16 minute read
More on our sponsors for this year’s event
NOW THAT we’ve lifted the lid on the categories for our Star Awards, we are proud to announce our sponsors for this year’s coveted travel industry awards event!
jetset
JETSET IS absolutely delighted that the Star Awards has made a much needed and welcomed return to the industry calendar. The awards have always been a highlight of the year for so many organisations that work so hard and rejoice in the recognition of being nominated for an award chosen by travel agents.
There has been a strong bounce back while resourcing issues affect the industry. Jetset is no different and operationally the company has been stretched. Jetset hopes to take this opportunity to thank agents for the patience they have shown during this period of transition. Jetset took decisive action during the lockdowns to boost innovation within the JETS system and, in doing so, has enabled agents to now book on average 86% of bookings across the JETS system. The company is not resting on its laurels, and work continues at pace to ensure JETS development meets the changing needs and priorities of its only client – the travel agents.
A significant upgrade from the team is ongoing to ensure multi-sector itineraries are made as easy to transact as Package Pal bookings. Villa packages have already been released on to the JETS system but plans are in place to add additional content.
In another exciting development, Eurostar should become fully bookable during 2022, enabling Jetset to sell the full Eurostar network
Agents who vote in this year's Star Awards can get excited about being placed in a free prize draw to pick up one of these bounce back prizes courtesy of Jetset:
1st Prize - Bounce over to Bruges for a 2 night weekend break on Eurostar. 2nd Prize - Bounce all the way to the bank with a £200.00 cheque (taxes paid). 3rd Prize - A UK bungee jump to get your heart bouncing!
Gran Canaria
GRAN CANARIA is excited to see the comeback of the Travel Bulletin Star Awards, the key event in the industry’s calendar that reunites the best of the travel agents and suppliers in a blissful evening. This year's special edition is more important than ever, as the trade comes together to celebrate the resilience, dedication, passion and patience of all travel agents after a difficult couple of years .
Gran Canaria is experiencing a real boom in bookings at the moment and this Easter was a key tipping point for our destination, when the number of tourists overpassed the 2019 figures! Known as a ‘continent in miniature’, this beautiful island is definitely worth exploring. Combine sun and beach luxury holidays by well-known Maspalomas dunes, with a short escape to the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the city with interesting historical heritage, or with some days in the north of the island, for a more authentic experience. #GranCanaria #GreatDestination
GO TO WWW.TRAVELBULLETIN.CO.UK/STARAWARDS TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITES
In the hotseat witH...
Husain AlHashmi Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
Husain AlHashmi, acting director of travel trade and market development for the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, on updates and the importance of the travel trade.
ACTING DIRECTOR of the travel trade and market development for Abu Dhabi
Tourism, Husain AlHashmi, sat down with Travel Bulletin at Abu
Dhabi’s first UK showcase event to discuss tourism updates, what to expect for the rest of the year, and the importance of UK agents.
Tourism plans to come
We are planning to exceed our 2019 visitor numbers, and we want to reach our 2030 target of 23 million visitors. We are working very hard to achieve these targets - we actually launched this target before the pandemic, but we still believe we can achieve these goals. Being that the UK is in the top 10 source markets for us, historically, due to the long relationship that we have. We have a lot of other attractions that are growing that we are highlighting at this event, for example, at the end of this year the Ibrahimic House will be completed. At this attraction, a synagogue, a church and a mosque will all be side-by-side, so this is truly oneof-a-kind. The Sheikh Zayed National Museum will also be coming in 2025. We’re also currently investing in our culinary scene.
Summer promotion
This is actually the first time we’re actively promoting Abu Dhabi as a summer destination. The campaign is called ‘Summer like you mean it!’. With this, the summer pass has been created to support the campaign, where visitors get to experience Abu Dhabi with this value-added pass. There is access to three theme parks, transportation access, and access to the Jubilee Pass, which covers the cultural sites, and one free access to the Louvre.
Abu Dhabi Showcase event
The whole idea of this showcase event is to build a deeper relationship with the trade, and this won't be the last time we do something like this. We want everyone to get to know us better, and agents know they can sell holidays throughout the whole year. Our infrastructure, properties and attractions are designed to make us a year-round destination – attractions like Warner Bros. World and Ferrari World are always open.
