Travel Bulletin 27th September 2019

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September 27 2019 | ISSUE NO 2,124 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Giving agents the edge

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NEWS BULLETIN

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

THIS WEEK 04

ACCESS ALL AREAS Research from Purple Tuesday, an organisation which promotes access for disabled people, shows the travel industry is losing millions of pounds by not being inclusive of disabled customers.

NEWS Industry news to help agents sell better holidays

Only 5% of those surveyed say that travel businesses are the most accessible to purchase from.

08 AGENT INSIGHT Sandy on this year’s Travel Bulletin Star Awards

09 AGENT BULLETIN Prizes galore and online training courses for destinations

11 PUZZLE BULLETIN Complete a Sudoku puzzle for a chance to win a Jet2 goody bag

12 BULLETIN BRIEFING Reasons to harness the power of social media with Global’s Andy Stark

MORE THAN 13 million people in the UK – a fifth of the population – are disabled, and a Purple Tuesday poll of people who consider themselves to be disabled has revealed that more than half of respondents are struggling to make purchases of a product or a service due to their disability, including the purchase of travel products.

Disabled young people (aged 16-24) fare the worst – more than three-quarters of them say they have found it difficult to purchase things online or in person due to their disability, with only 5% stating that travel businesses are the most accessible to purchase from.

More than half (56%) agreed that improving staff understanding about different disabilities would encourage them to spend their disposable income, estimated to be £249 billion a year. Separate research has shown that 75% of disabled people have had to leave a store or website, unable to go through with their purchase because of their disability.

Mike Adams OBE, chief executive of Purple, the disability organisation behind Purple Tuesday, said: “While many UK businesses and organisations are stepping up to the mark and making the changes needed to improve disabled

customers’ experiences, far too many are not.

“This is a huge mistake, not least because by turning their backs on disabled shoppers, they are losing out on millions of pounds of revenue every year.

“It should simply not be the case that one in two disabled people struggle to make purchases online or in person. Small changes can make a big difference to the customer experience.”

Disabled consumers told pollsters that inaccessible and unusable locations, poor customer service and a lack of understanding about disabilities were the main reasons they struggled to spend their money.

14 STAR AWARDS All the glitz, glamour & winners of the 2019 Star Awards

Published by : Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) Ltd University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place London, SW1W 0EX

Printed by: Buxton Press Subscriptions are £125 p.a. £195 overseas ISSN: 0956-2419

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NEWS BULLETIN

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

#JustAmazing solo tours from Just You JUST YOU has launched a #JustAmazing campaign to coincide with its latest brochure, offering guests the opportunity to experience solo travel in 2020.

“We’re incredibly excited to reveal our new campaign, which is being driven by the experiences of our own customers,” said Alastair Campbell, Just You’s managing director.

“We are guaranteeing the departure of over 800 individual tours along with our guaranteed price promise and guaranteed price match available on every holiday.”

In addition, protected deposits will mean that if customers need to cancel their holiday, their deposit can be used for another trip.

Along with the campaign, Just You’s latest brochure features 11 new Europe and worldwide tours.

A tour for animal lovers, the Ugandan, ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ is 12 days, with prices from £5,439. This will feature getting personal with gorillas in the Impenetrable Forest, and driving across the African savannah in search of tree-climbing lions.

On the operator’s Ethiopia tour, customers will travel to natural landmarks like the Blue Nile Falls, admire historic cities filled with UNESCO

The JustAmazing tours has an option of eight days in Uzbekistan.

World Heritage Sites and spot wildlife in the Simien Mountains National Park, over 12 days and from £3,599.

A new tour is ‘Uzbekistan & The Silk Road’, spread over eight day sand from £2,199. Travellers will follow in the footsteps of ancient traders and uncover the diverse history and architecture of cities like Tashkent and Samarkand, one of the oldest metropolises in Central Asia.

New tours in Europe include the 13-day ‘Ultimate Italy’, from £3,199. Customers will discover more of Italy, from the ruins of Pompeii to the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel,

and cruising Lake Garda to exploring the towns of the Amalfi Coast.

A new UK tour is ‘Walking in Snowdonia’. The five-day journey costs from £799 and crosses the landscapes of Snowdonia National Park, with expert guides to show the way across leisurely walking trails, from Llyn Idwal Lake to the village of Beddgelert and a trip on the Welsh Highland Railway.

Just You’s latest brochure has over 200 holidays to more than 60 countries, with each one tailored to the solo traveller.

For more information, visit www.justyou.co.uk or call 0800 112 3311

Live and let Thai KRABI ISLAND in Thailand has seen a new James Bond Island tour introduced, thanks to its starring role in 'The Man with the Golden Gun.’ The Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi encourages its guests to discover the culture of the destination, and now offers the James Bond tour either from a traditional Thai longtail boat or by speedboat for added adrenaline.

Offering a balance of adventure with local Thai culture, each of these tours offers the opportunity to not only visit the James Bond

Island, but to discover their inner 007 by sea-canoeing around the island, visiting ‘The Monkey Temple’ where lies a 15-metre gold Buddha statue. This is followed by a ‘dine at sea’ experience at the local floating village Koh Panyee.

The James Bond Island Tour starts from £45 per person.

To book, visit www.kskrabi.rezdy.com

CroisiEurope offers Brexit-busting price promise CROISIEUROPE HAS announced details of its Brexit price guarantee. The river cruise operator has pledged not to add any surcharge or change the price of a booking after it has been confirmed and full payment taken, for any reason directly related to negative exchange rate movements as a result of Brexit.

The guarantee will apply to any new holiday booked between now and October 30, the day before the UK is due to leave the European Union. All other booking conditions will be unaffected by this guarantee.

For further information, visit www.croisieurope.co.uk

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NEWS BULLETIN

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

A hair-raising Halloween at Universal Orlando HALLOWEEN HORROR Nights have opened at the Universal Orlando Resort, delivering a unique Halloween experience for horror enthusiasts.

Guests have the option of ten realistic haunted houses, five scare zones filled with scareactors stalking their every move, live entertainment – including a nighttime lagoon show, “Halloween Marathon of Mayhem,” plus access to Universal Studios’ attractions.

Throughout the event, guests will encounter the terrifying, walking through scenes such as the Starcourt Mall and Hopper’s cabin, from seasons two and three of Netflix’s 'Stranger Things'; come face-to-face with monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, Wolf Man and more in 'Universal Monsters', inspired by Universal

Pictures’ classic horror flicks.

The horror continues as scare actors fill the streets in five highly themed scare zones such as ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ and ‘Rob Zombie Hellbilly Deluxe’.

Guests can also find themselves in three original

nightmares - 'Anarch-cade', 'Vikings Undead' and 'Vanity Ball' - and enjoy two thrilling shows. Academy of Villains returns for its fourth year in a row with the new show, 'Academy of Villains: Altered States', featuring a mix of dance and theatrics.

Savings galore with Warner Hotels WARNER LEISURE hotels is offering guests savings of up to 50% on many 2020 winter breaks.

Further added value options are available with a free upgrade to a signature room or premier chalet on all January breaks. Plus, agents can pass on ferry travel to selected Warner properties for £5.

These savings are available on breaks booked before October 7 across the entire Warner portfolio, so guests can experience a range of breaks, from grounds that offer a slice of history or picturesque coastal views.

There are plenty of daytime activities to take advantage of, with performances from the world of music, theatre, comedy and dance.

Competing on the Costa Navarino ATHLETIC TRAVELLERS and keen spectators will be descending on Costa Navarino, the multisport destination of the southwest Peloponnese region of Greece for the seventh annual Navarino Challenge, from October 10-13.

The event is open to all ages and features more than 30 different sporting activities, including: boxing; cross-fit; karate, featuring world champion Eleni Chatziliadou; taekwondo, with two-time Olympic silver medalist Alexandros Nikolaidis; kick-boxing;

and tennis, with the support of the Navarino Racquet Academy.

The event will honour Greek basketball legend and Olympic torchbearer Nick Galis and the event's main ambassador, the GreekAmerican ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes, who will participate in the half-marathon and run alongside children on the 1km route.

For more information on the event, go to www.navarinochallenge.com/event2019/schedule-2019

A three-night stay at Bembridge Coast on the Isle of Wight, arriving on January 24, 2020 starts from £150 per person – including the 50% saving. This price is based on two adults sharing standard accommodation inclusive of the ‘Simply Dine’ package (English and continental buffet breakfasts and three-course evening meals).

