16 minute read
The review: Industry
news
new Zealand opens up
The New Zealand Government has announced a five-step phased plan to reopen borders to international visitors with hopes to welcome the UK from July 2022.
The phased approach allows for the return of New Zealand citizens, followed by the opening of borders to working holiday visas, Australian visitors, those from visa waiver countries and eventually foreign nationals. The five-step plan has been outlined as follows: Step 1: From February 27 fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and eligible travellers can travel from Australia to New Zealand; must complete self-isolation. Step 2 - From March 13 fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and other eligible travellers from the rest of the world can travel to New Zealand; must complete selfisolation. Eligible travellers include critical workers, skilled workers, family members of highly skilled workers. The Working Holiday Scheme will reopen in stages from Step 2. Step 3: From April 12 the border will be open to up to 5,000 eligible international students and eligible temporary visa holders; they must complete self-isolation. Step 4: From July 2022 (latest date anticipated, TBC) - Australians and all other visitors from visa-waver countries (including the UK) are eligible to enter New Zealand. The Prime Minister indicated that it is likely that this date will come forward. Step 5: From October 2022 (TBC) - New Zealand fully opens to visitors from anywhere in the world and all visa holders.
Once borders reopen, visitors can expect new adventure tours like the Glacier HeliHike, a revived cultural scene in Auckland and sport events like the Rugby World Cup (2022) and FIFA Women’s World Cup (2023).
A number of new Maori cultural experiences have opened including the
shearings takes on europe
Shearings has published a new dedicated European Collection brochure for 2022 and 2023, with experiences priced from £289pp. The 100-page brochure features more than 70 tours with 25 brand-new holidays.
This is the first brochure inclusion for Shearings’ expanded selection of river cruises, with eight new tours added, and the four-star MS Arena and four-star A-Rosa Aqua joining the Croisi Europe ships in Europe.
The tours range from four- and five-day short breaks, to 16-day adventures, with options for express coach tours, all-inclusive packages, and solo traveller breaks. All holidays include coach travel, with more than 500 joining points across the country. Home Connect can be arranged for anyone wanting door-to-door transportation. The new tours include: Classical Italy – 12 days from £849pp, includes 11 nights’ accommodation; Imperial Capitals – Prague, Budapest and Vienna – nine days from £839pp, includes eight nights’ accommodation and Romance of the Alsace, Strasbourg and Wine Villages – seven days from £649pp, includes six nights’ accommodation. All include continental breakfast, and evening meals.
Leger Shearings Group’s Head of Retail Sales, Ashley Dellow, said: “The timing of this brochure is part of our forward strategy, to continuously offer our trade partners a steady flow of new tours. Shearings.com
Trade talk the review / 43
NEWS IN BRIEF
• new Florida training
Amelia Island, a chain of barrier islands on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, has launched a trade training programme for the UK and Irish Markets. Available on the Online Travel Training site (OTT), the training highlights the Islands history of Spanish, French, British and American rule as well as its luxury resorts, golf courses sandy beaches and three-hour proximity to Orlando Airport. onlinetraveltraining.com
• Us escorted tour launches
Newmarket Holidays has introduced a new Capital Region USA escorted tour for 2022. The 11-day tour is the first exclusive escorted tour in the region and includes the historic triangle of Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown; a journey along the Blue Ridge Parkway; time to explore DC and more. newmarketholidays.co.uk
• new Bahrain service
Gulf Air is launching a new flight between Manchester and Bahrain. The route will launch June 1, 2022 and will include two flights a week using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. gulfair.com
• Air Canada connects UK
Air Canada’s summer 2022 programme includes restored services between Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Heathrow (from April 30); between Toronto and both Manchester and Edinburgh (from May 30); between Vancouver and Dublin (from June 1); and between Montreal and Dublin (from June 2). aircanada.com
Globe hopping 28 / How to sell...
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Willie Nelson at the studio
MEET... Judy Hood - Chairman of the Music Shoals Music Foundation
Musical Alabama
Describe Alabama’s musical influence
The music scene in Alabama is vibrant and diverse, both in the recording studios and in live performances throughout the state. The accomplishments of our native musicians are celebrated in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia. The museum offers exhibits on more than 1,000 artists and musicians from Lionel Richie to Nat King Cole and explores genres including rhythm and blues, rock, bluegrass, country, gospel and classical. There’s even a mini recording studio for budding musicians to try out!
