracks.

Several times a year , Air France M usic will enable user s to win othe r unreleased tracks, conc ert tickets or even air ti ckets by disc overing hidden gam es in the sky.

The app is free from th e Apple stor e.

a new S launched ROTANA HA potential that enables mobile app to t access 44 es in guests instan citi tels across 26 operating ho Guests a. ic fr A d an ast the Middle E on information can browse dining, mmodation, co ac e bl la ai av tion t and recrea entertainmen s and ng ti ee m as ell ss a options as w ce ac sts can also as events. Gue ch su es r servic range of othe , ts en em rang pre-arrival ar s checkices, expres rv se e rg ie conc lls on bi ew ability to vi ests out and the gu rs fe of app also th the go. The and e information destination the and redeem option to view promotions and latest offers al mpany’s soci co e through th om .c es natim channel rota

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BRADENTON AREA / ANNA MARIA ISLAND / LONGBOAT KEY

Bradenton Area is located on the W The Bradenton West eest Coast Florida, minutes Tampa of Flor ida, 45 min ida, utes from T ampa a and just one and hourss dr drive Orlando.

Bradenton, a half hour adenton, Anna ive from Or lando. Br Maria Mar ia Island and Longboat Key are treasured ed ffor or their o Florida charm, authentic Old Flor ida char m,, breath-taking scener sscenery,y, sugar-white sand beaches and wildlife, 16 miles of sugar ugarr-white w fe, wildlif comprising manyy ref refer Florida’. compr ising what man fer e to as ‘hidden Flor ida’.

Bradenton celebrated Br adenton is celebr ated for for o its funky dining and districts, Arts, shopping distr icts,, including the Village of The Ar ts, vibrant community over a vibr ant comm unity home to o ver 35 artists. ar tists.

NEW BR BROCHURE ROCHURE O OUT NO OW! W NOW! For more details on the Bradenton Br adenton Area, Anna Maria Mar ia Island or Longboat Key request our brochure todayy at: at www.trade-gate.co.uk .trade-gate .co.uk www w.tra .

7 NIGHTS GHTS FR FROM ROM O £779PP! For more details or to book, book, call

0844 557 0626 orr vvisit isit

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newsbulletin

e m o h At en...

e l i E with

ileen orker E w e m o as h th?

What h p to this mon u n e be

ELL, HERE we are in 2013 and I’m just about starting to recover from the exhaustive run-up to Christmas, followed by my son’s wedding on 27th December. The wedding went like a dream which was amazing considering all the arrangements were made from Australia. The newlyweds are now back home in Sydney after stopping over in Hong Kong for New Year where they enjoyed a wonderful stay at the Shangri La on Hong Kong harbour.

I wonder what this year will bring. Early indications suggest that this year’s holiday sales are off to a great start. January started well for me with my first booking of the year being a £9k holiday to Antigua to travel in March. I’ve had a steady stream of enquiries coming in ranging from luxury holidays, cruises, all-inclusive holidays plus long-haul flights. A few customers have expressed an interest in activity holidays and I have a feeling that these might prove popular this year.

Have you ever left anything behind when staying at a hotel? I know I have but never anything as strange as some guests. A recent list compiled by a hotel chain of things left behind in hotel bedrooms made me smile. A pet python, a bucket of live crabs, a pantomime horse, a pair of breast implants and a pop-up spray tanning booth were just a few of the things listed! The tanning booth was left behind by a group of girls in Essex- now that was a surprise! One guest even left behind his winning Euro Millions ticket which he’d placed under his mattress for safe keeping. He overslept the next day and forgot to retrieve it. Seems unbelievable that items like these can slip a guest’s mind doesn’t it?

Last year, Viking Cruises ran a prize draw in which I was lucky enough to win a theatre voucher. This week I enjoyed a great night out in London using the voucher towards tickets to see “One Man, Two Guvnors”. It’s touring the country later this year so you won’t even have to travel to London. It was great, the performances were outstanding and it was laugh out loud funny. If you have any clients considering a theatre break, then it’s definitely one to recommend.

Whatever this year brings, let’s hope that 2013 is a happy, successful and prosperous year for us all. Happy New Year everyone!

W

Save more than 40% with Funway's Top Ten Deals campaign FUNWAY HOLIDAYS' ‘Top Ten Deals 2013’ campaign has been launched and includes ten destinations and ten deals, each offering an added incentive to book.

The 28-page, A5 brochure features a selection of offers, from free luxury limousine transfers in Dubai and free helicopter rides in Las Vegas to free tickets to Universal theme parks in Orlando, free Dolphin swims in Mexico and savings of more than 40% when booking a Luxury Included Sandals resort in the Caribbean.

As an example of prices, a ten-night Saint Lucia break staying at Sandals Halcyon Beach based on two adults sharing leads in at £1,208 per person. The offer includes flights with either BA or Virgin Atlantic and a 40% discount, and is based on travel from August 20 to October 20.

All travel offers included in the brochure end on January 31.

For more information see www.funway4agents.co.uk

Go

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WEBSCLUSIVES ●

Funway Florida Beaches microsite: Explore seven beach areas of the sunshine state within this dedicated Funway. Includes: What not to miss for 2013 and a list of Ten must-do things for each area – visit the site and enjoy the beaches of Florida! STOP PRESS: You can now win a Fam Trip to Florida. Go to: www.travelbulletin.co.uk/funway

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Jetset has launched a new incentive called Three Times A Shopper, with three fantastic shoppingrelated prizes including a grand draw to win one of three shopping experiences. See: www.travelbulletin.co.uk/agentperks5

All this and more at:

by EILEEN SAUNDERS of Travel Counsellors To respond to any of Eileen’s comments email jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk

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www.travelbulletin.co.uk The home of the web savvy travel agent www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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agentbulletin Booking incentives ●

TO CELEBRATE the new partnership between AMResorts and Funway Holidays, agents are being offered an incentive where they can receive up to £100 in Love2Shop vouchers, tax free. Agents must complete the master agent training programme on AMRagents.com and then book any of the five brands that feature in The AMResorts Collection by January 31 to be guaranteed a voucher. As an example, a lower room category booking at Secrets Resorts & Spas earns agents a £15 voucher if the duration is seven-11 nights and £30 if the duration is 12 nights or more.

For details see www.funway4agents.co.uk

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TO MARK the launch of its new brochure, which features an increased product range for North America, US Airtours is helping agents secure Florida bookings by offering free upgrades on all villas in Kissimmee for bookings made this month and next.

The company is also offering free cabin upgrades on all Disney Cruise Line Holidays this month and next, and is giving travel agencies the chance to win an iPad 4 in conjunction with Disney. As well as $100 Disney spending money for clients booking Disney Dining before February 3, all Disney hotel bookings made before February 11 will be entered into a prize draw.

The top prize is the iPad 4, second prize is an iPod Shuffle and there are five third place prizes of a Thornton’s chocolate hamper.

For details on all the offers see www.usairtours.co.uk

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EMIRATES IS rewarding agents with cash prizes and holidays to Dubai for bookings made from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow to anywhere on the airline's network this month, with the chance to win £250 per day. There are also six prize holidays to Dubai (one per airport) for two people, which include Business Class flights, private transfers, airport lounge access, a five-night stay in a luxury hotel on a half-board basis and £500 spending money. All bookings made by February 1 will qualify. See www.emiratesagents.com/uk

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SOMETHING KINDA OOOH... pictured promoting an agent incentive to win VIP Girls Aloud tickets are Cosmos' Simon Garrido (left) and James Broughton from Leeds Bradford Airport. The top five stores to book the most Cosmos and Avro passengers from Leeds before February 17 will win two VIP tickets each to see Girls Aloud on February 25 at the Sheffield Motor Point Arena. The tickets will also include a pre-show meal. For details email emma.holiday@lbia.co.uk or Cosmos on agencysales@cosmos.co.uk

Hamper pamper!

THE WINNER of Caesar's Winery Xmas hamper giveaway was Michelle Hiett from Co-operative Travel in Southampton. Michelle won a range of organic products including panettone, traditional Italian fruit cake, Spumante brut Charmante, organic salami from the Langhe region, handmade egg pasta with tomato and meat sauce and hazelnut and chocolate biscuits.

January 18 2013

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newsbulletin Second edition launches from Cosmos

agentreview Bettina McCue from Baldwins Travel, Tonbridge went on a three-night ski fam with Club Med to Val d’Isere. Here's what she thought of the property...

First impressions ..................................10/10 We received a very warm welcome by the staff waiting outside to take our luggage, followed by a welcome cocktail! All staff were very efficient and friendly with a quick check-in procedure.

Comfort ....................................................7/10 The surroundings were very comfortable and warm and the bar area was nicely laid out and had a friendly welcoming feel.

There was a spacious reception with plenty of seating and the property was spotlessly clean. The rooms were very compact though and in need of refurbishment, so I wouldn't rate them as four-star.

Quality ......................................................9/10 There was a lot on offer at the hotel for non-skiers and a 20minute walk took you into the village with its shops and bars.

The hotel featured a swimming pool (although a little cold) a Jacuzzi and a sauna. The bar area was comfortable where one could sit with a book and make use of the complimentary coffee machine! I would say the surroundings were four-star (for a ski resort) but the rooms three-star. The ski hire shop was in the building (a big plus) and the ski lockers had direct access to the slopes (no traipsing about carrying heavy skis). The food was excellent with a wonderful choice of both hot and cold dishes, all a very good standard. The themed evenings were interesting starting with a show followed by strange dancing called Crazy Signs (a bit like line dancing) and later a disco!