Aman to open in bustling Bangkok HOTEL AND resort brand Aman announced its forthcoming debut in Bangkok. The Aman Nei Lert Bangkok will be situated in its central city parkland, nestled in the century-old tropical gardens.

Vladislav Doronin, chairman of Aman, commented: “Thailand holds a special place in our hearts ever since the conception of Amanpuri, and our brand, in Phuket over 30 years ago. Aman Nai Lert Bangkok will be situated in its namesake iconic central city parkland and will further cement our vision to bring the Aman ethos to global cities,” The project will welcome its first hotel guests and residents in 2022.

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NEWS BULLETIN

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR KAYAK BAMBOO TRAVEL has created the opportunity for those visiting Laos to discover the HinBoun River by kayak.

Guests will be cast along the scenic river, surrounded by the Karst Mountains, for a four- to five-hour paddle to a predetermined landing spot, stopping en-route for a rest and a picnic lunch.

The kayaking adventure can be enjoyed on several of Bamboo Travel’s recommended itineraries to Laos, including the 15-day, ‘Legends of Laos.’

The journey commences with two nights in Luang Prabang, before taking a road trip to Muang La – with a night spent in the Muang La Lodge – and a trek to discover some hill tribe villages.

Next, guests will embark on a four-day loop, travelling by private boat along the waterways of northern Laos, staying in boutique

accommodation – located in some of the most scenic parts of the country.

The next leg is an overland journey through the heart of Laos to the Plain of Jars, an archaeological site dating back over 2,000 years, and then a trip to the Kammounae Province.

The trip finishes with two days relaxing and exploring

the capital city of Vientiane.

The holiday can start on any day and costs from £3,175 per person (two sharing a room). This includes 13 nights’ bed-and-breakfast, and all transportation and activities as per the itinerary and guides.

For further information call 020 7720 9285 or visit www.bambootravel.co.uk

Adjust your altitude in Japan SKI TOUR operator Inghams, which launched Japan for the upcoming 2019/20 ski season, is celebrating the Rugby World Cup sporting event with a special offer.

For all 2019/20 ski bookings to Japan, made during the Rugby World Cup tournament from now until November 2, Inghams is offering £100 off per person.

Skiers who choose to travel to Japan with Inghams this winter will benefit from: free lift passes, flexible itineraries, transfers and meet and greet service, bed-andbreakfast, and free ski carriage.

Ski Resorts will include the Hakuba Valley, which spans across ten diverse ski areas, and Nozawa Onsen.

Additionally, guests can enjoy activities beyond the ski runs, including the bright lights of Tokyo or the tranquility of the temples in Kyoto. They can pay respects in Hiroshima and visit the Peace Memorial Museum, or spot snow monkeys at Jigokudani.

Inghams offers a five-night trip to Tokyo and Hakuba from £1,869 per person based on two sharing.

A haven of family-friendly fun HAVEN IS looking forward to 2020 with offers on family UK coastal breaks. Guests can explore UK shores at a choice of 36 Haven parks nationwide and immerse themselves in the great outdoors.

Haven will feature outdoor exploration with a packed activity programme for families, including visits to the rugged coastline and a chance to view plenty of wildlife with Haven’s ‘Nature Rockz’ programme that offers adventurers the chance to explore the outdoors with expert park rangers guiding their way.

There are many activities for children, including sports coaching from trained professionals, activity sessions including archery, fencing, football, and aerial adventure courses.

For children that need a confidence boost with swimming, ‘Water Confidence’ sessions and the ‘Learn2Swim’ programme are available to help with the basics.

Children and their parents can experience outdoor and indoor activities with the all-action ‘Dragon Lakes Adventure Village’, a state-of-the-art indoor activity area, ‘The Shore Water Park’, as well as dining options and entertainment facilities.

Prices for a four-night break start from £69, based on a family of up to four sharing a standard two-bedroom Caravan at Reighton Sands, Yorkshire and departing on March 23, 2020.

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SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

New Sarajevo route from Luton

FLYBOSNIA IS now flying between London Luton Airport and Sarajevo.

The airline will fly three times a week between the two airports on a schedule of morning flights departing on Saturday, Sundays and Tuesdays.

Jonathan Pollard, London Luton Airport CCO commented: “We are delighted that FlyBosnia has chosen London Luton Airport as its UK base. This is the first and only direct flight to Sarajevo to operate from any UK airport in over a decade so we are delighted to be part of this success.”

Jet2 warms up with a seat sale for Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta and Turkey JET2.COM AND Jet2holidays have announced seat savings on winter sun flights for the 2020/2021 season and put more than 3.3 million seats on sale for next winter from across its nine UK bases.

For Canary Island destinations, this means more than 1.6 million seats are on sale to the islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, with up to 160 weekly flights. Other Spanish destinations to benefit from the seat sale include Malaga, Alicante and Majorca.

In Portugal, there will be more than 325,000 seats on sale for Faro and Madeira, while for Cyprus, winter sun flights to Paphos will be discounted, and the season to Larnaca will be extended.

For Malta, almost 40,000 seats will be on sale with services operating from seven UK bases.

As Turkey grows in popularity with British holidaymakers, particularly in the wake of Brexit uncertainty, the airline has put more than 220,000 seats on sale for flights operating to Antalya.

This programme includes ATOL protected package breaks across thousands of two- to five-star hotels, a 22kg baggage allowance and airport transfers included, with a £60 per person deposit.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Independent travel agents can offer their customers a huge range of choice and flexibility in winter 20/21, thanks to this fantastic programme ... With more exciting winter 20/21 announcements coming soon, independent travel agents will be delighted at the award-winning choice that they will be able to offer to customers.”

To find out more, visit trade.jet2holidays.com

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NEWS BULLETIN

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

otes from

. . .

N O T N A M OR

Well, it was down to the big city for me on September 9 for the Travel Bulletin Star Awards – what a fantastic night. The Landmark is a beautiful hotel and, as usual, the meal was fantastic.

Comedian Jo Caulfield presented the awards – I'm not sure whether to admit this, but I didn’t have a clue who she was or what she did before the event! Congratulations to all those who won and to the runners-up, you did fantastically well to make the finals so you’re all winners. I was sitting with Alan Meadows from Live Cuba, who is enjoying working with a great company. It was lovely to catch up with Lindsay Garvey Jones, the national partnerships manager for Holiday Extras – her feet never seem to touch the ground. Thank you Travel Bulletin, it was a fantastic night.

In other news, I noticed that Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, will be closed off to climbers permanently. It is a wonder of the natural world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a sacred place to the local Anangu people who believe their ancestors' spirits reside at the rock. This has been debated for years and climbing is due to stop on October 26.

Looking ahead to next year, I have set the date for next year’s Yorkshire Travel Ball – it will be on July 16, 2020. Before that, I am arranging a ‘Love Travel’ party for February 13, 2020, so you can still go out with your loved one for Valentines Day the following evening.

Email me on s.murray922@btinternet.com if you are interested in a table, half table or tickets. I think it will be nice to look forward to something in February especially after a hectic January – it’s called being positive.

Be the cruising king or queen of the castle in Prague GUESTS SAILING on dozens of 2020 voyages aboard Crystal Ravel and Crystal Mahler can extend their holidays with an in-depth exploration of Prague, as Crystal River Cruises unveils its “Prague Discovery” Extended Land Programme for next year.

The three-night immersive programme can be taken preand post-cruise from Regensburg on voyages to Budapest. The deal includes accommodation at the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the heart of the Czech capital city.

by SANDRA MURRAY in Normanton, Yorkshire

Blissful Balinese resort rebranded and upgraded with extra rooms by the end of the year FURAMAXCLUSIVE RESORT & Villas, Ubud Bali, is the new name of Furama Villas & Spa and FuramaXclusive Villas & Spa – as part of this rebrand, 18 new villas will be ready by December.

The villa resort is built amid an expanse of rice paddy fields and lush greenery, framed by Mount Batur in the distance.

Located in Bindu Village, southwest from the heart of Ubud, the resort is offering nature-based retreats.

Featuring a variety of styles of accommodation, guests can choose from 24 villas with a traditional Balinese style and private

pool, 18 modern villas adjacent to a 70-metre lagoon with natural spring water, and 18 new modern contemporary Premiere Rooms, which are due for completion in December.

The spacious new rooms are equipped with bath tub, living area, terrace and tropical landscape views.

They feature a blend of Balinese traditional and modern style interiors.

