Travel News Weekly - 26 May 2010 by Now Media

SOuThERN AFRiCA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

May 26 2010 I No. 2108

It’s just like being at home, except someone else makes the bed in the morning.

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INSIDE

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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NEWS

FEaTurE

JeTBlUe-sAA Codeshare opens up US connections Page 2

NOrTherN IrelANd

FEaTurE

hOsPITAlITy INdUsTry World Cup – There’s room at the inn

Europe’s hip destination Page 12

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lhr hub faces tax blow Jeanette pHillips

rise from £11 (R121) to £18 (R198) and for business class RITISH Airways and Virgin passengers from £22 (R242) Atlantic have given the to £33 (R363). These taxes are thumbs down to the new UK expected to be calculated on the government’s decision to scrap basis of aircraft being full. The the controversial Air Passenger reform is likely to force airlines to Duty (APD) and replace it with a operate fewer flights as they would per plane tax. have to ensure flights were full to Both airlines agree that the make them profitable. decision is unworkable and British Stephen Forbes, spokesperson Airways says it could have a for British Airways in South Africa, negative impact on Britain’s travel says that air travel from the UK is industry as a whole. already the most heavily taxed. When the new UK coalition He says the existing APD tax is government announced the switch supposed to be an environmental from APD to a per plane tax it said tax but it is not used to fund in a statement environmental that a proportion “Airlines may be forced or infrastructure of any increased to operate fewer flights benefits. revenues over “Increased as they will have to time would be taxation on the UK used to help fund ensure flights are full to aviation industry the increases make them profitable.” will create a in the personal financial incentive allowances of UK taxpayers. for customers to fly via continental Telegraph Travel in the UK has hubs rather than direct from or revealed that, by implementing transiting through the UK airports, the Liberal Democrat manifesto’s which could actually lead to higher proposals to switch from APD to emissions as well as financially a per plane tax, passengers on disadvantage the UK travel short-haul flights would pay 75% industry.” more as part of plans to generate Caren Parkinson, marketing £5,3 billion (R58bn) from tax. manager for Virgin Atlantic South This, according to the Telegraph, Africa agrees: “This is not a new is up from £1,9 billion (R21bn) idea. When treasury looked at under the previous Labour it before, they found it would be government. unworkable. Further figures provided to “We agree that there is Telegraph Travel revealed that that considerable scope to improve the tax on passengers travelling APD, but a per plane tax won’t on short-haul flights could do it.” n

Chicken or beef? Air Mauritius has announced a change to the menu on its Durban-Mauritius route. Due to customer feedback, the airline has decreased its vegetarian options with the new menu 40% chicken, 40% beef and 20% vegetarian. The airline has advised travel agents that it is extremely important that a special meal request is done at time of booking for vegetarian passengers to avoid any complications on board. Waiting to take your order are the reservations team (from left): Lindiwe Magagula, Letitia Staebe, Ana-Paula Gomes, and Sushica Maharaj Photo: Tijana Huysamen

CAA implements ash operating rules Jeanette pHillips THE UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced new measures to reduce airspace closures caused by volcanic ash. The measures will allow for a new area of operations that creates a ‘Time Limited Zone (TLZ)’ between the black ‘No Fly Zone (NFZ)’ and the red ‘Enhanced Procedures Zone (EPZ)’. Aircraft and engine manufacturers, based on new analysis, have agreed that it is safe to allow operations in the new zone for a limited time at higher ash densities than are currently permitted. To operate in the new zone airlines need to present the CAA with a safety

case that includes the agreement of their aircraft and engine manufacturers. This means that areas of airspace that would previously have been closed can safely open, further minimising flight disruption. The introduction of the TLZ is based on measurements collected from test flights through the ash cloud over the past month, data from previous volcanic ash incidents and additional analysis from manufacturers. Operations in the TLZ may be subject to time limits and increased maintenance. The area will be established using Met Office forecasts and will have to be approved by the CAA. n

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to the point

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Singapore Airlines has advised that it will not be enforcing its recently introduced no-show penalty on ‘un-ticketed’ bookings as originally communicated. The no-show penalty fees of R1 000 for economy class and R2 000 for business class will only apply to ticketed bookings.

JetBlue-SAA codeshare opens up US connections Hilka Birns

NEW interline agreement between SAA and US airline JetBlue has solved onward routing problems from New York’s JFK airport for SAA passengers, says SAA’s vp sales in North America, Todd Neuman. Speaking in Cape Town at the launch of the new interline partnership, he said connections previously had been easier through Washington DC Dulles Airport, the hub of SAA’s Star Alliance partner, United Airlines, with limited connections from JFK, SAA’s other US gateway. “That

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Rubes® By Leigh Rubin

problem is now solved,” he says. With JFK as its hub, JetBlue now offers SAA passengers connections on 300 daily flights to 63 cities in the US, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline operates a fleet of 150 modern A320 and Embraer E190 aircraft. Todd says other benefits are easy-to-book joint fares (look for the airline codes SA/B6), including those on SAA’s business class; interline ticketing; and interline baggage handling. This means baggage can now be checked through from its origin in the US to its final destination in

Southern Africa. He says all connections must be booked and ticketed via SAA or the GDSs and all tickets must be validated on SAA. Todd says the connection between SAA’s Terminal 4 at JFK and JetBlue’s Terminal 5 (T5) is easy, thanks to a new complimentary sky train between the two terminals. Free stopovers in New York or Washington DC are permitted on joint SA/B6 published and nett fares. As yet, there is no reciprocity between the airlines’ frequent flyer programmes but Todd believes this will happen as the partnership develops. n

Thai Airways now bookable on GDS natasHa tippel THAI Airways’ new non-stop service from Johannesburg to Thailand will launch on June 2. Fares from/to South Africa have been uploaded and released through the main GDSs with following details: ● Departure: June 2, 2010-March 31, 2011 ● Validity for sales/ticketing: until September 30, 2010 ● Commission: 1,01% The non-stop, Johannesburg-Bangkok service will operate four times a week using a B777-200ER. Flights will operate

on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, departing Johannesburg at 13h40 and arriving in Bangkok at 05h55 the next day. The return flight will depart Bangkok at 01h15, arriving in Johannesburg at 07h30. The new flight is conveniently scheduled to allow smooth connections from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to over 70 cities in the Thai network, including south-east Asia, Japan, China, Korea, and Australia. Meanwhile, Thai Airways has launched special 50th Anniversary ‘stunning’ fares, valid for sale until August 30 and departure before September 15. n

Travelinfo,s Hayley Cochran selects the top specials from Travelinfo Why the fried chicken crossed the road

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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EDITORIAL Editor: Natalia Thomson nataliat@nowmedia.co.za Deputy Editor: Natasha Tippel natashat@nowmedia.co.za Sub-Editor: Ann Braun annb@nowmedia.co.za Cape Town Editor: Hilka Birns hilkab@nowmedia.co.za Journalist: Jeanette Phillips jeanettep@nowmedia.co.za Photo Journalist: Tijana Huysamen tijanah@nowmedia.co.za Founding Editors: John H Marsh (1914-1996) Leona Marsh (1923-2003) ADVERTISING Sales Manager Kate Nathan Advertising Coordinator: Natalie Walker PRODUCTION Design Head: Brendon Bester

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● Singapore Airlines. Airlines ‘Amazing Destination Series’ fares to south-east Asia from R4 600 ex-Johannesburg and R5 100 ex-Cape Town. Valid for ticketing until May 31 and outbound travel until June 8. Maximum stay is one month. Excludes taxes. ● Royal Travel is offering World Cup match packages from R4 990 per person sharing. The rate includes two nights’ accommodation in Sandton and a categoryone match ticket. Packages in other cities also available. Excludes flights. ● Thompsons Holidays is offering the ‘Best Deal in Town’ in Phuket from R4 299 per person sharing. The rate includes return flights ex-Johannesburg, return transfers, 10 nights’ accommodation at Sunset Beach Resort with daily breakfast, one dinner and a one-hour Thai massage. Valid from June 1 to September 15 (book and pay by June 30). Excludes taxes. Rates from Durban and Cape Town also available. ● Rani Resorts. June and July ‘Time Out’ special rate at Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa from R812 per person sharing per night. The rate includes accommodation with breakfast, a bottle of wine, a 15-minute massage and a sunset cruise. A minimum stay of three nights applies. Valid from June 1 to July 31.