Affordability ............................................8/10 Overall I think Club Med is very good value for money.

Generally lift passes, ski lessons and food and drink in France are quite expensive so being all-inclusive is a great option.

Service ......................................................?/10 The service was excellent and the staff could not do enough for you. The only complaint I had was regarding my room smelling of smoke and they immediately rectified this by installing a machine to clear the smell.

Good to know ........................

A great choice for all standards of skier.

This ski area is vast and even the best skiers would struggle to cover it in a week! I would recommend this property mainly to adults and families with older children as it is not a family resort and has no facilities for younger children.

9/ 10

Bettina is pictured in the pix mix on p.18 and she receives a £10 Love2Shop voucher for her review.

If you'd like to take part and receive a free Love2Shop voucher please email jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk or call 020-7834 6661 with your name and contact details.

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January 18 2013

COSMOS HOLIDAYS has launched its second edition Summer Holidays programme with the introduction of regional flights from East Midlands, Leeds Bradford and Glasgow to a range of popular Mediterranean destinations.

Flights to Malta are also now available from eight UK departure airports plus flight capacity to Greece has been increased.

The new destination of Madeira has been added as well as a range of new resorts such as Golf del Sur and El Medano in Tenerife, Ca’n Picafort in Mallorca, Goynuk in Antalya and Helona in Kos. Flights from both Gatwick and Birmingham are available to Madeira with a choice of three-to five-diamond accommodation.

A wider choice of Greek holidays are also featured in the programme including smaller lesser known islands and mainland resorts such as Sivota, Paxos, Meganissi, Ithaca, Symi, Leros and the Pelion.

Early booking offers include free child places at selected Greek properties and a deposit offer of £49 per person on all bookings made before March 15, with nothing to pay until ten weeks prior to departure and transfers included.

Seven-night package prices lead in at £219 per person based on a self-catering stay at the BelleVue Club Apartments in Alcudia, Mallorca. Prices for newly featured units start from £339 per person for an all-inclusive stay at the four-diamond rated THB Gran Playa, Ca’n Picafort.

Meanwhile, the operator has issued its second edition Florida brochure offering early booking offers including low deposits and free child travel insurance.

Seven-night package prices start from £599 per adult and £399 per child, while a seven-night fly/drive is available from £569 per person.

Winter launch from Voyages to Antiquity VOYAGES TO Antiquity has launched its winter programme for 2013/14, offering 12 itineraries that commence in November, expanding the company’s coverage of Southeast Asia. Shore excursions are included in all ports of call and land stays are offered in deluxe hotels. All voyages are accompanied by lecturers and guest speakers.

Cruises start from £3,295 for 18 days including flights.

See www.voyagestoantiquity.com for details.

Gold Medal announces new price promise GOLD MEDAL has launched a price match promise for agents making package bookings. It applies to bookings comprising a minimum of a scheduled flight and a hotel and if agents find an identical like-for-like package cheaper with a trade facing competitor, the operator will match it. Should an agent find a long-haul scheduled package cheaper with a trade competitor, they can supply evidence such as a screen shot or quote detailing the airline, departure date, departure times, flight numbers, booking class and hotel room type and board basis and when received, the company will match the price excluding Airline Failure Protection, ATOL protection contribution charges and agent commission.

The guarantee applies only to current quotes from equivalent trade operators and not to bed banks, direct sell quotes or to pre-priced brochured package holidays.

For more information see www.goldmedal.co.uk

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puzzlebulletin Travagrams

Su Doku Win a £50 Hotel Chocolat voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle

Can you solve the following anagrams to decipher the destination & tour operator?

Late norm

Number: 095

A➠

B➠ This City is originally called City of Mary and is famous for John Lennon and Yoko One holding their second week long bed-in

C➠

Nans rut

D➠ Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the 3 x 3 squares contains the digits 1-9.

Once you have completed the puzzle, simply identify the numbers that relate to the letters, A, B, C and D then e-mail the solution, with your name, company name, and full postal address plus phone and ABTA number if applicable to: competition@travelbulletin.co.uk Closing date for entries is Thursday, January 24th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 14th December is Jayne Nuttall, Thomas Cook in Clitheroe.

December 14 Solution: A=9 B=4 C=8 D=2

Celebrating 30 years this agent’s name sounds like beyond the nearest star

Where Am I?

Capital city located on the Sava river

Crossword Fill in the crossword to reveal the mystery location highlighted by the green squares.

Number: 095

Across 1. Scandinavia holidays specialist (5) 4. Transport system now 150 years old (4) 6. Male international airport code (3) 7. Majorca resort, popular with partygoers (7) 9. Flows through Newcastle (4) 10. City break destination offered by 1 Across (4) 12. Baghdad is the capital (4) 14. Ostrich-like bird of South America (4) 17. The Galapagos Islands are part of this country (7) 18. Guernsey, Channel Islands airport code (3) 19. Comedian and chat show host Alan (4) 20. French city on the Eurostar route (5)

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Down 1. He is Jack Reacher at a cinema near you (3,6) 2. Historic city in Brittany (5) 3. Popular Italian resort on the Adriatic (6) 4. Lome is the capital (4) 5. Luxury tour operator, ___ Worldwide (5) 8. Norway based ferry company (5,4) 11. Solo and Girls Aloud singer (6) 13. Oranjestad is the capital (5) 15. Famous South American falls (5) 16. Central European river (4)

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 30 January 18 2013

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conferencereport ors gathered last AITO INDEPENDENT agents and operat nts domestic weekend at the AITO Specialist Travel Age Hotel in conference – held at the Chesford Grangenetworking Warwickshire. The programme included rkshops, and also opportunities, business sessions and wo ognised and saw the achievements of AITO Agents recCeremony. Here’s rewarded at its annual All Stars Awards nt… a round-up of the top news from the eve ABTA to review voucher incentive schemes under Bribery Act AITO REPRESENTATIVES formed an expert panel to highlight their top tips for 2013 and the issues to keep an eye on this year. The panel featured Ted Wake of Kirker Holidays, Nigel Armitage of Millington Travel, Eddie Kyle of Kyle Travel Services and Brendan Maguire of If Only…

Maguire from If Only…highlighted the increasing numbers of vouchers agents are receiving for making bookings with operators, which raised a number of comments from delegates. He said: “We have been dragged into the gutter paying vouchers to travel agents. We do partake in this occasionally with the utmost reluctance, but I feel that objectivity is going out of the window and a number of agents are booking solely with operators for that reason.”

Noel Josephides from Sunvil Holidays and ABTA board director said that ABTA is looking at this issue under the Bribery Act. He said: “It’s a very serious issue because it’s wrong for clients to be diverted away from you simply because the agent is getting vouchers. ABTA legal are going to take a look at this as it’s a growing trend.”

Gemma Antrobus from Hazelmere Travel, an agency that refuses to accept voucher incentives, said that in the true spirit of AITO this isn’t what agents should be offering clients. She said: What’s most important is the service we give our clients, ensuring that we’re selling the right holiday to the right client through the right operator. We use the lack of not having vouchers to negotiate better commercial terms with our tour operator partners and it works exceptionally well.”

SHINING STARS….winner of the Shining Star Award, Stephanie Jepson (second from right) of Courtney World Travel celebrates her win with, from the left: Yvonne Holmes of Classic Travel, Sophie Thackeray of Classic Collection Holidays, Peter Holmes of Classic Travel and Claire Cannon of Classic Collection Holidays.

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January 18 2013

Armitage added that he saw this from a different perspective. He said: “There’s been such a tight squeeze on salaries over the past four or five years, so if an operator is offering benefits for staff I’m happy to allow them to claim vouchers. If salaries were not so tight, maybe I would take the vouchers away and agree with you.”

Other concerns from the panel included the increasing number of all-inclusive resorts being opened worldwide, raised by Armitage, which has led to locals struggling for trade.

Wake responded by saying that as long as agents understand the complex consumer and what their particular client is after, they can come up with some expert advice about a tailor-made alternative, adding that at this point in the economic cycle it’s more of a challenge to get this message across. Andrew Brownrigg of Haslemere Travel suggested that it might be a good opportunity for hotels to build relationships with restaurants as part of an all-inclusive offer, in the form of spending vouchers in local restaurants.

Meanwhile, Kyle posed the question that ABTA may now be a spent force, in view of the CAA’s efforts to educate the general pubic with regard to the Atol certificate. He also voiced concern over his ABTA membership having received little guidance on the issue surrounding paying VAT on credit cards.

Josephides responded by asking other delegates if they had similar issues and if agents had felt abandoned on this issue to look after themselves. Around half of agents agreed and Josephides said he would also take this up with ABTA.

Agents ‘missing a trick’ on responsible tourism marketing SUSTAINABILITY WAS the hot theme of this year’s conference and Dr Xavier Font, co-director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism at Leeds Metropolitan University, explained how delegates can use sustainability to gain a competitive advantage.

He said: “Sustainability is about the experiences you offer and some agents are missing a trick in telling clients about these. People are looking for holidays that are no longer vanilla flavoured. The beauty of going to small travel agents over online bookings is that you can tell your clients something really interesting about destinations and explain how their experience will be enhanced.

“Statistics show that if two holidays are the same, the customer prefers to book the one that is sustainable, yet statistics from VisitEngland also reveal that 46% of your customers don’t want to think about being green – they just want to relax.

“The message to agents is not to patronise clients and don’t sell green as guilt.

