Travel Bulletin 18th April 2014 by Alain Charles Publishing

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April 18 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,868 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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Travel 2 presents Simply Luxury by Travel 2 Short Haul A collection of destinations that offer an array of cultural experiences, breathtaking beaches, an abundance of culinary delights a selection of the ﬁnest hand-selected 4 & 5* luxurious hotels at exceptional value throughout Europe, Egypt and Morocco. Additionally, your clients will have the option to add city destinations or cruising to all Simply Luxury Short Haul bookings. Partnered with a vast choice of scheduled and selected low cost airlines to offer a range of departures or connections across 27 UK airports, Travel 2 continues to provide ﬂexible travel for your clients to over 35 airports in stunning destinations.

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April 18 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,868 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

Gibraltar The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that rocks: Entice your clients with a festival break

this week airline bulletin 14 new Etihad programme aims to improve passenger sleep experience

training the latest training modules, roadshows & incentives

egypt operators offer top sales tips & promote new programme additions

usa new launches, announcements & offers from hoteliers, airlines & operators

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We’re stories

We’re rhythms

We’re Egypt

Seeyouinona Nile Cruise LUXOR - ASWAN

www.egypt.travel

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Cover Pictures: Main - Gibraltar Tourist Board

Inset - Red Sea Holidays

This Week 3

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agent bulletin

staff review

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cruise bulletin

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training

personality bulletin

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research shows Brits remain confused over EHIC benefits a round-up of the latest booking incentives & agent offers we check out myhotel Bloomsbury in London try your luck at Su Doku for a chance to win a £50 M&S voucher the latest news & views from Advantage Silversea rolls out new simplified group sales programme Etihad's new programme aims to improve passenger sleep experience the latest training modules, roadshows & incentives the product manager from Best Served Scandinavia is in the hot seat this week it rocks at the Rock: entice your clients with a festival break operators offer top sales tips & promote new programme additions new property launches plus deals to highlight to clients hoteliers, airlines & operators announce new launches & offers

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OFF SKI GO...Lagrange Holidays’ recently organised a four-day fam for agents to the Alpine ski resorts of Valloire and La Toussuire. The trip included two days of skiing, exploring Valloire and La Toussuire and rail travel from London to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in the Alps, courtesy of Voyages SNCF. Pictured exploring La Toussuire are, from the left: Hetty Partington, Lagrange Holidays; Phil Wright, Iglu.com; Annabel Wilshaw, Travel Counsellors; Hayley Johnson, Snowfinders; Rachel Kennedy, Baldwins Travel; Nick Foord, Voyages SNCF; Gemma Miller, Travel Counsellors; Renaud Cruvellier, Lagrange Holidays; Gemma Rose, Vale Travel; Lisa Eastwood, Helen Sandison and Laraine Drage, Travel Counsellors; and Jackie Windridge, Cockermouth Travel.

British holidaymakers ‘still confused’ over EHIC benefits THE EUROPEAN Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will be ten years old in June but according to new research from Gocompare.com, confusion still reigns over the benefits it offers. In addition, the company's researchers have found official looking web services charging consumers up to £24.99 per person to apply for an EHIC, which can be obtained from the NHS for free. An EHIC is one of the most important things you can pack for a trip to Europe. However, thousands of consumers risk coming home with a large medical bill or other losses due to confusion over the cover it provides. Some 6% of respondents in the poll believe that having an EHIC means they don't need travel insurance when holidaying in Europe, and more than half of UK consumers believe that an EHIC entitles them to free emergency medical care anywhere in Europe. Other findings revealed that 5% believe an EHIC entitles them to free medical care anywhere in the world, 8% believe that having an EHIC means they can be flown home from Europe by air ambulance for free and 13% have never heard of an EHIC. The cost for medical treatment abroad can be high and if the treatment isn't covered by an EHIC the final bill could be huge. Real life examples include one night in a ward of a private Spanish hospital £800; treatment for a broken ankle in

Tenerife - £7,000; and treatment for multiple injuries after being hit by a car in Greece - £21,000. An EHIC entitles the bearer to the same level of state medical care provided to eligible nationals of the country they're in. This means that the treatment may be provided for free or at a reduced cost in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries including Switzerland. The EEA includes all 27 members of the European Union (EU) plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. The EHIC is not accepted in Turkey as it is not a member of the EU or the EEA. However, the provision of state care varies from country to country and does not mean you can expect to be treated as you would if you visited your NHS doctor or hospital. Few EU countries pay the full cost of medical treatment as you'd expect from the NHS. For example, in France a patient may be expected to pay for a consultation with a doctor but will have up to 70% of the cost reimbursed later. The patient may also be expected to contribute to the cost of staying in a hospital overnight. Also, in the event of an emergency, there is no guarantee that an ambulance will take you to a state hospital for treatment and many of the smaller hospitals and clinics found in holiday resorts are privately run. If you go or are taken to a privately run clinic ● continues on next page

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or hospital your EHIC may not be of any benefit at all. Caroline Lloyd, the company's spokesperson, said: "Despite being around for ten years there's still a lot of confusion about what benefits an EHIC can and can't provide. Whilst it is an essential piece of plastic to take to Europe, only travel insurance can give you the assurance that if disaster strikes you can pay for your treatment wherever you are or be transferred back to a UK hospital if appropriate for your care. "Having an EHIC can help you to access free or, more likely, discounted emergency medical services whilst

abroad, but it's not a guarantee that you won't have to pay anything, and it certainly won't be any help if you need medical repatriation to the UK which can cost thousands of pounds. Having an EHIC may also mean that you don't have to claim on your travel insurance and pay an excess for minor injuries and some insurers will even waive the policy excess for medical claims where you've used your EHIC but where it doesn't cover the full cost of your treatment." The EHIC is free to most UK residents and parents and guardians can apply for EHICs for those aged under 16. For more information see www.ehic.org.uk

No.1 Traveller gets set to unveil new lounge at Edinburgh Airport next month BUILDING ON the success of its lounges at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham airports, No.1 Traveller has announced that it will open its latest lounge at Edinburgh Airport next month. For the first time, all passengers travelling between Edinburgh Airport and Gatwick, Stansted or Birmingham will be able to take advantage of the lounges on both legs of their journey. Located after security, No.1 Edinburgh will be the most central lounge location at the airport, convenient for all gates, and featuring double-height ceilings and a range of seating areas. It will be available to all departing passengers as well as domestic arrival passengers, and will be the launch location for the company's new Touchdown service, providing convenient, rapid access to desks, the internet, news media, food and drink.

Complimentary services include a fully tended bar; a self-service Pantry Table offering a range of freshly prepared food; a choice of seasonal dishes from the kitchen, made to order; daily newspapers and a range of top magazine titles; desktop and wireless internet access; and rolling television news. The company will also offer its full ‘Driveway to Runway’ service at the airport, including chauffeur-driven airport transfers, airport parking, security fast-track and its VIP

Departure Service (which includes portering, preferential check-in, fasttrack security and the choice to board the aircraft first or last), all of which can be booked online, separately or combined to create a tailored package. To celebrate the launch, the company is offering a free glass of Champagne worth £7.50 with all Edinburgh lounge bookings made at www.no1traveller.com before April 30, for visits anytime this year. Adult entry costs £22.50 per person in advance.

Titan launches 2015/16 Early Booking Bonanza brochure

PASSPORT TO PALMA...Chelsea Oldfield (right) from Thomson Moortown won Leeds Bradford Airport & Cosmos Holidays' 'Passport to Palma' incentive by booking the most passengers to a selection of destinations from the summer 2014 programme. Pictured delivering her prize of two nights in Palma for two, including flights, is Emma Holliday from Leeds Bradford Airport.

April 18 2014

TITAN HAS issued its 2015/16 Early Booking Bonanza brochure which showcases a selection of tours, rail journeys, cruises and river cruises. The brochure features 139 tours (62 more than last year) with three new itineraries. They include Israel – Discover the Promised Land, which costs from £1,499 per person for eight days and has savings of up to £150 per person; a 19-day South American Discovery from £2,889, saving clients up to £900 per person; and Great South American Odyssey which includes Iguazu Falls and offers savings of up to £150 for 29 days, leading in at £4,349. Early booking discounts are available on every featured tour, along with free airport lounge access on holiday itineraries from selected terminals and hundreds of reduced or zero single supplement places across a range of tours. Every holiday also includes a VIP Home Departure Service as standard or free return regional flights and home transfers for customers in Northern England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. To secure the best prices clients must book by April 30. For more information call 0800-988 5800.

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newsbulletin Tweets of the Week Who’s saying what on Twitter... @SuperBreak What type of short break do you need? Our brand new Holiday Inspirator App has all the answers... http://bit.ly/1gt1cAB @easyJet Our flights are now available for travel up until 28 February 2015! Book your Winter 2014/15 flights today! http://goo.gl/6mjMg9 @HolidayExtras The days of L-plates are over! Destinations for a relaxing hen weekend http://bit.ly/1kxj7ds @OnTheBeachUK A family of four can stay All Inclusive at the Partner Playa del Ingles for just £376pp! **Flying from BRS** http://goo.gl/QQCYQg @Monarch What are your plans for Spring? Save up to 20% off flights to Spain, the Canaries and the Balearics! Learn more http://ow.ly/vzgjK

SELLING THE SEYCHELLES...The Seychelles Discovered Road Show, in partnership with Destination Representation, recently visited Dublin, Glasgow and London to offer a training event themed on a journey through the Islands. The events featured hotels on Mahe, Praslin, Denis Island, Desroches and the new JA Resorts property, Enchanted Island, and more than 140 agents attended the evenings to boost their product knowledge. Pictured are, from the left: Jenny Serphadine, Le Meridien; Barbara Watson from Travel Counsellors (who won a holiday with flights for two to the destination); Cindy Vidot, Air Seychelles; Bessie Etienne, Denis Island; and Justin Purves, Banyan Tree. The next roadshows will place take in October. For details email events@destination-representation.com

Ramblers Worldwide adds new tour to Adagio programme RAMBLERS WORLDWIDE Holidays’ Adagio programme features a new 12-night Oceans, Mountains, Wine and Wanders guided walking holiday in the Western Cape. Kathy Cook, joint managing director of the operator, said: “Our Adagio programme has been specially designed to appeal to clients of all ages who prefer to walk at a gentler pace, enjoy good quality accommodation and want to take time savouring the places they visit. “These appeal to a far wider audience of holidaymakers and suit

many of our loyal clients who have been asking us to introduce this type of product, offering them a chance to amble rather than ramble enjoying beautiful locations at their own pace and in their own time.” Highlights include the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens; the Constantia Valley wine estate; Table Mountain; the Malay Quarter of Bo-Kaap; the Cape Peninsular including the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve; Simon's Town and ‘Boulders Beach’, a ‘Big 5’ Game Reserve; Franschhoek and its surrounding winelands;

Hermanus; part of a garden tour; the Grootbos Nature Reserve; and Stellenbosch. Accommodation is provided in four- and fivestar hotels including Winchester Mansions (Cape Town), Le Franshhoek (Franschhoek) and Quarters (Hermanus). Prices start from £2,735 per person including flights, transfers, 12 nights’ breakfast accommodation, seven dinners and three lunches, based on a departure date of August 18. For more information call 01707-386700 or visit www.adagio.co.uk

Everything your client needs in one place! Accommodation, tickets, transfers, excursions & car rental. Wide choice, great rates plus 24/7 customer service.

OM RO 01 2

Book online at www.travelbulletin.co.uk

April 18 2014

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newsbulletin Hotelbeds teams with Caesars Palace Las Vegas to host MarketHub Americas HOTELBEDS WILL be hosting its 6th annual event for customers and suppliers in the Americas at Caesars Palace Las Vegas from May 12-15. Hosted in a different destination each year, the MarketHub has become a key global forum for the key industry players of the tourism arena in the Americas. The event is attended by more than 600 customers and suppliers from the main sectors of the American travel industry. Based on the theme 'Forward Thinking', MarketHub Americas will offer an interactive event where the latest tourism trends will be discussed. Meanwhile, the company has

announced that it achieved more than 20% global sales growth last year, with €1.8bn in sales. Managing director of the company, Carlos Muñoz, said: "Maintaining this double digit growth rate will enable us to maintain and keep building our strong brand presence and market leading position. Last year, MEAPAC (Middle East and Asia Pacific) remained the fastest growing region for us as a destination and source market, with Thailand as the bestselling destination followed by Malaysia. "The UK is one of our most mature markets, with Spain, the US and

Bootcamps at Ascona's Hotel Eden Roc HOTEL EDEN Roc in Ascona is offering special bootcamp weekends for exercise junkies in need of a break. Two training packages are available including two-hour running sessions with a personal trainer from approximately £172 per person and a Fitness Weekend with Dave Baucamp, co-owner of www.bootcamper.ch, for guests with a basic level of fitness. The sessions take place in outdoor locations around Lake Maggiore. Three nights’ accommodation on a half-board basis, from April 24-27, costs from approximately £1,237 and includes access to the hotel’s spa and two 50-minute sports massages. The offers can also be viewed and booked online at www.edenroc.ch

Portugal the strongest destinations traditionally for British travellers. We are also experiencing an increase in British passengers travelling to Turkey, Thailand and Greece." The company has also announced that it is planning an ambitious expansion plan over the next few years with significant increases in investment in IT, distribution and product contracting. At the same time, the bedbank will be concentrating on its expansion plans in the Americas source markets and the destinations of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and the US, as well as in Asia. (Accommodation-only feature - page 30)

Missing luggage? No need to panic... IT'S HAPPENED to most of us on some occasion; you're the last person standing at the luggage carousel and there's no sign of your bags. But there's no need to panic; a new product has arrived on the market that makes it easier for finders of lost luggage to contact owners in a safe and secure manner. Luggage Hunters Global Retrieval Tags and Labels attach to your in-transit valuables making it a cinch to reunite you and your goodies should you lose them. By attaching tags or labels to your valuables, then activating them on luggagehunters.com, it means you’re always easily contactable. The finder of your lost valuables is directed via the label to luggagehunters.com where they can input the unique ID code of the object they’ve found and send a text message to the owner. The owner can then arrange the most convenient way of recovering the missing item. It works wherever you might be in the world as the site allows people to communicate in different languages. There are three different packs available to suit different needs and requirements. Single packs (with two tags and two labels) lead in at £8.99, double packs (four tags and four labels) cost £12.99 and a gadget pack costs from £4.99. For details or to purchase see www.luggagehunters.com

ON THE C ASE

TRAVEL ACCESSORIES YOU WON'T WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND...

