Travel Bulletin All About Luxury Holidays Supplement 2012

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All About

Luxury Holidays

August 2012

Your one-stop guide to all the latest news and developments in Luxury Holidays

Produced by

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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CANARY ISLANDS ed d Prestige Holidays offer a superb selection of hand picked 4 & 5 star hotels, something for every client, from boutique hotels, tique hotel ls, rural properties to larger resort hotels with spa and golf.

Ask about all our latest offers including early booking offers, free half board, reduced rates, excellent child discounts, free nights and room upgrades.

Many flights from local airports‌.how can we help your clients?

Love to Shop vouchers for each booking made Prestige Holidays on 01425 480400 or

www.prestigeholidays.co.uk

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All About

Luxury Holidays CONTENTS

O

ver the last month, we have seen the lengths that Olympic athletes will go to in order to get their hands on a gold medal.

Faced with the challenges that the ongoing global recession has presented, providers of luxury experiences in the travel industry have too found themselves firing on all cylinders to ensure they can deliver a first-class service.

Added value promotions and strategic discounting from hoteliers have allowed luxury operators to tempt customers into upgrading to five-star experiences. Offers such as free kids’ deals, upgrades from B&B to half-board, or in-resort credit have helped the luxury market to remain resilient.

Key luxury players have been keen to get agents on board with the offer of extra commission on upgraded bookings.

In this year’s All About Luxury Holidays, we catch up with the leading luxury operators to find out what’s new for 2013 (pages 4-6); from the latest hotel openings to some old favourites who are relaunching following extensive refurbishments.

Demand for escorted tours is on the up as people look to explore more off-the-beaten-track destinations with a safety net. Our Escorted Tours section (pages 7-10) finds out what luxury means in this sector and if it is possible to travel in style in emerging destinations.

Tourist boards are also prioritising the luxury sector, with dedicated training modules for agents and targeted marketing campaigns. Our Destinations focus (pages 11-14) looks at what some of the destinations around the world are doing to promote their five-star resorts.

Every year, we hear about how the cruise industry is going from strength to strength, and demand for luxury sailings is playing a big role in that growth. Our Cruise feature (pages 15-16) focuses on what the ultra luxury cruiselines do to roll out the red carpet for their guests.

Finally, our Hotel Hotline looks at the new hotel openings around the world, and some of the old favourites who have undergone refurbishments.

So, make sure you spare the time to browse through our All About Luxury Holidays, so you are in the best position to advise your clients looking to upgrade their holiday experience.

Angela Cronin Supplements editor

All About Luxury Holidays

What’s new - 4

Escorted tours - 7

Destinations - 11

Cruise - 15

Hotel hotline - 17

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Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX Tel: 020-7834 6661 Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe Written and researched by: Angela Cronin Email: angelacronin2003@yahoo.co.uk Design/Layout: Genaro Santos & Nicky Valsamakis Printed by: Wyndeham Grange Limited Cover Picture: Como Hotels and Resorts ISSN: 0956-2419

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What’s new From brand new five-star hotel openings to the re-emergence of old favourites, operators have plenty to add to their programmes for the year ahead

T

he Olympics, Euro 2012 and the Diamond Jubilee have prompted many Britons to put their holiday plans on hold. However, the wetter than usual summer months have led many people to rethink their plans and head overseas for some well-earned fun in the sun.

And with many luxury hotels tempting guests to upgrade with value-added offers such as extra nights free or half-board for the price of bed and breakfast, the upmarket operators are able to pass on the offers to clinch those bookings. We catch up with the operators to find out who is adding what for 2012/13.

Sunset Faraway The luxury, long-haul specialist is featuring some newly opened hotels in the Far East.

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The Gaya Island Resort located on Pulau Gaya, in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park off the coast of Borneo, is one of these new properties with prices leading in at £1,629 per person for eight nights’ bed and breakfast including flights and transfers. Also new is the ultra-luxury Mulia Bali in Nusa Dua, Bali, which opens this month. This beach-front, all-suite property will offer guests personal butler service, as well as a number of dining options and hydrotherapy pools.

Prices lead in at £1,455 per person for seven nights’ B&B including flights and transfers.

The St Regis Mauritius opens in September and will also feature in Sunset’s collection. The hotel is located on Le Morne Beach in the southwest of the island and will feature 172 guestrooms with six dining options,

meeting and event space, health club facilities including the region’s first Iridium Spa with seven spa suites and 12 treatment rooms.

Sunset features seven nights’ full board at the St Regis Mauritius for £1,699 per person including £80 credit to use in the spa, a bottle of champagne, flights and transfers.

Hayes and Jarvis The long-haul specialist has a number of five-star additions to its 2013 programme.

The availability of great value at five-star level has prompted Hayes and Jarvis to review its Red Sea portfolio and to add the Savoy Resort and the Ritz-Carlton to its Worldwide brochure portfolio. Prices start at £759 per person for seven nights and £919 respectively.

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what’s new Meanwhile, the ready availability of flights from the UK with Etihad Airways has led Hayes and Jarvis to include Abu Dhabi as a stopover destination in its Worldwide brochure for the first time. Four hotels are available including the five-star Emirates Palace on the seafront at Abu Dhabi.