Specials Spot

QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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NEWS

Protect your clients and yourself! Hilka Birns

ANY South African travel offices have not yet realised their duty of care towards their customers, a requirement that will become very important once the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) is finalised in October, warns Asata president, Jo Schütten. She says Asata is working on a strategy to encourage travel professionals to look after the well-being of their clients in all possible respects, and in so doing, protect their own backs in terms of the impending CPA. The issue has become topical in the light of the recent Afriqiyah Airways crash in Tripoli and the resulting delay in identifying the victims. Jo asks how many travel consultants currently encourage their clients to register with the government’s free and voluntary online Registration of South Africans Abroad (ROSA) programme. Developed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, ROSA qualifies South Africans, on registration, for government assistance in an emergency when travelling, living or working abroad. At the same time, it helps the government to identify and locate South African travellers during an emergency, to verify

their status and to contact their next-of-kin. Had they registered, ROSA should have enabled the immediate identification of the Afriqiyah Airways crash victims. Charmaine Thomé, gm of Afriqiyah Airways representative Aviareps, says the airline immediately supplied the names of the passengers to the Departments of Immigration and Home Affairs but the 24-hour or so delay in identification was caused by the fact that the nationalities of the passengers weren’t recorded in the GDS.

Complications

What complicated matters, she explains, was that some of the South African passengers had dual nationalities and were travelling on foreign passports. The government departments had to check their departure records to identify the various nationalities. Meanwhile, the Advanced Passenger Profiling (APP) system that airlines had to comply with by May 1, records passengers’ nationalities and makes identification easier in case of an emergency, Charmaine says. APP has been introduced as an increased security measure ahead of the impending Soccer World Cup 2010. ■

TK flies to Sochi Turkish Airlines has announced plans to launch flights to Sochi, Russia. Operations are set to begin on May 25 with three flights a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Flights will depart Istanbul at 12h45 and arrive in Sochi at 15h30. Return flights will depart Sochi at 16h50, arriving in Istanbul at 17h55. Sochi is a resort city on the Black Sea just north of the border with Georgia. It is situated against the backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus Mountains and has been selected to host the 2014 Winter Olympics

Voluntours launches volunteer projects for South Africans Natasha Tippel VOLUNTOURS recently launched its portfolio of international volunteer projects aimed at South African travellers wanting to “make a difference”. Projects include volunteering with orangutans in Malaysia and Borneo; contributing to conservation and local

communities in the Amazon rain forests in Peru; adding to ongoing research on endangered lemurs, building schools, teaching English or tackling poverty and environmental degradation in remote villages of Madagascar; teaching at remote schools high up in the Himalayan mid-hills near Kathmandu in Nepal; and working with dolphins and

contributing to research and educational programmes in Mauritius. Voluntours has carefully chosen international project partners, assuring volunteers that both their and the community’s interests are looked after. Some projects are suitable for families and people of all ages and walks of life can volunteer. ■

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THE Exceptional Collection, an independent and exclusive brand of the Three Cities Group, has been launched in the Southern African hospitality market. The brand consists of a selection of boutique hotels and game lodges in the region. “The properties have united under one ‘label’ to leverage sales and marketing activities and to strengthen their presence in the market place,” said Exceptional Collection’s Shadleigh Roscoe. Properties in the Exceptional Collection currently include the David

Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa at Victoria Falls, Zambia; Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and Bumi Hills Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe;

“The properties have united under one ‘label’ to leverage sales.” Jatinga Country Lodge and Dawson’s Game & Trout Lodge in Mpumalanga, Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa, Plettenberg Park and Knysna’s Rex Hotel in the Western Cape and The Bay Hotel in Mauritius. With a focus on sales, marketing and reservations channelling support, the

Exceptional Collection will, however, embrace each property’s distinctive identity and operational characteristics, while providing services for which small boutique hotels and safari lodges often lack the financial capacity or professional expertise. All boutique hotels, game lodges wine and golfing estate accommodation in the Exceptional Collection will not only be represented and linked to its own website but will also have access to the Three Cities Group’s central reservations system, allowing individual units to manage rates, availability and distribution of hotel rooms. ■

QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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NEWS Kenya Airways flies to Muscat Natasha Tippel KENYA Airways has launched direct flights to Muscat, the capital of Oman. The flights, which were launched on May 5, operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from Nairobi to Muscat, using a Boeing 737-800. The airline’s main objective is to link the new destination to the rest of

Africa, focusing on areas such as East Africa, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. Kenya Airways offers daily flights from Johannesburg to Nairobi, from where passengers can connect to Muscat. The airline is promoting its new Muscat flights by offering special launch airfares starting at US$300 (R2 266) from Nairobi. Muscat is Kenya Airways’ 48th destination. ■

Airlink reintroduces PZB-JNB service Jeanette Phillips AIRLINK has announced that it will be reintroducing its early-morning Pietermaritzburg to Johannesburg flights on May 30. The airline will also introduce a later return departure from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg, operating from Monday to Friday and

on Sundays, to accommodate the increasing demand for same-day travel between the KwaZulu Natal Midlands and Johannesburg. Flights will depart Pietermaritzburg at 06h45, arriving in JNB at 08h10. The evening return flight will depart Johannesburg at 18h35, arriving in Pietermaritzburg at 19h55. ■

TAM joins Star Alliance Jeanette Phillips

RAZILIAN carrier, TAM Airlines, has officially joined the Star Alliance network. The airline flies to more than 40 destinations in Brazil and 10 across South America. “With TAM Airlines we gain a carrier based in South America, an important aviation market and home to many growing economies. Combining TAM Airlines’ network with that of our existing member carriers will allow Star Alliance to offer a very competitive product to, from and within this region,” said Jaan Albrecht,

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* Remember RwandAir now flies on Thursdays as well * Eligible only with tickets issued from 1st January, 2009. * Free tickets are transferable to anyone you choose. 5 X weekly flights from JNB to Kigali with connections to Bujumbura, Entebbe, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam Holiday Aviation, Holiday House, 156 Bram Fischer Drive, Randburg, Johannesburg Tel: +27 11 289 8050 • Fax: +27 11 289 8272 Email: rwandaair@holidayaviation.co.za • Website: www.rwndair.com TNW5145

and Meetings Plus. Leisure travellers will also benefit from TAM’s membership of the Star Alliance. The Round the World Fare now offers numerous new travel combinations throughout Brazil and South America as well as more flights between Brazil and Europe and Brazil and the US. TAM will be selling the North America and Europe Airpasses, allowing customers to purchase ‘value for money’ air travel on the Star Alliance network in these regions in combination with long-haul tickets from Brazil. ■

New name and fresh look for Cape Town transport Jeanette Phillips

Frequent Flyer Reward Program

ceo Star Alliance. TAM’s Fidelidade FFP members can now collect and redeem points when travelling on all other Star Alliance member carriers, with reciprocity for Star Alliance FFP members on TAM. Travel on any Star Alliance carrier also counts towards achieving status in the selected FFP. With TAM Airlines joining the Star Alliance the number of designated Gold lounges across the network has grown to over 990. Additionally, flights operated by TAM will be included in both Star Alliance Conventions Plus

CAPE Town recently introduced its first branded Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) buses called MYCiTi. Speaking at the launch, Elizabeth Thompson, mayoral committee member for transport, roads and major projects, said: “The name identifies a userfriendly service which transports people safely, conveniently, reliably and helps them avoid being stuck in traffic. We want them to feel proud to live in a world-class city with modern facilities. MYCiTi will offer people greater choice and quality in their own public transport system.

“As the IRT rolls out across Cape Town in the coming years, it aims to be much more than a transport system. It must give citizens a sense of control, ownership, greater choice, mobility and access to opportunities.”