BIRTHDAY BASH...TIPTO recently celebrated its 15th birthday alongside Althams Travel, which marked its 140th anniversary. The event, which took place at the Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield, saw more than 120 independent agents join the organisation for its biggest roadshow to date. Pictured is the organisation's chair, Zena Calderbank, presenting Althams Travel's managing director, Eddie Starkey, with a personalised bottle of his favourite tipple and a crystal Tipto tumbler to mark the occasion. The event raised £544 through the charity ‘SurPrize’ raffle for Macmillan Cancer Support. For details email tipto@thenetwork-uk.com or visit www.tipto.co.uk

April 18 2014

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newsbulletin Get ready for the Midlands Travel Trade Summer Ball THIS YEAR’S Midlands Travel Trade Mid-Summers Ball, which is already 75% sold, will be held at the newly refurbished five-star Belfry Hotel in Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield on Thursday June 26. Travel Bulletin is the event's official media sponsor, while other headline sponsors include Birmingham Airport, Elite Travel Group and JTA. On arrival guests will enjoy a glass of sparkling wine before enjoying a private dinner with entertainment, plus networking. Limited room rates are available with single rooms from £109 and a double from £129, including VAT and breakfast. Tickets cost £90 each or £850 for a table of ten and include a pre-dinner drink, entertainment, and a threecourse meal with coffee, mints and wine. For further information or to book email events@elitetravelgroup.co.uk

2015 Saga Cruise Collection out now! Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® door-to-door transfers included from every UK address*

Massachusetts fly/drive offer from Premier PREMIER HOLIDAYS has put together a dedicated offer campaign in conjunction with the Massachusetts Tourist Board to encourage client bookings, with a saving of up to £756 per couple on bookings made before May 31. The dedicated campaign offers clients the opportunity to explore the state during the idyllic fall season, with travel valid on selected dates in November. Itineraries are structured with the flexibility of a self-drive and guests are offered a free personalised road book when they make a booking. A 14-night fly/drive with four-star accommodation, flights from Heathrow and car hire leads in at £1,499 per person, based on two adults sharing. Agents are also being offered a booking incentive and will earn between £25£150 per Massachusetts booking, dependent on the booking value. For details see www.trade.premierholidays.co.uk or call 0844-493 7444.

SAGA CRUISES AGENT INCENTIVE

£15 Love2shop vouchers for every passenger booked*

SAVE up to 35% per person To book or order brochures call FREE on 0800 988 5800 or visit www.titanagents.co.uk

EGG-CELLENT SURPRISE...Pictured ready to hand out Easter treats to agents as part of an Easter incentive are Destinology's Diane Court (right) and Stephanie Green.

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T’s & C’s apply. Calls free from BT landlines, mobiles may vary. † Excludes Scottish islands and Sark. *To claim, email booking reference and ABTA to agentincentives@titantravel.co.uk. Agents are responsible for any tax implications regarding vouchers. See website for full details www.titanagents.co.uk

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newsbulletin V&A Waterfront Cape Town announces plans to develop mid-market hotel THE V&A Waterfront has announced plans to develop a mid-market, internationally-branded hotel in the forthcoming year. David Green, CEO of the attraction, said: “Given the growth in domestic, business and leisure tourism, coupled with consistent growth in the occupancy at our current hotels over the past 18 months, we believe the opportunity exists for a mid-

market hotel development.” According to Cape Town Tourism, the expected tourism growth in the city for this year will be between 4% and 5%, while the United Nations World Travel Organisation (UNWTO) estimated a global year-onyear increase of 3.3% per annum until 2030. For Cape Town, the majority of source markets are European, while the biggest growth

market is set to come from Latin America. The attraction receives more than 24m visitors per annum and has contributed almost R200billion to South Africa’s GDP in the last ten years. The V&A is currently home to six five-star hotels, two four-star hotels and two three-star hotels. Within Cape Town, there are 24 five-star, 54 four-star and

20 three-star hotels. Green said: “The V&A Waterfront continues to attract a premium in rates and higher-than-average occupancies and we believe an internationally-branded and marketed hotel will add to the portfolio and meet the increasing demand for such accommodation.” For more information visit www.waterfront.co.za

‘Like’ sculpture dedicated to social networks to be built in Lithuania this summer THE WORLD’S largest ‘Like’ sculpture dedicated to social networks is to be built in Lithuania this summer. The sculpture forms part of the 'Like’able Lithuania' campaign, which invites people to communicate over social networks and find their favourite activities in the country. As part of the project, which covers Facebook, Google+, Vkontakte, Twitter and Youtube, visitors can find out new facts about Lithuania on a daily basis, and each person who joins the campaign will also become a co-

owner of the sculpture and will receive a certificate of verification. Dr Raimonda Balniene, head of the State Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy, said: “Lithuania is known not only for basketball, the baroque Old Town of Vilnius and picturesque sand dunes. Here, you can ride a sleigh in the summer, have a walk in the oak grove right in the middle of the city, visit an amber bath, dance till dawn or relax in modern spas. “All types of holidaymakers will find

things to like here and, from now on, we will be able to boast one of the world’s largest sculptures dedicated to social networks.” At the end of the summer, by which time the campaign is expected to attract about a million people, all co-owners of the sculpture will have a chance to win a trip to Lithuania from any European country and see the sculpture for themselves. For more information visit www.likeablelithuania.com

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WEBSCLUSIVES

ON A MISSION...Destination NSW recently held trade mission events in London and Manchester for agents to learn all about Sydney and New South Wales and sample some NSW wines while enjoying an Aussie-inspired barbecue. Pictured ready to greet agents at The Sanderson Hotel in London, which was attended by 99 travel agents, are, from the left: (top) Steve Gargano, Cambridge Hotel & ADGE Boutique Apartment Hotel; Louise Clifton, Blue Mountains Lithgow and Oberon Tourism; Sara Lederer, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney; Jane Hardie, BridgeClimb Sydney; Paul Aher, Shangri-La Hotel Sydney; Lachlan Rentell, Oaks Hotels & Resorts; Annie Sullivan, Arts Hotel Sydney; Russell Mills, The Legendary Pacific Coast; with (bottom row) Helen Marinic, Destination NSW; Jessica Bateman, Sydney Princess Cruises/Oz Whale Watching; Lisa Eyre, Destination NSW; Julia Volz, Lets Go Surfing; Morag Ritchie, Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa; and Joanne Bergin, Destination NSW.

April 18 2014

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Carnival Cruise Lines recently sent Britain’s Funnest Family – the Alexanders from Nottingham – on a couple of cruises to see what they made of their famous Fun Ships. Tune in to their adventures on board over the next few weeks. Episode 1 is available to view now at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/video-box

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Agents, there’s not long left to win a 2 nights city break to the beautiful city of Salzburg. Prize includes first-class accommodation for two people and all-inclusive Salzburg Discount Cards. Enter our competition at: www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

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Learn more about the beautiful island of Tobago at www.learntnt.com

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Win a trip to Cologne, courtesy of Viking River Cruises. Runners-up prizes of Viking Goody Bags are also up for grabs. Go to: www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

All this and more at:

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

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agentbulletin Booking incentives ●

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FUNWAY HOLIDAYS is running an Easter Campaign until April 30 that gives agents the chance to win a chocolate themed prize. Agents making any package bookings (excluding Sandals) will be eligible for a prize depending on the spend per passenger. Agents should quote EASTER14 at the time of booking. The company is also awarding the agent with the largest booking a place on a fam trip to Cancun departing on May 31 for a week. For details see www.funway4agents.co.uk AZAMARA CLUB Cruises is offering travel agents a free cruise for two when they make

five or more new bookings using the Double Upgrade Promotion (see Cruise Bulletin - page 13) between now and May 31. The line will count any 2014 voyages secured as two bookings, meaning agents could be just three deals away from experiencing a cruise for themselves. For details call 0844-493 4016 or visit www.cruisingpower.co.uk ●

TO CELEBRATE the fifth anniversary since the brand was launched by MPS Puri in 2009, Nira Hotels and Resorts is offering trade partners a chance to secure a free two-night stay at Nira Caledonia or Nira Alpina when they book clients into the

Shanti Maurice, Mauritius. Agents booking a minimum of 40 nights by June 30 will be entitled to a two-night breakfast stay for two people at Nira Caledonia, Edinburgh or Nira Alpina in St. Moritz. For details see www.nirahotelsandresorts.com ●

TRAVEL 2 has an iPad Air up for grabs as part of its new ‘Discover Atlantis The Palm, Dubai with Travel 2’ campaign. To be in with a chance to win, agents need to make a new booking with the operator that includes a minimum threenight stay at Atlantis The Palm by May 9. Details at www.travel2.com

Agent training

ped up its support for AFFORDABLE CAR Hire has step new A.R.T.S. training a travel agents with the launch of dedicated training a academy and the appointment of s, or A.R.T.S for ces officer. Affordable's Road to Suc of training modules ge short, provides agents with a ran revenues by -on designed to help them build add sell. Stacey Evetts to t making car hire an easier produc ning officer in a trai s has been promoted to agency sale of online ge ran move designed to co-ordinate the s. rse cou webinar and in-house training ffordablecarhire.com For details email agencysales@a g on introducing SERENITY HOLIDAYS is plannin vities, giving agents webinars to its list of training acti operator’s trade the the opportunity to interact with sica and Sardinia Cor team without leaving the office. with essential inar will be the focus of its first web ates on its upd t destination information, produc travel brands, ces Pla Corsican Places and Sardinian recommendations and tips. .co.uk or visit For details email trade@serenity www.serenity.co.uk/trade

Agent offer DUSIT INTERNATIONAL has launched its ‘Friends Gets Benefits’ special rate exclusive for travel industry partners. Agents can take advantage of the offer and receive up to 50% off the Dusit Best Available Rate by using the promotion code: PROMOINDUST at www.dusit.com

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SHOW TIME...1st Class Holidays and Tourism Québec recently ran an agent incentive offering Love2Shop vouchers for bookings to Québec Province, with one lucky agent also winning a state of the art large screen interactive TV. Pictured is the winner, Mervyn Willard (right) of Baldwins Travel, Tunbridge Wells with the operator's sales manager, Jonathan Whiteley.

April 18 2014

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staffreview

Newsbites ●

Jill Sayles from Travel Bulletin spent a night at myhotel Bloomsbury, London. Here are her thoughts...

First impressions ................................9/10

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Informal and welcoming greeting on arrival in the small reception area.

Comfort ..............................................9/10 My Junior Suite was modern and cosy. It had a flat screen TV, mini stereo and iPod docking station, complimentary Wi-Fi, hot drink facilities and Anyah eco-friendly toiletries. The property is located near the British Museum, theatreland and Tottenham Court Road so it was easy to get to the shops, restaurants etc.

Quality ................................................9/10 The hotel offers 78 guestrooms including three suites designed by Conran & Partners. It also has an Asianinspired Jinja treatment suite offering beauty treatments and a Central Working space created for professionals looking for a city centre workspace. GAIL’s Kitchen, the artisan bakery chain, opened its first and only restaurant in London in the hotel.

Affordability ........................................9/10 Prices for the Junior Suite start from £180 excluding breakfast, based on two people sharing.

Service ................................................9/10 No complaints. The staff were friendly.

Good to know ............................................ The hotel is offering a '48 hours in London' package which includes breakfast on both mornings and lunch or dinner at GAIL's restaurant. Prices start at £360 based on two sharing a standard double bedroom. For details visit www.myhotels.com or call 0203-004 6000.

Overall scoring: ..................