Travel agent importance
Travel agents are hugely important to us. Agents have gained a lot of trust during the pandemic, due to the uncertainty surrounding travel, and we want to capitalise on this. This year, we will be continuing our fam trips. What we did is we carried out fam trips thematically, for example a luxury-focused fam trip for luxury sellers. We also created an elearning programme and now, running until December, we have an incentive programme for the top sellers. We want to keep working on joint marketing activities with our trusted agent partners.
CITY BREAKS
HALLOWEEN HORROR
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights makes for a shock-filled stop on Orlando city breaks
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS’ Halloween Horror Nights makes a return to Florida this year, a choice for families looking for a scare-filled city break.
The event features a double dose of terror inspired by the studio now regarded as the driving force in horror with ‘The Horrors of Blumhouse’ haunted house which brings to life Blumhouse’s upcoming supernatural thriller The Black Phone and horrorcomedy Freaky.
The event begins at Universal Orlando Resort on September 2 and at Universal Studios Hollywood on September 8. ‘The Horrors of Blumhouse’ will transport guests into an alternate dimension where the scares are real and the stakes are life or death. In The Black Phone, ‘The Grabber’ is a demented magician best known for his sinister trick of making people disappear –permanently. Guests will find themselves trapped in his ‘fun’ house where the sound of ghostly voices whisper hints on how to escape, but guests must tread carefully to outwit and outrun The Grabber’s twisted magic. Freaky will challenge guests to outrun serial killer ‘The Butcher’ who has switched bodies with a high school girl after being cursed by the La Dola Dagger, an ancient Aztec blade. Guests will learn firsthand that looks can be deceiving as they encounter the sweetlooking teen who is actually The Butcher – and she is determined to hunt for the next victims.
Tickets for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort are available via a number of travel partners including AttractionTickets.com, Floridatix, Orlando Attraction Tickets, Travel Republic and Ocean Florida. Both events will run select nights through Monday, October 31, and more details and haunted houses will be revealed soon. www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.
Just Go! Holidays promotes twin Christmas break
JUST GO! Holidays is promoting its Christmas Markets coach break that offers the chance visit two of Scotland’s vibrant cities.
This three-day break visits Glasgow and Edinburgh, which both boast enticing markets selling original gifts and decorations, delicious food, mulled wine and festive produce.
There is also an excursion to Glasgow’s traditional Christmas Market, which offers a variety of colourful stalls that are home to traders from across the globe.
Available on November 26 and December 3, 10 and 17, 2022, this coach break is priced from £139 per person. www.justgoholidays.com/agents NEWMARKET HOLIDAYS is offering a seven-day culinaryfocused trip – ‘Madrid, Porto, and the Douro Valley’.
Madrid, the starting point, takes guests to grand boulevards to reveal the city’s multi-influenced history. Venturing towards the vineyards of the outlying wineries, the tour then travels to estates, promising plenty of tastings. Porto serves as the final stop, with a chance to seek out its architectural splendours, sip port in a centuries-old wine cellar and sail across the Douro River.
The price starts from £1,232 per person. www.newmarketholidays.co.uk
Culinary delights with Newmarket Holidays
WILD FRONTIERS is offering its ‘Classic Japan’ itinerary for those looking to tick off multiple cities. Beginning among the bustling thoroughfares of its capital, travellers will have some time to discover a little of Tokyo’s traditional heritage before departing for the mountain passes of the Hida region. After enjoying the comforts of a traditional Japanese ryokan, journey on towards Takayama and Kanazawa where guests can enjoy the beautiful Kenroku-en Garden before moving on to Kyoto. In the old imperial capital, guests will discover some of the finest gems in Japan’s cultural treasure trove before continuing on to Hiroshima to visit the poignant setting of its Peace Memorial Park. The climax of the journey sees guests crossing by ferry to the sacred island of Miyajima, home to the Itsukushima Shrine and one of the finest views in Japan. Wild Frontiers offers a tailor made ‘Classic Japan’ itinerary from £3,620 per person, based on two people travelling and includes all meals, transport, entrance fees, accommodation and an expert team of guides. The itinerary can be tailor-made to suit guests’ interests and budget and so the final price may differ. www.wildfrontierstravel.com
Celebrate Christmas the Czech way
PRAGUE'S MEDIEVAL houses, illuminated Old Town Hall and dustings of snow provide an idyllic winter setting to explore the city’s vibrant Christmas markets. Travellers will find the Old Town Square alive with the streams of seasonal decorations, twinkling lights and the Christmas tree that dominates the square. Guests can walk over the iconic Charles Bridge and head to the fairytale castle perched on a hill for beautiful views of the city and the river Vltava. The Prague Christmas Markets open daily from November 26, 2022 to January 6, 2023. www.visitczechrepublic.com/en-US/Thingsto-Do/Places/Experiences/Entertainment/s-p rague-winter-fun
Meliá Chiang Mai opens its doors
MELIA CHIANG Mai, a 260-key urban hotel in the heart of Thailand’s mountainous Chiang Mai, has opened.
