Selling Travel June 2016 by BMI Publishing Ltd

JUNE 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ SELLINGTRAVEL.CO.UK

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR

PENN PALS

Suggest Philadelphia for a U.S. city break and as the gateway to the Pennsylvania countryside

how to sell...

Japan Florida Seychelles North Cyprus River Cruising Mediterranean Islands and more...

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contents

this issue - we travel further to bring you more FEATURES 8 Mediterranean Islands: Azure

Steve Hartridge is...

Heading down to New Orleans for IPW 2016 and then onto Alabama to visit Muscle Shoals' famous recording studios and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center

waters on our doorstep

13 Japan: More visitors take a sporting chance

18 North Cyprus: An emerging

'new' cultural destination

29 Romantic Escapes: A shortlist

of romance-ready destinations

Benjamin Coren had...

36 Philadelphia and Beyond: City

breaks and statewide options

45 Florida Twin-Centres: Orlando

an Arabian adventure in Abu Dhabi. He joined 80 agents on the emirate's second Mega Fam, testing out the world's fastest rollercoaster and tearing through the desert dunes in a 4WD

and pairing suggestions

Andy Hoskins flew..

58 Seychelles: Island-hopping 68 Thailand: From homestays to

into Miami and travelled on to Florida's Paradise Coast â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to spend time in Naples and Marco Island

luxury resorts

QUICK READS 16 Focus On: Goa 20 Introducing: Alberta:

F LO R I D A TWIN-CENTRES

Drumheller and the Badlands

28 How to Sell: Perugia 43 Focus on: Johannesburg 64 My Journey: Cruise &

J A PA N

Maritime in Norway

66 Six of the Best: China 90 The Final Word THE REVIEW 49 Top news stories, show reports

T H A I LA N D

from ATM, Indaba, Germany Travel Mart and FITcuba and a review of Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas

S E YC H E L L E S

TALKING SHOP 21 News, incentives & reports from the CTO Roadshow, Abu Dhabi Mega Fam and a Selling Travel Dialogue with Macy's

RIVER CRUISING 75 Catch-up on the latest ships and routes, read about cruising in Asia, themed river cruises and solo-specialist voyages

Please note that Selling Travel, owned and published by BMI Publishing Ltd., is not connected in any way to Selling Travel e-magazine published by SMP Training Co. and based in British Columbia, Canada. The latter online publication focuses exclusively on sales skills and all aspects of professional selling within the travel and tourism sectors. To benefit from this travel industry sales training resource visit www.sellingtravel.net

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MEDITERRANEAN I S LA N D S

Travel Trade Publication of the Year

Suffolk House, George St, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1SR, UK T 020 8649 7233 | F 020 8649 7234 enquiries@bmipublishing.co.uk www.bmipublishing.co.uk www.sellingtravel.co.uk Publishers: Steve Thompson & Sally Parker Commercial Director: David Clare Editorial Director: Steve Hartridge Group Editor: Jo Austin Contributing Editor: Alan Orbell Journalists: Andy Hoskins, Julie Baxter & Laura Gelder Junior Journalists: Ben Coren & Cameron Roberts Business Development Manager: Craig McQuinn Advertisement Manager: Lisa Merrigan Creative Director: Matt Bonner Designers: Louisa Horton & Ross Clifford Junior Designer: Zoë Tarrant Production Manager: Clare Hunter Circulation Manager: Cheryl Staniforth Managing Director: Martin Steady We are members of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Visit USA Association, LATA, PATA, MENATA, SATOA, the Foreign Airlines Association and the Institute of Travel & Tourism. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, BMI Publishing cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. ISSN: 2056-9319. Cover image: Spruce Street Harbor Park © Guy Ginn

welcome – dedicated to those who love selling travel –

oyal Caribbean certainly caused a few waves when it rolled out its latest floating behemoth, Harmony of the Seas, in Southampton last month. As much a theme park at sea as a mere cruise ship, eye-catching features include the world’s tallest slide at sea (called Ultimate Abyss), an aqua centre featuring performing synchronised swimmers and Central Park, a lush green area featuring 12,000 live plants. Our own Ben Coren was certainly left to pick his jaw off the floor a few times during his two-night visit and you can read his review of the ship on page 57. Elsewhere in this issue, on page 26 regular columnist Barbara Charlton is anticipating a surge in long haul bookings as a dwindling list of Steve Hartridge popular closer-to-home destinations struggle to cope with demand. EDITOR Spain, Portugal, France and Italy are among those European choices reaching capacity as other one-time favourites, most obviously Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt, fall almost completely fall off the radar of holidaymakers. Barrhead Travel is one operator seeing a major spike in demand, with bookings for Spain up by 37% against this time last year, Bulgaria by 22%, Malta by 20%, Portugal 18% and Italy 17%. There is certainly something plaintively courageous about Tunisia’s recent tourism marketing campaign hoping to reassure us that 'life goes on' and to encourage British travellers not to forget about it. Such a plea flies in the face of current Foreign Office advice, advising against all but essential travel to the country, but what else is a destination to do after suffering a 90% drop in British visitors in the first four months of 2016 to just 5,980 visitors? In this issue we turn attention to one of those regions in demand, the Mediterranean Islands, along with perennial favourites Seychelles and Thailand. Then there are others that just might surprise you! So don’t miss our Philadelphia and Beyond feature and our latest extended section on River Cruising.

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INDUSTRY COMMENTS... “Right now, we’re seeing the best (visitor) growth I can remember: 14% up for the first three months of 2016 on our 940,000 base. “We think we’ll welcome our millionth visitor this year, so we’re excited about that."

“A self-drive twin-centre holiday enables visitors to make the most of what Florida has to offer. How about spending time in a hotel or a villa in the theme park capital of the world before driving an hour to the Space Coast?"

Chris Lee, Head of Marketing, Tourism Authority of

Colin Brodie, Director UK and Ireland, Florida Tourism.

Thailand, UK. See feature, page 68

See feature, page 45

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events & festivals

reasons for seasons - events and experiences to shape a booking -

THE PHUKET VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL The Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place each September. The nine-day festival celebrates purity and abstinence and participants commit acts of 'physical mutilation' to honour the nine emperor gods. Visitors should visit temples around Phuket to take part in some of the many less grotesque-like festivities. phuketvegetarian.com

REGATTA STORICA One of Venice’s most popular rowing events, Regatta Storica is a collection of races inspired by the life and times of 16th century Italy life. Expect to see elaborately decorated gondolas, rowers in gaudy costumes and a smattering of Venetian pride and excitement from the spectators. The next Regatta Storica takes place September 4, 2016. regatastoricavenezia.it

NEW YORK CITY WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL

LA TOMATINA

Taking place from October 13- 16, the food and wine celebration offers the chance to experience the best of New York's foodie scene. Culinary juggernauts from around the world come together during this charity event, with elite chefs serving up mouth-watering offerings. corporate.nycwineandfoodfestival.com

WWW.NYCWINEANDFOODFESTIVAL.COM

LA CALACA Art lovers are sure to be captivated by La Calaca, a festival which takes over the entire town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Events and performances cover the art spectrum. Visitors can view live music, performance art and a range of traditional mediums. The next festival takes0 place from October 30 to November 2. lacalacafestival.com

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If food fights are your clients’ thing, consider La Tomatina. Held in Bunjol, Spain, the festival stems from times of civil unrest in the early 20th century. Today it’s just an all-out tomato throwing frenzy – it is a rule that you must 'squish' your tomato first to avoid head injuries – where locals and visitors alike participate. This year the first tomatoes will be hurled on August 31. latomatinatours.com

Now London â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Guayaquil Fly Air Europa, the Latin American specialist, and discover Ecuador. Launching December 16th 2016. Five weekly flights from London Gatwick. Baggage allowance 2X23Kg.

All flights are via Madrid. For more information call: 08714230717 or visit us at: www.aireuropaexperts.com

mediterranean islands

charm island

Those in search of a value-formoney island escape in the Med have no shortage of options, says Clare Walsh

Above: The Azure Window. Right: Catedral de Santa Maria Sal

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mediterranean islands

ur catamaran glides gently into a hotspots for 2016, Croatia has 1,200 easily secluded bay and the anchor drops with accessible islands – and these are a key a splash. Tapas and champagne are focus for the tourist board this year. From the prepared below deck and, as the sun dips behind vibrant party island of Hvar to romantic Mljet, the horizon, soulful beats drift through the boat. clients have their pick of Adriatic treasures. After an evening dip, my sunset introduction Improved accessibility has helped drive growth to Palma concludes with a cruise past the to Croatia, with British Airways doubling its city’s crowning glory, La Seu. The magnificent flights from Heathrow to Split and now flying cathedral seems at its most beautiful from four times a week. Jet2 plans to introduce the water, floodlit and dreamlike, its gothic additional flights from Manchester to Pula silhouette rising into the night sky. and Dubrovnik, and easyJet launches a new We disembark and make our way into the trendy flight from Bristol to Dubrovnik on June 19. arts district of Santa Catalina. Alive with a creative Clients seeking a twin-centre energy bursting from its workshops, galleries Mediterranean holiday may wish to opt and eateries, we enjoy rooftop cocktails at Hotel for the potent mix of Corsica and Sardinia, Cuba before being treated to authentic Spanish separated by just eight miles of water. cuisine at the tiny Bunkers restaurant – living Amandine Blanchard, Product Manager of up to its well earned reputation among locals Corsica Places, says interest has increased so early and visitors alike. booking is essential. That Palma is “Corsica is the perfect distinctly a stylish holiday choice for those “Sardinia has fantastic beaches seeking authenticity. city can’t be disputed. and is a great family-friendly Pretty seaside towns, Smart designer shops destination. Watersports are and Michelin-starred secluded inlets, restaurants lounge dramatic mountains readily available and I’d in the ancient walls recommend taking a boat trip to and clifftop villages, of its old town, while lush forests with La Maddalena Islands” Es Baulard, the city’s sweet swelling aromas TIZIANO SPREAFICIO, PRODUCT MANAGER iconic museum built from the maquis and SARDINIAN PLACES into the city’s walls, a thriving culture all treats us to fantastic add to its appeal.” views of the city from its impressive terrace. The ongoing migrant crisis and economic uncertainty hasn’t deterred visitors from the Playing to strengths Greek islands – in fact just the opposite is true Palma knows what its strengths are and it became with with arrivals in 2015 up by nearly 15%. clear that my standout moments were in line Christina Kalogera, Director of GNTO UK & with the tourist board’s focus. Marketing the city Ireland Office says: “With new flight routes to as a year- ound destination, it has created five Greece from various UK tour operators and products: A Passion For: Culture, Sports, Sailing, airlines and positive early-booking indications, Gastronomy and Enjoying Palma de Mallorca. we are looking forward to welcoming Mallorca is certainly no stranger to tourists, even more UK visitors to the country.” and Brits have long enjoyed a love affair Additional focus is being placed on with the Balearics. But the Mediterranean’s Greece’s lesser-known locations, which offering of islands extends much further has over 200 inhabited islands ready for than this, making it hard for clients not exploration. Thomas Cook also added Thassos to find their own island paradise. – Greece’s ‘best kept secret’ – to its summer Malta, for example, has long enjoyed a programme for the first time this year. popularity that rarely wanes. Offering a heady mix of beguiling architecture, alluring landscapes and tranquil beaches, the small archipegelo of Malta, Gozo and Comino saw a 15% increase in bookings in March compared with the same time last year. The most growth has been in the 24-45 age range, with the country benefiting from the thousands who flock to its popular music festivals. For example, the Isle of MTV Malta festival attracts 50,000 visitors annually, while Annie Mac Lost and Found, Groovefest and Sound You Need have added to the island’s magnetism as it continues to punch above its weight in terms of an eclectic events calendar in 2016. Named one of the best-value Eurozone

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mediterranean islands

Perfect ten

“Malta offers a great variety of beaches for relaxing holidays, from red sand to inland seas, ideal for couples and families. Those after cultural breaks can visit the variety of historic sites from different eras” RUBEN CABEZUELO, SHORT HAUL PRODUCT AND PURCHASING MANAGER, TRAVEL 2

Bend it like Beckham: New for 2016, Chia Laguna in Sardinia is offering the Juventus Training Experience for kids aged five to 14. Over five days children can hone their skills with one of the world’s most legendary teams. Call of the wild: Suggest the islands of Cabrera Marine and Terrestrial Nature Reserve to nature-loving clients visiting Mallorca, just over an hour away by boat. Game of Thrones fans: Suggest visiting the limestone arch known as the Azure Window on the tiny island of Comino, the setting for the Dothraki Wedding camp scene. History hunters: The Nuragic Complexes will satisfy culture hungry clients visiting Sardinia, with the Barumini Complex a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All aboard: Why see just one of Greece’s beautiful islands? Suggest a cruise for clients keen to fit more than one destination. Island hop: Croatia’s islands offer a variety of experiences. Suggest Vis for foodies, Mljet for romance and Rab for beaches. Double up: A twin-centre trip to Sardinia and Corsica will enable clients to experience each islands contrasting identitiess. Music Lovers: Why go to a mud-filled field when clients can party in the sun to their favourite bands? Malta has an impressive events calendar in 2016. Sandy stretches: Playa de Muro on the north coast of Mallorca showcases a six-kilometre blue flag beach and safe shallow waters perfect for children. Paradise found: Suggest a day trip to Formentera for clients travelling to Ibiza. Crystalline waters and white sand beaches offer a tranquil idyll and the ultimate island paradise.

What’s new

Clockwise from top left: Colourful ﬁshing boat; Sardinia Beach; The city of Alghero; Right: Dubrovnik’s old town

 Accommodation: Hilton Malta (hilton.com/ Malta) has completed a €15 million refurbishment programme. Located in St Julian’s, it is 20 minutes from Malta International Airport. The ﬁve-star Kempinski Hotel in San Lawrenz

on Gozo (kempinski.com) has just completed a €6 million refurbishment programme. It has 142 rooms set amid tropical gardens. Corsican Places (corsica.co.uk) has added Casa Jules and Casa Josephine to its portfolio. Neighbouring cottages in a countryside location, they are within a half-hour drive of several white sand beaches. Five new properties have been added to Sardinian Places (Sardinian places.co.uk) including Villa Petra Manna, 400 metres from Capriccioli beach.  Flights: Jet2 (jet2.com) introduced new flights from Edinburgh to Crete, Kefalonia and Zante in May, while new flights to Rhodes will be available from June. British Airways (batrade.com) launched new flights to Chania in Crete in April. The airline will also be starting the following flights this year: Mahon, Menorca, from Heathrow, four-times weekly,;Kalamata, Greece from Heathrow, twice weekly; Ibiza, Spain, from Stansted, once a week; and Palma, Spain, from Stansted, once a week. Thomas Cook (thomascook.com) introduced new flights into Thassos in May, with two flights a week every Friday from Gatwick and Manchester.

Tourism talk “Croatia offers a huge variety of holiday breaks outside of the main coastal tourist hotspots and its more than 1,200 easily accessible islands are a key focus for us this year. Just 20 minutes on a ferry from Dubrovnik are the islands of Lokrum and Kolocep; in Split you can enjoy a day trip to Hvar and in Istria the Brijuni Islands National Park is just a short boat ride away. “This year also sees the launch of the Obonjan Festival. The once uninhabited island near Sibenik will be transformed into a showcase of arts, music, ecology, technology and wellbeing. “Fam trips for agents and also special itinerary trips – pre- and post-season – will take place to those regions we are looking to promote. Alongside this we will be preparing comprehensive online training for agents to get to know Croatia better.” Ivona Grgan, UK Director Croatia National Tourist Ofﬁce

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Tourism talk “Some of the longstanding popular summer destinations are the Greek islands of Corfu, Heraklion in Crete, Rhodes and Zante, but lately we have also seen a signiﬁcant growth in lesser-known islands as well – and this summer alone will see a number of new routes to the Greek islands. “We are continuing to improve and widen our products year on year. One of the ways we have done this is via our annual joint marketing campaigns with mainstream and niche tour operators. Through these we are targeting not just consumers but also the trade, with the aim of educating UK travel agents about all that is new in Greece as well as fam and education trips for trade professionals covering a wide spectrum of destinations and types of holidays to Greece.” Christina Kalogera, Director, GNTO UK & Ireland Ofﬁce

Where to book it  TRAVEL 2 - 0800 0224 182 Travel 2 is offering seven nights at the five-star InterContinental Malta in a deluxe room, B&B

and breakfast with return private transfers and return flights from Gatwick. The deal is priced from £799pp and is valid for travel July 9 2016. travel2.com

 GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS – 0800 240 4470 An 11-day Greek Islands Cruise costs from £1,895pp. Aboard Norwegian Jade, highlights include Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, UNESCOlisted Olympia, Turin, Chambéry and Venice. greatrail.com

 MED EXPERIENCE – 0345 257 8289 A six-day Split to Athens road trip geared towards the 18-35s market is priced from £399pp. The tour explores the south of Croatia before crossing the border to Montenegro, then to Tirana in Albania and finally Meteora in Greece . medexperience.com

 BELLAIR – 0808 2716847 Seven nights in the self-catering (one-bedroom) Deya Apartments in Santa Ponsa, Majorca, start from £1072, for a departure from Gatwick on August 27. The accommodation is within easy walking distance of the beach. bellair.co.uk 

We open the door to heaven.

IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Portals Nous*****. Calviá, Majorca.

The new IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Portals Nous is situated in Portals, one of Majorca’s most exclusive spots. The interior design is a creation of leading Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, internationally renowned for his iconic interiors. Discover a stunning 5 star complex where you can enjoy all the luxury of The Grand Collection, as well as a magnificent sandy beach, a superb 650m2 Spa and the finest local and international organic gastronomy.

SPAIN CAPE

· GREECE · BULGARIA · HUNGARY · VERDE · JAMAICA · DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

MONTENEGRO · TUNISIA · MOROCCO · CUBA · MEXICO · BRAZIL · USA

Above: Cala Mariolu Baunei, Italy

japan

sun Empire of the

The sun is fast rising on Japan's tourism industry, says Benjamin Coren

he sense of adventure I feel in Japan is something I have rarely experienced before. Though the tourism infrastructure is changing to accommodate Western tourists, with more signs appearing in English and a number of map symbols undergoing changes in the lead up to the 2020 Olympics, I am conﬁdent these changes will not dissipate the 'sense of adventure' the country engenders. From exploring the beautiful Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine in Kyoto and seeing its thousands of torii arches, to navigating the vast metro systems of Tokyo there is something exciting to see around almost every corner. Japan rewards the bold, and one night in Kyoto I step out to explore Kyoto’s Gion district, the city’s most famous Geisha district. Here, I explore the narrow streets lined with traditional wooden machiya merchant houses, and catch sight of a few Geiko walking to and from appointments. In this area I ﬁnd the Shirakawa Canal, which

offers a peaceful walk beside the willow tree-lined canal, providing a snapshot of the traditional side of Japan, rarely glimpsed.

Doubling targets Japan is becoming increasingly popular with tourists, to the point that in April the government doubled its target visitor numbers from 20 million to 40 million by 2020 – and the UK is key to reaching that ﬁgure. March 2016 saw the highest-ever number of monthly visitors to Japan from the UK, coming in at 34,700, a whopping 28% increase from the same time last year. Lower ﬂight fares and a favourable exchange rate are both reasons for the increase in visitors, as Japan becomes more affordable to more travellers. With the 2019 Rugby World Cup and those Olympic Games heading for Japan, interest in the country will surely keep rising so now is a great time to sell this bucket-list destination. Clive Buckingham, Manager Leisure

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japan

currently offer the largest number of cruises. Tony Roberts, Vice Ppresident of Princess Cruises UK said: “Over the last couple of years we have seen strong demand from the UK market for Asia cruises.” He added: “This year we have had a large increase in short voyages around Japan, which allow UK guests to combine a cruise with a land holiday.”

Perfect ten

“Visit Kyoto in Japan in late March/early April as this is the time when the cherry blossom is in bloom. Be sure not to miss out on the Shinkansen bullet train which takes you between the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto” MARK MALLINSON, PRODUCT MANAGER ASIA, TRAVEL 2

Above: Hirosaki Castle in the Aomori prefecture, pictured during the Cherry Blossom season. Opposite page from left: great views of Mount Fuji can be seen from the Shinkansen; Japan's unique temples are a big selling point to UK guests

Travel, JTB Europe says: " In the past year, the number of visitors to Japan from the UK has increased massively. And this trend seems set to continue. So agents shouldn't let this opportunity pass them by. " The JNTO has been highlighting plans by the Japanese government to introduce driverless taxis and a system to enable tourists to make payments with ﬁngerprints. There are also plans in place to modernise and expand accommodation in regional Japan and revamp immigration at airports. The JNTO is optimistic that the cruise sector will boost UK visitor numbers in 2016, with cruise products featuring Japan increasing from 71 in 2015 to 256 in 2016, with 13 different cruise companies featuring Japan. Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean

High-speed trains: The efficient Tokyo metro and high-speed Shinkansen bullet trains make getting around simple. A JR Pass allows rail travel all over Japan. Arts and crafts: Take in Kabuki theatre, see Bonsai cultivation, and view traditional architecture. Some luxury tour operators can also arrange Geisha entertainment. Sushi and Sashimi: Across Japan are fabulous sushi bars serving the iconic dishes consisting of raw fish and rice. Winter sports: There are over 500 ski resorts in Japan, and the great powder snow conditions put it on the bucket list of many skiers and snowboarders. Traditional temples: Eye-catching temples and shrines and iconic torii arches are everywhere, and a sure-fire photo stop for tourists. Geek chic: Technophiles will be right at home in super-modern Tokyo. The Akihabara district is brimming with electronic stores and icons from popular manga and anime. Traditional Inns: A Ryokan features tatami-matted rooms, sliding doors and a communal onsen (hot spring). Guests can wear a traditional Yukata. Shopping: Tax-free shops are plentiful and there are many fashion and technology outlets. Colourful ‘character shops’ are also unique.

JAPAN’S ONLY 5-STAR AIRLINE

ANA is Japan’s largest airline and one of only seven airlines to have been awarded a 5-star rating from Skytrax.

ANA flies daily from London Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 to Haneda, Tokyo’s most central airport.

From Haneda, a hub for 40 of ANA’s domestic routes and 19 of its international routes, ANA also connects you to Sydney with a daily non-stop flight.

CMY

www.ana.co.uk ANA_374_SELLING TRAVEL_JUNE_190wx69h_UK_vFNL.indd 1

11/05/2016 17:54

japan

Captivating vistas: Japan has a varied and unique landscape. Climb the Tokyo SkyTree for unrivalled views of Tokyo, and Mount Fuji is a must-see. Festivals: The Takayama festival sees the country transform with stunning hues of yellow, orange and red in autumn. Springtime see the arrival of the of sakura, the cherry blossom festival.

What’s new  Attractions: The Kyoto Railway Museum (kyotorailwaymuseum.jp/en) opened on April 29 in the historic city of Kyoto, displaying full size trains, guests can also experience driving the Shinkansen. It is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm, excluding Wednesdays. Huis Ten Bosch (english.huistenbosch.co.jp) theme park in Nagasaki is undergoing a robotic expansion this summer. The new ‘Kingdom of Robots’ will be fully open by July 16 and will feature dancing robot shows, rides, a robot museum, shop and robot restaurant where even the chef and manager are robots!  Operators: Great Rail Journeys (greatrail.com) is offering a 13-day 'Discovering Japan' tour from £3,495pp by rail. Tours will be departing October 2 and 17, 2016 and from March to October 2017. Insider Journeys (insiderjourneys.co.uk) recently distributed a dedicated Japan brochure covering group touring and private travel. Some of the tours available include the 10-day Highlights of Japan tour and the 14-day Japan Winter Discovery. The Dragon Trip (thedragontrip.com/Japan) has a 13day Japan adventure tour,mdeparting September 12 and September 26, is priced from £1499pp and includes all transport, accommodation, guide and a majority of the activities.  Hotels: The Henn-na Hotel (h-n-h.jp/en) in Nagasaki, the world’s ﬁrst robot hotel, has added a new wing containing 72 additional guest rooms and has welcomed an additional English-speaking

robot receptionist. The in-room robot, named Tulip, interacts with English-speaking guests.  Transport: Following on from the opening of the new Tokyo-Hokkaido shinkansen route in March, a new Hokkaido-themed rail pass is now available allowing unlimited travel from Tokyo to Hakodate in time for the next ski season (November-May). The recent expansion of Haneda airport, 15 minutes from the centre of Tokyo, has also made Tokyo an attractive stopover destination.  Events: The annual Visit Japan Travel Mart (VJTM.jp) will take place from September 21-27. The show gives UK tour operators the chance to meet with Japan's destinations, land operators, hotels, attractions and more.

Tourism talk “Around 258,500 UK visitors travelled to Japan in 2015, which is 17% up on 2014. And 72,400 visited Japan between January and March this year, 24.8% more than in the same period last year. UK tour operators and cruise companies have reported to us that Japan's products have become very popular and sales are going well for autumn and spring 2017 departures.

Customers will marvel at the gorgeous autumn colours and picturesque cherry blossoms. However, these two periods are not must-visit times. The annual average temperature of Tokyo is 19.6C, while London is 13.8C. Our mild climate in April, May, from late September and early November allows you to explore Japan very comfortably.” Yumi Takakubo, Trade Partnerships and Marketing Manager, JNTO

Where to book it  ON THE GO TOURS – 020 7371 1113 The eight-day Best of Japan tour starts from £1,399 pp. The deal includes seven nights' accommodation, some meals, tours and activities and airport transfers. The tour takes in Japan's classic sites. Onthegotours.com  JTB – 020 8237 1605

The Japan specialist offers multiple tailormade and bespoke packages. Its ‘Tokyo Dream seven-day tour is priced from £1,079 pp, including ﬂights, accommodation, transfersr, entrance to the Studio Ghibli museum and a Maid Cafe experience. japanspecialist.co.uk 

focus on

Goa, India - The charm of the Algarve and the soul of India -

ndia’s smallest state is also officially blessed with having the highest living standards in the country, writes Mark Eveleigh. And to aﬁcionados of India’s mind-blowing diversity, it has also long been considered one of the most charming parts of the country to visit. To some extent Goa has become a victim of its own success as a ‘must do’ hotspot on the hippy trail and as a 1980s low-cost resort destination. And although it has 63 miles of coastline, the state offers far more than just beach holidays. “Goa isn’t just about sandy beaches,” Intrepid Travel’s Erica Kritikides points out. “Brimming with Portuguese inﬂuences, it has rich traditions, mouth-watering cuisine, world heritage buildings and plenty of attractions.”

CULTURAL MELTING POT Picture the white-washed charm of the Algarve overlaid with a backdrop from The Jungle Book and you have the atmosphere of Goan towns. The real soul of Panaji, India’s smallest state capital, lies among the cobblestone alleyways of the old Latin Quarter. The few tourists who take time away from the beach to visit Panaji, larger Vasco da Gama or the old city of Margao ﬁnd old colonial quarters indelibly inﬂuenced by almost 450 years of Portuguese occupation and yet heavily spiced with a rich Indian culture. It is a blend that is as heady as a double-shot of feni (the local alcohol made from cashew nuts).

BOOK IT!

GOA EXPERIENCE 01489 866986 THE OPERATOR OFFERS A

SEVEN - NIGHT HOLIDAY FEATURING SANTANA BEACH RESORT. PRICES START FROM £649PP ( A SAVING OF £120PP ) WHICH INCLUDES B&B AND FLIGHTS FROM GATWICK ON NOVEMBER 27, 2016. ACCOMMODATION IS IN A STANDARD ROOM. goaexperience.co.uk

GOA AND THE ART OF ZEN

SPICE OF LIFE

Goa has become a haven for health-seekers and each year sees more accommodation options and packages catering to Zen junkies in search of yoga, meditation, ayurvedic therapy and organic diets. Delightfully laid-back Patnem beach retains its unique style because every building on the beach is dismantled at the beginning of the monsoon and new boutique bungalows and custom-designed yoga shalas like those at idyllic Bamboo Yoga Retreat (bamboo-yoga-retreat.com) are built afresh once the rains have passed through.