Also included is a half-day visit to Prague Castle, allowing guests to explore areas of the palace and grounds not typically open to the public, such as Rothmeyer and Spanish halls, the Rudolph Gallery, the Throne Hall, the Glass and Habsburg salons and the Golden Lounge.

Another, full-day inclusive excursion takes guests to the UNESCO-listed Kutná Hora, just east of Prague, known as the “city of silver” and the “national treasury” as it was the royal mint under King Wenceslas II of Bohemia.

For more information and to make reservations, call 020 7399 7604 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk

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SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

AGENT BULLETIN

AGENT TRAINING AGENTS CAN sign up for the new Palladium Hotel Group programme, which has been created to recognise the loyalty of its travel agent partners in the UK. The programme has been designed with the goal of providing agents with tools to help understand and sell Palladium experiences. Agents can access member-only rewards, including cash incentives and hotel nights. Agents can register at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/travel-gym

CRUISING AROUND… Azamara hosted a dinner with Cruise Plus by Travel 2 in Malmaison, Glasgow. Pictured is Koral Lipton, alongside Azamara host Nicola Singleton and other event attendees.

AGENT INCENTIVES ● AGENTS WHO make a booking to a destination from Travel 2’s Australia & New Zealand 2019/20 brochure between now and October 14 will be entered into a prize draw, with a chance of winning one of two GoPro HERO7 cameras, worth £170 each. A qualifying booking must include return flights and a minimum of three nights’ ground arrangements. Additionally, a minimum of £100 deposit per person must be paid for agents to enter. Full details of the incentive and prizes are available on www.travel2.com

THE SOUTH Australia trade website has launched its training programme, allowing agents to become certified South Australia experts. The programme consists of a 30question, multiple-choice quiz, covering all the key experiences travellers can have while in South Australia. Once qualified, agents obtain certification, a South Australian gift, and first consideration for fam trips. All UK travel agents who complete the SA Experts Quiz by November 15 will go into the draw to win one of five cases of South Australian Wine. Register at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/travel-gym BOOST YOUR knowledge, by becoming a specialist and certified Barbados Elite Club member. Receive a welcome gift for the first module completed, and top performing agents will be eligible for additional benefits including fam trips. Additionally, Barbados Elite Club members can earn points towards high street voucher rewards. For more information about the club and training modules, go to www.travelbulletin.co.uk/travelgym

COMPETITIONS! ● LUXURY TOUR operator Carrier is offering agents the chance to win a place on a sustainability-focused fam trip with Six Senses Hotels.

Taking place in March 2020, the trip will include three nights at Six Senses Laamu, Maldives and two nights at Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman. To be entered into the prize draw, agents must confirm a minimum of three new bookings during September. The winner will be notified by November 18. ● REGENT SEVEN Seas Cruises is offering agents the chance to be one of the very first guests to experience Seven Seas Splendor on a threenight trade preview sailing with a “Send Us Your Send” competition. To be in with a chance to win, agents need to download a “luxury perfected” email template from www.rssc.com/splendorpreview. Once the template is amended and personalised, agents then send it on to their luxury cruise customers, generating valuable luxury cruise business. Finally, to be entered into the competition, entrants need to forward their sent message to sdeadman@rssc.com, removing any client email addresses. The winner will be chosen at random and there is no limit to the number of entries agents can make. The competition runs until October 31.

NEW: Win six luxury chocolate boxes with Quito Tourism

Win a £100 Majestic wine voucher with Premier Holidays

Deluxe Spa Break for two with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

Win a two night stay in Lucerne

FOR ALL COMPETITIONS VISIT travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

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NEWS BULLETIN

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Early bird ski deals for Swiss pistes with Inghams

It’s Fred’s shout on selected itineraries for 2020/21 FRED. OLSEN is offering a free allinclusive programme on 75 itineraries for 2020/21. This includes itineraries to the Baltic, the Norwegian fjords and cruises to warmer parts of Europe.

The upgrade is available on bookings on these selected itineraries which are made by October 31. As part of the offer, guests will be able to imbibe in selected house wines by the glass, selected beers, spirits and soft drinks all day, every day.

INGHAMS IS offering a range of deals on a selection of Swiss ski holidays booked by September 30. Additionally, a free first class rail transfer upgrade will be added to bookings made before November 15, representing a saving of up to £126.

The three trips which will attract the early bird savings are for Grindelwald, Zermatt and Wengen.

Your clients can save £80 per person on a seven-night half-board holiday to the four-

star Hotel Spinne in Grindelwald. It is a new year trip departing from Gatwick to Geneva on December 28 and priced from £1,508 per person based on two people sharing.

There is a £110 per person discount on offer for the seven-night half-board trip to Zermatt, staying at the fourstar superior Hotel Mirabeau.

This trip is priced from £1,414 per person based on two people sharing. Flights depart Heathrow for Zurich on March 14, 2020.

For February, a seven-night half-board holiday to Wengen, staying at the fourstar Hotel Silberhorn, will attract a £100 per person saving on early bird bookings. This holiday is priced from £1,348 per person based on four people sharing. It departs for Zurich from Heathrow on February 22, 2020. All prices include transfers by rail.

To book, call 01483 938 047 or visit www.inghams.co.uk/ ski-holidays

“This incentive is perfect for those who prefer not to fly. In addition to a hassle-free, no-fly departure, guests can sit back, relax and enjoy the many drinks on offer as part of this all-inclusive upgrade, without having to worry about a bar bill to settle at the end of their holiday,” said Jackie Martin, sales and marketing director at Fred. Olsen. “Plus, with 75 varied itineraries included, from five-night breaks to the stunning Norweigian fjords, to longer, 16night breaks to Greenland and the Canary Islands, there is sure to be something to suit everyone.”

Brook House opens up on the Rivers Edge RIVERS EDGE, the five-star holiday resort property near the Yorkshire village of Ingleton, has opened The Brook House, a new restaurant serving lunch and dinner for guests in the lodges. The restaurant has 17 tables indoors as well as nine tables outdoors and features a menu of local food including cheese from The Courtyard Dairy in Settle, meat from Country Harvest in Ingleton, bread from Seasons Bakery in Ingleton and icecream supplied by Wallings in Lancaster. The bar has Maltsmiths IPA, Amstel, Birra Moretti and Strongbow berry cider on tap, as well as a selection of bottled beers, gin and spirits.

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PUZZLE BULLETIN

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

WIN A GOODY BAG EACH WEEK!

SUDOKU

A

B

Complete this Su Doku puzzle and then go to the competition section on travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions and submit the highlighted numbers.

C

A... B... C... D...

Closing date for entries is Thursday, October 3rd.

Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

D

WHERE AM I?

The Jet2Holidays Su Doku winner for September 13th is Dawn Hayman from 1 Up Travel in Angus.

September 13th Solution: A=9 B=5 C=8 D=6

Across

Down

1. Complete the Jet2holidays trade social media page name, Partners to ___ (7) 5. Amsterdam, Schiphol international airport code (3) 7. Flows through Nantes (5) 8. International fashion and lifestyle magazine (5) 9. Welsh singer, TV and radio presenter ___ Jones (4) 10. Scenic Slovenian lake (4) 13. Capital of the Maldives (4) 15. One of the Hawaiian islands (4) 18. Japanese martial art performed with bamboo swords (5) 19. Capital of Cape Verde (5) 20. London Stansted airport code (3) 21. County bordered by Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk (7)

1. Europe's women golfers recently won this cup at Gleneagles (7) 2. Country with the highest population in the world (5) 3. Devon city (6) 4. Capital of Fiji (4) 5. Famous Venezuela Falls (5) 6. Actress, ___ Johnston, known for her roles in Brookside and The Royle Family (3) 11. Margrethe II is Queen of this country (7) 12. Known as the Pink City of Rajasthan (6) 14. The tomb of this Soviet leader is located on Red Square (5) 16. Boise is the capital (5) 17. City birthplace of Beethoven (4) 18. Popular Dodecanese island (3)

Solution: Across: 1. SUCCESS, 5. AMS, 7. LOIRE, 8. VOGUE, 9. ALED, 10. BLED, 13. MALE, 15. MAUI, 18. KENDO, 19. PRAIA, 20. STN, 21. NORFOLK. Down: 1. SOLHEIM, 2. CHINA, 3. EXETER, 4. SUVA, 5. ANGEL, 6. SUE, 11. DENMARK, 12.