9/ 10

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BACK-ROADS Touring is offering customers free private transfers to and from their home to the tour pick-up and drop-off points when booked and paid for in full for a summer UK tour by April 30. Flights plus a transfer may be offered in some instances, depending on distance. For details see www.backroadstouring.co.uk or call 03331-120109. THE BRITISH Virgin Islands (BVI) Tourist Board has announced its inclusion in ‘Pack for a Purpose’. Visitors to the BVI will be encouraged to use their luggage allowance to pack items needed by BVI schools, community projects and charities. Details at www.packforapurpose.org/destinations/caribbean/ british-virgin-islands GUESTLOGIX HAS announced the fleet-wide deployment of its onboard retail technology platform including POS handheld devices to manage the onboard retail operations for Flybe. CUSTOMERS WHO book a family holiday with Explore before May 15 are being offered a free voucher to use at any of the 28 Go Ape centres throughout England, Scotland and Wales. For a family of two adults and two children, the deal offers a saving of £112. For details visit www.explore.co.uk or call 0844-499 0901. ONE OF the UK travel industry’s most influential women and former Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year, Carolyn McCall, has been announced as the keynote speaker at this year’s GTMC annual overseas conference, taking place from May 31 to June 2 in Marrakech, Morocco.

MOVERS

● SIMON ORAM, representing The Travel Shop in Sutton Coldfield,

has been appointed a board director of The Elite Travel Group. ● VERTICAL SYSTEMS has welcomed the return of Rob Barker into

the role of development director. ● SILVERSEA HAS appointed Julie Nunes who will be responsible

for sales development for the North of England and Wales. The company has also promoted Luke Clarke who will be responsible for sales development in the South of England and Wales. ● PHILIPPE CASSIS has been appointed CEO of Sun Resorts. ● FRED. OLSEN Cruise Lines has appointed Tom Dumbrell as area sales executive, covering Central, Home Counties and East Anglia regions. ● HOSEASONS HAS promoted Paul Hardingham to strategic development director and has appointed Anthony Reilly as marketing director.

New site for tourists travelling with pet pooches to Croatia If you'd like to take part and receive a free £10 M&S voucher voucher please email jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk or call 020-7834 6661 with your name and contact details.

April 18 2014

DOGGYCHECKIN.COM IS a new website aimed at tourists looking to holiday in Croatia with their pet pooch. The site provides information on everything from the best dog-friendly beaches and nature parks, to restaurants and bars. Direct bookings to dog-friendly hotels are also offered through the site’s partnership with Booking.com.

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puzzlebulletin Travagrams

Su Doku Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle Number: 014

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

Sacked Surgeon Vet

A➠

B➠ This operator shares its name with a type of lizard

C➠

He Tilts

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:

This hotel group shares its name with Scotland’s national symbol

Where Am I?

competition@travelbulletin.co.uk Closing date for entries is Thursday, April 24th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week. The winner for 4th April is Zena Wilkins, Cannon Travel in Ware. April 4 Solution: A=4 B=3 C=9 D=1

Neil Simon wrote Homeward Bound whilst sitting on the platform of this UK train station.

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

Number: 014

Across 1. Flag carrier of Germany (9) 6. Glasgow International airport code (3) 7. Famous Singapore hotel (7) 8. Prince George's first overseas visit started in this country (3,7) 11. Actor Denzel, sounds like a US state (10) 14. City home of Universal Studios, Florida (7) 15. Man City and England goalkeeper, ___ Hart (3) 16. Town and port on the Isle of Lewis (9)

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Down 1. American singer-songwriter John, sounds like a name in his own lifetime (6) 2. Frankfurt International airport code (3) 3. Welsh castle and seaside resort (7) 4. Actor Keith and singer daughter, Lily (5) 5. Currency of Cuba (4) 9. State capital of Nebraska (7) 10. Scenic French lake and town (6) 12. North African mountain range (5) 13. Bellagio is a popular resort on this Italian lake (4) 15. Type of airline ticket, open ___ (3)

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 42 April 18 2014

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bulletinbriefing

Industry Insight by... People buy from people by Colin O’Neill, business development director of The Advantage Travel Partnership

SUPPOSE that I should not be that surprised but I so often come across instances where the use of technology is not as effective as anticipated. I am talking specifically about using technology as a method of communication, particularly in business. I do recognise the value of email as a very fast, convenient and easy form of communication but all too often, the sender of an email is confident that the communications job is done once the ‘To all main contacts’ email is sent – tick that task off the list and move on to the next one. In reality, the communication task is only really completed when the following sequence occurs: ● The intended recipient receives ● Reads it ● Understands it ● And crucially - does something with it, preferably in line with the intention you had for sending it in the first place.

In my view, there is no real substitute for face to face communication, particularly if the intended outcome of the contact is important to both you and the other party. In a face to face setting, not only do you have the opportunity to explain your point of view, but also listen to and understand any comments made and conclude the meeting with a clear sense that the majority of the communication elements have been ticked off the list.

"The key to effective communication is combining a range of communication vehicles to create a communications blend" The other important dimension to the face to face interaction and a significant deciding factor in the outcome of the interaction is You - specifically the perceived or actual match between you and the other people involved. For a little while, I have been delivering a presentation skills workshop for members of our central team at the Advantage Travel Partnership which is entitled: ‘People Buy From People’. 12

April 18 2014

"There is no real substitute for face to face communication, particularly if the intended outcome of the contact is important to both you and the other party" The core premise of the workshop is that a crucial element in making a successful presentation is creating likeability for you from the audience. I am convinced that this is the case and equally applies when presenting to five or 500 people; in essence, and here I stray into the area of human psychology, people subconsciously look for similarity traits in other people and if they see and recognise them, then an affinity is established. I also believe that the chances of making an affinity connection can be improved through the right level of preparation but that’s another story. It is very difficult to create real affinity via email. Overall, the key to effective communication is combining a range of communication vehicles to create a communications blend. For example, at the Advantage Travel Partnership, we have just updated our central product and services benefits proposition. As such, we have produced a printed booklet that we will send to our member partners (paper communication); this booklet will work in association with our new member partner intranet site (website). By combining the two, we are confident that all information will be up to date and new activity can be highlighted. Finally, the print and the web will be under the control of our business development consultancy team who will meet with member partners on a face to face basis (the human) to ensure that all three communication elements work in harmony with one another. In closing, technology should always be considered a member of the supporting cast, but the leading communications part will go to people. www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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cruisebulletin P&O Cruises expands Strictly Come Dancing themed cruises P&O CRUISES has expanded its Strictly Come Dancing themed cruises this summer, in partnership with BBC Worldwide Ltd. Each of this year’s four dedicated cruises will have two pairs of the programme's professional dancers as well as judge Craig Revel Horwood. Mark Foster, Lisa Riley and Patrick Robinson will also be travelling at different stages to offer a Strictly experience to remember. As an example, a 14night Western Mediterranean cruise on Oceana departs on May 31 from Southampton, with ports of call including La Coruna, Gibraltar, Alghero, Florence/Pisa, St.Tropez, Barcelona and Cartagena. Saver fares lead in at £949 per person and stars joining the cruise include Aljaž Skorjanec & Janette Manrara, Robin Windsor & Kristina Rihanoff, Craig Revel Horwood and celebrity guest, Lisa Riley. To book call 0843-374 0111 or see www.pocruises.co.uk

AZAMARA CLUB Cruises' passengers looking to sail the road less travelled will have the chance to do so from the luxury of their own private balcony on select 2014/15 itineraries. Agents booking their clients a Club Interior Stateroom by May 31 at www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk will be able to offer a free double upgrade to a Club Balcony Stateroom. The line is offering the upgrade on select voyages for passengers travelling on both Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey.

Silversea rolls out new simplified group sales programme SILVERSEA CRUISES has introduced Silver Simplicity, a new simplified sales programme for groups. The programme is available for new group bookings on all future 2014 and 2015 voyages, replacing the Group Amenity Point (GAP) programme. The line's general manager UK & Ireland, Mike Bonner, said: "Our aim with Silver Simplicity is to help travel agents increase their group business by simplifying our policies and making it as easy as possible to sell to groups. Instead of

dealing with a complicated point system that varies from voyage to voyage, agents can now take advantage of a standard group programme offered on all voyages, or an enhanced programme available on select sailings." As an example, a Standard Group Programme includes one complimentary tour conductor berth per nine guests, $200 onboard spending credit per suite for voyages of up to nine days and $300 spending credit per suite for voyages of ten days or longer. A minimum of five

full-fare suites must be booked to qualify. Travel agents with existing 2014 or 2015 groups departing on July 1 or later (booked under the previous GAP programme) have the option to convert to Silver Simplicity. Groups that reserve back-to-back voyages will also benefit from onboard spending credit for each voyage depending on the length of sailing. For a list of enhanced group voyage dates and complete details of the Silver Simplicity group programme, agents should visit the Communications section of My Silversea.

InBrief ● CARNIVAL CRUISE Lines is offering ten and 11day cruises between Galveston and San Juan featuring visits to six different Caribbean destinations on one itinerary. Two 11-day cruises sail from Galveston to San Juan on October 24, 2015 and January 16, 2016, and two ten-day cruises from San Juan to Galveston depart on November 4, 2015, and January 27, 2016. For details call 0843-374 2272 or visit www.carnival.co.uk ● AMERICAN CRUISE Lines has introduced

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‘Cruise Local. Eat Local’, a new dining initiative for locally-sourced produce, meats and ingredients to provide regionalised menus on board. Details at www.americancruiselines.com ● CRYSTAL CRUISES has announced that it is to broadcast the 2014 FIFA World Cup from Brazil on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. Guests will be able to enjoy all 64 matches live while cruising the Mediterranean and Northern Europe between June 12 and July 13.

Details on 020-7399 7601 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk ● REGENT SEVEN Seas Cruises’ new 2015 Cruise Atlas is now available, detailing the line's collection of cruises throughout the whole of next year. Collectively, its fleet of three allsuite, all-balcony ships will sail the landscapes of Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia and the continents of Africa and the Americas. Bookings can be made on 02380-682280 and agents can request copies of the Atlas by emailing salessupport@rssc.co.uk

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airlinebulletin New deals from TAP Portugal TAP PORTUGAL is offering a selection of offers that showcase its extensive onward connections to destinations across Brazil. As examples, return flights from London to Sao Paulo are available from £569 per person, to Bello Horizonte from £623 and to Brasilia from £646, all including taxes. The deals can be booked until April 22 for travel until May 31 or between October 1 and December 16, subject to availability. For more information visit www.flytap.com or call 0845-601 0932.

ISLE BE THERE...Pictured marking the launch of Aer Lingus Regional's new daily route from Bristol to Shannon are, from the left: Shirley Knight, Bristol Airport; Aer Lingus Regional Cabin Crew; and Shaun Browne, Bristol Airport.

Etihad helps improve passenger sleep experience with launch of new programme ETIHAD AIRWAYS has launched a new programme to help improve sleep quality on its long-haul flights. The airline has worked with a panel of sleep experts from the American Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology (ACPN) in Abu Dhabi for almost two years to research ways to improve sleep for passengers during flights. Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of the airline, said: “A good night’s sleep is scientifically proven to benefit one’s health and nowhere is this more important than on a long-haul flight. “We understand that sleep is an important requirement for our guests, many of whom fly multiple journeys with us each year. For this reason, we will continue to look at greater levels of comfort and wellbeing on our flights. “The research we have carried out in collaboration with the experts at the ACPN will allow us to improve significantly the cabin environment for our guests and to

New unified cabin design from LAN and TAM LAN AIRLINES and its affiliates and TAM Airlines (members of LATAM Airlines Group), have unveiled the first unified design for their cabins. Two aircraft already feature the new design, including a LAN Airbus A320, servicing domestic routes within Chile, and a TAM Airbus A321 servicing domestic routes within Brazil. Moving forward, all of the new Airbus A320 and A321 shorthaul aircraft will feature the new cabin interior and seats, giving passengers more space and comfort. From next year, LATAM Airlines Group will incorporate two new aircraft models into its long-haul fleet with the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-900, both of which will feature the new cabin design and offer two classes of service; Economy and Premium Business.