Sovereign Luxury operator has launched its coffee-table-style 2013 brochure, featuring 265 properties across 19 countries.

Highlights include free child places at 13 of the 41 family-friendly properties and new hotels such as the Hilton Bodrum Turkbuku Resort and Spa in Turkey with a 20% early-booking discount available, meaning prices lead in at £719 per person for seven nights’ all-inclusive.

Resort credit of $1,500 is available at the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun in Mexico with seven-night, all-inclusive prices starting at £1,529 per person.

Meanwhile, seven nights’ B&B at the Quinta Das Vistas Palace Gardens, Madeira lead in at £685 per person. All prices include flights and transfers.

Carrier The luxury tour operator has introduced a number of new destinations for 2013, such as Burma, Montana and Wyoming, Bermuda, Zante, Zimbabwe and Uganda.

New hotels and resorts also include the Gritti Palace in Venice, the Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives, Gaya Island in Borneo, Taiwana in St Barths, Caprivi Strip in Namibia and gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda.

Windstar Cruises is featured in the Caribbean and Europe brochures along with private plane charters Jetlogic, which will be available in the Caribbean, Europe, US and Africa.

Prestige Holidays The luxury operator has launched its third dedicated winter Canaries brochure featuring the islands of Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera.

New properties for 2012/13 include:

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Hayes and Jarvis features the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi as a stopover option in its Worldwide brochure

the Iberostar Hotel Mencey in Santa Cruz and RIU Garoe in Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife and the Hacienda de Abajo in La Palma. The operator has also added the adults-only Red Level rooms at Gran Melia Palacio de Isora Resort.

Prices for winter lead in at £523 per person for seven nights’ bed and breakfast in Finca Salamanca in Tenerife including flights and transfers.

Also new for this winter is the new family-friendly, five-star Four Seasons Hotel in Marrakesh and the Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa in Majorca.

Olympic Holidays The luxury market has performed better than expected thanks to strong marketing campaigns by five-star hotels, according to Olympic Holidays.

Commercial director Photis Lambrianides said the luxury market has picked up well thanks to “added value promotions and strategic discounting by hoteliers over the last few weeks that have benefited the hotels and boosted our top-end sales.

“As a result of their efforts, sales for 2012 are better than initially expected, with the luxury sector showing resilience despite the generally unfavourable trading conditions.”

Early sales of luxury holidays focused on Olympic's traditionally popular destinations of Greece and Cyprus, and less on the non-euro destinations of Turkey and Egypt's Red Sea Riviera.

"We are now seeing modest growth for the luxury end of the market in Cyprus, Crete and Rhodes this summer, while Egypt sales have also come on well in recent weeks," says Lambrianides.

Olympic's Gold and Platinum Collection brochure features exclusively luxury properties with prices leading in at £749 for seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the Elysium Resort and Spa in Kalithea, Rhodes including flights and transfers.

Classic Collection Holidays The luxury, tailor-made specialist has introduced the Poseidonion Grand Hotel in Spetses to its Greece and Cyprus programme.

For agents - training tools The five-star Sarojin resort in Khao Lak has introduced new video content to help travel agents sell luxury holidays to Thailand.

There are three new videos in total – all available on YouTube and created in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand – showcasing the natural beauty of Khao Lak and the range of client experiences available at The Sarojin.

The Sarojin can supply all videos free of charge to the trade travel to use for inspiration and training, as a sales tool and to assist with the promotion of Thailand.

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what’s new

The Sarojin in Thailand has created new video content to help agents sell luxury holidays to Thailand

The hotel has undergone a five-year restoration programme that has led to the modernisation of the property at the same time as preserving the original architecture of the building.

Classic Collection Holidays offers three nights at Grande Bretagne Hotel, Athens and seven nights at Poseidonion Grand Hotel, Spetses from £1,556 per person this September. The price is based on two sharing on a B&B basis and includes return flights, transfers and ferry crossings

Elite Vacations The luxury specialist has added two new options in the Seychelles for 2013.

These include the new beach villa with private pool at Denis Private Island. The new villa sleeps two adults and two children under 12.

Prices lead in at £2,598 per person for six nights’ all-inclusive in February and March 2013 including international flights and inter-island flights.

The operator has also introduced the

The Luxury Travel Show A new luxury travel market is to take place at the Saatchi Gallery in London from May 1-2 next year.

The Luxury Show London plans to be a showcase for companies specialising in luxury lifestyle, travel and events and will feature a number of innovative concepts, which include pre-built and fully-fitted designer suites that will enable exhibitors to “pitch up and promote” their products and services to a hand-picked audience involved in selling luxury products and services to clients who seek the best.

Organiser Ian Dockreay said: “The pre-built designer suites come with prestigious furnishings, with the option of either back wall-mounted visuals or large flat-screen presentation TVs. In most cases, all an exhibitor will need to bring is a memory stick for the TVs and iPads for presentations to their visitors as we aim to keep paper to a minimum.”

