Selling Travel May/June 2024

SUMMER SMILES

New England is a region of spectacular seasons, not just the stunning ‘fall’ that it’s rightly renowned for. Beginning and ending in Boston with its worldclass museums and famous Freedom Trail, this 15-day tour sees you journey through the waterside attractions of Maine and New Hampshire to the mountains of Vermont and the beautiful Berkshires.

It offers everything you’d want from a New England getaway: history, culture, spectacular scenery, iconic covered bridges, outdoor adventures, steeple-topped churches and farm-to-fork dining.

around the world

inside this issue

Trend-Watching

08 Sport Tourism: From the Olympic Games in Paris to the EUROs in Germany, sporting events are a great holiday add-on

12 Four-sight: Are rising flight costs stopping families going abroad?

Globe-Hopping

14 Sustainable Cruising: How cruise lines are implementing sustainable initiatives both on and off the ship

18 How to Sell: Cologne, Germany

20 My Journey: Arizona

22 Malaysia: City, beach and jungle, this South East Asia star has wide appeal.

26 Destination Update: Iceland

30 My Journey: Serengeti Bushtops, Tanzania Trade Talk

44 The Review: Selling Travel Connect: Kentucky, Spain, FERGUS Hotels & North America

32 Family Travel: Holidays to suit families of all shapes and sizes

36 Turkey for Families: Why culture-rich Turkey is a favourite this summer

41 Top Ten: Theme Parks in the Middle East

TANZANIA

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Steve Hartridge

EDITOR

Jessica Alexander

DIGITAL EDITOR

April Waterston

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Sheena Adesilu

WRITERS

Tracey Davies, Stuart Forster, Julie Baxter, Lauren Jarvis, Tina Walsh and Charlotte Flach

PUBLISHING

PUBLISHERS

Steve Thompson steven.thompson@sellingtravel.co.uk

Sally Parker sally.parker@sellingtravel.co.uk

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

MANAGER

Stella De Berniere stella.deberniere@sellingtravel.co.uk

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Shani Kunar

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Matt Bonner

CEO

Martin Steady

DESIGN & PRODUCTION DESIGNERS

Caitlan Francis & Emma Norton

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Clare Hunter

PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATOR

Steve Hunter

COVER IMAGE istockphoto.com/Ridofranz

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Stars in our eyes May/June

Jessica Alexander EDITOR

It was an honour to attend the TravMedia Awards in April once again this year, an event that recognises “the finest journalistic, influencer and PR achievements in travel” and I’m thrilled to say that Selling Travel was awarded Trade Publication of the Year 2024.

It’s a testament to our freelancers who travel across the world to bring readers the latest updates and inspirational travel content, our agent columnists who offer a first-hand insight into the good and the bad parts of being a travel agent and, of course, the in-house Editorial, Design, Production and Publishing team who work together to produce an award-winning magazine.

It was also nice to catch up with industry collegues and hear about some exciting developments in the travel sector, I was sat next to the lovely ladies at Atout France, France's tourism development agency, who were telling me all about how bookings to the destination have skyrocketed surrounding the upcoming Olympic Games in July (unfortunately details about the opening ceremony are still top secret).

The Olympics isn’t the only sporting event that is influencing travel decision-making this year and beyond. Operators have added itineraries that specifically incorporate dates for the F1 in the Middle East, the Euros in Germany and, thanks to a certain pop singer, there’s new interest in attending a NFL game in the USA. You can read more about how agents can tap into this growing trend on page 8.

As we approach the summer holidays, many families will be looking forward to jetting off for a well-deserved break. Our Be Inspired section looks at how agents can cater to different family dynamics, from single parents looking for all-inclusives and kids clubs to multi-generational villa hires. Plus why Turkey is set to become the new short-haul family favourite this year.

Enjoy the issue!

With this issue

Your guide to Bradenton This guide will inspire you to sell the Bradenton, Anna Maria Island & Longboat Key regions of Florida

Luxury Tenerife guide From five-star hotels to Michelinstar restaurants, Tenerife is perfect for luxury-seeking clients.

Panama

BUDDING BOLTHOLE

A leafy urban oasis in Casco Viejo, a historic UNESCO-designated region in Panama, the adult-only Amarla Casco Viej hopes to attract a cool crowd of explorers, creatives, wellness lovers and adventurers with its local artistry and vertical gardens The property has eight rooms including a Superior Duplex Suite with a remotecontrolled skylight. Guests can enjoy rooftop mojitos with a 360-degree view of the city’s modern skyline alongside Casco Viejo’s trove of cathedrals, churches and 18th-century architecture. amarla.pa

Sweden

GOING UNDERGROUND

The Sunnanhed lodge in the countryside of Dalarna is offering a new guest experience combining foraging, yoga and wellness, centred around a natural spring water sauna experience 80 meters below ground. Between sessions in the sauna, guests can emerge back into the cave to cool down in the four-degree emerald water, before heading back to the lodge for yoga and meditation sessions and dinner created by a wilderness chef. offthemap.travel

Ireland

GEORGIAN GLAM

Rubbing shoulders with art galleries, design studios and museums in the heart of Georgian Dublin, The Leinster opened its doors in March. Described as ‘Dublin’s first luxury lifestyle hotel’ the design-led property offers 55 bedrooms and suites which channel a Parisian boutique. Art is a focus point with over 300 curated pieces dotted around the hotel. The rooftop restaurant, Jean-Georges at The Leinster, is Chef JeanGeorges Vongerichten’s, first foray into Ireland, following openings in London, New York, Paris and Kyoto. theleinster.ie

League of their own

With the countdown underway for both the Paris Olympics and the UEFA European Championship, Stuart Forster looks at how agents can capitalise on global sporting events

Sports tourism is a fast-growing sector. Globally, increasing numbers of people are spectating or participating in sporting events while travelling. In some cases, people book travel specifically to attend major championships, games or races while others look to attend sporting events as an add-on to their holidays.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts sports tourism will grow 17.5% between 2023 and 2030. Sports tourism already accounts for approximately 10% of tourism-related spending around the world and over half (51%) of Brits say they are interested in travelling for a sporting event this year.

This figure rises to 58% amongst Millennials and Gen Z, according to the new American Express Global Travel Trends Report, with Formula 1, football and tennis leading the way. For travel agents, it represents a sector with potential for enhanced sales.

Live sport and travel

“Our research shows there’s a huge appetite for people to combine their love of travel with their love of live sport and that 2024 is set to offer a slew of events at home and abroad,” says James Kavanagh, Global Leisure CEO at Flight Centre Travel Group.

“We’ve had record bookings from football fans travelling to Germany for what is set to be a spectacular European Championship this summer,” comments Jade Kirwan, Head of Communications at Ryanair, which has added more than 4,000 extra seats from London and Manchester to Cologne, Dortmund and Frankfurt to cope with travel demand from England football fans.

sporting event, therefore tailormade has a big part to play in the selling of global sporting events. Events like The Ashes [cricket], Lions [rugby] tour, Masters [golf] and World Cup all present huge selling opportunities that the industry should capitalise on more.”

Leger Holidays is offering a four-day escorted coach break to the prestigious Belgian Grand Prix as part of Leger’s Live Events collection.

The tour, which departs July 26 2024, includes coach travel from the UK with local joining points, three nights at a three-star hotel with continental breakfast, transfers to the race circuit and admission on both the Qualifying Day and Race Day.

Agents can take advantage of a special trade-only discount of £769pp, instead of the consumer direct price of £789pp.

Ashley Dellow, Leger Shearings Group’s Head of Retail Sales, said: “Leger Holidays’ Live Events collection has some excellent events scheduled for 2024, with motorsports being among the most popular. These appeal to all ages, and travelling is made so easy when you choose a fully escorted break; simply join the coach at a local joining point, be transported there and back with no hassle, no driving, no airports, or need to lug luggage around, and with an escort to take care of all the logistics.”

American sports tourism

Scotland is also in the UEFA European Championship, which begins on June 14 in Munich and concludes on July 14 in Berlin.

Dan Gathercole, Managing Director at First Class Holidays, has a sports industry background so is well aware of the sector’s potential: “Global sporting events can attract an affluent customer who has a strong desire to travel. For long haul in particular, you are not going to go all the way to Australia, South Africa, the Caribbean or North America just to see that specific

In common with other travel industry niches they sell, agents must have a good understanding of the product being sold, according to Ben Mortimer, Managing Director at MVP Travel, whose focus is American sports.

“Sports tourism is burgeoning because people want to enjoy more experiences, rather than just travel to a destination and do the traditional sightseeing things. Like anything else, the experience needs to be authentic and exciting for the client in order to appeal and sell,” he says, noting that attending pre-game activities and parties with local fans adds to the authenticity.

Mortimer has observed interest in American football grow in the wake of musician Taylor Swift’s romance with

Travis Kelce of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. Along with the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl – which will be held in New Orleans in February 2025 and Santa Clara, California, in 2026 – tends to attract an older audience, while NFL packages draw younger, predominantly male clients, many of whom have tighter budgets.

MVP Travel’s U.S. Open tennis packages are proving popular. The tournament is in New York City from August 26 to September 8. There’s also high demand for WWE WrestleMania packages featuring a preevent tailgate party and meet-and-greet events with former wrestling stars.

Sport-themed attractions such as the Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory (where baseball bats are made) plus the Kentucky Derby Museum and horse racing at Churchill Downs draw tourists to Louisville throughout the year. Yet it’s the first Saturday in May that sees a major visitor spike, as Stacey Yates, Chief Marketing Officer of Louisville Tourism explains: “Kentucky Derby weekend is certainly a bucket list event for many…a global event that brings a diverse audience to experience the city at its most special time of year. When attending the Derby, visitors have a myriad of choices for lodging and dining, to fit various budgets, but there are certainly other times of the year to get a Derby feel at non-surge pricing.”

Cricket in the sun

Baseball is a popular summer spectator sport in the U.S., which along with the West Indies will host the 2024 ICC T20 Cricket World Cup. The tournament begins with a contest between the USA and Canada in Dallas on June 2 while the final is in Bridgetown, Barbados, on June 29. England, Scotland and Ireland are all competing, boosting opportunities to sell holidays in

“Our marketing efforts focus on offering a hybrid experience that perfectly combines sports and tourism for those visitors looking to enjoy both from one holiday destination. We know that when these travellers come to Barbados they want to indulge their passion for the sport while taking in the culture and local cuisine,” says Kamal Springer, Manager for Sports Tourism at Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI).

“The island is leveraging these events to not only showcase its ability to host events of this magnitude but also invite attendees to embrace its rich culture and heritage,” says Cheryl Carter, BTMI’s UK Director.

Not every sportsperson or team can be guaranteed victory but providing clients with carefully curated holidays featuring elements of sporting tourism mean that both you and them can be winners.

Sporting events to sell

2024 Olympic Games: Taking place in Paris from July 26 to August 11, followed by the 2024 Summer Paralympics that will run August 28 to September 8, this year’s Olympics sees the first opening ceremony outside of a stadium. A flotilla of boats will parade along the River Seine. Agents can book hospitality and travel packages through onlocationexp.com

Formula 1 Grand Prix cruises: Celestyal Cruises is offering three-day grandstand tickets for the Qatar (November 29December 1) and Abu Dhabi (December 6-8) race weekends, with complimentary transfers to and from the 1260-guest CelestyalJourney , from £1,199pp. They are available to guests aboard the sevenand 14-night Desert Days and Grand Prix cruises, which are scheduled around the end-of-season races. celestyal.com 2025 Lions Tour of Australia: Kicking off in Perth on June 29 and continuing until August 2 in Sydney, Lions fixtures present rugby fans with nine reasons to head Down Under. For agents, they bring opportunities to sell stays in six cities, including Melbourne which also hosts the Australian Open tennis tournament from January 12-26.  lionstour.com; ausopen.com

Where to book it

MVP TRAVEL

Priced from £3,095pp, a four-night package to the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, in October includes return flights from Heathrow, private transfers, four nights’ accommodation with breakfast at the Holiday Inn Austin-Town Lake hotel, transfers to the Circuit of the Americas and a general admission pass for the race weekend. mvptravel.co.uk •

Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia and New York.