Perfect for those wanting to be close to the city, Meliá Chiang Mai is located six kilometers from the Chiang Mai International Airport, near an array of tourist attractions including the Old Town with its ancient moat and redbrick walls. The city’s oldest temple Wat Chiang Man, and the scenic Ang Kaew Reservoir are in close proximity, with the elephant rescue center Elephant Nature Park, the stunning Mae Ya Waterfall, and UNESCO's latest biosphere reserve Doi Chiang Dao in the mountainous surroundings.
Housed in a 22-floor tower fronted by an adjoining sevenfloor podium building, Meliá Chiang Mai’s host of top-notch facilities includes two restaurants, two bars, and two lounges, one of which is an executive lounge on the 21st floor. Other facilities include Meliá’s signature YHI Spa with seven treatment rooms, a fullyequipped fitness centre, swimming pool, ballroom, four other meeting spaces, and a kids and teens club.
To celebrate its opening, Meliá Chiang Mai is offering up to 35% off its accommodations for bookings on melia.com, for stays until September 15, 2022.
www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailan d/chiang-mai/melia-chiangmai/index.htm
Poland's summer cities celebrated with #PolandVibes
THE POLISH Tourism Organisation has set its sights on the summer, launching the season's social media campaign, #PolandVibes, to highlight the culture of hospitality in its vibrant cities. The campaign will highlight how fun, safe and accessible Poland is this
summer.
As part of the campaign, the organisation will harness digital influencers and content on social media platforms, hosting live webcam footage from across the nation and asking visitors to post their experiences.
Dorota Wojciechowska, the UK’s director of the Polish Tourism Organisation said: “We are a big-hearted nation, and we are still warmly welcoming visitors. Our tourist attractions, hotels and restaurants are open as usual, and we are very much looking forward to a summer of cultural highlights where visitors will continue to receive the excellent hospitality and warm welcome long associated with Poland." www.poland.travel/en
InsideJapan raring to go once more
INSIDEJAPAN AND its team of 'Insider' tour leaders are dusting off their group tour boots as the nation's borders begin to reopen again to tourists on fully escorted tours.
A selection of small group tours have gone on sale, kicking off this month. The 13night 'Japan Unmasked' tour (departing July 18) and 10-night 'HYPERJAPAN J-pop & GO!' itinerary (departing July 2 and 23, 2022) will be the first taste of escorted touring in Japan for over two and a half years.
Both tours showcase the classic sights of Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima, but routes and other excursions differ. 'Japan Unmasked' heads to the Japanese Alps, with accommodation in Shukubo temple lodgings, a Ryokan guest house and a family-run Minshuku, while 'JYPERJAPAN Jpop & GO!' dives deep into the heart of Osaka and offers the chance to climb Mount Fuji.
“These are not tours in their own 'tour bubble'. Far from it,” said Simon King, one of InsideJapan's co-founders.
“Travelling with an Insider, they allow people to make the most out of their limited time in the country, unlocking cultural doors that wouldn't be open to visitors otherwise.” 'Japan Unmasked' starts from £2,610 per person, with 13 nights' accommodation, daily breakfast, transport across Japan and the services of InsideJapan's 'Insider' tour guides. The 10-night 'HYPERJAPAN J-pop & GO!' tour starts from £2,800 per person, with 10 nights' accommodation, daily breakfast, guide services, transport, and a range of cultural experiences.