If you are going to sell sustainability you need to sell it with humour and in a way of telling people what they are gaining not what they are losing. Think of ways you can unpack sustainability into different elements that are meaningful to your customer. Customers won’t change their behaviour unless there’s a clear benefit for them so it’s not enough to say ‘I am sustainable’ – find a way of turning the customer on such as highlighting the fun factor, the cultural immersion and better service.”

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conferencereport Dubai to host AITO Agents’ summer overseas conference in June AITO’S OVERSEAS summer conference will be held in Dubai from June 14-17 and will focus on three key themes - the retail environment, how best to maximise the unique benefit of relationships between AITO Tour Operators and AITO Specialist Travel Agents and

an analysis of consumer aspirations for travel in 2013 and beyond.

Sponsored by the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing, Emirates and Sofitel, conference delegates will stay at the five-star Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach Hotel and

will have the chance to explore the historic and cultural side of the destination as part of the programme, as well as join pre- and post-fam trips to Oman and Mauritius. The summer conference will be in addition to AITO’s winter overseas conference which

Dubai

will take place in November.

For more information visit www.uk.definitelydubai.com

InBrief ● TOP TIPS for 2013 from an industry panel included: “When you write a

message to your clients, make certain that they feel that the person who wrote it understands them” (Ted Wake, Kirker Holidays); “Think outside of the box and make yourself unique.” (Brendan Maguire, If Only…); “You can generate new business from your existing clientele by sending out cards and flowers for special anniversaries or birthdays and gifts to high spending clients. Never forget the fact that if you look after clients they’ll look after you.” (Eddie Kyle, Kyle Travel Services); and “My tip this year is to get professional testimonials written by my customers and have my own Tripadvisor.” (Nigel Armitage, Millington Travel.) ● CHAIRMAN OF AITO Agents, Oliver Broad, highlighted industry issues

that he felt were important, including the lack of commission agents

receive from cruise companies. He said:“I’m sick to death of being paid 5% commission - over half the amount we used to get for doing more work. All the cruise companies do is accept the booking and approve them.” ● CONFERENCE MODERATOR, Jono Vernon-Powell from Nomadic

Thoughts, offered his thoughts on current industry issues, highlighting the importance of embracing the broader subject of today’s modern technology platforms. He said: “Instant information is king. In 2012 less than 5% of America’s advertising budget was spent promoting products through hand-held devices. In contrast the projected 2013 figure is 29%. To engage our new clients as well as keep existing clients we need to embrace all forms of communication and our personal service should be our lynchpin to our sustaining profits.”

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New flights, resorts & hotels from Cosmos COSMOS HOLIDAYS has introduced new flights from Leeds Bradford to three Turkish gateways; Dalaman, Bodrum and Antalya for this summer, with an additional new flight available from East Midlands to Dalaman from July 17 to September 25.

New resorts include Goynuk featuring the fourdiamond rated Sherwood Greenwood Resort with prices from £453 per person including flights, seven nights' all-inclusive accommodation and transfers for a Gatwick departure on October 10.

A range of newly featured four- and five-diamond rated hotels have also been added in the Antalya area including Belek, Lara Beach and Side.

The choice includes the Susesi Luxury Resort and Titanic Deluxe Resort in Belek; Delphin Imperial in Lara Beach; and Side Breeze Hotel in Side. Prices at the Titanic Deluxe Resort, for an October 10 departure from Gatwick, start from £608 per person including flights, seven nights' all-inclusive accommodation and transfers.

Meanwhile, the operator has introduced a new holiday concept, Relax & Explore, to provide customers with the flexibility to book the holiday that suits them, based on a single or twin centre.

Customers can set their own pace by adding excursions, in addition to the ‘must see’ sightseeing already included in the holiday.

The choice features a selection of historical and cultural highlights of Europe including the eight-day Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, which leads in at £579 per person and is based in Dalyan. A choice of properties is offered and an included half-day excursion is turtle spotting in the Dalyan area.

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MARTI ISTANBUL has opened in Taksim, the shopping, cultural and commercial heart of Istanbul.

Nightly rates start from €200 (approximately £163), based on two sharing a Classic double room.

For details see www.martiistanbulhotel.com

New Club Med flagship resort scheduled to open near Antalya OPENING IN spring 2013 on the Mediterranean shores of the Turkish Riviera, 55km east of Antalya, Club Med Belek is set to become the brand’s flagship luxury family resort in Europe.

The resort is home to a variety of sports and activities including three sports academies with activities for all levels ranging from golf and sailing to tight rope walking and the flying trapeze; a variety of luxury accommodation, villas and services; several indoor and outdoor swimming pools for families, adults only as well as a water park for the kids; a spa; kids' clubs; bowling alley; and three restaurants.

The property is set on a 247-acre estate that includes a golf course and 433 guestrooms, featuring a private balcony or terrace and comprising of 328 Club Rooms, 81 Deluxe Seaview Rooms and 24 Suites with private hammam or pool, as well as dedicated family rooms. The resort also offers 16 luxury villas complete with personal butlers, private concierge services, outdoor swimming pool

with paddling area for the kids, indoor pool, private sauna and garden, as well as a private lounge space on the beach and unlimited free access to the Lykia Links Golf course.

The company's UK managing director Laurent de Chorivit said: "Turkey is an attractive holiday destination all year round that is soaring up the rankings as a holiday of choice for UK holidaymakers and we look forward to expanding our brand presence in the region.”

Prices lead in at £669 per adult and £409 per child, based on a May 10 departure from Gatwick, including an early booking saving of £300 per adult and £150 per child. Bookings must be made by January 23 and packages include flights, transfers, accommodation, all meals with wine, beer and soft drinks, open bar and snacks, kids' clubs, spa access and a range of group classes and sports activities.

For more information or to book visit www.clubmed.co.uk or call 0845-367 6767.

Just Sunshine issues new upmarket programme THIS YEAR marks Just Sunshine's second year for its stand-alone Turkey programme and the operator has added new flights from Newcastle in addition to Gatwick and Manchester.

The company's marketing manager Chris Mansell said: “Our product has been repositioned to target a more upmarket audience with the addition of 14 hotels in the resorts of Orhaniye, Datca and Kas, including small luxury boutique properties like the Peninsula Gardens Hotel in Kas and Likya Gardens in Kalkan. There are 13 resorts along the Lycian coast in the programme.

"A particular message that we want agents to be aware of, now that a number of operators have or are likely to reduce commission, is that we pay 13% on all packages for all destinations including our Tunisian programme.”

Prices lead in at £343 per person for a week at the Riverside Hotel in Dalyan on a bed-andbreakfast basis for a week in May, departing from Gatwick.

All holidays include a 20kg baggage allowance and transfers. A deposit of £50 per person and a guaranteed discount of £50 per person is available on all charter flight based holidays.

For more information or to book call 0844-756 0056 or visit www.justsunshine.com

January 18 2013

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turkey Turkish Culture and Tourism Office puts focus on adventure tourism, sports & sailing THE TURKISH Culture and Tourism Office (TCTO) reports that Turkey welcomed 31.4million visitors in 2011, representing a 9.8% year-on-year growth and a 50% increase in these figures over the last five years. By November last year the destination had already clocked up 30.44m foreign visitors and now ranks sixth in terms of the number of foreign arrivals, having moved up one place, according to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO).

Although the tourist office reports that most Brits opt for an all-inclusive break, in recent years the focus has been on highlighting Turkey's diverse attractions, which include adventure travel, sports and sailing.

The TCTO's UK director Tolga Tuyluoglu said: "Our aim this year is to inform a wide range of British visitors of the thrilling and fun opportunities available all over Turkey. Some 69% Brits have never visited Turkey so this should be an opportunity to

attract newbies as well as influence repeat visitors to try something different.

"As a large country boasting an incredibly varied landscape that can cater for almost every kind of activity, Turkey is the perfect year-round playground for thrill-seekers and adventure lovers alike. From white-water rafting and canoeing to scuba diving and kite-surfing, caving and mountain biking, hiking and paragliding to hot-air ballooning and golfing, Turkey has an enthralling array of sports on offer.

"Travellers are in a never-ending quest to 'get away from it all' and sailing in Turkey is the perfect solution. The destination also has a wealth of world-class marinas, including 19 Blue Flag Marinas, with a number having opened in recent years providing excellent facilities for those who have chartered a yacht, with mooring available all round the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts."

Tolga Tuyluoglu For more information see www.gototurkey.co.uk

Olympic Holidays focuses growth on three-star market OLYMPIC HOLIDAYS has expanded in the Turkish Riviera resort of Side for this summer, and is focusing its growth on the three-star market.

New additions include the Side Best Hotel, the newly opened Side Best House, the Sunlight Gardens Hotel and the family-run Aral hotel. The summer sun programme, which takes advantage of strong air links into nearby Antalya, also includes the five-star Villa Side Residence Hotel, a new all-inclusive property aimed at the family market.

Other Turkish Riviera additions include the two-star Victoria Princess Hotel in Side, a family-run budget level complex, and the three-star all-inclusive Club Hotel Rama in Kemer.

Meanwhile, other resorts with new property additions include Oludeniz, Fethiye, Turunc, Marmaris, Gumbet, Belek and Bodrum. Five-star newcomers to the operator's 2013 summer sun brochure include the all-inclusive Royal Asarlik Beach Hotel in Gumbet and Isil Club Bodrum. Among the four-star additions are the 60-room Villa Nirvana Boutique Hotel in Oludeniz; Alesta Yacht Hotel in Fethiye; and My Meric Hotel in Turunc.

