Travel Bulletin 25th October 2013 by Alain Charles Publishing

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October 25 2013 | ISSUE NO 1,847 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

A special souvenir issue to mark our 2013 Star Awards

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newsbulletin

This Week 3

news

notes from normanton

agent bulletin

puzzle bulletin

airline bulletin

a round-up of this week's industry announcements

the latest musings from travel agent, Sandy Murray

find out what's in store for Scorpio this month, plus agent booking incentives

play Su Doku for your chance to win a £50 M&S voucher new research finds nine out of ten want reclining seats banned on aircraft

pix mix images from South Africa Tourism's fam trip to Cape Town & Durban

personality bulletin

star awards 2013

which sales manager says that his skills as a massage therapist come in handy?

celebrating the industry's finest

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KINGS OF THE JUNGLE...Pictured with DreamWorks character, King Julian of Madagascar fame, at the Cupcake Cupboard on Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas are the agent winners of the cruise line's incentive competition, which required agents to make a booking for any long-haul fly/cruise in 2013/14. Agents were flown out for a three-night Miami stay and ship visit courtesy of British Airways. Pictured are, from the left: Kevin Cook, IGLU; Liam Oliver, Reader Offers; Tracy Worthington, Liverpool Cruise Club; Elinor Gault, The Cruise Specialists; Darryl Geegan, Thomson; Chanchal Dass, Royal Caribbean International; Sabita Kamaladin, British Airways; Joanna Rigby, Thomas Cook; and David Sanderson, Royal Caribbean International.

New study finds travel agent use of Global Distribution Systems grows more than any other booking channel A RECENT study of more than 650 agents from 34 countries found that travel agents are using Global Distribution Systems (GDS) more than ever before. The 2013 Bi-Annual Global travel agent GDS Study, conducted by market research firm Phoenix Marketing International in partnership with TravelClick, surveyed travel agents worldwide who use Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre and Worldspan. The GDS is one of only two channels that travel agents are using more than in the past, with the percentage of agents increasing their usage of the GDS up by 14% from 2011. The only other channel that experienced growth was hotel/chain websites, which increased 3%. The study also found that travel agents’ use of all other channels (including other agent booking tools, telephone to hotel/CRO, travel mega-sites, general hotel directories and direct mail/fax) shrank significantly in the past two years, decreasing by 21%. Jason Ewell, executive vice president, business intelligence, media and web solutions for TravelClick, said: “The GDS is

more popular with travel agents than ever. This year the GDS is on track to produce 58 million hotel reservations, up five million from 2011. As key influencers in booking decisions, hotels need to merchandise themselves to travel agents at the point of sale through the GDS.” The research also found that rate parity emerged as a critical issue for travel agents. Of those surveyed, 81% stated it is very important that the GDS offer rate parity. Nearly two-thirds (62%) stated that they would book away from hotel properties that do not offer full rate parity within the GDS. Ewell said: “With more agents using the GDS, there is an increased emphasis on ensuring rate parity so that agents can maintain credibility with their clients. There is nothing worse for an agent than offering a rate to clients only to learn that they could find a better rate by themselves on a different channel." The study highlighted travel agents’ desire ● continues on next page

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to provide value and build loyalty with their clients by booking promotional rates and best available rates as opposed to just relying on negotiated rates. Nearly 60% of agents surveyed said that they would book a hotel room based on best available or promotional message over any other factor, and the number of travel agents offering their clients alternatives to negotiated rates increased 21% from 2011 to 2013. In addition, 53% indicated that a promotional message steered them to book one negotiated rate over another negotiated rate.

Far East recommendations from Travel 2 TRAVEL 2 is highlighting escorted tours in Thailand and China. A 14-night break to Thailand costs from £1,999 per person including flights, three nights at the four-star Century Park Hotel in Bangkok in a superior room, three nights at the fivestar Anantara Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai on all-inclusive and eight nights in a suite at the four-star Kantary Beach Khao Lak on a bed-and-breakfast basis. The price also includes transfers and applies to travel by October 31, 2014. Meanwhile, to get the most out of a multi-centre escorted tour of China, the operator recommends visiting Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Shanghai. The company's product manager for Australasia, South Pacific & North Asia, Heather Colbourn, said: "These four great centres are by far the most popular with our customers and looking to the future I believe that touring trends will stay more or less the same. “The pull for most travellers to China are the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, the ancient culture, and the unique experiences that you get from visiting cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.” An 11-day Essential China Tour leads in at £2,519 including flights with Qatar Airways for travel between May 1 and June 12, 2014. For more information see www.travel2.com to see the full terms and conditions.

Beyond providing competitive pricing, travel agents also indicated that amenities were critical in making a booking decision. The most popular amenities were free Internet and free breakfast (both at 79%). Ewell said: “To generate bookings from travel agents, hotels need to go beyond just offering a good rate by providing value-added amenities. This was one area that emerged as more important than when the study was conducted in the past, as travel agents continue to focus on building customer loyalty by providing value that their clients can’t find elsewhere."

Cottages4you research reveals Brits choose the coast for 2014 holidays WE’RE AN optimistic nation, according to cottages4you, with holiday bookings for next summer already showing the most popular trends, and many families deciding to secure their 2014 holiday in advance with coastal destinations proving the most popular. According to the company's booking trends, the key areas include the traditionally popular seaside resorts of Newquay, Totnes and Padstow, but new additions include the Norfolk villages of Happisburgh and Brundall. The company's managing director, Nick Rudge, said: “Many of us took advantage of the great weather this summer by booking a last minute break, but it seems the prolonged sunshine has encouraged more of us to secure next year’s holiday much earlier than in previous years. “In addition to having something to look forward to, booking early guarantees the property and location you want. We’ll be watching the top destinations with interest to see what will be the most popular place to holiday in 2014.”

Sunshine.co.uk poll finds one in five Brits can't shake 'tag-along' tourist ACCORDING TO new research by Sunshine.co.uk, a fifth of Brits have been unable to shake ‘tag-along’ tourists on a previous holiday abroad; that being fellow holidaymakers who attach themselves to other people in the same hotel or resort as them and fail to give any space for the majority of the time away. A total of 1,792 UK adults took part in the poll, each of whom had been on holiday abroad in the past 12 months, and 21% reported that they had experienced this type of ‘tag-along tourist’. Of those, 86% claimed to have dropped hints to the people

whom they didn’t previously know, to try and get some time away from them. Reasons why respondents thought they had met ‘tag-along tourists’ included 'Our children got on with their children' (31%); 'They seemed bored and wanted other company' (24%); 'They were just overfriendly people' (17%); 'Kept bumping into each other' (11%); and 'We mistakenly made conversation with them first' (8%). However, when asked if they themselves had ever been guilty of being a ‘tagalong tourist’ whilst on holiday, one in ten (11%) admitted that they probably had been.

October 25 2013

TIPTO TREAT...TIPTO held its debut Isle of Man roadshow earlier this month, where a total of 31 travel agents attended from the 11 independent agencies on the island. Pictured is Feysal Nagi from The Holiday Team presenting Davina Holker from the Freedom Travel Group with £50 in shopping vouchers as part of a prize draw. The next roadshow takes place on November 12 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. For details or to register visit www.tipto.co.uk or call 020-8742 4073.

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newsbulletin Spooky special at Universal Studios from £699 with Funway Holidays

PORTUGAL PARTY...TAP Portugal, Turismo de Portugal and Visit Porto recently held an event for members of the trade to discover Porto and the northern region of Portugal. A workshop gave guests the opportunity to network and was followed by presentations and wine tasting. Pictured celebrating after winning a holiday to the destination is Sadie Saunders (third from left) from The Discovery Collection. Pictured with Sadie are, from the left: Susanna Tocca, DOC DMC; Maria Andrada, Douro Azul; Susana Tavares, Hotel Teatro; Paula Sousa, Quinta Nova N. Sra. Carmo; and Rui Lemos, TAP Portugal.

NOW IN its 23rd year, Halloween Horror Nights - the annual event at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood - runs on select nights through to November 2. Funway is highlighting a seven-night stay at the four-star Doubletree (at the Entrance to Universal Orlando) from £699 per person, based on two sharing. The price applies to an October 28 depature and includes flights with United Airlines. For further information or to book see www.funway4agents.co.uk or call 0844-557 0626.

Travelsphere announces a return to Kashmir for 2014 brochure NEW FOR next year, Travelsphere has added a ‘Return to Kashmir’ tour. Will Sarson, head of long-haul product at All Leisure Group, said: “Kashmir has long been regarded as one of the world’s most sought-after destinations due to its breath-taking scenery and unique culture. “Once the FCO determined it was safe again for British tourists, we were determined to offer this wonderful destination to our customers as soon as possible.” Highlights of the tour include a cruise on a traditional shikara and four nights staying on a deluxe houseboat. The nine-day tour costs from £1,899 per person and departures are available between April 2014 and June 2015.

The new brochure features 26 new tours and new itineraries to the US, China, Canada, the Middle East and Europe. Short-haul options include six new European rail itineraries, Italy, Spain, a trip to commemorate the 70th year anniversary of D-day landings, and Arabia. A four-day ‘Normandy D-day landings by rail’ leads in at £499 per person and offers a rail journey to the beaches of the D-Day landings as a tribute to the 130,000 troops who set off from the south coast of England and landed on the beaches of Normandy back on June 6, 1994. Departure dates are available between April 2014 and October 2014. For further information or to book call 01858-588406 or visit www.travelsphere.co.uk

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newsbulletin Tweets of the Week Who’s saying what on Twitter... @WeGiveUTheWorld Who wants to see a whole world of all that's weird & wonderful? Well now you can @RipleysLondon with our FREE kids offer! @RailEuropeUK Winter train services are now available to book from 15 Dec - 16 Jan'14. Book via http://www.raileurope.co. uk @TravelodgeUK Planning a trip to Madrid? Check out our recommendations for a perfect weekend at the Spanish capital. http://bit.ly/1fA2KO0 @traveltraining Complete the Fort Worth course by the end of the year and you could WIN an iPad mini!! http://bit.ly/1hYiJlz pic.twitter.com/kYJ8EHR 02A @redseauk Last minute holidays that aren't a last resort: http://ow.ly/pDnTS

New cross country skiing package from Transun WITH LESS than four months to go until the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Transun has launched a new three-night cross country skiing break. The Cross Country Ski Lapland package leads in at £799 per person and is suitable for skiers of any ability. It includes an introductory cross country ski session for beginners as well as the assistance of expert ski instructors from the Davvi Arctic Lodge, where guests stay during their trip.