Cruise in the city: Emerald's luxury yacht collection
EMERALD CRUISE has unveiled its collection of 2023 and 2024 yacht cruise itineraries, with luxury voyages aboard Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara (debuting in 2023) exploring some of the most picturesque cities across the Caribbean, Central America, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Adriatic.
The Mediterranean voyages tick off a number of the coastline's most impressive cities, from the ancient history of Rome to the bustling spirit of Casablanca. The 18-day 'Discover Western Mediterranean & Morocco' blends city escapes with leisurely beach breaks, ticking off five Mediterranean countries on a single sun-drenched voyage. The itinerary, which is new for the 2023/24 schedule, departs from Santa Cruz de Tenerife before calling at Arrecife, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Motril, Cartagena, Ibiza, Mahón, Bonifacio, Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, Sorrento, Amalfi, Gaeta, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Bonifacio, France and Porto Santo. Prices start from £7,580 per person departing on April 17, 2024, including return flights, transfers, on-board meals, and excursions. www.emeraldcruises.co.uk
Capital Region: endless history and charm
JULY BRINGS warm temperatures, Independence Day and all eyes on the Capital Region of America. From Georgetown’s cobblestone streets to Maryland’s postcardperfect gems, the region is brimming with opportunities.
Dupont Circle, a cosmopolitan haven, offers a choice of museums and cultural dining. The Phillips Collection stands as America’s first museum of modern art, with Embassy Row offering cuisine fit for world leaders but made for visitors. Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse and Residents are must-dos.
Ellicott City, in Maryland, is celebrating 250 years since its founding. Home to the nation’s industrial revolution, the city is now home to converted mills, historic bed-and-breakfasts and relaxing resorts. One notable bed-and-breakfast, the Wayside Inn, is believed to have once accommodated George Washington.
The picture-perfect backdrop of St Michaels, Maryland, makes for a charming port of call, with the brick-lined streets and quaint boutiques and cafés a favourite among locals and visitors alike.
Upgrade trips to Abu Dhabi with the summer pass
WITH THE summer holidays around the corner, guests heading to the Middle East can upgrade their Abu Dhabi escapes with an Abu Dhabi Summer Pass.
The pass offers value discounts across a number of activities, giving travellers even more reasons to visit this summer and discover the city at their own pace. Three of Abu Dhabi’s most impressive theme parks, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, are all included, along with one-day admission to the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Along with the impressive theme parks and museums, entry to 13 cultural sites across abu Dhabi and Al Ain, with added benefits of more than 50 cultural offers, is included.
Complimentary transportation via Abu Dhabi Bus and Yas Express is included with passes purchased by August 31, 2022.
The pass starts from approximately £135 for adults and £112 for children. www.visitabudhabi.ae/en/campaign/ summer-pass
Summer in the city: Krakow and Katowice
PLENTY OF city pearls await this summer in Poland, with the nation’s rich culture, gastronomy and architecture a sight for summer-loving eyes.
Poland’s former royal capital, Krakow, offers a bustling medieval pomp, infused with modern-day bars and attractions to fill guests’ days. Guests can explore the abundance of history, which spans the 1000 years of Krakow’s existence. The Wawel Royal Castle and the city’s cathedral are highlights, as well as the old Jewish district, Kazimierz, which is home to a number of trendy bars and restaurants. The renowned Pierogi Festival taking place in the Maly Rynek Square in August is a must.
Katowice, the capital of the Silesian region, hosts a number of well-maintained parks, squares and buzzing music, ideal for active and curious travellers. In recent years, the city has been transformed from a former mining city to a UNESCO Creative City of Music. The scene has continued to grow, with regular classical music at the NOSPR Concert Hall and jazz and blues at any number of clubs spread throughout the city. To discover another side of the city, P23, an all-night techno club, is an impressive party spot located in an old Drzwi porcelain factory. www.poland.travel/en/cities/krakow / www.poland.travel/en/cities/katowice