As an example of packages, a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at the five-star Villa Side Residence Hotel in September leads in at £725 per person based on two sharing and includes flights from Gatwick and transfers.

MOSAIC HOLIDAYS is highlighting a ten-night multi-centre trip that takes in Cappadocia, Istanbul and the Turquoise Coast.

Accommodation is at the Argos Hotel in Cappadocia for three nights, the Sirkeci Konak Hotel Istanbul for two nights and the Asiyan Hotel in Kalkan for five nights. Prices lead in at £1,199 per person based on breakfast accommodation in Standard rooms.

For details visit www.mosaicholidays.co.uk

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Five-night family deal from LykiaLodge THE FOUR-STAR LykiaLodge Kapadokya (in Cappadocia) is offering a five-night half-board stay in April for £1,775 per family of four. The deal includes transfers, a three-day tour of the region and a family sunrise hot air balloon ride.

Flights are excluded but can be booked with Pegasus Airlines, which flies twice daily to Cappadocia from Stansted via Istanbul, from £84.99 one-way including taxes and charges.

For more information call 0844-482 1674 or visit www.lykiagroup.co.uk and www.flypgs.com

Classical Turkey & Treasures of Eastern Turkey Tours from Bales BALES WORLDWIDE has launched two new tours of Turkey including a 14-day Classical Turkey option which leads in at £2,495 per person, based on a June 9 departure. It includes scheduled flights to Istanbul, accommodation and sightseeing encompassing Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamum Acropolis, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Cappadocia, Konya and Antalya.

Prices for a newly added 15-day Treasures of Eastern Turkey tour lead in at £2,395 for a May 24 departure, including scheduled flights to Istanbul from Heathrow, accommodation and sightseeing encompassing Istanbul, Trabzon, Erzurum, Kars, Dogubeyazit, Van, Diyarbakir, Kahta and Malatya. Both trips include an English-speaking guide including tipping, private air-conditioned vehicles for transfers, a sightseeing itinerary (including entrance fees), and accommodation based on two sharing.

For more information or to book call 0845-057 0600 or visit www.balesworldwide.com

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turkey Flexible breaks with Green Island Holidays GREEN ISLAND Holidays is offering the chance to combine any of its brochures' featured resorts as a multi-centre holiday; offering more than one location and holiday in one go. Customers can fly from 18 locations across the UK and Ireland and choose the exact number of days and combinations of resorts, including Istanbul, Alacati and Bodrum.

Package prices include an early booking discount for holidays booked by March 31. As an example, a seven-night breakfast stay at Morro in Alacati leads in at £529 per person including flights and transfers.

For details call 020-7637 7338 or visit www.greenislandholidays.com

Anatolian Sky adds new properties to 2013 brochure ANATOLIAN SKY’S 2013 brochure introduces a range of handpicked resorts across the Mediterranean coast, Antalya and Cappadocia.

New hotels include Flow Daçta, a contemporary hotel located on the beach with its own windsurfing school; the adult-only Oasis Hotel; and The Olive Farm Guesthouse.

As an example of prices, a seven-night breakfast stay at Flow Daçta leads in at £575 per person while a seven-night trip including three nights in Istanbul and four in Cappadocia costs from £889 including breakfast accommodation, flights and transfers.

A new programme for gulet cruising has also been introduced and features the new gulet, Cankaya II, which offers accommodation in ten cabins. Prices lead in at £665 per person and include a week's cruise from Fethiye to Kas, a visit to the sunken city at Kekova and full board accommodation.

Prices are based on two adults sharing and include flights and transfers.

For more information call 0844-273 3585 or visit www.anatoliansky.co.uk

New hotels and villas from Ilios Travel ILIOS TRAVEL has expanded its Turkey product to feature a wider selection of hotels, including the luxury D-Maris and the “Windsurf” Hotel Flow Datca, both on the Datca peninsula, to the small, boutique Hotel Loryma on the Bozburun peninsula.

The company has also added several new villas on the Bodrum peninsula to its programme including Casa Maroc, a more intimate house which is within walking distance of Bitez and its sandy beach, as well as Strawberry Fields, which sleeps ten and is close to the town of Gümüşlük.

For details see www.iliostravel.com and www.visionsholidaygroup.co.uk

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pixmix A GROUP of travel agents recently attended a Club Med Val d’Isere Resort educational. The group of beginner and advanced skiers stayed at the Premium all-inclusive resort where they tried out all the facilities and also visited the Club Med Tignes Resort.

SKI PROS…from the left, Charlie Worsle y from Skitracer; David Coates, Independent Ski Links; Mike Pritchard from Born 2 Ski and Bettina Mc Cue of Baldwins Travel return from a morning discovering the advanced ski areas.

THREE TIMES 45…wea ring the Club Med 45 shir ts are from the left: Be th Gatt, Club Med ; Laura Thompson , Quar tz Travel ; and Gloria Chukwu, Club Med .

TRIDENT LUXURY…Alison Bro wn (left) from SNO Ltd and Beth Gatt from Club M ed sample a 5 Trident suite at the Club Med Resor t, Va l d'Isere.

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SKIING DEBUT…the beginner group prepares for a ski lesson. From the left is: Beth Gatt and Karen Milward from Club Med with Laura Cann from Oyster Travel and Laura Thompson, Quartz Travel.

TIME FOR TIGNES…enjoying the outdoors at the Tignes resort are, from the left: Gloria Chukwu, Beth Gatt and Karen Milward all from Club Med.

APRES SKI PALS…Charlie Worsley (left) from Skitracer, Scott May of Barrhead Travel and Mike re Pritchard (right) from Born 2 Ski raise a toast befo t, Le dinner at the Val d’Isere resort speciality restauran Chalet du Charvel. www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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FCO urges holidaymakers not to take risks THE FOREIGN & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is urging British nationals heading off on a ski or snowboarding holiday with friends and family this winter to know their limits and not put themselves at risk by trying to keep up with more experienced members of their party.

The advice comes on the back of figures released by Posts in France that show the number of reported accidents on the slopes last year continued to be high including seven deaths out of 12 serious incidents.

FCO staff based in Marseille, who cover all resorts in France, are launching a campaign aimed at Brits visiting winter sports resorts across Europe this winter to encourage them to understand the dangers of attempting slopes beyond their level of ability or going off piste without the correct safety equipment.

Simon Taylor, Consul, based in Marseille, said: “Last year we saw a high number of British nationals end up in hospital with serious injuries. Sadly this included a number of deaths.

Many of these accidents can be prevented by taking simple precautionary steps.

“Many people will be unaware that failing to wear a helmet or skiing off piste can invalidate some insurance policies so if something does go wrong you could end up with hefty medical bills. In many cases family members then have to help with funds which can put a huge strain on families.

The FCO cannot pay for hospital treatment or for medical repatriation back to the UK which is why it is so important to check your insurance covers you for everything you want to do.”

For advice on preparing for travel abroad visit www.fco.gov.uk/travel

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wintersports Snowmobile expedition from Taber Holidays TABER HOLIDAYS is offering the opportunity for guests to experience the Arctic on a snowmobile expedition across Spitsbergen.

Basecamp Spitsbergen Snowmobile Expedition costs from £2,953 per person and covers more than 200km over the course of three days.

Overnight accommodation includes Basecamp Trapper’s Hotel, a traditional wooden hunters lodge and Basecamp Isfjord Radio Station. One of the highlights of the trip is a night spent on the ‘Noorderlicht’ – a two-masted schooner frozen in the ice.

The five-night expedition departs on February 23, March 9, 16 and 23, April 6, 13 and 27 and May 4 and prices include flights, transfers, accommodation based on two sharing (including one night in Tromsø at the beginning of the trip), full board while in Spitsbergen and a guided snowmobile expedition.

For more information or to book call 01274-875199 or visit www.taberhols.co.uk

New weekly Swiss Alps Ski Train service from London TRAVELLING BY train to the Swiss Alps this winter has become easier with the launch of a weekly Swiss Alps Ski Train, which connects London St. Pancras and Ashford directly with the Valais in Switzerland.

The Saturday service runs until April 6 and aside from a platform change in Lille from Eurostar to a high speed TGV-Lyria, the service is non-stop to the main stations in Switzerland, where onward rail or postbus services connect to various ski resorts including Zermatt, Saas Fee, Les Diablerets, Villars, Leysin, Nendaz and Leukerbad.

Standard Class travellers can purchase food and drink in the bar-buffet carriages on the Eurostar and Lyria services. Standard Premier & Lyria Première Class travellers

have extra spacious carriages, meals and drinks. On the way out a breakfast will be served in Standard Premier and a cold light lunch in Lyria Première class. On the way back, a cold light lunch and drinks in Lyria Première and a light dinner with wine in Standard Premier on Eurostar are served.

Passengers will be allowed to take an extra item of luggage per person such as a pair of skis or snowboard, in addition to the usual maximum of two medium sized cases plus one item of hand luggage.

Fares start from £189 return in Standard Class and £299 in Standard Premier Class from London St Pancras to Brig, via Lille.

Tickets can be purchased at www.eurostar.com or from STC Switzerland Travel Centre by calling 020-7420 4900.

Neilson Holidays promotes January ski sale NEILSON HOLIDAYS is highlighting its ski sale this month which offers two-for-one lift passes and ski equipment plus additional discounts for online bookings.

The operator has a selection of catered ski chalets, hotels and apartments.