April 18 2014

provide targeted investment in our on-board experience for tangible customer benefit.” In First Class, the sleep initiative includes the introduction of all-natural bedding; a mattress made from extracts of the Hevea tree, as opposed to standard petroleum-based foams; cotton sleepsuits; pillow mist; pulse point oil; and specially selected toiletries. Comforters, blankets and pillows are provided in Business and Economy Class, along with amenity kits inspired by Emirati artisanal designs in all classes. To minimise the effects of ambient cabin sounds, the airline also provides noise cancellation headphones in all three classes, while all cabins feature mood-lighting systems to counteract harsh light. Home comforts such as a sleep-time beverage service including hot chocolate and herbal teas are also now offered in all three classes. For more information visit www.etihad.com/comfortzone

InBrief ● EASYJET HAS announced that it carried more than five million

passengers last month, marking an increase of almost 5% on statistics published for the same period last year. ● BMI REGIONAL has launched its new service from Newcastle to Brussels. The route is operated by a 49-seater Embraer jet aircraft twice daily Monday to Friday and on Sunday afternoons. The flights offer business and leisure travellers the opportunity to reach the Belgian capital in 75 minutes from £80 per person, one-way including taxes. ● DURING THE 2014/15 winter season (October 26 - March 28, 2015), Air France will serve Abidjan by Airbus A380 with three weekly frequencies. Other flights will be operated by Boeing 777-300, with four weekly frequencies. The flight will be operated during the day on the way there and at night on the way back. ● PEGASUS AIRLINES has increased its frequency of flights to Tel Aviv from Istanbul to three times daily. ● ROYAL BRUNEI Airlines has launched its ‘Betterfly’ Dreamliner service from Heathrow to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, extending the existing Dreamliner service to Brunei International Airport via Dubai. To mark the new service, a special celebration fare has been launched for all return bookings to Melbourne, with flights starting at £722.13 in Economy Class and £2,455 in Business Class. The fares include all taxes and charges and are valid for sale until April 30 for Economy and May 15 for Business, for travel until December 12.

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BRIGHT HAS announced details of its upcoming events which include Durham on April 29, Wetherby on April 30, Bodmin on May 21, Exeter on May 22, Glasgow on June 23, Kendal on June 24, Isle of Man on September 9, Chester on September 10, Tunbridge Wells on October 7 and Guildford on October 8. Pictured addressing agents at the recent Norwich event is deputy chairman of Bright, Jonathan Whiteley from 1st Class Travel. Agents interesting is signing up to future workshops can email bookings@eventsfortravel.com. For details visit www.brightconsortia.com

Knowledge Forum launches on Brand USA Discovery Program BRAND USA has introduced the Knowledge Forum on its USA Discovery Program, an online training website for agents in the UK and Ireland. The forum allows users to ask a question which other members answer, providing an opportunity to share their insight into a specific destination. For each question asked, the agent whose answer is found most useful will be recognised and ultimately rewarded with a ‘star member’ status. Users on the site can also vote the answer up and down on a live leader board. The new section follows the development of the new USA Family Holidays Specialist badge, which joins a suite of existing experiential modules including Big City Buzz, Great

Outdoors, Winter Sports, Fly-Drive, Food & Drink, Coastal Escapes and Music, Culture & Heritage and the Regional Expert badge. The program is also currently integrated into the entry mechanism of the company’s Megafam. The fam, taking place from May 15-22, will host 100 agents on seven different itineraries to experience the US, before culminating in a grand finale in Austin, Texas. To qualify, agents should register their American Airlines and BA bookings to and within the US at www.usamegafam.co.uk, and complete a minimum of two specialist modules. Chris Thompson, president and CEO of the company, said: “By creating the new Knowledge Forum element to the USA Discovery

Program, we hope that agents will utilise the site even further and ask their peers and colleagues for advice. This gives them the opportunity to learn more about the intricacies of the destination to develop their knowledge even further and, ultimately, to enhance their sales of the USA as a holiday destination. “In the nine months the USA Discovery Program has been live in the UK and Ireland we have seen a number of developments and so far have more than 2,100 active users. We aim to provide agents with the tools they need to sell the USA like never before and the forthcoming Brand USA Megafam is another important mechanism for us to do that.” For more information visit www.usadiscoveryprogram.co.uk

Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority announces inaugural showcase THE ANTIGUA & Barbuda Tourism Authority is inviting trade partners to join its inaugural Showcase Antigua Barbuda, which takes place at Sandals Grande Antigua from June 4-6 and will be held in collaboration with the Antigua Hotel and Tourist Association. Trade member attendees will also be able to join in with activities organised exclusively for the UK market by the authority on June 7 and 8. The showcase will offer wholesalers and tour operators the chance to meet for 20-minute prescheduled appointments and conduct business with suppliers in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the regional tourism industry. Cherrie Osborne, UK director of tourism at the authority, said: “As one of ABTA’s top ten destinations to watch, we expect 2014/15 to be Antigua and Barbuda

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tourism’s year of growth. Showcase Antigua and Barbuda is the ideal opportunity to conduct business and discover what the destination has to offer. We are certainly looking forward to welcoming members of the UK travel trade to Antigua for this event.” All participants will receive a directory including marketing profiles and product information for buyers and suppliers, along with appointment request forms. Appointments are only scheduled through buyer requests and suppliers are encouraged to make contact with buyers they are interested in meeting well in advance. Appointments may also be scheduled on-site during ‘Scheduling Sessions’. The event is free for buyers to attend. For more information call 020-3668 3800 or see www.visitantiguabarbuda.com

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trainingbulletin Celebrity Cruises offers new tools CELEBRITY CRUISES has announced that agents can now benefit from new marketing tools and training modules in order to remind their clients of the offers available if they rebook a cruise while on holiday. Passengers who book with the onboard booking programme, ‘Celebrity Future Cruise Holidays’, can make the most of offers available to them, including $500 onboard credit. The offer can also be combined with the ‘123go!’ promotion – the choice between a free classic drinks package, free gratuities or up to an additional $300 onboard credit. Guests who rebook while sailing will automatically have their reservation credited to their preferred travel partner, enabling agents to receive 10% commission on each of the bookings. For more information visit www.cruisingpower.co.uk

Learn & earn your way to Fiji with Travel 2 AGENTS CAN win one of seven places on a fam trip to Fiji as part of Travel 2’s ‘Learn & Earn your way to Fiji’ campaign in partnership with the Fiji Tourist Board. To enter the prize draw, agents need to complete the Fiji module on the T2 Academy. If agents make a booking to Fiji that includes flights and a minimum of five nights' ground arrangements they will receive two entries into the draw. Qualifying bookings must be made by May 30. For more information visit www.travel2.com

Complete Aurigny’s online training course to win tickets to Guernsey AGENTS WHO complete Aurigny’s online training course will be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to Guernsey. The airline, which operates from six UK airports and the Channel Islands of Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney, says that its training aims to give agents a greater understanding about what Guernsey has to offer. To complete course visit www.onlinetraveltraining.com

Prize giveaways from Oman OMAN MINISTRY of Tourism’s Omanacademy.com gives agents the chance to learn more about the country and win prizes including a Google Nexus 7 tablet, a Kindle or a £10 Love2Shop voucher. Agents who register a booking of seven nights or more at www.omanbookingrewards.com will also be rewarded with a £10 shopping voucher. The ministry is also inviting the trade to join its training evenings at a selection of venues across the UK. The events will take place in Omani souks, with private viewings of a selection of short films on offer. Participants can also win prizes and meet experts from Oman and the UK. The events will take place on April 28 at the Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton; April 29 at the Brooks Hotel, Dublin; April 30 at the MAC Birmingham Arts Centre, Birmingham; and May 1 at the St David’s Hotel & Spa, Cardiff. Call 020-8877 4524 or email oman@representationplus.co.uk

Become a

THE DESTINATION Caribbean roadshow recently visited Portsmouth and Basingstoke to train agents on various regions and properties in the Caribbean, with partners including the Dominican Republic Tourist Office, Barcelo Hotels, AM Resorts and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Pictured winning the grand prize of the evening, a seven-night stay at Elite Island Resorts, is Laura Tymoszuk (centre) of Bath Travel in Titchfield. She is pictured with Hayley Greenhalgh and Peter Hopwood of Elite Island Resorts. Destination Caribbean will be visiting Brighton on May 13 and Solihull on May 19. To book a space email events@destination-representation.com

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Brand new interactive online modules Get ahead by planning, promoting and selling outstanding New Zealand holidays Register and ﬁnd out more at:

www.traveltrade.newzealand.com

April 18 2014

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personalitybulletin

Terhi Millar Product manager & agent support, Best Served Scandinavia At work What other companies/ organisations have you previously worked for? Nortours and Scantours in London and Lapland Safaris in Finnish Lapland. I also worked one summer at Moominworld in Finland! If you could change one thing in the industry what would it be? Customers not focusing on price but on the invaluable bit that is travel – the shared experiences that can last a lifetime.

At home What's your favourite household gadget? A sauna – if that counts as a gadget?! Being from Finland, there really is no living without a sauna! What are your favourite TV programmes? I love the Scandi drama, The Bridge, and I’m already looking forward to the third series. Who does the cooking? Usually me, unless it’s my husband’s signature dish we’re having. I love cooking and aim to try something new every week. I’ve got an impressive collection of cook books and we’ve got a deal that whoever does the cooking doesn’t have to do the dishes and cleaning up afterwards. What's a typical weekend for you like? A lazy morning with coffee, going to the gym or a walk in Greenwich park and market. I enjoy cooking something nice for dinner and catching up with friends. What's your guilty pleasure? Champagne. What do you do to relax? Go to gym, have a sauna, read a book or just enjoy doing absolutely nothing. What music do you listen to? Pretty much anything goes apart from heavy metal and country music. Stereophonics, Coldplay and Foo Fighters work well for me. What's your favourite movie? Forrest Gump is my all time favourite.

April 18 2014

What personal item do you have on your desk at work? Water filter bottle and thermal coffee mug. What's the best thing about your job? Meeting new people, seeing new places and seeing colleagues and clients’ eyes light up when I tell them how amazing Scandinavia is… What do you love about the travel industry? It is such a fun industry - you get to meet lots of new people, experience amazing

“

activities and then have loads of great stories to share with family, friends, agents and clients. What's your favourite travel app? Aurora Forecast and Sunrise and sunset times. Who has been your inspiration in the travel industry? One of my previous managers who was always very encouraging and supportive. He had his feet firmly on the ground, a great commercial awareness, common sense and a brilliant sense of humour. What was the last email you received? Northern Lights images from a supplier in Tromso. What skill are you most proud of? Organisational skills and multi-tasking. What item do you always take with you when travelling? iPad and headphones.

I'm a keen skier and have recently converted to telemark skiing

At play Where would you most like to visit and why? Antarctica, Yukon and Alaska. I'm fascinated by the Arctic, glaciers and icebergs and would love to see the penguins. Churchill and its polar bears is also on the list, as well as anywhere where I could see whales – they have become my ‘Northern Lights’ and I’m ready to travel anywhere to see them! What are your hobbies? Cooking, going to gym and Sunday cycling. I'm also a keen skier and used to compete in downhill skiing but have recently converted to telemark skiing and now only ski for leisure and not nearly as often as I’d like to.

”

What's your favourite (non-work related) website? BBC – it’s got everything from news to cooking recipes. What trait do you dislike in other people? Dishonesty and lack of integrity. What is your best quality? My positive attitude.

What's your most embarrassing moment? Fainting in the church while performing the maid of honour’s duties.

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It rocks at the Rock: entice your clients with a festival break

gibraltar

by The Hon. NEIL COSTA MP, Gibraltar Minister for Tourism, Commercial Affairs, Public Transport & the Port Gibraltar lighthouse

IBRALTAR’S HIGH appeal as a travel destination continues to grow, welcoming an international audience from all corners of the globe. Accessible by land, sea and air, Gibraltar welcomed more than ten million visitors last year, enticed by its diverse historical legacy and the beauty of its unique wildlife and natural vistas.

The legacy British Gibraltarians are royalist and our UK visitors are drawn by a familiar environment that includes a sterling currency, the English language and English 'bobbies' on street corners. The added benefits that make the 'Rock' a unique corner of Europe include VAT-free shopping and a Mediterranean climate in a setting with both coastal and city facilities all in less than seven square kilometres. In 2013 Gibraltar proudly became the 54th member of UEFA and a new international stadium has been commissioned for 2017, which will further open our doors to new audiences. Along with some of the iconic names that have been linked with the destination, from Nelson to Churchill and John Lennon, Gibraltar too can be considered iconic. Music festival, Gibraltar

From the 426 metre high limestone Rock and the resident Barbary Macaques, to the 50 km of caves and tunnels hidden inside, these are just a taster of the awe-inspiring wonders of a territory known to be the last residence of Neanderthal man. A thriving culture Gibraltarian ancestry is a melting pot of culture which has evolved a creative mind set. Today, Gibraltar has a thriving art scene which is expressed in everyday life. An International calendar of events attracts visitors from the field of sport, art, literature and music each year. These include the Tradewise International Chess Tournament, which hosts 70 Grand Masters, and the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival, which in addition to bringing leading writers and authors to Gibraltar, successfully showcases a number of the Rock’s modern and historic venues. Other large scale events include the Gibraltar Jazz Festival, the Gastronomic Festival ‘Calentita’ and the Gibraltar Music Festival. The success of these events has proven Gibraltar’s ability to professionally manage and stage large scale events and has raised its appeal to visitors and its corporate community. Evolving product Gibraltar’s hotels offer a variety for both holidaymakers and the business community. The Sunborn Gibraltar is the latest addition to the destination and offers a five-star floating hotel permanently moored at Ocean Village. In addition to its spa facilities and onboard fine dining, the luxury property offers 675sq m of space with a capacity for 600 people for banqueting. Refurbishment programmes are currently underway at the Rock Hotel and the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel, while

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gibraltar

Arial view, Gibraltar

The Caleta Hotel has announced plans to add a brand new five-star complex to its existing property, adding six further floors with additional residential apartments and suites. The wedding market continues to flourish since local legislation allows for marriage vows to be conducted at licensed venues including the larger hotels and select historical venues. Easy access Gibraltar inaugurated a new state-of-the-art air terminal building in 2012 and its proximity to the city centre means swift transfer times to all hotels. Access to Gibraltar from the UK remains strong with

the UK’s largest carriers offering scheduled services. These include British Airways operating from Heathrow, easyJet from Gatwick and Monarch Airlines from Luton, Birmingham and Manchester. A new seasonal, regular charter service from Gibraltar to Marrakech also begins this month and opens up possibilities for two-centre holidays in Morocco. Street festival, Gibraltar

Call the UK’s No.1 Gibraltar operator on

0208 518 4181 for dedicated agent support and the best rates on ALL hotels in Gibraltar

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April 18 2014

Working with the trade Gibraltar is committed to working with the trade and our marketing team is happy to engage with agencies wishing to work closer with us. The Gibraltar Tourist Board also works closely with agents hosting roadshows and offering one-to-one training and online courses through its revamped training website at www.gibraltartraining.com The tourist board is always willing to engage with agents and we look forward to your visit! ✦

For further information contact the Gibraltar Tourist Board by calling 020-7836 0777 or email info@gibraltar.gov.uk

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A picture paints a thousand words...