Why is Muscle Shoals in Alabama significant?
Once a sleepy Alabama town bordering Mississippi and Tennessee, Muscle Shoals is now ‘Hit Recording Capital of the World’ and an unmissable stop on any musical tour of the US. International stars including The Rolling Stones, Cher, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan all produced top hits in Muscle Shoals either at FAME Studios or later at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Visitors can tour the latter every hour from 10:30 until 15:30.
Tell us about the Orion Amphitheater
Huntsville’s Orion Amphitheater will open May 13, 2022 with The First Waltz - a weekend-long event featuring top artists from the North Alabama region. Founded by Ben Lovett from the band Mumford & Sons, the outdoor space will hold 8,000 people and will be used yearround for both concerts andcommunity events. Tickets for The First Waltz are on sale Music Hall of Fame now. alabama.travel For more information email andy@5fmarketing.com
news
Headwater gets active
Headwater has added a range of new walking, cycling and activity trips based across Europe. The 25 new trips discover the quieter parts of these countries at a slower pace.
All of Headwater’s holidays are self-guided with no fixed departure dates, giving travellers the flexibility to go at their own pace. Accommodation is carefully chosen by the Headwater team and includes B&Bs, guesthouses, pubs with rooms and small hotels. New holidays include: Walking the Akamas Peninsula – eight days from £1,199pp including flights and accommodation with daily departures from March 1 and Undiscovered Sardinia Cycling – eight days from £1529pp. Includes flights and accommodation, daily departures from April 1. headwater.com
simpson’s trade push
Simpson Travel has created a dedicated trade-friendly brochure featuring luxurious villa and boutique hotel holidays to Greece, Turkey, mainland France, Corsica, Mallorca and Italy. The launch is part of Simpson Travel’s enhanced commitment to the trade, with plans to develop relationships and double trade bookings over the coming year. Agents can expect new product training sessions as well as regular email updates and a closed Facebook group for product updates and promotions. Simpson Travel will be offering 10% commission on both package and accommodation only bookings. simpsontravel.coml.com
news
Fred goes worldwide
Fred. Holidays has launched Fred. Discover, which features a selection of worldwide tours and packages.
The 2022-2023 Fred. Discover brochure, which is available to order now via the company’s travel agent portal, features 48 itineraries spanning 52 countries throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, North America and Canada, South America and Antarctica, the Caribbean, Asia and the Far East, Australasia and South Africa. Prices start from £1,339pp for an 11-day journey through Italy, the Greek Islands and Croatia.
Highlights include: A 16-day ‘Alaska, the Ultimate Train Journey & the Calgary Stampede’ package priced from £4,699pp, a 16-day ‘Iceland, Niagara Falls, New York & Transatlantic’ itinerary from £2,599pp. A 24-day ‘Iguazu Falls & South America Adventure’, a 14-night cruise from Buenos Aires to Santiago on board Holland America Line’s MS Oosterdam, priced from £3,999pp and The Twelve Apostles & the Coast of South Africa’ adventure from £11,159pp. fredholidays.co.uk
Santa Monica, Mauritius and Bonjour Québec are offering prizes including luxury holidays when agents register to travel industry platform Hablo.
The platform is designed to connect all sectors of the travel industry, including travel agents, destinations and tour operators.
To win, agents must sign up to Hablo and create a professional profile, follow all three destination pages and register for the incentive. They can then extend the invitation to colleagues to help build a stronger travel community. Prizes range from coffee vouchers to luxury holidays for two.
Agents who register will be notified of training events, sales incentives and webinars. Register at join.myhablo.com
Team effort for Hablo
MEET... Nancy Willhoite Director of Sales at BB Riverboats
Cruising Kentucky
What kind of cruises does BB offer?
BB Riverboats is one of Northern Kentucky’s top attractions and offers scenic riverboat cruises on the beautiful Ohio River. Cruises ranging from historical harbour sightseeing tours, lunch, brunch and dinner cruises, and even holiday fireworks cruises. For the younger guests there are fun-filled pirate, princess, and super hero themed cruises.