As examples of packages, a seven-night stay at Bellavista Apartments in Soldeu, Andorra, departing on January 27, offers savings of up to £156 per person and leads in at £199 based on six sharing on a self-catering basis. It includes flights from Gatwick and transfers.

A seven-night breakfast stay at Mayfhofen Guesthouses in Mayrhofen, Austria leads in at £289 per person and offers up to £206 saving per person. The offer is for departures from Birmingham on January 26 and includes flights and transfers.

Meanwhile, a seven-night half-board stay at the four-star Hotel La Torre in Sauze d'Oulx, Italy, departing on February 17, costs from £785 and offers a saving of up to £244 per person. It includes flights from Manchester and transfers.

For more information or to book call 0844-879 8155 or visit www.neilson.co.uk

January 18 2013

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wintersports ABTA research reveals skiers and snowboarders value destinations with a sustainable ethos ABTA AND Responsible Skiing have revealed the results of new research into consumer booking trends for winter sports holidays at the Responsible Skiing Conference. The research shows that factors such as local food, local architecture and landscape play a key role in attracting skiers and snowboarders to resorts.

When it comes to booking a ski holiday, practical factors such as the snow record and convenience of the location score highest with travellers. Significantly, however, once the practical factors have been covered, the factors having the most influence over booking are those associated with responsible tourism, such as the availability of local food, employing local people and preserving natural beauty.

Some 97% of respondents said that natural beauty was an important factor in helping them choose their ski resort. Skiers are also keen that overdevelopment does not spoil the natural beauty of a resort with more than half (53%) strongly preferring that resorts do not become any bigger, highlighting the importance of resorts focusing on maximising occupancies of existing developments. While

skiers are also keen for more ski terrain in resort, 85% of respondents agree that they only want it if new pistes and lifts do not impact the landscape.

A significant 81% of respondents said that when choosing a resort they value a range of village restaurants serving local specialities and one in seven (72%) said that they value a local supermarket in resort that sells local produce. Nearly eight in ten (77%) also said they don’t want an English feel to the place, highlighting the importance of employing local people and embracing local culture.

The association's head of destinations and sustainability Nikki White said: “It’s clear that when it comes to choosing a ski resort, once the basics are covered such as convenience and a good historical snow record, consumers are swung by factors such as the look and feel of the resort.

"In many respects, this is good news for travel companies as these are the factors that they are most able to influence. It is also good news for sustainable tourism as it means consumers’ preferences naturally lean towards resorts that have more responsible practices.”

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January 18 2013

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TAKING OVER from the British Ski and Board Show, a new event, InTheSnow Live, will be hosted at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham from October 25-27.

Show director Dominic Killinger from InTheSnow magazine said: “Our desire is to create a national snowsports show for everyone from first timers to seasoned skiers and snowboarders. We have some exciting features planned, from our unique luxurious après ski bar to our Christmas wonderland and the multi-purpose skills slope, to surprise and delight visitors and really deliver an exceptional day out, whilst offering great value for everyone who loves snowsports.”

For details see www.inthesnowlive.com

New packages from Kulm Hotel St Moritz THE KULM Hotel St Moritz has introduced three new packages. A 'Cresta Run' option includes three nights’ accommodation with breakfast and lunch, five Cresta rides over two or three days including tuition, equipment and a 25-minute massage. It costs approximately £1,030 per person based on two sharing a double room and is available until February 8. Women (who are not allowed down the Cresta Run) receive a credit of CHF400 to use in the new £8million Kulm Spa St. Moritz, as an alternative.

A 'Bob Taxi Ride' package includes two nights’ accommodation on a half-board basis, a bob taxi ride (with a certificate and an Olympic Bob Run pin), a 20-minute hydro jet Alpine herb bath and unlimited use of Kulm Spa St. Moritz. Prices start from approximately £655 per person based on two sharing and the package is available until February 8, Sunday to Thursday inclusive.

Meanwhile, a “Monobob” package is exclusive to hotel guests, who get the chance to pilot a monobob down the ice run twice, at speeds of up to 75mph. It also includes two nights’ breakfast accommodation, lunch at the Bob restaurant, a curling lesson and an aperitif followed by dinner in the Sunny Bar, as well as unlimited use of Kulm Spa St. Moritz. Prices lead in at around £985 per person based on two sharing, and the package is applicable on specific dates, including February 24-26.

For details or to book email reservations@kulmhotelstmoritz.ch or visit www.kulmhotelstmoritz.ch

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caribbean Fighting off stiff competition to gain the recognition it deserves

by JUANITA COLLINS, UK sales & marketing manager, Caribbean Airlines

HRISTMAS ALWAYS bodes well for Caribbean travel, particularly Barbados and St. Barths, which are both extremely popular destinations for celebrities on a Christmas break. The UK media has been littered with images of Simon Cowell and Harry Styles all on Caribbean breaks, helping to highlight the Caribbean as a trendy, hip destination.

But the region has, of late, been fighting numerous battles on numerous fronts, including rising prices to the region, not least resulting from increased Air Passenger Duty. This dialogue has been framed largely in terms of impact to the region rather than demonstrable impact to the UK treasury.

Unless the region and its caretakers can illustrate a significant and detrimental impact on the UK travel industry and treasury, both clearly and accurately with numbers, then it appears that with significant revenue lost by the UK Treasury on the corporate front, largely due to creative tax evasion measures, increasing prices for travel to the region is a reality we must embrace.

C

Reinvention How then does the region reinvent and reposition itself? And for the enterprising agent, what is the value proposition offered by the region? This is the second battle being fought by the region and aggressively too, as it faces strong competition from competitor destinations in the Indian Ocean, North Africa and Europe, many of which offer sun, sea and sand abound.

Pity then that many do not know that there is considerably more to the Caribbean. Having been marketed throughout the years with what many term ‘wallpaper images’, no one seemingly different from the next, the average consumer and perhaps even agent, can be forgiven for thinking that the destinations are pretty much one and the same, virtually and visually interchangeable and offering leisure breaks only.

Numerous fam trips and aggressive campaigns by many Caribbean tourist boards have gone some way towards correcting this, but we have a considerably long way to go.

There are European markets where only small percentages of the population have ventured to the Caribbean and where the region remains a niche market. There are also entire subsets of the UK travelling public alienated by the perception of the region as a beach destination only. These subsets, one example of which may be those interested in Indonesia, Australia and Vietnam, may yet be converted to the vaunted status as Caribbean enthusiasts, as can the 18-30 group primarily interested in fun group activity.

Adventure seekers For adrenaline junkies, St.Lucia offers zip-lining, cycling, kayaking and quad-bike tours, as well as scuba-diving and

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horseback riding alongside pristine beaches and beautiful cuisine. Trinidad and Jamaica particularly offer vibrant night life, with Trinidad well known for its annual carnival, perhaps second only to Brazil. For nature lovers visiting Trinidad there’s the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, a wildlife preserve home to egrets, herons and the Scarlet Ibis. Next door to Trinidad, is Tobago, the sister island which offers high end accommodation with the recently renovated and impressive Magdalena Grand Resort, and which is also home to glass bottom boat tours which offer a decidedly unique vantage point of Tobago’s pristine blue sea.

Neighbouring Guyana, just one hour away from Trinidad, is a veritable treasure trove of unique and exciting experiences, one of which is the Iwokrama Rainforest home to the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, an extended platform around which many activities are constructed including bird-watching, night walks and wildlife watching.

Guyana, although lesser known than Trinidad and Tobago and until recently less accessible, has seen burgeoning interest from UK tour operators under the aegis of Wilderness Explorers, a reputable and knowledgeable Guyana Tour operator active in the UK and the de-facto Guyana Tourism Board. Guyana, as the only Englishspeaking country in South America, is considered more Caribbean than it is South American. It is famed for its rum, with El Dorado Rum, its finest preserve, gaining much acclaim worldwide and subsequently resulting in its inclusion in the Rum Tour itinerary soon to be launched by Victoria Alexander-Smith of Rum Experience Tours. Rum Experience Tours features Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana on its itinerary, all of them known for their distinct, unique and superlative rums, this of course presenting yet another niche audience for the region.

Accessibility With the launch of our flights in June of last year, Trinidad and Tobago is infinitely more affordable, with Trinidad in particular easily accessible due to our non-stop flight from Gatwick to Trinidad. Georgetown, Guyana has also become more accessible with seamless connections and affordable prices offered by our three times weekly service. And our one-way pricing structure, along with our policy of allowing a stopover in each direction, all renders the region more open to UK and European traffic - and more affordable.

It would be remiss not to mention too, the warmth and vibrancy of the Caribbean people. These are the elements which cannot be replicated by any other culture and which sets the region apart rendering the Caribbean magical… time for your clients to visit soon? ✦

January 18 2013

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caribbean Club Barbados Resort & Spa introduces new Sleep School CLUB BARBADOS Resort & Spa in Barbados, the latest addition to the Elite Island Resorts Group, is hosting an exclusive Sleep School in partnership with insomniac specialist Dr. Guy Meadows.

Following the school’s launch in 2011 on Grenada, the scheduled seven-day workshop will run from June 4-11 with further sessions planned for the latter half of this year in Barbados and at other locations including Antigua.

The Sleep School helps insomniacs by teaching them to let go of struggling with sleep so that their natural ability to sleep can emerge.

All of the tools that the school uses to educate people feature a unique combination of Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The approach is 100% nondrug based and prop-free.

Dr. Meadows said: “Insomniacs need to relearn how to sleep again; and The Sleep School knows that learning is most effective when delivered in a fun, relaxed and informative manner, not in an impersonal clinic or hospital. I’ve no doubt the tranquil surroundings of The Club Barbados Resort & Spa will make our second island sleep school as effective as the first.”