JAIPUR, 14. LENIN, 16. IDAHO, 17. BONN, 18. KOS. Where am I? -Parga

CROSSWORD

Terracotta-topped and ready to dazzle, this traditional treasure is what Greek getaways were designed for! New to Jet2holidays for Summer 2020.

For more games and prizes, please sign up for emails on the jet2holidays trade site and Partners2success on Facebook‌

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BULLETIN BRIEFING

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Industry insight by...

Andy Stark, managing director of the Global Travel Group, encourages agents to utilise social media & strengthen their online presence in order to build customer loyalty.

BLIMEY, IT’S mid-September already – where has the year gone? It won’t be long until we’re all rooting around in the loft looking for the Christmas decorations.

It’s a consequence of getting older that time seems to pass quicker. Another thing about getting older, if you’re anything like me, is that you continue to be amazed by the pace of technological developments.

Now that summer has officially ended, I’m guessing that the majority of readers will have enjoyed a holiday of some sort. In fact, I know that to be the case, because the team at Global Travel Group regularly show me great examples of envy-inducing social media posts that our retailers are producing.

I certainly can’t claim to be an expert in the social media field. I think I’ve mentioned before how I’m always looking to up my game in this area, though I have to admit that I’m still a bit befuddled by some of the jargon and qualifications needed to be a bona-fide influencer.

Luckily, there are lots of incredibly talented people at Global Travel Group who do know what they are talking about – and are busy handing out advice and helping

members when needed.

There can be no doubt how beneficial social channels can be. In fact, having a solid presence online is a vital part of the marketing mix for retailers.

To really reap the rewards it is an important skill to master and one that does require your own investment of time and engagement. Often, stores set up a Facebook page and use it simply to post deals, thinking this will prompt an influx of enquiries.

aspirational pictures – even better if these shots are from the shop’s own staff, on their holidays or from fam trips.

Holidaying like a travel agent is a much more compelling offer for clients. Agents who engage with their followers to ensure that social activity is a two-way conversation, and not just a mouthpiece to push offers, always yield the best results.

The big social channels are also brilliant tools to use when it comes to reaching

Agents who engage with their followers to ensure that social activity is a two-way conversation, and not just a mouthpiece to push offers, always yield the best results.

While one or two bookings may come your way with this passive approach, the lack of engagement really is the antithesis of ‘social’. The great examples I get to see are the stores that have developed a personality online. Instagram is a great place to post

out. Savvy advertising, the so-called ‘micro-targeting’, can get your message delivered to exactly the people you want to attract, whether that’s by age, location, interests or social status and pay dividends in terms of building that all-

important customer loyalty.

The age old pre- and postcommunications sent to customers wishing them a great holiday and then welcoming them home after the trip can work just as well via an app or email. Similarly quick online polls asking your database for their feedback on destinations provides you with data to use within your marketing. Being able to confidently claim that 75% of those surveyed recommend a trip to Spain as being good value can only strengthen the social post highlighting the latest deals you want to sell.

Right now, in the slightly quieter booking period before peaks, I’d urge everyone to reappraise their social activity.

Booking patterns this year have been unpredictable – perhaps down to Brexit uncertainty – but what we do know is that luxury, cruise and long-haul is still pretty buoyant. Attracting this business in as many ways as possible makes sense, since it is where agents can do best financially and show off the benefit of their knowledge, creating a virtuous circle that brings in more bookings further down the line.

With luck, you’ll be so busy you won’t know where the next year has gone too.

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STAR AWARDS 2019

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

A NIGHT FULL OF STARS! Presenting your Star Award winners of 2019

Passion, drive, support and excellence.

It’s no exaggeration to say that every finalist in the 2019 Travel Bulletin Star Awards proved the very embodiment of these qualities. Whether an outstanding operator, dazzling destination or terrific trade team, they were all welcomed to the travel industry’s most prestigious awards event as true leaders in their respective fields; all nominated and voted for exclusively by you.

This year marks 23 years of celebrating the travel trade’s best and brightest, however there could be only one winner in each of the 32 categories to climb to the lofty heights and be named your ‘Star’. These were all revealed at a glamorous awards ceremony on September 9 at the grand Landmark Hotel in London with our special guest MC, actress and comedian, Jo Caulfield (famous for her appearances on Have I Got News For You, Mock the Week, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and acclaimed Radio 4 shows) delivering the awards in fine style. It was a night that saw a brilliance of stars come up on stage,

with winners thrilled and runner-up’s deeply appreciative for the incredible support shown by all travel agents who had voted for them.

In a nod to just how important these awards are, this year’s star-studded event was supported by a line-up of big-name sponsors who you may also recognise for their exceptional trade engagement: Eurostar sponsored all the categories in Star Operators; the Italian State Tourist Office across Stars in the Sky; Birmingham Airport for the sector of Star Destinations; Jetset in our Voting Competition (the winners of which are revealed on the next page); Gran Canaria who sponsored the category of ‘Star Luxury Operator’; Jet2holidays who brought an added sparkle to the evening with their glitter team; and made which brought all the dazzle of the West End to our audience.

Agents voted in huge numbers and from all corners of the UK for their favourites across six industry sectors Star Destinations, Stars of Luxury, Stars in the Sky, Stars of Land & Sea,

Star Operators and Supporting Stars – with several new and very competitive categories introduced for 2019. In this very special souvenir issue not only can you see if your preferred finalists got to take home that much coveted Travel Bulletin Star but discover exactly what it means to each of them to have been chosen by you, along with some exciting announcements for 2020 and beyond!

It’s clear that among all the winners and finalists, there’s one very important common factor that ties them all together; and that’s just how incredibly important travel agents are to them and how they remain at the core of all that they do. It’s a message that resonates strongly with the Travel Bulletin team too and we would like to extend a huge thank you to all the agents who took the time to consider their star suppliers and submit their votes. Though our awards get bigger and bigger with each passing year, it remains true to its roots and in its representation of who you deem to be the best in travel. These are your winners of 2019...

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SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Guests were wowed by powerful performances and classics from the West End. Jonathan Mountford from made, said: “We sponsored the performance tonight and it’s from Wicked to celebrate 14 years in London.

The success of Wicked, the West End and Broadway musicals is largely down to travel agents.

They have a huge impact and all their ticket sales through us are commissionable.”

STAR AWARDS 2019

“It’s an amazing opportunity to be linked with such a great brand like Travel Bulletin in order to strengthen our relationship with travel agents. Travel agents are extremely important; they have means to show the destination at its best and are the real experts.”

- Ilenia Cocco, Italian State Tourist Office

Congratulations to these agent winners in Jetset’s prize draw!

Recognising the incredible contribution from travel agents and the importance of the Star Awards, Jetset have been stalwart supporters of our annual event for the best part of a decade. When agents submitted their voting forms they were also entered into Jetset’s competition, with some amazing experiences up for grabs! The winners are: 1st prize - Caroline Adams from Adams Travel wins two tickets to a Practice Day at the F1 Rolex British Grand Prix.

2nd prize - Nikki Martin from Althams Travel picks up a Triple Supercar Driving Blast with High Speed Passenger Ride.

3rd prize - Gaynor Hanlon from Explorer Travel receives two tickets to a Tower Rib Blast.

“The Star Awards are the fillip for me and the company to continue to work hard, ensuring services are top-notch for agents and their customers. To us, the travel agent is the most important aspect to our business.” - John Bond, Jetset

“As the UK airport with the biggest travel trade team, we have a very strong relationship with the trade - when they succeed, we succeed. The Star Awards are voted for by the trade so it means so much even to be nominated. It’s always a fantastic evening and, personally, I love the entertainment.” Catherine Reeves, Birmingham Airport

Adding to the dazzle of our drinks reception in the Landmark Hotel’s stunning Winter Garden were the glitter makeup artists, sponsored by Jet2holidays. Head of trade Alan Cross said: “It's fantastic to be at these awards because it’s the travel agents who decide, and they make Jet2 what it is. The awards themselves have a friendly atmosphere - a good mix of pleasure and business – and every award we win means a lot to Jet2, its vitally important because it shows we’re doing something right with independent travel agents.”

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STAR OPERATORS

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star Long Haul Operator SPONSORED BY

Winner: Gold Medal Runner up: Kuoni Finalists: Funway Holidays, If Only..., Jetset, Sunset Faraway Holidays, Travel 2

The award for Star Long Haul Operator of 2019 went to Gold Medal.