The original appeal of Goa for the Portuguese was its wealth of spices and today the region remains one of the heartlands of India’s spice cultivation. A favourite excursion for many visitors is into the aromatic spice plantations around the Ponda area. Similarly, the home of the vindaloo is a once-in-a-lifetime place of homage for any lover of good curries. “Foodies love it here,” says Erica Kritikidesm, of Intrepid Travel. “Goa is renowned for its seafood, so make sure you try the ﬁsh curry, laced with coconut and served with rice.” 

BEACH-BUMMING Goa boasts some of the best and most unashamed ‘beach-bumming’ the world has to offer. While Palolem and Patnem are known for backpacker beach-parties, these extensive stretches of white sand are big enough to have something for everyone. Anjuna remains an alluring hippy haven thanks to its irresistible night market and the great sweeping curve of Agonda beach has even built up a reputation with longboarders for the mellow waves that roll in. Pretty Mandrem beach manages to remain low-key and super-chilled thanks to the narrow river-inlet which has been a barrier to the sort of development that spawned the big resorts along the northern coast around Panjim.

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From top: Palolem Beach; Goa Night Market

E IV US CL EX

COUNTRY INN & SUITES

RAMADA CARAVELA

TAJ EXOTICA

SONESTA INNS

Why choose us? • Almost 30 years’ experience arranging specialist holidays • Hand-picked collection of 24 properties in the North, Central and Southern regions of Goa • A wide range of direct ﬂight options from LGW and MAN plus Premium Class upgrades • An exciting range of multi-centre holidays and India Tours

For an agent log-in, brochure supplies, webinar training or support, call:

• Knowledgeable UK staff with ﬁrst-hand experience of the state • Unrivalled customer service • Competitive pricing • The only UK operator with a dedicated brochure and website

01489 866 955 Serenity.co.uk/Trade

country profile

Northern Cyprus - ‘emerging’ destination - cultural treasures Jeep safari Suggest an off-road adventure high in the Kyrenia mountains for amazing views, hidden castles, villages and monasteries with stops for traditional Cypriot hospitality along the way. See the wildlife Northern Cyprus is famous for its wild donkeys and rare seas turtles that return every year to lay their eggs on the region’s remote beaches. June is best for viewing the hatching season. Hitting the range The Korineum golf course on the north coast is an 18hole championship course of rolling fairways and greens, sea and mountain views. There’s an adjoining beach resort with pool, spa and sports academy. The full Turkish Recommend the newlyrenovated Buyuk Han for a traditional Turkish hamman where you sweat it off in the hot room for an hour before a vigorous rub down on a huge stone slab. Harbour nights For special experiences suggest a romantic dinner for two by the harbourfront in the ancient city of Kyrenia with a cruise around the harbour for impressive views of the castle lit up at night.

“No trip to northern Cyprus would be complete without a visit to the fairytale St Hilarion Castle said to have been the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s film Snow White”

ut off from the rest of the world for more than 40 years after splitting with its southern neighbour, northern Cyprus remains one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets, says Alex Wright.

Unrecognised as a country in its own right by the international community after separating from the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – or Northern Cyprus as it’s more commonly known – is one of the Med’s last truly unsung holiday destinations. Its rich history and culture, unspoilt natural beauty, friendly people, delicious food and close proximity to mainland Europe, not to mention an average of 340 days of sunshine a year, make it a must-see for intrepid travellers. To learn more about this divided state’s turbulent past, visitors should start by crossing the border at one of two checkpoints in Nicosia, the world’s last remaining divided capital. The contrast between the two sides couldn’t be greater – on the south there is Starbucks, McDonald’s, KFC and Next, but a few yards further north and it feels like you’ve stepped onto another continent with tea shops, hammams and stalls selling Turkish Delight. The most interesting part is the Old City, enclosed within imposing 16thcentury Venetian walls. Visitors enter through the Girne Gate and can follow a painted blue line that snakes around the city, stopping at all the major sights. Among the main attractions are

Tasty baklava

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Salamis

the magniﬁcent Selimiye Mosque (formerly St Sophia Cathedral), the city’s architecturally most important monument, with its ornate triple-portalled porch and colossal high west window. For a bit of retail therapy at the end of the day, the Bandabulya (Municipal Market), has stalls selling fruit and veg, clothing and traditional Cypriot arts and crafts.

STUFF OF LEGENDS No trip to Northern Cyprus would be complete without a visit to the fairytale St Hilarion Castle in the far north of the region. According to popular belief, the castle is said to have been the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s ﬁlm Snow White. It certainly has a magical feel to it with its hidden rooms, tunnels and crumbling towers with magniﬁcent views of Kyrenia’s dramatic coastline below. Local folklore has it that the castle once boasted 101 rooms, the last of which led to a secret garden belonging to the fairy queen and anyone who stumbled upon it would be seduced and put into a deep sleep. Just below, on the road west, is the sleepy village of Bellapais, where Lawrence Durrell wrote his novel Bitter Lemons of Cyprus in the 1950s.

country profile

In the book, he refers to the ‘Tree of Idleness’, under which the villagers would spend hours in idle conversation. To this day it’s still a point of contention among locals as to which was the exact tree – one theory is that it was the leafy mulberry tree covering the coffee shop next to the monastery ticket ofﬁce, and the other that it was the Robinia that hangs above the Huzur Agac Restaurant. The splendid Bellapais Abbey is also well worth a look – built in the 12th century by Augustinian monks ﬂeeing Palestine after the fall of Jerusalem, much of it has survived intact for centuries and it is now frequently used for weddings and gatherings.

TALE OF TWO CITIES Continuing with the religious theme, the beautiful Orthodox St Barnabas Monastery on the way to Famagusta was dedicated to St Paul’s close friend Barnabas, who carried out most of his missionary work in Cyprus. Today the church has been turned into a museum with a wide range of Greek Orthodox icons and frescos on display. The original church was built in 477 AD over the site of Barnabas’ tomb and was discovered by the archbishop of Salamis, following a ‘translucent dream’. Further down the road is the ancient Roman city of Salamis, founded in 1180 BC by Teucer, the son of the King of Salamina in Greece. Legend has it that, unable to return home from the Trojan War after failing to avenge the death of his brother Ajax, he built a vast kingdom that, to this day, remains one of the island’s most important archaeological sites.

Kyrenia Harbour

Despite suffering two earthquakes and a tidal wave, its original grandeur can still be seen in the impressive gymnasium, theatre and baths. The fortiﬁed city of Famagusta on the east coast, however, has long since overtaken it as the region’s biggest city. Steeped in history, its eclectic mix of arched lanes, chapel ruins, Turkish baths, Byzantine churches and medieval quarters are best explored by foot. The high Venetian Walls that surround the Old Town offer a 360-degree rooftop view of the city, harbour and surrounding area. You can almost walk the entire length of the ramparts, before wandering through the windy lanes of shops and cafes below. However, the main focal point is the former St Nicholas Cathedral in the centre – the ﬁnest example of Lusignan Gothic architecture in Cyprus. Modelled on the Cathedral of Reims in France, it was converted into a mosque following the Ottoman invasion in 1571 and still dominates the Old Town’s skyline. Further out towards the harbour, the 12thcentury Othello’s Tower was originally built to protect the city against invasion. Its name comes from the Shakespeare play of the same title, which refers to ‘a seaport in Cyprus’.

CALL OF THE WILD Bellapais Abbey

Further aﬁeld is the stunning Karpas Peninsula, a 50-mile stretch of rich green

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pastures, olive groves and carob trees (and the occasional inhabitant) on the island’s north-east tip. It’s the last truly untouched part of the island, with remote ﬁshing villages, ancient mountain top castles and monasteries, harking back to a bygone era. It’s best to explore at your own pace by car, taking the windy back roads up mountain passes and leading to long sandy beaches off the beaten track. Make sure your clients stop off at a local taverna on the way to sample the local hospitality and a delicious assortment of traditional Cypriot dishes from kebabs, meze and halloumi cheese to Turkish delight and baklava. 

GONORTHCYPRUS 0800 612 6600 THE NORTHERN CYPRUS TRAVEL SPECIALIST OFFERS THE FOUR-STAR PIA BELLA HOTEL IN KYRENIA, FROM £44 PER DAY FOR A ROOM FOR TWO PEOPLE IN WINTER, AND FROM £68 PER DAY IN SUMMER gonorthcyprus.com CAR HIRE IS AVAILABLE FROM PACIFIC RENTALS FROM £10 PER DAY IN WINTER, AND FROM £19 PER DAY IN SUMMER pacific-rentals.com BOOK IT!

introducing

Alberta – Drumheller and The Badlands –

f you are looking for something different and inspiring to help you hook that Canada holiday sale, check out Drumheller and the Alberta Badlands. They are a different as they come, says Julie Baxter Located just an hour-and-a-half from provincial capital Calgary, the area known as The Badlands is rugged and historic and packed with active holiday and adventure opportunities. This is a region where dinosaurs roamed 70 million years ago; where pioneers ﬂocked to build the railway and seek their fortunes in coal and clay; and where cowboys and ranchers still ride horseback through prairies and grasslands.

MUST SEE The dinosaur heritage is a key drawcard and Drumheller is the gateway. Visitors should head here for two great attractions - the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Atlas Coal Mine. The ﬁrst is a world-reknowned palaeontological research centre with over 130,000 fossils and bags of creative, fun, and educational activities and dinosaur dig for all ages. The second follows in the footsteps of miners up through a 210ft conveyor tunnel to an historic, Badlands landscape and a trip aboard the 1936 mine train. From here, too, the Dinosaur Provincial Park awaits. It's a pre-historic treasure trove declared a World Heritage Site in 1979. This is the heart

and soul of this ruggedly unforgiving region - a sprawling expanse of land deﬁned by hoodoos and warm, dry winds. Tours and interactive fossil hunts are on offer in what is recognised as one of the richest dinosaur fossil deposits on earth. On a vast stretch of windswept prairie just 15 minutes northwest of Fort Macleod, another top stop is Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump. This sandstone escarpment has played a dramatic role in First Nation history that goes back more than 6,000 years, where they drove buffalo to their death to ensure they had food to survive the winter. Visitors can get a true taste of the traditions and lifestyle of the Blackfoot First Nation peoples here with a tour that includes a smudge ceremony, buffalo meat tasting, tool-making workshop and an emotional reenactmentof the original buffalo run.

ANDERSON VACATIONS OFFERS A DRUMHELLER AND CANADIAN BADLANDS DAY TOUR FROM CALGARY WHICH INCLUDES TIME AT THE ROYAL TYRRELL MUSEUM, SIGHTSEEING ON THE EDGE OF HORSESHOE CANYON AND A WALK AMONG THE HOODOOS. THE TOUR DEPARTS THE TOUR DEPARTS FOUR TIMES A WEEK FROM FROM JUNE TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER. andersonvacations.ca BOOK

HIDDEN TREASURES Less well known but well worth a look is the Writing on Stone Provincial Park. This is an natural treasure comprised of 27sqkms of panoramic prairie. The spectacular Milk River valley contains the largest concentration of First Nation petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock paintings) on the great plains of North America. And for more First Nation insights suggest Cypress Hills, an area rich in geological and native history and a great place for family adventures like hiking, biking and camping. It also offers the chance to relive local history through various interactive activities. For something more contemporary, the Medalta Potteries is an innovative industrial museum, modern ceramic arts facility, art gallery and community hub in Medicine Hat. Located within a converted century-old factory, it has become a place where cutting-edge technologies meet historic restoration and archaeology.

AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES Bar Diamond Guest Ranch guests stay in a century-old log cabin overlooking the tall sandstone cliffs that shape the Red Deer River. They can spend their days exploring the Badlands, eating farm-fresh home cooking and kicking back on the on the verandah, with the chance of river rides and amazing star-gazing too. For more information see travelalberta.com 

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TA L K I N G S H O P

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-INSPIRED BY YOUThe stuff that happens when agents get involved...

Canada explores Southampton Contents SPOTLIGHT ON...

Destination Canada's Canada, Keep Exploring quiz arived in Southampton on May 10. Agents attending the quiz and networking event met reps from Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership, Ottawa Tourism, Air Canada, Westjet, Insight Vacations, APT, Air Transat, British Airways, Tourism Whistler and Rocky Mountaineer. Lesley Clements from Travel Counsellors, pictured (right) with George Beguinot, British Airways, and Hazel Mansell, Rocky Mountaineer, was the winner of a trip to Canada. Destinationcanada.co

A sunshi

r agents ne state of mind fo

GOLD MEDAL’S new 2017 preview brochure includes an expanded product range and to celebrate the operator is giving agents the chance to win a 10-night holiday for two in Florida. The new brochure features more regional destinations, advice on multi-centre holidays and package holidays at varying price

m sts CLIA fa Avalon ho

Macy's meets agents CTO roadshow Abu Dhabi Mega Fam Wise Counsel Been There Done Than

Bright Kendal BRIGHT TRAINING WORKSHOP

A BRIGHT (Bringing Real Information& Guaranteed High Quality Training) Workshop welcomed agents from eight agencies. Event hosts included 1st Class Holidays, Attraction World, Mark Warner, Sunvil and Viking Cruises. Brightconsortia.com

Sail with Titan RIVER CRUISE INCENTIVES

points to help agents cater to all tastes and budgets. Gold Medal reports an 83% increase in forward bookings to Florida, with multi-centre packages and add-on experiences all showing growth. To be in with a chance of winning the Florida holiday agents need to make a new

AVALON Waterways hosted a CLIA agents fam trip on board one of its newest Suite Ships, Avalon Tapestry II, with 20 agent members who had yet to experience a river cruise. This ship also played host to the CLIA Travel Agents Advisory Council, hosted by CLIA UK and Ireland Director, Andy Harmer (pictured front row, sitting, left). Avaloncruises.co.uk

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package booking to Florida before June 30 that includes accommodation and return ﬂights. The new preview brochure focuses on the range of experiences on offer in Florida including theme parks in Orlando, beaches in the Florida Keys and several 'educational activities'. Goldmedal.co.uk

THE 'top 10' river cruise bookings made before October 31 with Titan will win a place on the inaugural MS Serenade 1 fam trip. Agents can also claim a £20 Love2shop voucher for bookings by emailing agentincentives@ titantravel.co.uk, within seven days of making a booking.

Keep in mind...

– 8 JUNE EXPERIENCE LATIN AMERICA The three-day event, at CCT Venues, Canary Wharf, provides the opportunity for buyers to get up to speed with the latest products from the region. There is also the opportunity to chat with members of the Latin American travel community. Register online at experiencelatinamerica.co.uk

COMING UP & ENDING SOON

– 23 JUNE PURE GRENADA ROADSHOW Pure Grenada is visiting Canterbury (June 20) and Reading (June 23) as part of its 2016 roadshow. For an invitation contact lisa@ eyes2market.co.uk with details of your bookings made to the Caribbean last year. Agents can learn more about the luxury island. puregrenada.com More online at sellingtravel.co.uk/events

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S E L L I N G T R AV E L D IA L O G U E

Macy’s: much more than shopping!

Selling Travel got together with premier U.S. shopping brand Macy’s to educate and update agents on its network of stores and how sellers can harness some unique offers and packages to offer their clients a VIP shopping experience. As well as learning a lot, the agents took home a host of prizes ranging from spa days to cases of wine and goodie bags stuffed full of cosmetics!

THE FACTS Most people know the iconic New York City Macy’s store in Herald Square which opened in 1902 and is still the world’s largest department store. But Macy’s operates over 700 properties in 45 states under the names of Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bloomingdale’s Outlet, Macy's Backstage and Bluemercury. ADDED VALUE But Macy’s is not just a department store and the brand is keen for agents to communicate this to their clients. If you know how, you can offer your clients great savings, value-added extras, concierge

services, top dining choices, VIP group experiences and even city tours through Macy’s. Macy’s International Visitor Savings Pass gives shoppers 10% off purchases. They can get this in-store but Macy’s can also provide agents with these to pass on to clients as added value. There are 11 Macy’s Visitor Centers in major cities across the U.S. including in New York, Chicago, Boston, Orlando and Los Angeles. Here your clients can check their bags in, gather store and city guides, organise tickets to wider city attractions and book shopping packages and group tours. In-store dining is offered at Macy’s stores in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis, Miami and Hawaii. In New York, for example, weary shoppers can refuel with everything from the famous Cheesecake Factory to Stella 34, which serves up ﬁne Italian and views of the Empire State building. Macy’s offers unique shopping packages in each major tourist city. It includes the 10% Visitor Savings

Pass, Macy’s gift card, a tote bag unique to the city and offers for local restaurants, activities and more.

PERSONALISE IT If you have a group such as a wedding or hen party Macy’s can custom-design programmes which include cooking classes, lessons in cosmetics, a shoe trends tour or a VIP shopping experiences where guests get to access the store before it opens to the public. If you have an idea, ask Macy’s if they can arrange it. MyStylist is a free personal shopping experience. You can even email ahead with your clients details and they'll have a selection of clothes ready for them to try on when they arrive. EVENTS Iconic American events like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are a major draw for travellers. It’s been a NYC tradition since 1924 and attracts

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more than 3.5 million people to the streets. There’s also the Macy’s Flower Show, which takes place New York, Chicago, Philadelphia,, Minneapolis and San Francisco, each featuring around one million ﬂowers. And this year will see the 40th Anniversary of the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks display, on the NYC waterfront.

FIND OUT MORE: See visitmacysusa.com or email keri.hanson@macys.com for more details, help in arranging special packages or to request your International Visitor Savings Passes.

OUT & ABOUT

talking shop

CTO roadshow offers right deal

Representatives from several Caribbean destinations and commercial partners met with agents for a night of laughs, education and a little rum at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) London roadshow.

THE EVENT The night, one of several UK roadshows the CTO hosts throughout the year, lived up to its billing of being informative, engaging and great fun. Carol Hay, Director of Marketing UK and Europe for the CTO, said: “Engagement is key to these kinds of events, as for many agents it’s all about putting a face to the exhibitors they know so well.” Seventeen exhibitors attended the event, with destinations such as the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago joining hotel groups like Jewel Resorts and Sandals Resorts and airlines that included Air Europa, British Airways, and LIAT. Szilvia Bacsa, Travel Experience Professional, FRESH Travel, said: “I liked the event's structure and was pleased to meet the representatives in person as this makes for a better

working relationship. ”The variety of exhibitors offered agents a plethora of useful information. As Iain Rodgers, Senior Marketing Representative, The Bahamas, explained: “Agents attend events like these expecting a certain level of knowledge because of the CTO’s excellent reputation."

THE CHALLENGE Agents had eight minutes with each exhibitor to garner as much information as they could before they moved on to the next table. By the end of the evening agents had experienced the vibrant diversity that makes the Caribbean such a great sell. Debbie Cleary, Nevis Tourism Authority said: “Destinations as small as Nevis really thrive at these events, as it’s the best way to raise awareness to agents who we otherwise would not have met.” Tracy Knight, UK Representative Turks and Caicos Islands, said: “Some agents need general education while others need to know something very speciﬁc for a client, so there are a lot of great questions being asked.” During the event suppliers gave out rafﬂe tickets to agents 'who had

asked good questions' or had a good level of engagement, and at the end of the evening a prize draw was held.

THE PRIZES Prizes ranged from a ﬁve-night all-inclusive stay for two at The Verandah Resort & Spa in Antigua, compliments of Elite Island Resorts, to a ticket to the CTO's Summer Party. Agents who had rafﬂe ticket numbers called out were each given an envelope by compere Graham Hawkins. Each envelope corresponded with a prize, with agents being given the option to stick or swap with other winners before the contents of their envelopes were revealed. It was all a little reminiscent of the TV show, Deal or No Deal! The winners included Nikki Metcalfe (pictured above left) of Flight Centre, who won a sevennight complimentary stay for two at the Blue Waters Inn and two British Airways tickets to Tobago. Charlotte Fincham of Perfect Weddings Abroad

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certainly ended up with a deal: she went home with a four-night allinclusive stay at Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa, Jamaica. She said: “This event was unique. It has a variety of suppliers and the evening was designed around a fun game rather than just picking cards out of a hat. The content was informative for any agent selling the Caribbean.”

O N L O C AT I O N

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Mega Fam showcases 'different' Abu Dhabi

THE DETAILS WHAT: THREE-NIGHT FAM TRIP WHERE: ABU DHABI, UAE WHEN: MAY 1-4, 2016 WHO: 80 TRAVEL TRADE PROFESSIONALS HOSTED BY ABU DHABI TOURISM & CULTURE AUTHORITY

On the fam's ﬁnal night the agents came together in the desert for a spot of camel riding, sand boarding and an Arabian barbecue

What they expected… “I think a lot of people want something different to Dubai and I have heard that Abu Dhabi offers just this. But I am not sure many people know exactly what's there." Catherine Watson, Product Manager Thomas Cook “Almost everyone I know who has been there is in awe and says it is one of their favourite destinations. ” Nicole Farao, Reservations Consultant Premier Holidays “Unless a customer knows the city, I rely on training and information from colleagues. Seeing it ﬁrst hand will help me to sell it.” Valerie Norris, Travel Consultant Hayes and Jarvis “Generally I think of Abu Dhabi as mostly a stopover hub, but I am keen to experience

Take 80 UK agents, five of the UAE capital’s finest hotels, add a couple of days packed with activities and you have a flavour of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority's Mega Fam. This year's trip introduced agents to the delights of a destination that comprises around 80% of the UAE’s total landmass. Groups from London, Manchester, Dublin and Edinburgh came together to see its inspiring architecture, sandy white beaches and to have their breath quite literally taken away at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi on the world’s fastest rollercoaster. Etihad provided flights from the UK, which included a service on the airline's stunning A380 aircraft.

some of the attractions it has to offer.” Verity Ansell, Business Travel Consultant

THE HOTELS

Kanoo Travel

The groups were split across ﬁve properties: the Beach Rotana, Hilton Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, the Ritz-Carlton and the Yas Island Rotana.

“People feel there is not much to see and do, and it’s seen more as a city stop. I’m expecting it to be more cultural and more formal than Dubai.” Darren Vurnum, Partner Escape Worldwide

The agents also experienced the luxury on offer with a number of site inspections. Beach Rotana: Situated in downtown Abu Dhabi the hotel has its own stretch of private beach and over 565 rooms. It is centrally located, with a mix of Arabian hospitality and modern luxury. Rotana.com/beachrotana

inﬂuences and features a Venetian village, a private beach, and a number of international dining options. Ritzcarlton.com Yas Island Rotana: Situated just 15 minutes from the airport on Yas Island, this hotel is perfectly located for the F1 racetrack, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld. Rotana.com

Hilton Abu Dhabi: A prime beach location on the Corniche, the Hilton has 15 restaurants and a private beach club with three pools and watersports. The hotel is a 30-minute drive from the airport and is close to Marina Mall. Hilton.com

Emirates Palace: This stunning hotel is an attraction in its own right. The Kempinsky-managed property sprawls over 1.5km and features 394 rooms and suites. Kempinsky.com

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers: The iconic towers rise from a beach setting and feature 382 rooms and 199 serviced residences for longer stays. The hotel also has its own private beach and spa. Jumeirah.com

Shangri-La Qaryat al Beri: This hotel features Arabic décor and 213 rooms and suites and six four-bedroom villas with private pools. The hotel is located on the Grand Canal and features a private beach with great views of the mosque. Shangri-la.com

Ritz-Carlton: Located on the Grand Canal with views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the luxury property has been designed with European and Arabian architectural

Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi: The ﬁvestar resort is located on Saadiyat Island and is adjacent to Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. The hotel features modern, luxury rooms, private villas

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O N L O C AT I O N

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What they said… “Abu Dhabi was completely different to what I expected it to be like. I now have a better understanding of what the emirate has to offer and lots of personal recommendations for hotels.” Kimberley Hulbert Personal Travel Expert, Kuoni

Main: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the world's largest mosques; Top: Agents experience First Class service at the Etihad Innovation Centre

“It was mostly as I expected but with a lot more things for people to do on their holidays. I will be able to advise clients on

with plunge pools and luxury restaurants. Abudhabi.park.hyatt.com Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi: This luxury property is surrounded by the Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit. The hotel features 11 dining and lounge venues and has an amazing LED canopy. Viceroyhotelsandresorts.com St. Regis Saadiyat Island: The Saadiyat Island resort is located 20 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from downtown. It features a private beach and three outdoor pools. stregissaadiyatisland.com

ATTRACTIONS

should be worn when visiting. Yas Island’s Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is home to the world’s fastest rollercoaster, Formula Rossa, which clocks in at 240 km/h. The park’s new rollercoaster, Flying Aces, features the world’s tallest inversion loop and the world’s steepest and fastest inversion lift. Desert Safari is a ‘must-do’ activity. A thrilling ride in 4x4 vehicles through the sand dunes combines adrenalin rushes with beautiful surroundings. The evening ends with a touch of camel riding, sand boarding and an Arabian barbecue.

THE VERDICT

how diverse the city is becoming. There is

"We were very pleased with how the trip went. It was the biggest fam trip we’ve ever run from the UK ofﬁce, which goes to show the rising popularity of Abu Dhabi as a holiday destination in the UK and Ireland. Frontline reservation staff from both key tour operators and independent agencies ﬂew with us to Abu Dhabi from all four of Etihad’s regional airports in the UK and Ireland. " Nabeel Al Zarouni, UK Country Manager, TCA Abu Dhabi

something for everyone.”

The Etihad Innovation Centre features cabin walkthroughs showcasing the airline’s products including The Residence Suite, apartments and First Class. One of the world's largest mosques, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, can ﬁt in 41,000 worshippers and features 82 domes, and 24-carat gold chandeliers. The striking colours of the mosque shift as the sun sets, which is the perfect time to view it. Appropriate clothing

Shirley Williams, Senior Business Travel Consultant, Meon Valley Travel “I had previously thought of it as more of a stopover destination, but now would happily send people there as a destination for stays of up to a week.” Lois Townsend, Travel Consultant,Trailﬁnders “It’s a superb destination for people wanting to get away for a few days for guaranteed sunshine. It’s also great for families with all the entertainment on offer.” Christine Clark, Inﬁnity Holidays “Abu Dhabi is a dream for those looking for a more relaxed holiday. I think it’s too often mixed up with Dubai's glitz and glamour, but is quite different.” Graeme Law, Content Producer Kenwood Travel “I will be recommending Abu Dhabi to people looking for sun in the UK's winter months. I will also suggest it to all clients, not just couples.” Kate Austin, Reservations Consultant Mercury Holidays

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WISE COUNSEL 26

talking shop

Barbara Charlton

 Barbara.Charlton@travelcounsellors.com  01293 737290

Clients in for the long haul SO WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY into the traditional ‘Summer Lates’ period and, make no mistake, it will be a tough one this year. We have been telling our clients for months that with the FCO advice for Tunisia, the cancellation of ﬂights to Sharm el Sheikh and the public’s changed perceptions of where are 'safe' places to travel, there is very limited availability for the peak period to Spanish and Portuguese resorts. There will likely be some late bargains to Turkey, but with airlines withdrawing ﬂights due to sales being down, you cannot even guarantee that due to increased pressure on seats.