Prices include flights from Gatwick on January 2, taxes and transfers, four nights’ half-board accommodation, thermal suit and boot hire, transport to ski locations and an introductory cross country ski session. A seven-night version of the break is also available. Other regional UK departures are also available throughout January, February and March. For further information or to book visit www.transun.co.uk/agents or call 01865-265200.

Newsbites THIS HALF-term, Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa, located on the northwest coast of Mallorca, is highlighting four-night stays for €325 per night including breakfast. Other benefits include 15% off spa treatments and children under 12 years receiving free access to the kids' club and free dining. The offer is available to book for stays from October 26 to November 3. For details email JPS@jumeirah.com ● TRAIN OPERATOR East Coast has announced a £2.2million upgrade of its on-board wireless internet systems. The investment will include the installation of industryleading hardware on each of its 44 trains, as the operator focuses on achieving a more reliable internet connection. Improvements will begin to roll out early next year. ● DUSIT THANI Maldives has achieved Silver Certification by EarthCheck, a leading sustainable certification organisation in the hospitality industry. The resort was commended for energy solutions such as solar thermal heating, heat recovery pumps and a steam powered laundry facility. ● JET2.COM HAS announced that it will bring its call centre operations to Leeds and is building a new £9million Training Academy. The academy will house three flight simulators plus cabin crew trainer unit and is scheduled for completion in spring next year. ● LONDON'S THE View from The Shard is offering free admission for children (aged four-15) during next week's half-term and the Christmas holidays. See www.theviewfromtheshard.com/kidsgofree ● AIR CANADA rouge, Air Canada’s leisure carrier subsidiary, has announced it will increase its summer non-stop service from Edinburgh Airport to its Toronto hub, Toronto Pearson International Airport, from three to five weekly flights, from July next year. ● ACCOR GERMANY is now offering high-speed internet access with fibre optic technology and free WiFi. ●

Superbreak revamps Luxury Breaks brochure & boosts AO options in Germany SUPERBREAK HAS given its 2014 Luxury Breaks brochure a new highend look and has created a range of new packages and celebration breaks. The brochure features 68 hotels that are new to the luxury programme, bringing the total now featured to 189. For next year, 96 of these properties are not featured in any other of the company's programmes, giving the luxury breaks brochure exclusivity for agents to promote. To help agents, the operator has introduced easy to use symbols to highlight hotels with extra-special breaks on offer. As an example of

October 25 2013

prices, a new five-star spa break at Coworth Park in Berkshire leads in at £350 per person and includes one night in a Stable Superior room with breakfast, a three-course dinner, use of spa facilities, a 50-minute luxury manicure plus one other treatment from a selection of options. Meanwhile, the operator has added six new hotels in key Germany cities, further boosting its accommodationonly options in destinations such as Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Berlin. New hotels include Hamburg City from £31.50 per person per night;

Frankfurt Falluswarte in Frankfurt from £29.50; and Intercontinental Berlin from £59. All prices include breakfast and are based on two sharing in late January 2014. The company has also produced a special leaflet for agents to use for selling autumn breaks, focusing mainly on key cities in the UK and Europe. A PDF version is available at www.superbreak.com/agents for agents to download. For more information call 0871-221 4444.

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FR 7 N O IG M H ÂŁ9 TS 29 P P

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WIN A FLY DRIVE HOLIDAY TO THE FLORIDA BEACHES* -J ]SY [SYPH PMOI XS IWGETI XLI 9/ ERH Âž ] [MXL :MVKMR %XPERXMG XS XLI *PSVMHE &IEGLIW JSV E RMKLX HYVEXMSR PSSO RS JYVXLIV ;MXL WS QER] QYWX WII HIWXMREXMSRW E Âž ] HVMZI LSPMHE] MW XLI TIVJIGX [E] XS HMWGSZIV XLI XVYI HMZIVWMX] that Florida has to offer. 8S FI MR [MXL E GLERGI SJ [MRRMRK SRI SJ SYV Âž ] HVMZI LSPMHE]W WMQTP] ZMWMX www.funway4agents.co.uk and complete our short survey. With 8 up for grabs, you have more chance than ever before! All completed surveys will be entered into a prize draw with the winners being chosen at random shortly after the closing date. HOLIDAY DESTINATION(S) & DURATION

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MOVERS ● ACACIA AFRICA has promoted three long serving members of staff.

Notes from . . . n o t n a m r o N ENT TO the Yorkshire & North Mids ABTA Mtg held at Leeds Bradford International Airport. James and Emma gave us a tour airside of the new renovations and improvements and, I have to say, it really is looking fantastic. It has eating places to suit everyone - from beef burgers and a sports bar to the wonderful Saltair Restaurant. British Airways sponsored the evening and Jannis Scott updated us with what is happening at BA – I loved the look of the A380! And it is excellent that they have three flights a day down to Heathrow. Attended the Travel Bulletin Star Awards the other night at the Landmark in London and it was great to catch up with so many people. A HUGE congratulations to Leeds Bradford International Airport for winning the Star Regional UK Airport – James Broughton (pictured blow) and Emma Holliday do a magnificent job in promoting LBIA - it’s certainly not a 9 -5 job! So very well done! Read in the Daily Mail about families being warned over holiday villa web con. Police are warning holidaymakers about internet fraudsters after a family were cheated out of £4,000. On booking a Spanish villa online they thought they had booked on Owners Direct website and even received confirmation etc., but when they came to confirm their arrival the owner of the villa had not heard of him. An investigation showed the owners’ email had been hacked! It did not happen on Owners Direct website but the trouble is these thieves can hide behind anything if they are a good enough fake website or email – better to book with a travel agent I say! ‘There are only two days in the year when nothing can be done - yesterday and tomorrow. So today is the right day to love and believe, do and mostly live’ and ‘Life is like a coin – you can spend it any way you wish but you only spend it once’.

Chris Mears, who was previously general manager of the South African office, is joining the board as a director; Arno Delport will now head up sales and marketing in the UK, North America and Europe; and Caroline Tinsley will combine her position as head of reservations with responsibility for sales and marketing covering South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. ● CIARÁN LAVERY has been appointed head of technical services by Jurys Inn. ● WENDY WU Tours has announced that Sue Beech and Diogo Castanheira have joined its Business Development Team. They join the existing team of Mark Harris – the senior business development manager and Zoe Abbott, sales & marketing executive.

by SANDRA MURRAY in Normanton, Yorkshire

LA DOLCE VITA...Pictured enjoying an evening of 'La Dolce Vita' in Godalming to mark Inghams' new Italy brochure launch are, from the left: Fiona Attrell, Inghams; Barry Moxley, Traveltime; and Louise Newton, Inghams. The new programme features hand-picked holidays to the lakes of Como, Maggiore and Garda in the north to Neapolitan Riviera, Sicily and Puglia in the south. Agents making new bookings from the brochure have the chance to win one of two holidays, and the first 100 agencies to book can claim two bottles of Italian wine. For details call 01483-791177 or see www.inghamsitaly.co.uk/agents

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WEBSCLUSIVES ●

The extended cut of the Travel Bulletin Star Awards 2013 movie is now available to view – with more winners, more photos and more interviews. View it now on www.youtube.com/travelbulletin

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Agents, it’s your last chance to win an iPad 4 courtesy of the island of St Helena. Go to: www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

All this and more at: To respond to any of Sandy’s comments email jill. sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk

October 25 2013

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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AGENTS WHO book their customers on a Just You holiday before October 31 will be put into a prize draw to win a Kindle Fire. The incentive is available on all departures before December 31, 2014 and is completely uncapped meaning the more bookings agents make, the greater the potential to win. To enter, email agencysales@allleisuregroup.com with ‘Just You’ in the subject line and include your name, ABTA and booking reference in the body of the email. TO CELEBRATE the launch of a new range of gift experiences, Attraction World is offering agents the chance to receive a £50 voucher to spend on its new range of experiences including Paintballing for four for £20, Traditional Afternoon Tea for Two for £34 and Comedy Night Tickets for £34. A total of 50 vouchers are available. To enter, agents should make a booking for one of the gift experiences between November 1 and December

24 and email the booking reference weloveagift@attractionworld.com

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BOOKABED HAS launched a 30-day £100 per day Love2Shop voucher incentive. Every booking made by an agency up to November 8 will be automatically entered into the draw and one winner per day will be announced. There is no minimum stay or value restrictions applicable against any booking made, to receive automatic draw entry. For details see www.bookabed.co.uk

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AGENTS CAN win one of four iPad minis as part of Travel 2’s ‘California: You’ll Love Every Minute’ campaign. To be in with a chance of winning, agents need to make a new booking with the company to California, which includes flights with United Airlines and a minimum three days' ground arrangement, by October 30. For details see www.travel2.com

Agent offer AIR TAHITI Nui is offering agents special fare rates on its Charles de Gaulle rou te to Tahiti. Prices start from €220 (approximat ely £187) plus taxes/fuel. The offer runs until Feb ruary 14 and travel must be taken between Nov ember 11 and March 31, 2014. Agents should pro vide a valid IATA Resolution 880 form and a cop y of their IATA card. Booking requests should be emailed to sboudelal@airtahitinui.fr. For more information see www.tahiti-tourisme.co.uk

It’s in the stars… What’s in store for Scorpio? YOUR NATURAL personality traits – strength and confidence – will shine this month, and your energy levels will soar, making it the ideal time to partake in some physical exercise. New opportunities for personal and professional growth will also present themselves, which should be grasped with both hands. Lucky day: Monday

HAYS SCORE...Darren Wetherell (left) from Hays Travel Wallsend won TIPTO’s August online training competition after completing all modules to achieve five stars. Pictured presenting his prize of £50 Love2Shop vouchers is TIPTO’s newest member, Colin Fawcus from DFDS Seaways.