A seven-night allinclusive stay in a onebedroom Suite Garden View at the property, travelling with Kuoni, leads in at £1,755 per person based on two sharing. The price is based on bookings made

by February 28 and includes flights with BA and transfers.

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PARROT CAY in the Turks and Caicos has unveiled three new two-bedroom beach houses with private pools.

The properties are furnished with contemporary pieces from Bali, Indonesia and each features a pool, open living and dining area, dual master bedroom suites with large bathrooms, private outdoor showers and sun decks offering ocean views and direct access to the beach. Priced from US$3,300 per night, the houses can be rented individually or as a group of three, catering for a larger family gathering or a group of friends.

For details see www.comohotels.com/parrotcay

Antigua & Barbuda highlights festivals and events CLIENTS LOOKING to travel to Antigua and Barbuda this year can plan their trip to coincide with a selection of events, celebrations and festivals.

As examples, the annual Wadadli Day celebrations take place on February 23 and are ideal for cultureseekers and foodies. The open air festival puts on a show of the destination’s traditional arts, crafts, food, games, music and entertainment, with specific activities for children.

The island will also host part of the Naniki Jazz Safari, a new cultural tourism event with a variety of concerts and music workshops, from March 1-3. This year’s shows are scheduled to take place at the Grand Royal Antiguan Resort and the famous Lookout at Shirley Heights.

Antigua will also host Antigua Sailing Week from April 27 to May 3, which attracts participants from across the world and offers plenty of spectator opportunities across the island throughout the week.

Meanwhile, yachting enthusiasts will enjoy the many other yachting events, including the Super Yacht Challenge Antigua from January 25-27 and the Valentine’s Day Regatta from February 7-10.

Antigua and Barbuda will also be launching its new integrated online and mobile strategy early this year, which will include the creation of a new global website as well as iPad and iPhone apps.

For more information visit www.visitantiguabarbuda.co.uk

Eden Roc opens boutique hotel in Punta Cana PUNTA CANA, on the eastern region of the Dominican Republic, is now home to the Eden Roc at Cap Cana boutique hotel from Solaya Hotels & Resorts.

The 34-suite property offers a selection of amenities including six a la carte restaurants, a spa, beach club, kids’ club and access to the ‘Punta Espada’ golf course.

The hotel was designed as a luxury villa and offers private swimming pools and massage and relaxation areas. All suites feature modern technology including audio systems and other applications to control suite lights, sound systems, air-conditioning and the mini bar.

For more information visit www.edenroccapcana.com

New air link takes off between Antigua and St Barth THE ISLAND of St Barth is hoping for a healthy boost in visitors from the UK following the launch last month of a new scheduled service between it and Antigua. The new service by St Barth Commuter using new Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft offers flights each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with departures from St Barth at 14.45 and from

January 18 2013

Antigua at 16.30. It means that passengers on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic to Antigua can avoid the previous need to change planes twice to reach St Barth, and also take advantage of the free use of a club lounge at Antigua airport before the 35min flight to the island. St Barth Commuter also operates services to several other islands from its hub.

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caribbean Spa-inclusive suites at Elite Island Resorts A NEW range of spa holidays have been introduced by Elite Island Resorts at four of its resorts in the Caribbean.

From aromatic salt glow scrubs, detox seaweed wraps and deep clean facials to foot massages, the spa suite packages include five 45-minute spa treatments within a one-week all-inclusive spa stay.

The new breaks are available at The Verandah Resort & Spa in Antigua, The Club Resort & Spa in Barbados and St James’s Club Morgan Bay, Saint Lucia. Spa Suites at St James’s Club & Villas, Antigua will be available from next month.

Bath robes and spa packs, including a gentle exfoliating cleanser, sun protection cream and after sun mist for face and body, will also be included, and guests can choose their daily treatment from a specially designed spa menu, which all use Pevonia products.

The company’s European managing director Paula Whitehead said: “The trend for all-inclusive holidays continues to rise in the economic downturn - but we need to set the pace for our high end customers and create new options.

“By combining our best suites at each resort with a menu of creative treatments means guests can relax knowing they have paid one overall price at the time of booking.”

The spa suite packages are now available to book through all operators who feature the resorts including British Airways, Kuoni, Signature by Thomas Cook, Tropical Sky and Virgin Holidays.

ATTRACTION WORLD is highlighting its top-selling tours in Jamaica including a Horseback Ride & Swim in Montego Bay for £50 per adult and £35 per child (aged six-12). The tour takes guests through a tropical rainforest, the Jamaican countryside and the surf of the Caribbean sea. Other popular tours include Jungle River Tubing in Montego Bay for £43 per adult and £31 per child; and a Zip Lining Canopy Tour in Ocho Rios for £61 per adult and £43 per child (aged eight-12).

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a i v a n i d n sca

'Real Scandinavia' brochure launch from Sunvil Discovery SUNVIL DISCOVERY has launched its 2013 Real Scandinavia brochure, featuring flexible, year-round holiday ideas and hand-picked accommodation throughout Sweden, Norway and the Faroe Islands.

A greater emphasis has been placed on ‘suggested itineraries’, which have been devised by the operator’s travel team, and the winter programme has also been expanded to include a more diverse range of excursions, ranging from husky sledding to a king crab fishing trip.

New property highlights include the Treehotel in Swedish Lapland and the boutique Hotel Myhregaarden in the Norwegian Fjords.

Examples of new itineraries in Sweden include the fournight Silence of the Winter – Husky Experience, which teaches participants how to lead, mush and care for husky dogs. Prices for full-board accommodation lead in at £1,333

New Spitsbergen tour from GRJ GREAT RAIL Journeys has launched a new 18-day North Cape & Spitsbergen Cruise tour for this year.

Travellers will explore Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands before boarding MS Marco Polo for a voyage to the Arctic Circle.

The cruise takes in Norway, the Orkney Islands and the Faroe Islands from £2,125 per person, based on two sharing and includes four nights’ hotel accommodation on a half-board basis and full board on the 13-night cruise.

Also included is a guided tour of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, excursions to Queens View and Edradour distillery and a journey on the Strathspey Steam Railway.

Prices are based on a June 26 departure and include the services of a tour manager throughout.

For more information or to book visit www.greatrail.com

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per person based on two sharing, including flights from Heathrow, transfers and excursions.

Meanwhile, a three-night In the land of the Northern Lights trip in Norway is designed to maximise the chance of seeing the natural phenomenon. It includes a snowmobile tour to the Valley of the Finn from Tromsø and prices lead in at £1,218 per person based on two sharing, including breakfast accommodation, flights from Heathrow, transfers and excursions.

Alternatively, clients travelling to the Faroe Islands can experience Hotel Elite Plaza in Malmö, where three nights’ breakfast accommodation leads in at £469 per person, based on two sharing, including flights from Stansted and rail transfers.

For more information or to book call 020-8758 4747 or visit www.sunvil.co.uk

Radisson Blue Riverside Hotel to open in Gothenburg Gothenburg’s newest hotel, the Radisson Blue Riverside Hotel, will open its doors on March 18. Offering a waterside location with harbour views on the banks of the Göta River at Lindholmen, the hotel features 265 rooms and The Cuckoo’s Nest restaurant, offering both international and local dishes. It also features a spa and fitness centre with an indoor pool, sauna, gym and three Jacuzzis, one of which is outdoors. One night’s breakfast stay in a double room costs from £45 per person, based on two sharing.

For more information see www.radissonblu.com/riversidehotel-gothenburg Meanwhile, building on its reputation as Culinary Capital of Sweden 2012, Gothenburg has been chosen as the host city for the World Food Travel Summit from September 21-24.

For details see www.worldfoodtravel.org

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scandinavia TABER HOLIDAYS has introduced a Sweden’s Great Lakes & the West Coast tour.

The seven-night motoring itinerary starts and ends in Gothenburg, following a circular route which takes in Lake Vänern (the largest lake in Western Europe) and passes through Bohuslan and a number of coastal villages, including Fjällbacka.

Departing daily from June 1 to August 31, prices lead in at £1,134 per person based on two sharing. It includes flights from Heathrow, breakfast accommodation, car hire with unlimited mileage and a motoring itinerary and map.

For more information call 01274-875199 or see www.taberhols.co.uk

Simply Sweden offers highlights of West Sweden with new fly/drive SIMPLY SWEDEN is offering travellers the chance to experience the highlights of West Sweden’s coastline on a new nine-day fly/drive that explores Styrsö island, Ljungskile, Fjällbacka and Lysekil.

Guests spend two nights at the Taste of West Swedenaccredited Bryggan Hotel and restaurant, adjacent to the harbour in Fjällbacka. There is the option to substitute one of the nights in Fjällbacka for a stay on the Weather Islands, the westernmost part of Sweden.

The trip costs from £1,495 per person based on two sharing and includes eight nights’ breakfast accommodation, flights and car hire.

For more information or to book call 0845-890 0300 or visit www.simplysweden.co.uk

New summer options from Inntravel INNTRAVEL HAS introduced two new breaks to Scandinavia this summer.

The Danish Riviera & North Zealand Castles cycling holiday offers a variety of cycling routes, taking in the coastline and castles of Denmark’s largest island, North Zealand, in the Danish Riviera.

The holiday includes visits to the Royal Palace of Fredensborg (known as the Danish Versailles); a boat journey along 'Denmark's Loveliest Sea Mile' to reach Frederiksborg castle; the beaches of Hornbæk; and Kronborg Castle.