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Visit Gibraltar a vibrant destination that combines the spirit of the Mediterranean with British tradition. To order a brochure or for further information contact the Gibraltar Tourist Board: United Kingdom T: +44 (0) 207 836 0777 E: info@gibraltar.gov.uk

Gibraltar T: +350 20045000 E: information@tourism.gov.gi

You can also ďŹ nd us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

facebook.com/visitgibraltar

@visit_gibraltar

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gibraltar Classic Collection adds of five-star yacht hotel to Cities brochure WITH BOTH summer and winter sales to Gibraltar more than 40% up year-onyear, Classic Collection

Holidays has introduced a new hotel to the British outpost for this year, which features in the operator’s

recently launched Cities brochure. Standing in the Ocean Village Marina and with the

The Sunborn Gibraltar yacht hotel

iconic Rock of Gibraltar as a backdrop, Sunborn Gibraltar offers a unique floating hotel and the world’s first five-star yacht hotel. At seven storeys high, guest rooms and suites offer full height glazing to capture the views and many feature French balconies. Dining options include a panoramic top floor fine dining restaurant plus a gourmet option, while other facilities include a sundeck, plunge pool, fitness centre and concierge service. A three-night breakfast stay at the hotel leads in at £596 per person this month, with seven nights from £984. Prices are based on two adults sharing a seaview room and include flights and private transfers. For more information or to book call 0800-008 7288 or see www.classic-collection.co.uk

The Rock Hotel undergoes refurbishment and announces new guest facilities THE ROCK Hotel has commenced a refurbishment programme that entails the updating of its public areas, bedrooms, corridors and the façade, as well as the creation of a new restaurant, lounge bar, conference and banqueting room and a gymnasium.

The entire process is expected to be completed by the end of July and disruption will be kept at a minimum and behind screens for guests' convenience. During refurbishment, the swimming pool (open until mid-

October) will provide a peaceful environment for guests and drinks and snacks will be available, as well as free Wi-Fi. For more information or to book email reservations@rockhotel.gi or visit www.rockhotelgibraltar.com

EASYJET IS offering daily flights from Gatwick to Gibraltar with prices starting from £31.74 per person, one-way. The price includes taxes and is based on two people booking together. For details or to book see www.easyjet.com

Three-night package deal from £190 with My Gibraltar MY GIBRALTAR is offering three nights' breakfast accommodation for £190 from Manchester/ Luton and £210 for three nights from Gatwick including flights and taxes. The operator offers a wide range of accommodation in the destination, including the new five-star Sunborn Gibraltar yacht hotel, and offers dedicated support to the travel trade. For more information call 020-8518 4181.

April 18 2014

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gibraltar MARRIOTT'S AC Hotel La Linea is a modern 82-room hotel, located steps from Gibraltar, on the town promenade in La Línea de la Concepción, in the province of Cádiz. It features a classic AC bar, a business centre, restaurant, fitness centre and swimming pool (open in summer). The property offers an ideal location just 800 metres from the shore front and allows for fast and easy access to the Sotogrande Golf course, Málaga Airport, the Exhibition Centre and La Línea de la Concepción train station.

Sunborn Yacht joins Superbreak portfolio

Sunborn Gibraltar

SUPERBREAK REPORTS that agents now have something a little different to offer as an accommodation option to customers looking to book a short break in Gibraltar. The five-star Sunborn Gibraltar yacht hotel has been added to the operator's programme and, fully commissionable, can be booked as accommodation-only or as part of a flight inclusive package with full ATOL protection. The property offers 189 luxury guest rooms and suites with either a marina, Rock or sea view, with prices starting from £163 per person, per night. For more information or to book see www.superbreak.com/agents or call 0871-221 4444.

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We’re stories

We’re rhythms

We’re Egypt

Seeyouinona Nile Cruise LUXOR - ASWAN

www.egypt.travel

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egypt HAYES & Jarvis is offering a seven-night deal to Egypt, with prices from £699 per person, offering a saving of £130. It is based on a June 22 departure, staying at the four-star Jaz Belvedere Resort (pictured) on an all-inclusive basis. The deal also includes one bonus night and flights from Gatwick with Thomson Airways. For more information call 01293-735831 or see www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk

Red Sea Holidays offers Nile cruise educationals to boost agents’ knowledge RED SEA Holidays will be taking 20 agents to experience ancient Egypt on its summer Nile Cruise educationals. Departing on May 19 and June 2, both groups will stay on the five-star, allinclusive MS Grand Rose for three nights to sample the itinerary, which includes the Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. The company's sales director, Jason Hilton, said: “The upcoming educationals will be a great

opportunity for agents, not only to visit some of Egypt’s most famous historical sites, but to learn more about the Red Sea Holidays’ cruise product which we have recently relaunched. “Our cruises include ten free excursions, onboard Egypt specialists, free UK VIP airport lounge access, all-inclusive board basis, transfers and scheduled Egyptair flights from Heathrow with 46kg luggage allowance per person, in-flight meals and

MS Grand Rose deck

entertainment.” Seven nights on the Nile leads in at £599 per person including flights, while a range of 14-night Cruise &

Stay options are available from £985. For more information or to book see www.redseaholidays.co.uk

Anatolian Sky highlights Nile cruises with hotel stays in Luxor, Cairo & the Red Sea ANATOLIAN SKY Holidays is offering a choice of departures available for holidays to Egypt combining cruises on the Nile with hotel breaks in Luxor, Cairo or the Red Sea. As an example, a seven-night trip including

Sofitel Karnak

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four nights cruising the Nile on MS Nile Premium and three nights at the Sofitel Karnak on the banks of the Nile at Luxor leads in at £1,175 per person, based on two sharing and travelling in May and June. The

cruise itinerary includes visits to the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, the Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo, the Temple of Isis at Philae and the Aswan Dam. The price includes flights, transfers, accommodation on a full board basis on the cruise and on a bed-and-breakfast basis at the Sofitel Karnak, plus excursions during the cruise with an Egyptologist. For more information or to book call 0844-273 3585 or visit www.anatoliansky.co.uk

April 18 2014

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egypt 17th Dynasty sarcophagus discovered in Luxor A RARE wooden sarcophagus dating back to the 17th Dynasty (1600 A.D.), has been discovered in Dra’ Abulnaga on the West Bank in Luxor. According to Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities, the sarcophagus’ lid contains hieroglyphic inscriptions indicating the name of the sarcophagus’ owner, which remains in good condition inside. Dr. Ibrahim said: “The importance of this sarcophagus

lies in the rarity of its inscriptions which resemble feathers.” Initial considerations suggest that the sarcophagus may belong to an important official, but Dr. Ibrahim says that more studies need to be done on the titles and positions of its owner. The discovery was made by the Spanish Mission in collaboration with the Ministry of Antiquities during regular excavations at the eastern part of the

Theban Necropolis. The sarcophagus was found under the front court of Djehuty’s tomb (1482-1502 A.D.), who was overseer of Queen Hatshepsut’s treasuries. The head of the Ancient Egyptian Sector at Cairo’s Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA) University, Ali Al-Asfar, said: “The lid has incredible inscriptions of prayers that used to help the deceased in his journey to the next world.” For more information visit www.egypt.travel and www.gotoegypt.org

New overland tours from Orbital Travel explore lesser-know sites NILE CRUISE specialist Orbital Travel has introduced new land-based tours in Egypt visiting Ancient Egyptian tombs, temples and monuments, as well as the country’s lesserknown sites. The company has added three itineraries based in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, including visits to the sites of the Dendera Temple complex, the Tombs of the Nobles, the Temple of Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum on the West Bank in Luxor, the Temple of Seti I and the Osireion at Abydos. A seven-night Luxor and Aswan itinerary leads in at £679 per person, including four nights' breakfast accommodation at the five-star Sonesta St George in Luxor, three nights at the five-star Movenpick Aswan, transfers and excursions to the West Bank of Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Tombs of the Nobles), East Bank of Luxor (Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Museum of Luxor) and Aswan (felucca cruise, Abu Simbel, Philae Temple, High Dam), escorted by a qualified Egyptologist. Flights are excluded and the tour is commissionable at 15%. For further information email greg@orbitaltravel.co.uk or visit www.orbitaltravel.co.uk

April 18 2014

LOCATED IN El Gouna’s downtown area, Puddleduck Bar & Restaurant has become the resort’s number one ranked restaurant on TripAdvisor. Owned by Mick and Jill Hargreaves from Yorkshire, the restaurant has attracted five-star ratings since its opening in December and serves a range of cuisine from across the globe, including elements from Britain, India, the Far East, Egypt, Italy and France. The Hargreaves first opened a restaurant in Luxor four years ago, which was also voted number one restaurant on the travel review website for more than three years running. For more information visit www.elgouna.com

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Experience 5,000 years of history on a Nile river cruise

Join us on a voyage of discovery as we visit the majestic ancient monuments that line the banks of the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, including the World Heritage Sites of the Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Kom Ombo, Philae and an optional excursion to Abu Simbel . Enjoy your cruise in style with scheduled Egyptair ﬂights and luxurious accommodation aboard the ﬁve star MS Grand Rose. 10 free excursions

Your price includes

Luxor Temple y

Return flights with Egyptair

Karnak Temple y

In-flight meals

Kom Ombo Temple y

Personal in-flight entertainment

Philae Temple y

46kg pp luggage allowance

Aswan High Dam y

VIP airport lounge*

Unfinished Obelisk y

Resort transfers

Colossi of Memnon y

10 fully-guided excursions

Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple y

All meals on board

Medinet Habu y

Local alcoholic and soft drinks

Valley of the Kings y

Late check out cabin

7 night Nile cruise from only

7 night Cruise & Stay add-on from

£599pp

£110pp

Save

Low deposit Just

£200 this summer

£75pp

The Egyptian Experts Call today on 0845 072 2477 Visit redseaholidays.co.uk/agent ABTA No.Y2507

Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Based on minimum 2 adults sharing. Discount is per booking, not per passenger and applies on holidays booked by 31/03/2014 and departing 01/05-31/10/2014. Abu Simbel excursion: payable locally. ºCruise & stay packages: airline may vary.*UK airport only. Other conditions apply; see brochure for details. ATOL protected 9749. ® Red Sea Holidays logo is a registered trade mark of Red Sea Holidays UK Ltd. © 2014.

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egypt Top tips to highlight to clients by PHIL ELLIS, product manager, Bales Worldwide Pool area of the Sanctuary Sun III

ONE OF the best ways to see Egypt’s awe-inspiring historical sites is to take to the Nile on a cruise. One particular partner that we have been working closely with recently is Sanctuary Cruises to design a new tour called ‘Sanctuary of Egypt', which is based on the MS Sanctuary Sun Boat IV along with three nights' pre-cruise in Cairo. There are many tips to highlight to clients and here is just a small selection to get you going: ● Take afternoon tea on the terrace of the Old Cataract which overlooks the River Nile as small felucca sail boats pass by. This is also the spot where Agatha Christie wrote Death on the Nile.