2024

SUPERBOWL WITH MVP TRAVEL

BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

F1 RACECAR

PARIS WILL HOST THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES

FLAGSTAFF

“Our projects help empower women in communities across the globe”

Brian Young, MD of G Adventures

For G Adventures we’re seeing a rise in demand for solo female travellers this year, with Thailand, Vietnam and Costa Rica all proving popular destinations for this demographic. Active holidays have always been quite high up on the list as well, whether it’s trekking Kilimanjaro or traversing the Inca Trail, that sense of achievement is empowering.

Like-minded travellers are the reason why small group touring is so high. Our tours include 16 people maximum and 12 on average. There is also a high propensity of single travellers within groups, too. Our tour guides are called Co-Chief Experience Officers. They’re attached to the group 24/7, giving travellers that extra sense of security. If they need anybody, they know they’ve got a point of contact. It gives them peace of mind as well. Our CEOs are local, which helps in terms of the language barrier and being able to access information quickly if they need to. People on the tour tend to bond and become a tight-knit unit.

Giving back to the community

We have a foundation called Planet Terra, with social or community tourism projects all around the world. Different pillars include young people’s education opportunities or indigenous communities. We want our community tourism projects to help local women in the destinations we visit to create their projects and sustain them.

In India, we have a project called Women with Wheels. Currently, it’s very difficult for females within a family to be the breadwinner. This project takes women through training, helps them get a driving licence and teaches them how to conduct transfers. They meet all our customers at the airport and transfer them in a taxi to their hotel. Our projects help empower women in communities across the globe. Our community tourism projects are all about how we can give back to the places we visit. And at the same time, they’re a key part of the experience. gadventures.com •

FLAGSTAFF IS THE WORLD’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY CITY AND JUST A SHORT SCENIC DRIVE TO GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, NATIONAL MONUMENTS AND ARIZONA STATE PARKS.

PLAN SEVERAL VACATION DAYS TO EXPERIENCE ENDLESS TRAILS, SPECTACULAR STARGAZING AT LOWELL OBSERVATORY WHERE PLUTO WAS DISCOVERED, AND CRUISE AMERICA’S MOTHER ROAD ON ROUTE 66 – FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA.

SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

With

the summer holidays approaching, are families still looking to go abroad despite the rising flight costs?

We’ve recently seen an increase in short-haul family trips for June and July which include Mallorca, Greece, Spain and Albania.

We’ve also just had a family return from a lovely tailor-made Egypt holiday with Cyplon, which was a really interesting itinerary that was perfect for the parents and their teenagers who loved seeing the pyramids and exploring the history.

It’s noticeable though that families

We’ve noticed families holidaying for shorter durations

are holidaying for shorter durations, for example four- and five-night breaks rather than the usual seven- to ten-night trips we’ve been used to in previous years.

We’ve also had a lot of interest and bookings for 2025, as it seems people will commit to a deposit but not the full spend this year.

There’s still much uncertainty in the world, and closer to home too, and I know from experience as a family with young children that the financial squeeze is definitely upon us.

Hopefully, as agents we can use our adaptability to offer clients alternatives if their original holiday plans aren’t achievable. Well, within reason, of course!

Anneka Desrosiers

Southern Cross Travel, East Sussex

The Cruise Specialist

This subject is very topical for me as I am currently on grandparent duties at Porto Sani in Greece with my son and his toddlers – and the place is full of families with more children than adults!

The general opinion is still that river cruising is for an older generation; a sort of geriatric farewell to touring before travel becomes too much of a challenge. But this could not be further from reality now as river cruise operators are driving down the average

River cruising can be ideal for multi-gen groups

age to the mid-fifties with far more activity led and themed sailings.

Some operators set aside certain dates to cater for multigenerational cruising. One example is Amawaterways’ Adventures by Disney full ship charter, with sailings bookable only through Disney and aimed at families with younger children.

Leaders in the family market are AROSA, which has new ships with family cabins, swimming lessons and family activities. Whilst not an obvious choice, river cruising can be ideal for multi-generational families and smaller family groups. My tip is to ask an expert and be honest about what the client is trying to achieve: a specialist agent can help guide clients to the right holiday.

James Hill Director of GoRiverCruise Worcestershire

The High Street Agency

Families are looking for alternative destinations to the traditional resorts in Spain and Portugal, especially if they are on a budget.

It’s not just price that dictates where families stay either, some older-style hotels lack room choices for larger families. More recently constructed hotels in Turkey and Bulgaria have more choice for interconnecting rooms, swim-up rooms or even villas within a hotel complex.

We’ve seen a demand from the more active families

All-inclusive options remain popular as it means families can keep to their budgets. With some hotels having water slides and sporting facilities it also gives young families the option not to leave the complex!

At the other end of this scale are the families that want an adventure and we’ve seen a demand for the more active families. Often long haul destinations can be better value too –if time allows for a longer flight.

No two families are the same so it’s important to spend a bit of time with a new client to find out what they want from their family holiday. And with the weather to date this year it is no wonder everyone is looking to escape!

Liz Beaty The Travel Team Brampton, Cumbria

The Homeworker

It seems that families are on the look out for bargains as summer approaches. I am asked if there are ‘any deals’ on a daily basis. I’ve noticed an influx in advertising which seems to be influencing decision-making.

I recently attended a SellingTravel event on the FERGUS Hotel Group which has hotels across Spain. I didn’t realise they had such a variety of family-friendly hotels in the Balearic and Canary Islands, Catalonia and

FERGUS Hotels in Spain have a great family offering

Andalusia, including the all new fourstar FERGUS Club Mallorca Waterpark and two new ‘TENT’ hotels: Calvia Beach and Mojito Suites. They sell through both Jet2 and easyjet and I think they have a great offering, especially for families and single parents looking to relax too.

Just to remind you the Yorkshire Travel Ball is on July 18 at the Village Hotel in Leeds. Do email me if you are interested in attending at s.murray922@btinternet.com. This will be the 27th year that I’ve organised it and we have raised about £130,000 in total for human and animal charities.

I’m thinking of having a quick trip to Crete before the Ball – another destination that is perfect for families.

Sandy Murray Sandy’s Travel Escapes

Cleaner and greener cruises

With pressure mounting for net-zero carbon cruising by 2050, cruise lines are making waves when it comes to sustainable sailings, says Lauren Jarvis

It’s vegetarian night on the MS Fridtjof Nansen, and even the most carnivorous of passengers are enjoying the sustainably sourced menu being served during my epic 27-day voyage through the Arctic’s infamous Northwest Passage with HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions).

In this climatically harsh but environmentally fragile part of the world, our footprint matters more than ever: the Arctic is warming almost four times faster than the rest of the planet.

On my summer cruise from Iceland to Alaska, ice is conspicuously, and worryingly, absent, bar the odd iceberg floating by like a glistening ghost ship, as we spot polar bears, belugas and narwhals from the deck.

HX is leading the way in sustainable cruising, with two hybrid electric-powered lower-emission expedition vessels, the MS Roald Amundsen, which launched in 2019, and the Nansen in 2020. Both transport up to 530 passengers in style through some of

Earth’s remotest regions. Onboard, singleuse plastic is out, sustainable menus are in, and researchers record wildlife sightings at sea, while guests become citizen scientists and much-needed ambassadors for this precious, magical realm.

Sustainable solutions

This year’s launch of Royal Caribbean’s behemoth, Icon of the Seas – the largest cruise vessel ever to set sail – has once again put the environmental impact of cruising in the spotlight, from the emissions expelled by gargantuan fuel-guzzling ships to the chaotic deluge of passengers flooding into destinations when these floating amusement parks pull into port.

While many companies with larger ships, including Virgin Voyages, are embracing cleaner fuels, reducing waste and ditching plastics, the expedition cruise market is making great strides in sustainability, with companies such as HX, Ponant, Viking, AE Expeditions and Quark Expeditions investing

in sustainable strategies and creating itineraries which positively contribute to scientific research, conservation and giving back to local communities.

“Cruising is a carbon-intensive industry, there is no getting away from that,” admits Tudor Morgan, HX’s VP of Sustainability & Industry Relations. “HX was the first cruise line to ban heavy fuel oil (in 2009) and campaigns for its worldwide ban. To set a new standard, we are also considering a range of new, green fuel options, including biofuels made from organic waste.

“Regulation will change emissions in the medium-to-long term, but in the short term, expedition operators are responding more quickly, as the effects on the areas where we sail are very apparent and our guests are often more informed about the climate crisis and want to make a difference. Our goal is to be emission-free by 2050.”

HX offers an immersive but respectful deep-dive into the regions its ships visit, leaving guests with a good understanding

ARIA AMAZON FOR AQUA EXPEDITIONS

SEATRECK IN INDONESIA ARUNI, UA POU, POLYNESIA

AURORA, FAIR ISLE, SCOTLAND

HX MS ROALD AMUNDSEN IN ANTARCTICA

of the environmental challenges and threats to local people and biodiversity, while encouraging them to participate in research and science programmes onboard.

“Every journey should have a sense of purpose and meaning,” says Morgan.

“Travellers should be adding value to and getting insight into the destination, so they come away with a changed perspective and potential change in behaviour.

“During a HX sailing, we invite guests to participate in citizen projects, from monitoring whale migration to recording cloud patterns for NASA, and join excursions which encourage a greater appreciation for the environment and habitats we explore.”

Ponant, the first cruise company to be certified as a B Corporation Company, is also innovating, investing in shore-side power connection systems and aiming for its entire fleet of 13 small ships to be equipped with these by the end of 2026.

“We have a goal of cutting our CO2-persailing-day emissions by 30% by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2040,” explains Ponant’s General Secretary, Patrick Augier. Meanwhile, AE Expeditions, which has recently become a B Corporation Company, is now collaborating with Eyesea, a marine pollution mapping organisation, utilising the company’s citizen science programme to get guests involved in protecting the ocean. The company has also announced a sustainable food programme for its Antarctic cruises.

“Many of our members have already announced ambitious Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) plans, which go above and beyond UN goals to outline ESG reporting; building net zero ships; investing in alternative fuels; driving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impacts,” says Akvile Marozaite, CEO of Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) which has more than 20 expedition cruise operator members.

As HX’s Chief Scientist, Dr Meraldi, says: “We have a responsibility to safeguard the places we explore. Beyond minimising our footprint, it is our duty to leave these places better than we found them.”

Top sustainable cruises

Captain Cook Cruises: Captain Cook Cruises hosts a Reef Rejuvenation programme, lead by marine biologists, on the 500-acre Tivua Private Island. A central element of this initiative is the “Buy a Coral - Build a Reef” programme that allows

guests to actively participate in the seeding and growth of the coral reef surrounding Tivua. The company also has citizen science projects on each cruise.

Star Clippers: Star Clippers has added a Blue Zone experience to its winter 24/25 Costa Rica programme. The 16-day packages include a five-night pre-cruise stay in Punta Islita, an area known for its wellbeing of residents. Passengers will connect with the local community and stay in an eco-lodge before cruising. starclippers.co.uk

Maple Leaf Adventures: Canadianbased Maple Leaf Adventures has added a BBC Planet Earth III itinerary, exploring with researchers newly documented humpback whale behaviours as part of the Desolation Sound & Fjords of BC sailing. New features include optional eco-action programmes where guests can participate in the movement to remove marine debris from the wild beaches of Haida Gwaii and the Great Bear Rainforest. mapleleafadventures.com

What’s new

New ships: Amadeus River Cruises has launched a reduced-emission hybrid vessel, Amadeus Nova, sailing a seven-night Danube Rhapsody itinerary.

Silversea’s second Nova Class ship, Silver Ray, launches in June 2024, and will be

40% more energy efficient than required international regulation.

Indonesian expedition cruise operator, SeaTrek Sailing Adventures, has expanded its series of low-impact, expert-led, smallship cruises for 2024.

In 2024 SeaDream Yacht Club will become the first luxury cruise line to retrofit its entire fleet with shore power connectivity, enabling zero emissions in ports.

Green sailings: Clean Ship certified Albatros Expeditions is introducing new voyages, including Vikings of the North Sea and Epic West Greenland & Baffin Island.

Luxury small-ship expedition company, Aqua Expeditions, offers sustainable river and sea cruises, with new sailings in the Peruvian Amazon in 2024 and East Indonesia in 2025.

Certified Biodiversity Protection Company, Aranui Cruises, offers low-impact sustainable voyages in French Polynesia.