Six nights’ breakfast accommodation costs from £1,065 per person based on two sharing, including four dinners, luggage transfers, route notes, maps and cycle hire.

Meanwhile, a Sweden's West Coast tour gives guests the opportunity to dine at A Taste of West Swedenaccredited restaurants, experiencing the Swedish ‘Big Five’ – oysters, lobsters, mussels, crayfish and prawns.

The two-centre break gives guests the opportunity to explore the Koster Islands, which are free of motor vehicles, along with Fjällbacka on the mainland, the holiday playground of Ingrid Bergman.

Prices lead in £995 per person based on two sharing, including six nights’ breakfast accommodation, five dinners and transfers.

Both trips exclude flights.

For more information or to book call 01653-617000 or visit www.inntravel.co.uk

Terje Rakke/Nordic Life/visitnorway.com

Sweden’s Great Lakes & West Coast tour from £1,134 from Taber

Taber Holidays

One day.

One moment.

One Norway

CHILLING OUT…Sunvil Discovery rewarded its top 20 agents of 2012 with a trip to Swedish Lapland last month. Staying at the IceHotel throughout, the agents experienced dog and reindeer sledding and snowmobiling and visited the Aurora Sky Station.

Pictured enjoying the Ice Bar at the IceHotel are, from the left (back row): Polly Davies, Marco Polo Travel; John Allen, John Allen Travel; Sue John, Sunvil Discovery; John Osborne, Robert Broad Travel; Susie Atkinson, Haslemere Travel; Paul Lodge, Carolyn Lodge Travel; Stephanie Khawaja, Real Holidays; and Michelle Vincent, Sunvil Discovery; with (at the front): Chris Riley from Cambourne Travel and Paula Boyd from Travel Planners.

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Visit our website at: www.taberhols.co.uk Or call: 01274 875199 for your free Nordic Only brochure

January 18 2013

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scandinavia Flight-inclusive offer from Hurtigruten HURTIGRUTEN HAS launched a special flightinclusive offer on its 12day Classic Round Voyage from Bergen in the south to Kirkenes in the north, taking guests high above the Arctic Circle and back to Bergen.

The deal is available on selected dates between June 1 and September 14 and includes flights from Gatwick at reduced prices and an inside or outside cabin, which is allocated on arrival. Guests will also receive £120 credit per cabin.

Prices lead in at £1,938 per person including flights from Gatwick, based on two sharing on selected dates between August 1 and September 14, for bookings made by February 14.

For more information call 020-8846 2666 or visit www.hurtigruten.com

DIAMOND RAIL Holidays' 2013 programme includes a ten-day Scandinavian Highlights tour, with options to cruise the Norwegian fjords, travel one of the steepest railways in the world and visit Copenhagen, all from £2,095 per person. Guests will travel from London to Paris by Eurostar and on to Cologne to join a City Night sleeper train to Copenhagen. From here, the itinerary takes travellers on to Oslo and then to Dombas to join the Rauma Railway, which runs for 71m through Norway. Travellers will then take a cruise along the fjords and coastline to Bergen and, before returning to Oslo, spend a day on the Flam Railway. Included in the price is rail travel throughout, nine nights’ breakfast accommodation, transfers, excursions and a tour manager. Departures are on July 15 and September 2.

For details call 0844-544 7581 or visit www.sellingrailholidays.com

Gothia Towers adds new rooms for summer THE FOUR-STAR Gothia Towers hotel, located in the heart of Gothenburg opposite Liseberg Amusement Park, will feature 59 additional luxury rooms and suites this summer. This will be in addition to its current 704 rooms, with plans to increase the room count to a total of 1,200 at the end of next year, once a third tower is added to the complex.

For details see www.gothiatowers.com

Stockholm’s Djurgården set for ABBA Museum launch in May IN MAY, Stockholm will open its own ABBA Museum, close to where the cruise ships dock at Djurgården.

The museum will feature all things related to the music, lyrics, stage costumes, musicals and films of the pop group, and claims to demonstrate Swedish cultural heritage through the band.

The exhibitions will be interactive and experience based, suitable for all audiences – particularly children and young people. The museum is also pairing up with

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the city museum to offer guided walking tours, which will take visitors through the sites of ABBA’s 1970s Stockholm. The two-hour tour will guide visitors from the City Hall, where Benny performed for the first time and the Old Town where Benny and Anni-Frid lived, to the Sheraton Hotel where ABBA videos were recorded and the Royal Opera which was the scene of the group's 1976 wedding gala performance.

For more information see www.abbathemuseum.com

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dynamicpackaging BLUE ISLANDS is responding to passenger demand on its Bristol service by increasing capacity on the route by 140% next month, when the 48 seat ATR-42 aircraft replaces the 19 seat Jetstream aircraft. The direct service between Bristol and Jersey is offered twice daily and the first flight with the ATR-42 aircraft will be on February 4.

Tips for selling more to make travel easy

by JAMES LEWIS, head of partnerships, Holiday Extras ●

●

●

●

For the cheapest prices, always offer extras at the time of selling the holiday.

Actively selling add-ons in advance will save the customer money.

Products that we offer are always discounted.

Booking breakfast or dinner at the hotel in advance will save money and add value to the holiday for the agent and for the client.

Build on the rapport that you have with your customer to really find out what they need – taking a bit more time will most probably pay dividends!

The customer relies on the agent to build and create their whole holiday experience. Preparation should be enjoyable and

●

●

the start of a holiday is a particularly emotive time, the journey is just as important as getting there.

Offer elements that will make the trip as easy as possible – like fast track security check-in from around £4 per person.

Entry to an airport lounge is a cost effective way of adding value to a holiday and it saves money for travellers at the airport that would be spent in the cafes and bars. Lounges cost from £16.50 per person and include drinks and snacks for up to three hours.

If the customer says that they already have travel insurance, dig a little deeper. Do they have cover that is tailored to their

holiday? If something goes wrong and they find that they are not protected by their policy, it could reflect badly on the person who sold them the holiday.

Customers see the agent as being responsible for the whole holiday experience. ● If a customer has an objection about paying up front for their add-ons, take the cancellation waiver as the deposit. £2.49 for a hotel booking and 90p for a parking booking is a small price to pay for securing a booking. ● Remember that family rooms are at a premium during peak periods. Early booking is most advisable.

For more information visit www.holidayextras.co.uk

Jetset confident on sales boost through Package Pal FOLLOWING THE recently released new JETS development, Jetset reports that it is confident about boosting its dynamic packaging sales via Package Pal. The company's sales director Adrian Smyth said: "easyJet has spotted the huge demand for clients wishing to have an exact seat reservation prior to boarding and has recently progressed this facility to the whole fleet. The benefit is enormous and cuts out the infamous stampede at the time of boarding that few people enjoyed. As the airline increases its routes around traditional family holiday hotspots, the need for all parties in the booking to be able to sit near to each other grows. By developing JETS to mirror easyJet, our clients have the ability to pay for seats together, a small amount more for seats at the front of the plane and finally a further amount for extra legroom seats. Agents selling the airline as seat-only or as part of a package need to be able to offer this facility and with JETS this has made it much easier.

"Both flight and package sales through us will benefit by this new development to the system but it is Package Pal that is expected to see the biggest boost. Package Pal is already seeing super growth on last January’s levels with Balearics, Turkey and Canaries all selling extremely well. As easyJet fly to all of these destinations we are hopeful that agents see us as the perfect place to dynamically package, safe in the knowledge we offer full flexibility, full commission and full protection."

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Sunvil & GIC announce new carrier for Greece programme SUNVIL HOLIDAYS and its sister company GIC The Villa Collection have announced the introduction of a new airline for their Greece programme this summer.

Chris Wright, operations director for Sunvil and MD of GIC The Villa Collection, said: “The new Germania flight is big news and will bring that well-known and much-admired German efficiency to Gatwick from its base in Berlin.

“Germania will base one of its fleet of aircraft at Gatwick for the entire summer season in order to fly our programme. We have contracted full catering (with hot meal service) plus a 20kg baggage allowance and pre-allocated seating.

Basically, we’ve selected all the old-fashioned frills much-missed by customers and served them up on a modern 737-700 aircraft that’s run by a company well-versed in efficient management of charter programmes.”

Customers using the new service will be able to prebook extras such as selecta-seat, additional legroom and excess baggage.

For more information see www.sunvil.co.uk and www.gicthevillacollection. com

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dynamicpackaging P&O FERRIES is offering six free bottles of wine with day trips taken on its Dover – Calais service this winter. Day trip fares start from £23 return for a car and passengers, with a choice of six bottles of red, white or rose Piat D’Or to pick up on board when travelling up to February 28. The offer coincides with a two-for-one meal deal (buy one English breakfast or one fish and chip meal and a second is free).

The offer can be booked at www.poferries.com using promotional code freewinedy or by calling 0871-664 6464.

Travel Indochina expands Asia River Cruising portfolio for 2013/14 TRAVEL INDOCHINA has launched its new Asia River Cruising brochure for 2013/14 with new river cruises through Burma and Laos, alongside established favourites on the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia and on the Yangtze in China.

The new 52-page brochure is the operator’s biggest and most comprehensive to date and features a range of itineraries on The Jahan and sister ship, Jayavarman. Each vessel has a maximum of 27 cabins with a private balcony and guests can choose from an eight-day, 12-day or 19-day itinerary sailing on either vessel.