A programme of seminars focused on innovation is planned and there will also be networking opportunities during the two days. www.luxuryshowlondon.com

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new Madam Zabre Spa Retreat that has opened at the private island resort of Desroches in the Seychelles (see Hotel Hotline, pages 17-19).

Six nights’ all-inclusive costs £9,499 per person and includes international flights and inter-island flights.

In Mauritius, the new five-star St Regis property on the west coast of Mauritius

by Le Morne mountain has been added with six nights’ half-board in April 2013 leading in at £1,998 per person, including flights and transfers.

Elite is also featuring a range of new luxury apartments located in Grande Baie in the northwest of the island, on the west coast near Tamarin Bay and on the east coast.

Mercury Direct Mercury Direct has launched its Premium Collection of four and five-star hotels.

The operator that specialises in holidays to Malta, Cyprus, Sri Lanka and Mauritius has 100 four and five-star resorts in the collection including properties such as the LUX hotels in Mauritius and the iconic Reid’s Palace in Madeira. Prices lead in at £359 per person for 10 nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Bella View Hotel in northern Cyprus.

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escorted tours

Touring in style Rainbow Tours’s Peru itinerary takes in Machu Picchu on the Orient Express

From exploring emerging destinations to checking out some old favourites, escorted tours are popular with travellers of all ages, with five-star treatment from the minute you leave your home

D

o you have clients who are keen to explore destinations slightly away from the well-trodden tourist path but are bit a anxious about doing it alone?

Over recent years, there has been a growth in operators that offer escorted tours, with a wide variety of choice to suit all budgets. While for those who have the cash, luxury in the world of escorted tours means five-star hotels, fine dining experiences and, in some cases, the Orient-Express features, but what often makes these experiences luxurious is the quality of the tour guides.

They have a great depth of information on the destinations they specialise in and can ensure that travellers really feel like they know a country and its people after just a few days. For agents, there is a lot of commission to be earned on selling luxury tours, with the chance to encourage clients to consider upgrades, which can include anything from room upgrades to paying a little bit extra for getting the best seats in the house at shows or exhibitions.

Cox and Kings The escorted tours specialist has introduced a number of new tours across Asia, Egypt, Morocco, Spain, Ecuador, Jordan and Iceland.

The new Splendours of Southeast Asia itinerary combines Laos, Cambodia and

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Burma in a 14-day tour that takes in the temples of Luang Prabang, Angkor Wat at sunrise and Pagan in Burma, which has 2,200 temples and pagodas spread across the plains. The new 16-day Nile Discovery tour in Egypt offers passengers the chance to visit the lesser-known archaeological sites of the lower Nile now that boats can sail all the way from Cairo to Aswan.

Prices start at £1,995.

The eight-day Splendours of Morocco tour, which is also new, leads in at £995 and explores the imperial cities of Fez, Rabat, Meknes and Marrakesh, while the eight-day Andalucia Explorer takes travellers to two of Spain’s greatest sites, the Alhambra in Granada and the mosque in Cordoba. The new 11-day Ecuador and Galapagos Experience escorted group tour includes a five-night cruise around the Galapagos Islands, followed by a visit to the old colonial centre of Quito.

The five-day In Search of the Northern Lights tour of Iceland, priced from £955, is based in Reykjavik, and includes a tour of some of Iceland’s most iconic attractions by day, while the evenings in winter are spent hunting down the Northern Lights.

The seven-day Essential Jordan group tour is new for 2013 and takes in the Roman ruins at Jerash, the biblical site of Mount Nebo, and Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

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escorted tours brochure. A dedicated website has been launched specifically for Concierge.

Hayes and Jarvis has ventured into Burma with its Road to Mandalay cruise

Rainbow Tours The tailor-made Africa, Madagascar and Latin America specialist has added some new tours in South America.

The new 10-night Peru: Land of the Incas, Canyons and Condors’ package combines personalised sightseeing tours that take in Colca Canyon, Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Pisac with an overnight journey on the Orient Express Hiram Bingham Train to Machu Picchu. Prices lead in at £2,999 per person, and exclude flights.

The operator has also introduced a luxury, three-centre, nine-night trip to Argentina that features overnights at the stylish Design Suites properties in Buenos Aires, Calafate and Bariloche. Prices start at £2,160 per person including flights.

Wendy Wu Tours The escorted tours specialist to Asia has launched a luxury programme that will be

primarily sold through agents. The Wendy Wu Concierge – The Ultimate Experience is designed to reach out to a new customer base.

The new programme will feature five-star hotels, business and first-class flights and unique experiences such as seeing the Terracotta Warriors from an exclusive viewing platform.

Wendy Wu Tours managing director Manuel Mascarenhas says: “Extensive feedback from agents supports the need for a product like this, offering their most discerning customers the highlights of China but in an exclusive way.”

Wendy Wu Tours is planning to work closely with agents to support them in selling this high-value product and Bronwyn Clarke, Wendy Wu’s Concierge Consultant, will be in close contact with agents to talk to them about this new programme and guide them through the

Emerging tour destinations Cox and Kings has boosted its 2013 programme with the addition of tours in the emerging destinations of Zimbabwe, North Korea and Indonesia.

The tailor-made specialist has added an 11-day Best of the West fly-safari in Zimbabwe with prices from £3,425 per person.