Where to book it

A&K TRAVEL GROUP

Ecoventura has added a Galápagos Coffee & Conservation Experience to its Galápagos cruise itinerary. The sailing includes exploring Montemar’s sustainable coffee practices and learning about the farm’s role in protecting the giant tortoises.

abercrombiekent.co.uk •

AURORA, PORT LEOPOLD, CANADA

Accessible Cruising In focus...

From accessible cabins to wheelchair-friendly excursions, cruise lines are adapting to be more inclusive. Julie Baxter goes below deck

Accurate information is key to giving disabled travellers the confidence they need to book a holiday, and ocean cruise lines are increasingly ahead of the game on this. Most have dedicated areas on their websites detailing accessibility features and relevant refits, and many newer ships are specifically designed with disabilities in mind. Detailing a client’s specific needs and double checking cabin locations, routes to facilities and onboard support as well as suitable excursions are crucial to sales success.

All at sea...

Leading cruise lines such as MSC Cruises, P&O, Carnival Cruises, Saga Cruises and Hurtigruten all offer accessible cabins, fitted out especially for guests with disabilities and many also detail partially-adapted and ‘ambulant accessible’ cabins that suit those with limited mobility. Ship adaptions can also include tactile guides, accessible public toilets, ramps, elevators and induction loops and some ships welcome guide dogs.

Silversea is among those offering speciallydesigned suites with wider doors, and paths suited to wheelchairs/scooters. Its newest ship, Silver Nova, has six accessible suites plus toilets, a beauty salon and library all with wheelchair access. The Venetian Lounge, restaurants and bars offer wheelchair seating. For those with visual impairments, there is braille assistance on public signage.

Ambassador Cruise Line offers no-fly cruises for the over 50s and has departures from seven regional ports. It has a partnership with Mobility at Sea, a familyowned business that provides products and hireable equipment to assist guests.

Beyond mobility...

Carnival Cruises claims to be the first cruise line to be certified “sensory inclusive” by

KultureCity, a non-profit dedicated to accessibility and inclusion for individuals with sensory and invisible disabilities. Through this partnership all guest-facing crew have been trained to understand sensory/cognitive needs, and Sensory Bags are offered containing items to calm, relax and manage sensory overload, including comfortable noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, a visual feeling thermometer, and a KultureCity VIP lanyard to help the staff easily identify such guests.

More broadly, Carnival ship modifications aim to make navigation easier and include accessible elevators, tactile controls at wheelchair level and audible signals for the sight impaired. There are accessible tables in the main dining areas, on the Lido Deck and at other restaurant venues. Pool lifts are available on many of its ships.

Accessible excursions...

Remember too it is not just about the ships. Accessible shore activities are also important and increasingly available. Silversea, for example, offers dedicated ‘Wheelchair Accessible Excursions’ on some of its Europe and US itineraries. These are operated by wheelchair-accessible vehicles and include

only fully-accessible venues such as UNESCO sites in Croatia, Italy’s Pompeii ruins, Valletta and Mdina in Malta, and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain.

Meanwhile, Carnival offers sign language interpreters on request, on a shared basis, for cruises out of the US. •

ACCESSIBILITY IN ACTION

Cruise with care: Limitless Travel offers a range of cruise itineraries for those with disabilities which it supports with professional carers on each departure. go.limitlesstravel.org

Supportive service: Saga ships are fully accessible and all include 10 disabled-friendly cabins. Guests are asked to declare any disabilities to ensure maximum support onboard.

Active ashore: Silversea offers low-activity tours specially-designed for those requiring mobility assistance in almost every port it calls at.

CRUISE SHIPS ARE BECOMING MORE ACCESSIBLE

Cultural

Cologne

With a new direct flight from London-Heathrow with British Airways, now is the ideal time to sell the small city charms of Cologne, Germany

Why sell it

Considered the cultural hub of the region, Cologne is a 2,000-year-old city on the banks of the Rhine River. Famed for its Gothic architecture, reconstructed old town and its UNESCO World Heritage cathedral, Cologne is the perfect option for travellers seeking history and culture.

Now that British Airways is running daily services between Cologne and LondonHeathrow, the city is easily accessible within one-and-a-half hours’ flight time via Cologne Bonn Airport – with only a 12-minute train ride to the city centre.

This summer, from June to July, Cologne will be one of 10 host cities of the UEFA Euros 2024 and the sporting event presents an opportunity for the city to showcase its diverse and colourful cultural scene.

Who to sell to

Cologne is targeting two distinct groups which it is referring to as the ‘Expeditive Milieu’ and ‘Post-Materialist Milieu’. The Expeditive Milieu are a digital-first group searching for unconventional and local experiences, so will enjoy the tolerant, sociable lifestyle and urban art scene.

The Post-Materialist Milieu are big advocates for sustainability, inclusion and diversity and will appreciate the city’s

cultural offering including its museums and galleries plus its festivals and Carnival.

With a focus on diversity, Cologne prides itself on celebrating individuality and inclusivity and is welcoming to all. The annual Cologne Pride in July features a programme that is spread out over two weeks, with a three-day Christopher Street

Day street fair at the heart. It is the biggest Pride parade in Europe.

There’s plenty for families too, such as the Chocolate Museum or the city zoo, while foodies will delight in over 3,000 different restaurants – of which 12 are Michelin starrated – from home-style cooking and vegan cafes to cuisine ranging from Italian to Ethiopian to Vietnamese. High-quality food markets as well as food-themed museums celebrating mustard and chocolate round off the culinary offer of Cologne.

Couples, or friends, can create a lasting memory at the southern railing of Hohenzollern Bridge, where more than 300,000 ‘love locks’ have been attached with engraved names. Afterwards, throw the key into the Rhine as a sign of eternal love.

Sports fans will decend on Cologne’s RheinEnergieStadion for the UEFA Euro 2024 games, with matches played from June 15-June 30. A ‘Fan Zone Heumarkt’ in the

SPONSORED FEATURE

HOHENZOLLERN BRIDGE AND COLOGNE CATHEDRAL

“Fans of the German Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher can peruse exhibits from his personal collection such as original helmets and racing cars”

Old Town will broadcast the games and a ‘Football Experience’ will encourage children to participate in friendly tournaments.

What to book

There are plenty of attractions unique to the city, such as the Chocolate Museum, Cologne Cable Car, and the Michael Schumacher Private Collection. Fans of the German Formula 1 champion can peruse exhibits from his personal collection such as original helmets and racing overalls, plus seven racing cars in which he became World Champion, as well as his trophies.

Or sample the world-famous Cologne fragrance brand 4711 at the flagship store with the chance to splash yourself at a fragrance fountain with ́’Real Cologne Water’. Create your own fragrance, take museum tours about the history of fragrance or experience the scent

menu- a special four-course dinner with corresponding scented oils.

Museum Ludwig is a highlight for art buffs, with the biggest Pop Art collection outside the USA and the world’s thirdlargest Picasso collection. It also houses an extensive collection of Russian Avant Garde paintings. Or those who prefer street art can head to the Ehrenfeld and the Belgian Quarter. A helpful Urban Art Map provides a digital overview of all murals and other urban art in the individual city districts.

When to sell

As with many European cities, Cologne is considered a year-round destination due to its temperate climate. Temperatures average lows of one degree in the winter and highs of 24 degrees in the summer.

In the colder months the city’s festive Christmas markets draw in crowds looking for traditional stalls, twinkling lights and warming food and drink. Visitors flock to the Christmas market around the Cathedral, the Market of Hearts, and the Christmas Ferris wheel at the Chocolate Museum for festive fun, plus there’s nativity scenes, ice skating and Santa’s grotto.

In summer, take a boat trip along the Rhine with dinner, brunch and parties also offered onboard some sailings. The seasonal highlight is the naturstrom openair summer cinema, a film screening on the marina steps in the Rheinauhafen district. Movies start as the sun goes down.

How to sell

With its pedestrianised shopping district, stretching riverside pathways, and easily walkable districts, Cologne is great for a short city break over a long weekend of sightseeing. Highlight that there’s plenty to explore, with a repertoire of events throughout the entire year.

Cologne is also a popular stop on a Rhine river cruise with some sailings incorporating annual celebrations such as ART COLOGNE, the Cologne Carnival, or the famous Cologne Christmas markets. •

Book it with... British Airways

BA offers a two-night flight and accommodation package from £179pp in January 2025. This includes staying at the four-star Mercure Koln West and return flights to Heathrow with checked baggage. britishairways.com

MARINA RHEINAUHAFEN ZOLLHAUS

MUSEUM OF APPLIED ART

COLOGNE GRÜNGÜRTEL

DIETER

/ My Journey

Awesome,

Dude!

Sally Parker channels her inner cowgirl at Circle Z Ranch in Arizona and quickly realises that ranch life is more than just horseplay

"Now let’s herd just the brown calves back into the pen," says our Wrangler, Jasper, making it sound easy. A dozen black and brown calves, with six of us on horseback trying to get them to do what we want, is a recipe for bovine chaos. We target a stray and gently nudge him towards the paddock, but a couple of calves sneak past us, escaping the main group and, before we know it, the rest follow. We fail miserably but it’s a lot of fun and we certainly feel like cowboys. Yee-haw!

I’m staying at Circle Z Ranch, an allinclusive Dude ranch nestled in Southern Arizona’s Sky Islands, as part of a wider trip across the state. A dude ranch since 1926, Circle Z is the oldest continuously operating ranch in Arizona and the private railway cars of some of the first guests are still on a siding by Patagonia station. Guests have the chance to live out cowboy fantasies among its thousands of acres of grassland and mountain ranges, which have been used as the setting for many Western movies.

We arrive on a Sunday, the main check-in day, with an option to stay for a four-day 'Ranch Sampler' or a seven-day Total Ranch Experience. On the first evening there is an orientation for new hands (that’s us!), though there are many returning guests.

The cow herding was one of our postlunch Gymkhana games. First, we take our horses around a series of three barrels, right-left-left, in a loop-the-loop fashion. Next is a slalom style pole-bending course. I’ve been "riding" my horse Pestana all morning but still have little control. He can

tell I’m a novice and has been very kind to me by just following the other horses. Now, suddenly, we are on our own and I need to get the horse to go where I want. After a shaky first attempt (where Pestana decides one barrel is enough, and trots back to the start with me hanging on for dear life) things improve rapidly and we slowly but surely make our way around both courses. By the time we get to the cow herding, I’m feeling more confident and even manage a trot or two, and a bit of a lope (a Western style canter).

Saddle up

Riding is the main focus, but every day at Circle Z is different, with morning, afternoon and all-day rides, picnics, valley rides and rodeo. The map shows 52 different trails with names such as Hohokam Loop, Muffies Way and Bathtub, a total of 200 miles, across 8,000 acres. Mostly, we channel our inner cowboy as our horses make their careful way along the rough and rocky undulating trails, squeezing past mesquite, oak, eucalyptus, grasses and shrubs, with stunning views of mountains, ridges and valleys stretching for miles. Sometimes we find ourselves on dappled paths through the trees or crossing the creek.

We quickly settle into the ranch routine: after breakfast in The Lodge I head to Los Corrales to groom Pestana. Foreman Miko selects the right horse for each person so I’m pleased that Pestana and I are becoming a team. There’s a great atmosphere, with wranglers preparing for the day ahead and the horses enjoying a brush down.

Circle Z is the oldest continuously operating ranch in Arizona

We meet at Los Corrales for the morning ride and, if we’re not out for the day, have lunch back at the ranch, before heading out again in the afternoon. Guests meet in The Cantina early evening for Hors d'oeuvres and to catch up on the day's events, before an old farm bell announces that our hearty dinner is ready.

the bonfire. There's also a games room, a swimming pool, Corn Hole, basketball, volley-ball and tennis court, which doubles for pickle ball.

A hike to the top of nearby Sanford Butte stretches the legs after a day in the saddle. The reward is a panoramic view north over the Santa Rita Mountains, west to the Santa Cruz Valley, east to the Patagonia mountains and south to Mexico.

Wrangler, Alice tells me she has been coming back for 10 years as the horses are so well looked after. The current count is 100, a quarter of which are bred, raised, and trained on the ranch. Around twothirds are guest horses, the rest are in training ensuring there is always a rotation.

Once their working life is over, the horses enjoy the retirement pasture, though some sneak back in to rejoin the herd.

Tony, the donkey is one of the gang and nobody seems to know where he came from. He hangs out with his horse buddies, trying to get into areas he’s not allowed and doing his best to persuade a Wrangler to give him a bag of grain.