BEACH ALTERNATIVES

day trips into Palma. Whilst staying here (pictured) we took a journey across to the west coast through Valdemosa and Deia to the cliffside restaurant featured in The Night Manager. The fishermen bring the day’s catch to the restaurant’s jetty each day and it was deliciously prepared. The walk to the restaurant from the car park takes five-10 minutes and is uneven, so if you have clients who want to go here you should warn them of this. Our second accommodation was more remote, set on a hill with fabulous views all around. We stayed at the Finca Son Gener, not a hotel as such although they had a spa for prearranged treatments, a pool and restaurant and only 11 large suites. The Finca’s restaurant served a meat and fish

I have found this is creating more demand for long haul destinations, particularly as the pound is not doing so well against the Euro. It is clear that clients will possibly get a richer travel experience, more for their pound and try a whole new sort of holiday by going long haul. Many clients are going long haul for the ﬁrst time, and may realise there is more to a holiday than two weeks on a beach. I recently arranged a Sri Lankan holiday for such a family. They are ﬁrm ‘two weeks on the beach’ clients of 15 years' standing, and through our own ground handlers I have

“Clients are going long haul for the first time, and may realise there is more to a holiday than two weeks on a beach” arranged a personalised two-night stay in the middle of their beach holiday to a wildlife lodge near to Yala National Park to experience some game drives. They will be stopping en route at Udawalawe to see Elephants in the wild. I am hopeful this experience will open their eyes and next year I might get them to book a full African safari experience.

EXPERIENTIAL HOLIDAYS I recently returned from a four-night break to rural Mallorca. Our ﬁrst property, the Son Julia Country House Spa hotel near Llucmajor, was perfectly located for

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dish main course, which changed daily. As well as the large private terraces, this property has many quiet relaxing areas throughout its grounds. it is perfect for couples seeking some peace and relaxation. As you are reading read this, I will be in Kefalonia for my fourth visit in four years. This time we are staying at three different areas of the island, enjoying three very different properties. I am sure as travel professionals many of us explore more places than most of our clients do, so is it ever really a ‘holiday’ when we always have one eye open for places to suit our regulars? Hopefully, when I get back, our summer will be in full swing and we will be busy with all those late bookings. Lets hope the late bookers are not looking for a cheap late deal: I think we will need extra-large magnifying glasses to ﬁnd those this year.

happy selling!

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w Ne eb w si te

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BEEN THERE

talking shop

done that

Agents tour in Vietnam

Titan's jackpot win

ner

CAROL MCMURRAY (pictured right) of Baldwins Travel in Maidstone was the winner of Titan’s Jackpot January/ February competition. Carol gets to choose any Titan holiday of her choice up to the value of £5,000. Titan’s Louise Sword presented Carol with the prize voucher. Titantravel.co.uk

A taste of local culture ANAND COLLECTION, representing Mia Resorts, Sanctuary Resort and Sailing Club Vietnam hosted a five-day fam to Vietnam. On the trip were (left to right) Joel Hills (Kenwood Travel), Octavia Thompson (Hearst Group), Beverley Williams (THG Holidays), Natalia McFarlane (Travel 2), Preeya Carnell (Surreal Holidays), Harriet Spicer (Hayes and Jarvis), Jas Anand (Mia Resorts UK office), Claire Weatherall (Dnata), Catriona Wightman (Experience Travel) and Melanie Cox (Weny Wu Tours). The group sampled a cooking class at Mia Resort Nha Trang, took Vietnamese lessons and visited the sand dunes in Mui Ne. Anandcollection.co.uk A

A Scenic fam trip THE GLOBAL TRAVEL GROUP hosted 10 agents onboard Scenic Cruises newest ship, Scenic Amber. The agents are pictured here with Rachel Greenough (centre, in red) from The Global Travel Group and the ship's swing band. baltravelgroup.com

THE SIMPLY Luxury by Travel 2 Short Haul team celebrated its second birthday by celebratingoverall sales growth of 27%. Pictured from left Julianna Taggart, Layla Macowan, Catherine Dowson, Ricky Doyle, Samantha Morrison, Chris Thorpe Sara Irving and Heather Bennett. Travel2.com B JEANNETTE O’ROURKE (pictured left) from Spears Travels in Stoke-on-Trent won a TIPTO training competition. She received her prize from Michael Young-Richards. Throughout February and March agents had to complete all online training modules for the chance to A

win a Pandora bracelet. Lyndsey Sharp from Althams Travel won the second bracelet. Tipto.co.uk C THE TOURISM Authority of Antigua and Barbuda partnered with Elite Travel Group to offer members the chance to join a VIP fam trip to Antigua. Pictured from left: James Oram, Lisa McEwan, Michelle Louise Oliver, Natasha Ruth Hague, Melanie Elizabeth Lye and Emma Louise Frearson. Elitetravelgroup.co.uk

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city profile

Perugia - Italy’s hilltop haven -

Palazzo dei Priori This imposing 13th century palace’s unusual staircase spills out on to Piazza IV Novembre, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. The façade is a potted history of the city.

Collegio del Cambio A series of elaborate rooms at Banker’s Guild Hall, which once housed the meeting hall and chapel of Perugia’s all-powerful money men. The walls were frescoed by the city’s favourite son, Perugino. Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria The region’s most comprehensive art gallery is located in the Palazzio dei Priori. Information panels describe works by local artists, most notably Pinturicchio and Perugino.

Duomo This cathedral contains one of the most prized relics in Christendom: the Virgin Mary’s wedding ring. Secured with 15 locks, it is open to the public on July 30 and the second-to-last Sunday in January.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale Perugia was a ﬂourishing Etruscan site until it fell under Roman rule and this museum houses an excellent collection of artefacts from the preRoman era.

EXPERT TO ITALY HAS SEVEN NIGHTS AT THE VILLA DI MONTE SOLARE IN PANICALE, 15 MILES FROM PERUGIA, FROM £800. INCLUDED ARE FLIGHTS FROM STANSTED, BREAKFAST AND FULLYCOMPREHENSIVE CAR HIRE. THE EARLY AUTUMN BREAK IS AVAILABLE IN LATE SEPTEMBER. expertoitaly.com BOOK IT!

ome 50 million British tourists visit Italy every year, drawn mostly to its history, art, architecture, food and joyous ambiance, says Colin Ellson Cities like Rome, Florence, Pisa and Siena are almost unfairly blessed with World Heritage sites – which means Umbria and its capital, Perugia, can sometimes get overlooked. But the city and the region might be the living proof of Mark Twain’s assertion that “The Creator made Italy from designs by Michelangelo.” A hilltop city on the Tiber River, two-and-a-half hours’ ﬂying time from Stansted, Perugia is located in the foothills of the Apennines. It is a place of wide streets and narrow alleys which spread outwards from the centre of town at the Piazza IV Novembre to the walls of the original Etruscan settlement. But while it has some of the most authentic medieval streets in Europe, and a rich artistic heritage as onetime home of celebrated artists such as Perugino and Raphael, Perugia lives very much in the present, due in part to the youthful exuberance of the 40,000 university students thronging the city’s cafes, jazz clubs and galleries. While there is much to keep visitors occupied in the city – including a mouth-watering visit to the chocolate factory – Perugina is handily located for other Umbrian sights and public transport or self-drive is easy. Not-to-be-missed towns nearby include

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Assisi (Sunday morning mass in the Basilica di San Francesco is an experience) and Gubbio and Umbertide, with lively food markets.

THE TRUFFLE TRAIL Umbria offers a wideranging list of outdoor activities from hiking, cycling and mountain biking to hang-gliding, horse-riding and ﬁshing. One of the most unusual pastimes is trufﬂe hunting, where a group of visitors follows a hunter and his dog into the woods to seek out the precious underground tuber, using just the hound’s amazing sense of smell. Visitors can join a group on a one-day excursion, watching the dogs as they seek out the most expensive ingredient in Italian cooking, the white

trufﬂe, which grows in this region from September through to December. sabatinotrufﬂes.com/umbria

DIARY DATES Sagra Musicale Umbra (until May 31). Staged in Perugia and other major towns, this is the oldest festival in Umbria and celebrates sacred and classical music. Umbria Jazz (July 8-17). This annual festival in Perugia is for lovers of all that jazz. This year it features stars such as Diana Krall and Branford Marsalis Quartet in its dynamic, international line-up. Trasimeno Blues Festival (July 15-August 8). One of the most important music events in Umbria is staged on lovely Trasimeno Lake, near Perugia. 

Romantic escapes

loving that

feeling

Defining anywhere as ‘romantic’ is subjective at best but some destinations are just set up for a little magic, says Laura Gelder

hether it’s the nuptials themselves, a honeymoon or just a getaway for two, if your clients request a ‘romantic escape’ it’s important to book somewhere which knows just how to create the right ambience. Here are some destinations which offer calm couples-focused retreats for all tastes and budgets....

Bali Perhaps even more than its obviously beautiful beaches, Bali’s electric green interior offers a top-tier romantic escape. For example, Ubud is a honeymooner’s delight. The town nestles amongst eye-achingly beautiful terraced paddy ﬁelds and it’s virtually impossible for visitors not to be imbued by the ultra-serene atmosphere. Mesmerising Buddhist music ﬂoats out of the stone temples and the air is fragranced by the

ubiquitous frangipani, which the smiling locals wear in their hair. Spas abound and couples can explore the area via a moped.

wedding venues or honeymoon stays – like Castle Leslie where Paul McCartney famously wed Heather Mills.

Tie the knot: Book a unique ﬂoating ceremony at the Hanging Gardens of Bali. Your couple can say their ‘I dos’ atop the resort’s antique platform above the twin-tiered inﬁnity pool which drops into the jungle below. Or how about a ceremony among an orchid garden backed by emerald rice paddies at the Alila Ubud? Then pack them off to sister property Alila Villas Uluwatu for a beachside honeymoon.

Tie the knot: The five-star Lough Eske Castle in Donegal is a 17th century home-turned hotel with lots of cosy nooks, roaring fires and a large heated pool and spa in the gardens. Available on select dates from January 2017 to March 2017, the Fairytale Winter Wedding package is from €94pp, based on a minimum of 100 guests, and includes a Champagne reception, five-course banquet and use of the bridal suite for the couple.

Ireland Dramatic salt-dashed coasts, windswept moors and cosy pubs makes Ireland a classic romantic destination for those who don’t want to stray too far from home. There are a number of impressive country estates and castles which make for grand

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Thailand The combination of heady and frenetic Bangkok, with its rooftop bars, haggle-friendly shopping and golden temples, and the serene beaches of the south is a classic combination for couples.

romantic escapes

There’s no shortage of romantic resorts and generally luxury comes with a lower price tag in Thailand. Quirky romantic hideaways include Keemala Resort in Phuket, where your clients can stay in woven birds-nest-style pool villas which sit high up in the trees with sea and rainforest views, or Elephant Hills, Thailand’s ﬁrst luxury tented camp situated next to Khao Sok National Park in the south. Here guests can feed and bathe the resident elephants, go trekking or kayak through mangroves.

and you can wow clients with dreamy images of over-water villas with private plunge pools and book extra-specials add-ons like a seaplane transfer or a private yacht cruise. Tie the knot: Four Seasons’ Landaa Giraavaru Resort has built the world’s first overwater wedding pavillion, meaning Loved up couples can say their ‘I dos’ in the colourful company of tropical fish. The glass aisle which they walk down is elevated above a turtle enclosure and brings new meaning to the phrase ‘she floated down the aisle’.

Tie the knot: To legally wed your clients will have to spend at least three days in Bangkok to register with the authorities. Many resorts offer both Western and Eastern wedding packages, the latter often involving a joyful procession followed by a Buddhist blessing.

Maldives

Left: Yasawa Island Resort, Fiji Above: The overwater wedding pavillion from Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru Resort in the Maldives

Book a honeymoon in the Maldives and you can promise your clients an island to themselves – perhaps not for the duration of the trip but many resorts offer a castaway for the day experience with a picnic and chilled Champagne. The Maldives is the perfect place to have a blow-out

n the beautiful island of Saint Lucia there’s a place that’s perfect for celebration.

Known as Rendezvous, its verdant gardens set on

a two- mile stretch of white sand beach were the

TI M E IS SO PREC IOU S, S MART COU PL ES S T EAL I T.

inspiration that created this relaxing and intimate hideaway dedicated to the couple. Arranging a custom wedding for your clients, from the new Ever After Collection at Rendezvous will give them a wedding day that will live in memory long after tans have faded. To learn more about the Ever After Wedding Collection, call 0203 096 1629 or visit www.theromanticholiday.com

romantic escapes

Saint Lucia “Quirky romantic hideaways in Thailand include Keemala Resort in Phuket, Thailand, where guests can stay in woven bird’s nest-style pool villas which sit high up in the trees with sea and rainforest views”

‘That view’ of the Pitons features on many-a honeymoon brochure for a reason! Couplesfocused resorts are the norm on this Caribbean island so there are no shortage of options, whatever your couple’s budget. Romantic escapes range from beachside resorts like Anse Chastanet Resort, with its eco-luxury design and beachfront spa, or lofty Ladera Resort, which sits up in the mountains and has treehouse-style villas with an open fourth ‘wall’ offering views of the Pitons. Tie the knot: All-inclusive Rendezvous Resort titles itself ‘the boutique hotel for couples’ and specialises in romance. There’s even a Champagne piano bar. The ‘exotic’ wedding option will see your clients wed under a bamboo canopy lit by antique lamps and candles in a location of their choice.

Fiji The Fijians are great at making people feel special and the laid-back vibe starts as soon as your guets land (even the airport staff wear ﬂowers in their hair!). Fiji’s choice of venues ranges from sandbanks to tropical rainforest,

Untitled-1 1

glass-sided chapels to traditional churches, on several of its 333 islands. Tie the knot: Wadigi Island is a 10-minute helicopter ride from Nadi International Airport. There are just three cliff-top suites and nine staff including a boat captain and two gourmet chefs. The island is your couple’s oyster as far as a wedding venue is concerned, including the resident lagoon.

Rodrigues Island Often eclipsed by its Indian Ocean neighbours like Maldives and Seychelles, this sister island of Mauritius is a tiny volcanic outcrop nestling in the protective embrace of an azure lagoon. With a predominantly African and Creole population, the pace of life is slow here and the peach-sand beaches quiet. Tie the knot: Most couples tend to wed in Mauritius, where hotel names like Beachcomber have a plethora of options, and then honeymoon in Rodrigues. Romantic bolt-holes in the latter include four-star Tekoma Boutik Hotel which has lagoon or garden rooms and an atmospheric beach bar. 

26/05/2016 11:14

switzerland

on a high switzerland

SWITZERLAND

Natural beauty, heritage towns and scenic excursions are just the start of central Switzerlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appeal, says Steve Hartridge

www.interlaken.ch

www.jungfrau.ch

www.kambly.com

switzerland

For adventure recomment th Grindelwald to First trip. On the sunny side of the Grindelwald Valley, an aerial cableway leads from the glacier village of Grindelwald to First at 2168m above sea level. Once there a wide variety of exciting attractions await including the First Flyer, scooter-bike rides and a hiking trail to Lake Bachalpsee, which is known as the ‘Pearl of Mountain lakes.

Interlaken

PURE SWITZERLAND

In the Interlaken holiday region your clients can experience Switzerland par excellence. In fact, you could say that this is where they’ll ﬁnd the whole of Switzerland in one place. In the Lakeland, at the foot of the worldfamous mountain trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, eternally white summits tower up beyond palm-studded shores, herdsmen and artisans mingle with adrenalin junkies and avid shoppers, and centuries-old customs sit alongside international events. Interlaken is the tourism centre of the region, a meeting place for guests from all over the world who stroll along the Höheweg - the large promenade extending from east to west with souvenir shops, diverse stores and boutiques - or enjoy la dolce vita in one of the many cafes. Contrast this with paragliders circling overhead and landing on the Höhematte meadow. The region’s largest town is Thun, with around 43,000 residents. Overlooked by the whitewashed walls of the medieval castle, Thun’s old-town quarter is home to businesses with a longstanding tradition. The shopping island of Bälliz and the Mühleplatz have a modern, youthful vibe and the street-side cafes almost burst at the seams on balmy summer evenings. The towns and villages are surrounded by idyllic countryside. At its heart are two lakes, on whose deep-blue waters ply lake steamers from a different era and nimble sailing boats. And ﬁve fully-preserved castle installations provide an insight into how the lords of the manor lived in a bygone age. At around 560 meters above sea level, the climate is so mild that even ornamental palms and vines thrive here. And above the almost Mediterranean-like scene rise the icy giants of

jungfrau.ch

Kambly

ONE-DAY ROUND TRIP

the Bernese Alps. Mountain rail and cableways provide access to the most spectacular vantage points or visitors can climb one of them and be inspired by Interlaken’s stunning scenery. interlaken.ch

Jungfraujoch TOP OF EUROPE

The Jungfrau Railway ranks as one of the most impressive achievements in international mountain railway construction. After a building period that lasted 16 years, the Jungfrau Railway opened in 1912. It runs from Kleine Scheidegg up through the rock of the Eiger and Mönch mountains to Europe’s highest-altitude railway station, the Jungfraujoch – the top of Europe – at 3454m above sea level. Visitors can gain access to the high-alpine wonderland of ice, snow and rock all year round. On the Sphinx terrace the great 360-degree views, overlooking the Aletsch Glacier, are stunning. Other attractions here include an Ice Palace, a Snow Fun Park and the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven. It takes less than 10 minutes to travel from Interlaken up to the Harder Kulm and here, at 1322m above sea level, visitors have fabulous views of the Jungfrau region dotted with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau as well as Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. The restaurant here looks like a small castle and is open during the evenings. The Schynige Platte that transports visitors up has to be the top choice for Swissness too. Opened in 1893, the nostalgic cogwheel railway gives a unique perspective on the mountains, with unparalleled views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The railway’s historic locomotives and carriages make the journey itself a wonderful experience for people of all ages. Highlights on Schynige Platte are the Botanical Alpine Garden with 600 different species of plants and many hiking trails.

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Take this one-day round trip by train and boat and visitors discover Switzerland at its best, taking in Interlaken, Lucerne, the Kambly Experience, Berne and then back to Interlaken. On this one-day round trip, visitors experience one of the most beautiful corners of central Switzerland: magniﬁcent views of snow-capped mountains, deep-blue, clear lakes and lush green meadows are dotted with traditional farmhouses as the tour includes rural sights as well as stops for shopping and sightseeing in world-famous destinations, and a culinary stop in the Emmental Valley. This excursion starts in Interlaken at the foot of the imposing Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains and travels to Lucerne, recognised as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and boasting a wealth of sights such as the world-famous Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge). In the idyllic Emmental Valley, visitors dive into the world of Switzerland‘s best-known premium biscuit brand Kambly at the Kambly Experience in Trubschachen, and discover the secrets of the art of ﬁne biscuit making. Hundreds of types of biscuits are ready for tasting and visitors can also watch the Kambly master confectioners at work. A stop at the charming Swiss capital of Berne, gives travellers the chance to explore the old town, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site and enjoy shopping under one of the longest weatherproof promenades in Europe (four miles long!). From April to October the round-trip can be combined with a boat trip on Lake Brienz from Interlaken to Brienz. Tickets for the Kambly Roundtrip are available at all railway counters in Switzerland. Swiss Travel Pass, Bernese Oberland regional pass and the GA travelcard are also valid on the entire route. The tour can be taken either as a day excursion or, thanks to the 10-day validity of the ticket, as a multi-day excursion with overnight stays along the way. kambly.com

Inspiration. Incentives. Bookings. June 2016

THIS MONTH'S TOP STORIES

Note the CTO's autumn roadshows Quick Quiz Are you a Tunisia expert?

1. Sousse is one of Tunisia's oldest resorts TRUE / FALSE

Hot News

Want to become a Namibia know it all?

2. Tunis has a population of approximately four million people TRUE / FALSE

ROADSHOW

THE CARIBBEAN Tourism Organization is alerting agents to two more of its action-packed, fun-filled and informative evenings scheduled for the autumn. The roadshows give agents the chance to network with representatives from the CTO as well as win some fabulous prizes. The first event takes place in Chester on September 14 with Birmingham taking centre stage on September 15. To enter email: RSVP@ caribtourism.com caribbeantravelguru.com

Amazing prizes with Tawash Qatar!

Namibia I Modules: 4

WINNERS

COURSES Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Aruba Barbados Belmond Botswana

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Boucan by Hotel Chocolat Caribbean Travel Guru Cayman islands Chile England Gambia – NEW! Grenada

Guadeloupe Hotel Extras Jamaica Jewel Resorts Kenya Las Vegas Macao – NEW

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Answers: 1: True 2: False

THE NAMIBIA Know it All programme will go live this month. Agents should keep an eye out for this new programme that will reveal all about one of Africa's most diverse and wondrous destinations. From wildlife to European architecture to tribal Himba people, there is so much to learn and so many ways to earn! Namibia is giving away £500 worth of mystery prizes to those who complete the programme, so watch this space for more information! namibiaknowitall.com

Malaysia Miami Namibia Nassau Norway Norwegian Cruise Line Poland

TAWASH Qatar gave away amazing prizes in April to agents who completed their online programme, and the winners have been arevealed. Those who collected prizes are as follow: two tickets to the Qatar Goodwood – Jo Baldwin, Travel Counsellor; Tea at Claridges for two – Penny Bones, Southern Cross Travel; Signature 50-minute face treatment at the Mondrian London Spa – Julia Cooper, Thomas Cook; £200 Harrods Voucher – Alison Fallaize, Carrick Travel. Congratulations to all those winners who earned while they learned! tawashqatar.com

Qatar Samoa Selling Cruising Seychelles St Kitts Tenerife Thailand

The Crane Trinidad & Tobago Tunisia www.traveluni.com

Destinations • Cruise • Tour Operators • Hotels & Resorts • Rail

Training courses to help travel agents and advisers sell more!

Train with T&T to win! Graduate Reward Scheme

INCENTIVE

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO is lining up some fabulous prizes for agents who sign-up and complete the new Trinbago training programme. Agents who complete the challenge will be in with a chance of winning a four-night, half-board stay at the Blue Waters Inn Tobago or two return flights to the islands with British Airways. The programme will teach agents all they need to know to sell this unique dual-island Caribbean destination.

How the system works for you... 0RECOGNITION Recognising agents for their training and bookings.

Your incentive

learntrinbago.com

Are you ready for men in shorts?

Train with Thailand to win!

Thailand I Modules: 6

ROADSHOWS

WIN! Tourism Thailand is oﬀering three prizes, totalling 10 hotel nights, for agents who complete the Thailand training programme. The prizes include four nights at the Patong Beach Hotel, four-nights at the Baan Samui, and a two-night Jungle Safari at Elephant Hills. The challenge: Agents who completed the programme in the last six months are eligible to win the hotel nights. Agents who have not yet ﬁnished the course should get training now! Where to enter: training.tourismthailand.co.uk

THE JAMAICA Tourist Board is hosting a series of summer events under the banner 'Men in Shorts'. Each event will include a fun interactive quiz and, of course, a host of Jamaican delights. The first roadshow is in Glasgow on June 21, the second in Edinburgh on June 22, and the last in Essex on June 29. To enter: email: mail@ visitjamaica.uk.com jamaicatravelspecialist.co.uk

PRIZES Learn and you'll be in with the chance of winning great prizes. POINTS Earn by completing quizzes, attending events and more... REWARDS Log bookings for a chance to win even more prizes! GRADUATE Register, recommend a friend, pass 10 programmes, pass five quizzes, upload 10 bookings and attend one event to become a graduate.

WIN: HOTEL CHOCOLAT CHOCOLATES FIND OUT MORE: AZANTIGUABARBUDA.COM

FIND: SAILING • REDCLIFFE • ST JOHNS • BEACHES• QUAY • TO ENTER: Complete this wordsearch inspired by the Cayman Islands Academy and provide us with your details for a chance of winning!

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CONGRATULATIONS to Jeremy Burrell of Personal Travel Advisors who won our Wordsearch on the Cayman Islands training programme last month. Now it's your turn!

The prize comes courtesy of Hotel Chocolat. Learn all about the company's beautiful Saint Lucian cocoa plantation hotel, Boucan by Hotel Chocolat, at: boucantraining.com

Courses • Articles • Quick Quizzes • Rewards • Prizes

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philadelphia and beyond

pals Penn

Philadelphia is the perfect starting point for a tour of the Pennsylvania countryside, says Neil Murray

hiladelphians just love their sport – and then some. This was something I found out quickly enough on a visit to the City of Brotherly Love. And with teams in all four major U.S. sports – Phillies: baseball; Eagles: American football; 76ers: basketball; and Flyers: ice hockey – plus the Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer team, there’s no shortage of outlets for their enthusiasm. I am at Citizens Bank Park to see the Phillies but, with

a limited knowledge of the game, have to resort to asking my seat neighbour, a teacher named Mark, to explain some of the more puzzling aspects of the game. As a football supporter, I’m used to a more concentrated 90 minutes of action (well, supporting QPR, some of the time) so the stop-start style of baseball (including a little sing song before the seventh innings) takes a bit of getting used to – as does the army of food and drinks vendors that move up and down the aisles.

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philadelphia and beyond

But it strikes me the family atmosphere and fun and games in the breaks between innings – such as the Kiss Cam, which encourages couples in the crowd to embrace – are great distractions, although I can’t see them catching on at Chelsea. When play is held up because of rain, we move on to discussing Philly’s other teams, before switching to American politics and an explanation of the Primary System in this U.S. Presidential election year. Who says you can’t mix politics and sport?

Political And “Politics is coming home” could well be the tagline of the Democratic National Convention when it heads for Philadelphia in July (25-28). As the ‘Birthplace of America’, Philly is known for its nation-shaping politicians and history-makers and many city attractions focus on the country’s formative years. With all that history, as well as statewide tax-free shopping, sports teams, museums and more than 3,500 murals, Philadelphia – the US’s ﬁrst World Heritage City – has a multilevel appeal and is an ideal starting-off point to explore parts of wider Pennsylvania. Areas to recommend outside of the city include:

Brandywine Valley and Valley Forge With Valley Forge’s massive King of Prussia Mall and Philadelphia Premium Outlets in nearby Limerick, shopping is the leading pull for the newly-branded Countryside of Philadelphia (countrysidephl.com), which encompasses the Brandywine Valley and Valley Forge regions. Says Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board’s Marc Kaminetsky: “We believe this enhanced brand will allow our region to appeal more to international markets.” Brandywine Valley, ‘America’s Garden Capital’, should be pitched at horticultural enthusiasts, with Longwood Gardens (longwoodgardens. org), one of the world’s premier display gardens. It will highlight Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience from August 3.

Hershey & Harrisburg Family fun is what keeps people visiting, and coming back, to Hershey. Its moniker, ‘The Town Built on Chocolate,’ is appropriate as its major attractions are the award-winning Hersheypark (hersheypark.com) and Hershey’s Chocolate World (hersheys.com/chocolateworld). The town even smells of chocolate! Founded in Harrison, the state capital, but now established in Hershey, Tröegs Independent Brewery tours (troegs.com) are a major draw for craft beer enthusiasts. Local wineries and microbreweries have joined up to promote Wine & Craft Beer Country.

“Emphasise to clients that Pennsylvania is a tax-free state for shopping for clothes and shoes. The 400store King of Prussia Mall has the largest retail space in the US, with 40 more retailers and restaurants being added by the end of July”

Pocono Mountains With a new promotional slogan ‘Free You’, the Pocono Mountains CVB is encouraging visitors to experience the Great Outdoors in a destination that encompasses both summer and winter activities but also offers cultural tours, shopping and festivals galore. And with live cameras on the CVB site (poconomountains.com) at 16 locations around the region, agents can show ski areas, resorts and scenic views. Waterparks are a major attraction, too, with the latest – the Africa-themed Kalahari Resorts & Conventions (kalahariresorts.com) – now open.