Tell us about the steamboats
The flagship is the Belle of Cincinnati which is a 1,000-passenger former casino boat, built in 1991. A truly majestic paddlewheeler, the Belle of CIncinnati participates in The Great Steamboat Race each year in May in Louisville, Kentucky as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival, taking on the 100+ year old Belle of Louisville. Built in 1987, The River Queen is a slightly smaller vessel accommodating 500 guests across three spacious decks. Together, both boats offer groups of any size the best way to see Northern Kentucky and downtown Cincinnati.
Why should clients take a BB cruise?
The Ohio River was the key contributor to the settlement of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and the surrounding area. There is still a very palpable romance with the river today. BB Riverboats has been cruising the Ohio River, entertaining guests and showing them this romance for over four decades. If you come to Kentucky, you don’t want to miss it. bbriverboats.com
Trade talk 46 / The review
Agent event
Agents take Nordic tour at Five Countries Workshop
Visit Finland, Visit Iceland, Visit Estonia, Visit Greenland and Visit Faroe Islands gathered in London to showcase their latest product and news at the Five Countries Workshop, writes Jessica Pook and Steve Hartridge
greenland
Finland
Known as the home of Father Christmas, Finland’s is hoping to see the return of family Christmas Santa Claus breaks which include reindeer and husky dog rides, Northern Lights watching and, new this year, electric snowmobile rides. But Caroline BeatonMoscatelli, Sales and Marketing Manager for Visit Finland, believes that wellness breaks will also prove popular. “Finland has, the largest lake district in Europe and over three million sauna. If clients are looking for a wellness retreat they will find it here.”
Agents can also offer clients high-end accommodation such as treehouses and glass igloos that are surrounded by the great outdoors, added Beaton-Moscatelli.
Visit Finland has launched a trade training platform, Finland Travel Pro, and is planning a series of webinars in March.
Iceland
Oddny Arnarsdottir, Visit Iceland’s Area Manager for the UK, said the country had remained active in engaging the trade during the Covid restrictions, which was now paying off in terms of bookings.
“This year is looking positive – UK travellers are our main visitors during the off-season months from October to April,” she said. Arnarsdottir was also keen to stress the country is a viable four-season destination.
“You can enjoy the midnight sun during the summer and Northern Lights in winter.
“We are a true outdoor country, with mountains, rivers, volcanoes, glaciers, caves, geothermal spas and wild terrain waiting to be hiked.
“And Iceland is carving a name as one of Europe’s emerging culinary destinations with lots of exciting new restaurants opening.”
Estonia
Estonia is probably best known for city breaks to its capital Tallinn, a best-selling option before the pandemic struck. Visit Tallinn’s Helena Tsistova-Pohla said the city was planning to bring back its events and festivals this summer but also recommended that Brits should this winter consider the city’s Christmas market, which dates back to the fifteenth century.
“It is located in our medieval old town, which has a special magic to it when covered in snow and is lit up by twinkling lights.”
Outside of Tallinn, Estonia is a country of national parks, forests, hiking trails, wetlands, sandy beaches and numerous, islands “which are perfect for outdoor activities,” said Agnia Nast, Visit Estonia’s Project Manager of Trade Marketing (UK).
Greenland
Two new airports are due for completion by 2024, which could encourage airlines to start direct flights from the UK to Greenland.
“This is a period of change for Greenland,” said Visit Greenland’s Tanny Por.
“Greenlanders are discovering that they have a lot to offer visitors - from homestays in villages located in our fjords to kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding to lakeside eco-lodges – and we will soon have a wellness offering in the south of Greenland.
“Our message is that our ‘Already Here’, is your ‘Adventure Here’,” said Por. “Seeing whales, hunting fish, foraging for wild berries, tracking reindeer, sleeping in lakeside cabins under the Northern Lights.... this is what locals do on a daily basis. Greenland provides real adventures for pioneering travellers.”
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands’ unique island culture is what sets it apart from the other destinations, said Susanna Sørensen, Head of Marketing and PR at Visit Faroe Islands.