Alternatively, customers can join two exclusive charters next year. Departing on August 15 and December 26, the 12day cruise and tour package will feature an eight-day luxury river cruise on The Jahan. Sailing from Saigon to Siem Reap, the gateway to the temples of Angkor, the cruise takes in sampan rides in the Mekong Delta, the historical sights of Phnom Penh and traditional Khmer villages. These departures are exclusively available for the operator's guests and include a tour leader. In addition, a range of discounts are available on all cabins, with savings of up to £900 per couple.

New itineraries in Laos also feature in the brochure and the operator’s seven-day and 11-day cruises offer an ideal way to see Laos from both the river and on land, sailing on

The Vat Phou or The Luang Say cruise boats. The itineraries sail from the Thai border to Luang Prabang, or in reverse, and from Pakse to the 4,000 Islands scattered across the Mekong.

The Vat Phou is a converted rice barge with 12 en-suite cabins and a maximum capacity of just 24 guests. In contrast, The Luang Say cruise does not have cabins and, instead, accommodation is at the Luang Say Lodge. Prices for a seven-day cruise start from £1,026 per person, excluding flights.

Also new in the brochure this year is the option to discover Burma while touring the Irrawaddy River on the RV Paukan or The Road to Mandalay cruise ships. The voyage begins from the ancient capital of Bagan, before journeying to the royal city of Mandalay and passing through forested gorges to Yangon. The cruises also operate in reverse. Three-day itineraries on the RV Paukan are offered and four-, eight- and 12-day itineraries incorporating The Road To Mandalay cruise – an Orient Express brand – with touring in Burma are available. Prices for an eight-day cruise start from £2,267 per person, excluding flights.

For more information or to book visit www.travelindochina.co.uk, call 01865-268944 or email agencysales@travelindochina.co.uk

TCs sees rise in tailor-made bookings as customers look for personalised service TRAVEL COUNSELLORS has announced that 65% of its bookings are now tailormade holidays, as the company continues to focus on enhancements to its in-house dynamic packaging system in order to create an even more bespoke service for customers.

The enhancements include further focus on the recommended hotels facility which, following an extensive internal agent survey conducted by the company and ongoing feedback given from agents and their customers, allows TCs to search for products based on personal recommendation. The company is also further extending the range of products available within the system that can be packaged under its Atol.

The company is also introducing new

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January 18 2013

documentation for agents to give to their customers across the board in order to make the booking and quote information provided more visually appealing and simpler for customers to read, as well as featuring more bespoke and dynamic content based on the individual booking, for example personalised destination information.

The company's IT director Paul Speakman said: “It’s all about making it more personal to the customer and their requirements. The rise in tailor-made bookings has highlighted the demand for dynamic packaging and as we focus on building relationships and treating our customers individually our products and materials need to reflect this.

"With so much confusion and controversy these days surrounding

online review sites we felt it was important for our agents to have a reliable source of information and recommendation so they can give the very best product advice to their customers, so we are focusing heavily on the recommended hotels facility and its content, plus catering the documentation they receive to reflect this is crucial and we have also invested significantly in this.”

The company has also seen a 40% increase in sales made through its own in-house tailor-made tour operation, Suitcase, which allows agents to utilise the team of specialists at head office to tailor-make packages, again extending agents’ offering to customers and further supporting them in building their businesses.

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dynamicpackaging Kids travel for £1 with Attraction World We asked our staff the following question this week: What was the last practical joke you played on someone?

Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk I placed a joke dog poo at the side of mum's toilet and made out my son had done it by mistake. Ha ha ha

Editor: Lauretta Wright lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk Told my mum there was an upgrade from Bluetooth wireless technology to Blacktooth. I had her for about 10 mins but couldn't keep a straight face longer than that

Assistant Editor: Jill Sayles jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk Contributing Editor: Paul Scudamore post@travelbulletin.co.uk Disguised the same talking beauty hand mirror as a Christmas present for my wife for the 11th year in succession. Oh how she laughed. Ouch!

Sales Director: Simon Eddolls simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk Regular letting chairs down in the office

Advertisement Manager: Tim Podger tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk Took our dog to the vet and convinced my sister it had been sold.

Online Sales Manager: Nick Boocock nick.boocock@travelbulletin.co.uk Not big on practical jokes, but I do get Tim with Pinch & Punch most months

Account Manager: Bill Coad bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk Phoned the mother-in-law and tried to sell her a chairlift.

She lives in a bungalow!

Sales Executive: Chris Gascoine chris.gascoine@travelbulletin.co.uk I told my dad it was tradition to sing the national anthem of America before thanksgiving dinner (which he did)

Sales Executive: Matt Gill matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk I put coffee granules in my friends pint!

Senior Designer: Genaro Santos genaro.santos@alaincharles.com Assistant Designer: Nicky Valsamakis nicky.valsamakis@alaincharles.com Production: Jeremy Walters production@travelbulletin.co.uk Circulation Manager: Jim Merchant post@travelbulletin.co.uk Travel Bulletin is published by Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) Ltd University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London, SW1W 0EX, Tel: 020-7834 6661 Printed by: Wyndeham Grange Limited Subscriptions are £105 p.a. £155 overseas ISSN: 0956-2419

Follow us on Twitter! @TravelBulletin

ATTRACTION WORLD is giving up to two children the chance to travel for £1 when two adults book from a selection of tours in Turkey and Egypt.

As examples, in Turkey tours operate across Marmaris, (Cruise the Blues Boat Trip, Dalyan by boat, Village Trip, Jeep Safari), Bodrum (Boat Trip, Milas Market, Turkish Bath) and Side (Bazaar and boat, Island and Dolphin Island). In Egypt tours include a Camel Ride & Bedouin Dinner, Evening City Tour of Sharm, Glass Bottom Boat Trip, Ras Mohammed Half Day by Land and Star Gazing and Dinner in the Desert, all in Sharm el Sheikh.

The offer is available for departures throughout this year for bookings made by March 31.

For more information call 0121-411 9022 or visit www.attractionworld.com

Butlins announces new commissionable add-ons BUTLINS HAS announced a range of new add-ons for this year.

Guests can now pre-book a personal visit from the company's Billy or Bonnie Bear characters at their accommodation for £60, and for £38 holidaymakers can pre-order a family grocery-pack which is delivered to their self-catering apartment. The pack includes four pints of milk, teabags, coffee, sugar, Kellogg’s Variety Pack, Kingsmill loaf, fresh fruit, still mineral water, Robinson’s orange juice, Tropicana orange juice, McVities digestive biscuits, Anchor Butter, Golden Shred marmalade, Hartley’s jam and six packets of crisps.

Meanwhile, guests can pre-order a family beach bag when they book their break which includes a branded bucket and spade, picnic blanket, beach ball, Frisbee and more for £30.

For details or to book see www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0845-070 4742.

Superbreak adds Florence to overseas destinations SUPERBREAK IS offering 22 hotels in Florence in its portfolio of properties, with two-, three- and four-star options available to suit all customers’ budgets. Flights can also be added from a range of UK airports.

As an example of prices, a breakfast stay at the four-star Fenice Palace Hotel costs from £31 per person per night in February and March. The hotel is located in the heart of Florence, 100m from Duomo Square, next to the Medici Chapels which overlook San Lorenzo market.

For details see www.superbreak.com/agents or call 0871-221 4444.

Gambia Bird confirms network expansion GAMBIA BIRD has taken another step towards the establishment of its brand as the Gateway to West Africa, with all flights now available through the Global Distribution System ‘Amadeus’.

The carrier recently welcomed the arrival of its second Airbus A319, giving the airline added flexibility to increase flight frequency to existing destinations and expand the route network.

New routes for this year include Bamako, Ouagadougou, Abidjan and Douala, and the carrrier is offering new connections between the following cities: Dakar-Freetown, Dakar-Bamako, Monrovia–Dakar, OuagadougouDakar, Accra-Abidjan, Accra-Dakar, Conakry-Abidjan, Dakar-Abidjan, Freetown-Accra, Freetown-Barcelona and Barcelona-Dakar.

Future plans include additional frequency on existing routes and introducing new destinations within Africa and Europe.

For more information visit www.gambiabird.com

puzzlesolutions Crossword: Across: 1. TABER, 4. TUBE, 6. MLE, 7. MAGALUF, 9. TYNE, 10. OSLO, 12. IRAQ, 14. RHEA, 17. ECUADOR, 18. GCI, 19. CARR, 20. LILLE. Down: 1. TOM CRUISE, 2. BREST, 3. RIMINI, 4. TOGO, 5. BALES, 8. FJORD LINE, 11. CHERYL, 13. ARUBA, 15.

ANGEL, 16. ODER.

Highlighted Word: AMERICA Travagrams: (top) Montreal

(bottom) Transun

Where Am I?: Zagreb

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Africa Showcase

Agent Training Events Invites you to attend a

Southern & East Africa Showcase Agent Networking Evening

Monday 18th February

Tuesday 19th February

Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel Free Trade Hall Peter Street Manchester M2 5GP

Crowne Plaza Hotel Central Square Holliday Street Birmingham B1 1HH

Travel Bulletin is delighted to invite you to this training event covering all that this stunning region has to offer in terms of accommodation, flights, health and wellbeing, wedding and honeymoon and tailormade packages.

Registration :

18.15 hours

Networking & Presentations:

18.30 hours

Buffet, Entertainment & Prizes:

20.00 hours

Carriages:

21.30 hours

For more information on how to exhibit or attend as a guest please email: jeanette@travelbulletin.co.uk or telephone 020 7834 6661