Perfect ten Tour de force: Numerous Philadelphia tours include movie sites, ghost and photo walks and a thirst-quenching Tipplers’ Tour. One Liberty Observation Deck: New last November, the deck offers 360-degree views of Philadelphia from the 57th ﬂoor. Shoppers’ delight: Take an organised day trip from Philadelphia to the sprawling King of Prussia Mall in Valley Forge. The Rocky statue: Strike a pose in front of the statue near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Food fare: Sample a famous Philly cheesesteak (sliced pieces of beef with

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melted cheese), as well as Amish and Asian fare, at Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market. Sweet smelling: Take a train from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, the capital city of Pennsylvania, and then hire a car to explore the area and savour the delights of the chocolatesmelling town of Hershey. Prison visit: Visit Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary – America’s most historic prison – and see why Charles Dickens said its solitary cells ‘could drive men insane’. Victorian village: Drive to the Victorian village of Jim Thorpe (formerly Mauch Chunk, then renamed in 1953 after a famous American Native Olympic sports legend) to wander the historic streets and bike the wandering trails of an area nicknamed the ‘Switzerland of Pennsylvania’ because of its picturesque mountain scenery. Picture this: Discover more than 3,500 murals scattered throughout Philadelphia by joining a Mural Arts Programme Tour. Culture walk: Stroll along Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Museum Mile) and visit the Philadelphia Museum of Arts, the Rodin Museum, the Barnes Foundation and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Opposite page: Philadelphia’s famous ‘Love’ sign; this page: family fun at Hersheypark; Longwood Gardens, located just 30 miles south of Philadelphia; Philly’s skyline

philadelphia and beyond

What’s new  Statewide: Pennsylvania recently launched its

“Target history buffs who will be in Seventh Heaven in Philadelphia, the city that saw the ‘birthplace of American democracy’ and where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776”

new slogan, “Pennsylvania. Pursue Your Happiness”. The slogan, says Michael Chapaloney, the state’s Executive Director of Tourism, reﬂects the fact Pennsylvania is easy to navigate, whether by train or by car. “We are promoting a lot of packages based on ‘happiness’, which is something we feel people will ﬁnd on our road trips. And agents can access more than 60 via our website, visitPA.com.”  Attractions: Philadelphia’s ‘tallest’ beer garden, the SkyGarten rooftop bar, is set to open this month (June) at Top of the Tower (topofthetower.com). It will specialise in German brews and biergartenstye bar food. One Liberty Observation Deck (phillyfromthetop. com) is now included in the Philadelphia CityPASS package, which offers discounted entry to many of the city’s top attractions.  Accommodation: Philadelphia’s hotel inventory is scheduled to grow by 20% by 2018. Perhaps Philadelphia’s ‘most beloved hotel’, The Logan (theloganhotel.com) has reopened following a multi-million-dollar renovation. The revamp of the Ritz-Carlton (marriott.com) is due to be completed this month (June). The Omni Hotel has changed its name to The Franklin Hotel at Independence Park (marriott.com) while improvements take place in the autumn. It will convert to a Renaissance Hotel next year. Hotels scheduled to open in 2017/18 are Aloft, the 47-storey SLS International, the Study Hotel, the Four Seasons (in what, at 1,221 feet, will be the tallest building in Philadelphia) and the W/Element Hotel. Agents should consider the City District at the height of the summer seasons as there is usually better room availability there. The area is just 10 minutes by subway to the centre of Philadelphia.

Tourism talk Left to right: King of Prussia Mall, Valley Forge; Rocky Statue, Philadelphia Museum of Art; Philly cloaked in summer blooms; The stunning Pocono Mountains are an adventure playground of numerous activities lakes and quaint

“With the increased airlift from the UK to Philadelphia, we are seeing a huge upturn in the number of passengers travelling to the U.S. via Philadelphia and an increase in the

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number of passengers staying there – the city is perfect for a city break – before travelling on to places beyond. “Philadelphia is an ideal and affordable base for the East Coast, as well as being the gateway for The Countryside of Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Hershey and the Pocono Mountains region. “This year’s ﬁgures will be released at IPW in New Orleans but in 2014 Philadelphia welcomed more than 88,000 visitors from the UK. “The city was recently added to the Brand USA Discovery Programme and agents can get the new badge after working through the training modules. “Pennsylvania conducted a UK & Ireland sales mission in May and held a workshop in London, training sessions in Scotland and events in London and Dublin.” Greg Evans, Philadelphia CVB, The Countryside of Philadelphia & Harrisburg Hershey CVB

Where to book it  AMERICA AS YOU LIKE IT – 020 8742 8299 The seven-night Countryside of Philadelphia, Gardens and Wine holiday leads in at £1,070pp. Including ﬂights and ﬁve days’ car hire and hotels, it visits Valley Forge, Brandywine Valley and Philadelphia. The operator also has a Pennsylvania Highlights brochure. americaasyoulikeit.com

 VACATIONS TO AMERICA – 01582 469 661 The Pennsylvania Freedom 10-day package takes in Philadelphia, the Philly Countryside, the Pocono Mountains and Dutch Country, and leads in at £1,795 pp. It includes ﬂights, car hire and accommodation. vacationstoamerica.com  USAIRTOURS – 08000 350 149

The seven-night Philadelphia & Valley Forge package leads in at £1,099 and visits Philadelphia, Brandywine Valley and Valley Forge, and includes ﬂights, car hire and accommodation. usairtours.co.uk  WHO FLIES THERE britishairways.com; aa.com; delta.com

event review

Pennsylvania rocks into town

UK AND IRELAND SALES MISSION 2016 Representatives from several of Pennsylvania's regions met with 80 members of the UK trade at at London's Hard Rock Cafe. Fronting the sales mission, Michael Chapaloney, Executive Director of Tourism, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, said: "We are here to send a message that Pennsylvania is the place to pursue your happiness." The ďŹ ve Pennsylvania partners in attendance were: Philadelphia, Countryside of Philadelphia, Discover Lancaster, Hershey Harrisburg and the Pocono Mountains. Three holidays to the state were up for grabs and the lucky winners were Rachel McAneny from British Airways Holidays, Sarah Howland from Flight Centre and Hannah Phipps from The Intenet Traveller.

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VISIT USA NEWS JUNE 2016

T H I S M O N T H ' S T O P S T O R I E S F R O M V I S I T U S A ' S M E M B E R S • V I S I T U S A .O R G .U K TOUR OPS

TrekAmerica's Great escape

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save the date

Visit USA plans UK road trip THE 2016 Visit USA Roadshow will this year visit Newcastle/Gateshead (Tuesday, October 4), Bristol (Wednesday, October 5) and Brighton (Thursday, October 6). The 30 exhibitors at each location – each a Visit USA member – will include United Airlines, Choice Hotels, Grand Canyon Tour and Travel, Cruise America Motorhome (RV) Rentals, Aer Lingus and the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. The USA destinations and products attending the Roadshow nights will outline all their latest news, ideas and trade initiatives to agents. Tracey Spuyman, CEO at Visit USA, said: “We are delighted to be able to reach the travel trade this year through our 2016 Roadshow schedule. We hope that agents and operators all over the country will make it a priority to attend one of these events and discover all the latest news from attending Visit USA members." Registration for all roadshows is now open, on a first come, first-served basis. Interested agents should visit visitusaroadshow.com.

"The Metro Expo Line is now open and has made Santa Monica accessible by train. It takes passengers from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica in 46 minutes, every 12 minutes. Now you can do L.A. car-free!" Jackie Alvarez Santa Monica Tourism

TREKAMERICA'S Great 48 tour has one remaining departure in 2016. The tour, which visits 48 states and 18 national parks and takes clients from the Florida Keys to Seattle in a whirlwind 80 days, will run from June 24-September 1. Prices start from £6,339. More departures are planned for 2017. trekamerica.co.uk CITIES

Cleveland's trump card CLEVELAND is hoping its third hosting of the Republican National Convention (July 18-21) will help put it firmly on the radar of tourists. The Ohio city's major attractions include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cedar Point Amusement Park. thiscleveland.com CITIES

Denver's rail link to city A NEW rail service now connects Denver International Airport to the city's downtown Union Station. The 'A Line' launched in April, with ticket prices $9 (around £6). The journey takes 37 minutes and departs every 15 minutes. visitdenvercom

THE USA in brief... AIRLINES BRITISH Airways started flying between Gatwick and New York’s JFK Airport on May 1. The daily service, operated by a Boeing 777, departs Gatwick at 16.40pm, reaching JFK at 19.30. The airline operated a Gatwick-New York service for more than 25 years before pulling it in 2009 in favour of the Egyptian resort, Sharm El Sheikh. British Airways is the only carrier to fly to the Big Apple from Gatwick, Heathrow and London City. Batraveltrade.com

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TOUR EVENT OPS PREMIER Holidays has joined forces with Alabama Tourism to market two new self-drive offers that feature the state. Alabama’s capital, Birmingham, is the focus of the two tailor-made seven-night tours that head through several Southern states. Prices start from £1,099pp and include flights from London to Atlanta (returning from Memphis/Nashville), hotel accommodation and car hire for selected departure dates in November. trade.premierholidays.co.uk

GREAT EVENT LAKES GREAT Lakes USA met with the UK trade and media. Pictured are: Yolanda Fletcher, Great Lakes USA; Bill Bohde, Meet Detroit; John Haas, Great Rivers Country; Martin Gregory, Co-operative Personal Travel; Toby McCarrick, Great Lakes USA; Bob Navarro, Illinois Route 66 and Heritage Corridor; Dave Lorenz, Travel Michigan; Gail Orr, Rockford Area CVB; Cory Jobe, Illinois Office of Tourism; Gayle Junnila, Explore Minnesota; Jeff Berg, Springfield CVB; Roger Carmack, Great Rivers Country.

Look out for our Visit USA Association online Travel Update for the pick of members' news



MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT

introducing... THIS month (June) sees the debut in Los Angeles of Skyslide, a chute that travels 45 feet between the 70th and 69th floors of the U.S. Bank Tower. The slide is made of one-and-a-quarterinch thick clear glass and is affixed to the outside of the building – the tallest on the West Coast. Skyslide offers a view of downtown L.A. and the hills beyond from 1,000 feet up. The brief-but-chestclenching ride is part of a $50-million renovation of the building's Skyspace observation deck. Both Skyslide and Skyspace are due to open June 25. skyspace-la.com

Hawai'i Tourism ALEX PEREZ SALES AND MARKETING ACCOUNT MANAGER

DESTINATIONS

Florida keys in family way FAMILIES looking for an active holiday in Florida should consider the Florida Keys, where a range of new skills and activities await them. The Keys' year-round subtropical weather, clear waters and good underwater visibility provide a safe and easy-learning environment and the island chain’s activities include a scuba or Snuba lesson, sportfishing and even discovering the art of sand sculpting. Snuba (pictured) blends snorkeling and scuba diving and is a perfect way for travellers aged eight and above to explore the Keys' underwater world. Requiring no prior diving or snorkelling experience, Snuba allows visitors to dive down and breathe underwater using a 20-foot airline. The Florida Keys’ 125-mile long arc of islands creates a unique fishing environment. In Islamorada, the ‘Sportfishing Capital of the World’, visitors can try to pull in a reel-emptying blue marlin or land a mahi-mahi. And both kids and grown-ups can build eye-catching sandcastles on the beach in Key West at the historic waterfront Casa Marina. fla-keys.co.uk

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PURELY America has a seven-night offer to the Florida Keys for a family of four. Priced from £4,099 and based on two adults and two children (aged 11 and under) travelling, the deal includes three nights at the Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada followed by four nights at the Casa Marina Resort, a Waldorf Astoria resort in Key West. Flights are with Virgin Atlantic to Miami and car hire is included. It is valid for departures in August reservations@ purelytravelgroup.co.uk



WATER WAY TO GO

HOTELS

Loews has big U.S. plans LOEWS Hotels has completed a refurb programme that saw most of its 24 hotels refreshed in the past few years. Loews has 23 hotels in the U.S. and over the past year has opened the Loews Chicago and acquired what is now the Loews Regency San Francisco. In February it purchased Hotel 1000 in Seattle, which will open as a Loews hotel next year. loewshotels.com

VISITORS to Oklahoma City can enjoy the city’s newest attraction. At the heart of the spectacular new The Boathouse District is a $45-million Riversport Rapids Aquatic Centre, a facility designed to meet Olympic training standards. The centre, set on an 11-acre site, offers both serious and gentle rapids for experts and beginners alike. Class two-to-four rapids flushing through a 1,000 foot channel will be aimed at hard-core whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing adventurists, while a slower and gentler 1,300-foot water channel will appeal more to families and beginners. boathousedistrict.org

When did Hawai'i Tourism join Visit USA? Hawai‘i Tourism Europe joined Visit USA last September, to gain access to the various membership benefits on offer and put the destination on the map for potential visitors to Hawai‘i through the organisation. What do you hope to gain from being a member? We want to ensure that we are front of mind at all industry specific events. Our Visit USA membership allows us to take part in events such as Unite USA, the Visit USA Ball and IPW Brits Party. Our plan is to continue to represent Hawai‘i at as many Visit USA events as possible. Do you have any trade fams or other iniatives this year? We have just launched a new initiative to educate the trade on all things Hawai‘i. The Hawai‘i Challenge asks you to take on our digital Hawai‘i wacky wire, to not just learn more about Hawai‘i, but to also win a great holiday to the state. Visit htuk. travelagentportal.net/ Account/HawaiiChallenge. aspx to play! What’s your own most memorable Hawaii moment? This has to be having lunch overlooking Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, better known as Jurassic Park, with the lush green forests and mountains all around you. The tranquillity of the location and just how peaceful I felt in that moment will stay with me forever. gohawaii.com/uk

Subscribe to the Visit USA Association online Travel Update at visitusa.org.uk

focus on

Johannesburg – Reasons to stay longer in this reinvigorated city–

gomotso Ramothea of South African Tourism UK takes Jo Austin on a journey of rediscovery in 'Jozi' Johannesburg, or 'Jozi', is reinventing itself in a phenomenal way, with instagram-friendly urban regeneration projects, street and public art, great nightlife and a melting pot of history and cultures (joburgtourism.com). The arrival of several exciting new hotels in and around the city gives another reason for your clients to linger a little longer in this 'rebranded' destination.

NO FILTER NEEDED AT MABONENG PRECINCT Maboneng is a transformed neighbourhood full of trendy restaurants, art galleries, lifestyle markets and a four-star art hotel housed in what used to be disused buildings. The best way to get under the skin of Maboneng is through a walking tour with Bheki Dube of Curiocity Backpackers (curiocitybackpackers.com).

GET TO KNOW THE LOCALS “Soweto is pumping!” is a much-mentioned phrase when talking about the extreme experiences on offer in this thriving township, such as bungee jumping off the Orlando Towers (orlandotowers.co.za/ home/bungee). A cycle tour of Soweto with Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers (sowetobicycletours.com) gives an immersive insight into Soweto and takes in Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world which is home to two Nobel Peace prize winners: Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

GOLD MEDAL TRAVEL 0800 014 7777 PRICES START FROM £639PP FOR THREE NIGHTS AT THE FOURSTAR HOLIDAY INN SANDTON IN A DOUBLE ROOM, ROOM-ONLY. RETURN FLIGHTS ARE FROM HEATHROW WITH ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES AND TRANSFERS ARE INCLUDED. THE DEAL IS VALID FOR TRAVEL FROM SEPTEMBER 12 TO NOVEMBER 27 2016. GOLDMEDAL.CO.UK BOOK IT!

AL FRESCO DINING The local food market bug has bitten Johannesburg. Neighbourgoods market (neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za/johannesburg) has become a ﬁrm favourite with locals and visitors since its launch in 2006. Held every Saturday morning in Jozi’s Braamfontein in central Johannesburg, Neighbourgoods market is what Borough market is to Londoners. Here, you can mingle with the locals while eating freshly prepared local food, sample craft beer and shop for local crafts, arts and fashion while listening to musicians. Arrive early to grab the best seats and enjoy some people watching.

PAST AND PRESENT HISTORY Set aside two hours to explore the Apartheid Museum (apartheidmuseum.org) which chronicles apartheid (racial division) and South Africa’s 20th century history. Visitors to the museum are given randomly generated race cards which give two very different experiences during the introduction stage of the exhibition. The installations have been curated to depict chronological events leading up to and beyond apartheid in an educational yet sensitive manner. Be warned, the experience can be emotional at times but ends on a hopeful and positive note.

PLACE OF GOLD For an insider's guide to inner-city Johannesburg,

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book a Past Experiences (pastexperiences.co.za) walking tour offered by Jo Buitendach. Jo’s passion about Jozi is apparent in her love of the city and wanting to show off its beauty through public art installations scattered around the city. The tour starts in Newtown near Nelson Mandela Bridge and highlights Johannesburg’s history as a gold mining town and its more recent past. Then ﬁnish off the tour by sampling local beers at the SAB World of Beers, twice named number-one tourist attraction in South Africa (worldofbeer.co.za).

HOP ON AND HOP OFF The City Sightseeing open top bus (citysightseeing. co.za/johannesburg) is a great way to see what the city has to offer by using a one- or two-day pass. There is a bus every 30 minutes with 11 hop on hop off stops in Johannesburg and ﬁve stops in an extended Soweto tour taking in the colourful Orlando Towers, the Hector Pieterson Museum and Vilakazi Street. Attractions include Constitution Hill, Apartheid Museum and the James Hall Museum of Transport. The 'Green Mandela Route', to be launched later this year, will stop at Zoo Lake, Johannesburg Zoo, Holocaust Centre, Military Museum, Mandela Childrens’ Foundation, Mandela House drive-by and Mandela Trust Fund. Tickets can be used to redeem a discounted entrance fee to the Apartheid Museum.

focus on

EASY CONNECTIONS Transiting from the airport is easier than ever thanks to the Gautrain (gautrain.co.za), a high-speed train linking O.R. Tambo International Airport with the city in just 15 minutes. Launched in 2011, the Gautrain is clean and comfortable and operates a regular service monday to friday and a limited service over the weekend. Fares are deducted from a reloadable Gautrain Gold Card which can be purchased and topped-up easily at any Gautrain station.

WHAT’S NEW ON THE HOTEL FRONT Peermont (peermont.com) offers a totally secure environment within its Emperor’s Palace hotel and casino resort, just a shuttle bus ride from O.R. Tambo Airport. An additional 100 rooms are being added to the three-star Peermont Metcourt to complement the ﬁve-star D’Oreale Grande, the four-star Mondior and three-star Metcourt Suites, all situated within the complex. AHA (aha.co.za) is now managing the de-luxe four-star River Place Country Estate just a short drive from the city centre. Newmark Hotels (newmarkhotels.com), represented by

Ethos Marketing in the UK, is opening its ﬁrst property in Johannesburg within the Maboneng precinct.The chic four-star Hallmark House was originally a diamond-polishing centre and has 46 apartments and The Grande Café on the roof. Satyagraha House offers B&B accommodation and meditation in this elegant former-home of Mahatma Gandi in the residential district of Orchards. (sa-leisure-connection.co.za)

TOURISM TALK “Gold Medal recommends Johannesburg because of its great shopping, restaurants and vibrant nightlight. Visit Nelson Mandela’s house to ﬁnd out more about the history and culture of the destination as well as Soweto, known as the heartbeat of the nation. There are lots of music, culture and wine festivals in summer 2016." Melanie Burton, Product Manager, Africa

CURRENT CAMPAIGNS Welcome2Jozi: A campaign to educate residents and visitors on the city’s tourism. IamConstitution: Aimed at promoting the values of the Constitution among South Africans.

WELCOME TO THE GATEWAY OF

SOUTHERN AFRICA

Previous page: from left: the colourful Orlando Towers; cycling is the best way to get around Soweto; take a ride on the hop on hop off bus; This page: a hint of nostalgia at the Museum of Transport

An ancient civilization reborn, forgotten fantasies filled with classical sculptures and architectural masterpieces. Behold the wonder that is Emperors Palace. Welcome to the gateway of southern Africa.

Conveniently

located alongside O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Convention and Entertainment Resort combines timeless classical elegance with sheer excitement. With luxurious and comfortable accommodation in four awardwinning hotels, a glorious health and beauty spa, a magnificent casino with unparalleled gaming enjoyment, the finest in dining options, spectacular entertainment choices including a stateof-the-art cinema complex, world class conference facilities, and impeccable service, Emperors Palace has it all, in a safe and secure resort environment. Emperors Palace is the perfect first or last night stopover, no matter where you travel to or from in southern Africa.

For more information e-mail intsales@peermont.com Untitled-2 1

emperorspalace.com

27/05/2016 15:54

florida twin-centres

beyond one step

Orlando, the destination of choice for visitors to Florida, is the jumping off point for a state packed with experiences, says Jeannine Williamson

sign invites me to take a closer look at the ornate circular mirror that wouldn’t be out of place in Snow White. And as my curiously distorted reflection stares back, I certainly wouldn’t elicit the response that I am the fairest of them all! Although I’m surrounded by many dreamlike exhibits and the magical looking glass could easily be in Walt Disney World, I’m actually in the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg, less than a two-hour drive from Orlando’s famous theme park. The stunning museum is home to the largest collection of Dali artwork outside Spain, and wandering through the airy galleries it’s fascinating to see how his early work, such as an incredibly realistic basket of bread painted in 1926 when he was 22-yearsold, made way for the surreal creations for which he later became renowned.

In one display there is a lobster-shaped telephone, and elsewhere entire walls are taken up by vast canvases such as the Hallucinogenic Toreador, where the initial image of Venus de Milo changes before your eyes to reveal a bullfighter. It’s an amazing optical illusion and neatly illustrates that Disney isn’t the only place where you can enter a fantasy world. Outside in the garden I can’t resist crouching down and posing for a photo

“Fort Myers is often overlooked as a family beach destination, but you can tour the estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford” ROSS SINCLAIR, Senior PRODUCT MANAGER AMERICAS AND CARIBBEAN, TRAVEL 2

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beside a giant statue of Dali’s trademark curling moustache. And on the way out we help create another piece of unconventional artwork by taking off the museum’s visitor wristbands and adding them to the hundreds already adoring the branches of a tree.

Hit the road Although many first-time clients visit Florida solely for the thrill of the theme parks, there’s so much more to see and do that’s within easy reach of Orlando. This makes a two-centre stay an ideal option for return visitors, including families, sports enthusiasts or couples. The twin Gulf Coast resorts of St Petersburg/Clearwater are among many destinations that can easily be paired easy with a stay at the theme parks or another contrasting area Venessa Alexander, UK & Ireland

florida twin-centres

Caribbean cruise from Jacksonville, Cape Director, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater said: Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Miami or Tampa. “Alongside 35 miles of award-winning beaches Uncover history: Settled by the and the flourishing art scene, the demand Spanish in 1565, St Augustine is for new hotels has soared in recent years. America’s oldest continuously inhabited Opal Sands Resort and Treasure Island Beach European-founded town with charming narrow Resort, opened in February and March this streets and an impressive 17th Century fort. year, have kicked off the transformation and Head ‘em up: Get a first-hand by 2017 there will be 2,000 new rooms.” experience of the state’s little-known Sports fans can catch an exciting slice of the cowboy history at Forever Florida’s Crescent J action in this corner of Florida. Three national Ranch where visitors can heard cattle and learn teams, all in the major U.S. leagues, are based in about life as a ‘cow hunter’. Tampa – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, American Curious cats: Stop by at Ernest football team, Tampa Bay Rays baseball squad Hemingway’s former home in the and Tampa Bay Lightning ice hockey side. Away southernmost city of Key West and meet some from the spectator sports, Tampa has some of the 40 or so polydactyl (six-toed) cats of the area’s most picturesque golf courses. descended from his original cat Snowball. Says Rachel McAneny, Jetsave Destination Chill out in Winter Park: Once a Manager: “There is something for everyone, fashionable winter getaway for wealthy from stylish cities such as Miami and Fort Americans in the 1880s, this small town outside Lauderdale to some of the world’s most Orlando is packed with museums and galleries beautiful beaches. When twinning Orlando with has become a haven a beach area, consider culture lovers. booking flights in and Meet out of Tampa as it is a “After walking around the mermaids: much smaller airport theme parks or shopping in Fans of Frozen and and it’s generally Hans Christian quicker to get through Miami, relaxing on a luxury Andersen’s The Little immigration.” ship for a few nights or on a Mermaid will be Brits comprise beach down The Keys are enchanted to meet Florida’s second largest ideal twin-centre options” ‘real’ mermaids who international market NICOLA HOLLIHeAD, DeSTINATION MANAGeR stage spectacular (and and last year there HAYeS AND JARVIS literally breathtaking) were 1.7 million UK underwater shows at visitors, an increase Kissimmee’s Weeki of 5% on 2014. Part Wachee Springs State Park. of the state’s popularity is there’s always Discovery: If you’re staying in Orlando something new to see and do – such as Merlin and fancy a day on the beach then head Entertainments’ I-Drive 360 on International to Discovery Cove, a man-made idyll where Drive. Agents can book moneysaving tickets visitors can swim with dolphins, float down a for the cluster, made up of Madame Tussauds lazy river and relax on the sands. Orlando, Sea Life Orlando and the Orlando Eye, Rocket man: Get close up to rockets, from £35pp through DoSomethingDifferent.com. For more twinning suggestions, Ashley discover what it feels like to be Pilkington, Product Manager, USA, Gold launched into space and dine with an astronaut Medal says: “We recommend a multi-centre at Kennedy Space Center, an hour from Orlando. trip between Orlando, Miami, the Gulf Coast and the Florida Keys because it’s an easy distance between each stop. You have the thrills of the theme parks along with the peace of the beach and mangroves.”

Perfect ten

From top left: lighthouses dot the coast of Florida: vintage cars in Miami enhance the Art Deco architecture: dolphins are one of the main wildlife draws of the state: the Everglades offer a great chance to ride an airboat. Facing page: West Palm Beach offers a stunning skyline at night

Life’s a beach: Florida has 825 miles of beaches, including the sugar-white sands of Pensacola, Miami’s iconic South beach and secluded spots such as Sanibel Island. Walk on the wild side: This year marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Park Service and Florida has three: the Everglades, Biscayne and Dry Tortugas. Surf and turf: For the best of both worlds combine a land stay with a

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florida twin-centres

What’s new  Attractions: Legoland Florida (legoland.com/ florida) has unveiled five-year plans that will mark the park’s biggest expansion. The plans include Ninjago World and a lakefront resort. Feel the force at new Star Wars themed attractions, including a Jedi training zone, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (disneyworld.disney.go.com). Go ape at the Skull Island: Reign of Kong ride opening this summer at Universal Studios (universalorlando.com).

The 200ft Mako, Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster has opened at SeaWorld (seaworldparks.com) and sister park Busch Gardens will soon be opening the snaking Cobra’s Curse coaster, the only one of its kind in the world. Daytona Speedway (daytonainternationalspeedway. com) has unveiled the Motorsports Hall of Fame with exhibits including Bluebird, Sir Malcolm Campbell’s legendary record-breaking car.  Tour operators: Daytona Beach (daytonabeach. com) is now featured by Travel 2 (travel2. com) and Gold Medal (goldmedal.co.uk).  Accommodation: The $147-million 349-room Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort (margaritavillehollywoodbeachresort. com), inspired by laid-back singer Jimmy Buffett, has opened in Fort Lauderdale.

Tourism talk “A twin-centre holiday enables visitors to make the most of what the state has to offer, and with self-drive they can explore at their own pace. How about spending time in a hotel or a villa in the theme park capital of the world before driving an hour to the Space Coast? Or within two hours from Orlando you’ll

More adrenaline.