Lucky number: 5 www.travelbulletin.co.uk

October 25 2013

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newsbulletin New Europe & Britain brochure from Trafalgar sees addition of insider experiences TRAFALGAR IS offering more in-depth insider travel experiences across its newly released Europe and Britain programme for next year, giving guests the opportunity to delve deeper into the cultures and customs of destinations featured. The company's CEO, Gavin Tollman, said: “Today, authentic travel is in our brand’s DNA and for 2014 we have continued to refine our product, looking at the uniqueness of each itinerary, every destination and ensuring that we go further, delivering even richer more authentic experiences.” The newly launched programme offers 104 itineraries and more than 320 distinctive insider experiences. These include 52 Be My Guest experiences including, for example, the new Domaine Meillan-Pages winery in Provence not known to those outside of Luberon, which

has produced wine for 40 years using only local ingredients. Tollman said: "The feedback from our guests on the Be My Guest experiences is that they absolutely love it; and the beauty is that it benefits both parties, with hosts commenting on how nice it is to meet so many different nationalities." New Local Specialties include a Northern Spain Cider Tasting at a traditional bar in Oviedo; a Swiss chocolate museum visit near Lugano; and in Vienna, a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The programme also offers new guided holidays including an 11-day Northern Spain; seven-day Swiss Delight; 13-day The Balkans and Venice; 17-day Wonders of Europe; and nine-day Delights of London and Paris. The newly launched brochure contains 32 hand-picked itineraries from the new

programme, with the rest of the portfolio all available online. All holidays outlined in the brochure include scheduled flights and VIP private door-to-door UK airport transfers. Meanwhile, the operator is encouraging agents to 'come on board' and highlight its range of unique experiences to their clients. Tollman said: "Our recommendation rate from our guests travelling to Europe last year was our highest ever at 99.15%, and sales for next year are up by more than 50%. We are also seeing increasing numbers of business partners and agents buying into the unique experiences we offer and, in return, are starting to see a profound, positive impact on their business." For more information visit www.trafalgar.com/uk or call 0800-533 5616.

Travelport offers training on Rooms and More

SUNDOWNER SEVEN...Anand Collection recently hosted a fam to Thailand to visit a selection of hotels, as well as an island tour of Koh Lanta. Pictured enjoying Layana Resort's sundowner cruise are, from the left: Sherly Drane, Hayes and Jarvis; Sarah Kewley, Bridge the World; Kirsty Richardson, Kuoni; Jas Anand, Anand Collection; Nadine Brady, Limelight Access; Khun Oom, West East Travel; and Ian Turner, Touchdown Holidays.

Savings of up to £5,000 in Voyages to Antiquity’s winter brochure launch VOYAGES TO Antiquity has announced its winter 2014/15 programme which features inaugural visits to East Africa, the Indian Ocean islands of Zanzibar, Seychelles, Mayotte and the Maldives, plus the chance to explore Bali, Borneo and the islands of Indonesia, plus other destinations in Southeast Asia. Brochure prices start from £3,150 per person for an 18-day cruise-tour, including scheduled flights, transfers, shore excursions where available, Quietvox headsets to enhance the sightseeing experience, gratuities to on board cabin and restaurant staff and wine with dinner on board. Guests can save up to £5,000 per cabin when booking by December 31, and several itineraries feature special rates for single travellers. For details call 0845 437 9737 or visit www.voyagestoantiquity.com

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TRAVELPORT HAS made it easier for agents to get started with new 'how to' videos on its Rooms and More product. The hotel shopping and booking system brings together more than 475,000 unique hotel properties and more than one million room offers. Three five-minute videos have been released covering account set up, adding agents and making a basic booking. The company's UK & Ireland regional director, Simon Ferguson, said: “The videos are fast and free, and importantly they will get agents on the road to more bookings and more satisfied customers. “Rooms and More takes a range of providers and displays the content how agents choose. That can be by highest commission, lowest rate for the customer or where you find that availability you need.” For details see www.travelport.com/feature d-products/rooms-andmore-videos

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puzzlebulletin Travagrams

Su Doku Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle Number: 133

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

Right Untrue

A➠

B➠ Try not to ‘hurt’ yourself on this cruise liner

C➠

Claw Lorn

D➠ Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the 3 x 3 squares contains the digits 1-9. Once you have completed the puzzle, simply identify the numbers that relate to the letters, A, B, C and D then e-mail the solution, with your name, company name, and full postal address plus phone and ABTA number if applicable to: competition@travelbulletin.co.uk Closing date for entries is Thursday, October 31th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week. The winner for 11th October is Paula Airey, The Travel House in Aberdare. October 11 Solution: A=2 B=7 C=8 D=3

This place is home to these popular snacks

Where Am I?

Cheesy town in Somerset.

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

Number: 133

Across 1. Thomas Cook brand, ___ Collection (5) 4. Measured at the Royal Observatory in London, initially (3) 6. Salzburg airport code (3) 8. South American river (7) 9. Ancient Chinese dynasty (3) 10. Singer Gloria, with a new album, The Standards (7) 13. Tour operator specialising in luxury holidays, ___ Resorts (7) 16. First name of notorious 19th century Australian bushranger (3) 17. European principality, popular with skiers (7) 18. Currency of Japan (3) 19. Kardamena is a lively party resort on this Greek island (3) 20. Famous English cricket venue (5)

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Down 1. Property expert as seen on Double Your House for Half the Money (5,5) 2. Capital of Cameroon (7) 3. Seychelles and Mauritius specialists ___ Vacations (5) 4. Haunting romantic musical now touring the UK (5) 5. Tresco airport code (3) 7. Caribbean island chain in the Windward Islands (10) 11. South African entertainment and leisure resort, ___ City (3) 12. National flag carrier with HQ in Vantaa (7) 14. South American mountain chain (5) 15. Innsbruck is the capital of this Austrian province (5) 17. Ankara airport code (3)

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 40 October 25 2013

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airlinebulletin easyJet unveils new flights from Bristol to Reykjavik and Marrakech EASYJET HAS announced new routes from Bristol to Reykjavik and Marrakech, which will begin operation in December. The flights, which are on sale now, will offer the South West’s only connection to Iceland and will be operated on the 156-seater Airbus A319. The carrier’s commercial manager, Ali Gayward, said: “We expect to carry around 55,000 passengers in the first year thanks to the broad appeal of Iceland and Morocco. Reykjavik is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations for UK holidaymakers who

are attracted to the fantastic scenery and natural beauty as well as the thriving bar and restaurant scene. Marrakech boasts luxury hotels, rich history and culture and excellent shopping opportunities with a flight time of just over four hours.” Flights to Reykjavik will start on December 12 and will operate on Thursdays and Sundays with fares from £31.99, while flights to Marrakech will start on December 14 and will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays with fares from £33.99. Both prices are based on two people travelling.

Monarch expands network for next summer MONARCH HAS announced the expansion of its route network for summer 2014. A number of new destinations will operate for the first time, while some existing destinations will be served from more airports. The airline is expanding into North Africa, with flights to Enfidha in Tunisia – located midway between Tunis and Monastir – operating twice-weekly on Wednesday and Sunday from both Manchester and Gatwick. Fares start from £59.99 one-way. Meanwhile, Agadir will become the airline’s first Moroccan destination, with twice-weekly flights on Tuesday and Saturday from Manchester and on Tuesday and Friday from Gatwick. Fares start from £67.99 oneway. A twice-weekly service to Hurghada in Egypt will run on Tuesday and Friday from Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester from May 2, with fares starting from £160.99 one-way, while in Europe, a five-times-weekly service to the French Riviera from Gatwick will be introduced from Thursday through to Monday, with fares from £44.99 one-way. In addition, Naples flights will be twice-weekly on Monday and Friday from both Manchester and Luton airports, leading in at £61.49 one-way. All new routes are now available to book from www.monarch.co.uk

TAP PORTUGAL has increased the number of direct flights between Gatwick and Lisbon as part of its winter schedule. The airline will operate 11 flights weekly between the two airports from October 27-March 29, with fares starting from £116 return including taxes and charges. To book or for more information visit www.flytap.com

October 25 2013

FLIGHT FRIENDS...More than 200 business and leisure travel agents recently spent the night under the wings of Concorde at Manchester Airport’s annual Airline Road Show, to learn about the latest developments on routes and travel options from the North by meeting airline, tour operators and airport staff. Pictured picking up a prize at the event is Tracey Mallit (middle) from Destinology with Tracey Burke (left) from Balkan Holidays and Bev Ridyard from Manchester Airports Group. For details on upcoming events visit www.manchesterairport.co.uk/agents

Nine out of ten want reclining seats banned, according to Skyscanner survey NINE OUT of ten travellers would like to see an end to reclining seats on planes, according to an international survey by Skyscanner. Of those surveyed, 91% believed short-haul flights should either ban or set times for seat reclining. The survey of more than 1,000 flyers also found that 43% felt long-haul flights should implement set times when passengers are permitted to recline their seat. Almost a third of those questioned said a reclined seat had caused them discomfort, and 3% revealed they’d even suffered an injury. More than 60% of international cabin crew surveyed also said they had been involved in, or witness to, an argument between passengers on the subject of reclined seats. While negative emotions could be reduced by a fellow passenger asking permission to recline their seat, the study found that a third of passengers are too worried about the reaction they’d receive, and most people (64%) have never done so.