Wranglers understand each horse’s personality and the equine chums they like to spend time with. While the horses work hard during the winter months, they are let out to roam in the summer, when it’s too hot for riding and the ranch is closed.

On the hoof

Non-horsey activities include a nature walk, yoga, Horseshoe Art and a sing-along

Evidence of prehistoric farming and pottery making settlements can be discovered along the creek. History buffs can also check out the empty rail bed of the 1881 New Mexico and Arizona Railroad, now one of the riding trails.

Though many people travel with partners, family (children are welcome) or friends, it is a great place and holiday for solo travellers, with its many social meals and line-up of group activities.

The ranch doesn’t have a license to serve alcohol, so guests take their own, but everything else is included in your stay, even the riding lessons.

It's hard to say goodbye to thirdgeneration owners Rick and Diana, and even more so to my four-legged companion Pestana, but I certainly won't be hanging up my riding boots anytime soon. •

Book it with... Circle Z

A four-day Ranch Sampler package is priced from $1,884 for a standard room or $1,954 for a suite. Package includes lodging, meals, horseback riding, all scheduled activities, tax and gratuity. Flights not included. circlez.com

around

High riser

Whether for budget-friendly breaks or high-end holidays, Malaysia is a strong contender in the SouthEast Asia market, says Charlotte Flach

PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS

The sun is a hazy semicircle, kissing the horizon of the ocean as a halo of pinks, oranges and indigos blaze in its aura. All is quiet aside from the chirping cicadas and the distant lull of waves breaking lazily on the beach far, far below.

I am on top of a steep incline, gazing across the rainforests, hills and distant townscapes of Malaysian Borneo, as sunrise breaks. Although I struggled to prise myself out of bed at 5am, to trek uphill, while braving insistent mosquitos and oppressive humidity, the view is a worthy reward.

As I sip hot coffee and tuck into a pastry, a squeal of delight signals that the couple who joined us on our trek is now engaged. Once the daylight is complete, our nature walk continues as we descend, spotting snakes, tarantulas and indigenous foliage. Our lively guide is clearly attuned to early starts, as he emphatically points them all out, keeping us from thinking about weary legs.

I’m at Rasa Ria, a Shangri-La hotel that prides itself on nature experiences, something which Malaysian Borneo is famously extraordinary for, spending a few days immersing myself in the plethora of culture and wildlife on offer.

Other standout experiences on the trip are a visit to Sepilok Orangutan sanctuary, where these wild creatures can safely raise young and take advantage of the daily feedings. Humans can watch these from viewing platforms for a close up, a suitably unobtrusive way to see these fascinating creatures, whose social behaviours bear so much resemblance to ours.

Or there’s the traditional Batik painting, where hot wax is used to draw patterns on canvas, and special watercolour paints are applied to create a vibrant and distinctive finish. The hotel offers a ‘sip and paint’ style experience where prosecco and gourmet snacks are served as you create a beautiful memento for yourself or a loved one back at home. And on a trip to Malaysia, there is so much that you’ll want to remember.

Melting pot

Although ideal for couples wanting to cement engagements or create memories on their honeymoon, Malaysia is a great choice for pretty much any type of traveller, says Nandita Patel, Senior

Product Executive at Audley Travel.

“The benefit of Malaysia is that it offers something for everyone. We offer selfdrive tours for clients wanting to explore independently, and it’s great for families and multi-gen groups, as you have the mix of a cosmopolitan city like Kuala Lumpur; to local culture, arts and hawker food markets in Penang; wildlife activity in Borneo, and a variety of beaches on Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.”

Now is a great time to sell Malaysia, with British Airways launching a new direct route to Kuala Lumpur from November 2024 onwards. Additionally agents can sell ahead as 2026 promises to be an exciting year for the destination, as it gears up for Visit Malaysia Year.

“Visit Malaysia Year 2026 is a national initiative to revitalise the country’s tourism industry following the global pandemic,” says Siti Syazalena Amir Sharifuddin, Deputy Director, Tourism Malaysia London. “The campaign will promote Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage, stunning natural beauty, and unique experiences to travellers worldwide.”

The appeal for travellers is clear, with Malaysia welcoming 2.3 million international visitors in December 2023, marking a substantial 36% increase from the previous month and “positioning the country as a formidable contender in the tourism landscape, closely trailing Thailand in arrivals,” adds Sharifuddin.

The destination is positioning itself as an alternative to other countries in South-East Asia. Compared to many of its neighbours, Malaysia “is a great option for all budgets, offering charming characterful hotels to high end luxury,” says Patel.

As travel behaviours continue to evolve post-pandemic, holiday makers are

DATAI BEACH, LANGKAWI

CHINATOWN, KUALA LUMPUR

DUSKY LEAF MONKEY, LANGKAWI

PENANG TAMAN NEGARA

NIGHT MARKET, SIBU,

SMITHORE

becoming more interested in connecting with local people and culture, an area in which Malaysia has a lot to offer. “The rich diversity of Malaysia through culture, gastronomy, nature and landscape gives leisure travellers a rare opportunity to experience and discover local lifestyle and culture complemented by the abundance of eco-nature that Malaysia is well renowned for,” says Sharifuddin. As a melting pot of numerous cultures, including Chinese, Malay, Hindu, Singaporean, Indonesian and more, there are so many ways to connect with local flavours in Malaysia, adds Patel. “It also offers multicultural sites, street food and history, with Portuguese heritage in Malacca and British heritage in Penang, as well as wildlife and indigenous cultures in Borneo, birding in Cameron Highlands, to some of the best beaches across the East Coast, Langkawi and Pangkor Laut.”

What’s new

Park life: The Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, the first Park Hyatt property in Malaysia, will open in the last quarter of this year. Located on the top 17 floors of Merdeka 118, Asia Pacific’s tallest skyscraper, it will offer 252 rooms, including 27 suites. hyatt.com

Luxury living: Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur is scheduled to open in 2024, featuring 279 suites. The luxury hotel will also feature five distinctive restaurants, including Peacock Alley, the iconic lounge and bar synonymous with the Waldorf Astoria brand, and a state-of-the-art wellness centre. hilton.com

Seasonal journeys: Returning after a hiatus due to COVID-19, the Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train, is running again. The operator has added two new seasonal journeys: the Essence of Malaysia (November to February) and Wild Malaysia (March to October). Departing from Singapore’s Woodlands station, it will stop at destinations such as Penang, Langkawi, and, for the first time, Taman Negara National Park. belmond.com

Sustainable solutions: Tourism Malaysia has introduced two new packages; the “Lembah Lenggong Archaeotourism & Geopark” and the “Dive Into The Unimaginable.” These new tours aim to preserve local heritage and enhance economic development through sustainable tourism. malaysia.travel

Top experiences for 2024

Immersive nature: Shangri-La Rasa Ria is inviting guests to get ‘Closer to the Nature of Sabah’ with its new threenight holiday package. The itinerary includes a buffet breakfast, serving local dishes from Sabah; Tembara Sunset River Cruise and Firefly Watching; and a day trip to Mount Kinabalu National Park. The package starts from £230 per night, based on a three-night stay. shangri-la.com/en

Chef series: The Datai Langkawi’s 2024 edition of The Chef Series will present menus curated by a selection of critically acclaimed chefs with cuisines spanning Asia and Europe. Each chef will create a bespoke menu using local Langkawi produce and organic ingredients from the resort’s zero-waste Permaculture Garden. thedatai.com

Canopy walk: See the rich ecosystem of Pahang from above on The Tree Top Walk Perhilitan Sungai Relau. The mix of platforms, bridges, and towers are a new reason to come and visit this lesser-known part of Taman Negara. Besides the observation towers, most of the lower platforms are wheelchair accessible. wildlife.gov.my

Going underground: For those keen to explore Malaysian Borneo’s fascinating caves, Sarawak features six,

“Malaysia

offers a mix of cosmopolitan cities like Kuala Lumpur, hawker food markets in Penang; wildlife activity in Borneo and beaches on Peninsular Malaysia”

Nandita Patel, Audley Travel

each with its own unique characteristics. Choose from The Magical Fairy Cave; Deer Cave, home to a million bats; Lang Cave with its jellyfish; Clear Water Cave; Wind Cave with its beautiful cavern architecture, and Niah Cave, great for birdwatchers. sarawaktourism.com

Where to book it

AUDLEY TRAVEL

A 14-day tailormade Malaysia trip costs from £3,050pp. The itinerary includes three nights in Kuala Lumpur, two nights in Malacca, two nights at Endau Rompin National Park and five nights at Anantara Desaru Coast. Price includes flights, accommodation, transfers and excursions. audleytravel.com •

REDANG ISLAND

SEMENGGOH WILDLIFE CENTRE, KUCHING

NIAH NATIONAL PARK

Equestrian experiences in

Kentucky

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Kentucky Derby we suggest the perfect equine-themed Kentucky itinerary

Kentucky will host a series of celebrations and experiences ahead of the 150th Kentucky Derby in May. The event, which is the USA’s longest continually run sporting occasion, is expected to bring in record numbers to Churchill Downs Racecourse near Louisville. Here’s how visitors can make the most of a trip to the ‘Horse Capital of the World’.

Stay in a horse hotel

From hotels born out of bets to country farm stays, there’s plenty of horse-themed accommodation to kick start the Derby fun. Hotel Covington in Northern Kentucky was transformed into a hotel following a bet on a longshot – a horse named Knowledge. Alternatively there’s a number of working horse farms to stay at including Clarion Hotel Lexington and Nicura Ranch, where guests can interact with the horses.

It all starts at a maternity farm

Visitors can see where the journey of a thoroughbred begins at the Hermitage Farm in Oldham County near Louisville. A tour of the farm teaches guests about the early life of a racehorse and the inner workings of an operational thoroughbred nursery. See dams grazing with their foals, some of which may some day go on to become Derby winners. It is one of the few farms to raise a Triple Crown winner (the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness).

Watch a Derby race

A day at the Derby is a unique Kentucky experience. Be part of 180,000 cheering spectators as the top thoroughbreds compete for the winning title. It’s not all about the horses though. Start the day with a Derby brunch complete with a bourbon-based mint julep, considered the ‘official drink of the Kentucky Derby’, before donning an extravagant hat and heading to the famous Churchill Downs stadium. Experience the electric atmosphere of a day at the races and return for a guided Backside tour and a visit to the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Visit a retirement home

Following a successful racing career, many thoroughbreds will live out their later years in a retirement farm such as Chestnut Hill near Louisville or Old Friends near Lexington. Visitors can tour the pastures and relive the glory days of these former champions. visithorsecountry.com is a one-stop-shop for equine experiences in Kentucky •

CHURCHILL DOWNS, KENTUCKY DERBY

HERMITAGE FARM

MINT JULEP ON RACE DAY

HORSE FARM IN LEXINGTON

The land of

fire and ice

Adventure and nature at its rawest is guaranteed in Iceland, as recent volcanic activity illustrates. April Waterston gives agents the low-down on advice to pass on to nervous clients

Iceland’s reputation as the land of fire and ice is not unwarranted, with the past few months offering a dramatic display of volcanic eruptions in the Reykjanes peninsula.

Many of Iceland’s key landmarks are centered around geothermal activity – from the famous Blue Lagoon and other hot springs to the Gulfoss geyser or the Kerid crater. Meanwhile, the Diamond Beach and glaciers like those found in Vatnajökull National Park offer a stark contrast, with glistening blue ice part of their appeal.

Recent coverage of volcanic activity near Grindavik may make it appear like a lessthan-ideal holiday destination, but Iceland’s other-wordly landscapes are putting on a dazzling display and Icelanders are well versed in living alongside Mother Nature.

“A beautiful thing about Iceland is that you can experience all four seasons in one day,” says Dennis Jung, General Manager of the Reykjavik Edition Hotel. “Even if the weather’s ‘bad’, it has a mystical feel.”

As a local, Dennis isn’t overly concerned about the volcanic activity. “There’s safety measures in place; Iceland has magma specialists and volcanic professors regularly evaluating the situation, and a massive setup of rescue teams. I have never had a day where I don’t feel safe.”

Safety first

Volcanic activity in Iceland is expected to remain volatile for some time. While this should not discourage agents from selling holidays to the region, clients may seek additional reassurance and support before and during their trips. It is important that both travellers and agents are prepared for all eventualities.