“The Faroe Islands will appeal to those
iceland
Greenland provides real adventures for finland pioneering travellers faroe islands estonia
looking to experience a more natural way of life. We encourage visitors to interact with the locals and a great way to do this is to dine with local families,” she added. The tourist board is also keen to highlight the Faroe Islands’ culinary appeal, with locally-grown produce a big focus for 2022. “Visitors will find that fresh, local ingredients come as standard on the Faroe Islands,” added Sørensen. •
news
Agents discover AlUla, the world’s largest open-air museum
Jessica Pook sums up the highlights from Selling Travel’s agent-focused Discover AlUla webinar
“Standing in front of the monolithic Tomb of Lihyan son of Kuza and experiencing the silence that surrounds me is something I’ll never forget,” says Claire Golding, AlUla Director UK, as she describes her first visit to one of Saudi Arabia’s premier attractions.
The scene is set for agents! Golding tells of how the Kingdom is now opening its doors to visitors and that AlUla, in the northwest, is its hidden gem – but not for long.
Roughly the size of Wales with a population of 50,000, AlUla is referred to as the ‘world’s largest open air museum’, displaying 200,000 years of human legacy, which includes the Nabataeans (think Petra).
Says Golding: “AlUla’s heritage is quite literally carved into the rocks and the extraordinary landscapes have been undisturbed and untouched for centuries.” “The main attractions are history and heritage, nature and natural attractions, and arts and cultural events,” she adds.
AlUla’s four key heritage sites are: Hegra, Dadan, Jabal Ikmah and AlUla Old Town.
“Hegra is AlUla’s legacy and Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site,” explains Golding. “You may notice similarities to its Nabatean sister city Petra, but AlUla is actually the older site and has 110 well- preserved tombs.”
All touring is escorted and the standard tour by coach takes two hours and starts at Winter Park but Golding recommends clients opt for a Vintage Land Rover tour for a more intimate experience. Both include stops at Hijaz Railway and AlUla’s most recognizable icon, the Tomb of Lihyan Son of Kuza.”
Daden’s key attraction is its Lion Tombs, cut into the red rock cliff 50 metres above the ground: it served as burial sites for the wealthy.
Jabal Ikmah is billed as an ‘open-air library’ because of its high concentration of inscriptions and rock art predating the Arabic language. Golding recommends combining these two sites as part of a two-hour escorted tour.
The final heritage site is AlUla Old Town, established back in the 12th century, the town is a labyrinth of winding alleyways, traditional houses, shops and town squares.
“Take a tour with a rawi (a local guide and storyteller) to learn all about life in AlUla,” she offers.
As well as the history and heritage, must dos include stargazing “as the skies are not impacted by any light pollution and on a clear night you can see the Milky Way”.
Other natural attractions include walking the Adventure Trail or the shorter Hidden Valley Trail, ziplining through the mountains or, for the ultimate wow factor, a 30-minute helicopter ride over AlUla’s most iconic sites, including instantly recognisable Elephant Rock. When asked about the climate, Golding says that the desert landscape is often less humid than the cities. “Think Arizona, USA, in terms of climate. Temperatures in winter are pleasant but the evenings can get chilly, so jackets are advised.
“AlUla is a year-round destination but the most popular times to visit, based on the weather and festivals, are the shoulder and peak seasons of October through to March.
Four festivals, Winter at Tantora, AlUla Arts, AlUla Skies and AlUla Wellness, are held during these months. Sought after experiences during these events include hot air ballooning, watching a symphony under the stars, or even a vintage aircraft flight.
“Check experiencealula.com, for the latest event listings and experiences or go to the AlUla Specialist hub for further trade support,” advises Golding.
Saudi Airlines and British Airways both fly from the UK into the main gateways of Riyadh and Jeddah. However, recent developments mean that agents can now offer AlUla as a twin-centre with Dubai. Flynas has services directly from Dubai, as does Emirates’ partner carrier Fly Dubai.
Questioned whether AlUla is a safe destination, Golding answers: “As a women, I felt welcome and incredibly safe. The Saudi hospitality is second to none and locals can’t wait to show tourists their home.” The Discover AlUla webinar is available to watch on Selling Travel’s YouTube page.