The tour takes in some of Zimbabwe’s most iconic destinations. Safari drives are included in Matabo Hills National Park, where black rhinos can be tracked on foot, and Hwange National Park, famous for its huge herds of elephants. The tour ends at Victoria Falls.

A genuinely off-the-beaten track destination, North Korea now features in Cox and Kings programme with a 14-day escorted tour exploring the monuments of North Korea’s recent history as well as its natural scenery.

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Hayes and Jarvis Burma leads a revitalised touring programme in the new Hayes and Jarvis Far East brochure for 2013.

The long-haul specialist features a luxury cruise option in Burma with the Orient-Express, alongside other escorted tours to the region. The 10-day luxury Road to Mandalay Cruise with the Orient-Express leads in at £4,249 per person and visits Yangon, Bagan and its temples and pagodas and Inle Lake by luxury cruise ship while also including stays at The Governor’s Residence in Yangon and the Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort.

Head of product Andrea Loddo says: “Burma has hit the headlines over the past year for all the right reasons and, as a result, has attracted an increasing number of enquiries to our call centre. That is why this is exactly the right time to offer the country to clients.

“In common with other emerging destinations in the Far East, the most appropriate way for us to do this is to offer Burma’s cultural highlights on a tour, giving clients the reassurance of expert know-how and the security of a supervised holiday” she said.

Cosmos Tours and Cruises The operator’s luxury tour programme is Select by Globus, which is available in North America on a selection of itineraries and provides superior touring holidays that feature centrally-located, hand-picked, first-class hotels, deluxe coaches and carefully designed itineraries to ensure the best touring experience.

New tours for 2013 include the 11-day Sights and Sounds of the South, which takes in Memphis, Graceland and Nashville to name a few of the destinations. Prices lead in at £2,295.

Also new is the 10-day Classic Fall Foliage tour that journeys through New England, taking in all the beauty of this state during autumn along with visits to Acadia National Park, White Mountains, the summit of Pinkham Notch and Boston.

Living-history museums are also a highlight of this experience, giving guests an insight into the region’s history and rural past. Prices lead in at £2,169 per person.

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escorted tours

The new Wendy Wu Concierge service will feature the highlights of China but in an exclusive way

Another new addition for 2013 is a private, door-to-door home pick-up service, which allows customers the option of being taken in a private chauffeur-driven car to the airport and given assistance with luggage as well as being met in the arrivals area on their return and driven home.

Insight Vacations Premium escorted tours specialist Insight Vacations has cut the price of its

tours by up to 16% with the launch of its second-edition 2012/13 India and Nepal brochure.

The new programme consists of two luxury Gold tours and four Premium escorted tours across Rajasthan, Kerala and Nepal.

There are also six optional extensions including India’s Wildlife, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

Insight Vacations CEO and president John Boulding said: “These discounts of

up to 16% will provide agents with a fantastic selling point, widening the reach of potential clientele, or even increasing earning potential by encouraging Premium clients to upgrade to our luxury Gold programme.”

The 14-day Classical India with Nepal premium tour starts at £3,350 per person (a saving of up to £349 per person) and visits Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi and Kathmandu.

Insight Vacation has also added seven new deluxe Gold standard itineraries to the 2013 USA and Canada programme in response to demand for its most luxurious touring style.

New itineraries include the 21-day Rhythms and Flavours of America, the nine-day Southern Tastes and Dixie Tunes and the eight-day Icons of the American Heartland, some of which take in new destinations such as Chicago, Nashville, Cape Cod and an authentic paddle-wheel steamboat cruise on the Mississippi River.

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destinations

The luxury link From Dubai to Malaysia, the tourist boards are getting on the five-star campaign trail

W

hen tourism boards draw up plans to spend their annual marketing budgets, they have to decide on what campaigns are likely to be the most successful.

Putting luxury at the heart of a campaign may seem a strange road to go down when the global recession shows no sign of abating. However, that is what a number of tourist boards are doing; focusing on their upmarket resorts and services to attract more high-spending visitors – and it seems to be paying dividends.

We find out how some of the tourist boards are involving the trade to promote their luxury resorts and services.

Caribbean The Caribbean islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines will be increasing its appeal to luxury travellers from 2014 with the opening of the Argyle International Airport, which will allow direct flights from the UK. Later this year, Mustique Airways is launching a new flight dedicated to guests of Petit St Vincent, flying from Barbados to

Union Island. This new service, which starts on 1 November, will transform the journey to the recently renovated island paradise.

Also new to the Grenadines is the redesign and construction of the Canouan Resort and the Grenadines Estate Villas on Canouan island. Previously a Raffles Hotel, the site is now undergoing a huge redesign and the resort is due to have its soft opening in November this year.

The St Vincent and Grenadines Tourist Board has teamed up with luxury operator Black Tomato to develop a digital detox package. The new holiday has been created following research that revealed that 77% of people believe that time without gadgets and technology would make them a better person and give them more time for their loved ones.