“Traveling near areas with active or potentially active volcanoes poses unique challenges, especially when an eruption occurs,” says Alvaro Iturmendi, a Confused.com travel insurance expert. Volcanic eruptions can impact air travel, lead to evacuations, and affect local

infrastructure. As such, Alvaro recommends the following:

Stay informed: Regularly check updates from local authorities regarding the volcanic activity. This information can change rapidly, so staying on top of the news is crucial. The Icelandic Met Office is a reliable source of information. vedur.is

Be flexible: Volcanic activity can be unpredictable. Be prepared to adjust plans and follow the advice of local authorities. Where possible, book flexible travel options that allow changes or cancellations. This may come at an extra cost but can provide peace of mind.

Local infrastructure: Be aware that eruptions can affect local infrastructure, including roads, water supplies, and power. Recommend to clients that they consider a back-up plan for accommodation and carry additional supplies.

Check travel insurance: Encourage your clients to check that their travel insurance covers natural disaster-related disruptions.

SELJALANDSFOSS

Some policies may exclude such events.

Tourists to Iceland can feel confident that their welfare is in hand. “The safety of our guests and staff is our top priority at Blue Lagoon Iceland,” says Bryndís Björnsdóttir, Director of Sales & Business Development, Blue Lagoon, one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions which just so happens to be located very close to the currently active volcano.

“Despite the seismic events over the course of the last few months, all our facilities remain in good condition and are surrounded by protective barriers designed to safeguard Blue Lagoon’s vital infrastructure against potential lava flows.”

Visitors to the Blue Lagoon receive prearrival emails with information on the current situation and the evacuation actions that might need to be taken during their visit. Should further eruptions occur and tickets need to be cancelled or postponed, the team are happy to facilitate this. “I would recommend travel agents

continue to speak to our sales team and read our website and information letters to remain up to date,” Bryndís adds.

What’s new

Solar surge: Many travellers visit Iceland with hopes of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights. The 2024 season is slated to be the best year for solar activity in over a decade, as the sun reaches its peak of its 11-year solar activity cycle. vedur.is

Access to Akureyri: easyJet is operating a new winter flight direct from London Gatwick to Akureyri. Nicknamed the ‘Capital of North Iceland’, Akureyri is in close proximity to ski resorts and home to Bjórböðin, a spa where visitors can bathe in beer. easyjet.com

Diamond Circle: The Golden Circle is something of a rite of passage for travellers to Iceland, but with increased connectivity to the north of the island the Diamond Circle is gaining in popularity. Highlights include the Gudafoss waterfall and Lake

Book it with... Regent Holidays

A South Iceland Winter Fly-Drive five-day tour starts at £860pp, including flights, car hire, and four nights’ accommodation. regent-holidays.co.uk

Myvat. trailfinders.com

Luxury lifestyle: The Reykjavik Edition positions itself as the first ‘luxury lifestyle’ hotel in Iceland. Located in the heart of the capital city overlooking the Old Harbour, the Reykjavik Edition – with its Michelin-starred restaurant and quintessentially Nordic design – serves as an ideal base to bookend an Icelandic trip in the country’s capital. editionhotels.com

Refreshed experiences: The Blue Lagoon is set to unveil enhancements to its experience and in May will launch a new dining concept at its Michelin recommended restaurant, Moss. bluelagoon.com

Hvammsvík hot springs: Located a 45-minute drive from Reykjavik, Hvammsvík offers a unique bathing experience in the Icelandic wilderness. The eight hot springs are filled by a geothermal well and the Atlantic Ocean with the tides. Additional experiences include steam baths, Wim Hof breathwork sessions and hiking. hvammsvík.com •

KERID CRATER

HVAMMSVIK HOT SPRINGS

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Musical

Louisiana

From larger-than-life Jazz festivals to intimate live music sessions, Louisiana has a full schedule to celebrate its Year of Music, says Jessica Alexander

Why sell it

Explore Louisiana is highlighting its impressive line-up of musical offerings as part of its Year of Music initiative. A plank of a wider “My Louisiana” campaign, the initiative highlights the different music genres that can be experienced across the state, which include Cajun, Zydeco as well as Jazz and Blues. A dedicated Music Trail has been created which guides visitors to music venues and historic music sites.

What to sell

Visitors can enjoy over 400 music festivals from Jazz Fest in New Orleans to Lafayette’s Festival International de Louisiane which celebrates French heritage.

Country fans can visit Tim Mcgraw’s birthplace in Delhi, Pop fans will enjoy the Britney Spears Museum in her hometown of Kentwood and Jazz enthusiasts will relish seeing a performance in the Dew Drop Social & Benevolent Jazz Hall in Mandeville, dating back to 1895.

Other highlights include a visit to the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, said to be the launchpad for stars including Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, and Sea-Saint Studios in New Orleans where Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart and Elvis Costello all recorded.

Who to sell to

Although Louisiana is known as the birthplace of Jazz, music-lovers will hear Blues, Country, Rock, Soul, Pop, Gospel, Rap, and plenty of other genres at venues across the state.

Festivals such as Mardi Gras may be best suited to couples and groups, but there are family-friendly music events including the Tunica Hills music festival in St Francisville,

the Mudbug festival in Shreveport and Live After Five in Baton Rouge.

How to sell it

A self-drive road-trip is a great way to take in what the state has to offer. Start by embracing the party scene in New Orleans, perhaps incorporating Mardi Gras or the Jazz Fest, then venture to Baton Rouge, an hour from New Orleans, for its great live music scene, the city is also hailed as the Blues Capital. Stop next at Lafayette, an hour from Baton Rouge, for some cultural Cajun and Zydeco music and then to Shreveport to follow in the footsteps of Elvis before circling back to the small town charm of St Francisville for folk and country music. •

Book it with...North America Travel Service NATS offers a seven-night stay in January 2025 at the Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans from £1,932pp based on two sharing a Traditional King room. Price includes direct British Airways flights from Heathrow. northamericatravelservice.co.uk

JAZZ BAND AT MARDI GRAS, NEW ORLEANS

ACADIAN FESTIVAL, LAFAYETTE

BAYOU BARN, MARRERO

Music attractions in

Louisiana

You don’t have to wander too far to find live music in Louisiana. Here are some special venues that will impress any music lover, says Jessica Alexander

Second Line After Five, Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge’s largest and longestrunning free concert series, Live After Five, will debut a Second-Line parade, led by the Brasshearts brass band. The band will weave its way from Rhorer Plaza after any LA5 concert, down Third Street and conclude at Boudreaux and Thibodeaux, the official after party venue. The spring 2024 line-up includes concerts on May 10, 17 and 24. visitbatonrouge.com

Blue Moon Saloon, Lafayette

It may look like a typical southern home from the outside, but the Blue Moon Saloon is a thriving honky tonk that celebrates Cajun and Roots music. Every Wednesday there’s an acoustic Cajun jam on the back porch, while Zydeco, Blues, Funk or Rock ‘n’ Roll spills out ThursdaySaturday. Locals and visitors alike are invited to enjoy a beer and maybe some two-stepping. lafayettetravel.com

Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall, Mandeville

Considered to be the ‘world’s oldest unaltered rural Jazz hall’, The Dew Drop Jazz Hall in Mandeville looks much the same as it would have done when it opened in 1895. Take a seat on a church pew and be transported back to a time when African-American residents started playing the first sounds of Jazz. The hall hosts weekly Saturday night concerts. explorelouisiana.com

The Spotted Cat, New Orleans

When on the hunt for a Jazz club in New Orleans look no further than The Spotted Cat. Bold, brassy sounds fill the room every night, transporting visitors back to New Orleans in the 1920s. A staple on Frenchman Street, the venue is the place to experience traditional Jazz music and has a lively dance floor. Local bands queue up to play in this intimate venue. neworleans.com

Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport

Built in the 1920s, this Art Deco building saw a certain Elvis Presley make his performance debut on this very stage. The Louisiana Hayride introduced talented singers, songwriters and performers such as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Johnny Horton, who all performed at Shreveport’s Municipal Auditorium. It still hosts live local concerts. visitshreveportbossier.org

Tunica Hills Music Festival, St. Francisville

Tunica Hills Music Festival is an annual weekend event in March which showcases regional bands on stages across St. Francisville. Playing a mixture of Country and Folk, the festival invites families and friends to bring blankets, chairs, coolers and instruments, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and even ‘jam’ with the local musicians. visitstfrancisvillela.com

On the move in

Tanzania

Jessica Alexander experiences some creature comforts at Bushtops Safari Camps as she crosses the Serengeti in search of the Great Migration

The midnight Serengeti orchestra has a new lead vocalist tonight – the elephant. I listen intently from my bed to the sound of trees snapping and then a tell-tale trumpet that is much more abrupt than last night’s soothing hippo grunting! The noise seems so close that I’m convinced I can hear deep breathing and the flapping of ears right outside.

Chances are this group of nellies is far from camp but the temptation to sneak a peek is too much. I grab the torch, unzip the canvas door and tentatively step out onto the porch. Aiming the light towards the endless plains before me, I catch the white flash of a tusk and watch as a mother elephant strides through our back garden followed by her calf! Heart racing, I scan the trees and realise I’m surrounded by the whole herd as they graze their way through the camp, stripping trees as they go.

The next day there is evidence of our midnight visitors throughout camp and it’s not long before we catch up with them. “They like spending time here because they know they are safe from predators,” says our guide Deus. That seems like a smart move, I think, as we head off in search of a lion.

Luxury in the wild

The camp in question is Serengeti Bushtops, home to 12 luxury lodges and each with its own private deck, hot tub, indoor/ outdoor shower and an unobstructed view of the Serengeti. I’m lucky enough to be spending my honeymoon in this bucketlist destination and Philip and his team

have pulled out all of the stops. First there was the decorated bed with personalised message upon arrival, not forgetting our own lion (the toy kind) to welcome us to the Serengeti; the next night, following a full-day game drive (and first real lion sighting) we were whisked to Simba's Rock, a giant boulder perfectly angled towards the sunset, to enjoy sundowners.

However, the ultimate honeymoon experiences is a dip in the private hot tub on the wraparound decking. With bubbles both in the water and in my glass, I recap on a day spent spotting families of warthog scuttling through the long grass, watching hippo heads pop up like a whack-a-mole in the Mara River, and being in absolute awe as our spotter Godfrey, from the nearby Kuria tribe, practically sniffs out two male lions hidden from view under a bush.

We hadn't seen another vehicle all dayit’s as if we were starring in our very own wildlife documentary.

Having these intimate encounters is largely due to the fact that during the months of December-April, the Great Migration – the annual journey of two million wildebeest – gathers in the south of Tanzania for birthing season.

At this time it is considered the low season in the north of the Serengeti and is the perfect time to view wildlife without the slew of competing safari vehicles that can be common in some African game reserves. Days are spent creeping around rocks, a favourite sunbathing spot for leopards, stopping for a buffet lunch with a view of zebra grazing by the river and learning

Low season in the north is the perfect time to view wildlife without the crowds

about life in the Kuria tribe. Godfrey tells me how his tribe once hunted the big cats to protect livestock and villagers, but tourism has created new prospects for local people. They now use those same tracking skills to monitor protected species.

features a full bar, wine racks and chandeliers, all of which are packed away and re-erected every six months!

Heading out in search of two million wildebeest may sound like an easy task, but covering an area of 12,000 square miles requires some impressive tracking skills.

He also tells me his grandfather has five wives, which is not uncommon – although he thinks one will be enough for him!

Upon returning to the camp, we head for a dip in the open-air pool – and find a hive of animal activity. We disturb a hyrax (a small mammal) which seems appalled by the intrusion.

As the sun goes down, guests and rangers are invited to gather around a campfire and swap stories from the day’s safari – and get a quick education of the constellations from Deus – before enjoying a fine dining experience at the open-sided restaurant, which serves traditional Tanzanian fare as well as à la carte gourmet dining.

On the move

We bid farewell to one camp and head south on a tiny eight-seater plane to Roving Bushtops, where we are welcomed by Harrison and his team. Quite astonishingly, this camp moves every six months to follow migration patterns. This is no small feat considering that each of the eight tents has a fully-fitted bathroom with hot shower, an outdoor bathtub and all the luxury amenities of a five-star hotel room, including WIFI. The onsite restaurant

An hour into our game drive the landscape finally empties and the horizon turns black as we get closer. Suddenly, we are in the thick of the Great Migration, wildebeest honking all around us, some already with young, and I’m surprised to see just as many zebra mixed in.