Wake up early and undertake your sightseeing in Luxor; this helps avoid the main crowds and the scorching midmorning heat. ● Stay at the Mena House and walk to the Pyramids which are five minutes away - and an incredible experience to approach them by foot rather than by bus. ● Make sure you go inside a Pyramid at Giza. You’ll need to get up early as they only issue 50 permits each day and they get snapped up quickly (and sadly they can’t be prepurchased). ● At the Valley of the Kings your admission ticket will only give you access to three tombs (you can pay extra for both Tutankamun’s and Rameses VI tombs), therefore it’s a good idea to research which tombs are open in advance of your trip (often eight tombs are open) and decide with of these most interests you. I would personally recommend Seti I (KV17) as this is one of the most spectacular of tombs due to its sheer size and the incredible artwork and hieroglyphics. ● Try and coincide your visit to Egypt with the Abu Simbel Festival which happens twice a year (February and October). Abu Simbel is my favourite of the Egyptian temples/tombs and twice a year you can see it in a totally different light as enthusiasts of Ancient Egypt wait with baited breath for the 13th century BC statues to be lit up by the rising sun. Impressively, Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II designed the Great Temple so that the statues would be illuminated only on the exact anniversary of his rise to the throne and his birthday, and also made sure that the statue of Phah (god of Darkness) would remain in the shadows. ● Don’t forget Lake Nasser. People taking a cultural tour of Egypt often ensure they spend some time on the River Nile and quite honestly with all the sightseeing this can be a full on experience. Therefore, I would recommend extending you stay by three or four nights and taking a cruise on the serenity of Lake Nasser. ● Visit Luxor Temple in the evening. Many people go and visit both Karnak and Luxor temple during the day however I would strongly recommend visiting Luxor Temple by night as its beautifully haunting. It is not a massive site so there is little chance of getting lost. ●

The operator's Sanctuary of Egypt eight-day group tour is available from £1,870 per person. It includes flights, transfers, accommodation, meals and sightseeing. To book, visit www.balesworldwide.com or call 0844-488 1157.

April 18 2014

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egypt URBAN ADVENTURES, a brand of Intrepid Group which specialises in day tours, has introduced a rural farming tour near Egypt’s Red Sea resorts, which agents can book directly with Urban Adventures or as an add-on to a longer tour with any Intrepid brand. The 11-hour Egyptian Farming 101 tour costs €74 and takes travellers away from the resorts of Sharm el Sheikh or Dahab and into the desert, where they can help out on a rural farm, learn about indigenous herbs that have enabled locals to live off the land for centuries and join their hosts for a traditional lunch made from the farm’s produce.

Discover Egypt & Jordan encourages agents to sell Egypt with confidence DISCOVER EGYPT & Jordan is urging agents to be confident in offering Luxor, Aswan or Upper Egypt to their clients. The operator's Philip Breckner said: "Luxor, Aswan or Upper Egypt are not mentioned in the FCO advice; there have been no incidents in this area since 1997 and all the Tombs and Temples are open. Direct flight from Heathrow to Luxor started on February 17 and UK travellers who have purchased packages from their local travel agents have written in to say what a fantastic holiday they have enjoyed." The company features three Classic Nile cruisers - Viking Princess, Royal Viking and Alexander the Great, with weekly departures throughout the year. A luxury cruise on the five-star Royal Viking with flights from Heathrow or Manchester, transfers, full board and ten guided excursions costs from £849 per person based on departures in May. An additional week in Luxor costs from £149 per person or on the Red Sea Riviera in El Gouna, Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh from £299. There are no single supplements and, during this month and next, the company is offering a free upgrade to the Royal Viking for clients booking the Viking Princess. The Royal Viking’s cabins are airconditioned, spacious and feature large French windows and a balcony rail, with a separate bathroom. Each cabin is decorated with traditional looking

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wooden panels and tasteful art, reminiscent of a bygone era but with all the mod cons of today, including plasma TVs with satellite channels. The operator is encouraging agents to highlight that a Nile cruise is not just a relaxing sail down the Nile, but also offers access to the world’s largest open air museum and ancient archaeological monuments and sites that still stand after 6,000 years. Along the way, holidaymakers can expect a variety of highlights including the Valley of the Kings – one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world and a World Heritage site since 1979; the Temple of Hatshepsut, which is the temple of Queen Hatshepsut and one of the most significant monuments of ancient Egypt; Valley of the Queens – the burial place for the wives of Pharaoh’s and often their children, located close to the Valley of the Kings; Colossi of Memnon, one of the most imposing ancient monuments on the West Bank which features two huge stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that have sat in the Theban necropolis for 3,400 years; Temple of Karnak, which offers the largest ancient religious site in the world and is a vast mix of ruined temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings, including the Great Temple of Amun and a huge structure started by Pharaoh Ramses II between 1391-1351 BC; Temple of Luxor, a temple complex in

the city of Luxor that was started by Queen Hatshepsut; Temple of Horus (Edfu), which is located near the city of Edfu and is the second largest temple in Egypt after Karnak, dedicated to the falcon god, Horus; Temple of Sobek (Kom Ombo), located 40 km from Aswan in the town of Kom Ombo; and Temple of Philae, which is dedicated to the goddess Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. For more information or to book call 020-7407 2111 or see www.discoveregypt.co.uk

April 18 2014

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ly n o n io t a d o accomm THE FOUR-star Hotel Tres, located in the historic heart of Palma, Mallorca, has undergone a refurbishment and some new additions. These include a new gym with high-quality machines from Technogym and a meeting room for up to 12 guests with full A/V facilities. The refurnished courtyard is a quiet place to relax with a glass of cava, or guests can soak up the views from the plunge pool on the rooftop sundeck. The hotel is open year-round with rates starting from â&#x201A;Ź215 for a double room with breakfast (+ 7% tax). Advance booking rates offer a 15% discount with terms and conditions. For details or to book see www.hoteltres.com

HRS negotiates exclusive Business Tariff that offers fixed prices HRS HAS unveiled a special new Business Tariff which offers exclusively negotiated fixed prices for more than 40,000 corporate customers worldwide. The negotiated rates are exclusively offered via HRS, and are bookable as a

Jon West

special Business Tariff in the 100 most important international business travel hubs. Only hotels that meet the specific requirements of business travellers were invited to join the negotiations which included properties with a central location, high availability and above average guest evaluations. The company has also placed greater emphasis on convenient amenities for commercial travellers in the chosen business hotels. Breakfast was also negotiated and is included in the rate. To give business travellers real flexibility, all bookings with hotels with a fixed rate can be cancelled until 18:00 local time on the

day of arrival, so costs for rebooking and cancelling can be avoided. The company's managing director, Jon West, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;With our Intelligent Sourcing service, we have coordinated the hotel procurement for our bigger corporate customers for years. Now, we can also negotiate fixed rates for all other corporate customers. This means that business travellers can gain access to exclusive rates with HRS that are well below the spot market rates. These rates complement the contracts the companies negotiate directly with the hotels. Our corporate customers can therefore not only save time, but also save on internal process expenses."

Hand-picked accommodation options from Cyplon Holidays CYPLON HOLIDAYS has announced that it is introducing new destinations including Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco, along with an expansion of its programmes in Cyprus and Greece. Properties, hotels and resorts are handpicked across all destinations, and are based on products that offer quality and value. The company's sales and marketing director, Tass Anastasi, said: "Our competitive pricing policy and local suppliers ensure that we can usually offer the best accommodation at the best prices, but if by chance you find the same

April 18 2014

accommodation for a better price we will do everything we can to not only match but beat this price, as part of our Price Matching Policy. Should agents wish to book accommodation that is not featured on our new website, we will do everything in our power to source this for them at the best possible price. "In addition to the 10% commission we offer travel agents for accommodation-only bookings, agents will also receive a ÂŁ10 Capital Bond voucher per accommodationonly booking." For more information call 0800-074 8888 or email sales@cyplon.co.uk

Japan debut from Andaz Hotel ANDAZ TOKYO Toranomon Hills has announced that it is now accepting reservations and plans to officially open its doors to guests on June 11. The opening will mark the 12th hotel to join the Andaz brand and is the first of the company's hotels located in Japan. The new property is located on floors 47-52 of the 52-storey Toranomon Hills Tower, which has been developed as part of an urban engineering project integrating central Tokyo with the bay area. Stretching directly outward from Toranomon Hills Tower is a 14km looped road development, set to become one of the most popular boulevards in Tokyo. The road will feature a tunnel running underneath the tower, creating open spaces on the ground level where locals and tourists can walk and take in the scenery. The hotel offers 164 guestrooms, including eight suites, a Japanese garden, numerous bars and restaurants, a chapel and a spa. For more information visit www.andazytokyo.com

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accommodationonly New Finca Dalt Murada opens in Mallorca with special opening rate FINCA DALT Murada, a 500 year old farm estate near the wine-growing region of Binissalem, 20 minutes from Palma, opens on May 3 following a renovation and conversion project. A special opening offer of a seven-night stay is available from 350 per person with breakfast sharing a double room ( 500 for a suite) and includes two nights at sister property Hotel Dalt Murada in Palma. Guests can also opt to spend the full seven nights at the Finca.

Pierre & Vacances adds Fuerteventura property PIERRE & Vacances has added the Fuerteventura Origo Mare Holiday Village to its portfolio, which opens next month. The apartments, which are set around a waterpark in the centre of the village, feature a terrace and garden, and range in size from studios for two through to threebedroom houses for seven, with private swimming pools. The holiday village has a range of more than 40 activities on offer tailored to children and adults of varying ages, including childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clubs with three age brackets. Other activities include windsurfing, diving, tennis and DJ lessons. A seven-night stay during the school holidays costs from ÂŁ506 for a onebedroom house sleeping four on a self-catering basis, while a threebedroom apartment which sleeps seven and offers a private pool leads in at ÂŁ805. The prices include an early discount of 35% savings. For more information or to book call 0870-026 7145 or see www.pierreetvacances.co.uk

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The farm estate dates from Roman times and retains fine architectural features from beautifully tiled floors to woodenbeamed ceilings, carefully retaining the traditional structure of the building. Set in hundreds of acres of farmland and gardens with a pool area, sauna and bikes for guests, this is an ideal retreat for clients seeking rest and relaxation in peaceful surroundings. The 25 new guest rooms are set around a central courtyard and offer

Finca Dalt Murada

spacious period bedrooms and bathrooms, furnished with antique Mallorquin furniture and family heirlooms.

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The offer is available from May 3 to September 30. See www.fincadaltmurada.com for more details or to book.

H O L I D AY S The home of Mediterranean holidays

Cyplon Holidays are experts in tailor-made holidays to

GREECE & HER ISLANDS

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accommodationonly Abercrombie & Kent Villas expands summer portfolio & debuts in Corsica A&K VILLAS has extended its portfolio for summer to include a selection of villas on the island of Corsica. The addition has extended the company's portfolio to 270 properties across Europe with some 90 in both France and Italy,as well as properties in Mallorca, Ibiza, minland Spain, Portugal, Crete and the UK. The operator's general manager, Adam Coats, said: "We are delighted to be expanding our portfolio of European villas to include Corsica. This is a destination which we have noticed an increasing demand for over

the past couple of years and having visited the island we can see why. The beaches are outstanding and the family friendly villas offer superb value for money. We will continue to contract more villas on the island as the year progresses. “In addition to Corsica we have been busy over the winter months contracting some great new villas in our existing regions and have found some stunning properties. One of my personal favourites is Villa Cetinale in Tuscany; not only was it built for a Pope it’s also staged Siena’s most famous

horse race, the Palio, on more than one occasion. I’m confident that our customers will be delighted with the new selection we have to offer.” The Corsica Collection initially includes four family-friendly villas which are located in Sartene and Calvi. As examples, the four-bedroom Villa de la Baie sleeps eight and offers rates from £2,907 per week, while the fourbedroom Villa Kamy in Stavros, Crete costs from £2,491 per week. For more information or to book see www.akvillas.com or call 0845-618 2205.

Europe expansion from AceRooms.com HAVING ESTABLISHED a steady growth in the UK for the past few years, AceRooms is now expanding into Europe. Agents can set their preferred currency choice enabling them to view rates and pay in euros, by either bank transfer or credit card, from a choice of 60,000 hotels, all available at wholesale rates.