The digital detox package is designed to completely wean people off their technology. It includes a guide to “de-teching” and a session with a life-coach before jetting off to the Young Island and Palm Island where there are no televisions in the rooms and technology is discouraged

Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa by Anantara opened in Abu Dhabi in June

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destinations Anantara (the third by the hotel group in the emirate) which opened in June on a stretch of Abu Dhabi’s protected Eastern Mangroves District,” adds Zarouni.

Tourism Australia has teamed up with boutique brand Mr and Mrs Smith to promote its luxury lodges and resorts

on the beach. Those who have less self-discipline but deeper pockets can take the life coach with them for daily counselling sessions. Prices start at £2,967 per person based on two-sharing. For the full de-tech experience, take a life coach with you for an additional £8,943.

Australia Tourism Australia has been prioritising its luxury product this year as part of its global marketing campaign.

The tourist board has teamed up with boutique travel brand Mr & Mrs Smith to showcase the best experiences and properties in Australia. The Best of Australia collection is part of the latest phase of Tourism Australia’s global marketing campaign, ‘There’s nothing like Australia’, which launched globally in June.

The online campaign collection, mrandmrssmith.com/best-of-australia, is split into five categories; Hidden Gems, Journeys, Cuisine, Wildlife and Coastline.

Tourism Australia, Tourism Tasmania, and the South Australian Tourism Commission also held a luxury workshop for agents earlier in the year, and a luxury module also features in the Aussie Specialist agent training website aussiespecialist.com.

The Middle East Luxury knows no bounds in Dubai, with hotel groups and developers constantly pushing the boundaries of five-star comfort and service.

While The Armani Dubai, the Address Downtown, One and Only The Palm and the Burj Al Arab are well-established favourites on the chic and stylish scene, there are some new kids on the five-star block. These include a new opening from the Turkish hotel chain Rixos on the Palm.

The hotel features 231 rooms and 28 residential apartments with a different view of the Dubai shoreline from various heights All About Luxury Holidays

and directions. There’s also a luxury spa and kids’ club as well as a number of dining venues and bars.

The Fairmont on the Palm is the new landmark five-star hotel that is poised to open next month. The hotel will feature 381 guestrooms and suites and its facilities will also include a beach restaurant, a private beach club and water sports centre, a pool complex and children's activity centre as well as a variety of dining facilities and a Willow Stream Spa. The Ritz-Carlton has recently undergone a refurbishment with an 150-room extension, while the Palazzo Versace Hotel, which is under construction, promises to be one of Dubai’s top luxury hotels.

Abu Dhabi Following in the footsteps of neighbouring emirate, Abu Dhabi is putting luxury at the centre of its charm offensive to attract more visitors.

And Nabeel Al Zarouni, UK country manager for Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority says the trade will play a key role in promoting the emirate’s luxury offering.

“We will be working with our key trade partners to boost destination training and fam trip opportunities to keep pace with all of Abu Dhabi’s new hotels and attraction openings. Further trade engagement and business-to-consumer awareness building is on our radar and we will activate programmes to achieve this, working with agents and the trade as a whole.

“More package holidays and dynamically packaged offers is one of our key targets, and we’ll liaise closely with operators to deliver this product, and so give agents yet more product choice,” says Zarouni.

“More luxury five-star hotels and resorts are opening this year, including Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, a four-star 200-room hotel apartment complex and Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa by

Asia When it comes to luxury experiences and great value for money, Langkawi in Malaysia can really deliver.

Langkawi is the largest of a multitude of islands that lie off the coast of Kedah State, in the far northwest of Peninsular Malaysia, and the region’s natural beauty has proved to be a magnet for upmarket hotel groups.

It’s home to many miles of white sandy beaches, marinas, golf courses and a host of recreational activities such as island hopping by boat, snorkelling and scuba diving in the Payar Island Marine Park as well as helicopter tours to take in the archipelago of 99 islands from above.

Langkawi is also a great place for sailing holidays as the waters of the Andaman Sea are ideal, the sailing infrastructure is excellent and is home to Asia’s premier sailing event, The Royal Langkawi International Regatta, which will be hosted

by Royal Langkawi Yacht Club in January.

The island also has some of the most luxurious hotels in Asia, including the Sheraton Langkawi, The Datai Langkawi, The Andaman and Four Seasons Resort Langkawi. Keen to capitalise on its beauty, the Langkawi Development Authority teamed up with hotels and luxury experiences on the island to launch the Luxuriously Langkawi Tactical Campaign with six-night holidays from £1,500.

Africa When it comes to luxury, Kenya has plenty to offer, with a wide choice of five-star luxury lodges and beach-side retreats.

For agents Brazil Brazilian tourist board Embratur is launching a three-step training programme for agents, which will feature a focus on luxury. It will include master classes, training workshops, online training programmes and prize draw with a chance to win a place on a fam trip.