“The IRT service will unlock economic opportunities by making the city more accessible.” Executive deputy mayor and mayoral committee member for finance, Alderman Ian Neilson, said although the primary benefit of the IRT service was for passengers, the wider

benefit would be extended to all residents and visitors as it would unlock economic opportunities by making the city more accessible. The city has ordered 43 IRT buses that will be used during the World Cup to ferry visitors from the airport to and around the city centre. They will operate as a free shuttle service for ticketholders on match days from the Hertzog Boulevard Bus Station to Cape Town Stadium. After the World Cup the buses will also be used in the roll-out of Phase 1 of the IRT system. The airport shuttle service is expected to launch on May 29. ■

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Peacock Travel launches in SA Natasha Tippel

EACOCK Travel and Tours, a Nigerian-based travel management and tour operator company, has launched in the South African travel market with the opening of an office in Pretoria. The company, which was established in Nigeria in 1997 and now oversees six branches in the country, handles travel consultancy, tour packaging, hotel reservations services, and airline reservation/e-ticketing services among numerous other travel and tour services. A strong focus is on corporate account and multinational business travellers. The company also practises inbound operations, organising tours and travel for people from Nigeria and the rest of Africa into South Africa. “Our core clients are corporate and multinational travellers but we also plan to service leisure travellers and walk-in clients,” says executive chairman, Chief Segun Phillips. “We will also service

Chief Segun Phillips the retail trade with wholesale packages and travel services such as establishing our own visa department, operating our own fleet of vehicles, offering day tours, etc. Instead of just packaging destinations we plan to go the extra mile by offering various facilities and support – a total travel solution.” The move into South Africa is a strategic one, says Segun.

“We decided to open an office in Africa in an effort to build the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa and to expand the company and solidify our position in Africa today and the rest of the world tomorrow. We want to be the leaders in the travel market and the only way to do this is to get closer to our clients – move on to their doorstep.” The company plans to develop its franchise programme and grow the brand of Peacock Travel and Tours in South Africa by opening branches in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. A long-term goal is to move into the US and UK markets, achieving a global presence. “Our goal is to be a brand as well known as the top agencies and tour operators in South Africa,” says Segun. “We plan to keep growing and expanding to achieve our goals as an industry leader. In order to do this, we will identify reliable partners and industry players that we can learn from and grow with.” ■

Seychelles launches ‘Best Five’ campaign Natasha Tippel THE Seychelles Tourism Board has launched a new campaign that ties the Indian Ocean island to the Big-Five tag line. 'From the Big Five...to the Best Five' is the Seychelles’ new line. According to the tourism board, the Best Five are a ‘tour de force’ of all that is special about the islands – the diversity of the granite and coral islands,

the many world-ranking white sandy beaches found throughout the archipelego, its deep turquoise blue seas, its year-round climate that has earned it the epithet of ‘land of perpetual summer’, and the ethnic diversity and harmony of the people. “These attributes are as much a part and parcel of the Seychelles experience as the Big Five are to African wildlife reserves,” states Seychelles director of tourism

marketing, Alain St Ange. “And they are free to one and all – an intrinsic part of our tourism landscape for all to enjoy.” The driving force of the campaign twins Seychelles with major African wildlife destinations with offers of a twin-hub vacation that will take visitors from the ‘Big Five’ of the African continent to the ‘Best Five’ of the Creole Islands of the Seychelles. ■

AirHeads LH to launch Bursa flights

EFFECTIVE August 1, Lufthansa will introduce flights to Bursa in western Turkey, the airline’s fourth destination in the country. The new route will initially be served by an A319 and, from September, a CityLine Embraer E95 will be deployed. Flights will depart Munich at 21h45, arriving in Bursa at 01h15 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The return services will depart Bursa at 04h10, arriving in Munich at 05h55 on the same days. In the 2010/2011 winter timetable, starting October 31, the schedule remains the same except for the return service from Bursa, which will depart at 04h05.

SQ explains no-show fee

SINGAPORE Airlines has advised that it is aware of concerns surrounding the implementation of its no-show penalty. Giving reasons for implementing the penalty, the airline said: “The airline industry is dynamic and airline seats are perishable products. The no-show penalty is one of the measures introduced to assist the airline to manage inventory better in addition to ticketing time limits and pre-flight checks.” It said the implementation of a no-show penalty was also meant to discourage irresponsible booking habits by passengers and sometimes the travel trade. The no-show penalty fees, effective April 1, are R2 000 for business class and R1 000 for economy class.

EY and Olympic sign codeshare

ETIHAD Airways has announced a new codeshare agreement with Greece’s Olympic Air. Etihad customers will soon be able to fly to two of Greece’s leading holiday destinations as well as to Romania and Bulgaria. The agreement took effect on May 18 and also gives travellers in Greece easier access to Etihad’s network of 61 destinations. The agreement will see Etihad placing its code on services operated by Olympic between Athens and Rhodes and Thessaloniki in Greece, the Romanian capital, Bucharest and the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. In turn, Olympic Air will place its code on Etihad’s flights between Athens and Abu Dhabi and in due course on flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Sydney and Melbourne, subject to government approval.

Iberia increases JNB flights

IBERIA will substantially increase the number of seats to Johannesburg during the World Cup. The additional capacity will reach 170% in June and July and 60% in May. The airline currently operates five return flights each week using 260-seat Airbus A340-300s. In June and July, there will be one flight each day and in the middle weeks of the tournament the number will be raised to 10 per week. For most of the flights, Iberia will use its largest and newest aircraft, the 342-seat A340-600.

Introducing Travel Guard formerly AIG Travel For more information call 0860 100 491 or email travel@dnanet.co.za TNW3812SD

8 n Wednesday May 26 2010

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Pillow PillowTalk

Vive La France!

A brief look at this week's hotel news Three Cities opens new Durban property

Hilka Birns

EWS from French travel product providers who participated in recent ATOUT France workshops in Cape Town is that ‘Le Boat’ European barging holidays are now represented through a new office in Cape Town, manned by sales and marketing manager, Liesl Nel. The office opened for reservations on June 1 and has already received huge interest from agents. ‘Le Boat’ offers 200 cruising options in eight European countries on more than 1 000 boats accommodating two to 12 people. An average week-long holiday costs between R15 000 and R16 000 per boat with popular itineraries those in the south and those close to Paris. Lourdes is the second biggest tourist attraction in France after Paris, and director in charge of promotions,

Promoting France at workshops organised by ATOUT France in Cape Town recently are (from left) Philippe Miro from Carcassonne; Franck Delahaye; Hélène Bezuidenhout of ATOUT France in South Africa; and Stéphan Ulliac of Réunion Franck Delahaye, says with 250 hotels and 33 000 hotel rooms, it has the second most accommodation establishments after Paris but it is also one of the cheapest destinations in Europe. Air France reports “exceptional” support for its A380 services since they were introduced on the Johannesburg route in February, says Kevin Campbell,

Air France KLM senior sales executive Eastern and Western Cape. He says loads are good on the Johannesburg route on the 538-passenger aircraft. Tourism representative, Stéphan Ulliac reminds agents that Réunion has an active volcano that is “very safe”. He says volcano trekking is one of 70 activities available on the island, which is only four hours from JNB on Air Austral. n

THE Square Boutique Hotel & Spa, a brand new Three Cities hotel, opened earlier this month in the heart of Umhlanga Ridge within a vibrant mix of retail and commercial properties. The trendy hotel offers the ultimate in luxury for business travellers and families, creating the perfect atmosphere for relaxation with 43 superior and seven de-luxe rooms, says the group. Rooms are all equipped with extra-length king-size beds, air-conditioning, satellite TV, telephone, Internet and email, mini bar, room safes, fold-out sofas for children under 12 years, and laundry service. The onsite all-day dining Cosmopolitan Square Restaurant serves light, healthy, organic meals and is open for breakfast, mid-morning light snacks, lunch and early dinner. The property also has its own Aqua Spa and a compact fitness centre.

Relais Hotels acquires five-star property

RELAIS Hotels has announced the recent acquisition of the management and marketing contract for L’Ermitage Franschhoek Chateau and Villas. This marks the first five-star property for the hotel group. L’Ermitage Franschhoek Chateau and Villas is situated in the heart of the Franschhoek winelands and has 42 guest rooms – six de-luxe suites and 36 villas – ranging from one- to three-bedroom units. There is also a restaurant, deli, conference centre, chapel and spa.