Here are the operator’s Gemma Wilks (right) and Hollie Stillion being presented with the award by Stephen Roby from Eurostar, which proudly sponsored all the categories in Star Operators, along with our celebrity host Jo Caulfield (left).

WE ARE over the moon to have been awarded Star Long Haul Operator at this year’s Travel Bulletin Star Awards. We never take an award win for granted and the fact that this has been voted for exclusively by agents makes it all the more special. A sincere thanks to each and every agent who voted for us; your support means the world to us.

At Gold Medal we’ve been helping agents create tailor-made long haul holidays for almost 50 years, with everything from scheduled flights, hotels, car hire, tours and excursions. We are committed to providing the very best products at market leading prices, complemented by a host of support including training, marketing and service that’s second to none. And, of course, we like to reward our agent partners with reward schemes, fam trips, holiday prizes and more.

As we look ahead to 2020 there’s no slowing down, we’ll be unveiling lots of exciting new updates and developments to further enhance our long standing trade relationships, along with a brand new brochure portfolio and perhaps even some celebrations – we only turn 50 once!

Star short Haul Operator Winner: Classic Collection Holidays Runner up: Jet2holidays Finalists: Cyplon Holidays, Inghams, Olympic Holidays, Typically Holidays

CLASSIC COLLECTION Holidays has been selling luxury holidays through the UK travel trade for more than 30 years.

We’re very proud of our Travel Bulletin Star Awards as they endorse our brand and underline our high levels of customer service to the UK travel trade.

We love to assist agents in finding, and then retaining, customers who are loyal to their local agent and the Classic brand.

Our reservations team goes out of its way to help agents match a suitable personalised luxury holiday to their customers’ expectations. It’s the flexibility of our product and the knowledge of our staff, plus a robust price promise guarantee, that has led to Classic’s success with agents. Our on-the-road team are available to train, and to listen to agents. They report back about holiday trends and what agents expect from Classic. It is the strength of these relationships, together with treating others (customers, agents and suppliers) as we wish to be treated ourselves, which ensures Classic stands apart from its competitors. We aim to offer a superior telephone service, feature an informative but nonbookable, level-playing field website, and provide a free phone number for agents and live chat facility.

SPONSORED BY

Classic took the crown as your Star Short Haul Operator. From the left and together on stage are Sarah Ayling, Michelle Baillie, Emma-Lisa Carter-Segui and Elisa Pollina from Classic Collection Holidays alongside Stephen Roby from Eurostar.

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SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star Escorted Tours Operator SPONSORED BY

What a win for Wendy Wu Tours! Delighted to pick up the award from Eurostar’s Stephen Roby for Star Escorted Tours Operator was Wendy Wu’s John Warr.

Winner: Wendy Wu Tours Runner up: Titan Travel Finalists: Cosmos, G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Newmarket Holidays, Riviera Travel, Trafalgar

THANK YOU so much for your votes and support! The Travel Bulletin Star Awards are incredibly important to us and we are very proud to have won. In our opinion these are the key awards, covering every sector of the tourism industry, which truly recognise and reward the travel industry players who provide the best products and services. As these awards are voted exclusively by our high street multiple, independent, online and home-based agents, the accolade of winning is truly outstanding.

Entering our 21st year of business, we have launched our largest collection to date of escorted group and private tours throughout Asia and Latin America; and are launching our first river cruise ship this December, the Victoria Mekong.

2020 is a very exciting year for us and we will be working closely with the trade to ensure the knowledge and uniqueness of our products are carefully understood while offering agents consistent rewards and support. We are proud to be the UK’s largest specialist escorted group tour operator to China and Japan and we look forward to giving your customers the best touring experiences in the business throughout 2020 and beyond.

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STAR OPERATORS

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star UK Holidays Operator SPONSORED BY

Bringing it back home, the award for Star UK Holidays Operator went to Hoseasons with Ben and Susie White collecting the award on the operator’s behalf from award sponsor Stephen Roby from Eurostar.

Winner: Hoseasons Runner up: Haven Finalists: Butlins, Shearings, Warner Leisure Hotels WE’RE ABSOLUTELY delighted to pick up awards for the work we do, but given the effort we put into helping our partners sell our breaks it’s particularly pleasing to be recognised by our colleagues in the trade.

Travel Agents are a key distribution platform for Hoseasons and give us access to a wider customer database, so it’s great to know they appreciate what we do for them enough to vote for us.

Nothing beats personal experience when it comes to selling a product, so we’ve been working very hard this year to get our agents out on location and to get a feel for the locations they are offering to their customers.

We work with a very wide agent base, from retail stores to homeworkers; all of whom have very different ways of working and need tailored support to give them the best chance of converting sales of our product. That’s why we always do our best to listen to feedback and adapt our approach where possible to ensure we’re making it as easy as possible for agents to incorporate our product into their marketing.

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STARS OF LAND AND SEA

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star Expedition Cruise Company

Cruising in to collect the award for Star Expedition Cruise Company was Hurtigruten’s Russell Cox & Emma Coombs, pictured here with our guest MC for the evening, Jo Caulfield.

Winner: Hurtigruten Runner up: Celebrity Cruises Finalists: Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines, G Adventures, Polar Routes, Silversea Cruises WE ARE honoured to have been awarded Star Expedition Cruise Company for the eighth year running.

This year saw the launch of the world’s first hybrid expedition ship, MS Roald Amundsen, but it’s still exciting times ahead for Hurtigruten with the introduction of our first ever expedition from a UK port and the transformation of four of our coastal ships to state-of-the-art hybrid ships. We are committed to taking your clients on unforgettable adventures in the most sustainable way, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the culture, environment and wildlife of some of the world’s most remote destinations. It’s great to see that the trade have confidence in our ability to offer these incredible experiences and with more products and destinations on the horizon, we are enormously grateful for your unwavering support. Thank you to all who voted for us – we couldn’t do it without you!

Star River Cruise Company

Winner: Viking River Cruises Runner up: Riviera Travel Finalists: AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Emerald Waterways, Uniworld River Cruises WE ARE thrilled to have again won Star River Cruise company! We’d like to thank all the agents who not only put us first, but who continue to support us all year round. We couldn’t do it without you.

Keeping the customer satisfied is what it’s all about, so it’s good to know that when you book with us you won’t just meet your clients’ expectations, you’ll exceed them.

We also take education very seriously, which is why we give you every tool you need to get to know our cruises inside out. From immersive fam trips on the rivers and oceans to online training and face-to-face training from our on-the-road sales team. Add to that, competitions, fabulous prizes, regular online HEI! newsletters, agent-only e-shots, and a dedicated ‘madefortrade’ website and you’ve got the kind of working relationship money just can’t buy.

Thank you again to all those who voted for us – you’re the real stars.

It was smooth sailing for Viking River Cruises as they took the title of Star River Cruise Company with Andrew Schweitzer and Jenny Wade collecting the award.

Star Worldwide Attraction Winner: Walt Disney World® Resort Florida Runner up: Universal Orlando Resort Finalists: Disneyland® Paris, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, PortAventura World, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

A dash of Disney magic appears to go a long way, with Walt Disney World® Resort Florida scooping the award for Star Worldwide Attraction. Natalie Sykes and David Thresh from Disney Destinations International were there on the night to accept the award.

WALT DISNEY World Resort is a contiguous, nearly 40-square-mile, world-class entertainment and recreation destination featuring four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom); two water parks (Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon); 36 resort hotels (26 owned and operated by Walt Disney World, includes nine Disney Vacation Club resort properties); 63 holes of golf on four courses; two full-service spas; Disney’s Wedding Pavilion; ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex; and Disney Springs, an entertainment-shopping-dining complex.

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SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

STARS OF LAND AND SEA

Star Car Rental Company Winner: Flexible Autos Runner up: Avis Finalists: Affordable Car Hire, Alamo, Driveaway, Your Car Hire

WE ARE absolutely delighted to be awarded Star Car Rental Company 2019. This is a huge team effort and we cannot thank our agent partners enough for their loyalty and continued support.

Engaging with agents is vital and as a trade only broker we always put the agent first. We work closely with all our partners and work hard to ensure we offer the support they need to help them grow their car hire sales.

Flexible Autos offer car hire in over 200 countries worldwide and at more than 22,000 locations. Our UK call centre offers a dedicated freephone number for those agents that prefer to speak to a friendly voice at the end of a phone, or they can book via our easy to use trade only website.

Feedback is also key! We always listen to our partners and are constantly looking at ways to try and improve our service and product. We aim to make the booking process as simple as possible and ensure the clients are getting value for money with competitive pricing.