For more information on luxury travel in Brazil, log on to http://blta.com.br/en/

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destinations

Lankgawi is keen to promote its luxury offering through targeted marketing campaigns

The Kenya Tourist Board is eagerly anticipating the newest addition to its vast safari camp offering with Sir Richard Branson’s Mahali Mzuri, which is set to open in the Maasai Mara next year. The new property from Virgin Limited Edition

joins a fine pedigree of existing luxury safari destinations in Kenya – one in particular – the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy – which has the royal seal of approval as it was the place where Prince William proposed to Kate in 2010.

inspiring exotic breathtaking

MOROCCO Affordable luxury holidays, private tours & twin centres

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Other safari destinations where luxury abounds in the form of world-class lodges and wildlife as far as the eye can see include: the Amboseli National Park, which has amazing views of Mount Kilimanjaro; Maasai Mara Game Reserve (the seventh new wonder of the world); Tsavo West National Park, known as the land of lava, springs and man-eaters; and Meru National Park, which is also known as the complete wilderness; and Laikipia, which provided the inspiration for Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Green Hills of Africa’.

When it comes to ocean paradises, Chale Island, Funzi Keys Island and Lamu Island tick all the right boxes with white, sandy beaches, coral reefs and luxury accommodation, while Lake Victoria, the source of the river Nile, is dotted with small enchanting islands including Rusinga Island and Mfangano Island, ideal for the perfect getaways.

Botswana Luxury is at the heart of Botswana’s safari offering and communicating this message to the trade is key to ensure, says Dawn Parr, UK and Ireland director, Botswana Tourism Organisation.

“We want people to understand the offering and especially why Botswana is more expensive than other safari destinations. Basically, this is because we restrict the number of visitors by restricting the number of beds the lodges and camps are allowed. Also the private concessions are huge areas, which means that each day there are very few people in them, ensuring that visitors get a really exclusive experience.

“Added to this, most of the lodges will aim to provide five star treatment with added amenities – for example one camp provides Swarovski binoculars and cameras with 100 - 400 lenses in each room for the use of the guests,” she adds.

“Added to all this Botswana has all the wildlife, wilderness, ecosystems and landscapes, but it is also safe and has a fantastic infrastructure.”

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cruise

Classact From 24-hour butler service to hidden gems of destinations, what is it that keeps the luxury cruiselines one step ahead

Cruising the chic way with Compagnie du Ponant

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ruising has rapidly become one of the most popular package-holiday choices in the UK. The added-value options and wide variety of destinations that can be visited in one holiday appeal to many people.

Brits love the amount of value they get for their money when it comes to a cruise holiday, which is why so many decide to upgrade to more luxury options. Here is a selection of some of the five-star cruiselines and those little added extras that give them the edge.

Hebridean Island Cruises A firm favourite with the royal family – the 49-passenger Hebridean Princess has been chartered on two separate occasions by the Queen – the added extras this cruiseline offers is what has gained Hebridean its royal seal of approval.

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The luxury touches: guests have the opportunity to go on fishing trips and cook their catch back on board. Speedboat rides are also on offer along with a high-calibre guest speaker programme and a schedule of privately escorted tours to castles, gardens and other places of interest.

Traditional Scottish rituals are also a main focus of the sumptuous on-board experience with the serving of Hebridean’s Haggis in a fondly anticipated ceremony.

How much? The seven-night Houses and Castles of the Clyde cruise, departing on 12 March 2013, leads in at £2,010 per person.

The sailing visits some of Scotland’s architectural gems dating back from the 13th-century including Kelburn Castle, Finlaystone House and Ardgowan House.

Prices include return flights from regional UK airports, all meals,drinks, shore excursions and gratuities.

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cruise Crystal Cruises When it comes to attention to detail at every level, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity are the masters, offering a first-class service from the second their passengers step on board.

The luxury touch: Crystal prides itself on the choice that it offers its guests from the dining experience (Silk Road by Nobu is just one of the many highlights), the entertainment and the learning programme. And all of this is included in the one price. Crystal’s programme of entertainment includes newly released films in the cinema, production shows such as Rocket Man, a tribute to Elton John and the new Magic Castle programme. The on-board Creative Learning Institute offers a range of courses introducing new skills and enhancing existing ones.

Crystal also focuses on having ships in destinations at special times of the year, for example, Crystal Symphony will be in Sydney, where guests will welcome in the new year Crystal-style on a complimentary chartered luxury catamaran just beneath Sydney Harbour bridge. Also new for this year is the Local Insights programme, which brings on board local experts to share their knowledge about the destination.

How much? Crystal Symphony’s 16-night Southern Summer Holiday cruise departs from Auckland and calls at Tauranga, Napier, Christchurch and Dunedin in New Zealand to visit the Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds before heading to Sydney for two nights and then on to Melbourne. Prices start at £7,600.

Azamara Club Cruises Azamara prides itself on the small-ship experience that it offers, the luxury it guarantees when it comes to first-class service and the destinations it travels to.

The luxury touch: Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest are two boutique-hotelstyle ships offering more overnight, longer stays and night touring than many other luxury rivals. The small size of its ships allows the cruiseline to access smaller ports, which means the destinations it feature are more exclusive to Azamara. For 2013, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest will offer guests 69 sailings to North and South America, Europe and Asia with 40 news ports of call such as Shanghai, Propriano in Corsica, and Honningsvaag,

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Crystal Symphony will be inSydney Harbour this New Year’s Eve

Gudvangen, Tromso, and Svolvaer (Lofoten) on the Norwegian coast.