THE OKURA Prestige Bangkok has introduced a new package for families. Guests booking the hotel’s ‘We are Family’ package for two or more consecutive nights will receive a complimentary family ticket to Siam Ocean World, located at the nearby Siam Paragon shopping mall, along with breakfast accommodation in a Premier Club or Deluxe Suite room, two complimentary BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System) day passes for adults and unlimited access to the hotel’s Club Lounge with exclusive benefits. Prices lead in at 10,200 baht per night (approximately £190) and the offer is valid until December 10. For details see www.okurabangkok.com

Superbreak adds new Scottish properties SUPERBREAK HAS added six new hotels in Scotland to its portfolio. They include the four-star Doubletree By Hilton Edinburgh City Centre, which leads in at £133.50 and the four-star Hilton Aberdeen Treetops, which costs from £47.50. Prices are per person, per night and include breakfast. All properties are fully commissionable and bookable online at www.superbreak.com/agents. For more information call 0871-221 4444

Jupiter Hotels signs management agreement for five new Choice Hotels JUPITER HOTELS has added five new hotels to its portfolio, taking its collection of owned and managed properties from 26 up to 31 across the UK. The agreement, announced with Choice Hotels, will see five hotels join the portfolio under management contracts with immediate effect, remaining under Choice Hotels’ Quality and Clarion Collection brands. Jupiter Hotels will manage five of Choice Hotel’s East Anglian hotels - in Bury St Edmunds, Colchester, Peterborough and Kings Lynn – all of which are three-star rated, plus the four-star 76-bedroom Clarion Collection Hotel Cromwell Stevenage. Shane Harris, the company's CEO, said: “The addition of these five new hotels is a positive move for us, representing an increase of almost 20% in the size of our portfolio and establishing us as a multi brand leader in the midscale hotel segment. These management contracts enable us to establish a strong foothold in East Anglia, one of the UK’s fastest growing regional economies after London and the South East." For details see www.jupiterhotels.co.uk

Apartment addition from Corsican Places with introductory offer of seven nights from £399 CORSICAN PLACES has further expanded its accommodation choice with the addition of Apartment Maddalena to its 2014 summer collection. The two-bedroom property is situated in the heart of L’lle Rousse, North West Corsica and features high ceilings, traditional textiles and retro chandeliers. French doors lead from the kitchen, sitting room and one of the

April 18 2014

bedrooms to a south-facing balcony with views across the rooftops of l’Ile Rousse to the mountains of la Balagne in the distance. The apartment is just steps away from the main square Pascal Paoli which fills up with pétanque players and spectators, making it an ideal place to engage in the Corsican way of life. The town has a daily market along with several bakeries, shops, cafés and

eateries. A sandy beach and the local train station are also within a tenminute walk. An introductory offer is available for a May 18th departure from Stansted, with seven nights costing from £399 per person. Based on four sharing, the price represents a saving of £170 per person and includes transfers and flights. For more information call 0845-330 2113 or visit www.corsica.co.uk

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SeaWorld booking incentive from Attraction World ATTRACTION WORLD has teamed up with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment to offer a new agent incentive this month and next. Agents making a booking on the three-for-two SeaWorld/Aquatica/Busch Gardens ticket can enter into a draw to win one of ten VIP SeaWorld/Attraction World goodie bags. To apply, email the booking reference to welovesea@attractionworld. com Meanwhile, the company has introduced 'The Feast Card', a new Orlando dining card valid for up to 12 people to benefit from savings on a number of restaurants. The card comes with a restaurant app and free concierge service and costs £49.

THE WORLD’S tallest ferris wheel, the High Roller, officially opened last month at The LINQ, Caesars Entertainment’s open air district in the centre of the Las Vegas Strip. The ride, which features 28 glass-enclosed air-conditioned gondolas that can each hold up to 40 people, takes passengers on a 30minute loop to showcase some of the city's best views. Tickets cost $24.95 in the daytime and $34.95 at night. For details visit www.thelinq.com

usa

Western & Oriental expands Texas offering with new fly/drives plus activity & city breaks WESTERN & Oriental has expanded its Texas holiday programme beyond the original ranch offering to include fly/drives, activity breaks and city breaks. The expansion follows the recent launch of BA’s new direct flight to Austin, which makes the state more accessible than ever. Prices start from £1,519 per person for a six-night Dallas City Break and Ranch Stay. The twin-centre break heads to Fort Worth to spend evenings at Billy Bob’s Honky Tonk (country music bar) and see the daily cattle run in the Fort Worth Stockyards. For the second part of the trip, guests will head to the new Wildcatter Ranch in Graham, which offers 4,000 acres of Texan countryside and is ideal for beginner riders looking for an authentic ranch experience. The price is based on two travelling and includes three

nights at The Worthington Renaissance, Fort Worth (roomonly), three nights’ full-board at Wildcatter Ranch and flights. New accommodation options in the Texas programme include The Inn at Dos Brisas, a collection of nine Spanish-style haciendas and casitas. The properties are located in the hills of Texas Hill Country, a short drive from both Houston and Austin. A range of activities are available including culinary experiences with wine-tasting/mixology classes, fishing, swimming, riding lessons and massages. Clients can combine a stay at The Inn at Dos Brisas (three nights) with a stay at Westin Galleria Hotel, Houston (two nights) from £1,785 per person, based on two sharing. The price includes breakfast accommodation and flights with BA. To book call 020-7666 1234 or visit www.westernoriental.com

Great Rail Journeys adds five new US journeys to 2014/15 programme GREAT RAIL Journeys has added five new US tours in its 2014/15 Worldwide programme, ‘Worldwide Holidays By Rail 2014/2015’. They include ‘Premium USA Coast to Coast’, Southern States & the Everglades’, ‘California’s Parks & Pacific Coast’, ‘American Queen & Pullman’ and ‘New York & Vermont in the Fall’. As an example of prices, a 14-day Southern States & The Everglades tour leads in at £2,495 per person and includes five excursions and two classic Amtrak Railway Journeys, as well as flights, all rail and coach travel and the services of a tour manager. Itinerary highlights include the southern state cities of Atlanta,

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Charleston, Florida and the Kennedy Space Centre, the grass plains of the Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys. The company's national sales manager, Tony Byrne, said: “Our continued expansion into the ever popular destination of the US has been behind the continued growth of our Worldwide programme, with which we aim to meet our customers' desire to travel to these more demanding destinations but with the comfort and security of the escorted tour experience.” The operator's best selling overall US tour is its USA Coast to Coast, which costs from £3,458 for 21 days. It includes

scheduled flights from Heathrow; rail and coach travel; 16 nights' hotel accommodation; three overnight train journeys in a two-berth room with meals; guided city tours in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco; four Amtrak journeys on the Capitol Limited, California Zephyr, Southwest Chief and Coast Starlight; two rail journeys on the heritage lines of Durango & Silverton Railroad and Grand Canyon Railroad; time to explore the South Rim of the Grand Canyon; transfers and luggage handling in the US; flight taxes and charges; and a tour manager throughout. For more information call 01904-521980 or see www.greatrail.com/uk

April 18 2014

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usa Orlando’s steepest and tallest extreme water slide drops in May THE WORLD’S longest drop tower multi-slide ride of its kind and the tallest and steepest in the southern United States, Ihu’s Breakaway Falls, will open on May 9 at Aquatica Orlando. Standing at nearly 80ft tall and with a vertical drop measuring 40ft long, the ride features four different slides each Ihu’s offering the steepest and Breakaway tallest 360-degree spirals in Falls the southern US. Riders step into one of three clear ‘breakaway boxes’ at the top of the ride where they face each other – not knowing who will drop first – before the floor disappears and they plunge down at a rate of 20–24 feet per second. Those who are looking for a slightly tamer experience can choose the fourth slide which allows them to control when they go. For advice and tips from the park’s experts, agents can visit the interactive website at www.seaworldparksagents.co.uk

Insight promotes eastern coast tour

Come get a taste of all Louisiana has to offer, from our unique cuisine to our vibrant music scene. It’s where the music never stops— and most of it started. Phone Number: 0208 460 7082 Brochure Request Line: 0800 652 8251 Louisiana@ttmworld.co.uk

INSIGHT VACATIONS’ eight-day Boston Cape Cod and the Islands trip explores America’s eastern coast. The tour includes a sightseeing tour of Boston; a trip south to Rhode Island to visit Newport for a cruise on an 80ft schooner; a visit to Oak Bluffs, known for its multicoloured gingerbread cottages with storybook decorations; exploring Martha’s Vineyard; a trip to Cape Cod; a ferry ride to Nantucket Island for a guided tour; a visit to the seaside town of Chatham; and a trip to a local cranberry bog to learn about one of Massachusetts’ most important crops. The tour starts and ends in Boston and prices start from £2,795 per person, including land and air travel, seven nights’ breakfast accommodation, VIP door-to-door transfers, sightseeing and the services of a tour director. For more information visit www.insightvacations.com

Brand USA launches social media road trip campaign BRAND USA has launched a new interactive Road Trip social media campaign which features ten road trips covering 39 states. Hosted on the company's Facebook, Twitter and at DiscoverAmerica.com, the campaign runs until July and is designed to inspire travellers to discover the USA from the open road; from the dramatic cliffs of Hawaii’s Hana Highway to the legendary sounds, record stores and celebrated musicians of the Blues Highway (Route 61), which runs from Nashville to New Orleans. Social media influencers from nine of the company's international markets, including the UK, will travel on each road trip taking in important attractions, points of interest, restaurants and other ‘must see’ locations along the route, sharing stories and photos as they go.

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usa Finnair introduces direct winter service to Miami NEXT WINTER Finnair will begin operating non-stop scheduled services between Helsinki and Miami, Florida. The new seasonal flight, operated with Airbus A340 aircraft in a two-class Business and Economy cabin configuration, will commence from December 16 until March 21, 2015. AY007 will leave Helsinki (HEL) on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 09:55 for arrival in Miami (MIA) at 14:05 local time. AY008 departs Miami at 16:00 for arrival in Helsinki at 08:50 the next day. From January 3, 2015, the service moves to three times weekly with an additional frequency on Saturdays. The flight lasts approximately 11 hours outbound while the return journey takes less than ten hours. The timetable connects well with passengers transferring from other cities in Finland, Estonia and Sweden. The carrier's CEO, Pekka Vauramo, said: “Services to Miami with codeshare partners have always been popular, and the time is now right to offer a direct nonstop route in the winter season in addition to these services." For more information see www.finnair.com

Norwegian announces direct Fort Lauderdale flight from £179

SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino set to open next month

NORWEGIAN AIR Shuttle has added Gatwick to its intercontinental route map after experiencing success with its new European routes. The London – Fort Lauderdale route will operate twice-weekly from July 4 on Mondays and Fridays and the introductory fare is £179 one-way. Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport is continuing to build for the future with upgrades including a new runway, plus additional and remodelled terminals. A $300million (approximately £180m) makeover of the Southwest Airlines Terminal 1 at FLL is planned. The update, expected to be completed in early 2017, will add daily flights from Latin America and the Caribbean.

SLS LAS Vegas Hotel & Casino has announced that it will form part of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts consortium when it opens at the beginning of next month. The 1,600-room mixeduse resort and casino will be the first and only destination in Las Vegas to offer iPrefer member benefits. The resort will house a collection of sbe’s acclaimed restaurant and nightlife brands such as The Bazaar by José Andrés, Katsuya, Cleo, 800 Degrees, Umami Burger, The Sayers Club and The Griddle Café. It will also be home to seven Fred Segalbranded stores located throughout the property. For more information see www.preferredhotelgroup .com and www.slshotels.com/lasve gas

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nn, holiday

by John Gui

researcher

Law-abiding citizen, John Guinn, contemplates the best state to commit a crime... John Guinn runs Holiday Hut and has a weekly travel show on internet radio station, Secklow Sounds. He also contributes regularly to UK Health Radio. IKE MOST people in the UK, my first exposure to the USA was through watching TV. I was fascinated by the cop shows where the bad guys were racing towards the state line and to safety. I couldn’t imagine being chased across England by the police, getting across the border with Wales and then turning around and flicking the Vs at my pursuers. Yet this seemed possible when you are on the run from the law in the USA. Of course, you need to pick the right state to commit your crime. Hopping over the state line if you are in Hawaii or Alaska is a bit more complicated than if you are in one of the remaining 48 states. For a wide choice of escape options you should look at running from the law in Tennessee or Missouri as both these states each share borders with eight others. The easiest place to hop over into another state is at the Four Corners Monument. If you sit on the monument you could have a foot in Arizona and Colorado, and your hands could be in New Mexico and Utah. This point also marks another boundary, so you could be half in the Navajo Nation and half in the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Reservation. To be honest, when I came across this place I did imagine a Benny Hill type chase around the monument. As well as being a point to escape justice, this monument also helps those who wish to tick off as many US States as possible on their trip. It is remote, but it is a day trip from Albuquerque, or an overnight trip from Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Las Vegas or Denver. So why not suggest it the next time you have someone in the area? For more information visit www.navajonationparks.org/htm/fourcorners.htm

Free canyon tour from DoSomethingDifferent.com AGENTS PRE-BOOKING any Las Vegas hot air balloon flight with DoSomethingDifferent.com by May 31 can offer their clients a free Red Rock Classic Canyon Tour worth £60, plus a free voucher for a four-hour guided Pink Jeep Tour to explore the area on land. The offer costs £177 per person based on travel before December 31. The company has also announced that Orlando 2015 theme park tickets are now on sale with no cancellation fees. For more information call 020-8090 3890.

April 18 2014

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FOR TRAVEL IN 2014

BE OUR GUEST FOR LONGER AND EXPERIENCE

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Ticket offer for guests travelling in 2014! They’ll get 9 Disney Park days for the price of 7 when they book by 30 June for arrivals throughout the rest of 2014.

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disneytravelagents.co.uk Full terms and conditions apply to offer — see disneytravelagents.co.uk for details. *Valid Theme Park admission and online registration required. Disney FastPass+ attractions and entertainment experiences, the number of selections that can be made and available arrival windows are limited. ©Disney.

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FOR TRAVEL IN 2015

FREE Disney Dining* is back, or enjoy NEW FREE breakfast!* FREE DISNEY DINING FOR CUSTOMERS STAYING AT A DISNEY MODERATE, DELUXE OR DELUXE VILLA RESORT Book 24 Apr–4 Nov 2014, for arrivals on selected dates from 1 Jan–30 Nov 2015**, and everyone in the party dines for FREE for the entire stay.