Taking pole position in the category of Star Car Rental Company was Flexible Autos with the company’s Dean Dexter and Andrea Elwell thrilled to collect the award.

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STARS OF LAND AND SEA

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star Accommodation-Only Provider Winner: bedsonline.com Runner up: Expedia TAAP Finalists: bookabed.co.uk, Excite Holidays, Stuba

This year’s Star Accommodation-Only Provider went to bedsonline.com, a hotly contested category that saw Mandy Vencatachellum from Bedsonline come to the stage and accept the award.

IT’S A great honour on behalf of the entire Bedsonline team to win the Star Accommodation-Only Provider award. It serves as recognition from our travel agents who trust us to book their clients’ holidays on a daily basis.

We are pleased to say that the integration of the three businesses is now complete.

Over the last year we’ve been working hard to create one new and enhanced business and Bedsonline has increased the number of unique hotels available on its platform by 10,000. Currently 180,000 unique hotels are available and most are directly contracted under exclusive terms and conditions.

Furthermore, new website features have been released. These include a quotes tool that allows agents to save and share their own quotes on the platform. The services saved in the tool can be added to the cart and the reservation confirmed anytime. It’s also possible to add new services when needed. Access from the booking management section to the supplier reference for accommodation services is also now enabled and agents can benefit from a new local expert service included in the cart and linked with the destination of the selected hotel.

This growth has been driven by the renewed focus of our parent company, Hotelbeds, in providing its hotel partners with complementary bookings via its network of travel buyers. In particular there has been an increase in signing strategic partnerships with key hotel chains and preferred agreements with channel managers worldwide. Thanks again for all the hard work from the team and everyone for voting for Bedsonline.

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STARS OF LAND AND SEA

Star Worldwide Hotel Brand

Palladium took the prize for Star Worldwide Hotel Brand. We had Chris Redfern and Joanne Peters from the Palladium Hotel Group there on the night and pictured here with their Star Award.

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Winner: Palladium Hotel Group Runner up: Iberostar Hotels & Resorts Finalists: Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts THANK YOU! We are so proud to win Star Worldwide Hotel Brand.

Palladium has grown considerably in the UK over the last three years, thanks to the support of the UK travel industry and our ambassadors. We would like to thank every one of you for your support and vote.

Palladium Hotel Group is going from strength-to-strength with some very exciting developments in the pipeline. We have hosted numerous fams to Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa del Sol and Ibiza (with even more to come) as it is important for agents to experience our resorts, in order to help them identify the correct brand and hotel for their customers.

Our agent loyalty programme ‘Palladium Connect’ is a great platform to learn more and earn extra commission for any bookings made with us.

Star Specialist Hotel Brand

Winner: AMResorts Runner up: Caesars Entertainment Finalists: Disney Resort Hotels, LUX* Resorts & Hotels, Sandals, Six Senses WE ARE so grateful to all agents that voted for us in this category. For those who are new to our collection, each of AMResorts’ luxury properties has its own unique personality and with seven different brands – from ultra-luxurious to adults-only and fun-filled family-friendly – there is something for everyone.

With such a variety of brands suitable for all types of travellers, as well as the fantastic inclusions that customers receive at our resorts, we hope that agents saw these selling points as one of our winning factors compared to competitors. We are always looking for ways to thank our travel agents and one way to do this was with our recent Summer Vibes campaign, where we took over carnival-style at a selection of cities across the UK with delicious cuisine, refreshing beverages, live entertainment, face painters and more. If travel agents enjoyed these events as much as we did, then we’re sure this helped with our award win!

We have plenty of exciting news for 2020, including new hotel openings, trade events and more. To keep up to date, like our Facebook page at AMRAgents UK.

Wowed to win the award for Star Specialist Hotel Brand was Kieron Sellens from AMResorts.

Star Rail Operator Winner: Eurostar Runner up: Great Rail Journeys Finalists: : Railbookers, Rocky Mountaineer, Venice Simplon-OrientExpress, Via Rail

As a brand new category in the Star Awards, the honour of being our first ever Star Rail Operator went to Eurostar with an elated Stephen Roby proudly showing off their award.

WINNING THE first ever Star Rail Operator award was a very special moment for Eurostar. It’s wonderful to see rail travel receiving such recognition in the industry, especially when voted for by the agents selling our products.

Eurostar is uniquely positioned to offer a seamless city-centre to city-centre journey, with unrivalled environmental credentials which are becoming more appealing than ever to the sustainability-conscious traveller.

As we approach our 25th birthday, we’re excited to be launching VOYAGER, our new booking portal which will allow contracted UK agents 24/7 access to Eurostar’s inventory and making it easier than ever to book. To express interest in VOYAGER please contact trade.contracts@eurostar.com Huge thanks to all our travel trade partners for your continued support over the past 25 years, we look forward to our continued work together as we enter a new era for travel in Europe.

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STARS IN THE SKY

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star Business Airline SPONSORED BY Winner: Emirates Runner up: Qatar Airways Finalists: British Airways, Etihad Airways, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic

Collecting the award for Star Business Airline on behalf of Emirates was Neringa Ohrstrom (centre) from Stansted Airport, pictured with our host Jo Caulfield and the Italian State Tourist Office’s Ilenia Cocco (left) who graciously sponsored all the Stars in the Sky categories.

ON BEHALF of all the team at Emirates, we just wanted to say thank you for this great accolade – we’re so proud to have received the Travel Bulletin Star Business Airline Award. It is a testament to our team and all they do for us to get recognised for something like this, and we’re glad it’s appreciated by the trade and travel industry.

We work hard to make sure that our sales executives and sales support teams are given all the tools they need to help you, and as we look forward to 2020 we hope we can continue to be helpful, efficient and make your lives a bit easier!

We have 20 flights a day from eight international airports, so the Emirates operation in the UK is not a small one, and we appreciate all the incredible hard work that travel agents around the country put in towards helping us offer the best possible service and product to our customers. We look forward to working with you all in the coming years.

Star CONSOLIDATOR Winner: Jetset Runner up: Gold Medal Finalists: Aviate, Faremine, JTA Travel, The Holiday Team THANK YOU so much to every agent that lent Jetset their vote in 2019; this provides so much confidence to continue on the track that we are on.

For Jetset, 2019 has been all about SPEED and from the very start of our 51st year of trading, agents quickly realised some of the benefits that this obsession brings. Last year, Jetset reprogrammed vast swathes of the Package Pal booking technology to ensure that the speed of quoting and booking ATOL protected packages would be even faster. Launched just in time for peaks, search times reduced throughout January and February by 33%.

But in the quest for speed supremacy and making agents lightning quick Jetset hasn’t stopped there. March 2019 saw us develop Save Your Quote, the most comprehensive quotation and re-pricing system on the market. SYQ allows agents to save valuable time by saving any type of quote online or worked through the call centre; assign a unique reference and store it in Quote Manager. Here the quote sits ready for an agent to rapidly recall and re-price in seconds.

The final aspect of our speed surge will see Jetset move to a beautiful new home in November, ready for Peaks 2020. The new premises will be double the size of our existing offices and enable us to bring on the new staff needed to continue to deliver a super efficient collaboration with our travel agency partners.

Jetset have never been concerned with being the biggest, we just have a burning desire to be the best. We don't believe size matters but we do believe speed does!

SPONSORED BY

Jetset proved to be your Star Consolidator once again! Thrilled to come to the stage were, from the left, Jetset’s John Bond, Paula Campbell, Sarah Poulton, Madeline McFadden, Loraine Mehta, Daniela Oliveira and Adrian Smyth who collected their award from Flavio Zappacosta from the Italian State Tourist Office.

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STARS IN THE SKY

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star UK Airport Winner: Birmingham Airport Runner up: Manchester Airport Finalists: Bristol Airport, London City Airport, London Gatwick Airport, London Heathrow Airport, London Stansted Airport WE ARE chuffed that we have been voted Star UK Airport once again and thank everybody who voted for us. We are dedicated to educating and helping the trade, building relationships and even friendships with our agents, and to have this recognised by the trade means so much. We will continue to bring you fun, facts & fams!

BHX handles circa 13m passengers a year and approximately 35m people live within its two-hour catchment – half the population of the UK. As the Midlands’ largest airport, it serves more than 150 direct scheduled and charter routes and offers an additional 340 possible connections worldwide. Sitting in the centre of the country’s road and rail network means that it is one of the UK’s most accessible airports and when HS2 opens the rail journey between Birmingham Airport and central London will reduce from 70 minutes to just 38 minutes. We are looking forward to our terminal extension making progress in 2020, bringing the airport a fresh and spacious new look!