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newsbulletin Condor Ferries promotes culinary break for half-term FANS OF fine dining looking for a foodie getaway for next week's half-term can take a trip to Jersey and Guernsey with Condor Ferries. Taking place until November 11, the well-known Tennerfest – an annual food event offering fixed price menus from £10 per person – offers autumn visitors to both Jersey and Guernsey the chance to experience the culinary delights of the Channel Islands. Now in its 16th year, the event brings together more than 190 restaurants across the islands to celebrate the best local produce and innovative cooking. Day trips to Guernsey next week lead in at £30 per person, while prices for a car and two passengers costs from £52 each way. For more information or to book see www.condorferries.com

SOMETHING NEW...Destination Representation hosted two wedding training evenings last month in Solihull and Bolton, introducing weddings venues and destinations including Fiji, Seychelles and Dominican Republic. Pictured with the Destination Representation bride, Debbie Walker, and embracing the wedding theme is Travel Counsellor, Ros Walsh. More wedding events are scheduled for February 2014 visiting Bristol and Exeter. For details email events@destination-representation.com

Yuletide options grow with Grand UK GRAND UK Holidays has expanded its range of Christmas and New Year escorted tours in its winter 2013/14 brochure to cater for growing demand. The company has added new destinations and hotels for the Christmas period, as well as Turkey & Tinsel favourites, plus Christmas markets at home and abroad. Trips to see Christmas markets in the UK and Europe start from £189 per person for four days, and include new choices such as Festive Folkestone & Bruges Christmas Market. To book or for more information call 01603-619933 or see www.grandukholidays.com

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Come get a taste of all Louisiana has to offer, from our unique cuisine to our vibrant music scene. Because there’s no better place to hear live music than where it all began. Phone Number: 0208 460 7082 Brochure Request Line: 0800 652 8251 Louisiana@ttmworld.co.uk

Come visit us at stand number NA230G-3 within the Brand USA Pavilion

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newsbulletin Rainbow Tours expands Latin America programme RAINBOW TOURS’ 2014 Latin America brochure features 16 new properties across the region, from the rainforest of Costa Rica to the southern tip of Argentina, and the beaches of Uruguay. Alongside insight from destination experts and first-hand accounts from recent visitors to the region are several new itineraries featuring mountains, beaches, rainforests, wildlife, history and Latin American culture. A range of itineraries are available - from week-long trips taking in the major sites of one destination, to extended trips covering many of the highlights of the whole continent. As examples, new for next year is a 15-day Uruguay and Argentina Highlights, which includes visits to the Perito Moreno Glacier, Iguazu Falls and the cosmopolitan beaches of Uruguay, as well as the capital cities Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Prices lead in at £4,955 per person. Also new is a 12-day Costa Rica Sustainable Wildlife Tour featuring five of Costa Rica’s most environmentally responsible properties, all Five Leaf accredited, from £3,290 per person, and a ten-day Scenic Ecuador by Train from £2,985 per person. For more information or to book visit www.rainbowtours.co.uk or call 020-7666 1260.

Taber offers free nights in Reykjavik on selected departures this winter AGENTS WHOSE customers are looking to go on a short break to Reykjavik in search of the Northern Lights can now get an extra night free with the launch of a special deal from Taber Holidays. The Scandinavia specialists are offering four nights for the price of three on selected dates this winter. The offer is available on daily departures from November 1 to December 20 and January 3 to March 29, 2014 at the Hotel Björk and Sunday and Monday departures from November 1 to December 27 at the Hotel Reykjavik Centrum. The company offers a range of optional excursions to hunt the aurora travelling away from the bright lights of the city by both coach and super-jeep. As an example, guests joining the ‘Northern Lights and Lobster’ excursion (£185) will be taken by super-jeep in search of a clear night sky. After a short stop on a black sandy beach for a taste of Icelandic Schnapps, they will then sit down for a lobster dinner in a traditional restaurant. A four-night city break, staying at Hotel Björk in Reykjavik, leads in at £684 per person, including flights from Heathrow, Manchester or Glasgow and transfers. The offer is based on two sharing and also includes breakfast. For more information call 01274-875199 or visit www.taberhols.co.uk

Brazil highlights from Hayes & Jarvis ENGLAND HAS secured its place in the FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil next summer, and Hayes and Jarvis is highlighting some of its latest deals to the destination. As examples, a seven-night ‘Highlights of Brazil’ escorted tour starts in Rio de Janeiro before taking in Iguazu and Salvador da Bahia. Travellers get the opportunity to spend at least two days in each destination, with guided tours and time to explore at leisure. Departing on March 16, 2014 prices lead in at £2,099 per person, offering a saving of £274 per person, including flights from Heathrow with TAP Portugal. A ten-night 'Rio de Janeiro and Buzios' stay departs on May 5 and includes a three-night stay at the four-star Merlin Copacabana Hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis, followed by a seven-night stay at the four-star Serena Buzios Hotel on a room-only basis. Prices start from £1,599 per person, with a saving of £289, and includes flights from Heathrow with Iberia. For more information call 01293-735831 or visit www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk

Northern Lights, Reykjavik

TRICK OR TREAT?...Nicky Yates from Attraction World went out to spook some local agents into selling some of the operator's Halloween attractions, followed by wine and chocolate treats for the unwitting recipients. Pictured with Nicky (wearing the 'Scream' mask) are Dawn Letham (left) and Kelly Cope from Cooperative Travel in Stockport.

October 25 2013

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newsbulletin Jet2.com announces three new flights from MAN JET2.COM HAS launched three new city and short break destinations from Manchester for summer 2014 – Bergerac, Jersey and Vienna. The carrier's new flights to Vienna from Manchester are the only direct service from the North of the UK. The three times weekly service will commence on May 2, with prices starting from £40 per person, including taxes. Summer short break lovers can also take their pick from the picturesque French market town of Bergerac – the only direct service available from the region – or the Channel Island, Jersey, with flights starting from £31 per person, including taxes. For more information or to book flights visit www.jet2.com

Vienna

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pixmix SOUTH AFRICA Tourism took a group of UK agents to South Africa to showcase the cities of Cape Town and Durban. The group also visited the Winelands in the Western Cape and Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal… GAME ON…Pictured on a game drive at Phinda Private Game Reserve are, from the left: Sylvia Feldman , Travel Counsellors; Nina Farrimond, South Africa Tourism; Karen Haughton , Escape Worldwide; Linda Buckingham, Travel Counsellors; Cindy Warner, Lion World Travel; Samantha Morrison , Travel 2; and Stacey Brothers, Africa Collection .

WINE-AROUND…Enjoying the wine tasting opportunities are, from the left: Karen Haughton, Escape Worldwide; Samantha Morrison, Travel 2; Linda Buckingham, Travel Counsellors; Cindy Warner, Lion World Travel; Sylvia Feldman, Travel Counsellors; and Stacey Brothers, Africa Collection.

SEGWAY SHOW…Getting to grips with a Segway tour of Moses Mabhi da Stadium in Durban are Samantha M orrison (left) from Travel 2 and Sylvia Fe ldman from Travel Counsellors. 16

October 25 2013

SWINGING SISTERS…Getting ready for the Big Rush Swing at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban are, from the left: Karen Haughton, Escape Worldwide; Stacey Brothers, Africa Collection; Cindy Warner, Lion World Travel; and Sjabulile Cebekhulu, Durban Tourism.

HAT’S THE WAY…Stacey Brothers (left) from Africa Collection and Karen Haughton from Escape Worldwide look forward to taking in the Durban sights.

ckingham SIGHTSEERS...Linda Bu sellors and (left) from Travel Coun om Travel 2 get Samantha Morrison fr ing experience. ready for the wine tast www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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golfbuadllveretotin rial

TUNISIA - AN OASIS OF PERFECT GREENS ination, with Tunisia is a renowned world-class golfing dest s prevailing ition cond ten varied courses and ideal weather astic golfing option fant a ts throughout the year it represen only two and a half hours away. Many hotels will arrange pre-set tee-off times and provide complimentary transfers to and from courses, and everything from clubs to caddies can be hired at very reasonable rates. Boasting year-round sunshine and championship courses, Tunisia is becoming a golfing 'must' to be enjoyed by professionals and amateurs alike.

Images courtesy of Tun isia First

Selling The Destination The Tunisian National Tourist Office are keen to promote all aspects of tourism and with winter sunshine in abundance the destination has plenty to offer the golfer on and off the course. Hotels offering fantastic spa treatments, with fine dining and boutique shopping all add to the options available for golfers and their spouses, with history, culture and adventure tourism options all catered for in Tunisia.

The Courses - What's on offer? Ten championship courses ranging from coastal to olive groves, from the historical backdrop of Carthage to the beautiful island of Djerba the championship courses will challenge and delight the golfer in equal measure. Shaped within the landscape by renowned golf course designers the courses have been constructed to satisfy golfers of different levels, often complimented by practice areas, minicourses and golf academies.

Expert Help With over 40 Tour Operators offering holidays to Tunisia, many with specialist golf knowledge, there is a wealth of information available to help plan and book the perfect golfing break. The Tunisian National Tourist Office also offers plenty of practical information via their website www.cometotunisia.co.uk and in recent campaigns they have used golf images overlayed onto other attractions to further promote golf.

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October 25 2013

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personalitybulletin

Mark Coulthart The sales manager of One Stop Touring Shop says that his qualification as a massage therapist is a handy skill to have…

Where was your last work-related trip? The annual Trafalgar Conference which this year was held in Switzerland to the east of Zurich in a place called St Gallen. We were lucky enough to have a day trip to Lucerne which really cemented the beauty of the country with mountains and lakes and let’s not forget the food, including chocolate! If you were a celebrity who would you choose to be and why? It would be someone like Hugh Jackman – he has varied talent that lends itself to so many roles which must give him the chance to have a lot of fun and be serious as well as he seems quite grounded and just a good bloke. What three words would your friends use to describe you? Organised, fun and outgoing. What have your travels taught you? Go with the flow, leave all preconceptions behind and be in the moment - it will all work out. What is the best advice you recall? Advice that wasn’t specifically directed to me but that you hear regularly: ‘Don’t worry about what other people think! Do what you want, think what you want, believe what you want and be who you want, as long as you are happy.’ If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be? Chocolate or money or dogs!

”My favourite TV programme? I hate to admit it but it has to be ‘The Great British Bakeoff’ for all the delicious food and learning a few tricks” Career path ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

1999-2004: Restaurant manager in Sydney suburbs 2004-2006: Freelance massage therapist 2005-2007: STA Travel Australia – sales consultant 2007-2008: STA Travel UK – travel advisor 2008-2010: Assistant manager 2010-2012: Store manager x 4 Stores October 2013-present: One Stop Touring Shop, sales manager London & Anglia

would have to be Vancouver. It’s like a small town with big city attributes. Although, if Madrid and Barcelona could be combined you would have my perfect city.

If you could change three things in the industry, what would they be? Customer perceptions, salary and better perks.

If you were not doing this job, what would you be doing? I am a fully qualified massage therapist so I would most likely be doing that or something in the fitness industry.