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usa Trafalgar launches Western Discoverer tour TRAFALGAR HAS introduced a 14-day Western Discoverer itinerary, a journey into the heartland of America’s west. Highlights include Los Angeles; San Diego; Scottsdale; Sedona; the Grand Canyon National Park; Zion National Park; Las Vegas; Mammoth Lakes on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains; Yosemite National Park; Sonoma; Napa Valley; San Francisco; Carmel-bythe-Sea; Monterey; and Santa Barbara, which will be the last stop before heading back to Los Angeles. Prices start from £3,075 per person including land and air travel, 13 nights’ breakfast accommodation, seven additional meals, VIP door-to-door transfers, sightseeing and the services of a travel director throughout. For more information visit www.trafalgar.com

Aspen highlights spring and summertime events

Aspen, Colorado

DURING SPRING and summer, Aspen, Colorado hosts a range of events including art exhibitions, lecture series and festivals. The town also welcomes a range of athletes who move to the area temporarily to train on local trails. Highlights include the Food and Wine Classic event from June 20-22, which features a range of celebrity chefs and wine experts; the Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Festival from June 19-July 28; a free 24-hour celebration to celebrate the opening of Aspen Art Museum’s (AAM) new 30,000-square-foot Shigeru Ban-designed building on August 9; the USA Pro Challenge Official Start & Stage 2 cycling event from August 18-19; and the sixday Aspen Filmfest in September. For outdoor enthusiasts, a climbing area which is easily accessible from the town has been developed in Gold Butte, which was recently acquired by Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (OST). Black Tomato offers bespoke seven-night family summer holidays to Aspen from £2,675 per person, based on a family of four travelling. Activities include a hot air balloon ride, tickets to the Theatre Aspen festival, flights with BA, accommodation at Hotel Jerome and The Sky Hotel Aspen plus car hire. To book or for further information call 020-7426 9888 or visit www.blacktomato.com

UNIVERSAL'S CABANA Bay Beach Resort has welcomed its first guests. The new property is the fourth on-site hotel at Universal Orlando Resort and evokes the classic, retro-feel of iconic beach resorts from the 1950s and 60s. Facilities include a ten-lane Galaxy Bowl, fitness studio and a dive tower waterslide and pool. This summer, the resort will welcome new additions including a second 8,000 sq.ft zero entry pool, a lazy river, The Hideaway Bar & Grill and additional family suites and guest rooms. When complete, the resort will feature a total of 1,800 rooms – 900 family suites and 900 standard guest rooms.

April 18 2014

Park Hyatt New York announces summer launch PARK HYATT New York plans to make its grand debut this summer in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Guests of the hotel will enjoy its prime location at 153 West 57th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, which is within walking distance from Central Park and adjacent to the historic Carnegie Hall. The hotel's general manager and area vice president for Park Hyatt Hotels, North America, Walter Brindell, said: “With luxury and personalised service top of mind, we have meticulously customised the experience at Park Hyatt New York to offer exceptional, genuine hospitality. We are committed to delivering an authentic New York City experience that will set us apart from any other local luxury hotel, and we look forward to welcoming guests in true Park Hyatt style to this fantastic city.” The property will feature 210 guestrooms, including 92 premier suites, all with floor-to-ceiling windows and located within the first 25 floors of the 90-storey One57 skyscraper. Nightly rates for a standard room start from $795 through to $1,295. For more information visit www.parkhyatt.com

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usa Funway Holidays announces launch of largest US brochure FUNWAY HOLIDAYS has Funway Holidays' managing unveiled its new bumper 260director, Stephen Rhodes, celebrates the new page USA brochure, on sale brochure launch for departures from May 1 to December 31, 2015, which launches at the beginning of next month. The new edition includes the introduction of more than 150 new hotels, new regions new holiday options, plus a new airline partner - Thomas Cook Airlines. New destinations include California National Parks including Mammoth Lakes, South Lake Tahoe, Death Valley and Sequoia; Central Coast including Santa Cruz, San Simeon, Paso Robles and Santa Ynez Valley; Seattle; Portland; Arizona including Tucson, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley and Yellowstone; Colorado & The Rockies including Denver, Vail, Colorado Springs and Durango; The South including Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia and North and South Carolina; Florida; Atlantic City; New England including Cape Cod, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and Connecticut; and The Great Lakes & Midwest including Illinois-Springfield, Michigan-Traverse City, Mackinac Island, Detroit, Minnesota-Minneapolis, Indiana-Indianapolis and Ohio-Cleveland. Nick Talbot, the company's marketing manager, said: “Our new brochure is our best and biggest USA offering ever, going from 92 pages in our previous brochure to 260 pages. Agents have been very supportive of our USA programme, which has enabled us to feature a greater range of products for this year. New areas and products have been added as a result of demand from agents, and we hope that we can continue to build on our extensive product portfolio year-on-year. We are not however limited to the areas and hotels within the brochure; we can cater for virtually any request in order to create a tailor made, bespoke itinerary, specific to the clients needs.” A range of offers in the new brochure are available and range from savings of £75 per booking when confirming a twin or multi-centre holiday on bookings made by December 31, to free car rental upgrades for bookings made by December 31. Prices lead in at £639 per person including three nights in New York staying at The New Yorker Hotel (based on two sharing) and flights with United Airlines from Heathrow. The online version of the brochure is available at www.funway4agents.co.uk

New attractions added to Tampa Bay CityPASS ST. PETERSBURG/Clearwater has announced that three of its top attractions are now available for customers to enjoy as part of the new Tampa Bay CityPASS. From May 20, holidaymakers can purchase the ticket booklet and save 38% on admission to Busch Gardens Tampa, The Florida Aquarium and Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, as well as the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the pass holder’s choice between the Chihuly Collection presented by the Morean Arts Center or the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). Prices for the booklet lead in at £70 ($119) for adults and £60 ($99) for children aged three to nine. Passes are valid for nine consecutive days, starting from the first day of use, and can be purchased at www.citypass.com Visitors who use all of the booklet’s tickets will save £45 ($73.45) on combined admission to the included attractions. CityPASS ticket booklets and admission cards are also available in New York City, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California and Toronto. For more information visit www.visitstpeteclearwater.com

Grand American Adventures celebrates North America’s top family destinations GRAND AMERICAN Adventures, a national tour operator that specialises in small group adventures to the Americas, has announced its top destinations in North America to visit with kids. They include: White-water rafting the Grand Canyon; Mission Beach, San Diego; Universal Studios; Valdez in Alaska to spot Orcas and humpback whales; Become a real cowboy in Utah; Santa Monica Pier; Yosemite National Park; Kayaking on Lake Powell; and Denali National Park. To celebrate the family-friendly destinations, the company is offering a 20% discount off all North American family tours booked this month that depart this year.

April 18 2014

Richard Hanson, the company's managing director, said: “We have been travelling to North America for many years and are passionate about the impressive destinations that it has to offer. Travelling further afield can allow families to gain more broad experiences and unique memories that will stay with them forever. As sector specialists and ahead of our busy summer season, we thought it was important to highlight those destinations that make North America such a desirable location for families and why we are so enthusiastic about travelling there.” For further information visit www.grandamericanadventures.com or call 0333-999 7961.

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usa The 244-room Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage announces May opening

The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage

RITZ-CARLTON will be opening its Rancho Mirage property in Southern California on May 15. Less than two hours from Los Angeles and San Diego, with direct flights from the East Coast, the desert resort is surrounded by the Santa Rosa Mountain range on a 650ft bluff overlooking Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. The hotel will feature 244 rooms and suites; a two-storey spa; cliff-side

swimming; serenity pools; golf and tennis activities; more than 30,000sq.ft. of indoor/outdoor meeting space; destination dining with valley views; and close proximity to cultural and recreational activities, including 20 miles of hiking/biking trails, polo grounds and shopping. Chris Gabaldon, the brand's area vice president for the Western region, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;A seamless luxury experience in this

iconic area of California has not only been greatly anticipated by The RitzCarlton â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but even more so by brand loyalists around the world. This storied property will deliver a highly sensory respite that is culturally and generationally relevant, offering rich experiences for the leisure and business traveller, alike.â&#x20AC;? For more information or to book visit www.ritzcarlton.com/ranchomirage

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usa Greater Miami welcomed record overnight visitors in 2013

We asked our staff the following question this week: What scares you the most? Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk The dark

Editor: Lauretta Wright lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk Being late on the TB deadline!

Assistant Editor: Jill Sayles jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk

THE GREATER Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau's (GMCVB) president and CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME has announced that Greater Miami and the Beaches welcomed a record-breaking 14.2million overnight visitors last year, a 2.2% increase compared to 2012. Talbert said: “This is the first time the destination has welcomed more than 14million overnight visitors and marks the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking overnight visitors to the destination.” Last year the region accommodated 7.13million international overnight visitors (an increase of 4.4%) while a record 7.09million domestic overnight visitors visited the destination, a 0.2% increase over the previous year. A record $22.8billion in visitor expenditures for 2013 meanwhile represented an increase of 4.6%. Steven Haas, board chair of the tourism board, said: “For the fourth year in a row, the strength of the Miami brand continues to attract record overnight visitors from around the world, generating record expenditures and supporting ongoing increases in the number of jobs in our industry.”

Scary films

Contributing Editor: Paul Scudamore post@travelbulletin.co.uk

Lufthansa and Brand USA offer taste of America

Apart from next week's question, being mugged (again), and no Guinness in my (any) local.

AS PART of a new culinary initiative, Brand USA has partnered with Lufthansa to implement an in-flight menu featuring traditional American dishes on long-haul flights between the US and Germany. Beginning next month, the airline will serve First and Business Class passengers dishes inspired by local products and influences from the primary regions of the US: the west coast, the Midwest, the northeast, central region and the southeast.

Sales Director: Simon Eddolls simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk Avram Grant

Advertisement Manager: Tim Podger tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk The wife, on a monthly basis!

Online Sales Manager: Nick Boocock nick.boocock@travelbulletin.co.uk Wasps. That's it. Nothing else.

Account Manager: Bill Coad bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk Life itself

Sales Executive: Chris Gascoine chris.gascoine@travelbulletin.co.uk The dark, I have to sleep with a light on

Sales Executive: Matt Gill matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk The Teletubbies

Senior Designer: Genaro Santos genaro.santos@travelbulletin.co.uk Sloth from The Goonies

Assistant Designer: Nicky Valsamakis nicky.valsamakis@travelbulletin.co.uk Numbskulls

Production: Erica Sesay production@travelbulletin.co.uk Creatures that don't have faces, like snails and starfishes

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 £125 p.a. £195 overseas ISSN: 0956-2419

April 18 2014

AKA BEVERLY Hills, which has recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, has introduced shorter stays of seven days as opposed to its previous 30-day minimum stay. A one-bedroom suite costs from $435 per night based on a oneweek stay, and is available at a lower rate for monthly stays.

puzzlesolutions Crossword: Across: 1. LUFTHANSA, 6. GLA, 7. RAFFLES, 8. NEW ZEALAND, 11. WASHINGTON, 14. ORLANDO, 15. JOE, 16. STORNOWAY. Down: 1. LEGEND, 2. FRA, 3. HARLECH, 4. ALLEN, 5. PESO, 9. LINCOLN, 10. ANNECY, 12. ATLAS, 13. COMO, 15. JAW.

Highlighted Word: FRANCE Travagrams: (top) Geckos Adventures

(bottom) Thistle

Where Am I?: Widnes

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THREE

PARKS FOR THE PRICE OF TWO

ÂŁ99

ADULT

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(3-9 YRS) The 3-Park Ticket is now the same price as the 2-Park Ticket and offers 14 consecutive days HJJLZZ [V :LH>VYSK 6YSHUKV (X\H[PJH HUK )\ZJO .HYKLUZ 7S\Z LUQV` -9,, [YHUZWVYH[PVU [V Busch Gardens Tampa on the Busch Gardens Shuttle Express!

MAKE A BOOKING FOR THE 3-PARK TICKET AND YOU COULD WIN ONE OF TEN SUPER SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT GOODIE BAGS! Simply email your booking reference through to weloveSEA@attractionworld.com for your JOHUJL [V ^PU -VY M\SS [LYTZ HUK JVUKP[PVUZ WSLHZL ]PZP[ V\Y ^LIZP[L )VVRPUNZ T\Z[ IL THKL IL[^LLU Z[ (WYPS HUK Z[ 4H` MVY [OL 7HYR ;PJRL[ ;OL 7HYR ;PJRL[ WYV]PKLZ \USPTP[LK HKTPZZPVU MVY JVUZLJ\[P]L KH`Z MYVT Ă&#x201E; YZ[ \ZL -YLL I\Z [YHUZWVY[H[PVU is available to Busch Gardens on the Busch Gardens Shuttle Express. Child prices apply to children aged 3-9. Children 0-2 years of age are free of charge. Offer valid for new bookings only. )VVR HUK Ă&#x201E; YZ[ ]PZP[ T\Z[ IL I` Z[ +LJLTILY Â? :LH>VYSK 7HYRZ ,U[LY[HPUTLU[ 0UJ (SS 9PNO[Z 9LZLY]LK

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