Holiday Inn Gaborone to open in October

OPENING in October, the new Holiday Inn Gaborone is to be managed by pan-African hotel group, African Sun. The 155-room property located at the mixed-used MASA Centre development in the new Gaborone CBD will provide muchneeded conference and meetings space as well as ease capacity for business and leisure travellers. African Sun has experienced strong and consistent growth in sub-Saharan Africa since 2008. While the realities of the global financial crisis cannot be ignored, the group has remained upbeat, carefully managing its cost base while making plans for an ambitious acquisition trail this year.

First Radisson Blu for the US

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www.lam.co.mz

CARLSON Hotelss has signed an agreement to develop the first Radisson Blu hotel in Chicago. It is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2011 and marks the company’s most important investment so far as part of Carlson Hotels’ Ambition 2015 growth strategy. A joint venture between Carlson Hotels and the owner and developer of Aqua at Lakeshore East LLC, Magellan Development Group, Chicago’s Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel will be located on 18 floors of the 81-storey tower.

akes you feel as though See a landscape that m the first time. Behold you are visiting earth for l out of this world and a place where you can fee ce. in touch with it all at on and see Namibia. Touch, taste, smell, hear Our beautiful ga me.

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NEWS

Be crime wise over 2010 World Cup Melody Brandon

HOUSANDS of police officers, soldiers, emergency personnel and other security officials marched through Sandton on May 17, to show off their readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The South African government has spent R10bn to fight crime ahead of the Soccer World Cup and Interpol will be involved in controlling terrorism operations. But many in the travel industry remain concerned about the safety of their clients during the event. “I think we should all be very concerned about crime during the World Cup. “Not just for our clients but for ourselves as well. I am worried our police force will not be able to handle the onslaught and criminals will use the spectacle as a platform to make a quick buck,” says Rachael Penaluna, consultant at Sure Bleeker Travel, Johannesburg. Liz Budge, manager of XL Oceanair Travel, who is making accommodation arrangements for international guests, says she refuses to book her clients into accommodation establishments that do not have adequate security. “I check all the guesthouses and if I am not happy with the security, I do not book,” she says, adding that while there are some instances where criminal activity is out of the service provider’s control, there is more that could be done to make sure properties are safe. André Snyman, founder of eBlockwatch, says: “Bed and breakfasts and guesthouses are often targeted by criminals

because they are more often than not located in quiet areas, unlike bigger hotels that are located in built-up areas and have stringent security controls. “We have to understand that criminals are not patriotic and many want to do their little bit for the World Cup, for their own gain.”

Help your clients protect themselves

While there is much cynicism about South Africa’s ability

to host a safe World Cup, there are a number of tools travellers can use to protect themselves. One such initiative is eBlockwatch’s Travel Buddy for local and international visitors over the event. “We have sent a mail to our 66 000 eBlockwatch members around the country and have asked them to volunteer for our Travel Buddy programme. Each tourist will have a panic button on their phone and should they find themselves

in trouble, we will be able to mobilise a community of people on street level to help them,” says André. The Visitors International Protection Association, VIPA911, is another tool international guests can make use of. Similar to Travel Buddy, the independent organisation is linked to all agencies, associations, services and service providers (government and private) concerned with the welfare and well-being of

international visitors to South Africa. Its services include assistance co-ordinators, translators, access to embassies and more. “We want to have a great Soccer World Cup. There is a lot of goodwill in South Africa and if something does happen to an international visitor, we want to help them in such a way that a negative experience becomes a positive one, so that they want to come back again,” says André.

Top safety tips Founder of eBlockwatch, André Snyman, offers his top tips on how your clients can stay safe during the Soccer World Cup: ● Get on to a community network that will be able to assist you should something happen. ● Have a clear idea of where you are going when you initially arrive at the

airport. Do not ask a random bystander where the car-rental company is. Try to avoid ‘looking lost’ – you will open yourself to being a target if you do. ● Put everything in the boot – you do not want potential robbers to see all your valuables. ● Make sure that you are staying in safe accommodation.

● As much as possible, avoid travel at night. If you have a puncture and have to sit and wait at the side of the road for assistance, you could become a target. ● Do not take part in shady activities over the Soccer World Cup. You do not want to be arrested for drunken driving or to mix with the wrong kind of people. ■

TOGETH ER

WE WILL EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNITIES Choose Travelpor t and together we can find new ways to offer your customers more choice and better value.

TAKI NG YOU R BUSI N ESS WH ERE YOU WANT TO GO

www.travelpor t .com TNW3900SD

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Wednesday May 26 2010 n 11

Are the Irish the most warm-hearted people in the world? More and more tourists seem to think so. Although figures for the SA market on its own are not available the growth rate is probably similar to a source market like Australia, which grew 61% between 2003 and 2008. Here musicians capture the spirit in Kelly’s, a historic Belfast downtown pub Photo: NITB

Northern Ireland

Strife-torn land has become Europe's hip destination DaviD Marsh

T is ironic that the troubles that have beset Northern Ireland are now making it one of the fastest growing tourism spots in Europe as it makes up for lost time. Violent sectarian struggles that have kept tourists away since the late sixties have meant that, with the relative peace of today, the region is playing catch-up. Nowhere is this more evident than in Belfast. Much in the same way visitors to South Africa have a fascination with relics of apartheid, the ‘Troubles’ as they have come to be known, make this city an

especially interesting place to visit. A political tour of once strife-torn West Belfast has become the most popular day tour for passengers on the increasing number of cruise ships that now call at the port. Belfast played an important role in the industrial revolution and was one of the most important industrial centres until the mid 20th century. The home of the Irish linen industry, it also had the most productive and largest shipyard in the world, which was where the Titanic was built. In 2012 it will be 100 years since the Titanic sailed from the Harland & Wolff shipyard on her tragic

maiden voyage. The old shipyard is being re-invented as the Titanic Quarter, a hi-tech centre attracting higher education institutions and businesses. The highlight for tourists is the Titanic-themed attraction. The locals have come to terms with the tragedy and point out “she was all right when she left here” and that it was an English captain who sailed her full steam ahead into a Canadian iceberg. The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland jointly market Ireland as a destination. Tourism Ireland has a very active tourist office in South Africa through its representative, Development Promotions, Johannesburg.

Accidental Death and Disablement If a TIC policyholder suffers bodily injury by accidental means and this leads directly to their death within a period of twelve months, TIC will pay the appropriate amount to their nominated beneficiary. This is over and above the cover provided for emergency medical and related expenses. If a TIC policyholder survives an accident but is permanently disabled, TIC has a living benefit with very high limits.

died from a brain haemorrhage. TIC paid out the death benefit of R250 000. Accidental Disability: A client fell whilst skiing in Austria, damaging the optic nerve in her brain. She lost her sight and TIC paid her the accidental disability benefit of R1 million. Always sell your client a TIC travel insurance policy to guarantee complete peace of mind.