What's your favourite city and why? Tough question - there are so many great cities out there to be enjoyed in different ways. One of my favourite cities to live

What is your motto in life? I don’t really have one but I have always liked ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’. I do think that while at work, work hard but once

October 25 2013

it’s over it’s personal time and you should enjoy every minute of that whether it be weekends, evenings or holidays. What is your favourite mode of travel? I love boats but flying gets you to all these far flung places that would not have been as possible without. If you had a super power what would it be and why? I reckon it would have to be speed so that you could get to places quicker and complete the boring things quicker and take it slow on the good stuff! How do you deal with stress? I very rarely get stressed. After a few events like a friend pouring water in to my engine and locking myself out of a flat in Sydney on New Year’s Day, I have now learnt to just laugh and take time to sort each situation out calmly, stress doesn’t resolve. Is there anything that you dislike about the travel industry? I think we have some of the hardest workers of any industry and unfortunately in some cases the pay never reflects that. What special skill do you have? The aforementioned massage therapy is usually a surprise to most people, but it’s a handy little skill. What’s your favourite movie of all time? Legends of the Fall – great movie of family struggles and Anthony Hopkins is just brilliant. What’s your favourite programme on the TV right now? I hate to admit it but it has to be The Great British Bakeoff, all the delicious food and learning a few tricks.

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An evening to mark the industry's finest:

Travel Bulletin's 2013 Star Awards ravel Bulletin's 17th annual Travel Star Awards was certainly an evening to remember, but most importantly, it was an evening dedicated to recognising and rewarding the industry's best, as voted for by you - the travel agent. The glittering ceremony took place at the prestigious five-star Landmark Hotel in London and a total of 34 awards were presented - divided into five industry sectors - Smooth Operators, Land Lords, High Fliers, Sea Captains and Best Supporting Acts. This year's event also saw the introduction of two new Star Awards - Star Tour Operator For Incentives & Fam Trips and Star Tour Operator For Online Training, Roadshows & Workshops. The evening commenced with a predinner drinks reception, followed by a three-course dinner and culminated in a spectacular After Show party in which West End Show, STOMP, entertained

guests with choreographed percussion, movement and physical comedy, sponsored by Encore Tickets. The After Show Party also included the popular 'Green Screen', which made a return for the second year running, and was sponsored by Titan. Other sponsors of the Star Awards included Attraction World, Bourne Leisure, Jetset Flights, Expedia TAAP and Riviera Travel. BBC Breakfast presenter, Bill Turnbull, was host of the awards presentation and entertained guests as he recalled stories from his career and his time on Strictly Come Dancing. A huge congratulations to all of this year's deserving winners and finalists who have triumphed in a difficult economic environment. Lastly, but by no means least, thank you to readers of Travel Bulletin for your continued support and feedback into making Travel Bulletin the industry's favourite.

All agents who voted in the Star Awards were entered into a free prize draw to win one of three superb prizes, courtesy of Jetset.

1st

First prize was a Virgin Experience Day such as a Hot Air Balloon Flight or Driving a Racing Car. The winner was Adelle Vanns of Baldwins Travel.

2ND

The second and third prizes were a mixed case of fine wines and were won by Sarah Redmond of Co-Operative Travel, Kidlington and Pavia Collins from Waltham Abbey Travel.

Putting you in the picture Pictures of all the winners and guests at this year's Travel Bulletin Star IN T E RN AT IO N AL Awards are available to view online at http://tbawards.fotoseeker.com. To download any images, users will first need to register on the site, which is free of charge. Fotoseeker supplies image management and photo library software to the travel industry, including hotels, cruise lines, tourist offices and operators, who can showcase their images online and benefit from Fotoseeker's huge database of the world's media and travel professionals from as little as ÂŁ95.00 per month. The site is currently used by 139 countries as a means of showcasing and promoting destinations and this figure continues to grow on a daily basis. The site features more than 250,000 images and is currently used by 30,000 registered users worldwide. All images are of an industry standard format for publication and do not need to be resized prior to publication, while Fotoseeker's bespoke service offers customised image libraries integrated into clients' websites. For more information email colin@fotoseeker.com

Videos from Travel Bulletinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Star Awards can be viewed at www.youtube.com/travelbulletin 19

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Smooth Operators Star Adventure-Activity Holiday Specialist Winner: Explore! Runner Up: Club Med Finalists: Exodus, Kuoni, Mark Warner, Neilson Holidays Explore is thrilled to have won the Travel Bulletin Star Award for ‘Best Activity/Adventure Specialist’ and would like to say a big 'thank you' to all the agents who voted for us. We value our travel agents and work hard to provide you with all the tools and support you need to increase your small group tour and adventure travel markets. We endeavour to keep you updated with all our latest news through e-shots, visits, trade shows and online training programmes, whilst at the same time offering excellent commission rates and incentives. For your customers we have a 100% Price Guarantee; therefore once your customer has confirmed their booking with us, we guarantee the price of their holiday will not change. We also ensure that your customer will pay the same price booking with you as they would if they had booked direct. Explore has been pioneering guided small group adventures for over 30 years. Following the Explore philosophy, we want your customers to experience authentic travel (mostly found ‘off the beaten-track’), and discover the places they have always wanted to see. We continue to work hard to carefully craft our itineraries, introduce new destinations and adventures to suit your customers’ travel needs. This year we are pleased to announce we are launching over 80 new tours, offering your customers It's a magic kiss from Explore's trade sales even more fascinating, inspiring and affordable adventures across the manager, Philippa Baines, who picks up the award for Star Adventure/Activity Holidays Specialist. world. Call us on 0870-727 0491 or visit www.trade-gate.co.uk

Star Escorted Tours Specialist Winner: Titan Travel Runner Up: Collette Worldwide Holidays Finalists: Journeys of Distinction, One Stop Touring Shop, Riviera Travel, Travelsphere

Edwina Coppock, agency sales manager of Titan Travel, collects the award for Star Escorted Tours Specialist.

First thing we wish to say is a big THANK YOU to everyone who voted for us, supports us and continues to book with us. It’s always amazing to receive recognition such as this from your industry colleagues, peers and friends. As previous winners of the Travel

Bulletin Star Escorted Tours Specialist award, it would be easy to become complacent, however, Titan continually strives to introduce new products and initiatives to help inspire and reward agents that support us. We have recently expanded our Agency Sales Team from three members to six, including an officebased support team and three fulltime, dedicated area sales executives covering the whole of the UK and Ireland. Our on-the-road executives are able to assist with in-store days, training, consumer events, brochure and POS supplies, or even just a friendly chat to catch up. Our office team are there to discuss all aspects of marketing, promotion, incentives,

bookings and anything else that helps provide a better sales experience for you and your clients. We believe that this new team structure will give all agents the tools and knowledge needed to grow their Titan business even more. Once again, Titan wishes to send a heartfelt thanks to Travel Bulletin readers and hopes 2014 is a happy and prosperous year for all. Please call 0800-988 5166 to arrange for one of the team to contact you or visit www.titanagents.co.uk. To view our agent incentives, special offers, order brochures, download POS and training packages. Alternatively follow us on Twitter@TitanAgencySale or like us on Facebook.com/TitanagentsUK

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Smooth Operators Star Specialist Operator to Africa Winner: Kuoni Runner Up: African Pride Finalists: Africa & Beyond, Africa Collection, Somak Holidays, Travel 2 From Kenya to Tanzania and Namibia to South Africa, Kuoni’s Africa programme has grown to include ten different African countries, with exciting and varied multi-centre options, safaris and tours. As well as best-selling African destinations including Kenya and South Africa, the Kuoni programme has evolved to include more tours for 2014, including wonders of Namibia, volcanos and gorillas in Rwanda, South African Explorer and Kilimanjaro climbs. The itineraries can be as simple or sophisticated as clients wish and the Kuoni programme has been designed to inspire travel to this stunning continent. Kuoni’s focus is always on first class

service - and there’s nothing like faceto-face contact to build stronger relationships with agent partners. This year, 20 staff from the Dorking-based telephone sales team were given additional responsibilities to get out and about to meet agents face-to-face to discuss training requirements, new products and joint sales and marketing initiatives. This gives Kuoni more visibility in front of travel agent partners throughout the UK, with its biggest ever on-the-road sales team. Amanda Darrington, head of trade sales, said: “The team at Kuoni are thrilled to be recognised by readers of Travel Bulletin as the 'Star Specialist Operator To Africa'. We’ve invested in product

s n o s a e Hos

Lisa Eggleton (left), trade sales team lead, and Lucy Ellingham, trade relations coordinator of Kuoni pick up the award for Star Specialist Operator To Africa.

knowledge and our biggest ever fam trip programme this year. Our call-centre team, dedicated to travel agents, have fantastic knowledge of our African destinations, accommodation range and touring programmes and are highly skilled in creating tailor-made itineraries.” Thank you from Kuoni to all readers of Travel Bulletin.

Thank You for voting us Star Specialist Operator to the UK

Hot tubs Win a Hot Tub Break to Raywell Hall Country Lodges Plus 10 runners up will receive a Luxury Bathrobe* To enter: For every Hoseasons Hot Tub booking you conﬁrm between 23rd Sept – 3rd Nov 2013 email agency.sales@hoseasons.co.uk the booking reference, along with your name and Abta number to be in with a chance of winning.

VIEW OFFERS AND BOOK TODAY! Visit: www.hoseasons.co.uk/agents or call: 0844 847 1144

ABTA No. Y0662

See booking conditions for full details of our ABTA membership

*Prize Draw is open to all UK resident Travel Agents over the age of 18 years. Prize is non transferable with no cash alternative. For the Promoter details and full Terms and Conditions of the prize draw visit www.hoseasons.co.uk/pdfs/hoseasonshottubs.pdf . Promoter: Hoseasons, Sunway House, Raglan Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 2LW

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Smooth Operators Star Specialist Operator to the Americas Winner: Funway Holidays Runner Up: Virgin Holidays Finalists: 1st Class Holidays, Jetset Holidays, North America Travel Service, USAirtours We are delighted to have won the ‘Star Specialist Operator to the Americas’ award, for the second year in a row. Without your votes we would not have been able to win this award, so THANK YOU to all of our High Street and home based travel agent partners. By winning this award, you will see just how committed we are to providing you with unbeatable value, unrivalled choice and unlimited flexibility. The entire Funway team has been working on a variety of projects, including improvements to our dedicated travel agent website – www.funway4agents.co.uk, the expansion of our brochure collection and more time and money spent through advertising and PR to give our travel agents ‘hot off the press’ news, mind-blowing fam trip competitions and access to the best deals around! Plus, this year saw the launch of our MoneyCard loyalty scheme - a new incentive enabling travel agents to earn tax free money on each Funway booking made to the USA, Mexico, Caribbean (Sandals), Middle East & Far East. On top of the above we also have our sales and

Thank you for all your support! We are proud to have won the

Star Holiday Parks Operator award, for the ﬁfth year running!