“The zebra are the smart ones, they remember where they need to go and the wildebeest follow them,” says our new guide Sadiqui. “Sometimes it can take wildebeest the whole day to build up the courage to cross the Mara River, but once one goes, they all go.”

It is here, close to the migration, where we see most of the big cat activity. From observing prides of lions lounging around after a big hunt to spotting a leopard feasting on an impala up a tree – it's graphic but we can’t help but watch!

It’s the circle of life, after all. •

Book it with... Knighton Reeve

A 10-night Serengeti Safari and Zanzibar Beach Honeymoon package in March 2025 costs from £13,499pp including one night B&B at the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel, three nights FB at Serengeti Bushtops and two nights at Roving Bushtops, followed by four nights HB at White Sands Villas in Zanzibar. This includes all flights and transfers. africa@knightonreeve.co.uk

Modern family

Tracey Davies looks at how agents can create seamless packages for families large and small

Family holidays have changed over the years. Long gone are rainsoaked camping trips to Wales –now families are considering all-inclusive resorts in Mauritius or sailing holidays around Croatia.

From single-parent families, blended families and those living in multigenerational situations, a modern family now has different needs and requirements from their annual summer holiday, and this is where agents can win. Whether your clients are looking for an easy all-inclusive holiday with teeny tots or a high-energy action trip with teenagers, they will benefit from an agent’s expert knowledge.

Going solo

Family holidays are often designed to cater for the nuclear ‘two-parents-two-kids’ unit, which can be frustrating for single parent families and those who don’t fit that mould. According to Gingerbread, the charity that supports single-parent families, there are over 1.8 million single parents with

dependent children...and they are very much in need of a holiday!

“When finding the right option for single parents, knowing when there are no single supplements is key and can significantly help with budgeting,” says Kelly Cookes, Chief Commercial Officer of The Advantage Travel Partnership.

EasyJet Holidays offer dedicated single parent family holidays that feature kids’ clubs, children’s pools and airport shuttle services. Plus, until September 30, 2024 there’s a promotion of up to £100 off one adult breaks based on one adult and children up to the age of 12.

When considering a family holiday, many parents focus on entertaining the children, but it’s important to prioritise everyone’s needs whether it’s free kids’ clubs, local excursions or all-inclusive packages.

“Agents need to understand what the parent is looking for when they’re booking a holiday, whether they want to meet and socialise with other parents or go somewhere where they can spend quality

time with their children,” says Lisa Balsom, Director of Sales & Marketing UK, Ireland & Scandinavia for Sunlife.

It’s worth considering smaller or more intimate properties when booking holidays for single parent families.

“I would recommend travelling to either one of our family-friendly hotels –particularly the smaller ones such as Bella Mare in Corfu or GK Beach in Crete,” says Hannah Naylor-Vane, Head of Trade Sales at Simpson Travel. “There are free kids’ clubs at both this summer, making it easier for children to make friends and adults to meet other parents. And our local concierges are on hand for support so that single parents don’t need to feel ‘on their own’ when travelling with their children.”

3G travel

Travelling with several generations is a growing trend in family travel. A 2023 study commissioned by Visit Dubai showed a massive 89% of Brits wanting to book multi-generational holidays, 26% of

VALENCIA, SPAIN

BEACH IN MAURITIUS

SAILING AROUND CORFU

SANDBOARDING IN DUBAI

which said it was to make up for time lost during the pandemic.

“We’ve seen a big increase in bookings for multi-generational travel in recent years,” says The Advantage Travel Partnership’s Cookes. “With various different wants and needs to accommodate for, it’s key to build up an understanding of each group.

“Agents need to know where to find suitable properties such as larger villas, properties with interconnecting rooms or places with communal social areas.”

Simpson Travel has seen bookings for multi-generational holidays double over the past ten years. “These holidays often tie into a special occasion such as milestone birthdays, wedding anniversaries, retirement celebrations and even postwedding family get-togethers,” says Simpson’s Naylor-Vane. “Our bigger villas and villas adjacent to each other work perfectly for these groups, and our 2024 collection reflects this trend.”

Says Balsom: “Food is also a major factor that agents need to be aware of. Sunlife resorts have multiple restaurants offering a wide choice of different cuisines for guests.”

Best sellers

Anywhere can be a family holiday destination if you’re brave enough. A broad generalisation, of course, but it’s essential for agents to tease out exactly what their clients want to get out of their precious family time. If they’re looking for a fly-andflop holiday with a manageable flight time, then the Mediterranean beach resorts in Spain, France, the Greek islands and Croatia, all work well. For guaranteed sunshine outside of summer, they’ll need to venture a little further. Dubai is a popular destination for families and combines white-sand beaches with all-singing, all-dancing hotels, plus theme parks, shopping malls and desert adventures.

Budget, time of year and specific activities are key considerations for agents which can affect the choice of destination.

“With the current economic uncertainty still a factor for many, all-inclusive offers a guaranteed price and the ability to budget in advance,” says Cookes. “This summer, they account for 45% of all departures.”

With price in mind, Deluxe Holiday Homes identified the most affordable destinations

for safe family travel in its latest study. Romania leads the way followed by Czech Republic , Croatia, Finland and Portugal.

Offering a ‘best of both worlds’ scenario, Simpson Travel’s Mousses Creche and Kids Club in Lefkada is a collection of villas within a small estate. It also has a private kids’ club run by qualified nannies and is ideal for parents with young children.

There’s been a real upturn in families considering destinations in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. “Mauritius is fantastic for family holidays,” says Balsom.

“We offer a range of savings such as free accommodation and meals for children under 12 and a 20% discount on an extra room for children up to 17 years old.”

Greece is another perennial favourite with families. For this season, Simpson Travel has introduced three new-build Torreta villas in Lefkada. “When booked together they work well for larger groups or multiple families,” says Naylor-Vane.

“Ultimately, each family will have their own desires for their holiday so it’s important for agents to spend time finding out what they are looking for,” says Cookes. •

FODELE BEACH WATERPARK, CRETE

Spice of life

With family-friendly shorelines and bustling bazaars to explore, Tina Walsh discovers what Turkish delights await families this summer

Just the name itself – Istanbul –conjured up images of sultans, labyrinthine bazaars and exotic belly dancers. On my first visit with family, it didn’t disappoint. There is so much to see and do in this fabled Turkish city that the only problem we had was fitting everything into our five-day break.

I remember walking round Topkapi Palace, a sprawling complex of pavilions, courtyards and gardens that was once home to the Ottoman sultans, my teenage

niece and nephew “oohing and aahing” at the exhibits – a diamond as big as a fist, giant cooking pots and the serpentine twists and turns of the harem.

In the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and biggest covered markets in the world with more than 60 streets and 4,000 stores, we shopped for hand-made silver jewellery inlaid with intricate patterns, and spices, piled high in cloth sacks, a riot of ochre, bright yellow and vermillion.

We saved one of our best experiences until last: a boat ride up the Bosphorus Strait, the waterway that runs from the Sea of Marmara in the south to the Black Sea in the north and splits Istanbul between Europe and Asia. Its pine-clad shores are lined with picturesque villages – Ortaköy, Arnavutköy and Bebek being a few of my favourites – with their lovely Ottoman era wooden houses restored in pale pastels and waterfront cafes.

As we sailed along in the warm spring sunshine, Istanbul’s famous seagulls came out to play, dipping and swooping at the side of the boat while my delighted niece

and nephew threw them scraps of sesame encrusted bread.

Turkish delights

With 3.8 million British visitors in 2023 and numbers forecast to grow, Turkey is perennially popular with families.

“Turkey not only provides educational experiences via its ancient ruins and historical sites, but it also has plenty of activities to offer, from beaches to mountains and geological formations, not to mention the vibrant culture and amazing hospitality,” says Hazel McGuire, UK General Manager at Intrepid Travel.

When it comes to alternative family destinations to Spain, Turkey is nudging ahead, partly due to the current financial climate, she says. “Families are seeking unique experiences while still being budget-conscious and Turkey generally offers better value for money compared to other popular European countries. Opting to travel in small groups can also save money as the costs, including local guides, accommodation, transport are shared.”

BIJAL ART HOUSE

Cultural heritage and sustainable travel are two major focuses in 2024 for the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) in Istanbul, with a number of initiatives being set up around the country, from cycling routes across resort towns to the redevelopment of archaeological attractions such as the Göreme Archaeopark in Cappadocia.

“Families in particular enjoy Türkiye’s resort hotels on the Mediterranean and Aegean coastlines, not only because of the beautiful landscape, pristine seas and high-quality service, but also because all these hotels are in close proximity to many ancient historical sites,” says Ismail Bütün, General Manager of the TGA.

Şirince, about 30km north of the resort of Kuşadası, was listed as one of the Best Tourism Villages of 2023 by the UNWTO and continues to attract families.

There were 720 new excavation projects in 2023 and restoration works are continuing on ancient sites such as Ephesus, Hierapolis and Lmyra, bringing the number of Turkey’s World Heritage sites to 21.

Family-friendly experiences

Small but perfectly formed: A huge open-air museum showcasing Turkey’s significant historical sites and landmarks, Miniaturk in Istanbul is a fascinating collection of 137 model buildings and landmarks, all at 1:25 scale. Marvel at mosques, caravanserais and palaces, as well as the “cotton wool” rock formations of Pamukkale, two wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district, the most recent exhibit at just a year old. The site also has a children’s playground, a cafe, ferryboats, a labyrinth and a simulated helicopter tour. miniaturk.com.tr/en/

Pottery throwdown: Learn how to make pottery at an interactive workshop in the town of Avanos in Cappadocia, founded by the Hittites thousands of years ago. They used the area’s distinctive red clay to make remarkable artwork as early as the second millennium BC. Or don protective headgear for a visit to an apiary just outside

“When booking for groups, agents need to know where to find suitable properties such as larger

villas, properties with interconnecting rooms or places with communal social areas”

Kelly Cookes, The Advantage Travel Partnership

BODRUM CASTLE

BIJAL BEACH HOUSE

ISTANBUL

KAPUTAS BEACH

GRAND BAZAAR, ISTANBUL

Cappadocia, where a knowledgeable beekeeper guides visitors round the hives and demonstrates how honey is produced. Both experiences can be booked as part of Audley Travel’s eight-day Istanbul and Cappadocia trip. audleytravel.com/turkey

The wide blue yonder: Take to the Mediterranean sea in a gulet, a masted wooden sailing boat. Vessels are fully crewed and all meals freshly prepared on board. There are plenty of stops for swimming and snorkelling, as well as disembarking at lesser-known ports to sample the local cuisine and visit ancient sites. A popular stop is the sunken city of Kekova near the resort of Kaş, where you can kayak above the preserved ruins. discerningcollection.com

Cook like a local: Explore the stunning scenery and ancient ruins around Fethiye, Xanthos and Letoon while learning about the history of the Lycian people, on Intrepid’s Turkey Family Holiday with Teenagers. The coastal waters are some of the clearest in the Mediterranean and spotting loggerhead turtles is a regular occurrence. Learn about turtle rehabilitation efforts with local research organisation

Dekamer. Afterwards, join a cookery class to make Turkish cuisine such as gözleme, a savoury snack stuffed with beef or lamb. intrepidtravel.com

What’s new

Accommodation: New for summer 2024 is the luxurious Anda Barut Collection near Didim, on the Aegean coast. With a beachfront location, the hotel is an assortment of modern villas with separate family and adults-only areas. There are five pools, basketball and tennis courts, bars and restaurants, a gym and spa and an aqua park, kids’ club and adventure playground. jet2holidays.com

Liberty Hotels & Resorts is set to add two new hotels to its portfolio of premium beachfront locations on the Turkish Riviera. The Liberty Signa will open to guests this May, with a second hotel due to be completed in April 2025. With 16 swimming pools, eight restaurants, 13 bars and a spa spanning three floors, Liberty Signa will be the business’s flagship property. libertyhotels.com

All-villa resort BIJAL Resorts has opened in the Antalya Province of Turkey. The

19-villa resort offers painting and pottery workshops, zumba, sleeping under the stars, cooking classes, aqua-gym, games nights, cycling and events, such as Family Challenge and Murder Mystery. bijal.com

Flights: Sun Express entered the UK market in 2022 with services from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester. Bristol and Newcastle were introduced last summer and Leeds Bradford and Stansted have been added for summer 2024. Of the 136 weekly flights from the UK, 80 are to Antalya, 39 to Dalaman, 15 to Izmir, plus weekly flights to Adana and Gaziantep.