TIC Case Files: Accidental Death: A client on holiday in Bangkok fell down a flight of stairs, and

There is only one links course in Africa, which is why playing the legendary Royal Portrush is a must for any South African golfer Photo: NITB

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12 n Wednesday May 26 2010

QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

Splinter groups still carry out occasional attacks directed at security forces but on our visit no one, in a group of a dozen who walked through the streets of Belfast late at night in twos and threes, mentioned feeling unsafe. The emotive political murals remain, reminding one of the vicious struggle

The recent political strife fascinates visitors. Although the main adversaries are engaged with each other and there has been a sustained period of peace, the signs of the ‘troubles’ remain such as this towering wall and fence that separate Protestants and Catholics in West Belfast

A new ‘must see’, the shipyard where the Titanic was built almost 100 years ago

Part of the regeneration of Belfast is stylish new shopping centres such as Victoria Junction QUICK READ FOR bUSIESt pEOplE

The Irish are best at the art of telling a tale. With a rich history, interesting people and scenery such as the Giant’s Causeway with its mysteriously shaped rocks, the lure of Ireland is unique Wednesday May 26 2010 n 13

Hospitality industry

A veritable hotel development boom in the run-up to the World Cup means hundreds more hotel rooms are vying for your clients’ attention. Natalia Thomson reports…

There’s room at the inn over the World Cup

OUTH Africa won’t come to a standstill because of the soccer. Your clients shouldn’t be afraid to pack their bags and travel! That’s the word from City Lodge ce, Clifford Ross, who, along with hoteliers countrywide is encouraging your corporate clients to travel over the 2010 World Cup. “Matches are not being played in all host cities on every day of the week, so there will be accommodation available. Cities such as Bloemfontein, Nelspruit, Polokwane and Rustenburg have no games after June 26 so it will be business as usual from then. East London, Kimberley, Richards Bay, Potchefstroom, etc are not host cities, so therefore all rooms are available for the full period as they would normally be, so again it is

business as usual.” Clifford says City Lodge has opened its website for individual and corporate bookings and rooms are available on a first-come-firstserved basis. “Planning for travel should be done around the soccer schedule and there will be no problems with availability of rooms.” Andrew Merrill, gm The Royal Palm (Three Cities), agrees but says planning and early booking will be critical. “Many properties will have availability over the World Cup period, yet booking early is the key. Travel should be uninterrupted through careful planning around matches and peak periods. Many properties already are offering specials over this time, as FIFA (Match) releases are coming to fruition and bookings have not been as great as anticipated.”

New Sandton Park Inn opens in June THE new Sandton Park Inn is scheduled to open in mid-June. The hotel on Katherine Street has 273 rooms, including six Junior Suites, which offer high-speed Internet access. Also on offer is a buffet breakfast, all-day menu from RBG ‘Red Bar & Grill’ and fine dining at the private dining room or the Chef’s Table. The property also features four meeting rooms, a 154-sqm conference room, a business centre, gymnasium, an outdoor pool and entertainment/bar area and secure parking.

Get romantic with Fusion! JUST a few days are left to take advantage of Fusion Boutique Hotel’s ‘Over the top Romance’ package. Valid for bookings until May 31 at this Polokwane property, the package (from R3 300) includes accommodation for two guests sharing in a junior suite for one night, a sundowner for two on the hotel’s terrace, a five-course breakfast and a five-course dinner for two in Saskia restaurant. The property offers 30 junior suites and three exclusive 14 n Wednesday May 26 2010

suites – The Kiss Suite, The Bollywood Suite and The Hollywood Suite. Each special suite is decorated with a theme – the Bollywood Suite is inspired by Indian décor and design; The Kiss Suite pays homage to Gustav Klimpt’s famous painting; and the 1940s’ movie era inspires The Hollywood Suite. The property specialises in wedding venue facilities and an events co-ordinator is available to assist with arrangements.

Hospitality briefs New Durban hotels geared for World Cup DURBAN Point Waterfront in KwaZulu Natal will soon welcome two new hotels to its mixeduse development to be ready for the World Cup. Construction of both the Docklands Hotel and the Anchorage Hotel began last year. The Docklands is expected to open in May and the Anchorage, which is part of the Life Hotel brand, will open in the latter part of the year. The Docklands Hotel is a four-star hotel, with 81 rooms, a restaurant and four conference rooms seating a total of 400 people. The R110m hotel is urban, trendy and modern and has striking views over the Indian Ocean and harbour. The Anchorage Hotel has 63 rooms, a restaurant and a conference room, which seats 400 people. The two hotels can accommodate a total of 304 resident guests and 600 in the conference and banqueting suites.

Online booking for Formula 1

HOTEL Fomula 1 has launched an online booking service on its South African website to facilitate quick and easy reservations. Furthermore Hotel Formula 1 is offering FlexiRates offering comfortable rooms that can accommodate up to three people at reduced rates during days of the week that have a lower demand.

Holiday Inn Express expands to KZN

the new Holiday Inn Express Durban-Umhlanga is part of the R7,5bn global relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand. Operated and managed by ISO Leisure Hotels, the new hotel will offer 140 spacious double- and 95 twin-bedded rooms, three of them specially equipped for disabled guests. All rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning, high-speed Wi-Fi access and satellite TV. There are also meeting room facilities for up to 50 delegates, as well as a satellite business centre. A complimentary continental breakfast buffet will also be on offer.

Monarch Hotel joins Mantis World

ONCE an ‘iconic’ original 1930s post office, the Monarch Hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg, has joined the Mantis World collection of properties. There are 11 luxurious suites and one presidential suite. Six ‘deluxe’ suites consist of two Terrace Suites, two Royal Suites and two Coronation Suites. They have exclusive ‘neo-classical’ appointed interiors, entrance hall, restroom, lounge and dining areas, and king-sized bedroom and bathroom with options of garden courtyard views or private terraces. A further five standard luxury suites comprise a king-size bedroom, vanity, lounge area, en-suite bathroom with separate shower and restroom.

Everything under the Sun SUN International Dreams is offering ‘Everything under the Sun’ specials to Lugogo Sun, Ezulwini Sun, Royal Swazi Spa, Zambezi Sun and Royal Livingstone. Packages include breakfast, lunch and dinner and beverage allowance; activity vouchers; and a spa voucher. Zambezi Sun and Royal Livingstone packages also include economy-class airfares ex-JNB and airport taxes. Packages range from three to seven nights and prices for a family of four start at R2 732 for Lugogo Sun, R2 822 for Ezulwini Sun, R3 326 for Royal Swazi Spa per room per night. Prices for a family of four start at R8 605 for the Zambezi Sun and R12 095 for Royal Livingstone per room per night. The offer is valid until July 31. QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

Enjoy everything under the sun at just one price. LUGOGO SUN

3 NIGHTS FROM

PACKAGE PRICES PER FAMILY OF 4 (Self Drive)

Per room per night

EZULWINI SUN

3 NIGHTS FROM

4 NIGHTS FROM

5 NIGHTS FROM

6 NIGHTS FROM

7 NIGHTS FROM

PACKAGE PRICES PER FAMILY OF 4 (Self Drive)

R2 822

Per room per night

ROYAL SWAZI SPA

3 NIGHTS FROM

4 NIGHTS FROM

5 NIGHTS FROM

6 NIGHTS FROM

7 NIGHTS FROM

PACKAGE PRICES PER FAMILY OF 4 (Self Drive)

Per room per night

R2 732

R3 214 R3 718

R2 858

R2 949 R3 453

6 NIGHTS FROM

R2 765

R2 855 R3 359

7 NIGHTS FROM

R2 626

R2 717 R3 221

Per room per night

INCLUDES: INCLUDES: 1 x Swazi Trails Voucher 2 x Swazi Trails Voucher 1 x Camelot Spa Voucher 2 x Camelot Spa Voucher 1 x 18 Holes Golf 2 x 18 Holes Golf 3 x Breakfast 4 x Breakfast 3 x Lunch 4 x Lunch 3 x Dinner 4 x Dinner 3 x Beverage Allowance 4 x Beverage Allowance 3 x Kamp Kwena 4 x Kamp Kwena 3 x Breakfast 4 x Breakfast 3 x Lunch 4 x Lunch 3 x Dinner 4 x Dinner 3 x Beverage Allowance 4 x Beverage Allowance FREE FREE Prices for children of other ages are available on request.