JustLetGoTravel.com | St. Pete Beach, FL | 001.727.363.2215

ﬁnd St Augustine, America’s oldest settlement. “Leave Miami or Fort Lauderdale and go via the Everglades to see alligators, manatees and other great wildlife. “Combine Tampa on the Gulf Coast with the white sandy beaches of Anna Maria Island and Sarasota. Don’t miss out on the northwest of Florida, the Apalachicola National Forest, or state capital Tallahassee, just a four-hour drive from Orlando.” Colin Brodie, Director UK Ireland, Visit Florida

Where to book it  NORTH AMERICA TRAVEL SERVICE – 0333 323 9033

Five nights at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay and seven nights at the Hyatt Grand Cypress, Orlando lead in at £1,725pp room-only for travel in September, including ﬂights and car hire. northamericatravelservice.co.uk  CARRIER – 0161 492 1356

A 10-night twin-centre break at the RitzCarlton hotels in Orlando and Sarasota is priced £2,170pp on an accommodationonly basis, including ﬂights, private transfer on arrival in Orlando and car hire. carrier.co.uk 

2016 BEST

BEACHES IN THE USA

ST. PETE BEACH

Fly over the Gulf of Mexico on a jet pack. Plunge down a three story water slide. Savor the flavors of campfire s’mores on the beach. Enjoy a star-splashed stroll along the shoreline. Master the art of paddleboarding. Dine. Shop. Sip tropical drinks at sand-in-your-toes beach bars. At TradeWinds, it’s more than just a beach vacation!

florida

'Real Florida' – By Gary Noakes–

s they strap me into my zip-lining harness they assure me the movements in the murky water below are caused by turtles and not alligators.

But as I stare down Gatorland’s 375-foot line, I feel my concerns are justiﬁed because just a few minutes earlier an unseasonal headwind had left another zip-liner dangling above the water. True, nothing lurking below had snapped at her ankles as she was hauled in, and in any case she was probably too high. But even so! Marked and a little dented by her experience, I run off the platform to gain momentum and whizz down, even posing hands free for photos.

GATORLAND I am in the Kissimmee area to get a feel of the ‘real Florida’ tucked away from the theme parks and golf courses. And, I hope, in some small way to get back to nature. Okay, Gatorland, which opened in 1949, is most deﬁnitely a theme park (it claims to be Florida’s ﬁrst) but its rustic aura is pretty far removed from anything Disney offers. The clue is in the name, with Gatorland home to 2,000 of the state’s 2.5 million alligators along with 100 of the bigger (and more scary) U.S. crocodiles, giant snakes and some friendlier birds and animals. And it has some mighty zip-lining towers – up to seven storeys tall – that are just plain good fun. It’s a great introduction to what lies deep in the swampland that still cover great swathes of the Sunshine State.

REAL FLORIDA Florida was once regarded as so inhospitable that its native cattle handlers considered

USAIRTOURS 0800 035 0149 THE OPERATOR OFFERS SEVEN NIGHTS IN A DELUXE ROOM AT THE OMNI CHAMPIONSGATE IN KISSIMMEE, FROM £729PP, BASED ON TWO ADULTS SHARING. THE PRICE INCLUDES FLIGHTS WITH VIRGIN ATLANTIC OR DELTA FROM LONDON OR MANCHESTER AND IS BASED ON TRAVEL FROM OCTOBER 29 THROUGH TO DECEMBER 12 2016. usairtours.co.uk BOOK IT!

themselves superior to the cowboys in Texas. Although a lot of the land has long been drained, if you look hard enough there’s still enough of the 'Old Florida' left. At the excellent Osceola County Welcome Centre I learn how humans have changed the landscape over the centuries. Outside, just 10 miles away from Walt Disney World, is a restored pioneer village while nearby Silver Spurs Rodeo, one of the biggest in the country, still draws the crowds. Who knew?

SMALL-TOWN AMERICA As well as the rural attractions, small-town America beckons as more relief from the theme parks. One example is Kissimmee, which wins no prizes for prettiness but its cafes are a bargain. The nearby too-perfect town of Celebration looks as though it was constructed by Disney – probably because it was. Its Cuban restaurant, Columbia, is popular and the boutique Bohemian Hotel an unusual option in these parts. But let’s get back to nature. A drive along the freeway near Kissimmee doesn’t promise much in the way of wilderness and as we pull over to the kayaking centre at Shingle Creek I notice that the river we are about to paddle down has been partly diverted into a concrete channel. Pretty soon, however, we are paddling among a riverscape that resembles a mini-Amazonian jungle. Cypress trees laced with spooky Spanish moss block much of the light and as the channel narrows I learn that it’s possible to paddle several hundred miles south to the Everglades. In an hour’s kayaking, we see just the one alligator. I am part-disappointed and partrelieved as the creek is very narrow in places.

FLOAT ON A HIGH In a hot air balloon, ﬂoating on a gentle westerly dawn breeze, I get an idea of just how rural the Sunshine State actually is. Below me is a mostly natural boggy terrain of lakes and native Southern Pines and the occasional orange tree groves. A small group of deer emerges to drink at a watering hole, while on the horizon, eagles glide on morning thermals. It is only when the mist clears that the hotels of International Drive intrude in the distance. 

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From top: zip-lining is one of the activities on offer at Gatorland, Florida's oldest theme park; a Gatorland alligator and its handler put on a show; ballooning over central Florida reveals the Sunshine State's rural side

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NEWS Barbados sails ahead

AT M Middle East focus in Dubai

R E A D A L L O U R M A G A Z I N E S A N D C H E C K O U T M O R E N E W S A N D F E AT U R E S AT S E L L I N G T RAV E L.C O.U K

sellingtravel.co.uk

the review

Tourism Update

Barbados on a growth path

BA’s longest flight will head to Chile BRITISH AIRWAYS will begin the only direct flight between London

CAROL HAY UK Manager, Caribbean Tourism Organisation

and Santiago, Chile, on January 3, 2017. Santiago will become the airline’s lengthiest long-haul route,

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

taking 14 hours 40 minutes, nearly

THE Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)

an hour longer than the current

would like to thank all those agents who

longest flight to Buenos Aires,

attended its London and Chelmsford

Argentina. The four-times-a-week

Roadshows in May.

flight will be served by the airline’s

In London, Nikki Metcalfe, Flight Centre, won

four-cabin

Boeing

a seven-night stay for two at Blue Waters Inn

Dreamliner.

Santiago joins a

Tobago, including breakfast, compliments of

growing list of Latin American

PSA Marketing, plus a pair of British Airways

destinations for British Airways.

World Traveller tickets to Tobago.

The airline recently launched new

787-9

Szilvia Bacsa, Not Just Travel, won a five-

services to San Jose, Costa Rica, and

night all-inclusive stay for two at The

Lima, Peru. It also operates flights

Verandah Resort & Spa, Antigua, while

to Rio and Sao Paulo in Brazil.

Charlotte Finchman, Perfect Weddings

batraveltrade.com.

Abroad, won four nights, all-inclusive, at Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa, Jamaica.

BY STEVE HARTRIDGE

site’s

In Chelmsford Tola Arogundade, Chelmsford

BARBADOS tourism chiefs expect to

integration,” said William Griffith, CEO of

deep

social

media

channel

Star Co-operative Travel, won seven nights,

build on two years of rising visitor

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI).

all-inclusive at Le Grand Courlan Spa Resort

numbers after introducing new initiatives

and two British Airways World Traveller

for both the trade and consumers.

Cheryl Carter, BTMI’s UK Director,

Norwegian takes a punt on Las Vegas

admitted that just six per cent of its

A new website – visitbarbados.org/uk –

budget for the coming year would be

LOW-COST carrier Norwegian Air

Numerous other prizes included gift bags

launched on May 11 and the destination

allocated directly to trade activities (with

Shuttle will launch a new route

with Caribbean rum, shopping vouchers,

will shortly announce details of a major

additional funds set aside for tour

from Gatwick to Las Vegas on

dinner for two and bottles of champagne.

incentive for travel agents.

operator co-op agreements) but said

October 31. The twice-weekly

Barbados had a robust plan in place for

(Monday and Thursday) service will

travel agents.

initially run twice a week with

tickets to Tobago.

The CTO’s Caribbean Roadshows will now

The website includes destination

take a break, but will resume in September,

videos featuring 360-degree tours, trip

in Chester (Wednesday 14) and Birmingham

planning tools, a booking engine/inquiry

“We are planning a major agent

(Thursday 15 September).

system that connects to tour operator

incentive and will shortly announce the

Norwegian will use its new

If you live or work in these areas or close

programmes, images and blogs. It is

details. We will also be running fam trips

Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the

by and you would like to learn more about

accessible across all platforms, whether

and have a very active team that gets out

route. The Gatwick flight will be

what the Caribbean has to offer you and your

mobile, tablet or large-screen displays.

on the road to talk to agents.”

the airline’s fourth service to Las

flights on sale from £179 one way.

clients, register to attend now! Go to www.

An accommodation-only option –

Barbados remains the most popular

caribbeantravelguru.com/reg-form.html or

bookbarbadosnow.com – links through to

Caribbean destination for Brits: since

email RSVP@caribtourism.com. Places are

Barbados Hotel Association members

early 2014 the UK market has grown by

Norwegian Chief Commercial

already filling up fast, so don’t delay.

and offers commission to agents.

24%, and the 71,000 arrivals between

Officer Thomas Ramdahl said: “We

Vegas after Copenhagen, Stockholm and an Oslo weekly flight.

The trade media partner for these events

“Visitors to the new website will get a

January-March this year represent a 10%

are bringing more competition to

will again be Selling Travel. Turn to page 23

taste of our island, along with its history,

rise on 2025. Worldwide, the island

the UK market, which is a win-win

for pictures and details from our London

attractions, activities, accommodation

attracted 592,000 air visitors last year.

for customers.” norwegian.com

roadshow last month.

and much more. A key feature is the

visitbarbados.org

Further details of all the CTO’s trade activities can be found on the CTO’s online training programme, Caribbean Travel Guru.

NEWS TO USE IN BRIEF

If you’re not already a member, register now

Uganda’s first: Look out this month

New Wilderness: Wilderness Safaris

Icelandair to Montréal: Icelandair

at www.caribbeantravelguru.com and start

for Uganda Tourism’s first-ever UK

has opened its rebuilt Ruckomechi Camp,

has introduced a four-times-a-week

reaping the rewards!

marketing campaign. The tourism

located in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools

seasonal service to Montréal.

all

National Park on a stretch of the Zambezi

Québec city is the airline’s fifth

programming on the Nat Geo Wild

River. The park is home to large numbers

Canadian gateway, with connections

channel (Sky 528) during June and

of elephant, buffalo, hippo, lion, leopard

from six UK airports: Heathrow,

Uganda’s airtime slots will focus on its

and wild dog. The camp has eight large

Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester,

national parks and mountain gorillas

tented suites, with a further two family

Glasgow and Aberdeen. The airline

and chimpanzees.

suites due to open on August 1.

offers free stopovers in Iceland.

visituganda.com

wilderness-safaris.com

icelandair.co.uk

organisation

Caribbean Tourism Organization 22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1BP Tel: 020 8948 0057 Fax: 020 8948 0067 caribbean.co.uk

will

sponsor

sellingtravel.co.uk

The

the review

Battered in Western Oz

Monarch’s new site for the trade

Neilson’s dedicated with agents’ line

MONARCH has launched a new

NEILSON has introduced a new

website just for the trade after

dedicated online booking site for

feedback from key partners.

travel agents.

The portal provides agents with

The new booking system enables

access to the full range of Monarch

agents to search and book Neilson

holidays, hotels and flights and is a

Beachclubs, ski packages and

key part of the company’s move to

flotilla holidays (seven- or 14-night

a single brand strategy.

stays) without having to contact

The site enables agents to search

the Neilson sales centre.

and refine against a much wider

Agents can also streamline the

series of holiday options, along

client consultation process with a

with the selection of multiple

search tool that allows searches to

airports and destinations, as well

be tailored according to departure

as navigating between various

date, duration, star rating and

options including resort, price,

board basis.

departure date and board basis. It also features a revised late deals

function

which

allows

To sign up agents need to log on Key stops include Kakadu National

BY JO AUSTIN

B AT T E R E D - S U I TCA S E.CO M,

Park and Kimberley.

ABTA

agents to filter against a series of

operator strengthening its relationship

Richard Church, Director and Founder

options, according to specific

with the trade, is offering an 18-day

of Battered Suitcase said: “Since

customer requests.

bespoke tour of Western Australia that

each of our tours is unique, it’s

follows in the footsteps of ITV’s Wild

essential that our customers have

Australia with Ray Mears programme.

human contact to discuss their personal

Monarch Tour Operations Sales Director Gary Anslow said: “The

to agents.neilson.co.uk inputting their number

and

Viewdata

password.

Thailand at a glance

majority of the holidays we sell are

The self-drive tour exposes visitors to

itineraries. We have developed a

booked online so it’s critical that

remarkable landscapes and sees them

straightforward process that enables

DISTRIBUTED with this month’s

we provide agents with all of the

meet resident outback wildlife.

tailored

issue of Selling Travel is the latest

options and alternatives they

Available until October and priced

might require in order to present

from £5,547pp, the tour includes 17

which

to their customers. We feel the new site does exactly this.”

through

packages the

travel

booked and

Thailand At-a-Glance pocket guide.

Produced by the Tourism Authority

nights’ four-wheel drive rental, most

attention to detail is maintained.”

of Thailand, the guide folds out to

meals and several guided tours.

Battered-suitcase.com

reveal a large map of the country

ensures

trade,

high

level

and gives a flavour of the

monarchagents.co.uk

Tianjin Airlines takes off from Gatwick TIANJIN Airlines will begin flying

90 aircraft to more than 100

from Gatwick to Chongqing and

destinations across China.

Tianjin in China on June 25.

unmissable places visitors should see – from Bangkok to the mountainous northern regions and iconic Thai beach destinations. It

also

includes

useful

Robert Chen, the airline’s UK

information such as ‘Top 10 things

The twice-weekly service – on a

General Manager, said: “We’re excited

to do in Thailand’, temperature

Wednesday and Saturday – will

to open up a still largely unexplored

graphs, domestic flight and train

launch with fares starting from just

area of China for British travellers

times plus transport information.

£9 return (£322 including taxes).

and can promise them unbeatable

Tianjin Airlines is a subsidiary of HNA Group which operates a fleet of

Designed to inspire and assist

service and prices.”

travel to the country, it hopes to

tianjinairlines.co.uk

deliver what it promises on the cover: “There are holidays… and amazing holidays in Thailand”. For extra copies of the guide

NEWS TO USE IN BRIEF

email info@tourismthailand.co.uk

Jamaica’s own trade show: The

Royal Caribbean in Harmony: Travel

Stockholm city break: Taber Holidays

Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is to host

agents, tour operators and the media

is hoping to cash in on Stockholm’s

its own trade show, Jamaica Travel

were invited to board Royal Caribbean’s

raised profile after the Swedish capital

Market, on Sepetmber 29 and 30 at the

record-breaking new ship Harmony of

hosted this year’s Eurovision Song

Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf and Spa. The

the Seas last month for its pre-

Contest. Stockholm is situated over 14

JTB will invite operators and agents to

innaugural cruise. The ship will cruise

islands and linked by 57 bridges. Prices

meet with Jamaican suppliers. The

the Mediterranean this summer before

start from £870 for a four-night summer

event will include a gala dinner and

homeporting in Florida for Caribbean

B&B break including flights with SAS

awards ceremony.

cruises (See review on page 57).

from Heathrow.

visitjamaica.com

Royalcaribbean.co.uk

taberholidays.co.uk

sellingtravel.co.uk

the review

Back to the future

MAY 3-6, 2016, HAVANA

Havana, Cuba’s capital, hosted the 36th FITcuba, attended by over 2,000 delegates from 53 countries. Culture was the theme this year at the largest event of its kind in the region. Petra Shepherd reports Carnival first to cruise into Cuba

Cuba plans on rapid growth

Havana hotels in line for upgrades

CARNIVAL began sailing between

HAVANA has 11,309 rooms in

Miami and Havana last month,

hotels and villas, representing 20%

becoming the first cruise line to

of Cuba’s tourism capacity. In 2015

sail from the U.S. to Cuba in 50

the cuban capital welcomed 1.6

years. The 700-passenger ship

million foreign visitors, almost one-

Adonia (pictured) will sail weeklong cruises every other week, visiting Havana, Cinefuegos and Santiago de Cuba. Meanwhile, MSC Cruises is the first cruise line to homeport Cuba withMSC Opera sailing from Havana. Fred Olsen, Thomson Cruises, Noble Caledonia, Swan Hellenic, Star Clippers and Saga cruises also visit Havana as part of longer Caribbean cruises. It is hoped the cruise ships alleviate the burden on hotels, which are feeling the strain of rising demand. Carnival.co.uk

third of all visitors to Cuba. Sonia

Beltran,

representative Tourism

Ministry,

senior

the

Cuban

said

the

government would be accelerating its investment plans, renovating older city hotels and encouraging accommodation in private homes. around 1,400 rooms in hotels will be refurbished and re-modelled. Travel2cuba.co.uk

AS TRAVEL restrictions are slowly lifted

projects in order to meet hotel demands,”

on U.S. travellers, interest to visit Cuba is

Cruz added. The minister also stressed

growing and Cuba’s Tourism Minister,

the

Manuel Marrero Cruz, is predicting 3.8

updating existing facilities as well as

million visitors this year.

building new properties.

“Cuba is a popular destination and growing quickly,” the minister noted. “Improving our tourism product is our top priority.

We have 126 new

importance

restoring

and

Melia has big plans for island openings F I V E - S TA R

To date this year over 1.5 million

resort

Paradisus

Varadero plans to open a new

foreign tourists have visited the island,

luxury

an increase of 13.5% over the same

Concierge. Set to open winter

period last year.

2016/2017, it will be equipped with

family

area,

Family

investment projects in the works, 76 of

Cuba aims to double the current 65,000

which are foreign management joint

hotel rooms by 2030 with The Gaviota

hotel

Tourism Group (responsible for a third of

Melia Trinidad is also expected to

Another 23

all hotels) planning to add 30 new

open soon in historic Trinidad. The

properties by 2018.

hotel will have 400 rooms and a

Travel2cuba.couk

Yhi spa. Melia Internacional, a five-

ventures

signed

international chains.

with

contracts will be authorised soon. “Plus we are speeding up all investment

284 new rooms, four restaurants, four pools and a Kid’s club.

star all-inclusive Gran Caribe

F I TC U B A N E W S I N B R I E F

property

with

496

rooms

distributed over two zones (one for Return to Cuba: Thomson and First

Saga increase tours: Saga is reporting

Thomas Cook exclusive: From

families and another for adults

Choice make their return to Cuba this

a 20% increase (year on year) for its

summer 2017 the IBEROSTAR Playa

only) will open in Varadero in 2018.

summer with direct flights to Varadero,

Cuba tours with Viva Cuba, an escorted

Pilar hotel will be exclusive to Thomas

Paradisus Cayo Santa Maria, an

Cuba’s largest beach resort, on the

tour, being the most popular among

Cook and can be found in the Thomas

‘ultra all-inclusive’ resort with a

Thomson 787 Dreamliner from Gatwick.

clients. The itinerary includes a visit to

Cook Tropical Shores and Signature

beachfront location will be the first

The operators feature a range of hotels,

the city of Santa Clara and the Che

Caribbean brochures. Packages are

under the Paradisus Resorts in the

including Memories Grand Varadero and

Guevara mausoleum, a guided tour of

available

Cuban Keys and should start

Royalton Hicacos.

Trinidad and a visit to Bayamo.

Manchester and Gatwick.

welcoming guests during 2018.

thomson.co.uk

saga.co.uk

thomascookworld.com

Melia.com

sellingtravel.co.uk

direct

flights

from

the review

Strong performance

APRIL 17-19 2016

The 42nd Germany Travel Mart was held in Magdeburg with 300 German tourism providers showcasing their products to source markets from all over the world. Kathryn Liston reports

Germany a favourite with UK bookers THE UK, Germany’s fourth largest

Popular Germany outperfoming Europe

market, recorded a 7.4% rise in

GERMANY recorded its sixth

overnights to 5.54 million in 2015

successive record year in 2015

compared to 2014.

with a 5.4% increase in overnight

Klaus Lohmann, Director German

stays and visitor numbers up to

National Tourist Office UK & Ireland,

79.7 million. Petra Hedorfer, Chief

said the UK had performed well last

Executive Officer of the German

year and the trend was set to continue

National Tourist Board, said: “The

with a 10.5% increase in overnight

figures exceeded our expectations

stays recorded for February 2016.

and the UNWTO forecasts.”

He noted that, significantly, a large

Hedorfer (pictured) added that

75% of UK travellers to Germany were

growth was forecast to slow to

repeat visitors.

1-3% this year because of the

“Once they have been to Germany,

refugee crisis and the global

they realise if offers the best value for

economic

situation,

money. It is also centrally located and

Germany

was

very diverse. We have the beaches,

but

said

outperforming

travel to Europe as a whole,

cities and rural areas and offer good

important to Germany with 12% of

Dresden, Leipzig and Erfurt, is its most

where the number of overnights

hiking, cycling and Christmas markets.”

bookings going through the trade.

popular tour.

grew 1%. Room rates had also risen

Lohmann added that Hamburg was a

Agents were particularly strong on

Alison Temple, Product Manager at

1% to an average of 102.8 euros

“rising star” and Bavaria, Berlin, North

cultural and special interest tours and

walking and cycling specialist Inntravel

a night compared to 119 euros

Rhine and Cologne continued to be

online travel agents were getting

(inntravel.co.uk), said Germany was the

a night in Europe.

popular.

stronger, he said.

most culturally rich of the

germany.travel/en

Travel

agents

remained

Kathryn Morris, Product Manager for

destinations it features.

Europe at Shearings Holidays, (shearings.

The Black Forest and and

com) said the company’s Germany

Harz mountains are new

bookings grew two per cent last year

to the programme which

but more clients are asking for

also features Bavaria and

‘added value’ such as a glass of wine

the Moselle. A cycling tour in

with dinner. Shearings programme to Germany includes

river

cruises,

Christmas

Rügen, Germany’s largest island, is one of its

markets and coach tours. Classic Germany, which visits Berlin,

best sellers.

G E R M A N Y T R AV E L M A RT N E W S I N B R I E F Luther-run: Magdeburg and Saxony-

Get set for the show: Ryanair will

Hotel upgrades: Work will begin on

Accessible Germany: A Feeling

Anhalt in eastern Germany are hoping

begin a daily service from Manchester to

two new hotels in Regensburg, Bavaria,

Fearless campaign promoting barrier-free

that its ‘Luther 2017 - 500 years since the

the Bavarian city of Nuremberg, host city

later this year. An Ibis and Novotel will

travel has been launched by the German

Reformation’ campaign will put the

for next year’s Germany Travel Mart, on

open in in 2017-2018. A new Museum of

National Tourist

region on the tourist map. Church

November. 1 The city is known for its

Bavaria will also open in 2018. Visitors to

Lohmann, Director GNTO UK & Ireland,

reformer Martin Luther lived and

medieval

the city should visit the Cathedral of St

said the campaign targets an ageing

preached most of his life in Wittenberg,

fortfications and stone towers.

Peter’s and the UNESCO-listed city

population and those with accessibility

Magdeburg and Erfurt. magdeburg-tourist.de

ryanair.com

centre. tourismus.regensburg.de

needs. germany.travel/en

architecture

including

sellingtravel.co.uk

Office

UK. Klaus

the review

Africa calls

MAY 7-9, DURBAN, KZN

Indaba welcomed 1000 exhibitors from 18 African countries.The theme was“Putting you at the forefront of business success” and the hosts were Tourism KZN and Durban Tourism. Jo Austin reports Cross-Cape bike track gets on the road

SA looking good in 2016

Springbok Atlas has five new tours

ALMOST 2000 km of dedicated

SPRINGBOK Atlas Tours and

cycling track is being put in place

Safaris, which is celebrating its 70th

between Plettenberg Bay and Cape

anniversary this year, has added five

Town. “This ambitious project will

new guided tours for 2016.

be built in five stages over five

Zimbabwe Highlights takes guests

years and we are encouraging the

on a nine-day trip from Harare to

private sector along the route to

Victoria Falls via Kariba, Matobo

get involved by promoting their

National Park and Great Zimbabwe

accommodation, restaurants and

Ruins. ‘Botswana Explorer’ is a tour

other attractions, said Judy Lain,

of the Okavango Delta, Ntwetwe

Chief Marketing Officer at Wesgro,

Pan and Chobe and includes a

Cape Town and Western Cape

mokoro (dug-out canoe) safari. ‘Best

Marketing. discovercrwc.co.za

of Botswana and Namibia’ takes in the Okavango Delta and Chobe Park, Mahango Game Park, Popa Falls and the former Caprivi Strip along the Zambezi. springbokatlas.com

LAST year was not a good year for

for tourists in order to sustain our

South Africa’s tourism industry due to

tourism numbers. Word of mouth from

“global

pressures, mis–

our visitors will do our marketing for us

conceptions about the ebola outbreak

and social media begins the minute

and

tourists arrive on our shores.”

economic

new

travel

documentation

requirements when travelling to South

“South African Airways’ network into subSaharan Africa has clear strategic potential and capability for growth. Indaba represents an opportunity to develop and strengthen our relationships and to underpin the growth we are experiencing in the market” JON DANKS, HEAD OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS UK&I, SAA

Hanekom urged African countries as a

Hanekom,

whole to work together to positively

Minister of Tourism, in his opening

reflect just what the continent can offer.

Africa,” admitted

Derek

“Intra-African trade needs to be a key

address at INDABA. However, he told delegates: “We expect

focus in this regard to encourage visitors

2016 to be a year of strong growth. As a

to visit many African countries and not

country we need to put on a great show

just one,” he added. southafrica.net

INDABA NEWS IN BRIEF More flights from Spain: Iberia is to

Kruger gets new lodge: South African

Maputo Mozambique gets upgrade:

launch three flights a week between

National Parks has approved the

Tsogo Sun, the media acommodation

Madrid and Johannesburg, starting on

building of the 240-bed Malelane Safari

host in Durban, has upgraded its

August 2. The airline will use its A330-

Lodge

independent

Southern Sun Maputo property in

300 aircraft, with 242 seats in Economy

environmental

assessment.

Mozambique on the Maputo beachfront.

and 36 in Business. The service will link

Managed by Radisson Blu Safari Resorts,

Its 269 new rooms and modern

into 35 destinations across Europe and a

the lodge will meet demand from

conference facility are designed with

network of South American routes.

visitors who do not want to self-cater.

Mozambique’s rich heritage in mind.

iberia.com

sanparks.org

tsogosun.com

sellingtravel.co.uk

following

impact

the review

Fine collection expands

Naturally Namibia

Islands in the sun

NATURALLY Namibia, a collection

TO U RV E S T

and

Management is launching a new

experiences, brings together some

product portfolio, the Islands

of the country’s most unique

Collection, to meet the growing

features. The partners include

trend for combining bush and

Namib Sky Ballooning; Okonjima,

beach. The portfolio includes the

home of ‘Africat’; Skeleton Coast

Indian Ocean islands of Seychelles,

Safaris and Ongava Game Reserve

Reunion and Zanzibar through

as well as lodges and individual

hotel partnerships that offer a

hotels. The programme is ideally

complete package through a single

suited as an introduction to the

booking process. The new portfolio

diverse

includes three- to five-star star

owner-run

country

lodges

Namibia.

D E S T I N AT I O N

properties such as One&Only Le

naturallynamibia.com

Saint Geran and the Sun Resort hotels in Mauritius. tourvest.co.za

INDUSTRY stalwart Robert Schaerer is

Zambezi Elephant Trails has also

now working with the Fine Collection.

established Zambia’s first “Elephant

Representing a selection of hotels and

lunch in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National

THE Africa Collection is offering a

recommends a very personal stay

Park by the Zambezi alongside a herd of

special Safari by Rail Adventure

at historical five-star Nut Grove Manor

resident elephants.

priced from £2,395pp.