Low-cost new airline Ajet, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, has direct flights to Istanbul from London Stansted this summer. ajet.com sunexpress.com

Where to book it

KUONI

Seven nights’ FB in a superior family room (based on two adults and two children under 12) at the five-star Hillside Beach Club, near Fethiye, starts from £10,299, including return easyJet flights from London Gatwick. Departures until August 21. kuoni.co.uk •

CAPPADOCIA

FAMILY BEACH FUN

IZTUZU BEACH, MUGLA, TURKEY

59,99* Turkey from ₤

At Rotana, we believe time well spent, is a life well lived. This enduring thought is at the heart of every experience we promise when you stay with us.

Our distinct collection of brands include Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana, Centro Hotels, Resorts and Hotel Apartments by Rotana, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana, Edge by Rotana and The Residences by Rotana.

Transform moments into memorable experiences as we present a selection of diverse destinations, ideal for every journey.

To find out more, visit rotana.com

Treasured time. Our promise to you.

Middle East

Theme parks

Home to record-breaking coasters, the Middle East is leading the way when it comes to largerthan-life theme parks, says Jessica Alexander

MotionGate, Dubai: MotionGate is where movie magic comes to life. Featuring five ‘Zones’: Columbia Pictures, home to Ghostbusters and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs rides; Lionsgate, where Now You See Me: High Roller, the World’s fastest spinning rollercoaster lives, and The World Of The Hungar Games; DreamWorks Animation, featuring lovable characters from Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and Shrek. Smurfs Village also entertains little ones with interactive play zones and theatre shows, while movie buffs will enjoy Studio Central, which delves into the art of film-making and movie sets.

Meryal Waterpark, Qatar:

Located on Qetaifan Island North in Qatar, this waterpark is home to the tallest water slide construction in the world: the Icon Tower, standing at 85 metres. There’s also 45 rides and 52 slides in Qatar’s largest

waterpark including tube slides, mat racers, drop slides and wave pools. Those looking for a slower pace can enjoy the splash pad or head to the beachfront.

Real Madrid World, Dubai: The first ever Real Madrid-themed park celebrating football and basketball opened in April in Dubai. The theme park is home to over 40 original Real Madrid-themed experiences and attractions that offer guests the opportunity to feel closer to their football heroes. Standing at 460 feet, the Stars Flyer is ‘the tallest amusement ride in the world’ whilst White Hearts is a walkthrough exhibition celebrating the past, present and future of the football club. Fans can also visit the locker rooms of Real Madrid players.

LEGOLAND, Dubai: Aimed at children from two to 12, LEGOLAND Dubai is home to the world’s tallest LEGO

building. Imaginations run wild with over 40 LEGO-themed rides, shows and building experiences to try. Kids can get hands on at the LEGO Master Builder Academy or build with LEGO MINDSTORMS robotics.

Visitors have the opportunity to ‘fly’ a LEGO plane or steer a LEGO boat in LEGO City. There’s also plenty of rides including Merlin’s Flying Machine, Lost Kingdom Adventure and The Dragon. End the day with a visit to The BIG Shop, which houses the largest collection of LEGO, and see how LEGO bricks are actually made.

Saraya Aqaba Waterpark, Jordan: Described as ‘the region’s most picturesque water park’ thanks to its surrounding mountainscape, Saraya Aqaba Waterpark in Aqaba opened in 2021. The park has over 25 slides including Cavern of Wonders, looping Raging River, plunging Dead Sea Drop and high speed White

Water Whirlpool as well as a 200m long lazy river. There’s also the country’s first underwater Virtual Reality experience.

Quest, Qatar: New to Qatar’s entertainment offering is Quest, an indoor experiential theme park located within Doha Oasis in Msheireb. Home to the EpiQ Coaster, crowned as the ‘World’s tallest indoor roller coaster’, and the Magma Blast, the ‘World’s tallest indoor drop tower’, Quest is a wonderland for adrenaline junkies. Unlike other theme parks, Quest has a range of media-controlled simulators and virtual reality experiences as well as traditional thrill rides. Heavily featured are gravity-defying rides including futuristic Spike’s Astro Tower and Gravity Swing.

Warner Bros. World, Abu Dhabi: Located on Yas Island, just 30 minutes from the city centre, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is a dream come

true for any superhero fans. Visitors will find five themed worlds within the park: Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch, Cartoon Junction, Gotham City and Metropolis. As well as 29 rides, children will meet cartoon favourites like Bugs Bunny and Scooby-Doo, as well as superheroes like Batman and Superman.

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun, Bahrain: Inspired by Bahrain’s ancient history, The Lost Paradise of Dilmun provides some cooling family fun in the middle of the desert and is Bahrain’s biggest waterpark with over 20 slides. The park is separated into six themed areas – Dilmun Beach, Qasar Enki, Tylosplash, Kids’ Mesopomania, Falcons’ Drive and the Oasis Pool with its slides themed around the ancient Dilmun period.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi: Perfect for car enthusiasts or those with a need for speed, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the

world’s first Ferrari-branded theme park. Located on Yas Island, the park is home to the Formula Rossa, ‘the world’s fastest roller-coaster’, which takes thrill-seekers from 0 to 240km/h in 4.9 seconds. Visitors can also get behind the wheel with a Ferrari Driving Experience or choose the Passenger Experience with a Ferrari-trained instructor.

Six Flags Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia: Slated to open Q4 of 2024 just outside of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, is Six Flags Qiddiya, the latest ambitious project as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to promote tourism. Six Flags Qiddiya will feature 28 rides and attractions across six themed lands including The City of Thrills, Discovery Springs, Steam Town, Twilight Gardens, Valley of Fortune and Grand Exposition. Its centerpiece attraction will be Falcon Flight, set to be the longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. •

Agents always win when they bet on Kentucky

Agents

experienced some famous southern charm in London at Selling Travel Connect: Kentucky

Agents sampled what the Bluegrass State has to offer when Kentucky came to town laden with buckets of finger-licking’ good Kentucky Fried Chicken and bottles of the state’s famous bourbon. Heaven Hill Distillery‘s own Whiskey Jean was on hand to shake things up with a bourbon-making masterclass which taught agents how to make the perfect Old Fashioned or Mint Julep, the cocktail for Derby Day.

The virtual Kentucky Derby was the highlight of the night, with agents placing their bets on their favourite steeds and cheering them across the finish line.

CELEBRATIONS GALORE

Kentucky is looking forward to the 150th anniversary of the famous Kentucky Derby this May, Louisville Tourism’s Jessica Morgan told agents.

The Director of Tourism Development said: “On the first Saturday of May, we’ll have the Running of the Roses, which will celebrate 150 years of the Derby. It’s the longest-running consecutive sporting event in the U.S.”

Chenelle McGee, International & Domestic Director at Kentucky Tourism, highlighted the state’s “incredible” outdoor scene. She added: “Our park

system is celebrating its 100th anniversary. These free State Parks have an array of RV sites and are perfect for family travel.”

Chenelle’s recommendations include Cumberland Falls, which creates the only Moonbow in the Northern Hemisphere, kayaking in one of the cave systems and hiking up Red River Gorge.

“This August also marks the 125th anniversary of the Cincinnati Open,” said Senior Manager: International and Domestic Communications, Maija Zumma at Visit Cincy. “It’s one of America’s oldest and largest tennis tournaments.”

This dedicated Kentucky event was attended by the following suppliers: Kentucky Tourism, Visit Lexington, Louisville Tourism, Visit Cincy and Heaven Hill Distillery.

CULTURE CRUSH

Anne Hardy, representing Lexington said: “At Visit Horse Country, we help clients book visits to all of the major horse farms in the Bluegrass region.

“Travellers can also find up-and-coming musical and culinary events in the city. There’ll be a few new boutique hotels popping up too, which will be available through receptive operators.”

There are plenty of festivals to anticipate in Northern Kentucky and the Cincy Region, said Maija. “We have just been ranked the number one best city in America for street art. This coincides with the return of BLINK, which is America’s largest art, light and projection mapping festival. It’s a free event that takes place every other October, with more than two million people coming to the Cincy Region to see it. International artists activate our murals, historic buildings and light sculptures. It takes over 30 blocks of Cincinnati and into Northern Kentucky.”

KENTUCKY CONNECT

Lucky agents walked away with bottles of Heaven Hill bourbon, Kentucky-inspired cookbooks and KFC keyrings!

“Clients

have been asking for more information on the region, including Cincinnati, so it is useful to learn more about the destination”

Kerry Elliot, Independent Travel Agent

Clients looking to fly to Kentucky can opt for a direct British Airways flight into the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky airport CVG, which started operations last year. Meanwhile, Louisville has kicked off a series of musical events called LouGrass.

Jessica Morgan added: “It’s a celebration of all kinds of music based on the Bluegrass style, including Americana, the roots of country music and folklore, too.

“And this October we’re launching a new state-wide event, Bourbon and Belonging, an inclusive bourbon week for the LGBTQ+ community, with eight city partners coming in from across the state. There’ll be distillery tours, dinners, drag brunches and more.”

David Nicholson from Kentucky Tourism UK said: “It’s great to see the agents get a taste of Kentucky, which is a tremendous destination. There is a remarkable amount of things to do and see, but it’s still relatively unknown in the UK.” • kentuckytourism.com

Suppliers cross the pond for North America event

Selling Travel brought together suppliers stretching from British Columbia in Canada to Florida in the USA for Selling Travel Connect: North America, with events in Chester, Manchester, Glasgow and London

Suppliers included: Lazy Bear Expeditions, Visit Pittsburgh, Aer Lingus, Air Transat, Brand USA, Expedia TAAP, Florida’s Space Coast,, Greater Miami & Miami Beach, Made Tourism Marketing, Memphis Tourism, United Airlines, VISIT FLORIDA, Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, WestJet, Sun Peaks and Travelpack

North America is in “high demand.” says North America Travel Service, with bucket list road trips and city breaks top of the list. It’s a theme echoed by Travelpack which has seen an upturn for RV hire in the U.S., alongside twin-centre trips to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

To further fuel bookings to America, Brand USA is hosting a megafam for agents, made up of six different itineraries. The fams will depart in the autumn and will reward agents for booking the U.S. with Aer Lingus and British Airways.

The destination marketing organisation has also introduced a new itinerary, USA Wild West, with a focus on cowboy culture, country music and BBQ. The road trip travels through seven states, following the Oregon Trail from Missouri to Oregon.

WHAT’S NEW

With more access to North America than ever before, airlines were keen to update agents on new routes.

WestJet is launching a new route from London Gatwick to St. John’s, Newfoundland,starting May 1. The airline is also adding direct flights between Edinburgh and the Halifax for the first time as well as Toronto.

Meanwhile, Aer Lingus will add a new route from Dublin, Ireland, to Denver, Colorado, starting May 17 and restarted Minneapolis St Paul in April.

For clients who want to cover more ground, Air Transat has partnered with Porter Airlines to create a ‘Joint Venture’ for seamless onward travel across Canada.

And United Airlines is offering up to 24

daily departures from Edinburgh and London Heathrow this year, including a second daily service to Los Angeles.

Never short of new attraction openings, Visit Florida divulged details about its fourth Universal theme park opening in 2025 – Universal Epic Universe. Plus the Brightline train now connects Miami to Orlando, with plans to extend to Tampa.

Known as the home of Blues, Soul and Rock ‘n’ Roll, Memphis recently launched its new brand, ‘It’s a #Soultrip’, which takes visitors on a road trip around the city. And for that big Broadway experience, Made Tourism Marketing offers up to 20% commission when agents book a New York show through them. Not to be missed is the BACK TO THE FUTURE The Musical, plus the new Devil Wears Prada productions. •

FERGUS hotels showcases family appeal

FERGUS Hotels outlined its impressive portfolio across Spain and its exciting new opening in Mallorca at Selling Travel

Connect: FERGUS Hotels

David González Garcia, Commercial Director of FERGUS Hotels, updated agents in Leeds on the brand’s three-, four- and five-star hotels across the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Catalonia and Andalusia.

“FERGUS Group is one of the fastest growing companies in the holiday accommodation market in Spain,” explained Cristina Salmerón Urbano, Marketing Director at FERGUS Group.