NE UR BO PERT EX

Star Specialist Operator To The Americas went to Funway Holidays. Pictured is the company's marketing manager, Nick Talbot.

reservations teams to be proud of – all holding a wealth of knowledge and information on both Funway Holidays and the products that we sell. Our business development managers cover the whole of the UK, helping travel agents every step of the way by providing face-to-face interaction and training. Our experienced travel advisors are UK based and pride themselves on giving your clients the holiday of a lifetime to suit their individual needs – whether that be a single, twin or multi-centre option.

Star Specialist Operator to Asia Winner: Wendy Wu Tours It's a big thumbs up from the managing director of Wendy Wu Tours, Laurence Hicks, as he collects the award for Star Specialist Operator To Asia.

Runner Up: Travel Indochina Finalists: If Only..., Inspired By Asia, Premier Holidays, Travel 2

Wendy Wu Tours is the UK’s leading specialist tour operator to China, Southeast Asia and India, with over 15 years’ experience in delivering best in class escorted group tour holidays, private tours and tailor-made holidays to a growing range of destinations. We are proud to offer the most comprehensive range of holidays to China in the UK market. It is our mission to deliver unique travel experiences, where our customers not only see all the famous attractions but get an opportunity to really indulge in the country‘s culture, natural beauty and hidden treasures. Our wide range of product, personal service and creative marketing has seen us win a variety of prestigious trade and consumer awards over the past years. What’s more, we consistently deliver a 97% customer satisfaction level, recorded from our post tour surveys. We have worked closely with our agent partners for many years and enjoy a great relationship. We invest heavily in our trade partnerships, making sure agents have everything they need to sell Wendy Wu Tours more effectively. We also see great value in providing a friendly face to the Wendy Wu Tours brand, which is why we offer UK wide roadshows every year in September. This in addition to our dedicated team of ‘on the road’ Business Development Managers, helps us to maintain a close relationship with agents, making it as easy as possible for agents to contact us.

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Smooth Operators Star Tour Operator for Incentives & Fam Trips Winner: Travel 2

Runner Up: Caribtours

Finalists: Classic Collection Holidays, Cyplon Holidays, Funway Holidays, Jetset Holidays, Sandals Resorts

Just over a week ago at the annual Travel Bulletin Star Awards, Travel 2 won the award for ‘Star Operator Incentives & Fam Trips’. Having operated in the travel industry for over 30 years Travel 2 has always specialised in creating high quality, value for money, tailor-made holidays worldwide. After the awards Gordon McCreadie, sales and marketing director for Travel 2 told us what this award means to Travel 2: “I would firstly like to thank all of our travel agents and partners for voting for us; without your continued support this award would not be ours. We like to reward our agents for their support and ensure that we are continually encouraging them to actively learn and develop their product

knowledge. As Travel 2 is a B2B business, our only focus is our agents and how important it is that our agents are knowledgeable and are passionate about our destinations. Fam trips are an extremely important vehicle for this as it encourages continued professional development and gives our agents firsthand knowledge of the products they work with on a daily basis, which in turn allows them to confidently provide quality service to their clients. Going forward, Travel 2 will continue to ensure that we deliver quality educational fam trips and incentives for our agents, to allow us to continually deliver the best possible service to the end clients and plan to offer more in 2014 and beyond.”

Gordon McCreadie, sales & marketing director of Travel 2, collects the award for Star Tour Operator For Incentives & Fam Trips.

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Smooth Operators Star Tour Operator for Online Training, Roadshows & Workshops Winner: Classic Collection Holidays

Runner Up: Jet2holidays Finalists: Attraction World, Kuoni, Sandals Resorts, Wendy Wu Tours

The Star Tour Operator For Online Training, Roadshows & Workshops was Classic Collection. Vanda Bauer, the operator's head of marketing & PR, collects the award.

Star Specialist Operator to the Mediterranean Winner: Cyplon Holidays Runner Up: Anatolian Sky Holidays Finalists: Classic Collection Holidays, Jet2holidays, Olympic Holidays, Prestige Holidays A massive THANK YOU to all the agents that voted for us once again and equally to all the agents that have supported Cyplon over the last 41 years . To win this a second time is awesome. We are ecstatic Tass Anastasi, sales & to see that the award we marketing director of Cyplon have just won, matches our Holidays, celebrates his award for Star Specialist Operator To new branding with the The Mediterranean with Travel strap line, “The Home of Bulletin's Jeanette Ratcliffe. Mediterranean Holidays". To further strengthen this statement we will be offering quality holidays to Tunisia, Morocco, Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece & Her Islands. A big thank you to The Cyprus and Greece Tourist offices in London for their support." Jayne Scott, national sales manager, Cyplon Holidays

Star Specialist Operator to Europe Winner: Classic Collection Holidays Runner Up: Kirker Holidays Finalists: Cresta, Olympic Holidays, Prestige Holidays Since Nick Munday took the helm at Classic Collection Holidays in 2002 he has pursued excellence in all aspects of the business and is proud of Classic’s exceptionally high service levels both in the UK and overseas 99% of the operator’s customers confirm that they would definitely book another Classic holiday and would additionally recommend the company’s luxury short-haul holidays to family and friends. The operator’s Sussexbased reservations team is comprised of highly motivated experts who know the importance of delivering the right tailor-made holiday to match customers’ expectations, and it is the flexibility of the product (departure airport, duration, choice of board basis

and room type) coupled with the knowledge and expertise of the staff, plus a robust price promise guarantee, that has led to Classic’s success with agents. Increasing in size from four destinations in 2002 to more than 27 in 2013, Classic’s on-the-road team are available to train agents and an equally important role is for them to report back to the marketing team about holiday trends and ‘what the agents expect from Classic’. It is the strength of these relationships together with the company ethos to treat others (customers, agents and suppliers) as we wish to be treated ourselves that ensures Classic stands apart from its competitors. Collectively, as a company, we loathe the 'computer-

Vanda Bauer, head of marketing & PR for Classic Collection Holidays, picks up the award for Star Specialist Operator To Europe. She is pictured with Travel Bulletin's Simon Eddolls.

says-no' culture and, because we know we can offer a superior yesservice over the telephone, we feature an informative but non-bookable website, instead providing a freephone number 0800-008 7288 for agents to contact us.

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In the Picture 1

1.) ENCORE, ENCORE!...John Wales (right) from Encore gets in the mood with the cast of STOMP. 2.) READY, STEADY, EAT...Pictured ready to enjoy the scrumptious three-course dinner are, from the left: Alex Fairford, International Travel; Joseph Grimley, Riviera Travel; Paula Campbell, Jetset; Darren Mussell, Riviera Travel; and Sue Mercer, Ashdown Travel. 3.) STAIRWAY TO STARDOM... From the left are: Lisa Barrington, Sea World Parks; Adriana Jimenez and Zoe Prophet, OTT; and Nick Hughes, Attraction World.

4.) TOP TABLE...BBC presenter, Bill Turnbull (middle) chats with Jeanette Ratcliffe, and Paul Scudamore from Travel Bulletin. 5.) TRIO TRIUMPH...The winner of a business card draw for two tickets to see STOMP was Paul Bunce (left) from RIU Hotels & Resorts. Pictured with Paul is sponsor of the award, John Bond (middle) from Jetset, with host of the Star Awards, Bill Turnbull. 6.) TEAM EXPEDIA...Checking out the event programme are, from the left: Richard Moore, Cindy Girard and Rob Grover from Expedia.

To view a selection of images from Travel Bulletinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Star Awards evening visit

www.travelbulletin.co.uk/awards 25

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for voting Wendy Wu Tours Star Specialist Operator to Asia

NEW China brochure OUT NOW

0844 310 7816

wendywutours.co.uk/agents tradesupport@wendywutours.co.uk

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Smooth Operators Star Holiday Parks Operator Winner: Haven Runner Up: Hoseasons Finalists: Butlins, Keycamp Holidays, Pontins Haven is ecstatic to have won the award for Star Holiday Parks Operator of the Year at this year's Travel Bulletin Star Awards for the fifth year running! We are extremely grateful to all of our travel agent friends for their continued support, investment of time and hard work, and for voting for us of course! At Haven our trade partners are an invaluable extension of our team and we recognise that the contribution travel agents make in selling our holidays is integral to our ongoing success. Last year we invested ÂŁ40m in making our 35 award-winning holiday parks the best in Britain through upgrade projects including enhanced pools and entertainment venues, food and drink outlets, landscaping, infrastructure and modern accommodation; giving agents the assurance that we continue to focus on delivering the best possible value for money holiday experience to our mutual customers. As well as being committed to offering our customers the best possible holiday experience, we are also dedicated to supporting our travel agents with the very best tools to ensure they have the latest product knowledge and training so they are best placed to maximise every sales opportunity. Collecting the award for Star Holiday Parks Winning this award is a fantastic accolade and one that the whole Haven Operator is Haven's head of retail sales, Allan team are very proud of. Lambert.

Thank you! for voting

Classic Collection Holidays Star Specialist Operator to Europe Star Specialist Operator for Online Training, Roadshows & Workshops (twice in one night . . . weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a little overwhelmed)

We really value your support

CALL 0800 008 7288 www.classic-collection.co.uk

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Smooth Operators Star Specialist Operator to the UK To all the agents who voted for us as their

STAR ESCORTED TOURS SPECIALIST 2013

THANKS

A MILLION!