SPONSORED BY

Flying high from their win as your Star UK Airport and collecting the award from Flavio Zappacosta of the Italian State Tourist Office were the Birmingham Airport Gurus: (from left) Stefanie Bowes, Samantha Bailey, Catherine Reeves and Shellie Harris.

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STARS OF LUXURY

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Winner: If Only...

Runner up: Sandals Finalists: Classic Collection Holidays, Cyplon Holidays, Elegant Resorts, Pure Luxury, Simply Luxury WE’RE ABSOLUTELY thrilled to be voted as the agent’s choice for Luxury Tour Operator at the 2019 Star Awards. We’ve put in a lot of hard work again this year at If Only HQ and to have those who are key to our success recognise and appreciate this is very humbling.

Most of what we’ve done has been driven by constant communication with our agents, from increased shop visits to our dozens of agent events and conference attendances. This past year has seen our most significant investment to date in terms of improving our service to agents, with a move to a fantastic new office and the installation of a state of the art telecommunication system. We’ve launched several new products and destinations such as Canada, The Caribbean and Luxury Cruise Collection, as well as constantly improving our pricing and offering on the destinations and products our agents love.

We’ve sent more agents and staff on fams than ever before and it’s been our biggest year for incentives ever, with more than five times the number of prize giveaways than our previous record year. Agents lie at the heart of everything we do and this will continue to be the case at If Only.

Star Luxury Operator SPONSORED BY

Gemma Pinder-Davidson (centre) from If Only… was proud to win Star Luxury Operator, a category that was sponsored by Gran Canaria and presented by the tourism board’s Katerina Bomshtein (left) alongside our host Jo Caulfield.

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STARS OF LUXURY

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star Luxury Cruise Company

Winner: Silversea Cruises Runner up: Celebrity Cruises Finalists: Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises WE WOULD like to say a big thank you to all agents who, once again, voted Silversea ‘Star Luxury Cruise Company’ for the 13th year in a row. We are delighted with this award and feel this demonstrates the success and strength of the relationships we have built with the trade over the years.

In offering a dedicated trade support team, UK-based reservation team, online and in-agency training and marketing support, we’re committed to supporting the trade and look forward to building even stronger relationships with you and to continue building our reputation as the best luxury cruise line. Thank You!

Fending off the competition, Silversea Cruises held onto the title of Star Luxury Cruise Company with the cruise line’s Luke Clarke & Helen Crosbie thrilled to collect the award.

Star Luxury Hotel Brand

It was a big win for LUX* Resorts; named Star Luxury Hotel Brand with The LUX* Collective’s Richard Hey & Sarah McGlynn delighted to receive the award.

Winner: Mauritius Runner up: Maldives Finalists: Barbados, Mexico, Saint Lucia, Seychelles THE MAURITIUS Tourism Promotion Authority is represented in the UK by Kamageo and, with your help, we want to enhance the already positive image of Mauritius even further.

We’re increasing our trade marketing for our key segments, including weddings & honeymoons, ‘empty nesters’, celebration holidays and golf; creating a new travel segment – Honey & The Moon; and will continue to provide plenty of opportunities for you to meet with quality suppliers from Mauritius.

With our Star Award highlighting the support you already give us, we want to repay that loyalty by creating a real buzz around Mauritius, to maximise your sales. It’s clear agents recognise that we offer much more than just outstanding beaches and are delighted to hear them talking about the host of other attractions on Mauritius that make it the ideal destination for so many discerning UK travellers.

Winner: LUX* Resorts & Hotels Runner up: One & Only Resorts Finalists: Belmond, Elegant Hotels, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Palladium Hotel Group, Sandals LUX* RESORTS & Hotels helps people to celebrate life by delivering consistently on the promise of a different kind of luxury; hospitality that is lighter, brighter and which stages exceptional experiences in different locales.

At LUX*, every moment matters and so we’ve banished thoughtless patterns and created simple, fresh and sensory experiences to indulge our guests throughout their stay. From fresh, locally roasted and ethically sourced coffee to retro-style ice cream parlours; tailor-made health and spa sessions to the magical ‘Tree of Wishes’; junk art galleries and impromptu on-thebeach film screenings: each LUX* experience is designed to help our guests celebrate life by turning the ordinary into extraordinary.

Star Luxury Destination

Wowed to pick up the award for Star Luxury Destination was Tim Henshall for the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.

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STAR DESTINATIONS

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star Family Holidays Destination SPONSORED BY

Winner: Spain Runner up: Greece Finalists: Cyprus, Florida, Mallorca, Turkey

Agustín García was honoured to pick up the Spanish Tourist Office’s award for Star Family Holidays Destination, from our host Jo Caulfield (right) and Catherine Reeves from Birmingham Airport, who proudly sponsored all the categories in the Star Destinations’ sector.

THE SPANISH Tourist Office is delighted to win the Travel Bulletin Star Award for Star Family Holiday Destination. This is made even more special as it is voted for purely by travel agents and a massive ‘Gracias’ to all of you who voted Spain a winner.

2019 has been a fantastic year for many, and Spain has seen an increase in visitors and spend from the UK; we hope this will continue for 2020 and beyond.

We welcome all British holidaymakers and thank you once again for your continued support in promoting our beautiful country.

Star Escorted Tours Destination Winner: South Africa Runner up: India Finalists: California, Canada, China, Japan, Vietnam

THANK YOU to all of our trade partners who voted for us! We’re delighted to have won once again the Star Escorted Tours Destination at the 2019 Travel Bulletin Star Awards.

We’ve had a very successful year engaging with the UK and Irish travel trade and forward bookings from both markets for the next six months show a +13.9% and +13.8% growth. We will continue meandering the UK and Ireland to promote South Africa as the ultimate holiday destination through training events, road shows, workshops and our unforgettable familiarisation trips.

We have trained over 1,700 agents in the UK & Ireland and hosted 100 agents in South Africa over the last 12 months to expand their product knowledge and introduce them to South African companies interested in selling to the UK. Average spend in destination has increased by 3.3% as well as the average length of stay increasing from 15 nights in 2017 to 16 nights in 2018.

Responsible tourism is a central pillar of the South African Government’s national tourism policy and strategy for this year, and South African Tourism aims to drive inclusive economic growth that is environmentally and socially responsible, and that benefits and uplifts previously disadvantaged communities.

Thanks again for your support! We look forward to welcoming you to South Africa soon.

SPONSORED BY

From the left, Navreet Gill and Steve Balderston from South African Tourism come to the stage to collect the award for Star Escorted Tours Destination from Birmingham Airport’s Catherine Reeves.

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STAR DESTINATIONS

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star Winter Sun Destination Winner: Barbados Runner up: Dubai Finalists: Cyprus, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Tunisia

RECOGNISED AS the best winter sun destination at this year’s Travel Bulletin Star Awards, Barbados is indeed a perfect year-round tropical destination; benefiting from over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and home to some of the most beautiful beaches, mouthwatering cuisine and impressive line-up of sports and cultural festivals to be found in the Caribbean.

2019 celebrated a year of wellness and soft adventure; the perfect theme for showcasing the variety of activities available on the island; from hiking, paddle boarding, cave spelunking, surfing, horse riding and much more. No matter the month, visitors can always find themselves in the middle of a festival or calendar event. Whether it’s ‘Barbados Sailing Week’ in January, the ‘Reggae Festival’ in April, the infamous ‘Crop over Festival’ which runs from June to August or the biggest culinary festival in the Caribbean ‘The Food and Rum Festival’ in October, there’s an event to whet all appetites.

Barbados looks forward to next year, coined ‘Vision 2020: We Gatherin’, encouraging all Barbadians from across the seas and those who love Barbados to come home next year. The 52 week campaign will host a calendar of events encouraging Bajans to return to their roots and celebrate the delights and wonders of each of the eleven parishes that make up the tropical island.

SPONSORED BY

Marc McCollin from Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. was thrilled to accept Barbados’ award for Star Winter Sun Destination from Catherine Reeves of Birmingham Airport.

Star Cultural & Heritage Holidays Destination SPONSORED BY Winner: Italy Runner up: Thailand Finalists: Gibraltar, India, Israel, Jordan, South Africa

From the right, Ilenia Cocco and Flavio Zappacosta from the Italian National Tourist Board were delighted to be the winners of Star Cultural & Heritage Holidays Destination, presented by Catherine Reeves from Birmingham Airport.