MARGIE WHITEHOUSE CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM

Emperor Palace: Peermont Hotels,

Encounter” inviting guests to a picnic

Robert

lodges

“The weakness of the rand is a double-edged sword. Whilst our visitor figures are up by 13% for February this year compared with last year, our budget for the promotion of South Africa in the UK has been cut by 24%”

Rail safari adventure celebrates 70 years of the Blue Train

White

South

River

Africa,

Kruger

National Park. For a close-up and personal meeting

During Indaba the Fine Collection

The deal includes economy flights

signed up the secluded Nxamaseri

from Heathrow to Johannesburg

Island Lodge in the Okavango.

on South African Airways, an

in the wild, visit the brand-new Elephant

Surrounded by indigenous forest and

overnight journey on The Blue

Café (pictured) on a deck on the Zambezi

water the area is ideal for birdwatching

Train from Pretoria to Hoedspruit

River in the company of a resident herd

and fly-fishing in the heart of the Delta

and five nights at Garonga Safari

of orphaned and rescued elephants.

panhandle. thefinecollection.co

Camp at Makalali Conservancy. It also includes the station/lodge/

More walking trails and field guide training

Hoedspruit airport road transfers and the domestic flight from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg. The

FAMILY-OWNED MORE owns lodges,

Cadogan and self-catering luxury at More

trips depart on July 7 and August

safari camps, treehouses and hotels

Quarters. Those who have stayed in Ivory

11 2016 and includes a free night

across South Africa. Launched in 2001,

Lodge in Sabi Sands are in for a treat

at Garonga Game Reserve.

MORE now employs 565 staff. Said Taryn

when it re-opens after refurbishment and

The Blue Train’s new Hoedspruit

van Niekerk, sales manager: “Our two

hikers can follow spectacular walking

departures into ‘Big Five’ country in

Cape Town properties also represent an

trails at Marataba Trails Lodge in

Limpopo Province form part of its

important part of our programme.

Marakele National Park, also base for the

70th birthday celebrations.

including the hip and historic Cape

NJ More Field Guide College.” more.co.za

africacollection.com; ethosmarketing.co.uk

Mojo for youth travel: A funky new

Mount Kenya: Swiss International

Casinos and Resorts is adding 100

beachfront hotel in Sea Point, Cape

Hotels and Resorts has won approval

rooms to its Peermont Metcourt hotel

Town, has the youth and family market

to build 67 four-bedroom villas, 128

within the complex. Near Johannesburg

in mind. Mojo has 80 rooms in a mix of

apartments, 86 townhouses, 75 hotel

O.R. Tambo International Airport in, the

concepts including six-sleepers and

suites and a nine-hole golf course on

extra rooms will bring the resort’s total

even a ‘crash pad’’, all featuring en suite

the foothills of Mount Kenya. The

to 727, to meet demand for family

bathrooms. It is just 50 metres from

resort will be a co-development project

rooms and groups on a budget.

the beachfront.

with Mount Kenya Holiday Homes.

peermont.com

themojohotel.com

swissinternationalhotels.com

sellingtravel.co.uk

the review

ATM 2016

April 25-28, Dubai

This year’s Arabian Travel Mart was held in Dubai (April 25-28). Jane Wilson was there for Selling Travel to round up the top stories Superbreak back in Dubai with new focus SuperBreak is relaunching its Dubai programme with a focus on

Arabia now open to mid-market travellers

Emerging emirate is on the Ras Ras Al Khaimah is reaping the benefits of an active UK trade

experiential packages

campaign featuring agent training,

Chris Hagan, Head of Overseas,

roadshows and events.

Transport and Ancillaries Product

Since last January the emirate

and Contracting, commented: “We

has seen a 23% increase of visitors

are strengthening our mid-market

(worldwide) year on year with the

proposition to Dubai to meet the

UK now the second-largest market,

rising demand for the emirate on

providing around 36,000 visitors.

more of a budget.

Greater airlift from regional

“Whilst most customers aspire to

airports such as Birmingham,

stay in five-star properties a lot of

Edinburgh and Manchester has

the year they can be outside of the

underpinned this growth. New

customers’ price range. Hotel

offerings

Apartments such as Golden Sands

mountain camp looking out at Jebel

or Al Barsha by Mondo offer

Jais, the UAE’s highest mountain.

amazing value for money and are

include

five-star

Ras Al Khaimah aims to attract a

very well located. The opening of

Targeting the mid-market traveller

Flyadeal. Accor Hotels opened its second

million visitors by 2018 through

Dubai Parks in October will

was high on the agenda at ATM, with the

mid-market Ibis Styles property in Dubai

partnerships with tour operators.

increase the demand further”.

focus firmly on the growing demand for

offering all-inclusive pricing structure

rasalkhaimahtourism.com

superbreak.com

‘more affordable’ accommodation.

packages. The Dubai-based Emaar Group,

Dubai holidays are as ‘safe as houses’

According to research, 50% of 3,600

which owns and manages The Address

new hotel rooms in Dubai have a three-

Hotels and Resorts and the Boutique

star or lower rating. This, together with

brand, Vida, has also launched its

increasingly competitive room rates, is

contemporary mid-scale Rove brand.

seeing the mid-market sector challenging

May

Rove

Downtown

Dubai

Dubai is a ‘safe destination’,

the luxury market as visitors save on

(pictured) became the first hotel to open

according to Marc Bennett, Senior

hotels and spend on activities. The trend

under the mid-market brand. Rove

VP International Operations for

is also being fuelled by the entry of low-

Hotels plans to operate 10 hotels with

Dubai Tourism.

cost carriers such as Flydubai and Flynas.

over 2,660 rooms to support preparation

“The fact that so many Brits live

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) also

for World Expo 2020.

in Dubai and it appeals to 1.2

announced a new-low cost airline,

arabiantravelmarket.com

million UK visitors is testament that it is a very safe choice. There

n e w s IN BRIE F

is a presence of security without being overbearing,” he said.

Theme park: The world’s largest

Qatar pays ball: Qatar is on track to

Going green: The Eco Resort Group is

“The growth of Emirates Airlines

indoor theme park will open in Dubai

reach 50,000 additional rooms by 2022,

planning what it claims is the world’s

correlates with our rise in UK

on August 15. IMG Worlds of Adventure

when it hosts the FIFA World Cup. The

greenest resort. The Oasis Eco Resort

figures which are up 18% from last

will increase summer tourism and

Kempinski Marsa Malaz Hotel, Banana

will be homed in Liwa, a large oasis area

year for the first quarter and the

provide a key attraction for transit

Island Resort Doha by Anantara, and

in southern Abu Dhabi. It should open in

mix

five-star

visitors. It is located 15 minutes from

Melia Doha Hotel are already open and

2020, with 84 interconnecting suites. The

accommodation now on offer will

the airport. A single ticket to the park

10,000 new rooms will be available by

project is founded on extracting

broaden our market with the trade”.

will offer guest access to all four zones.

2018/19, says Qatar Tourism Authority.

groundwater

visitdubai.com

imgworlds.com

qatartourism.gov.qa

ecoresortgroup.com

three-

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using

deep

well.

the review

Checking out...

HOTELS / RESORTS / TRAIN JOURNEYS / CRUISES / AIRPORT REVIEWS

S T A Y : H AR MON Y OF T H E S E A S, R OYAL C AR I BBE AN I N T E R NAT IONAL BY BENJAMIN COREN

THE BACKGROUND: The Oasis-Class

cruise ship is the latest addition to Royal Caribbean’s ﬂeet and is also the largest passenger ship in the world. It has 2,747 staterooms, the majority of which beneﬁt from their own balconies facing out to sea and inwards over the ship’s various neighbourhoods. Interior cabins feature virtual balconies, on to which a sea view is projected.

THE LOCATION: Harmony of the Seas is homeported in Spain and will be spending this summer on seven-night sailings in the western Mediterranean. In November, the ship will homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from where it will embark on seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. THE ROOM: I stayed in a Superior Ocean View stateroom with a balcony on deck 14. It was bright and relatively spacious. and featured a large double-bed, a small sitting area with a desk and a private balcony with a small table and two sunbeds. There was plenty of built-in storage, which helps to avoid cluttering the room. A separate private bathroom features a shower, toilet and wash basin. My room had a large television, and high-speed wiﬁ using state-of-the-art satellite technology ensures constant connection, even out at sea. KEY FACILITIES: Almost every need guests may have on board is catered for. There is a total of 23 pools, waterslides

and ﬂowriders on board. The Ultimate Abyss slide is the world’s largest on a ship and there are seven distinct neighbourhoods with a variety of bars, restaurants and shops. There is a medical deck, outdoor aqua theatre and indoor royal theatre putting on worldclass shows. RESTAURANTS/BARS: Harmony of the Seas has 20 restaurants catering to a huge range of styles and tastes. There are eight speciality restaurants including Wonderland, serving unique and experimental dishes, Jamie’s Italian, and a main dining room which offers Royal Caribbean’s main menu. There are a number of cafés and snacking options. The Coastal Cuisine, for guests staying in the suites, serves Mediterranean food. For drinks, check out the Bionic Bar, a cocktail bar operated entirely by robots. The rising tide bar spans three decks, and the On Air Bar is the place for latenight karaoke.

T H E V E R D I CT Harmony of the Seas is nothing if not an impressive feat of engineering! The vast ship offers something for everyone, with a huge number of activities, shows, restaurants and attractions. At times it feels like a floating town. It features every possible amenity and there are plenty of room service options available. The high-speed wi-fi was an added bonus. RATES: A seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise leads in from £799pp. Accommodation is in an interior room and the cruise departs September 25, 2016.

royalcaribbean.co.uk; 0844 4934005

S T A Y : Z E M I BE AC H HOU S E R E S ORT AN D S PA – Anguilla BY STEVE HARTRIDGE

THE BACKGROUND: The ﬁve-star

property opened in March – the ﬁrst new-build hotel on Anguilla in six years. It has 70 ‘keys’ but the plan is to expand to 129 keys, (including some 50 luxury residences), by the end of the year. THE LOCATION: Zemi Beach is on Shoal Bay in Anguilla’s less touristy East End. The reception area is on ‘road level’ but the property then descends down to the beach and occupies six acres. THE ROOM: My villa-style ‘Deluxe room’, featuring a high ceiling and bright, white-washed walls and sandstone tiles, was located mid-point up the resort, just a short walk to the beach. A large bedroom was partly portioned by a semi-wall. Kitchen facilities included a illy coffee-maker and mini-bar. The bathroom was huge, with a large sunken bath, a walk-in shower with old-style copper ﬁttings and Malin +

Goetz toiletries. It felt what it was – new and spotlessly clean. All guestrooms have balconies or terraces with sea or oceanfront views. KEY FACILITIES: The resort’s centrepiece is a Thai-inspired spa, whose various treatment rooms are housed in imported original wooden buildings, with some of the features of this former Thai House over 300 years old. The spa, which offers treatments based on the ‘ﬁve elements’, also features the only hamman on the island, a sun deck for mud and salt body treatments, a yoga deck and a ‘bar’ serving juices made from fruits, herbs and plants from the property’s own garden. There’s also a Tranquility pool, a lap pool, a beach pool with cabanas, a Zemi Beach Kid’s Club and a small gym. But for many the main highlight will be the white-sand beaches and two reefs located immediately outside the resort.

THE VERDICT The resort is a welcome boost to the east end of the island where both accommodation and dining choices are relatively limited. Zemi Beach’s symbol is the three-point stone ‘zemi’, said to have been once worshipped by Anguilla’s ancient Taino Indians who believed it to be the dwelling place of RESTAURANTS/BARS: Stone is a

ﬁne- dining restaurant with a focus on locally sourced-ingredients. Unusually for the Caribbean, it also features air conditioning. 20 Knots is a more casual dining option, and A ‘rhum room’ offers a choice of over 100 rums and just as many late-night cocktails. zemibeach.com; +1 (264) 584-0001

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the spirit. RATES: Prices start from £460 a night for a Deluxe room. Seasonal variations in rates apply,

seychelles

secretâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the

out

Offering islands of different characters, wildlife, dreamy beaches and boutique hotels, the Seychelles is positioning itself as the place in the Indian Ocean to fly and hop, says Kathryn Liston

Above: Plain sailing in Anse Source dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Argent Facing page: Enchanted Island Resort

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seychelles

usually prefer my eggs poached but I am Mahé, Praslin, Silhouette and La Digue, or about to experience some rather different kick back on beautiful flat coral islands fresh eggs as I place my order for breakfast such as Bird, Denis and the outer islands. at the Constance Lemuria Resort on Praslin. Mahé, the biggest of the 115 islands, draws A loud shout goes up and people start moving the lion’s share of visitors through its variety to the beach. Is it a celebrity? No, it’s a much of hotels, shops, restaurants and nightlife. It is more important VIP guest than that. often twinned with Praslin, 15 minutes away by A huge female hawksbill turtle hauls herself air or an hour by high-speed catamaran. Praslin out of the sea onto the beach and digs a hole in is a quieter island with amazing beaches. the white-powder sand right by a sunbed. She Sleepy La Digue is a popular day trip from then begins to lay her eggs. Praslin. It takes just 15 minutes by ferry One by one, small translucent jelly-like eggs but it is worth stopping over to experience plop out every few minutes into the hole. This the tranquility and slow pace of life. goes on for ages and I am transfixed by what I Mahé and Praslin offer the biggest variety see. Finally, she cups her rear flippers and shovels of accommodation, everything from luxury clouds of sand over the hole, obliterating any trace international hotels such as the Banyan Tree of the eggs she has just laid. She looks exhausted and Raffles to the four-star AVANI Seychelles but manages to haul herself back down the beach Barbarons Resort & Spa – one of Travel 2’s topbefore disappearing into the waves. selling hotels – and family-run guesthouses. This is just one Mahé’s Hilton of several amazing Seychelles Northolme sights I witness in the “You don’t have to be royalty to Resort and Spa has Seychelles.The day long been a source afford a holiday in the before, at the nearby of inspiration to Seychelles. Top-notch family- the creative mind. UNESCO-listed Vallée run guesthouses are a much de Mai, I marvelled Clients will instantly at the sheer size and understand why the cheaper alternative to the beauty of Coco de natural surroundings island’s luxury hotels” Mer seeds shaped inspired Ian Fleming like a women’s lower to pen one of his torso. They are the largest seed in the plant most famous 007 stories, For Your Eyes Only. kingdom and endemic to the Seychelles. The Seychelles Tourist Office’s ‘Affordable Over in nearby La Digue I relaxed on Seychelles’ campaign, which focuses on beautiful Anse Source d’Argent, flanked by inexpensive family-run accommodation, has been gigantic granite boulders. Then, returning breaking down perceptions that the islands are to Mahé, I overdosed on picture-postcard expensive and just for the rich and famous. views of mountains and frothy seas. The current focus on affordability and Now, to which island shall I hop to next? an increase in air capacity by Emirates and Etihad Airways from Birmingham and Hop to it Edinburgh airports seems to be paying off: The Seychelles is becoming a ‘fly-and-hop’ the Seychelles received a 32% increase destination for UK visitors and, according in UK visitors to 16,472 last year. to Tinaz Wadia, Manager of the Seychelles Although there are no direct flights from the Tourist Office UK & Ireland, the island UK to the Seychelles, extra flights by Etihad from hopping message seems to be finally Abu Dhabi mean there is now a double-daily getting through to the trade and public. service to the islands from its Middle East hub. “The Brits have been a fly-and-flop market for a long time but we are managing to convince people to try island hopping. That is what makes us different to other destinations in the Indian Ocean,” she says. Deborah Wadhams, Senior Product Manager Indian Ocean at Travel 2, agrees. “As other islands in the Indian Ocean become more popular, the Seychelles’ unique selling point is that it still has an untouched paradise feel that clients who island hop can experience on many different islands.” Unlike its Indian Ocean neighbours, the Seychelles has both granite and coral islands. This means your clients can enjoy picturesque mountains as well as sandy beaches on

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in on our Secrets

Seychelles Tourist Ofﬁce - UK & Ireland · 4th Floor, 130-132 Buckingham Palace Road SW1W 9SA Tel: +44 (0) 207 730 0700 · seychelles@uksto.co.uk www.seychelles.travel · www.seychellessecrets.com

seychelles

What’s new

Perfect ten

“With flights from the UK to the Seychelles connecting through Abu Dhabi and Dubai, clients can enjoy a few nights there on their way to or from the Seychelles”

Above: Bay view at twilight; Port Glaud waterfall

Turtle watch: Booklets and ‘turtle wardens’ at hotels teach visitors about turtle nests, habitat and egg-laying habits. Go barefoot: With so many gorgeous beaches it’s hard to choose the best. On Praslin, Anse Lazio has been rated by Giorgio Armani as one of the best in the world. Wedded bliss: Palm-fringed, deserted beaches, frothy turquoise seas and gigantic granite boulders provide a stunning backdrop for wedding photographs – and wedding organisers can arrange the perfect day. Hopping mad: With 115 islands to choose from your clients would be crazy to stay on Mahé and miss the charms of Praslin, La Digue and Fregate, to name a few. Interisland flights fill quickly, so book early. Zone out: Zen spas, vanilla-infused treatments, Balinese massages and yoga on the beach – there are lots of luxury spas offering pampering treatments. Snorkelling hotspots: On Desroches Island, The Aquarium and Passe Tambi are great places to spot turtles and stingrays. Visibility is best from September to May. Unique and UNESCO: The Vallée de Mai on Praslin and Curieuse are the only places in the world you can see naturallygrowing Coco de Mer trees, replete with their enormous female-shaped fruits. Time for tea: Tea is still grown on the slopes of Morne Blanc, Mahé. Try local blends (hot or cold), with mint, cinnamon and other spices at the Tea Tavern onsite. The scent of vanilla: The Seychelles is one of the cheapest places to buy vanilla pods pollinated by hand. Sniff out a bargain at the market in Victoria on Mahé. Handmade crafts: Sir Selwyn Clarke market in Victoria, Mahé, is the best place to buy batik work, woven baskets, straw hats and beautifully-crafted wooden ornaments and model boats.

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 Airlines: Etihad Airways (etihad.com) has increased services between Abu Dhabi and Seychelles to daily. Air Seychelles (airseychelles. com) also flies daily between the two hubs, providing a double-daily service for travellers.  Hotels: Six Senses Zil Pasyon (sixsenses.com) will open on Félicité in September with 28 oneand two- bedroom villas, all with private pools. Prices start from E1200 (£64) a night B&B. Banyan Tree Seychelles (banyantree.com) has introduced a new Spa Sanctuary Villa category which includes unlimited massages for guests. Daily yoga classes, including a sustainability session which donates $10 to wildlife conservation, have also been introduced. Hilton Seychelles’ (hilton.com) three properties –Northolme Resort & Spa, Labriz Resort & Spa and DoubleTree Resort Allamanda – have relaunched their spas under the Eforea brand. The treatments feature local ingredients such as coconut oil, white clay and aloe vera. Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort recently opened 16 Grand Oceanview pool villas and a two-bedroom Presidential pool villa. Complimentary wifi access is accessible throughout the Eden Blue Hotel (edenbleu.com) on Eden Island, just off the coast of Mahé. Children between eight and 15 stay free on a B&B basis when sharing their parents’ room at the Enchanted Island Resort (jaresortshotels. com) in the Sainte Anne Marine Park. The luxury Constance Lemuria Resort (constancehotels.com) on Praslin is undergoing a $11-million renovation that is due to be completed by November.  Attractions: A fish pond featuring sharks, sea urchins, eels and red snapper has opened at Dan Goulo, just off the coast of La Digue.

Tourism talk “This year we will continue to focus on the affordability of the islands with the Seychelles Secrets campaign which features niche hotels that are family operated. “We are making a push for visitors to

seychelles

SPECIAL OFFERS REETHI BEACH RESORT MALDIVES

DISCOUNTED RATES for stays between now - 30/09/16 DISCOUNTED SEAPLANE TRANSFER FOR ADULTS AND KIDS SEAPLANE FREE Valid for stays between 01/06/16 30/09/16 2 Complimentary DIVES when booking a diving course Valid for various dates in the summer Minimum Stay 5 Nights

be out and about, which means clients don’t always need a big five-star hotel. “Families are also increasing because more hotels are offering interconnecting rooms and activities and we will be raising more awareness of this business. “A 32% increase in UK visitors – to 16,472 last year compared to 2014 – is due to a variety of reasons. Air capacity has increased tremendously from the UK, particularly out of the north. Etihad introduced flights from Edinburgh to Abu Dhabi late last year and Emirates increased capacity to Dubai with an Airbus A380 out of Birmingham. “We are also continuing to focus on training and incentives for the travel trade. Our annual roadshow will take place in four UK cities between October 31 and November 3.” Tinaz Wadia, Manager, Seychelles Tourist Office UK & Ireland

PER AQUUM HUVAFENFUSHI MALDIVES FREE NIGHTS: STAY 4 PAY 3 – STAY 7 PAY 5 Valid for stays between now - 27/12/16 PLUS Book 45 days prior to arrival and receive 10% Off Room Rates Valid for stays between now – 19/12/16

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Book 30 days in advance and receive 20% Discount Book by 31 Jul 16 and receive FREE UPGRADE from BB to HB PLUS FREE NIGHTS – STAY 4 PAY 3 – STAY 7 PAY 5 All valid for various stays between 05/05/16 – 23/12/16

Where to book it  ANATOLIAN SKY HOLIDAYS – 0844 273 3585 A seven-night full-board cruise aboard M/Y Pegasus visits nine islands, including Curieuse and Cousin Island, and starts from £2,199pp. The deal includes return flights and transfers. Departures are available on selected dates until October 29 2016.

LOAMA RESORT MALDIVES AT MAAMIGILI Experience true Maldivian heritage – with 30% DISCOUNT on Room Rates! Valid for all stays between now - 30 Sept 16 PLUS BRAND NEW – All Inclusive and Premium All Inclusive Options now available

anatoliansky.co.uk

 TRAVEL 2 Seven nights’ B&B at the four-star AVANI Seychelles Lemur Resort & Spa, Mahé, starts from £1,339pp, including return flights and transfers. travel2.com

 JUST SEYCHELLES – 01342 547001 A complimentary upgrade to a sea view room is available at the Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Mahé, until July 15 2016. Seven nights’ B&B start from £1,409pp, including flights from London and private transfers.

ALSO FIND EXCLUSIVE DEALS FOR TRAVEL TRADE PERSONNEL ONLY ON OUR WEBSITE OVER 200 HOTELS AND A SELECTION OF TOURS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE MALDIVES - SRI LANKA - MAURITIUS - SEYCHELLES INDIA - UAE – CARIBBEAN- GREECE- NEW CRUISING AND SAILING. INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR SUMMER 2016 WINTER 2016/17 RATES ARE NOW ONLINE

www.osborneandebel.com All above offers are subject to availability.

justseychelles.com 

Six Senses Zil Pasyon

WHO FLIES THERE (etihad.com) via Abu Dhabi. (emirates.com) via Dubai. (airseychelles.com) from Abu Dhabi

Terms & Conditions Apply

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From the UK

to Paradise Relax in turquoise waters, discover secret islands, untouched rainforests, historical sites and underwater marvels. With so much to see and do, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no time to wait. Enjoy double daily flights to the Seychelles via Abu Dhabi from London or Manchester or three non-stop flights a week from Paris to the Seychelles.

my journey

The call of the north

se and thern Lights’ crui or N e th of d an ‘L board a CMV land John Gore hops on at sea and on dry ay w or N in ce en ri g expe enjoys an illuminatin

here’s surely nothing that can beat being pulled through a snow-laden forest by nine huskies in temperatures hovering around -12°C after a very late night.

The dogs, by the way, were probably the most enthusiastic workers I’ve ever met. Although billed as a Land of the Northern Lights itinerary, Cruise and Maritime Voyage’s February cruise onboard Magellan was so packed with truly unforgettable experiences that seeing ‘The Diva’, as the Aurora Borealis are known to the locals, was almost incidental. m For beside the exhilarating husky sled experience, a d r Amste als of I enjoyed an adventurous snowmobile n a c The excursion over the frozen River Alta, a visit to an Ice Hotel Replica of a viking ship, where everything – including eum Sunmore Mus drinking vessels – is made of ice, and I set foot on the North Cape, the most northerly point in Europe. And that was just the start of it. Several days earlier we had set sail from London- Tilbury with Amsterdam our first port of call. A canal cruise seemed the best way of getting the most out of our time in this beautiful city, though I could have opted to explore the local farmlands with their ubiquitous windmills and cheesemaking facilities. Next stop, Alesund. The home of Norway’s largest fishing fleet has been, justifiably, called one of the most beautiful towns in Norway. Situated on a narrow fish hook-shaped peninsula, the town was devastated by fire in 1904 and was rebuilt in Art Nouveau style and today remains the most complete example of this era anywhere in Scandinavia. Situated just out of Alesund is the Meeting the Sam Sunnmore Museum, i p e ople....Sle eight hu dgng beh skies....W based upon the ancient ind itnessing Lights....S the North Viking town of Borgund. ailing into ern the Arcti a snowm c Cir cle... With its vast collection obile....Sip .Driving ping a v in Sorris odka in a of copies of ships dating niva Igloo n ic e glass Hotel....Be from 700AD and its open Cape ing

air Medieval Age Museum it certainly gives one an insight into life in the Dark Ages. Don’t miss the heated benches by the harbourside!

Polar appeal

The cruise then took a more northerly route into the Arctic Circle, whose boundary is marked by a globe statue placed on the shoreline. To see all the ice and snow-covered islets scattered across the sea certainly reminds one of how cruel, yet magnificent nature is. And so on to Tromso, whose famous Arctic Cathedral has caused debate for many years – does the striking design depict an iceberg, frozen ocean waves or a ship? What we do know is that it has the largest stained glass window in Europe. Meanwhile, Tromso Cathedral, built in the 1860s in Gothic Revival style, boasts of being the most northerly Protestant cathedral in the world. Tromso’s history is graphically depicted in the Polar, War and Polaria museums. Or how about a drink in the world’s northernmost brewery? The Mack Brewery, established in 1877, will certainly oblige. And don’t miss the heated pavements, seven international ski slopes, planetarium or Tromso University. So much to do, so little time! An overnight stop in Alta, situated at a latitude of 70°N, gave us a chance to really enjoy this fascinating town and its surrounds. Rock carvings dating from 600 to 2,500 years ago depicting boats, animals and people confirmed that survival was possible this far north in prehistoric times.

“All the ice and snowcovered islets scattered across the sea reminds one of how cruel, yet magniﬁ cent, nature is”

My magic al momen ts

- the nor taken to North thernmos t point of Europe m a in land behind a snowploug h

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Ice breaker

Around 10 miles outside Alta is the site of the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel. Constructed entirely out of ice, it takes six men four weeks to build each year and is only open between mid-January

Fishing is a way of lif e in Norway

my journey

It’s fun in the snow after a fe w too many!

Drying cod on racks in Sortland

and the end of March – after which it melts. It’s equipped with an ice chapel, ice bedrooms and ice bar, and makes for a unique experience. We then had the chance to meet some Sami people in a Boazo Sami Slida (a Sami village run by a reindeer herding family). For traditional, environmental, cultural and political reasons only Sami people with a link to a reindeer herding family are allowed to make a living from reindeer. With each Sami district having a different costume it is a great way of learning more about these proud, determined people. A Sami ‘joik’ was even entered in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 – and it didn’t score ‘nil points’! Words alone cannot do justice to the aforementioned husky sledding and snowmobile experiences we enjoyed on this stopover, but seeing the Northern Lights was also a highlight. Alta is known as ‘The Town of the Northern Lights’ and here, led by professional and humorous guides, it was possible to transport over 500 guests around the Alta fjord for over an hour, leave them in almost pitchblack conditions, and not lose any – which must rate as a triumph! And all in search of the elusive ‘Diva’ which, yes, did put in an appearance.