How much? A 16-night Discovering Vietnam and Thailand fly/cruise on board Azamara Journey leads in at £3,436 per person. The cruise departs Singapore and calls in at Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Hanoi and Hong Kong.

Compagnie du Ponant The French cruiseline really leads the pack when it comes to intimate, elegant cruising yacht-style. There are three ships in the cruise line: Le Boreal and L’Austral which have 132 staterooms and Le Ponant, which has 32.

The luxury touches: the destinations that the ships visit and its long distance voyages are part of the cruiseline’s exclusive offering.

These include: Montreal, Boston, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Quito, Santiago, Colonia del Sacramento and Lima. Unusual ports of call include: Ushuaia, Montevideo, Falkland Islands, Soufrieres and Carriacou in the northern Caribbean.

Also a host of new benefits and services

have been introduced including the Open Bar Package, which for $60 per double stateroom per day allows guests the chance to enjoy beverages at any time of day and without any restrictions.

Regent Seven Seas The USP of this cruiseline is that it claims to offer the most inclusive luxury cruise experience of all the cruiselines as its prices include flights and transfers, one-night, pre-cruise luxury hotel stay, unlimited shore excursions, all fine dining (including speciality dining) and beverages on board and gratuities.

The luxury touches: because the cruiseline claims to be so inclusive, guests don’t have to worry about putting their hand in their pocket to pay for anything once they are on board. Regent also offers all-suites, all with balconies and the majority of the bathrooms have a separate shower as well as a separate bath tub.

How much? A 10-night Venice to Monte Carlo cruise departing on 6 September leads in at £3,578 per person.

Luxury river cruising The river cruiselines have really been upping their game when it comes to attracting passengers who like a bit of luxury.

Uniworld is one of the market leaders in the five-star river cruise experience and its sailings are operated in an exclusive partnership with Titan’s World Best River Cruises.

The luxury touch: on River Beatrice and Antoinette, complimentary personalised butler service is included for guests staying in suites. For cultural enrichment, a series of on-board signature lectures are presented by experts in history, art, literature, music and architecture, while there are on-board demonstrations in disciplines as diverse as glass blowing, cookery and flower arranging. Guests can also expect performances from local artists and entertainers. When it comes to itineraries, Uniworld’s fleet of vessels cruise the waterways of Europe, China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

How much? The 8-day Castles along the Rhine, sailing on board Antoinette, leads in at £2,099 per person.

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hotel hotline

Suite dreams

With major hotel groups embarking on big expansion drives, lovers of luxury can expect the red-carpet treatment in more far-flung destinations

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s people travel more, their expectations of hotel standards seem to be increasing. With that in mind, many luxury hotel groups are opening in destinations they have previously had no presence in, and existing five-star resorts are upgrading their facilities to offer guests more bang for their buck.

Switzerland This December will see the opening of the Alpina Gstaad in the Bernese Alps.

The first luxury hotel to be built in Gstaad in 100 years, the Alpina Gstaad is set in an hill-top area in Oberbort, just five minutes from the centre of Gstaad village.

A contemporary interpretation of traditional Swiss architecture, the hotel is part of a $337 million development that includes 56 spacious rooms and suites, private apartments and two chalets surrounded by five acres of garden.

The hotel will include the first European outpost of the renowned Japanese restaurant MEGU. Other highlights include a wine-tasting room, a cigar room, a private cinema and a Six Senses Spa.

Seychelles The most expensive villa in the Seychelles has opened on the private island of Desroches.

The exclusive Madame Zabre Spa Retreat is named after the Madame Zabre beach on the island, and costs â‚Ź12,000 per night. All of the bedrooms in the Madame Zabre Spa Retreat have private pools and indoor and outdoor bathrooms, views of the Indian Ocean, an entertaining area, expansive sun decks and fully equipped kitchens.

The villa can be configured to have its own spa suite complete with a range of Elemental Herbology treatments.

A team of dedicated staff for guests of the villa comprise a masseuse, a chef and butler, who are on call around the clock.

Colombia Sofitel Cartagena Santa Clara will launch as a Legend property in December with 122 rooms, including 19 suites in the Colonial wing. Originally built in 1621 as a monastery, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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hotel hotline luxury retail outlets, three health clubs, two spas, 20 dining options and a host of entertainment options located under one roof. The new initiative affords visitors a duty-free shopping experience at the 600 shops distributed between Shoppes Cotai Central, The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and The Shoppes at Four Season.

One of the refurbished bungalows at Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives

Author Gabriel Garcia Marquez used the convent as the setting for Of Love and Other Demons and the renovation of the hotel led to the discovery of numerous archaeological artefacts, which are now on show in the hotel.

Macau The first “integrated resort city” has opened in Macau.

Sands Cotai Central has 5,800 hotel rooms and suites from the Conrad, Sheraton and Holiday Inn brands, 92

Kenya Virgin Limited Edition is to open a new property in Mahali Mzuri in Kenya next year. Mahali Mzuri luxury safari camp will be situated within the Motorogi Conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem of Kenya and will consist of 12 sleeper tents and cater for a maximum of 24 guests at any one time.