INCLUDES: 2 x Swazi Trails Voucher 2 x Camelot Spa Voucher 2 x 18 Holes Golf 5 x Breakfast 5 x Lunch 5 x Dinner 5 x Beverage Allowance 5 x Kamp Kwena 5 x Breakfast 5 x Lunch 5 x Dinner 5 x Beverage Allowance FREE

INCLUDES: 2 x Swazi Trails Voucher 2 x Camelot Spa Voucher 3 x 18 Holes Golf 6 x Breakfast 6 x Lunch 6 x Dinner 6 x Beverage Allowance 6 x Kamp Kwena 6 x Breakfast 6 x Lunch 6 x Dinner 6 x Beverage Allowance FREE

INCLUDES: 2 x Swazi Trails Voucher 2 x Camelot Spa Voucher 3 x 18 Holes Golf 7 x Breakfast 7 x Lunch 7 x Dinner 7 x Beverage Allowance 7 x Kamp Kwena 7 x Breakfast 7 x Lunch 7 x Dinner 7 x Beverage Allowance FREE

ZAMBEZI SUN

3 NIGHTS FROM

5 NIGHTS FROM

6 NIGHTS FROM

7 NIGHTS FROM

PACKAGE PRICES PER FAMILY OF 4

R8 605

Per room per night

ROYAL LIVINGSTONE

3 NIGHTS FROM

4 NIGHTS FROM

5 NIGHTS FROM

6 NIGHTS FROM

7 NIGHTS FROM

PACKAGE PRICES PER FAMILY OF 4

Per room per night (for 2 rooms)

Per Child Sharing Over 12

Per Child Sharing Under 2

R12 095

Per Adult Sharing

Per Child Sharing Over 12

Per Child Sharing Under 12

66195B

R3 123

5 NIGHTS FROM

Per room per night

Per Adult Sharing

TNW3996SD

R3 326

4 NIGHTS FROM

R7 727

R10 894

Per room per night (for 2 rooms)

INCLUDES: INCLUDES: 1 x Activity Voucher 2 x Activity Voucher 1 x Royal Spa Voucher 2 x Royal Spa Voucher 3 x Breakfast 4 x Breakfast 3 x Lunch 4 x Lunch 3 x Dinner 4 x Dinner 3 x Beverage Allowance 4 x Beverage Allowance 1 x Activity Voucher 2 x Activity Voucher 3 x Breakfast 4 x Breakfast 3 x Lunch 4 x Lunch 3 x Dinner 4 x Dinner 3 x Beverage Allowance 4 x Beverage Allowance 1 x Activity Voucher 2 x Activity Voucher 3 x Breakfast 4 x Breakfast 3 x Lunch 4 x Lunch 3 x Dinner 4 x Dinner 3 x Beverage Allowance 4 x Beverage Allowance Prices for children of other ages are available on request.

R7 438

R10 670

R7 005

R10 280

R6 557

R10 002

Per room per night (for 2 rooms)

INCLUDES: 2 x Activity Voucher 2 x Royal Spa Voucher 5 x Breakfast 5 x Lunch 5 x Dinner 5 x Beverage Allowance 2 x Activity Voucher 5 x Breakfast 5 x Lunch 5 x Dinner 5 x Beverage Allowance 2 x Activity Voucher 5 x Breakfast 5 x Lunch 5 x Dinner 5 x Beverage Allowance

INCLUDES: 2 x Activity Voucher 2 x Royal Spa Voucher 6 x Breakfast 6 x Lunch 6 x Dinner 6 x Beverage Allowance 2 x Activity Voucher 6 x Breakfast 6 x Lunch 6 x Dinner 6 x Beverage Allowance 2 x Activity Voucher 6 x Breakfast 6 x Lunch 6 x Dinner 6 x Beverage Allowance

INCLUDES: 2 x Activity Voucher 2 x Royal Spa Voucher 7 x Breakfast 7 x Lunch 7 x Dinner 7 x Beverage Allowance 2 x Activity Voucher 7 x Breakfast 7 x Lunch 7 x Dinner 7 x Beverage Allowance 2 x Activity Voucher 7 x Breakfast 7 x Lunch 7 x Dinner 7 x Beverage Allowance

Book your all inclusive break now by calling your nearest ASATA travel agent or Dreams on 011 217 5555, or visit suninternational.com. Specific Terms and Conditions apply. E&OE

Hospitality industry

Room oversupply sees occupancies drop THE addition of hundreds of hotel rooms in urban centres like Cape Town, Sandton and Umhlanga in the past year has led to an oversupply in the market and an overall 13,3% decline in occupancy for SA hotels, says Deloitte Southern Africa tourism, hospitality and leisure leader, Moray Wilson. “Although South Africa’s tourism industry showed some resilience during 2009, attracting 3,6% more tourists and bringing the total number to 9,9m despite a contracting global economy, the increase in the number of visitors did

not outweigh the increase in hotel room supply.” Moray says while hosting of the soccer tournament should boost hotel performance for 2010 in the short term, there are at least 10 new hotels or 1 525 rooms expected to open in 2010. “It remains to be seen if improvements in performance will be sustained through to the end of the year.” The perception of price gouging over the 2010 World Cup, adds Moray, also appears to have been addressed.

Hilton Sandton unveils revamped guest rooms THE Hilton Sandton is in the process of introducing a new level of de-luxe guest rooms for both the leisure and corporate traveller. The de-luxe suites, king and twin rooms on the hotel’s second and third floors, will be completed by the end of this month. The refurbished rooms offer new dedicated zones aimed at meeting the comfort and functional requirements of guests. Three zones divide the area into a work space, a relaxation space and a sleep/ rest space. Hilton Sandton is also

making substantial headway towards achieving its goal of reducing energy consumption by 20%. The refurbished rooms will consume 50% less energy than previously. This reduction is made possible through sealing of the windows to control temperature, compact fluorescent lighting and the installation of appliances in the room that draw substantially less power. The mini-bar in the room is remote controlled to run for only a few hours during the day. The rooms offer new

technologies for business travellers, allowing guests to plug their laptop display into a data point for the flat-screen TV. Gm, Axel Hauser, says this is ideal for businessmen who need to practise a presentation or would prefer to work on a bigger screen. The rooms offer conveniences such as UK, USA and European power outlets, iron and ironing board facilities, automatic lights in the wardrobe, individual reading lights above the bed, a security safe and tea- and coffee-making facilities.

‘Head to Mauritius for 2010’ – Naïade Holidays ESCAPE the 2010 mayhem by going to Mauritius. That’s the word from Naïade Holidays as it offers crazy specials to its Mauritius and Réunion properties to encourage South Africans to visit over the June/July match period. “We have seats on set flight departures throughout the soccer period. As usual those seat allocations have matching room allocations at all our hotels. And even more exciting for us is that each of our hotels is putting together unique programmes dedicated to guests travelling during the World Cup period,” says gm, Matthew Fubbs. “These programmes include big-screen viewing, dedicated spa specials, special

menu planning… the hotels are going to be buzzing,” says Matthew. In addition the hotels will all list upcoming matches and viewing times and list the scores of matches already played. Naïade Holidays is promoting a 35% Early Bird discount at five-star de-luxe Beau Rivage, five-star Les Pavillons, five-star Legends and four-star all-inclusive Tamassa until October (21-day advance purchase applies on these discounts). All adult rates are per person sharing ex-JNB and include return flights on Air Mauritius, return airport/hotel transfers, seven nights’ accommodation and dinner and breakfast daily unless specified otherwise.

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QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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Terms & conditions apply. TNW3997SD

Hospitality industry

BAR still irks corporates BEST Available Rate, while here to stay, certainly remains a contentious issue among corporates. City Lodge’s Clifford Ross says BAR can work well in hotels that do not have a regular client base who will compare rates each time they stay. “Regular clients need to know what they are paying today is the same as they will be paying next month and can budget accordingly.” Peermont, says chief commercial officer Mark Jakins, is not receiving negative feedback regarding its BAR policy. “Our BAR policy does not impact our corporate clients with whom we have rate agreements. We honour the negotiated rate no matter the occupancy. “Some corporates prefer the predictability and protection of a negotiated rate agreement. Others prefer not to make a commitment and take a chance on BAR. It’s really up

to the client to decide what’s best for their business.” Corporates understand the principle and accept it, claims Heather Wynn, Three Cities group revenue manager. “This is when bookings are done via a TMC. When it becomes challenging is when the corporate prefers a fixed rate. The concept of dynamic pricing is essential in hospitality.” Willie Williams, marketing manager Sheraton, agrees corporates are more understanding when you explain how the process works. “Airlines have been using dynamic pricing for many years. The more full the flight, the more expensive the seat and the same system applies for hotels.” BAR, says Danny Bryer, Protea's group marketing and revenue director, has “no restrictions and is priced competitively” ensuring the customer is receiving the best price at any point in time.