Sorris

Ice H otel

a d, once Nyksun ing village g ﬁsh thrivin

On top of the world

In fact, we were fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights on four occasions during the cruise, each time putting on a unique display. To quote James Cagney, “Look mom, I’m on top of the world”. Well so was I, almost. Our next stop was North Cape – the northernmost point of mainland Europe, and we got there in a convoy led by a snowplough. Heading back south, a stop at ‘The Blue City’ of Sortland led to some of the most fabulous views of unspoilt fjords and valleys imaginable. Theonly thing missing was a Viking longboat making its way up the fjord. An early morning arrival in Bergen saw the city enshrouded in fog, and so too were views of both Mount Floyen and Mount Ulriken, which can be reached respectively by funicular railway and cable car. The Bergen Fire Brigade Brass Band played on the dockside as Magellan finally Dogs are en thusiastic slipped her moorings to make her way companions in homeward to Tilbury. A fitting finale. Norway

niva

Nice doggie , but where is my sledge ?

Traditional

Sami people

Inform

ation

ages imeVoy d Marit n the a e and of Cruis ‘L l a r e 2017, er sev ises in u r will off c ’ s ht tol, rn Lig om Bris Northe res fr u t r a p d an g de 99pp) includin 13 (£9 y r a pp). u 5 r 0 Feb 12. (9 h c r a , M e.com Tilbury dmaritim n a e is u cr sellingtravel.co.uk

six of the best

CHINA 2

THE FORBIDDEN CITY

CHINA

In the heart of Beijing, the sprawling Ming Dynasty Palace is the best-preserved imperial palace in China. Home to the country’s rulers for almost 500 years, key sites include the Palace Museum where visitors can see some of the world’s oldest wooden structures. FLIGHTS: Air China operates a twice-daily service from Heathrow to Beijing. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also have direct services to China’s capital. batraveltrade. com; airchina.co.uk; virgin-atlantic.com

MARTIAL ARTS

6 3

Myth, mystery and stunning landscapes pave the way to a succession of memorable highlights, says Cameron Roberts

5 1

DAZU ROCK CARVINGS

Listed as a World Heritage Site, the rock carvings in the hillsides of Dazu date as far back as the seventh century AD. Influenced by Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist beliefs, the 75 proteced sites contain some 50,000 statues as well as 100,000 Chinese characters. FLIGHTS: On June 25 Tianjin Airlines will begin a twiceweekly service from Gatwick to Chongqing (population 17 million). The city is located a convenient drive away from the Dazu rock carvings. hanagroup.com

GIANT PANDAS

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

The 13,171 mile-long wall is an impressive sight that will likely be a must-see for most travellers. Visitors can experience the wall differently depending on location. Areas near Beijing are generally more crowded, but lesser populated zones of the wall such as the Huangya Pass, are just as impressive and more peaceful. PROPERTY: The 10-day Highlights of China tour from Insider Journeys offers access to a lesser-known section of the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Prices start from £1785pp and includes accommodation, entrance fees, breakfast and tour leader. Flights not included. insiderjourneys.co.uk

YANGTZE RIVER

China is known for many things including its several variations of martial arts. Many are used to train both the mind and the body and can be a unique and uplifting way for clients to induct themselves in Chinese culture. Monastery stays, public demonstrations and private lessons are all immersive ways to experience this side of China.

China’s native giant panda has long been an endangered species and that is one of the reasons the oversized teddy remains the country’s biggest wildlife draw. There are several conservation centres around the country, with the best-known, and most interactive, being the Chengdu Research Base.

The Yangtze’s name translates to ‘Long River’, appropriate as the watrway holds the title of the world’s longest river. Cruising the Yangtze is a great way to view China’s scenery and villages along the way. The lucky might get to spot some of China’s most endangered animals – think finless porpoises and Chinese alligators.

FLIGHTS: Wendy Wu has partnered with Hainan Airlines to offer free Business Class upgrades on Hainan’s new direct service from Manchester to Beijing. This offer is available on China group and private tours. wendywutours.co.uk

PROPERTY: The newly-opened Alila Anji in Zhejiang province is situated in the heart of a bamboo plantation. Clients can stay here and be just one hour from Hangzhou zoo, home to several adult giant pandas. alilahotels.com

PROPERTY: The Maritim Hotel Wuhu is the perfect spot for clients to end a Yangtze experience. Suggest that they travel from Shanghai to the town of Wuhu to top off their trip with a few days at the five-star hotel. maritim.com

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thailand

stream The Gulf

Popular Thailand is expecting a further surge of visitors as nervy travellers turn away from other mid-haul destinations, says Debbie Ward

wake to the sound of cockerels that seem to have surrounded my homestay. Heading bleary-eyed to the local café for breakfast I realise the feathered army is actually only one-strong and he’s strutting proudly around the garden. Later, fortiﬁed with eggs from the hens in the cockerel’s harem, I take a backie on my host’s motorbike to watch the local ﬁshermen mending their nets, with their backs to the spectacular limestone karst scenery of Pang Nga Bay. Just off hugely popular Phuket, the island of Koh Yao Noi is a world away from the bustle of Patong beach. You can stay at the Six Senses hotel here,

but I choose a homestay in the Muslim fishing community – a project helping prevent overfishing by providing a supplementary income. I eat curry with my hosts, who also take me to see chapatis being made, and to watch the crab catch being weighed and sold on the sand. I stop to swim among craggy islands in the national park, and enjoy a packed lunch of stir-fried chicken and a whole grilled fish. At the local floating fish farm I’m shown lobsters that are growing towards restaurant table size. Afterwards, I get an ice cream from a motorbike vendor and sit on a pier to watch the progression of one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen.

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Beyond the beaches A perennial UK favourite, Thailand is garnering even more interest this year as travellers turn away from several mid-haul destinations because of safety concerns. It was even the country of choice for a 50-strong delegation of players, family and ofﬁcials from Premier League champions Leicester City, who last month jetted off to a ‘secret’ beach resort the day after a street parade in their home city (OK, admittedly the club has Thai backers). But Thailand is about much more than fantastic beaches and long-tail boats tied with colourful ribbons; there are so many more culturally interesting nooks to be discovered.

Discover 6 Centara hotels on the paradise island of Phuket

#BookCentara Six different holiday styles in Thailand for different needs and budgets for your clients to choose from, all with Centara’s famed gracious Thai hospitality. Two 5-star Grand resorts on the beach, both featuring a water park. A Centara villa retreat at Karon, with spacious Southern Thai villas. Two Centara resorts at Kata and Karon that have plenty of room for the whole family, and for the budget conscious, Centara also have self-catering serviced apartments at Karon Beach offering amazing value. For more information visit our dedicated trade website centarahotelsresorts.com/b2b E: rsouk@chr.co.th T: 01474 872727

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thailand

From top: Anantara, Chiang Mai; Lisu hill tribe community; Wat Phrathat Doi Kongmu

visitors can pick up hill tribe handicrafts The country appeals to all market sectors but is a particular favourite of younger travellers. (weekends are best) or visit specialist makers’ villages. In Bangkok explore riverside Asiatique, According to new data released by travel or at the weekend vast Chattachuck. dating app and website (TourBar.com), it is the top Become an ele-friend: Seek out destination to visit this summer for solo youth reputable mahout experiences to help travellers looking for an end-of-term break. care for elephants once used in Thailand’s Some 20% of its UK members aged between logging industry. Elephant Hills in Khao Sok 18-24 named the country as the most National Park even has overnight stay options. popular choice to visit alone this summer. Underwater exploration: Recommend Offer customers a multi-centre or a lesserworld-class diving at the Surin and known resort and you will really help Similan islands, best reached on a liveaboard maximise their experience. Bangkok, plus a from Khao Lak or Phuket, or beginners’ courses beach and soft adventure gateways Chiang in Koh Tao. Mai or Chiang Rai is a classic trio. The more Hop and flop: Take multi-stop adventurous can explore the national parks island-hopping excursions to snorkel and Khmer ruins of the lesser-trodden around and flop on pretty islands in the marine Isaan region in Thailand’s northeast. national parks of Pang Nga Bay (off Phuket and Even those who want to stick to the Krabi) or Ang Thong (off Samui). beach can have a more varied experience if Think year-round: Koh Samui is at its you offer them a laid-back offshore island finest in summer – perfect for combined with the nearest major resort. honeymooners and families – while the rest of For instance Phuket can be easily twinned Thailand is best the opposite seasons, though with Koh Yao Noi and the Phi Phi islands; Krabi warm enough for visiting year-round. with Koh Lanta; Samui with Koh Phangan, Tee off: and Pattaya with Thailand is an Koh Samet. On the excellent golf mainland, consider “It’s tempting to sell the destination, with up-and-coming Khao same destinations time after numerous quality Lak above Phuket time, but hidden beaches courses (some floodlit instead of its more like Khanom are less crowded. for night play), and famous neighbour. with great-value caddie And don’t forget the We love the Aava Resort and sand green fees. niches that Thailand Spa there, and offer seven Pamper caters to so well. days from just £220” heaven: Spa Travel 2’s Asia LESLEY WRIGHT, GENERAL MANAGER treatments are Product Manager INSIDER JOURNEYS UK fantastic value in Mark Mallinson Thailand –from foot says: “We see a massage centres in the street to full pampering range of travellers looking for spa holidays in hotels and day spas. Hua Hin has a particular to Thailand: couples who are celebrating reputation for serious spas. anniversaries, honeymooners, groups of Hippy hangout: Up-and-coming Pai in friends and also a variety of solo travellers.” Thailand’s north is an arty town with a Several Thailand resorts are ‘destination New Age vibe and soft adventure fun, such as spas’ offering in-depth wellness programmes tubing, for young explorers. of a week or more, while great-value massages Rock and roll: Rock art and a major and beauty treatments can be found in most Buddhist temple can be seen in the hotels and many high street centres. caves around Krabi. Offshore, you can kayak in Other niche interests include fishing, with the hidden lagoon on Hong Island. catch-and-release lakes full of huge catfish Make a day of it: The ruins of an ancient handily near Bangkok; and diving, from Koh capital at Ayutthaya, the POW-built Tao for beginners to Khao Lak and Phuket for bridge over the River Kwai and Damnoen Saduak experienced divers seeking world-class sites to Floating Market are all popular day trips from Pattaya for those keen on exploring shipwrecks. Bankgok. With new flights from Qatar Airways and Thomson to Krabi and Phuket respectively, What’s New mixing up itineraries has never been easier.  Air: Qatar Airways (qatarairways.com) has Clients can relax at the beach first, factoring new connections to Krabi and Chiang Mai in Bangkok later should they wish. via Doha from December. Tui (thomsonfly. com) introduces winter charters to Phuket Perfect ten Find a bargain: Thailand’s night from Manchester this November. markets are legendary. In Chiang Mai  Hotels: The AVANI Riverside Bangkok

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NEW TERRACE SUITE ROOMS UNVEILED AT LAYANA RESORT & SPA Layana Resort and Spa is delighted to announce its new Terrace Suite rooms are now open to the public. Sure to establish a new standard for splendour on the beautiful island of Koh Lanta, the two new suites are ready to offer a truly luxurious experience for Layana guests.

As well as breathtaking views and convenient pool access, the new suites feature additional highlights including a truly luxurious new take on fixtures and fittings, with ‘his & hers’ sinks, a separate rain shower and a large Jacuzzi bathtub set in a glass-walled bathroom. The split-level suites both

occupy one elegantly-appointed building, with the upper floor offering sweeping views over the picturesque resort from the terrace and generous windows. The ground floor room benefits from direct access to the relaxing Wellness Pool as well as a private patio area. Welcome to a new level of luxury.

For reservations kindly call + 66(0) 7560 7100, or visit us online at www.layanaresort.com

thailand

From left: Local transport is a populat option for tourists; Thailand’s iconic limestone karsts are a must-see

Hotel (avanihotels.com/riverside-bangkok) recently opened with river and city views from all 251 rooms, a rooftop bar and inﬁnity pool and ballroom with open-plan kitchen. Veranda Resort Pattaya (verandaresortandspa. com), from Soﬁtel’s smaller scale MGallery brand, opened in January on Na Jomtien beach. It has 145 rooms with a modern design. Kata Sea Breeze Resort has moved to the family-run ASKARA Collection brand. A design-led sister property, the SIS Kata Resort, should open early 2017. Layana Resort & Spa Koh Lanta (layanaresort. com) has added four new Grand Garden Pavilion rooms boasting separate dining areas and large balconies with sofas and outdoor minibars. The Siam, Bangkok (thesiamhotel.com) has opened a studio specialising in ancient, sacred Sak Yant tattoos. The Sarojin (Sarojin.com) at Khao Lak is treating guests booking its spa suites to an hour’s free massage. Soneva Kirki (soneva.com) is offering three extra nights free for guests joining its eco- volunteer programmes.  Operators: Premier Holidays (trade. premierholidays.co.uk) has a series of special offers

for a new Thailand marketing campaign. Agents can download window posters with deals including free nights, meals, massages, tours and room upgrades. Insider Journeys’ (insiderjourneys.co.uk) new Private Travel guide includes a beach stay with pink dolphin-watching in little-known Khanom.

Tourism Talk “We have a trade campaign running with Premier and Travel 2 and a consumer campaign with Kuoni.

AKSARA COLLECTION Phuket,,ailand

thailand

We’re continuing our Friends of Thailand agent roadshows with stops in Guildford and Tunbridge Wells the next cities up in September. “We’re also taking part in the PATA roadshows. For Thailand Travel Mart this month (June) we’re taking out 27 UK operators and 17 will be joining a post-tour to Trang, Koh Lanta and Krabi. “Right now, we’re seeing the best growth I can remember: 14% up for the first three months of 2016 on our 940,000 base. “We think we’ll welcome our millionth visitor this year, so we’re excited about that. “I think customers generally have reduced the number of destinations they’re comfortable visiting and mid-haul destinations, particularly Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt are definitely suffering. In fact, families are now our biggest growth market. “The new Qatar flights create some amazing multi-centre opportunities. “Offering Krabi and Chiang Mai, with travellers not having to start in Bangkok really helps.” Chris Lee, Head of Marketing Tourism Authority of Thailand DHR-Selling-Travel-UK-01-outline.pdf

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Where to book it  TRU TRAVELS – 020 342 2463 The 18-day Thailand Island Hopper deal costs £820pp, excluding ﬂights. It covers Bangkok, Khao Sok National Park, the ‘party’ island of Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Nangyuan, Krabi’s Railay beach, Phuket, and the Phi Phi islands. trutravels.com

 PREMIER HOLIDAYS – 08444 937531 A multi-centre honeymoon staying at Dusit Thanis in Bangkok (three days) and Hua Hin (eight days), and a night at Float House villa on the River Kwai, starts from £1,119pp, with ﬂights, for selected dates until October.

“Our Thailand adventure tours have surged. Thailand is great for tourists looking for a hybrid of adventure and beach and it has enchanting cultures and ancient monuments” CARL CROSS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ON THE GO TOURS

Premierholidays.co.uk

 TRANSINDUS – 0844 879 3961 The 13-day Unexplored Thailand includes Bangkok and Ayutthaya and the Isaan region with Khao Yai National Park, Khmer temples and Surin, ending beside the Mekong. From £2,675. Transindus.co.uk  WHO FLIES THERE Direct: thaiairways.co.uk; evaair.com; ba.com; homsonﬂy.com Indirect: Emirates.com; Etihad.com; Qatarairways.com; Jetairways.com 1

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26/05/2016 11:16

Y O U R

G U I D E

river cruising

T O

River Cruising CONTENTS • 76 What’s new • 79 Themed river ruises

• 80 River cruising in Asia • 83 In person with APT • 84 Focus on: The Yangtze • 87 Solo cruising • 88 At a Glance

ANDY HARMER, DIRECTOR, CLIA UK & IRELAND “River cruise numbers last year were up 8% to 150,000, and with more companies and new vessels coming on line all the time there is every reason to believe this number will keep growing. River cruising has a multitude of good selling points and for those who have done Europe there are exotic river cruises to be had all over the world.”

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river cruising

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new

sail Setting

soon

More Britons than ever took a river cruise last year as word continues to get out about the joys of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterways. Jane Archer reports

sellingtravel.co.uk

What’s new

river cruising

iver cruising has a multitude of selling points for agents. Clients can visit worldclass cities and historic towns without the hassle of unpacking. For clients who have done Europe, there are exotic river cruises in India, Asia and the Amazon. The vessels are small and friendly, with an average 150-190 passengers - a big attraction for people travelling on their own, especially as a few companies have low or no single supplements – and there are some very inclusive prices so clients do not have to worry about the budget while they are away. The leading cruise lines include ﬂights, transfers, shore excursions and drinks with meals in the price. Others also throw in unlimited drinks at all times as well as gratuities. It does push up prices but of course there are less-inclusive fares that just cover bed, board and travel for those with fewer funds. An average 25-30 modern vessels have launched over the past few years, changing the face of river to a vacation that appeals to a younger crowd and, increasingly, families. The launch frenzy looks set to slow next year – even Viking Cruises, which has grown rapidly since 2012, only has two new river craft in the pipeline for 2017 - but companies are continuing to innovate and update their product to appeal to a wider audience. New next year, Avalon Waterways is hoping to tempt folk in their 50s to try a river cruise by offering an ‘active’ itinerary on the Danube that includes canoeing, kayaking, hiking and biking. It will also be offering Avalon Fresh, a new vegetarian dining option that uses locally-grown ingredients. Crystal Cruises is launching four new river vessels next year that will each carry a small tender boat that can explore areas the bigger craft can’t reach. The cruise line will also be including lunch or dinner in a Michelin-starred restaurant on every cruise among its complimentary excursions. Uniworld River Cruises, meanwhile, will be serving farm-to-table cuisine on Joie de Vivre, a new river boat that enters service on the Seine in 2017.

What’s new  AmaWaterways: A new river boat named

after co-founder Kristin Karst. AmaKristina has been designed for families, with cabins that have connecting doors and suites that hold up to four people. It will sail the Rhine between Amsterdam and Basel. AmaWaterways is also retiring two of its oldest vessels, AmaLegro and AmaDagio. The crafts respectively sailing

“We are hoping to tempt folk in their 50s to try a river cruise by offering an ‘active’ itinerary on the Danube that includes canoeing, kayaking and biking” HELEN MCNAUGHT, AVALON WATERWAYS

on the Seine and Rhône, will be replaced by the AmaLyra and AmaCello. (amawaterways.co.uk)  Emerald Waterways: Two custom-designed vessels, Emerald Liberté and Emerald Radiance, will sail on the Rhône in France and Douro in Portugal next year. Liberté will have a heated swimming pool that converts into an indoor cinema and grand suites with separate sitting and sleeping areas. It will operate one-week cruises between Lyon and Avignon; Radiance will have a top-deck pool and sail seven-night cruises round-trip from Porto. (emeraldwaterways.co.uk)  Uniworld River Cruises: Butlers ﬁt for a queen and a ‘cave’ for wine-pairing dinners are hallmarks of the new Joie de Vivre, launching on the Seine in 2017. As the name suggests, the vessel is designed to celebrate the best things in life, from food and wine to art and music. Small enough to dock in the centre of Paris, it will be operating one-week cruises from the French

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capital to the Normandy coast. (uniworld.com)  Viking Cruises: The line has revised its

Elbe river cruise itinerary for next year to give passengers a second night in Berlin at the start or end of the trip. Starting 2017, the cruise will begin in Wittenberg, the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation (the city is celebrating 500 years since Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church in 1517). For the ﬁrst time next year, UK passengers will be able to cruise the Elbe on either Viking Astrild or Viking Beyla, new vessels that launched in 2015 and until now have been reserved for the US market.(vikingcruises.co.uk)  Riviera Travel: Continuing the literary naming theme, Riviera will launch three new vessels next year: The Emily Brontë, Thomas Hardy and Oscar Wilde will sail the Rhine and Danube, carry 169 passengers and have balcony suites measuring 274 square feet. Riviera will also have a new vessel on the Douro in Portugal called Douro Elegance. Swiss Ruby, which the company used to operate on the Elbe, will instead offer cruises on the Seine. (rivieratravel.co.uk)  CroisiEurope: A new 132-passenger vessel for the Douro in Portugal is among four new river cruise boats launching in 2017. The Symphonie II and Douce France II enter service on the Rhine and Danube in April and June 2017. Further aﬁeld, the Indochine II will be new on the Mekong, sailing between Siem Reap in Cambodia and Ho Chi

What’s new

river cruising

Minh City in Vietnam. The vessel will have colonial touches and hold 60 passengers. (croisieurope.co.uk)  Crystal Cruises: The ﬁrst entry into the river cruise market will be Mozart in July, sailing the Danube. Four new craft will be launched in 2017 cruising on the Rhine, Main and Rhône Rivers, and also the Gironde, Garonne and Dordogne, three waterways that link to create a one-week cruise from Bordeaux that visits many of France’s most famous wine-regions. (crystalcruises.co.uk/rivercruises)  Tauck: Millions of dollars are being spent

upgrading five of its older vessels. Swiss Emerald and Swiss Sapphire will be reconfigured first. On each, the 30 cabins on the middle deck will be reduced to 20, reducing capacity from 118 passengers to 98. They will also be fitted with a new dining venue, Arthur’s, named after Tauck’s founder. (tauck.co.uk)  Saga: A jazz cruise on the Rhine and a voyage on the Elbe from Berlin to the Kiel Canal are among 13 new river cruises in 2017. (saga.co.uk)

 Vantage Deluxe World Travel: This US company is selling through the UK trade for the ﬁrst time and looking to bolster its family bookings next year by introducing free cruises for children aged eight to 21. (vantagetravel.com)

Where to book it  AMAWATERWAYS - 0808 223 5009 A seven-night Enchanting Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basle on the AmaKristina is from £1,749pp departing November 11 including ﬂights and transfers. amawaterways.co.uk  VIKING RIVER CRUISES - 0800 458 6900 A 10-day Elegant Elbe cruise on Viking Astrild from Berlin to Prague is from £2,095pp, departing March 10 2017 including ﬂights and transfers. vikingcruises.co.uk  UNIWORLD RIVER CRUISES - 0808 168 9231 The 10-day Paris & Impressions of the Seine cruise on Joie de Vivre is from £2,899pp cruise-only departing March 29 2017, including transfers. uniworld.com 

Lead photo: Uniworld’s Joie de Vivre will launch on the Seine in 2017. Second page (clockwise from left): Budapest on the Danube; the family-focused AmaKristina; Crystal’s Mozart to be launched in July this year Above: Emerald Radiance on the picturesque River Douro in Portugal

O U T N OW 2017 PREVIEW BROCHURE

Introducing our beautiful brand new Super Ship, the S.S Joie de Vivre, sailing the Seine on our Paris & Normandy itinerary in 2017. We have two exciting new all-inclusive itineraries; the 10-day Rhine-Main Discovery & Munich and the 10-day Paris & Impressions of the Seine.

Our European river cruises are all-inclusive. From all dining and unlimited beverages onboard, to personalised onshore experiences, airport transfers and all gratuities. In 2017, our all-inclusive cruises also feature 24-hour room service and concierge services for all guests. BOOK BY 31 AUG 2016 & SAVE UP TO £2,300 PER COUPLE*

Order your brochure copies via Tradegate Freephone 0808 168 9110 | uniworld.com/uk

EUROPE / RUSSIA / INDIA / CHINA / VIETNAM & CAMBODIA / EGYPT *For saving to apply, cruises must be booked & deposit paid by 31 August 2016. Saving based on European Jewels itinerary in an Owners Suite, twin share. sellingtravel.co.uk

ABTA No.Y6200

Themed river cruises

river cruising

Selling a theme Themed river cruises are a great way for clients to indulge their passion while enjoying a holiday afloat

he concept of themed voyages is not through some of France’s top wine new, but as river cruise lines have regions. Prices start from £1,899pp for increased capacity, the number and a seven-night wine-themed Taste diversity of special-interest holidays on offer of Bordeaux cruise departing has blossomed to help fill the extra berths. March 30, 2017 including These days there are themed river cruises flights and transfers. for wine enthusiasts, history lovers, beer More unusually, Avalon aficionados or those looking to discover their Waterways (avaloncruises. co.uk) has a wellness cruise on inner Picasso. There have been voyages for a 13-day voyage from Amsterdam chocoholics, while AmaWaterways (amawaterways. co.uk) even had a cruise to Vienna for keen knitters hosted departing July 15, with by US textile expert Barry “Consider working with river complimentary classes cruise lines to devise your Klein, who gave classes. and talks in the art of staying fit and healthy own themed itineraries. Themed options by US fitness instructor Lower Danube itineraries In fact, AmaWaterways is Constance Brogan. can be tweaked to appeal to Conversely, Avalon also one of the leading clients interested in Europe's has wine, beer and foodexponents of themed post-1945 history” river cruises, especially themed cruises this year when it comes to wine. and in 2017. BeerThe company has 34 wine cruises this year and tasting cruises start from £1,372pp on the 44 in 2017, each hosted by experts from Danube, departing November 9, including California’s leading vineyards, who take part in flights and UK and overseas transfers. tours, give talks and host tastings. Both AmaWaterways and Avalon have artMost departures are on the company’s onethemed cruises on the Seine that visit Monet’s week 'Taste of Bordeaux' cruises along the garden at Giverny, the inspiration for his Water Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne Rivers, an Lilies series of oil paintings, and Honfleur, a itinerary that takes passengers on a journey favourite spot for Impressionist artists.

Agents should also consider working with river cruise lines to devise their own themed itineraries. Lower Danube itineraries can be tweaked to appeal to clients interested in Europe’s post-1945 history, while those on the Seine can be tweaked to gardeners, with tours to Giverny and the gardens of Versailles.

Where to book it  UNIWORLD – 0808 168 9110

New in 2017, a 10-day Paris & Impressions of the Seine cruise that visits Rouen’s Museum of Fine Art, home to famous works from some of the great Impressionists. Selected departures will be food-and-wine themed, with cheese, cider, Calvados and Champagne tastings. uniworld.com  SAGA – 0800 096 0079

Music-themed cruises are also increasingly popular. Saga has a seven-night jazz-themed cruise on the Rhine next June and a Gilbert and Sullivan-themed cruise round-trip from Cologne departing August 8. It has been so popular it will be repeated on the Douro in Portugal on August 2 next year. Prices start from £1,349pp for seven nights including ﬂights and transfers. travel.saga.co.uk

 AMERICAN QUEEN STEAMBOAT 001 (888) 749 5280

Further aﬁeld, American Queen Steamboat Company has an eclectic mix of themed departures on the Mississippi, from a Presidents and Politics voyage on July 17 to Civil War, Elvis and big band cruises. americanqueensteamboatcompany.com  Left: AMA Waterways is one of the leading exponents of wine-themed cruises, hosting 44 in 2017. Douro Valley is a popular destination for lovers of the grape

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river cruising

Asia

Oriental flow A sedate way to take in the ambience and a way for adventurers to enjoy an immersive experience, river cruising is the perfect way to explore Asia, says Jane Archer

I’m in one of the many spas that line the busy waterfront in Phnom Penh, enjoying a wonderful 30-minute foot massage that is going to set me back the princely sum of US$3 (yes, you read that correctly – three dollars). It is one of many memorable experiences I’ve enjoyed on this cruise along the Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam with AmaWaterways (amawaterways.co.uk). I’ve watched brave souls munch on deep-fried tarantulas, ridden in tuk-tuks and in an oxcart, and been blessed by monks. Still to come, I’will be riding on a rickshaw, crawling through underground tunnels and tasting snake wine.