“We seek to forge strong partnerships with local travel agents that sell family friendly and couples’ products in Spain, particularly relevant in the Leeds area given our key partnership with Jet2holidays in the UK,” said Salmerón Urbano.

She added that the group was thrilled to introduce three distinct properties in

Magaluf: family-friendly FERGUS Club

Mallorca Waterpark, set to open this month (May), and two hotels under the tent Hotels brand – tent Calvia Beach and tent Mojito Suites – opening on June 6, ideal for “discerning guests who want more from their holidays”.

The tent properties offer a Bed&Unlimited Brunch (B&UB) offer that is available daily from 08:00 to 13:30. There’s also an agreement with Just Eat so that guests can enjoy food from across the island.

“With 80% growth in the last year alone, this is an exciting moment for FERGUS Group to be expanding our engagement with UK travel agents. Aside from our new developments in Magaluf, we’d encourage agents to explore our extensive hotel portfolio, spanning 26 hotels and 16,000

beds to date. We sell through our UK partners, easyJet and Jet2Holidays and for our new hotels we’re pleased to offer an 18% discount code OPENING24 on all room types for agents that book directly with us,” added Salmerón Urbano.

TRAVEL AGENT TAKE-AWAY

Three agents each won a seven-night allinclusive stay for four (two adults and two children) at the Fergus Club Mallorca Waterpark Hotel with complimentary tickets to the Son Amar Show.

Prize winner Joanne Halliwell of Hays Travel, said: “It was interesting to hear how the hotel group is working with local authorities to encourage families to stay in the Magaluf area. It will certainly help to target a different market.” •

Discover Spanish charm beyond the coast

Selling Travel Connect: Spain events were held in Leeds and Manchester to raise awareness of culture-rich alternatives to Spain’s tourist hotspots.

Each supplier was keen to showcase “lesser-known” regions of Spain and give agents some pointers on how to go beyond the usual tourist route to uncover some traditional Spanish gems.

“What we want to do is change the perceptions of northern agents regarding what Spain has to offer for their clients,” said Esther Rojo Barroso, from the Spanish Tourist Office in London.

“Everybody knows the coast of Spain, which is beautiful, but we also want people to visit the interior of Spain.”

Spain is easily accessible from airports

across the UK and connections on the highspeed train have made it simple to explore more remote regions.

“From Manchester you can fly direct to Madrid and from there you can reach most of these destinations on the high-speed train. Spain has the second-largest highspeed rail network in the world behind China,” said Rojo Barroso.

“Additionally, there is a flight from Stansted to Zaragoza in Aragon. The coast is better served with flights but that shouldn’t deter people from going to Madrid and getting a train or hiring a car.”

Events calendar sellingtravel.co.uk/ connect-events

CASTILLA Y LEON

Castilla y León in northwestern Spain is “one of the most important destinations in the world for wine tourism,” explained Alberto Bosque from the Castilla y León Tourism Board. “You can discover how the culture of the wine has evolved, visit wineries and stay at wineries that have opened their own hotels,” he added.

The famous Camino de Santiago travels through the region. “We also have the ‘golden triangle’ of three UNESCO World Heritage Site cities: Segovia, Avila and Salamanca,” concluded Bosque.

This dedicated Spain event was attended by the following suppliers: Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura and Castilla y Leon and the Spanish Tourist Office

EXTREMADURA

Bordering Portugal in western Spain, Extremadura is a great choice for clients looking to experience the real Spain and avoid mass tourism, agents were told.

“We have created new tourism products combining the public and the private sectors,” said Yadira Chaparro Ballestero of Extremadura Turismo. “We have four sustainable gastronomy routes themed around olive oil, cheese, Iberian ham and wine and cava. Extremadura is a region for those that don’t want to be in crowded places,” Ballestero concluded.

ARAGON

Located in northeastern Spain, Aragon is rich in terms of history, art, nature and activities, explained Ignacio Rodriguez Ruiz from the Aragon Region.

“Aragon’s Huesca La Magia was named

SPAIN CONNECT

Denise McDermott from Travelosophers and Sue Douglass from Inteletravel will visit Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura and Castilla y Leon on a fam trip

“Spain

is a number one destination for us so it’s good to be able to offer something different.

Clients are always looking for something new

Tom Parsley, Hays Travel

Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination 2023 at the 30th edition of the World Travel Awards and we also have four UNESCO sites,” he added, referencing the region’s Mudejar architecture, Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza, the landscape and wildlife of Monte Perdido in the Pyrenees plus the ancient rock art that is spread across numerous sites.

CASTILLA-LA MANCHA

Located in Central Spain, Castillla-La Mancha has a year-round calendar of festivals and music events.

“Castillla-La Mancha is a cultural destination,” said Alberto Alverez Rodriguez representing Castilla-La Mancha. “Toledo and Cuenca are historic UNESCO cities with a lot of activities and festivals every year: Easter – Semana Santa – is very popular in Cuenca and in Toledo Corpus Christi is too. Throughout the year we have lots of musical concerts, activities and popular festivals,” he added.

See the full coverage at sellingtravel.co.uk/ training-events/ •

Sun shines on New England

by Steve Hartridge

The six states that make up the Discover New England marketing organisation welcomed over 60 international tour operators to its annual showcase of travel products and experiences in April.

Held at the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, the show attracted around 120 suppliers – representing destinations and tourism experiences – from New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode island and Connecticut.

Describing the show as “a great success,” Michele Cota, Executive Director of Discover New England, said it “shone a spotlight on the region to buyers from multiple countries. There is a lot of growth across our states, which meant we had a lot to talk about.”

New England is a region with plenty of common themes but each state offers something unique to visitors, said Chris Sununu, New Hampshire’s outgoing Governor. “The biggest message is that we have a little bit of everything here at any time of the year in New England.”

“The Green Mountains of Vermont, a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, are spectacular and gorgeous, and the state is crammed with charming towns such as Woodstock. The White Mountains of New

Hampshire has some of the most beautiful scenery in the eastern USA,” he added.

“I would put Maine’s coastline on a par with any other in the U.S., with its picturesque harbour towns, beaches, coves, and islands; while the sailing out of Rhode Island is amazing. In Massachusetts the real driver is of course Boston - and you are not going to match the history and culture there anywhere else in America.”

Rachel Lenda, the new Director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism, said the state is emerging as one of the country’s top foodie destinations and has a claim to being “Pizza Capital of the World’.

Many delegates to the show experienced the total solar eclipse on April 8.

I joined other media at Jay Peak ski resort in Vermont, which enjoyed a prefect afternoon of cloudless clue skies to witness an event that will not happen again in North America until August 23 2044. discovernewengland.org

Just Go debuts long haul

Sri Lanka has been added to Just Go! Holidays and National Holidays’ new winter sun programme, the first time either has featured a long-haul destination.

Four holidays of varying duration at the beachfront Tangerine Beach Hotel in Kalutara, Sri Lanka are on sale, departing on selected dates between October 2024 and May 2025.Customers can choose from 11-, 15-, 22- or 29-night options.

A ‘stay longer for less’ promotion means that clients can enjoy a ‘four weeks for the price of three’ offer, which applies on all Sri Lanka departure dates. For example, a 29-night holiday leads in at £2,499pp in

May 2025 including 28 nights all-inclusive accommodation, return flights, four excursions and transfers. There’s also a number of no single supplement rooms.

For those looking to explore even further, a five-day ‘Impressions of Sri Lanka’ pre-tour can be added. Priced from £749pp.

Also new for 2024/25 is the resort of Albufeira on Portugal’s Algarve which complements the existing European resorts of Benidorm and Calpe on the Costa Blanca, Malta and Cyprus. Stay longer for less promotions are also available for those looking to extend their holiday to 28 nights. justgoholidays.com/agents

Virgin Atlantic is to expand its flights to India by introducing a second daily service between Heathrow and Mumbai.

The airline will kick off its new schedule on October 27, adding a fifth flight to India that includes double-daily flights to Delhi and a recently launched service to Bengaluru in southern India.

Flights for the second Mumbai flight went on sale in mid-April.

Virgin has a strategic partnership with IndiGo, India’s leading airline: customers can book one ticket which allows them to connect to other popular destinations in India such as Ahmedabad, Goa and Hyderabad through Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. In total the partnership offers 36 additional destinations. virginatlantic.com

Virgin adds Mumbai flight Go for Gold

Gold Medal has rolled out a new Indian Ocean & Africa brochure, featuring a host of multi-centre itineraries, 36 properties and 15 new tours.

Highlights include all-inclusives and spa retreats, as well as family-friendly and adult-only resorts across the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Botswana, Namibia and East Africa.

The 140-page destination brochure is the tour operator’s first of 2024.

To celebrate the launch, Gold Medal is giving agents the chance to win one of five places on a fam trip to Sri Lanka. goldmedal.co.uk

New brochure from Lusso

Lusso has introduced its first Europe & North Africa brochure, exclusively for trade.

Available for agents to rack in store or download, the brochure is filled with destination guides, don’t-miss experiences and suggested itineraries “that give a flavour of what the region has to offer”.

The brochure represents a change of focus from the operator’s traditional style and offers specialist knowledge and first-hand experience of travelling in a destination, rather than a catalogue of hotels, which Senior Product Manager for Europe & North Africa, Helen Brown says “can instead be found on Lusso’s website”.

Brown added: “In the last 15 months alone, eight of our team have been to 12 different European destinations – appraising the hotels, talking to the locals and seeking out those one-of-a-kind experiences that make travelling with Lusso so special.

“Of course, we offer the best hotels, but we wanted the brochure to reflect our depth of knowledge and the staggering diversity of travel opportunities in Europe and North Africa.”

Rather than pages of hotel information, the new brochure includes a single hotel

directory for each country featured, listing all hotel partners at the time of printing.

Managing Director, James Weaver, added: “We are constantly evaluating and adding to our hotel portfolios in all areas of the business, looking to ensure they match our high levels of knowledge and expertise.

“But as this may change during the lifetime of the brochure, the directories also include a QR code that takes agents and their clients to our website, where they’ll always be able to find our most up-to-date hotel listings.”

To ensure the brochure is sustainably produced, Lusso has chosen neither to date the brochure nor to price hotels or itineraries, In order to “give the brochure a longer shelf life and reduce wastage.” lussotravel.com

Selling Travel, best trade title

Selling Travel won “Trade Publication of the Year 2024” at the prestigious TravMedia Awards in London in April.

Hosted by Rylan at The Londoner Leicester Square, the winners of the TravMedia Awards 2024 were announced at a gala dinner attended by over 300 members of the travel industry.

Selling Travel was crowned Travel Publication of the Year 2024, with sister publications Onboard Hospitality and The Business Travel Magazine also shortlisted. The awards recognise “the finest journalistic, influencer and PR achievements in travel!” Categories are adjudicated by an expert panel of judges selected from across the travel industry, including senior industry executives, media figures, commentators and communications heads.

Jessica Alexander, Selling Travel’s Editor, said: “I am immensely proud to see Selling Travel win this award. The magazine is dedicated to educating and inspiring our readers, from indepth travel features to in-person Connect events with industry leaders.

“We are also proud to highlight accessible travel in every issue and on our dedicated online hub on our website.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

• New Cape Town route Norse Atlantic Airways will start flying from London Gatwick to Cape Town in October. The service will operate three times a week with fares starting from £499 return in Economy and £1,199 return in Norse Premium class. flynorse.com

• Cuba connects with UK Two direct flights are set to operate from the UK to Cuba, starting this May. The weekly flights will connect Manchester with Holguin, in the east of Cuba, and London Gatwick with Cayo Coco, an island in the north of the country. The flights will be managed commercially by Iron Travel and operationally by TripLatam, a charter flight service. cubatravel.cu

• First flights to Kirkenes Finnair will introduce flights to Kirkenes in the most northerly, and remote, region of Norway from April 1 2025 for the summer season. Flights between Helsinki and Kirkenes, close to the Finnish and Russian borders will operate three times per week, via Ivalo, making this the only scheduled international flight to the airport. finnair.com

• Windstar upgrades for free Windstar Cruises has launched a ‘Sail Beyond Ordinary’ promotion that offers a complimentary all-inclusive upgrade worth up to £1,825pp. The offer is valid on all 2024 cruises booked before June 30 2024. The upgrade covers unlimited beer, wine and cocktails. windstarcruises.com