Rates will start at $580 per person per night all-inclusive.

Bhutan Uma by COMO, Punakha will open in

Hotel group expansion Jumeirah Beach This year has been a busy one for the Jumeirah Group with a number of new luxury hotel openings.

The Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa opened on the northwest coast of Majorca in April, overlooking the fishing village of Port Soller. The hotel has 120 rooms spread over 11 separate buildings connected by garden walks and internal passageways, six bars and restaurants, a number of meeting rooms, a Talisa Spa and a Mediterranean-inspired art collection.

The Jumeirah Creekside in Dubai officially opened its doors last month in the heart of Old Dubai overlooking the Dubai Creek in the centre of the business and cultural districts of the city. The property has 292 rooms, six restaurants and bars, 26 meeting rooms, a gym and spa.

The hotel group has also taken over the management of the Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul.

Banyan Tree Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts has two new hotel openings in the pipeline later this year.

The Banyan Tree Kerala in Kochi on the west coast of India is due to open its doors this winter.

The resort will be an all-pool villa property with the first Banyan Tree Spa with a dedicated Ayurvedic Centre. The resort will also have a houseboat for customised journeys on the Keralan backwaters.

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The Asian hotel group is also teaming up with Angsana Lang Co to open a new property in Vietnam in the autumn. The Banyan Tree Lang Co and Angsana Lang Co will be the first property for both brands in Vietnam, and will form part of Laguna Lang Co, an integrated resort and hotel development situated on the renowned China Beach.

Four Seasons Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has seven new hotel openings this year.

Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou was launched earlier this year in the Zhuijiang financial district of the Chinese city on the banks of the Pearl River. The hotel has 344 rooms, a spa, restaurants and the 99th-floor Cloud Bar. Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai has also opened in the Pudong and is part of the 21st Century Tower, it has 200 guest rooms and suites, plus 60 private residences.

The Four Seasons Hotel Baku has opened in Azerbaijan on the waterfront promenade, just steps away from the old city. The property has 171 guest rooms and 29 suites, an indoor pool and a restaurant on the top floor.

The hotel group is poised to boost its presence in Russia with the launch of the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace in St Petersburg in November.

Over in Canada, the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto is opening on October 5.

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hotel hotline The Jumeirah Group has brought a touch of Middle Eastern luxury to Majorca with the opening of a hotel near Soller

September in the Punakha Valley in Bhutan.

The lodge will be made up of 11 rooms – nine deluxe and two one-bedroom villas. Guest services include a concierge, butler service in the villas, one restaurant, bar and a COMO Shambhala Retreat Spa. Outdoor activities include rafting, guided afternoon and overnight walks and treks, mountain biking, custom-designed cultural-interest tours as well as fully serviced luxury camping.

Australia Langham Hospitality Group has secured its first property in Australia with the acquisition of the Observatory Hotel, Sydney this month.

The hotel is nestled near the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House and close to the heart of the city with its finest selection of shops, museums, galleries and restaurants.

Maldives The Beach House Collection has launched its flagship property in the Maldives with the opening of the Beach House at Iruveli Maldives. It will be joined next year by a second resort opening in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. The Beach House at Iruveli Maldives has villas, suites and pavilions, located on the beach or perched over the turquoise lagoon, each with a private pool and a villa host. In resort, there’s a PADI dive centre, 18-hole golf simulator, fitness centre, yoga, tennis courts, a bungee trampoline, two swimming pools, spa and a kids’ club.

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Hotel updates Kenya A luxury safari lodge Saruni Mara in the Masai Mara has opened the doors to its new family villa and completed the refurbishment of its existing six villas. The villa has two en-suite bedrooms and a large lounge complete with dining area, sofas around a welcoming fireplace and a large veranda overlooking the scenery Prices at Saruni Mara start at £250 a night full board and include park fees, game drives and transfers.

Indian Ocean The One&Only group of resorts has a number of updates across its portfolio for 2012. At the One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives, the spa by ESPA has some new therapies, including Watsu (WATer ShiatSU) – a form of aquatic therapy that quiets the mind, relaxes the body and opens the heart.

The One&Only Hotel in Cape Town has introduced a collection of Art Tours showcasing techniques and galleries from regional talents, while at One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius, a youth fitness programme has been rolled out.

Huvafen Fushi The luxury Per AQUUM resort of Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives has reopened after a 10-week renovation.

The work has included general refurbishment of all bungalows and pavilions with new interior finishes and a fresh look, a new outdoor lounge area over the reef at Raw for sunset cocktails, a remodelled Celsius and new restaurant menus.

Constance Hotels Constance Hotels is carrying out a major refurbishment of its flagship property, the Prince Maurice hotel in Mauritius. The refit includes the construction of a new heated lap pool, the refurbishment of all suites and villas, the upgrading of the main restaurant, the introduction of a new wine cellar and a floating bar and additional rooms at the Spa de Constance.

South Africa The Shamwari Game Reserve near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape has recently unveiled its new Villa Lobengula, which has been transformed into a holistic relaxation villa. Designed for families or small groups, the villa has six suites that can accommodate up to 12 people sharing.

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