Winner: Hoseasons Runner Up: Superbreak Finalists: Butlins, Haven, Shearings Holidays, Warner Holidays Hoseasons is thrilled to have won the ‘Star Specialist Operator to the UK’ award for the second consecutive year running, given the awards are voted for by the travel agents themselves. Zena Calderbank, the operator's head of sales, said: “It’s a real pleasure to receive recognition of the incredible effort the entire team puts into supporting the travel trade as well as a reflection of the strong partnerships we continue to develop with the agents. We are committed to supporting and encouraging agents which is why Hoseasons has a dedicated sales team out on the road. This year so far we have visited more than 3,280 agencies to offer training, merchandising support, competition opportunities and advice. "We believe there are a number of contributors why Hoseasons has again been successful at this year’s Travel Bulletin Star Awards, but the most important being that people still love to holiday in the UK – something which we express massive enthusiasm for. The fantastic weather we experienced over the summer provided agents with a huge opportunity to really boost the UK offering and acted as a further incentive for those lastminute undecided customers. Another factor is having a huge choice of accommodation in locations to suit everyone, from traditional seaside breaks to luxury lodge escapes in the countryside." Hoseasons will continue to lead in their approach to selfcatering UK holidays with product concepts improving and increasing with the likes of Daisy Door, Evermore, Go-Active and Autograph. 2014 will see the launch of another fantastic offering so watch this space…..

www.titanagents.co.uk The Star Specialist Operator To The UK award went to Hoseasons. Pictured celebrating is the operator's head of sales, Zena Calderbank with Simon Eddolls from Travel Bulletin.

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In the Picture 1

2 1.) DRINK DATE…Catching up at the reception drinks are, from the left: Tony Byrne, Great Railway Journeys; Jeanette Radcliffe, Travel Bulletin; Nina Farrimond, South African Tourism; and Wayne Darrock, JTA. 2.) WE’LL DRINK TO THAT…Emma McLeese (left) from Attraction World hooks up with Iain Baillie from Carnival Cruise Lines and Louise Sword, Titan. 3.) BALLOON BUDDIES…Getting ready for some disco fun are, from the left: Phil Norris and Emma Ryan from A2B Transfers with Simon Garrido, Monarch.

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THANK YOU FOR VOTING SILVERSEA

‘Star Luxury Cruise Company’ 7 YEARS IN A ROW

HERE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY YOU MAY HAVE VOTED FOR US • Butler service for all suites

• Up to 6 open-seating restaurants with gourmet menus by Relais & Châteaux

• Voyages to all seven continents

• Complimentary in-suite dining and 24 hour room service

• Complimentary beverages served throughout the ship

• Onboard gratuities included

• In-suite refrigerator stocked with your preferred choice of beverages

• Superlative service – staff to guest ratio of almost one to one

• All ocean-view suites – up to 95% with private veranda

• Complimentary transportation into town in most ports of call

For more information or to book please contact Silversea on 0844 770 9030 or visit Silversea.com

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Sea Captains Star Family Cruise Company Winner: Royal Caribbean International Runner up: Carnival Cruise Lines Finalists: Disney Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line I’m thrilled that Royal Caribbean International has been honoured by agents across the country in Travel Bulletin’s annual Star Awards. It’s a great reflection of the hard work carried out by the teams across the business and a true recognition of the dedication and commitment of our wonderful crew. We are so very proud of all our people who make the experiences on-board such a hit. I want to extend a massive thank you to all of the agents who have voted in the Travel Bulletin Star Awards. Our loyal trade partners are vital to our brand’s continued growth and we are committed to supporting them with training, ship visits and innovative marketing. Consistent

James Neal, brand manager of Royal Caribbean International picks up the award for Star Family Cruise Company.

trade feedback on our various initiatives has been fantastic and the investment in training to bring our ships to life continues to convert yet more agents to be great Royal Caribbean International ambassadors. Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 22 innovative ships, calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The Royal Caribbean International fleet features the world's largest and most innovative cruise ships, and feature activities such as rock climbing, surfing, zip wiring and ice skating, all at sea. Steve Williams, head of sales, Royal Caribbean International

Star River Cruise Company

Star Luxury Cruise Company

Winner: Viking River Cruises Runner up: Riviera Travel Finalists: AmaWaterways, APT River Cruises, Avalon Waterways, River Cruise Line

Winner: Silversea Cruises Runner up: Celebrity Cruises Finalists: Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn

Laurent Ferros and Melissa Todd from Viking River Cruises pick up the award for Star River Cruise Company

At Viking, we are thrilled to have been voted the winner of the Travel Bulletin Star River Cruise award for the fourth consecutive year – a BIG thank you to all the agents who voted for us. Having the support of our agents is so important to us. Our excellent commission levels, dedicated Trade support and professional and knowledgeable reservations team are all reasons why booking with Viking is a rewarding experience. With the phenomenal growth of river cruising, the launch of the ten Viking Longships in 2013 – and another 16 in 2014, Viking is moving from strength to strength. The Longships feature the unique Aquavit Terrace for alfresco dining, deluxe staterooms and suites, as well as two stunning Explorer Suites. The recent launch of our ocean cruises is another reason to celebrate – and to recommend Viking to your clients. Viking Star is a smaller, more intimate ocean ship that is elegant and stylish, with an informal, relaxing atmosphere. Home to just 930 guests, the ship sails to more inspiring destinations, where guests can enjoy enriching excursions and more time ashore. For inclusive ocean cruising at its best, take a look at our exciting ocean itineraries. Award-winning ships, inspiring destinations, fantastic value for money – it’s no wonder Viking continues to be the world’s leading river cruise line – here’s to a successful 2014!

We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all agents who, once again, voted Silversea 'Star Luxury Cruise Provider' for the seventh successive year. We are delighted with this award and It's victory for Mafalda feel this demonstrates the Barreto, national accounts manager of Silversea success and strength of the relationships we have built with Cruises, who collects the award for Star Luxury the trade over the years. Cruise Company. As the luxury cruise industry expands year on year, Silversea continues to focus on innovation and offering superlative European service. With the introduction of our third expedition ship, we now travel to more destinations than any other cruise line. Many unique elements are woven together to create an extraordinary holiday experience for our guests. These include intimate, all suite ships that can call in the most remote destinations and dock in ports that are inaccessible to larger ships. We offer luxurious amenities, superb cuisine, amazing worldwide destinations, including both Polar Regions, and the ability for our guests to personalise their experience with bespoke land adventures, plus options for customising their suites with a range of luxury amenities, a choice of pillows and a selection of beverages. We look forward to even stronger relationships with you, the travel trade and to continue building our reputation as the best luxury cruise line.

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Sea Captains Star Specialist Cruise Company Winner: Hurtigruten Runner up: Swan Hellenic Finalists: Azamara Club Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Star Clippers, Swan Hellenic, Voyages of Discovery We are absolutely delighted to have won the Star Award for 'Best Specialist Cruise Operator' for the second year running; it is even more special knowing it was voted for by our travel agent partners. We have continued to see our business grow through the trade with continuing investment, including increased marketing spend, successful campaigns, improved communication and agent fam trips and incentives. Our Northern Lights programme continues to sell well and there is no better time to book your customers with Hurtigruten. Not only will they experience the breathtaking fjords at this beautiful time of year, with increased solar activity predicted in 2013 & 2014, they will also have more chance of seeing the magical Northern Lights....and all available from an airport near you!

Hurtigruten collects the award for Star Specialist Cruise Company. Pictured celebrating is the line's regional sales manager, Lucy Hone (left) and sales manager UK & Ireland, Maxine Dunsdon.

We are excited with what lies ahead, demand for specialist cruising continues to grow, coupled with the desire for unique experiences. Our partners with their knowledge and experience will play a vital role in ensuring these demands are met. All that leaves me to say is “Tusen Takk” from us all at Hurtigruten. Your support is very much appreciated.

WE WON AGAIN!..

OUR STAR IS SHINING!

Thank you for voting Hurtigruten ‘Star Specialist Cruise Line’ at the 2013 Travel Bulletin awards! It’s a huge honour to win an award that’s decided solely by travel professionals like you. So if your customers are looking for a voyage along the Norwegian coast at any time of year (Northern Lights in Winter, Midnight Sun in summer, especially!), or something more adventurous to Greenland, Spitsbergen or Antarctica, we look forward to offering them more of our award-winning service. In fact we look forward to giving them our star treatment.

T: 020 8846 2666 E: uk.agency.sales@hurtigruten.com W: www.hurtigruten.co.uk/agents

A different kind of cruise

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THE WORLD’S BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER Thank you to everyone who voted us Travel Bulletin Star River Cruise 2013 Find out what makes us the world’s favourite at www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk or call us on 020 8780 7900

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High Fliers Star Business Airline Winner: Emirates Runner up: Etihad Airways Finalists: British Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Emirates flies 16 times daily to Dubai from a choice of six UK airports, offering convenient onward connections to more than 130 destinations. Onboard, passengers can enjoy world-class service, regionally inspired gourmet cuisine and up to 1,500 channels of awardwinning entertainment – plus phone, SMS and email connectivity from every seat. On the ground, First Class and Business Class passengers can take advantage of a complimentary Chauffeur-drive Service, expedited check-in, dedicated baggage handling and luxurious lounge access – ensuring a seamless journey from start to finish. On five daily flights from

Heathrow and on a daily service from Manchester, travellers can experience the Emirates A380. The revolutionary superjumbo features Private Suites and onboard Shower Spas in First Class, an Onboard Lounge and flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in Business Class and room to stretch out and relax in Economy Class – plus onboard WiFi throughout. Laurie Berryman, Emirates' vice president UK, said: “It is an honour to be awarded the Travel Bulletin Star Business Airline Award as it emphasises our ongoing commitment to our valued trade partners, without whom our success would not be possible.”

Rashid Nazir, sales executive at Emirates, collects the award for Star Business Airline.

Emirates currently serves 135 cities around the globe with a young and technologically advanced fleet of 194 wide-bodied passenger aircraft equipped with industry-leading comforts. Additionally, Emirates has 188 aircraft on order worth more than $71billion and is the leading customer of the Airbus A380 with 37 in service and a further 53 on order. Renowned for its excellence in service and innovation, both onboard and on the ground, Emirates holds an impressive array of prestigious awards including Skytrax 2013 ‘World’s Best Airline’, ‘Best Middle East Airline’ and for a record ninth year in a row, ‘World’s Best Inflight Entertainment’.

TA! *

*Leeds Bradford Airport would like to thank all our travel trade partners for voting us Star Regional Airport 2013.