Pictured: Buddhist pagoda

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Asia

y voyage is one of many river trips in Asia that are perfect for clients with an adventurous spirit. They can go tiger spotting in India, see soaring golden pagodas in Myanmar (Burma), and walk on the new Great Wall of China, aka the immense Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze. For years, the Yangtze was the go-to river in Asia, popular as an exotic alternative to the Rhine and Danube. The cruises are short, just four or ﬁve nights, but they take passengers through three deep gorges that are shrouded in mystery – and often mist; packaged with Beijing and Shanghai they are a great way to get a taste of China.

river cruising

featured by a host of companies including Viking (vikingrivercruises.co.uk), Avalon Waterways and Uniworld River Cruises (uniworld.com). New this year, G Adventures (gadventures. com) is featuring the Mekong in a debut river cruise programme. It has chartered the Toum Tiou II from French river cruise giant CroisiEurope (croisieurope.co.uk), which bought the Mekong River Cruise Company in 2014. Next year CroisiEurope is expanding the ﬂeet with the launch of a new vessel, Indochine II. AmaWaterways now has two vessels on the Mekong, the AmaDara anrd AmaLotus, the latter operated by APT (aptouring.co.uk). APT’s four-star arm, Travelmarvel, also offers cruises on the Mekong, on the 92-passenger La Marguerite. Mekong cruises are popular for the river journey itself, which gives a fascinating insight into rural and city life in Cambodia and Vietnam, and the attractions at each end. In Cambodia there’s Siem Reap, home to the ancient temples of Angkor; in Vietnam it’s Ho Chi Minh City, where clients can become a local for a few hours by taking a guided tour by scooter.

New horizons The Yangtze’s dominant position was challenged a few years ago when AmaWaterways launched cruises on the Mekong River, bringing exotic new experiences to a market looking for something new. The Mekong has now become the most sought-after river cruise in Asia,

Adventurous journeys Asia river cruise specialist Pandaw (pandaw.com) has sailed this section of the Mekong for years, but has recently also launched exploratory 14-night voyages on the Upper Mekong. Adventerous passengers sail between Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and Jinghong in China, and are taken on jungle treks, to local villages and to the stunning Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of Buddha statues. Pandaw also has adventurous cruises on the Red River in neighbouring Vietnam that takes in Halong Bay and Hanoi. Clients undertaking this journey will

see Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the notorious Hanoi Hilton prison, pagodas and rice paddies. The Ayeyarwady in Myanmar (Burma) is also hugely popular now that the country has opened up to tourism. For years, Belmond (belmond.com) and Pandaw were the only companies sailing here but now the river is awash with operators including AmaWaterways, Viking, Avalon Waterways and Sanctuary Retreats (sanctuaryretreats.com). Between them they operate numerous itineraries, from mini cruises between Bagan and Mandalay that can be combined with land-based tours of Myanmar or neighbouring Thailand to longer voyages that take passengers further north to Bhamo. Belmond, Sanctuary Retreats and Pandaw also have cruises on the Chindwin River, a tributary of the Ayeyarwady that most boats can only navigate in summer, when the water levels are high enough. Belmond, which has two vessels on the river and this year is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Myanmar, has a variety of

Half Price Luxury River Cruises *

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Moselle

Rhine

Romantic Rhine

8 days – Zürich to Amsterdam on board the Avalon Imagery II from

£975pp

Dutch Waterways

More departures available

Christmas Market departure (10 December 2016)

Call us FREE on 0800 440 2676 or visit us at www.avaloncruises.co.uk

We are members of ABTA and our flight inclusive packages are protected by ATOL. Prices are based on category E cabin. *The Half price offer is available on selected cruises and dates, is applicable to new bookings only and is subject to availibility. The offer may also be withdrawn at any time. All prices correct at time of send (16 May 2016).

Asia

river cruising

itineraries including one-week cruises between Yangon and Bagan. New this year, Travelmarvel has 17-night voyages between Yangon and Mandalay on the new Princess Panhwar. Clients can expect to visit golden pagodas, local markets and craft workshops. In Bagan, tours visit some of the thousands of temples in the ancient city .In Mandalay, highlights include the Kuthodaw pagoda, which houses the biggest book in the world (729 stone tablets inscribed with Buddhist scriptures), and a gold leaf workshop. Sanctuary Retreats serves Champagne at sunset on a boat trip on the lake beneath the famous teak U-Bein Bridge. Less well-known are river cruises in India, on the Brahmaputra and Ganges. The former, on sale through Wendy Wu Tours (wendywutours.co.uk) for the ﬁrst time this year, is a thrilling journey through Assam that takes clients to isolated villages and includes an elephant-back ride in search of tigers and rhino in Kaziranga National Park.

On the Ganges, offered by APT, Uniworld, G Adventures, Wendy Wu Tours, and now to Riviera Travel (rivieratravel.co.uk) this winter, clients visit mosques and Hindu temples, ride in horse-drawn carts and tour the 19th-century Hazarduari Palace in Murshidabad which has 1,000 doors, many of them false to outwit robbers.

Where to book it  APT – 0800 012 66 83 A one-week Ganges cruise on Ganges Explorer packaged with a seven-night tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur is from £7,595pp including ﬂights and transfers. An overnight on board in Kolkata gives time for a city tour, Aptouring.co.uk  VIKING RIVER CRUISES – 0800 319 66 60 A 13-day Imperial Jewels of China cruise-tour takes in Beijing and Shanghai and adds a couple of nights in Xian, home of the terracotta warriors. From £2,795pp, departing November 9. vikingrivercruises.co.uk 

Opening page: Beautiful Myanmar (Burma). Second page (from top): the sundeck on Sanctuary Retreats’ Ananda; Uniworld river cruise in Vietnam. Above: A father and son ﬁshing on the Mekong River

2017 EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISING HURRY! OFFERS END 30 JUNE 2016

2017 AWARD-WINNING

RIVER CRUISING

SAVE UP TO

£3,000* PER COUPLE

The most inclusive river cruises in Europe P Home-to-airport transfers by private car^ P Return flights from the UK

P All sightseeing & onboard entertainment P APT Cruise Director & expert local guides

P All meals on board & drinks on board† P All tipping, overseas transfers & port charges

To book call 0800 012 6686 For more information visit www.aptouring.co.uk/agents ABTA No.V9080

GUIDED TOURS & RIVER CRUISES

*Saving of up to £3,000 per couple is based on a saving of up to £1,500 per person on 2017 European Gems 15 day Travelmarvel by APT river cruise (EUTC15F), valid on new bookings made by 30 June 2016 unless sold out prior. Subject to availability and can be withdrawn at any time. Other savings on 2017 European river cruises are available, see website for details. ^Complimentary home-to-airport transfers are available on APT Royal Collection cruises, within a 75 driven mile radius of selected UK departure airports and must be requested at the time of booking. No cash alternative available. †Complimentary beverages exclude French Champagne, premium spirits and selected wines. A non-refundable deposit of £500 per person is required within seven days of booking confirmation. Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure. Standard APT terms and conditions apply; see APT Luxury European River Cruising 2017 First Edition brochure for details. UK0785

Interview

river cruising

Going with the flow After sampling the delights of APT’s Magnificent Europe cruise John Gore caught up with the company's Melissa Hackney APT’s Regional Manager UK & Europe has been with the tour operator for nearly 10 years, seeing it expand into new exotic areas like Myanmar and building its selection of authentic experiences. Tell us about APT We are an Australian family-owned business which started out nearly 90 years ago by offering coach tours. In the 1960s and 1970s APT pioneered Australia’s dynamic travel industry, via a diverse range of models. We have been in the UK for 35 years, initially offering Australian and New Zealand coach tours. This was followed by Canadian escorted tours, in partnership with Rocky Mountain Tours. We moved into river cruising in 2008/9 and today offer our guests cruises in Europe, Vietnam, China, India, Myanmar and the Amazon.

What makes APT different from other River Cruise operators? With our European ships taking a maximum of 164 guests we’re able to offer clients a more personal service, and with a dedicated Cruise Director to look after them. Our prices really are all-inclusive with only some premium wines and spirits costing extra. This means our guests are able to budget more effectively and needn't worry about hidden extras. As our cruises tend to be of a longer duration we can offer them that little bit more. Our cruises really are ‘unpack once, see many locations’ experiences.

Give us some examples of APT's most exclusive experiences. We can offer our guests some memorable exclusives such as an evening concert in the magniﬁcent Vienna City Palace, an all-day excursion on-board Emperor Franz Joseph’s own Majestic Imperator train, stopping off at Salzburg for a guided tour which takes guests Pictured: Concerto River Ships are the only ships in Europe to offer Twin Balcony Suites on board

“You could enjoy a Champagne reception in Namedy Castle with Princess Heide von Hohenzollern present to greet you... or how about a game of pentanque with the villagers?" to several famous sights from The Sound of Music. Or you could enjoy a Champagne reception in Namedy Castle, followed by a classical piano recital. The castle’s present owner, Princess Heide von Hohenzollern, or a member of her immediate family are normally present to welcome the group. Or how about a game of petanque with the villagers after they turn out to greet you?

How do you make sure that your guests' on-shore experience matches their onboard experience? Our engagement with local guides ensures that our guests really do get a trip to remember. As leaders in the European river cruise market, with a 98% satisfaction rating, we’re constantly striving to give our guests even more.

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How important are travel agents to your current and future success? Extremely! With about 75% of all our bookings coming from travel agents we greatly value their contribution. We’re fully committed to running fam trips over the next 12 months or so, along with offering exclusive tours for travel agents. We have a dedicated sales team to support all our agent partners.

What’s your own favourite cruise? It would have to be the Magniﬁcent Europe Cruise, as it calls at my favourite port, Vienna. The city's City Palace is simply breathtaking. Elsewhere, the Douro cruise in Portugal rates very highly on my most desirable list. 

SAMPLE DEAL

APT 0800 012 6683

Next year's prices for the 15-day Magniﬁcent Europe cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest start at £3,245pp. This includes return ﬂights from the UK. The nine-day day Douro Delights journey from Lisbon to Madrid is priced from £3,145pp, which includes an overnight stay in Madrid. aptouring.co.uk

Focus on

river cruising

The Yangtze – Ancient landscapes and modern marvels –

he Yangtze offers visitors a unique vantage-point in understanding China's feudal past and high-tech future, says Laura Gelder Food Visitors can start by sampling notoriously hot Sichuan cuisine and popular hot pot in Chongqing. Ships generally offer Chinese and Western foods to suit all tastes and palettes. Nature Spectacular misty mountains and gorges, sweeping river scenery and banside bamboo groves and forests. Add on the paddy ﬁelds of Guilin or Tiger Leaping Gorge for more impressive vistas.

Starting in the remote Tibetian Plateau, the longest river in Asia and third-longest in the world (3,915 miles to be precise), ﬂows east across the entire width of China, dividing the vast country from north to south before it ﬂows into the East China Sea near Shanghai. n] An ancient trading route and still one of China's most important transport waterways, carrying a huge amount of cargo and passengers, it's also the site of one of the world's greatest engineering marvels. In short, the Yangtze offers a beguiling mix of cultural attractions with spectacular scenery. Itineraries generally range from three-night cruise-only trips (usually sailing between Chongqing and Yichang, with a stop at the Three

THE 11- NIGHT ULTIMATE YANGTZE TOUR FROM WENDY WU INCLUDES TWO NIGHTS IN SHANGHAI WITH A CRUISE ON THE HUANGPU RIVER; A FOUR- NIGHT YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE CALLING IN AT SHIBAOZHAI, THE WU AND QUTANG GORGES AND THE THREE GORGES DAM; AND TWO NIGHTS IN CHENGDU WITH A VISIT TO THE FAMOUS PANDA CONSERVATION CENTRE. FROM £2,640PP AND INCLUDING ALL MEALS AND A GUIDE. WENDYWUTOURS.CO.UK SELL IT NOW

Gorges Dam, to much longer cruise and tour itineraries taking in other iconic Chinese cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin and Xian. The best-known sites are in the Three Gorges region. Passengers leave their cruise ship and board a smaller vessel to sail through the narrow (and breathtaking) Lesser Three Gorges, which is lined by sheer cliffs and offers a close-up view of the hanging cofﬁns of the ancient Ba people that cling to the rock face. The Three Gorges Dam is the world's biggest and took 17 years and billions of dollars to complete. But it was a controversial project as it ﬂooded towns, farms and archaeological sites and displaced more than 1.3 million people. A tour of the site and a visit to the musuem is not just for engineering geeks – it offers a fascinating glimpse into China's superpower status.

Cities and temples Chongqing is usually the start or end point of a Yangtze cruise and as China's fourth largest city it has much to entertain visitors. This includes the pandas at the Chongqing Zoo and a plethora of hot springs in and around the city. Two hours out of Chongqing are the Dazu Rock Carvings, a series of Chinese religious sculptures and statues carved into the rock face and dating back to the seventh century (see page 66). Further down the river is the ancient 'Ghost City' of Fengdu. Known for its Taoist, Buddhist and Confucianist ties to spirits and the afterlife,

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Architecture You can't get more varied – from the the skyscrapers of China's mega-cities to imperial walled cities, towering pagodas and ancient rock fortresses – the Yangtze sails past them all. Culture As an important trading route since ancient times, the river embraces Bashu, Jingchu and Wuyue cultures. Visitors can explore the pottery, silks, art and literature unique to each of these. there are many captivating temples to explore, packed with the statues of ghosts and devils. Baidi City (White Emperor City) is located on Baidi Mountain at the mouth of one of the Three Gorges and its Baidi Temple displays the ancient architecture of the region. Shibaozhai, meaning 'precious stone fortress', is popular with visitors who can climb the 400-year-old, 12-storey, red-wooden pagoda perched high on a cliff. At the other end of the Yangtze is Jingzhou, a city with a history of over 2,000 years and an ancient wall with 1,567 battlements. Also protecting the city is a seven-mile-long moat. 

river cruising

the solo market

The one and only Passengers travelling solo are no longer getting such a raw deal on river cruises as the cruise lines wise up to this lucrative market. Jeannine Williamson finds out more LEADING THE WAY

For the solo market, Vantage Deluxe World Travel leads the way. It has eight single cabins on each of its vessels, and no single supplements or fares that are considerably less than the industry standard. Says Derek Lloyd, VP Global Sales: “On most European cruises solo travellers have the choice of reserving a single cabin or pairing up with like-minded travel companions in advance of the sailing. Alternatively, double cabins can be booked at a 50% supplement, refundable when a single, same-sex guest books to share.” vantagetravel.com

A SEVEN-NIGHT AUTUMN COLOURS OF THE RHINE CRUISE FROM SAGA IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS. PRICED FROM £999PP, THE CRUISE DEPARTS OCTOBER 10, AND THE PRICE INCLUDES RETURN COACH TRAVEL AND EUROTUNNEL. SAGA HAS CREATED 12 NEW RIVER CRUISES FOR 2016 AND MORE ALLINCLUSIVE OPTIONS.

Singles specialist Solos has added two new river cruises to its programme, covering departures until April 2017. The nine-night cruise along the Seine leads in at £2,049pp and the 11-night itinerary on Spain’s Guadalquivir River is priced from £2,099pp. Both cruises are on Fred. Olsen’s Braemar and include drinks packages and tips.

travel.saga.co.uk

solosholisays.co.uk

BOOK IT!

SINGLE-FRIENDLY

YOUR OWN SPACE

All of A-Rosa’s Christmas market cruises are single-supplement-free, with passengers paying the regular per-person price to travel in a double cabin, along with nearly 90 selected sailings each year on the Rhine, Danube and Rhone.

Kathryn Beadle, Managing Director, Uniworld UK, says: “Solo travel is a huge area of growth in the industry, and companies need to be more proactive in making their product solo-friendly, or risk missing out on a huge cross section of the market. Other river cruise lines with single cabins include the River Cruise Line’s Lady Anne, Emerald Waterways and Scenic. CroisiEurope has a single cabin on most of its larger river ships. Avalon AmaWaterways, and Viking are among the lines that run seasonal special sole deals.

855 55-AROSA arosacruises.com

Another singles-friendly operator is Tauck. Its category 1 cabins on all European cruises are supplement-free and there are savings of £645 on the usual doubleoccupancy fare for singles booked in other cabin categories. 0800 810 8020 tauck.co.uk

A SEVEN-NIGHT BURGUNDY & PROVENCE CRUISE FROM AVIGNON TO LYON IS PRICED FROM £3,169PP FOR DEPARTURES ON AUGUST 23, SEPTEMBER 4 AND 25 AND OCTOBER 9. IT INCLUDES ALL DRINKS, FLIGHTS AND TRANSFERS. THERE ARE NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS ON FIVE EUROPEAN ITINERARIES. uniworld.com SAMPLE DEAL

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SOLOS ON THE SEINE

RHINE, Switzerland to the Netherlands

DUTCH Waterways

FRENCH Waterways

01252 714 477 amadeusrivercruises.co.uk

£795pp, 7-night Classical Danube cruise. Cruise-only, wine with dinner

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A-ROSA River Cruises

0049 381 202 6001 arosa-cruises.com

£760pp, 7-night Danube Classic cruise, cruise-only incl. all meals, drinks, and a 15% spa discount

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AmaWaterways

0800 954 0063 amawaterways.co.uk

£1,599, 7-night Enchanting Rhine cruise with flights, non-UK transfers, port charges, meals and wine.

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APT River Cruises

0800 012 6686 aptouring.co.uk

£945, 8-day Reflections of the Rhine & Main Premium River Cruise

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Avalon Waterways

0800 668 1865 avaloncruises.co.uk

£1,465pp, 8-day Taste of the Danube cruise (incl. UK transfers with personal chauffeur & flights)

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Belmond

0845 077 2222 Belmond.com

CMV Signature River Cruises

0844 963 0000 cruiseandmaritime.com

£990pp, 2-night cruise aboard Belmond Road to Mandalay with domestic flights, transfers, wine with lunch and dinner and excursions £1,259, 7-night Magical Rhine cruise with flights, transfers, selected drinks with lunch & dinner & two half-day excursions

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CroisiEurope

020 8328 1281 croisieurope.co.uk

£281pp for a four-day mini-cruise in Paris

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Crystal Cruises

020 7399 7604 crystalcruises.co.uk

£2,130pp, 10-night cruise round-trip from Vienna

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Emerald Waterways

0800 270 7017 emeraldwaterways.co.uk

£1,295pp, 8-day Secrets of the Douro or 8-day Sensations of Southern France

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European Waterways

01753 598555 gobarging.com

Far Horizon Tours & Cruises

01252 714 477 perlrivercruises.com

Fred.\River Cruises

0808 159 5256 fredrivercruises.co.uk

Great Rail Journeys & Rail Discoveries

£2,350pp, 6-night all-inclusive hotel barge cruises in France, Italy, Holland, Ireland, England, Scotland £1,579pp, 7-night Brahmaputra cruise. Cruiseonly with excursions and international transfers £599pp, 7-day (no-fly) Dutch Towns & Spring Gardens, including return coach transfers, fullboard and entrance to Keukenhof Gardens

0800 240 4470 greatrail.com/raildiscoveries.com

£975pp 8-day Romantic Rhine including rail, all meals and all-incl drinks on MV A-Rosa Viva

Insider Journeys

01865 268 944 insiderjourneys.co.uk

Mekong Prestige River Cruise

0808 168 1458 ewaterways.co.uk

Mekong River Cruises

01252 714 477 perlrivercruises.com

£2,395, 14-day Saigon to Angkor Mekong journey (8 nights’ cruise, 4 nights’ hotel) & flights from the UK £1,149pp, 8 night cruise only between Saigon and Siem Reap, full board basis including drinks £650pp, 5-night Luang Prabang roundtrip cruise. Cruise-only with excursions and international transfers

Pandaw River Expeditions

020 3287 6113 pandaw.com

£2,620pp, 7-night Chindwin Monywa – Homalin cruise

Riviera Travel

01283 744 370 / 744 390 rivieratravel.co.uk/agents

Saga

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£999pp, 8-day Blue Danube. Includes direct return flights, transfers, full board and all guided excursions

0800 074 8021 saga.co.uk/rivercruises

£499pp, 4 night Rhineland Festive Markets cruise, full-board with return coach travel

Sanctuary Retreats

+44 (0)1242 546609 sanctuaryretreats.com

Scenic

0800 566 8777 scenic.co.uk

Shearings

0843 221 0020 shearings.com/rivercruises

Tauck River Cruises

0800 810 8020 tauck.co.uk

£714pp, 3-night cruise on Sanctuary Ananda from Bagan to Mandalay in 2016, based on two people From £1,495pp, 8-day ultra-all-inclusive Iconic Danube cruise in spacious suite accommodation. £529pp, 4-night Tulips & Windmills fullboard cruise, includes coach transfers and two nights’ £2,041pp, 8 day ‘Holland & Belgium in the Spring’ sailing including flights and a category one cabin

Titan

0800 988 5800 titanagents.co.uk

£999pp, the 8-day Beautiful Rhine cruise, full-board and including VIP transfers

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The River Cruise Line

0844 544 6580 rivercruiseline.co.uk

£799, Danube Discovery Cruise & Stay on the four-star Serenity, full-board. Includes three nights in Budapest 4 star hotel

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Uniworld

0800 988 5166 uniworldrivercruises.co.uk

£1,960pp, 8 day all-inclusive Enchanting Danube cruise from Passau to Budapest

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Viking River Cruises

020 8780 7985 vikingrivercruises.co.uk

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Wendy Wu Tours

0844 288 2733 wendywutours.co.uk

£1,145pp, 8-day Romantic Danube including travel, transfers, full board, excursions & Wi-Fi £2,490pp, 14-day fully-inclusive Majestic Yangtze tour with flights, meals, accommodation and guided touring

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CHOBE, Botswana

MOSELLE, France, Lux, Germany

Amadeus River Cruises

LEAD-IN CRITERIA

DOURO, Portugal

RESERVATIONS

Your official guide to river cruising

DANUBE, Central Europe

CRUISE LINE

MAIN DANUBE CANAL, Germany

At a glance

RUSSIAN Waterways

river cruising

PO, Italy

Quick reference

ELBE, Czech Republic to Germany

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Selected cruises

All Royal Collection cruises

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Eight days from £999pp 15 days from £1,499pp

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WHY CHOOSE RIVIERA TRAVEL?

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Which? Recommended Provider for the last four consecutive years

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One of Europe’s most modern fleets - 7 five-star and 2 four-star superior ships

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We never discount - so you don’t have to

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We protect your commission if your client books directly with us

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Dedicated agency sales team to support you

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More people would travel with us again than

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Selected cruises

Rail - local station only

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The industry’s finest tour managers*

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We hold options for 5 working days

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Online booking available at www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents

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To book, please call:

Selected dates Selected cruises

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Coach/ Air/Rail

Selected cruises

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Selected cruises

In Europe

Selected cruises

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01283 744390

Monday - Friday 9am-7pm / Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm

Pre-paid drink packages

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any of our competitors*

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RHINE, DANUBE, MOSELLE, MAIN, RHÔNE OR SEINE

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WI-FI INCLUDED

ALL INCLUSIVE OPTION

UK TRANSFERS

KAPUAS, Borneo

AMAZON

MURRAY RIVER, Australia

MISSISSIPPI, USA

YANGTZE, China

NILE, Egypt

IRRAWADDY/ CHINDWIN, Burma

INDIAN Waterways

MEKONG, Cambodia, Laos, and/or Vietnam

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EUROPE’S FINEST RIVER CRUISES

To speak to agency sales, call:

01283 744307 Visit: www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents To subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Email: agencysales@rivieratravel.co.uk

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Part of upgrade

Holidays organised by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel, New Manor, 328 Wetmore Road, Burton on Trent, Staffs, DE14 1SP. ABTA V4744 ATOL 3430. Prices are based on two people sharing a twin room. Additional entrance costs may apply. *Source, independent survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

ABTA No. V4744

the final word

the quirky side of travel – Leicester City, Tinchy Stryder, odd drinks –

eicester City’s emphatic capture of the Barclays Premier League this past season could boost 'football tourism' to Britain.

The Fantastic Foxes were contenders from the off last season and, by staying the pace, demonstrated a surprising truism: anything really can happen after all in football. By triumphing the club and the city of Leicester has been brought to the attention of a global audience – from Mexico to Malaysia – and that could result in a rush of 'football tourists' to these shores. Patricia Yates, VisitBritain Director, said: “Football has mass international appeal and a global fan base of billions and we know that people like to visit the homes of their heroes.” An estimated 800, 000 international visitors attended a football match in Britain in 2015, and on average spent nearly £200 pounds more than those visitors who did not attend a match. It seems Leicester’s surprising win has put the magic back into English football and also the tourism prospects of the Midlands city! visitbritain.org

MUSICAL STRYDES Premier Inn has enlisted the help of UK rapper Tinchy Stryder to create a track in one of its hub hotel rooms.

Term-time truancy

A high-court ruling in favour of a father who refused to pay a £120 fine for taking his daughter on holiday during school termtime apparently sparked a spike in the demand for term-time trips, with bookings up 50% since the ruling. Cheapﬂights. co.uk

TOP 10… unusual drinks From pokies.net, here's 10 of the 'oddest' drinks found around the world. Take a look at these thirst quenchers and their ingredients: 1

Ayahuasca, Peru

Banisteriopsis caapi

The Vaportini, USA

Flavour-infused alcohol

The artist will have 24 hours to ﬁnd inspiration around the hotel and in the surrounding area of Brick Lane to create a track that will be unveiled at the launch event of the hub hotel in Brick Lane. hub is Premier Inn’s new tech-based hotel, something which Stryder claims he is interested in. “I studied digital arts at the University of East London and love everything techy, so I really felt at home here surrounded by all this connectivity,” he enthused. premierinn.com

Peyote Tea, Southern USA Spirytus Rektyﬁkowany, Small spineless cacti Poland High starch rye

Feni, India

Cashew nuts

Panda Dung Tea, China

Green tea grown in dung

SINGLE IN SPAIN? Spain is the top destination of choice for solo beach holidays this summer, according to dating website TourBar.com. Nearly a quarter of the website’s UK members named the country as the best beach destination to visit on your Tod Sloan. Spain was closely followed by Thailand and the USA with Australia and the UK taking the fourth and ﬁfth spots. A third of members aged 25-34 choose beaches as their main reason for solo travel.

Waragi, Uganda

Fermented bananas, sugar cane or millet

Snake Wine, Vietnam Venomous snakes

9 Hoihoi Tatea, New Zealand Horse semen

Poppy Tea, Worldwide Opiods including poppies

THE JULY/AUGUST 2016 ISSUE WILL FEATURE: • Argentina• Canada • Fiji • Hungary • Spanish Islands • The Gambia and Cape Verde • Dubai •Falkland Islands • IPW show report CONTACT US sales@bmipublishing.co.uk; editorial@bmipublishing.co.uk PLUS ONLINE: Daily selling tips • destination guides • photo galleries • Travel Uni

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18 resorts, seven islands, how do you pick just one? When your clients honeymoon at Sandals or Beaches Resorts, they can experience as many as they like. Only a hop, skip and a jump away, each Sandals and Beaches Resort offers a distinct setting and feel with the same exceptional Luxury Included® amenities, such as: The Caribbean’s Best Beaches • Unique

TIEING THE KNOT IN PARADISE? Say “I Do” at Beaches with family and friends and then bid “farewell” to begin your honeymoon at the resorts made for love, Sandals.

2015

Love Nest Suites® • English Guild-Trained Butlers & Concierges for Top-Tier Rooms & Suites • Unlimited Gourmet Discovery Dining with up to 21 Restaurants per Resort • Up to 14 Bars per Resort • Unlimited Land & Water Sports • Private Offshore Island Adventures^ • Stay at One, Play at Any Sandals^ • Free Weddings† • Free Resort Wide Wi-Fi • Tipping, Transfers & Government Taxes included

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK THE WORLD’S LEADING ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS Call Agency Sales 020 7590 0210 | Email agencysales@sandals.co.uk | Visit sellingsandals.co.uk ^Available at select resorts. †Minimum stay: 3 nights. Documentation and marriage officiant fees apply.

2015