“There is absolute transparency by our distribution partners when it comes to commissions, booking fees etc, so that the customer is assured they are getting the best deal.” Booking in advanced, says Danny, allows clients to negotiate better deals and this is the same for the hospitality sector. “Better planning leads to better and more costeffective packages.” Some hotels, says Hilton Durban gm, Gerhard Patzer, have actually reverted to the negotiated rate. “BAR really is used more by individual corporates, as corporates with volumes would get a better deal with negotiated rates. I can’t really say hotels benefit from BAR if seasonality isn’t an issue. So, for example, in Durban and Johannesburg where we enjoy year-round business, having BAR doesn’t give us much of a benefit.”

New Umhlanga property for Southern Sun SOUTHERN Sun has three properties opening this year – Southern Sun Montecasino, the Garden Court Umhlanga and StayEasy Pietermaritzburg. Opening this month, the new Garden Court Umhlanga offers a choice of queen or double rooms as well as interleading options. A lobby bar and Internet stations will

be located adjacent to the enclosed leafy courtyard where there is a pool with a play ledge for kids to play in. The open lounge will provide a comfortable area for guests. An on-site restaurant is available for guests and private functions while a fully equipped gym is located on the fifth floor.

Unbundling – new trend or more of the same? UNBUNDLING, the act of removing services or facilities and charging extra for these, may be something hoteliers increasingly try as hotel rates decline during the economic downturn. Airlines have been doing it for years with Ryanair recently announcing it may start charging passengers for using the on-board lavatory. Internet access, parking and breakfast are all facilities and services hotels either include in their rate or unbundle. Hilton Durban’s Gerhard Patzer says, although guests automatically think a five-star property would to a lesser extent go the unbundling route, this is not always true. “Even in our own group we have brands that offer free WiFi like the Hilton Garden Inn brand, where at a luxury property like the Waldorf Astoria this would be charged for separately.” Gerhard says it’s up to the hotel group to assess what most of its clients need as a non-negotiable and include this in the rate. Peermont’s Mark Jakins says the group’s three-star Metcourt already offers an à la carte facility, ie guests are given the option to choose the services they wish to use and pay only for those.

Apartment hotels appeal to corporates Max Marx APARTMENT hotels have become an increasingly popular option for travellers, particularly corporates. The growth of apartment hotels is putting pressure on traditional hotels because they have further flooded the market with rooms for sale, says City Lodge’s Clifford Ross. Apartment/condominium hotels first emerged in Sandton and Cape Town and have since appeared in other areas. Urban Hip Hotels is one company that manages several condominium-style hotels. Jeremy Singleton, gm of The Nicol, which is managed by Urban Hip Hotels, says condominium-style hotels are attractive to long-stay guests and corporates who

are looking for a home-fromhome environment. “Our rates are very competitive as we don’t have such large overheads and the apartments are spacious enough for corporate travellers to comfortably share, thus enabling us to save on costs. “We’ve seen the corporate market cutting down on their length of stay. Where they used to stay two to three nights, they’re now staying only one or two nights.” “Although apartment hotels gained in popularity before the economic crisis hit because of a perceived shortage of rooms in some areas over certain periods, with so many new hotel developments in the market, I doubt we’ll see more apartment blocks being converted,” says Clifford.

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18 n Wednesday May 26 2010

QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

CoMMUNITYNEWs

jobs

Births, deaths, marriages, promotions – we want to know! Please fax or e-mail TNW's Jeanette Phillips, at jeanettep@nowmedia.co.za or (011) 327 4094.

SpecialiZed Travel perSonnel our website is updated daily! visit www.specialized.co.za

Obituary

AVIATION DIVISION:

Community news

liked throughout the industry, said Global Aviation ceo, Johan Kuit. Norbert was a retired manager for the company’s Tripoli office. Catherine worked for SAA for several years before she joined Global Aviation and Norbert was previously with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

BUSINESS MANAGER- Fourways Responsible for Profit and Loss. Prospect new Clients and manage existing portfolio. Proactive in sales and marketing, negotiation of prices. Knowledge of MICE - Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events. Report to Country Director . English and French a plus. Tour Operating exp in Groups over 8 years. Ann

Intermediate. Certified in Amadeus, Intermediate Fares an advantage. Salary: R8000. Ann

INCENTIVE MANAGER- Johannesburg North European Languages (French/Italian) 3+ yrs exp. in Incentives trade, negotiate with Suppliers, Attend Trade shows in the World and participate on Sales calls. Outbound around the World. Create a sales network for Inbound into S.A. to start Inbound Division. Salary: R18000 - R25000 with 50% Medical aid. Ann

TRAVEL MANAGER- Sandton Stable track record, strong people’s skills. Managing consultants approx. 8, International bookings. Managing Office (tea, cleaning, stationery, general office running), Supplier/rep relations for travel issues. Overseeing receptionist & processor. Nono

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INTERMEDIATE/ SENIOR CONSULTANTJohannesburg Outbound travel exp, handle the Middle East department. 2+ yrs Middle East or European exp. Nono

GRAPHIC DESIGNER- Kyalami Knowledge of design packages- Freehand MX, Fireworx MX4, Adobe packages- design, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash Html knowledge, Corel Draw. Understanding of printing processes. Tight deadlines attention to detail, creative, organised and work as a part of a team. Salary R12000- R14000 ctc + incentives. Nono

Danielle’s appointment follows the departure of Heather Jeffery, who is stepping 1746after TNWfive rec ad:1746 4:31 PM Page 1 E mail: ann@pcs-sa.co.za / nono@pcs-sa.co.za Web: www.pcs-sa.co.za down years with the 5/11/10 company.

n Virgin Blue has announced the appointment of Danielle Keighery as gm of public affairs to lead its communications team.

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TIp-Top SEnIoR!

Put her in front of a corporate client, and she will close the deal! Highly professional, energetic candidate with a proven b/ground of success within the travel industry. Currently in a sales mngt role with a blue-chip car rental co, however she is open to sales / management roles within any sphere of the travel industry! R18,000 gross + company car + incentive’s.

Snr Corporate Consultant – E/Rand Based in the Boksburg area. An exceptionally pleasant working environment and highly respected management makes this a very attractive job. Work on Galileo and Quicktrav. Salary is negotiable depending on experience. Tina Int/Snr Consultant – E/Rand Corporate consulting within highly successful and well known travel company. Candidates must be adaptable as this position will entail working in different teams within the office. Your corporate consulting experience will be appreciated. Amadeus preferable. Salary highly negotiable. Tina

Intermediate Cons – Sandton 90% corporate travel and own transport is essential. Be part of a highly professional operation. Minimum 3 years experience required. Tina

SENIOR BRAAMFONTEIN CONSULTANT/BOKSBURG

Join well established, friendly company and work Leadingcloser Corporate offers to home!

CONTACT WENDY/KIM TEl: 011Contact 465 8221 FAx: 086 538 5889 Wendy/Kim E-MAIl: wtp@icon.co.za (011) 704 4909 or e-mail: wtp@icon.co.za

Commercial Manager – Based Gauteng Senior management position. Proven track record, astute business acumen together with exceptional sales and negotiation skills is required. Will manage vendor agreements, legalities, staff and relationship management. Travel experience & BEE advantageous. Salary highly negotiable. Kati

Groups Consultant – E/Rand Some previous experience handling group bookings is required by highly recommendable travel agency. Take on this specialized role with the support of an excellent infrastructure. Amadeus an advantage. Tina

LEISURE CONSULTANT/ROSEBANK NORTHERN Commission driven SUBURBS position in young Person strong in Marketing invited to join vibey office!! leading Wholesaler!

Please Take Note of Our New Telephone No.: 011 704 4909

For all aviation opportunities email CV to joyce@sgroup.co.za Due to the volume of CVs received we apologise for not being able to respond to every applicant. Should you not hear from us within 10 days please consider your application unsuccessful, however we will keep your details on file for alternative opportunities.