WE ARE very grateful to be recognised as the ‘Star Cultural and Heritage Destination’ by agents.

Italy has 55 UNESCO World Heritage sites, more than any other country in the world. The Dolomites, the City of Verona, Ferrara and the Po River Delta, the historic centres of San Gimignano, Florence, Rome, the archaeological area of Pompei, the Sassi (rupestrian architecture and churches) of Matera, the Amalfi Coast and the Aeolian Islands are just some among many others.

We would like to thank all the agents who recognised Italy as the leader in this category and we would also like to encourage you to take a look at our online trade training (http://italiaexperts.co.uk) to discover more about Italy, plus the opportunity to be involved in fam trips and the latest trade offerings.

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STAR DESTINATIONS

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star LGBTQ+ Destination SPONSORED BY

Winner: Mykonos Runner up: Gran Canaria Finalists: Israel, Malta, Mexico, Miami

Emy Anagnostopoulou from the Greek National Tourist Organisation (centre) was on hand to accept Mykonos’ award for Star LGBTQ+ Destination, a brand new category in the Star Awards, and pictured here with Birmingham Airport’s Catherine Reeves.

THE GREEK National Tourism Organisation would like to thank everyone who voted and honoured us with the Travel Bulletin award for the Star LGBTQ+ Destination for Mykonos and runner-up award for Star Family Holidays Destination in this year’s Star Awards!

Greece has always been a very welcoming, hospitable and safe country and this award proves that that notion is still strong.

In 2020, the GNTO will intensify its efforts in showcasing Greece as the ideal all year around destination and in promoting luxury, family and sustainable tourism. Thematic tourism such as cultural, soft adventure, gastronomy, yachting and diving is also a strategic priority for the organisation. Moreover, we will continue to further invest on welcoming more LGBTQ+ travellers to various Greek destinations and islands.

Thank you again for your votes and trust in us!

Star All-Round Destination SPONSORED BY Winner: Australia Runner up: USA Finalists: Canada, South Africa, Spain, Thailand

Overjoyed to pick up Star All-Round Destination was (from the left) Nick Musson and Alison Crook from Tourism Australia, presented with the award by Catherine Reeves from Birmingham Airport.

TOURISM AUSTRALIA is delighted to have won Travel Bulletin’s Star Award in the category ‘AllRound Destination’.

Australia offers some of the very best attractions and experiences, including world class food and wine, breathtaking aquatic and coastal landscapes and unique nature and wildlife. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the extraordinary stories of Aboriginal Australians (the world’s oldest living culture); indulge in unforgettable luxury within some of the world’s most inspiring scenery; or embark on a memorable backpacking adventure at any time of the year. There’s truly nothing like Australia.

Visit the Aussie Specialist Program (www.aussiespecialist.com/en-gb) and access all the tools that you need to successfully sell Australia to your customers, including training events, fam trips and trade incentives.

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SUPPORTING STARS

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star Representation Company Winner: Discover the World Runner up: Black Diamond Finalists: Brighter Group, Hills Balfour, Lotus, made, Representation Plus/First PR

Celebrating their first win at the Star Awards, Gordon Stalker from Discover the World Marketing was called up on stage to collect the award for Star Representation Company.

DISCOVER THE World is recognised globally as a market leader in representation services. Our proven track record of outstanding revenue growth for a diverse portfolio of iconic brands including Expedia TAAP, Caesars Entertainment and Europcar, ensures our position as the go to company for clients seeking to build relationships across the travel trade community.

Travel Agents are the important backbone of the travel industry.

Discover the World is proud to be associated with Travel Bulletin and the Star Awards. We were honoured to be on the stellar list of finalists and thrilled to be announced as a winner. Sincere congratulations to all those recognised on the night and a huge thank you to every agent who voted.

Star Social Media Communicator Winner: Funway Holidays Runner up: Jet2holidays Finalists: If Only..., Palladium Hotel Group, Royal Caribbean International, Titan Travel WE ARE delighted to have been named Star Social Media Communicator at the Travel Bulletin Star Awards!

It is an honour to have been nominated, and for travel agents to have voted for us in a very tough category. We just wanted to say a massive thank you to all of the agents who voted for us, and the continued support they give us. We hope we can achieve the same accolade (and more) next year.

Adam Traynor was over the moon to receive Funway Holidays’ award for Star Social Media Communicator.

Star Add-Ons Company Winner: Holiday Extras Runner up: DoSomethingDifferent.com Finalists: Attraction World, Excite Holidays, hoppaGo

Holiday Extras were crowned your Star Add-Ons Company for 2019 with a very pleased Peter Smith and Lindsay Garvey-Jones proud to accept the award.

HOLIDAY EXTRAS is the UK market-leader for travel add-ons. We specialise in the essential extras that every traveller needs for less hassle and more holiday: airport parking, airport hotels, airport lounges, car hire, airport transfers and travel insurance.

In 2020 we’ll be continuing to grow our relationships with our fantastic partners and agents. We’ve designed HXTK, our unique toolkit which is full of useful tools to help agents confidently overcome customer objections and secure bookings. We strive to provide the best possible service for our agents: we’re always listening and improving based on their feedback, we make sure we’re always on hand to offer support and guidance and most importantly, we’re always having fun, whether this is with exciting store incentives or out at conference!

Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us!

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SUPPORTING STARS

SEPTEMBER 27 2019 | travelbulletin.co.uk

Star E-Learning Programme Winner: USA Discovery Program Runner up: Amazing Thailand Finalists: Antigua & Barbuda Specialist Program, Aussie Specialist Program, California STAR, Vancouver Specialist Program

Brand USA’s Discovery Program took the top spot in the category of Star E-Learning Programme, with the tourism organisation’s Rhys Powell collecting the award.

BRAND USA, the destination marketing organisation for the United States, and the USA Discovery Program, an award-winning online travel agent training programme, facilitates agents in becoming USA specialists. It covers everything from winter sports to shopping from California to Massachusetts and with new badges coming online all the time, there is something for even the seasoned US seller. The incentives tied to this training tool also generate a lot of buzz as agents are offered the opportunity to win prizes like fam trip places, flights to the United States, and more by completing badges. Don’t forget that the legendary Brand USA MegaFam is tied to our USA Discovery Program and is the platform where agents log their bookings to be in with a chance to win!

Check out the program on USADiscoveryProgram.co.uk to learn everything you need to know to help you sell the USA! Also available is the Travel Trade website where agents can find 41 self-drive itineraries shining a spotlight on areas across the USA to, through, and beyond the gateways. Check out our latest itinerary, ‘At the Movies’, by visiting VisitTheUSA.co.uk/TravelTrade

Star Trade Sales Team

Star Leisure Airline

Winner: Jet2holidays Runner up: Gold Medal & Travel 2 Finalists: Birmingham Airport Gurus, Cyplon Holidays, Palladium Hotel Group, Royal Caribbean International, Titan Travel

Winner: Jet2.com Runner up: Thomas Cook Airlines Finalists: easyJet, Flybe, Norwegian, TUI Airways

Star Family Holidays Operator Winner: Jet2holidays Runner up: Thomas Cook Finalists: Club Med, Cyplon Holidays, Mark Warner, TUI THANK YOU to all the agents who voted for Jet2.com and Jet2holidays as Star Family Holidays Operator, Star Trade Sales Team and Star Leisure Airline at the Travel Bulletin Star Awards.

We are absolutely thrilled to have won these three awards.

Everything our 20-strong Trade Team does is geared towards delivering growth and success for our independent travel agency partners, so there is no better validation of our approach than these prestigious awards.

The Travel Bulletin Star Awards are a highlight on the travel industry calendar, bringing the industry’s finest together for a glittering awards ceremony to honour star performers as voted for by Travel Bulletin's travel agent readers.

Our focus on working in partnership with independent travel agents, and delivering great value and a VIP experience for their customers, so that they want to book with us time and time again, will remain at the heart of everything that we do so that we can enjoy more successes such as this.

Thank you once again to everyone who voted for us.

Its celebration time for Jet2, picking up three awards throughout the evening. Pictured here collecting the much coveted award for Star Trade Sales Team is, from the left, Jet2’s Vicky Edwards, Bryony Boulter, Simon Marshall, Sasha Stokeli and Alan Cross.

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