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High Fliers Star Charter Seat-Only Company Winner: Avro Runner up: Jet2.com Finalists: Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomson Airways All of us across the Monarch Travel Group are delighted that our seat-only company Avro has won the 2013 Star Charter Seat-Only Operator Award. Especially, as this year’s win marks the 15th time in the 17-year history of the awards, Avro has won this accolade. Next year will mark 30 years of Avro providing flight seats to the UK travel trade so this is a wonderful way to start the celebrations. To win this award for the 15th time, voted for by travel agents in a highly competitive market is very encouraging and shows that Avro is still the agents’ favourite, and the No. 1 seat-only operator amongst the travel trade. Since 1984, the flight-only market has changed beyond

It's thumbs up from Michael Vinales, managing director at Avro, as he picks up the award for Star Charter Seat-Only Company.

recognition and the support available to the trade for flightonly product has continued to change and, in many cases, diminish. However, Avro has retained its trade focus and continues to offer a genuine point of difference to include deposits, excellent customer service, commissionable ancillaries and ATOL protected flights. We strive to provide our partners with the flexibility, range of destinations and durations to sell to their customers by offering both scheduled and charter flights from 13 UK airports to 45 destinations worldwide. Once again, a huge thanks to you all for your continuing support!

Star Scheduled Flight Consolidator Winner: Jetset Flights Runner up: The Holiday Team Finalists: Gold Medal Travel, JTA Travel, Major Travel Jetset would like to thank all the travel agencies who voted in these awards and supported this opportunity to congratulate the many companies who have helped them win business over the past year or more. For Jetset as a trade only wholesaler, winning the Travel Bulletin Star Scheduled Flight Consolidator Award demonstrates that all our efforts have been appreciated and recognised by travel agents nationwide. As such I would like to thank all our staff for their hard work and consistent service and our airline and hotel partners for the fantastic product they provide. I’m also grateful to Travel Bulletin for organising the awards as well as their unique punchy news style. Finally, we really appreciate and thank every travel agent using Jetset ... we never forget you have a choice and strive to provide you with an easy and enjoyable booking process.

Jetset Flights won the Star Scheduled Flight Consolidator. Pictured is the company's chairman, John Bond, collecting the award.

Star Regional UK Airport It's smiles all round as James Broughton, sales & marketing manager at Leeds Bradford International Airport, picks up the award for Star Regional UK Airport.

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has been named as Star Regional UK Airport at this year’s Travel Bulletin Star Awards, which took place at the prestigious ceremony in London. The awards recognise excellence within the travel industry, with votes cast by travel agents. LBA was recognised as the leading regional airport for the high

Winner: Leeds Bradford International Airport Runner up: London Luton Airport Finalists: Bournemouth Airport, Bristol Airport, East Midlands Airport, Southampton Airport level of support it has given agents over the year, and comes shortly after the airport celebrated a series of other milestone achievements including surpassing three million passengers for the first time, and celebrating its busiest year so far. James Broughton, LBA’s marketing manager said: “We are delighted to be

recognised by our peers within the industry, and support the ever growing number of airlines and tour operators. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our travel trade partners and ensure the awareness of our increased destination choice and enhanced facilities from Yorkshire’s gateway airport across the region.”

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High Fliers Star Major UK Airport Winner: London Gatwick Airport Runner up: Birmingham Airport Finalists: London Heathrow Airport, Manchester Airport, Stansted Airport We’re delighted to have won this award and are equally pleased that we have received recognition as the number one airport in the UK and we’d like to thank the readers who voted for us. Here at London Gatwick, our passengers and the experience the passengers receive while travelling through our airport is of paramount importance to us. Since being bought by GIP in December 2009, we set targets of banishing queues, getting you away on time and treating you as our guest – and we are proud to see this effort coming through in the shape of this award. We have spent more than £1bn in the last three and a half years on improving facilities for a wide range

of passengers, from families to the business traveller. We have a dedicated family and assistance lane that offers a separate and spacious zone for families who want to take their time to sort their bags and children out in a stress-free environment. Equally, we have a separate premium lane for the business traveller who wants to get through security and in to one of our many lounges. We also offer a front-of-house concierge service that has 27 languages between them so visitors and passengers flying out can talk to someone in a fluent and friendly environment. All of this, along with our great offering of shops and restaurants

Pictured collecting the Star Major UK Airport award is Simon Eddolls from Travel Bulletin, on behalf of London Gatwick Airport.

and dedicated children’s play areas – goes to show we are doing everything we can to be the UK’s best airport and receiving this accolade shows good reward for our progress.

! u o Y k n a h T A Huge

Avro has won the Travel Bulletin

‘Star Charter Seat-Only Operator’ Award The team at Avro would like to thank all of our valued trade partners for voting

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Landlords Star Accommodation-only Provider Winner: Getabed.co.uk Runner up: bedsonline.com Finalists: Expedia TAAP, Medhotels, Superbreak, TravelCube Getabed are absolutely delighted to have won the award for the UK’s 'Star Accommodation-Only Provider' at the prestigious Travel Bulletin Star Awards. It was a fantastic It's a big kiss from night, seeing so many great companies awarded for all their Mark Hopper, sales director at hard work. Getabed remain 100% committed to the travel trade, and encourage feedback and work in partnership with Getabed.co.uk, as he collects the award for the trade to ensure that our product and service levels are Star Accommodationwhat agents require, so winning the Star award purely by Only Provider. agents voting is the icing on the cake! Managing director, Matt Stuart, said: “I am so proud that we have won this award once again. Competition was fierce and it’s testament to the hard work of the team that we triumphed over rivals. Thank you to all our agents and supplier partners for their continuing support for Getabed.co.uk, we wouldn’t be where we are today without you.” Getabed.co.uk is the longest established accommodation provider for the UK trade - it was the first ‘bed bank’ for agents when it launched in 1991. It remains an independent, privately-owned business, so the team personally keep a close eye on its breadth of product and service levels to its trade partners. Getabed.co.uk boasts a portfolio of more than 100,000 hotels in 7,000 destinations worldwide, all of which are able to be easily and efficiently booked via its awardwinning in-house online system.

Star Car Rental Company Kirsty Bachelor, partnership manager at Affordable Car Hire, collects the award for Star Car Rental Company.

Winner: Affordable Car Hire Runner up: Hertz Finalists: Alamo, Avis, Europcar, Your Car Hire

The company's CEO, Angela Day, said: “The fact that the Travel Bulletin Star Awards are voted for by agents makes our success even sweeter. Since forming the business nine years ago we have focused on making it easier for our travel agent partners to sell car hire by investing in training, marketing and product development. We would like to thank all those agents who voted for us.” Travel agents will now find it easier to book car hire and compare prices between models after Affordable Car Hire launched a new website featuring a range of innovative time-saving features. The upgrade has been part of the company's ongoing commitment to investing in technology in order to provide a premium service for agents,

and the new site now offers a series of enhanced features that allow web users to find more easily on the car results pages details about fuel policy; excess policy; airport location; and availability. New filters also enable agents to search for car hire according to free additional drivers, number of passengers, supplier, car group, and GPS availability. Informative fact guides and car fleet guides also help agents advise their customers on the best options for them. Day, said: “The new website retains the invaluable live chat feature, so that agents can contact us quickly if they have any queries, and they can still email for a quote. And of course, the agent training academy, incentives and competitions pages, which are always very popular, are still there."

Star Rail Operator Winner: Great Rail Journeys Runner up: Eurostar Finalists: Ffestiniog Travel, Orient Express, Rail Europe, Virgin Trains Thank you from Great Rail Journeys! Everybody loves to win an award, but to win an award voted for by travel agents for the second time is really special. We are delighted to have won the prestigious best Rail Operator at the Travel Bulletin Star Awards again this year. At Great Rail Journeys we value our trade partners and hope we can continue to give you the service, products and great choice of escorted rail holidays that will keep us as the market leader of escorted rail holidays in the UK. For 2014 we have a great selection of rail holidays across the globe, from UK breaks to journeys across continents. So if your customers are looking for an adventure by rail, we will have a holiday to suit them. More agents than ever before are now selling rail holidays and we are always pleased to help agents with support and advice on how to sell in this lucrative market. If you would like to discuss selling our range of escorted rail holidays, please get in touch via agencysales@greatrail.com. Thanks again for all your support!

Collecting his award for Star Rail Operator is Great Rail Journeys' national sales manager, Tony Byrne.

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Landlords Star European Theme Park

Sponsored by Winner: Disneyland Resort Paris Attraction World Runner up: PortAventura Finalists: Alton Towers, Legoland Windsor, Siam Park, Thorpe Park Disneyland Paris is proud to win ‘Best European Theme Park’ Award at the Travel Bulletin Star Awards. This family destination has something for everyone. Discover fun for children, teens and adults with over 50 world-class Disney attractions, shows and parades and not forgetting some of your favourite Disney Characters. Experience two fantastic theme parks -Disneyland Park; home to Sleeping Beauty Castle and classic attractions such as Dumbo the flying Elephant, it’s a small world and Pirates of the Caribbean and next door Walt Disney Studios Park featuring; Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, Cars Race Rally and the thrilling Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror and RC Racer. Add in delicious dining experiences, themed hotels and a lively Disney Village to keep the fun going till late and you have a

Suzanne Sharples, sales executive from Disney Destinations International, collects the award for Star European Theme Park.

dream holiday destination. Plus don’t miss the award winning Disney Dreams! show that currently takes place in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park – at the

Star Worldwide Theme Park Winner: Universal Orlando Resort Runner up: Walt Disney World Resort Florida Finalists: Disneyland Resort California, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment We are delighted that Universal Orlando Resort has won the ‘Star Worldwide Theme Park’ award at the 2013 Travel Bulletin Awards. This is the fifth consecutive year we have won this award and demonstrates the strength of the relationship between Universal Orlando and our travel agent partners. We thank you for your continued support. To be recognised by such a prestigious awards programme is an honour and highlights our commitment to provide outstanding customer entertainment and experiences. With two amazing theme parks, three magnificently themed on-site hotels and an incredible night-time entertainment complex, Universal

Orlando is the only place where you can turn spending time with your family into spending time as a family. This year has been thrilling with the opening of the much anticipated Transformers: The Ride - 3D, where guests joined Optimus Prime in the fight to save mankind, along with the introduction of the immersive Springfield area – complete with Duff beer! – keeping Universal Orlando at the forefront of popular culture and entertainment. With the opening of our fourth on-site hotel - Cabana Bay Beach Resort – and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley next year, 2014 promises to be just as incredible.

end of each day until September 2014 an exciting breathtaking show with music, fountains, lasers and fireworks brining Disney stories to life.