Branch Manager – Cape Town Previous experience in a management role within the service/ travel industry is required, together with strong leadership, customer relations and HR skills. Kati

*Preference will be given to French, Portuguese or Spanish speaking candidates. Personnel with the personal touch

Airline GSA Sales Executive – Gauteng Develop and implement a relevant Sales Call Plan to the Travel industry. Previous external sales experience required. R12000.

TRAVEL DIVISION

Wings® Corporate Travel, a rapidly expanding international corporate travel management company, has the following exciting positions available: Travel Consultants* Contact Centre Consultants Marketing Consultant Network Engineer Accounts Payable Controller Banking Facilities Controller

Airline Sales Executive – East Rand R16000. Use your previous airline sales experience, strong negotiation and communication skills to generate new business and develop close trade relations. Min 3 years airline external sales experience required.

She has a gentle manner that your clients will love! This outgoing & personable lady has 10 years consulting exp, having serviced the corporate & leisure markets with equal efficiency! She has excellent references, and is available to take on a new role – be it temp / perm. R15,000 pm.

Leisure Consultant – E/Rand A minimum of 2 years leisure travel experience is required by highly successful travel agency. Will be handling primarily package holiday bookings to Europe plus other destinations. A Junior or Intermediate is required. Amadeus is an advantage but not essential. R6000/R9000. Tina Wholesale Consulting with a difference! Jhb N/Suburbs Your previous wholesale travel experience at a senior level & strong product knowledge is required! This is not the usual run-of-the-mill position! For details call Kati! Inbound Incentives Cons – N/Suburbs Jhb Will handle the function from start to finish, working for well established operator. Previous incentives and inbound experience is essential. The company is prepared to reward this expertise with an attractive salary. Kati

Debtors Clerk – Central Sandton Highly regarded travel agency requires an experienced Debtors Clerk to handle the full debtors function. BSP experience would also be advantageous. Will be part of a busy accounts department. Kati

Office Hrs (011) 884-9113 Website: www.specialized.co.za e-mail: kati@sgroup.co.za or tina@sgroup.co.za

TNW0714

n Catherine Tillett of Global Aviation, her former colleague, Norbert Taferner, and his wife Paula died on May 12 when the Afriqiyah aircraft from Johannesburg crashed near Tripoli. Catherine, who had been on her way to Tripoli to do cabin crew training for another airline, was well known and

BEE New Business Development Executive Based Jhb N/Suburbs. R17000. International carrier. Seek and deliver new business opportunities to grow revenue through Corporate & SME initiatives, using MI and reporting sales tools including WWDS and RAS. Min 4 years sakes experience and reporting practices in Airline industry.

Wednesday May 26 2010 n 19

TNW NEWS

Over 50% of CPT hotel rooms are empty A kiss for good luck

Hilka Birns

There has never been a better time to travel to Ireland because airfares have never been lower, says Jim Paul, Tourism Ireland director of new and developing markets. Jim was visiting Cape Town to promote Good Food Ireland, a non-profit organisation that promotes genuine Irish food and Ireland as a food tourism destination. Jim said tourism arrivals to Ireland had fallen by 15% last year – translating into one million fewer visitors – because of the economic recession’s impact on Britain, which provides about 50% of all visitors to Ireland. He said the downward trend had continued in the first four months this year, exacerbated by airspace shutdowns because of the recurring Icelandic volcanic ash cloud. Spotted giving Jim a kiss for good luck is Development Promotions md, Jane Davidson Photo: Hilka Birns

brought to you by

eTNW and TRAVELINFO

Oh, no! Not another air tax The United Kingdom’s new coalition government has agreed to scrap Air Passenger Duty, replacing it with a per plane tax. The decision is:

n Great news 13% n Does not affect my clients 7% n The cost will still be directed to consumers (i.e. airfares, surcharges) 80% Read more on this story on page 1. eTravel is the ITC market leader in South Africa and assists senior Travel Consultants and Travel business owners to realise their dreams. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own travel business or would like to cut costs by doing away with your IATA license and improve your current business efficiencies then you should call eTravel. We run the back office for over 190 Independent Travel Companies and specialise in making your travel business a success by offering the best commissions, overrides & a comprehensive support structure. If you have a client base, 5 years retail travel experience or already own your own business but want to make more, then contact us! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is!

more competitive pricing. Research showed that 45% of accommodation providers in February were charging the same or less than their peak season rates, compared with 26% in January. Alan said empty rooms were also the result of fewer than expected visitors as a result of the worldwide economic downturn, Cape Town being a long-haul destination, the exchange rate, and unscrupulous operators hiking their prices – a situation the Western Cape industry addressed by signing a responsible pricing code earlier this year. He felt FIFA should also have made it easier to buy tickets online. In addition, 45% of fans would be based in Gauteng, around where most matches would be played, although 63% had indicated they would also shortly visit Cape Town. n

8U – flights not affected natasHa tippel

FRIQIYAH Airways has confirmed that it is business as usual following the devastating crash of flight 8U771 from Johannesburg just outside Tripoli airport on May 12. Aviareps gm Southern Africa, Charmaine Thomé, says the airline will continue to serve its Johannesburg route. “There is always an impact when something so tragic happens but we have seen only a few cancellations and only for departures in the next couple of weeks,” says Charmaine. Meanwhile, global specialists are on site and Airbus has sent investigators to Tripoli airport.

They are all working around the clock to ascertain the cause of the crash. Some media reports have noted possible parallels with the Air France crash off the coast of Brazil on June 1, 2009, as it also involved an Airbus A330. “Both planes have perpendicularly fallen out of the air at great speed. This can be seen from shattered remains and from the fact that only the tail and the stabilisers of the plane are still [standing] upright,” said lawyer, Frans Vreede, according to De Telegraaf. However, spokesperson for Airbus in South Africa, Linden Birns, says the A330 has one of the best safety records in the aviation industry. “Every 62 seconds an A330 takes

flight, transporting 300 000 passengers a day. There are 670 aircraft currently in service with another 400 to be delivered. “We don’t know what caused either the Air France or Afriqiyah airplane crashes, so to say that somehow they are similar is pure speculation,” says Linden. There were 104 people on board flight 8U771, including 11 crew members and 82 connecting passengers. Among those who died were 13 South Africans, including a well-known figure in the aviation sector, Catherine Tillet (see page 19). Sixty-eight Dutch citizens were also killed in the crash. The only survivor, a Dutch child, Ruben Van Assouw, has since returned home in a stable condition. n

For the record In the story in TNW May 5 entitled ‘KQ plans to increase fleet and frequency’, it was reported that Kenya Airways was planning to increase its daily frequency to Johannesburg from Nairobi to four flights per day. This is incorrect. There will only be a fourth flight on Sundays. TNW apologises for the error.

EURO RSCG 4460/E

lauraw@etravel.co.za / charmainem@etravelcpt.co.za

ITH less than a month to go before the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup, Cape Town still has more than half of its room stock to fill and is pulling out all the stops to capture last-minute bookings and draw fans based in Gauteng. This emerged at a media briefing in the city on May 17 where provincial tourism MEC, Alan Winde, stressed that, “we are still open for business!” The focus was now on filling the remaining beds by capturing last-minute bookings and enticing those who were still undecided, added Calvyn Gilfellan, ceo of provincial marketer, Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU). He said CTRU’s ‘Beyond the 90 Minutes’ 2010 marketing campaign was now targeting overseas fans already based

in Gauteng, Gautengers and Western Cape residents. He said an online ‘Web-episode’ campaign, turning visitors into destination ambassadors by enabling them to post their holiday videos online, was already proving to be a huge success. Ongoing marketing during the tournament would also target fans from different countries as their teams were eliminated. Alan said by the end of March, only 46% of Cape Town’s accommodation establishments were booked for June, better than the 38% booked for the same period last year, but worse than the 58% booked in June 2008. The reason? Some 18 new hotels in the city – representing a 40% increase in room stock totalling 26 000 rooms in the CBD and 50 000 rooms in greater Cape Town. This was resulting in

Quiet, spacious and comfortable, the

with

Daily flights from Johannesburg to Paris.

www.airfrance.co.za

TNW3919SD

20 n Wednesday May 26 2010

QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS