Travel extra july 2014 by Travel Extra

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R U THAILAND NUMBERS UP DESPITE COUPYO RYANAIR KEEP{ING NEW ROUTES AUSTRALIA DOUBLE DAILY BOOST ER P The Canary Island Guide Tunisia spas on show Cuba Cute PA

e d a r T

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July 2014

VOLUME 19 NUMBER 7

Canaries issue What your clients should know about wintersun 2015

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Page 003 News 18/06/2014 11:29 Page 1

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Harry’s next act

Universal will require 2-park ticket for Diagon Alley

he construction walls have come down around Diagon Alley, Universal Orlando's expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal has not announced the opening date for the attraction but say it will open in summer 2014. The view, primarily of a London street scene, was much as was expected. Universal is to convey park visitors on the Harry Potter train between London and Hogsmeade at its park in Orlando, opening with its Diagon Alley attraction this summer. It will have a mystery entrance for muggles, “a very new way to enter a land,” art director Alan Gilmore says. Theme Park operators Universal Orlando announced that Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts will be the signature ride in the new Diagon Alley to open this summer. Guests will be able to board the Hogwarts Express and journey between London’s King’s Cross Station (located in Universal Studios Florida) and Hogsmeade Station (located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure with views of London and the English countryside – as well as a few surprises. Two-park admission is required. Universal has construced several London-themed buldilngs which are the same size as the originals. n King's Cross Station, a train station used by Hogwarts students in the "Potter" books and films. n Leicester Square tube station, the

NEWS

BRITAIN There was a 14pc growth in the number of Irish visitors to Britain in the first quarter of this year.

JAPAN’s government is planning to provide visitors with free public Wi-Fi once they register their passport at one of the country's airports.

ABBEY Travel launched a new brochure for Malta and Gozo.

PARIS Préfecture de police plans to tighten security for tourists this summer. The police force will introduces a field patrol unit for the Champs-Elysees and promises “increased vigilance” around the Gare du Nord. DOSOMETHINGdifferent.com is

offering nine nights at DisneyWorld Florida for the price of seven. The ticket and attractoin agency launched a portfolio of new products and experiences available in India. Highlights include the Spirit of Dharavi private tour, Private Bollywood Tour, Mumbai full day Private City Tour and a full day excursion to Agra.

Diagon Alley is the biggest theme park attraction opening for 2014

representation of which was called "spot on" by "Potter" actor Matthew Lewis. At Universal, the entrance to Diagon Alley is beneath the red tile arches of this station. n Wyndham's Theatre, which was opened in 1899 by actor Charles Wyndham. The W's built into the décor stand for Wyndham. n Grimmauld Place, which has significance in the "Potter" fiction as the Black family home and onetime headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Diagon Alley will also feature shops, a restaurant and what the company calls “an innovative, marquee attraction” based on Gringotts bank. On the opposite side of the new area, which is built upon the old Jaws ride and Amity area, will be Carkitt Market, based on London market-

OW!

LIN OM DUB R F T C E DIR esorts NEW KOS hWorld R

las illage, Sp perties! V y a d li o H Clubs pro and Kids’

closed after a metal grill weighed down by 'lovelocks' collapsed onto the walkway.

KEITH PROWSE

Christmas Market Tours announced trips to Budapest, Berlin, Vienna, Prague and Salzburg this December.

SOUTH Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has introduced new regulation that will require children to travel with an unabridged birth certificate. The rule will be introduced on October 1.

EDINBURGH Fringe Festival launched its 2014 programme. This year promises to be the biggest festival to date with 3,193 shows taking place in 299 venues in Scotland’s capital. Comedian Jason Byrne, a reading of Seamus Heaney by Larry McCluskey and Fishamble Theatre’s ‘Swing’ are among the Irish highlights. SNOWDONIAamusement park in

Wales opened Europe’s first four-person zip line. Visitors can “fly” together at speeds of up to 70mph.

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places, and although named by Joanne Rowling, did not feature in the Potter books. AT IPW in Chicago recently, Bill Davis of Universal Orlando promised a new experience on every section of the journey on Hogwart’s Express between the new and existing Harry Potter experiences. The opening of Diagon Alley in Universal is one of four major theme park events this summer. The othersd are the opening of the Ratatouille Ride in Disney Paris, the “Seven Dwarfs Mine Train” coaster in Disney Orlando, and the arrival of C-Beebies at Alton Towers which opened last month. Disney also rolls out its billion-dollar "MyMagic+" technology project which they say will transform the theme park experience.

PARIS’s' iconic Pont des Arts bridge was

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JULY 2014 PAGE 4

THE KNOWLEDGE Travel Extra Advertising & Subscriptions 6 Sandyford Office Park Dublin 18 (+3531) 2913708 Fax (+3531) 2957417 Editorial Office Clownings Straffan Co Kildare Managing Editor: Gerry Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hare gerry@travelextra.ie Editor: Eoghan Corry eoghan.corry@ travelextra.ie Publisher: Edmund Hourican Sales Director: Maureen Ledwith maureen@bizex.ie Accounts and Advertising: Maria Sinnott maria@bizex.ie Picture Editor: Charlie Collins pix@travelextra.ie Chief Subeditor: Ida Milne ida@travelextra.ie Chief Features Writer: Anne Cadwallader anne@travelextra.ie Contributors : Eanna Brophy eanna@travelextra.ie Marie Carberry marie@travelextra.ie Carmel Higgins carmel@travelextra.ie Cauvery Madhavan cauvery@travelextra.ie Sean Mannion sean@grafacai.ie Conor McMahon conor@travelextra.ie Ida Milne ida@travelextra.ie Catherine Murphy cathmurph@yahoo.com

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CONTENTS

www.travelextra.info

3-7 News Where to go, how much to pay 6 Hotels: Geneva the dearest 10 Postcards: News from the trade 12 Australia: Numbers down, flghts up

14 Thailand: Not stopped by coup 16 Tunisia: Away with Justsunshine 18 Canaries: Wintersun special 20 Cuba: Che mo laoch 24 Afloat: Royal Caribbeanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keel 28-33 Flying: Airline and airport news

26 Afloat: Cruise and ferry 33 Global Village: Ocean conference 37 Window seat: Our columnists 38 Pictures: Out and about

Wintersun by the hour

ruin the entire day. The main attraction of the winter climate is its consistency. The sun shines reliably for a good nine or more hours a day, with day-time temperatures reaching about 28C. Sea breezes and low humidity mean it rarely feels too hot. The sea remains at 26-27C throughout the winter.

inertsun holidays all vome with one central problem, where can you get guaranteed susnshin without flying a sector length that defeats the pit of a seven day break?

3 HOURS, Mo-

rocco: Guide price u800 B&B. Constant winter sun is not guaranteed, Jan and Feb temperatures are about 17C. Agadir is a popular choice, the main reasons for its popularity include its year-round sunshine with just the occasional unpredictable rainy day, its wide sandy bay and the backdrop of the snow-capped Atlas mountains.

3 HOURS,

Tunisia: Guide price u800 B&B. Flight time 3 hours. Constant winter sun is not guaranteed: Jan and Feb temperatures are about 17C in the north, higher in the south near Jerba and the desert. Hammamet stretches nearly 10 miles around the bay. Port el Kantaoui is a compact purpose-built resort developed round a neat modern marina. Radiating out from here are a succession of ever more grandiose hotels that have gradually mushroomed along the sandy coastline.

3.5 HOURS

Madeira: Guide price u1,500 half board. It is mild and sub-tropical year round. Average temperature Jan-Feb about 17C. New, familyoriented and childfriendly hotels are

9 HOURS,

Windsurfing in the Dominican Republic

helping Madeira change its image as a destination aimed solely at the more mature traveller.

4.5 HOURS,

Canaries: Guide price

u1,000 half board. Im-

mensely popular because of the high standards through the resorts. Expect about half-a-dozen rainy days each month, seven hours of sun per day and temperatures reaching 22C-23C. Don't expect the sea to be more than 20C, however, and check that your accommodation has a heated pool. There are escapes to the north of Tenerife and some spectacular walks in Gran Canaria for those who tire of resort life.

4.5 HOURS,, Cyprus Guide price

u800 B&B. Cyprus has

the most reliable winter climate in the Mediter-

ranean and stays warm much later in the year, the average sea temperature is still 19C at this time of year. Rain is recorded on about 10 days a month), but temperatures normally top 17C and the earlier in the autumn or later in the spring you go, the warmer it is.

5 HOURS,, Egypt. Guide price u1,000. December days are reliably warm with virtually unbroken sunshine, average peaks in Sharm el Sheikh on the Red sea or Luxor on the Nile are around 25C, with 10 hours of sunshine a day, very low humidity and virtually no rain. Aswan, farther up the Nile, has a similar climate, although fewer sites and a much smaller choice of hotels. Spending more on a top-rank

hotel will mean better food, and a better pool.

7 HOURS,, Dubai: Guide price u1,400 room only. Dubai is fast becoming the new Caribbean,. Beaches are superb, sun is almost guaranteed, super-sleek hotels are opening. Shopping is not as good value as it as but other ztivities include golf and desert safaris,

9 HOURS,, Caribbean. Guide price (Barbados): u2,400 allinclusive. The Caribbean winter climate can vary according to the location of each island, but even on the wetter ones, such as St Lucia and Tobago, February is one of the driest months of the year. And when it does rain, it is most likely to fall as a heavy shower towards the end of the afternoon, rather than

Florida: Guide price u1,400 room only. Theme parks, beaches and keen prices make Florida a favourite winter-sun standby for Irish visitors. By March the American visitors have gone and the weather is still very comfortable. Average maximum temperatures are up to 27C, with nine hours of sun, and only seven rainy days in the month. Evenings can get cool, but the average sea temperature doesn't drop below 23C. The Gulf coast is more sheltered and warmer than the Atlantic side.

11 HOURS Thai-

land: Guide price u1.400 room only (Phuket) Flight time 11-13 hours (to Bangkok), 14 hours charter to Phuket. The Thai maritime climate is not as consistent as Goa's, but it will be hot, 30C or more, and there will be a good nine hours of sunshine a day. The biggest problem is the wind, the north-easterly monsoon wind blows through the winter. This affects east coast resorts such as Koh Samui. Phuket is more sheltered and drier. The sea is 27C-29C.

Page 005 News half page portrait 18/06/2014 15:12 Page 1

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JULY 2014 PAGE 5

NEWS

Fiona Monaghan, who heads up Fáilte Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way campaign, with CEO Shaun Quinn and Minister Michael Ring

Year of the Wild West

Fáilte hails start to WAW campaign

áilte Ireland launched a new campaign encouraging Irish holidaymakers to explore the Wild Atlantic Way, to coincide with the lasunch of ire-

land’s flagship project for 2015. The campaign comes in the form of a 60-second TV and cinema ad, print advertising and social media plugging. Speaking about the new campaign,

Fiona Monaghan of Fáilte Ireland said she “would like to encourage everyone to take the opportunity this summer to experience this fabulous attraction, right on their doorstep”.

ublin was voted third best city in the word for its taxi drivers by Tripadvisor users. Russian capital Moscow was voted the worst city in the world to visit by Tripadvisor users for its poor hotels, terrible value and the least helpful locals. Tokyo was

voted the best destination for tourists overall and fourth best Istanbul was voted best in Europe. Mumbai was voted the worst city for overall experience, second-last was the picturesque city of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. TripAdvisor compiled more than 54,000 re-

sponses in their annual Cities Survey, in which people who have written a review on either a hotel, restaurant or attraction in the featured 37 cities during 2013 were surveyed across categories including Friendliest taxi drivers, Helpful locals, Best for Restaurants and Comfort Travelling Alone.

ew CSO figures show that the number of overseas tourists grew by 8pc in the first quarter of 2014. Niall Gibbons of Tourism Ireland said he was “particularly pleased to see holidaymakers from the Great Britain market showing growth

of +27pc. While it is still very early days …this is a strong start to the year.” The new figures show that there were 1.34m overseas visitors to Ireland in the first quarter of 2014. Mainland European visitor numbers was up by 1pc and North Americans increased by 6pc.

All other long haul was up by 17pc. The number visiting friends and relatives went up by 12pc. Holiday visitors increased by 5pc, but business visitors were down by 2pc. Total earnings from all visitors to Ireland were €682 million – a drop of 1pc on the same period last year.

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Page 006 Hotels 18/06/2014 15:13 Page 1

JULY 2014 PAGE 6

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HOTELS

FOR SALE The Malton, The Metropole Hotel and the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel have been put on sale for u30m, u10m less that The Malton alone sold for in 2006. SHANGRI-La Hotels and Resorts an-

nounced a partnership with Ferrari for the Ferrari Challenge series in Shanghai.

TRIVAGO.ie published where the top teams in the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be staying.

EXPEDIA will start accepting Bitcoin

for online hotel bookings. However, hoteliers will continue to be paid in local currency. If the move proves to be a success, the company hopes to expand the feature to other products.

HOTELBEDS predicted a 20pc

growth in Europe for 2014. The group hosted the MarketHub networking event in Ibiza this week. See more pictures here or connect with the album on Facebook.

DALATA Hotel Group has agreed to acquire the Maldron Hotel, Parnell Street, and the Pearse Hotel on Pearse Street for around u30m. HRS has launched a new Mobile Special

Tariff for smartphone users. Last year, 12pc of all its reservations were made via smartphones and tablets. The new tariff is targeted at business travellers and spontaneous bookers. It offers a 10pc discount and can be booked through the HRS app.

TALBOT Hotel Group purchased the

four-star

ORIEL House Hotel in Ballincollig Cork,

securing the jobs of 120 staff. The 78-bedroom hotel was re-developed in 2006 and has two bars, a restaurant, conference and banqueting facilities for up to 480 people and a leisure club.

HOTEL Near Me, the first hotel reserva-

tion app for Google Glass, is now available to download. The app was launched by Destinia.com.

MOUNT JULIET Irish entrepre-

neur Emmet O'Neill and Brehon Capital Partners outbid billionaire John Malone in the purchase of the five-star hotel and golf resort Mount Juliet for an estimated u15m. O’Neill made his buck when he sold his Smiles Dental business to Oasis Healthcare for u36m.

HILTON announced the launch of its new

brand Curio, a collection of four and five star hotels around the world. A number of properties have already signed letters of intent including: SLS Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, The Franklin Hotel.

Hotel room prices in Geneva topped two separate hotel price index charts this month

Swiss city tops the hotel charts for start of summer

he top three cities that have the highest rates in the world for room rates per night are Geneva ($308) Dubai ($273) and Kuwait ($253) according to an index compiled by Bloomberg. Geneva is the most expensive city in Europe this month and Sofia the cheapest. The monthly hotel price data from

HILTON opened a rebranded Jurys Inn Chelsea as its ninth London Doubletree, a new hotel in Jaipur and its first Dubai Doubletree, Dubai - Al Barsha with 359 rooms.

Edinburgh

Geneva

u166

Venice

u165

u258 London

u236 Paris

u218 Copenhagen

u190

Oslo Nice

u161 Donegal

u157 Rome

u156 Cannes Milan

Florence

u155

u182

Munich

Stockholm

Amsterdam

u179 City

u171

Trivago.ie indicate the average hotel price across Europe has decreased this month to u129. Cities which showed the largest month-on-month decreases include Seville (-31pc), Lisbon (-25pc), Prague (-18pc), Cologne (-18pc), Granada (-18pc) and Budapest (-18pc). Hotel prices in Dublin have also surged when compared to June 2013. Prices in the city have risen 16pc, the

second highest increase of Europe’s 50 most popular destinations. Only Athens (35pc) showed a higher rise. Trivago says 45m visitors per month use trivago’s various filters and save an average of 35pc per booking. Trivago was founded in 2005 in Düsseldorf, Germany and currently operates 45 international country platforms in 28 languages.

EUROPEAN HOTEL PRICE INDEX

u279

JURYS INN launched an online book- u186

ing tool for business travellers to help manage their reservations online, Jurys Business Booker. Suzanne Cannon Group Marketing Manager says the tool offers the best room rates in Jurys 31 city centre hotels.

Dear Geneva

u145 Brighton

u144 Barcelona

u143

Dublin Salzburg

u133 Manchester

u130

Killarney Vienna

u128

u115

Cork

u102

u114

Glasgow

u101

Clifden Kenmare

u113

Brussels

Lisbon Lyon

u122

u109

u123 Hamburg Kinsale

u121

u110 Galway Prague

u108 Wicklow

u120

u105

Athens Marseilles

u104

Istanbul

u119

Belfast

Turin

Liverpool Cologne

u100 Berlin Derry Frankfurt Leipzig

u99

Kilkenny

u98

Riga Sligo Tralee Westport Wexford

u97

Dingle Dresden

u96

Toulouse

u95

Madrid

u94 Bilbao

u93 Waterford

u91

Athlone

u90

Doolin

u84 Budapest Malaga

u83

Granada Rosslare Valencia

u78

Warsaw

u74

Bucharest

u73

Zaragoza

u86

Limerick

u62

Sevilla

u61

u85

Sofia

Source: Trivago.ie

21846_CORK_SUMMER_TRAVEL_EX_GIRL_12.06.14_v2.indd 2

12/06/2014 16:24

TRAVEL COUNSELLORS TELL AGENTS TO ‘SWITCH ON’ AT KILKENNY CONFERENCE Travel Counsellors Ireland celebrated another hugely successful year at the company’s annual conference, which took place in Lyrath Estate & Spa in Kilkenny on the 21st & 22nd May. The event was underpinned throughout by the theme ‘Switch On’ which highlighted the focus on providing the company’s Travel Counsellors with the tools, knowledge, technology and strategy to switch on and continue to adapt to an ever changing business environment.

Ireland GM Cathy Burke with Group Managing Director Steve Byrne

Bernie Whelan from Travel Counsellors Head office celebrates with Travel Counsellors; Kathy O’Sullivan, Janice Walsh and Sue Cahill all from Wexford.

Travel Counsellors Lisa Nahedh, Laura Beirne-Gormley and Sinead Daly “Switch On”

Award Winners; Travel Counsellors Geraldine Martin, Sarah McCarthy, Annabel Cove from Do Something Different; Douglas Hastings, Claudia Lane, Mary Foyle and Susan Hegarty

Travel Counsellors sharing their lightbulb moment with their friends and trade colleagues

Relaxing after a hard day’s work at Lyrath Estate & Spa Kilkenny; Travel Counsellors Roger Barrett, Douglas Hastings and Ian Walsh

Gerry Duffy of “32 Marathons in 32 Days” fame was an excellent Motivational Speaker for Travel Counsellors and supplier guests

Travel Counsellor Lorraine Lawless wins 2 Business Class tickets to anywhere in the world! Presented by Onur Gul of Turkish Airlines

Find out how we can help you change your future 0818 33 2003 bethefuture@travelcounsellors.ie | www.travelhomeworking.ie

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Vision - A very safe place to develop and grow your very own travel business At Travel Counsellors we live and breathe travel and you’ll see that people are at the very heart of everything we do. If you share these ideals, you’ll be in good company at Travel Counsellors.

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Our regular Discovery Days are a great way to find out more about why our 56 Travel Counsellors in Ireland and their 1300 colleagues around the world absolutely love what they do and how we can help you to build your own successful travel business. Why settle for second best, when we can help you change your future today? Our next Discovery Days: 8th July 2014 | 1st August 2014 | 10th September

Page 010 Postcard 18/06/2014 12:26 Page 1

JULY 2014 PAGE 10

POSTCARDS FROM THE TRAVEL SCENE

ewest member of The Travel Corporation team Donna Kenny gave an outline of developments in TTC’s four product portfolio, Insight Vacations, Uniworld, Contiki and Red Carnation when Travel Corporation hosted 68 members of the trade at a function in il Posto in Dublin’s Stephen’s Green. Martin Skelly replied on behalf of the ITAA. “If the management of TTC took

ndalucia hosted its annual thank you event for the Irish travel trade, Andalucia Clearly Irresistible in Dublin’s Trinity College. Antonio Martin (pictured) thanks the Irish trade for their support and outlined priorities for the region in the coming months, including the Costa de Luz on the Faro side of the province and Sierra Nevada ski region. Hosting the ITAA Conference last

isit USA's Dublin Committee chair Ciara Foley, and Executive Director Clodagh Oxley and visiting business partners from Bookabed, Illinois, Kansas/Oklahoma, Kissimmee and Massachusetts hosted agents in Cork, Dublin and Belfast on a roadshow tour for the trade. Guests heard elevator pitches from Fiona Ellis of South Carolina, Matt Bates of Kansas/Oklahoma, Laura

a template of how should things should be done they should look to Sharon Jordan and her team. They tell us about the product in a way that is easy to follow and the benefits to their trade partners. The TTC is committed in spirit and in practice to supporting their sellers and their trade partners.”Guests at the event spilled onto the pavement outside. Picture shows Donna Kenny, Sharon Jordan and Carole Carmody.

October had helped drive bookings to Grenada while nearby resorts such as Almuñécar had boosted their profile in the Irish market. Andalucia attracted 269,294 Irish visitors in 2013 making it the second most attractive Spanish region for Irish tourists after the Canaries. Increased air lift is expected to boost that figure in 2014.

Goldie of Visit Illinois, Peter Hannaford of Travel Georgia, Melissa Lowe of Kissimmee Lee Osborne of Bookabed and Patricia Purdue of Massachusetts. This is the second year of the Visit USA roadshow. Picture shows Ciara Foley addressing guests at the event. She said Visit USA is all about being here to help =the trade in any way we can, to grow the numbers and to get more visitors to the USA.

elfast Waterford hosted a Game of Throne exhibition to launch the summer Thronies circuit. The exhibition wil help confirm Ireland’s connections with the hugely successful series. NITB has identified four filming locations for Game of Thrones fans; Castle Ward which may be more familiar as Winterfell, Tollymore Forest Park which will be recognisable as North of Winter-

he Air France Delta KLM summer event for the trade in the Harbourmaster in Dublin Siobhan Scanlan highlighted promotions for the trade such as the Wild on Wednesday’ fare promotions. Delta resumed daily seasonal service from Shannon to New York and is increasing capacity from Dublin by adding an additional Dublin to JFK flight 3w during peak season in addition to daily

im Deegan of Railtours launched the world's first hop-on hop-off railway tour in Dublin, the Dublin Bay hopper. It takes place on a chartered DART passes through the south city of Dublin to Bray, with four departures on designated trains each Saturday. Jim conducted the launch tour himself with his trademark wit and easy delivery style. Sarah O'Neill, and with Chris

fell, Downhill Beach familiar as the Dragonstone exterior and Murlough Bay in County Antrim aka Stormlands and says there are many more to discover throughout the province. Game of Thrones actress Michelle Fairly has also featured in NITB television advertising campaign.. Picture shows Finn Jones with fans at the opening of the Game of Thrones exhibition at the, Belfast Waterfront.

JFK and Atlanta services. Prize winners on the night were Nigel Havers of Atlas Travel (AF tickets), Sabrina Vonsowski of Budget Travel (Alitalia tickets), Sarline Zerauskaite of Tour America (CityJet tickets), Zina Meehan of Sunway (Delta tickets) and Hugo Arevelo, Club Travel (KLM tickets). Pictured: Martina Coogan, Federica Vasico, Teresa Murphy, Siobhan Scanlon, Jaqueline McMahon and Deirdre Sheridan.

McCormack joined him on the trip as did Jim Kelly new US Sales Director of Railtours Ireland and travel veterans who made cameo appearances as Dublin Bay Hopper hosts, Brendan Enright and Sean Hogan. The u19 ticket enables users to use the DART on the following day as well. It is integrated with the Dublin Bus hop-on hop-off tour. Picture shows Jim giving his hilarious commentary on the launch tour.

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JULY 2014 PAGE 11

POSTCARDS FROM THE TRAVEL SCENE

oyal Caribbean reconstructed a boardwalk form one of their ships at Fallon & Byrne’s in Dublin where they hosted 80 members of the trade. Stuart Leven's presentation at the event stressed how the trade should seek out first time cruise customers and highlighted developments such as the dining and entertainment innovations on Quantum class ships. He said that Royal

isit California hosted members of the Irish Travel Trade in London who were flown out at the invitation of Aer Lingus. Seven of the partners came to Dublin to host travel media in Patrick Guilbaud's restaurant in Dublin after the Paris and London events.Delegates included Angela Jackson of San Francisco Travel, Hannah Avol of Santa Monica, Tim Zahner of Sonoma

hocusWright reported that less than a quarter of travel activity gross bookings in Europe happen online, 23pc of a €37bn Market, as it staged its European Travel Innovation Summit conference in Dublin. The event consisted of workshops and the main Centre Stage event, with much discussion about Ryanair’s attempts to update its technology (see more on page 29). The conference heard that European

Caribbean wanted to bring agents to experience his company;s cruise ships at first hand, how they intended invested more in training bringing more agents on board to experience the ships, and told the story of how James Fleming of Sunway had met his fiancee at a Royal Caribbean seminar at sea. Picture shows Ben Bouldin, Steve Williams, Jennifer Callister, Jenny Rafter and Stuart Leven at the event.

County, Madison Fisher of Huntingdon Beach, Andrea Alava of Los Angeles Tourism and Joyce Kiehl of Greater Palm Springs. The group were building on the success of the Aer Lingus San Francisco route, which launched on April 2nd and has seen very high load factors through the summer. Picture shows Shannon Brooks of Visit California, John Keogh of Aer Lingus and Emma Westman at the media lunch in Dublin.

company eDreams ODIGEO is the world's largest online retailer of flights with Expedia in third place. More than half of mobile bookings with Expedia are for travel within the next three days. Mobacar was selected as PhoCusWright's European Travel Innovator of the Year Picture shows Tony D'Astolfo of PhoCuswright addressing delegates at a welcome function.

lan Sparling of SAS, Danny Giles of Hurtigruten and Didier Nicous and Rannveig Snorradottir of Tumlare hosted agents in the Radisson Blu Hotel Golden Lane. The evening attracted tour operators form around the city as well as old Scandinavia hands Caroline Martin and Guy Tominaga of Project Travel. Picture shows Rannveig Snorradottir addressing the guests, She gave an illus-

anya Airey of Sunway, shown speaking with Sami Tounsi of Tunisia Tourist Board in the background, launched Sunway’s Tunisia brochure in Brasserie Le Pont Dublin, on a hot June afternoon. Sami Tounsi gave a presentation on Tunisia and the five key selling points for the trade to help them sell a market that had 5,674 Irish visitors in 2013 but once had 24,000 charter seats from

ight travel agents travelled to Toronto courtesy of Air Canada Rouge and Travelcube on the direct service from Dublin. The group was hosted by Jens Bachmann of Air Canada/Premair and Peter Friedrich of TravelCube. They explored Toronto’s helicopter and jet boat tours, wine-tasting, shopping opportunities and visited Niagara Falls.

trated tour of the different Scandinavian countries handled by DMC Tumlare. Tumlare has grown since its opening in Copenhagen opening four years ago. We can support GIT and ground handling all over Scandinavia and not just Scandinavia. “We were the first destination management company to open an office in all Scandinavian countries. price ourselves in our B2B model. We deal only with agents.”.

Dublin when Panorama and Falcon served the market in 2002. Sunway’s 20-page 2014 Tunisia brochure features 15 hotels in four resorts, in Hammamet, Yasmine Hammamet, Port El Kantaoui, and Sousse. The brochure advises holiday makers who encounter the Medinas that “the best way to shop in this maze is to wander aimlessly and stumble across whatever takes your fancy.”

Picture shows Peter Friedrich of TravelCube, Jens Bachmann of Air Canada GSA, Kathleen Kinane of Clubtravel, Renee Kennedy of FcM, Mary Murphy of Corporate Travel Management CTM, Ailish Berkeley of Travel Department, Kieran O’Doherty of Premier Travel, Jasmine Kim of Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Stephen Aston of Clubworld Travel and Rory Campbell of Trailfinders.

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ATE 2014

RESTAURANT Australia was

launched at ATE by Craig Squire chef and owner of Ochre restaurant. Tourism Australia's new Restaurant Australia campaign has attracted 700 Australian businesses so far sharing eating and drinking tourism experiences.

APP Tourism Australia launched a new travel app, developed by Australian Traveller magazine, which covers 200 products and experiences across 16 of Australia's natural icons. Cairns provides the gateway to two of the 16, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics.

ULTIMATE WINERY The Lane Vineyard in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia joined the Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia.

SYDNEY BridgeClimb launched The Vivid Climb, the first interactive light installation at the Summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

QUEENSLAND Crystalbrook

Lodge, located in Queensland's Northern Outback joined Luxury Lodges of Australia

QUEENSLAND SilverNeedle® Hospitality is to open their new flagship brand, NEXT Hotel® Brisbane in September, the first NEXT hotel worldwide..

BRUNEI Dermot Mannion’s Royal

Brunei Airlines launched its "Betterfly" Dreamliner service from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Brunei International Airport and onwards to London via Dubai.

QUEENSLAND Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda opened a new Treehouse Restaurant to the public.

MELBOURNE The Langham unveiled six new Grand Balcony Rooms

ACT VisitCanberra launched a new Website and App.

S AUSTRALIA Coober Pedy launched a campaign claiming to be the Best Sleep in the World.

QUEENSLAND Scenic Rim Trail Walk by Spicers joined Great Walks of Australia.

NSW Emirates Wolgan Valley was named Top Hotel in Australia by TripAdvisor

QUEENSLAND Skybury Farmgate Australian Coffee Centre in Mareeba is to open in May as owners Ian and Marion MacLaughlin look to double coffee production over the next five years.

MELBOURNE was announced as host city for ATE in 2015.

n Eoghan Corry travelled to Australia with Emirates who fly Dublin to Dubai daily at 13.50, due to increase to double daily on Sept 1, and who have 84 weekly connections to five Australian cities Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney and a further 14 connections with partners Qantas, as well as connectivity with Qantas domestic network.

6 states: 6 worlds

Nick Mayland’s travmedia’s successful media event

ach of the states attending Australian Tourism Exchange in Cairns has exciting new product to offer, with Perth in particular seeing a long-awaited boost to the hotel pipeline. Details of the programmes were disclosed to International Media Marketplace organised by Nick Wayland’s Sydney based Travmedia which made a hugely successful debut in its own right. It gathered together 79 of the world’s leading travel media from 20 countries at Palm Cove in advance of Australian Tourism Exchange.

RESTAURANT AUSTRALIA LAUNCH Sandra Chipchase of Destination NSW presenting at ATE INN 2014

ourism Australia launched their new Restaurant Australia campaign at Australian Tourism Exchange in Cairns. “International tourists spend $4.1bn on food and wine experiences in Australia. We are going to drive that to $5bn,” Tourism Australia CEO John O’Sullivan says. “Tourism is a fashion industry,” Nick Baker of Tourism Australia says. “People do not realise that. Places fall in and out of vogue. If you don’t flex with that you can’t expect to gain anything. Nothing remains the same. “We are now more oriented to-

wards fashion as an industry. Consumers asked us what we were doing with the image of Australia as a food destination.” “If you look at the TV schedules. The prime time slots that were once occupied by travel programmes are now being occupied by food and wine programmes. Food and wine equates to travel” “We believe we have very good restaurants. We see this as an opportunity for the industry to get behind this.” Travel Extra asked Nick Baker when the image of Australia had changed form another shrimp in the Barbie to a genuine food destination.

“Australia has always been a café society, a breakfast society, because of the Italian influence. We celebrate coffee. So many Australians have gone fanatical about coffee. When we had a strong coffee culture, people began to say why don’t we do something about food.” “We are known for our scenery and our beauty. We are famous for our produce. It is not a longbow to think you can bring those two thing together.” “One of the things that is key is food security for people. Chefs look great produce. When you ask the great chefs why they come to Australia they say the produce.”

s a result of the success of Australian tourism exchange in Cairns Darwin, Hobart and even Alice Springs have been mentioned as potential venues for Australia's annual tourism showcase. Bringing ATE to Cairns promised to be filled with obstacles. All of them were overcome. Delegates reported the small town feel of ATE14 had become an added attraction of the event. “The great thing about the event is the way the Cairns community engaged with it,” John O’Sullivan CEO of Tourism Australia says. “The model is a rotational model, we partner with a state or territory. We are working with the states on further plans. Coming to a regional location has been different and

constructive.” “Booths are standard, and the onus on the sellers is greater. The general view is they kind of like the generic feel because it has allowed them to focus on selling their product.” As it to reinforce the change, Tourism Queensland personnel had concept tee-shirts printed with the location and dates of previous ATE’s. It meant a cap of two delegates per booth as the 1,400 delegates were shoe-horned into a smaller space and Queensland, Tasmania and NT were accommodated in an overspill marquee. It was estimated sellers saved $1m in booth construction costs as booths became subtler. In the absence of a large food hall, food was served at 18 stations and turned out to be the best on the travel convention circuit.

After-hours saw some spectacular parties, Fiona Lawless, formerly of Etihad Dublin and now based in Queensland was among the guests at the opening party where Craig Squire of Red Ochre organised the catering. Meanwhile the vessels of Cairns’ 15 different Barrier Reef cruise companies sailed by. A spectacular light tube arrangement covered the closing party offered a fusion of different foods and fine wines under the ambit of Restaurant Australia with an inspiring video After the show delegates embarked on 40 odd published famils (as well as 14 individual itineraries) and eight media famils. On the Sunday prior to ATE, 50 media were hosted on seven different cruises on the inner and outer reef.

ATE MAY GO TO DARWIN, HOBART

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ATE 2014

Double daily growth wish

ew Tourism Australia CEO John O’Sullivan said he expected the slight (0.4pc) decline in Irish visitors last year to turn into a big increase this year with the introduction of double daily services to the Middle East from Dublin to both Abu Dhabi (with Etihad from July 15) and Dubai (with Emirates from Sept 1). Ireland is Australia’s 19th most important inbound market. Tourism Australia say 60,600 Irish short term visitors travelled to Australia in 2013 down 1.1pc on the 2012 figure of 61,300. Denise Von Wald of the London office of Tourism Australia said that Irish visitors to Australia stay longer and spend more per head than any other major market. “We think Irish numbers are going to come back with that increase in flight capacity.” “Irish and European visitors go deep into the country. They are really important to South Australia, Western Australia the Northern territories. They are 55 plus, and they collect long haul travel experiences. “In any survey Australia is either number one or number three most preferred destination for travel experiences.” “Our big challenge is

Tourism Australian wants Irish to grow 6-7pc per annum

Journalists interviewing John O’Sullivan at Australian Tourism Exchange

to get off that wish list, I will do this some day, and get on that shopping list.” “The over 55s form ireland stay on average more than 21 days. Even if we hang on to our share of the over 55s we are going to get more visitors.” Leisure visitors from Ireland, average spend for 2013 is estimated at $6,345 for an average stay of 58 nights, which is

twice as long as that of an average leisure visitor. For visitors from Ireland, average spend for 2013 is $8,322 over an average stay of 76 nights, also twice as long as that of an average international visitor. Average spend per night of a visitor from Ireland is $109, counting the work vis tourists who spend considerably less. She says that Australia

Clockwise:masterchef Mark Olive, Tourism Minister Andrew Robb, Fiona Lawless of Etihad in Queensland (formerly Dublin) and Eoghan Corry

wil continue to concentrate on the travel trade in their campaigns. “We continue to talk to the specialists. Anytime we do anything there wil be a call to action. the call to action will be the airline and it wil be our travel partner.” Denise also points out how air fares have tumbled. “The prices that people paid twenty years ago were greater.”

“With Emirates and Etihad we have more capacity than we have ever had. It has driven down fares. You had get sub u3,000 business class fares, you have to pick the date, but they are there.” “You can get to Australia through Asia,” John O’Sullivan says, “what the middle east has done is opened up capacity.” “The message is: keep

coming. We have lots of great travel experiences. It is not that hard and far to get here.” Despite the name, John O’Sullivan is of Scottish ancestry, the O was an addition to make the name sound more Irish when his father moved into an Irish neighbourhood, a reversal of a trend throughout Australia.

s of last summer both of Emirates flights from Dubai to Sydney are operated by an A380. It means that when Qantas’ daily A380 service on the same route is taken into consideration, both carriers will jointly operate non-stop three

times a day with A380s. Emirates offer 98 weekly services between Dubai and Australia, including five daily A380 flights. Last year Emirates introduced a daily Melbourne A380, a daily Adelaide service and a three times daily Perth service.

The Emirates A380 is set in a three-class configuration, with 399 seats in Economy Class on the lower level and 76 fully flat-bed, mini-pods in Business Class (with their own bar) and 14 First Class Private Suites on the upper level with on board showers for First class passengers.

EMIRATES SYDNEY A380 GOES DOUBLE DAILY

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TTM 2014

Eoghan Corry reports from Bangkok

TTM A total of 343 buyers who attended

Brendan Barry of Discover Travel arrives at the opening of Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2014

Business as usual

Despite coup and curfew more Irish will visit Thailand

hailand Travel Market in Bangkok attracted buyers from a record 58 countries. A coup and a curfew, which has since been lifted, could not detract from Thailand Travel Mart Bangkok. Tour operators and travel media from around the world converged on the city with lots of questions, just what would be the strategy of Thailand tourism in terms of what has been a bad Spring in terms of publicity and, for many markets, bookings. The suffering markets did not include most of the mainstream European markets, with their traditional higher spend and longer stay. While China, Vietnam and other neighbouring countries collapsed, the Europeans continue to travel top Thailand. These include the Irish, who have come in larger numbers than ever before. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Deputy Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand, said that Irish tourism to Thailand was up 11.4pc between January and April this year.

Forward bookings for July, however, are down 19pc from Ireland. Chris Lee of TAT in London said the figures were inconclusive, more reflective of a pause in bookings created by news of the coup than anything of long term significance. Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Thawatchai Arunyik was unable to give an answer to the question, what is the strategy beyond telling people that Thailand is safe. TAT has asked the National Council for Peace and Order could be described for more marketing money. A mega-fam of 1,000 international travel writers has been planned for July. An insurance scheme to ensure that travel insurance policies are not invalidated by government travel advisories is being considered. Overall, tourism to Thailand is down 5.9pc and Bangkok down 20pc. Juthaporn Rerngronasa of Tourism Thailand reported that there has been a big increase in inbound arrivals direct to resort airports such as Phuket

Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Thawatchai Arunyik speaking at TTM 2014

and Chiang Mai, rather than via Bangkok, as people try to avoid Bangkok. This is a trend that is likely to gather pace. Both of Ireland’s most popular carriers to Thailand, Emirates (currently) and Etihad (from October 26) will have services direct to Phuket from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. The UAE is one of just two countries that is advising its citizens not to travel to Thailand, which may have an impact on load factors on the Asian legs of those services. So far 20 countries have issued travel advice and 46 countries have given travel warnings, but these have just advised visitors to exercise caution. The Department of Foreign Affairs is that travellers in Thailand should "exercise extreme caution". Trivago.ie reported a 31pc decrease in searches from Ireland to Thailand since the coup; searches to other countries in Southeast Asia increased by 22pc.

‘HONEYMOON IS KEY TO YIELD’

oneymoon couples remains a priority for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Deputy Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand told a media briefing in Bangkok. “Honeymooners spend

more that 2.3 times per head than leisure travellers, she told a media briefing in Bangkok. “They tend to stay in five star hotels. They spend a lot. Our intent is to grow this market, as it brings more return and we have the quality product to offer.”

Thailand’s most important travel trade event. The event was attended by representatives of 399 organisations, up 1.27pc from TTM Plus 2013. The top three countries were China (30 or 10.49% of international buyers), United Kingdom (27 or 9.44% or international buyers), Australia and India (20 each or 6.99% of international buyers).A total of 177 questionnaires were filled out by the 343 buyers who attended Thailand’s most important travel trade event organised under the theme of “Experience with Us” at Impact Muang Thong Thani Convention and Exhibition Centre. Of the international buyers, the top three countries were China (30 or 10.49% of international buyers), United Kingdom (27 or 9.44% or international buyers), Australia and India (20 each or 6.99% of international buyers).

VISA The long awaited single visa for

ASEAN countries is likely to be in place by 2016, The oft-postponed move depends on political agreement but the mood was optimistic at TTM that it would be in place by then. This would mean that visitors would require just one visa to visit Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Indonesia The initiative is the first global implementation of the smart visa system, based on the Australian smart visa system. . A single visa scheme for tourism travel between Cambodia and Thailand, was implemented last year.

GOLF Thailand has 300 golf courses, enough to meet all the requirements as they attempt to grow their golf tourism, Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Deputy Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand said. A lot of the courses are in the Pattaya region designed by some of the greatest names in golf. She said that while more courses would be built in the north and north east in coming years the priority would be in filing the capacity already available. KRABI Airport will be a priority for TAT

in promoting international services. Phuket airport is already very busy while Krabi did not have its quota of international services. TAT wants to extend from Phuket which is very congested to other destinations nearby.

WOMEN are more inclined to visit Thailand in recent years. In the past Thailand was seen as a male destination, but of Thailand’s Number of women to visit Thailand 22.3m visitors in 2013, women visitors were up 18pc, and men up 14pc.Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Deputy Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand said she wanted to change Thailand’s image to be a holiday destination for families.

THAI Airways wil use the A380 on its

London to Bangkok route. Thai is due to move to heathrow T2 where Aer Lingus will be based.

TAT Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor

Thawatchai Arunyik thanked all the buyers and media who supported the event and completed all their appointments.“During these challenging times for Thailand, we need to enjoy the confidence of our many friends and supporters. “

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DESTINATION TUNISIA

unisia is a country I hadn't visited for some years and always wanted to return to. I had the opportunity to visit this year. The country hasn't changed. The Medinas (the old parts of the cities) with their teeming stalls sell spices, kaftans, rugs, ceramics, as well as household ware for the local residents. The people are friendly and when they discover you’re Irish they make you welcome with as much English as they can speak. This country offers so much of a different lifestyle. Bring the children. It is the great opportunity for them to see a different way of life. Although a Muslim country (one can hear the call to prayer throughout the day in cities), tolerance for other religions is universal, with synagogues and Christian churches on the streets. The last time I was in Tunisia, I didn't see any mobile phones, now almost everyone seems to have one.

p the coast from Tunis is Carthage, a Unesco World Heritage site, the site of Tunisia’s most famous ancient city, destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC. The remains of ancient Roman Carthage are the Antoine Baths, among the

Medina Marvels

Carmel Higgins heads for Tunisia with Justsunshine

Caption goes here

largest in the whole empire and the third largest after those in Rome, they are on the sea with magnificent views overlooking the Gulf of Tunis. One can walk through the ruins and feel history going through your bones. The Bardo Museum has a collection of extraordinary mosaics (masterpieces unique in the world), then you can complete the day with a

visit to a pretty town on the hillside called Sidi Bou Said. All the houses are painted white with blue doors and windows, bluepainted wrought iron balconies, against the blue skies. The village looks magnificent. There are lots of cafes and stalls selling ceramics and other colourful souvenirs and all at very affordable prices.

n Just Sunshine are Ireland’s latest specialists in Tunisia. Popular places to stay are Yasmine Hammamet, Port el Kantaoui and Skanes. n Family packages based on All Inclusive concept are the most sought after and the value and quality to be found in Tunisia is unmatched. Prices for one week for two adults and one child begins at u1681. The five star El Mouradi Palace is cheaper than some 4 stars. n Singles are also accommodated for, at Skanes, one adult for one week all inclusive from u714. n Skanes also has some great kiddies clubs for the 5-12 year olds and for 13 to 17 year olds. there are two 18 hole golf courses closeby, theres free windsurfing, pedalos, archery, billiards, volley ball, tennis courts and a terrific spa with treatments from u30. n Justsunshine direct flights to Monastir leave Dublin at 16.10 arriving 19.50 depart Monastir 11.50am arriving Dublin 15.20 times suitable or families if they have to travel from the country, also price includes airport transfers, Justsunshine reps service in resorts and 20kg checked baggage. n www.justsunshine.ie Justsunshine is part of the El Mouradi Group- the largest group of hotels in Tunisia.

n the north of the country there are vines, vegetables, and olive trees in plenty. When selling land it is sometimes sold by the

number of olive trees growing on the land, not by the hectare. Interesting to know Ramadan this year is in July, leaving more room for tourists as tourists from

WHAT’S HOT

n Tunisia has direct flights from Dublin, three and a half hours flying, and great value for money. n Tunisia offers sunshine, miles of fine golden sandy beaches, history, fabulous food, good wine, golf courses, spas and activity for children (check out the all-inclusive 3 star and star at the El Mouradi Hotel resorts). n Excursions to places of interest are very affordable--half days from u30 up to a two day Desert Safari (coach and jeep) for 210TDs about u105.

Sweet reception at a street stall

bordering countries who would normally visit in July will be staying at home and tend not to travel during this time.

MEDINA ETIQUETTE

n A rule of thumb is to pay approx 40pc of the asking price: don't insult them with a ridiculous offer, but neither should you feel you have to buy. Just say thank you as you walk on. n The currency in Tunisia is the Dinar---in round figures it’s approximately two Dinars for one Euro, very easy to calculate. n One doesn't have to stop at a stall for the owners to ask you 'how much lady': it is better for them to say a price and then haggle.

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JULY/AUGUST 2014 PAGE 18

WINTERSUN: THE CANARIES

wo generations of Irish holiday makers associate the Canary Islands with some of the most memorable and pleasant days of their lives, a European destination with duty free cigarettes, year round sunshine and some of the best bars in the business. Last year 31pc of the irish visitors to Spain ended up in the canaires for at least one visit, some many times. If any of the individual Canary Islands was a country they would be among Ireland’s top ten most popular outbound destinations. Lanzarote is the Playa Blanca in Lanzarote and (below) an advertisement for hoidays in the Canary Islands in 1969 favourite island, and received 202,760 Irish vis- makers that Greece and veryone knows n Las Palmas, tour when the first charters its (more than Greece), up her islands does. Languide Bruno Knudsen started arriving from there are more from 174,321, while Gran zarote and Gran Canaria, will point out some of Sweden in the 1960s. It than four Canary Canaria recorded 79.106 the two most popular, the places where battles was too distant for Irish Islands without being Irish. Tenerife reported each attract more visitors sure of the names of the were fought and won, minds, what few tourists 72,419 Irish holidaymak- than Turkey. against travelled there arrived on others: most people get Spaniards ers in 2013, up 5.5pc “The Irish have a speGuanches, against Porcompared to 2012 cial welcome here,” To- La Gomera and stop at a £110 cruise. tuguese, against Dutch (68,671 people). and bias Pujol on Gran that. Back in Collinstown There are seven, Lan- and Ottoman privateers, Aer Lingus were trying to Fuerteventura 54,308. Canaria says. “They like zarote, Gran Canaria, and how the character of work out what to do with The resorts are as fa- to party.” the islands emerged from miliar as those family The love affair, as love Tenerife and Fuerteven- their unique perspective one of their new Boeing members who turn up at affairs do, goes deeper tura in order of visitor ar711s ordered in a fit of on the world, European weddings or confirma- than that. Juana Rosa rivals from Ireland, La expansionist exuberance islands less than 100k off tions or when the Aleman says the Gomera – beautiful but a the coast of Africa with by Jeremiah Dempsey a sun comes out. Irish are the best tad expensive to get to, their face always pointed few years earlier and now Irish people are IRELAND’S clients to the is- the mountainous La inherited by his successor west to the Americas. more familiar VISITORS land of Gran Ca- Palma and the diving as Aer Lingus CEO, “An island people are with Puerto del Michael Dargan. “We idyll of El Hiero. 2005 431,000 naria. Carmen than with Exactly 45 years ago, Canary Islands history receive a lot of 2006 422,000 some of our own on May 30 1967, they visitors: the was defined by their ge2007 474,000 provincial towns. sent it to Madrid, with the 2008 505,000 numbers are as- ography. Fuerteventura It is the most combination of optimism in was the first island to be 2009 449,500 tonishing popular among and the descending feelcomparison with "discovered" and con2010 354,036 Irish holidaymaking that nobody was 2011 397,000 the population quered by the Spanish, ers having overgoing to Franco’s capital 2012 405,201 of the country.” leading to an almost pretaken Santa on holidays. Only Norway 2013 395,682 ordained squabble over Ponsa in recent The advertisements of compares with the islands between the years. the time are full of promIreland in the Portuguese and the Playa del Inglés was proportion of people that ise and possibilities, espeSpaniards and eventual one of the first towns to come to Gran Canaria. cially the possibility of extinction of the indigecome into existence Iberia connections to the Urs Rohrig hosts many solely for holidaymakers: of them at the Hotel Ma- nous people who had south of Spain and the always aware of the it tells us everything we rina Suites in Puerto welcomed St Brendan, world around them,” he Canaries (Iberia was then need to know that Mulli- Rico. He has the needs of the Guanches, after they says. “Here we are more the fastest growing airline gan’s is the most promi- his Irish guests down to a lost their unequal battle aware than most, because in the world). nent of the social venues tee. The Irish spend more against more technologiOne clever advertising every year the world there. campaign visualised what money on holiday than cal opponents in 1495. comes to us in their milMost Irish people any other nation, he says. Within decades the was happening on a lions.” would name Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is our sec- new world had been disSpanish beach in Decemas the resort on the south- ond most popular resort covered and the Canary reland’s association ber “just three hours from west coast of Gran Ca- on Gran Canaria. I re- Islands became the first Dublin.” with the Canaries naria. 10 miles west of count the story of a travel meg-hub of trans-Atlantic Irish travel agents came about, as these knew better. They started Playa del Inglés, than the agent who once sent travel and commerce, at Caribbean island. someone to the wrong the heart of the trade things do, by accident. advertising Tenerife for They attract three times Puerto Rico but he has throughout the empire on The Canaries was an im- 90 guineas. The price the number of holiday heard it before. poverished backwater came down to 76 guineas which the sun never set.

Care free Canaries

400,000 Irish holiday makers can’t be wrong

in 1970, and by 1973 the travel industry had combined to offer the first direct flights, a joint effort to fill one of the new Aer Lingus 747s, for £66. The love affair was born. With the arrival of better aircraft, the islands secured their place as capital of wintersun. The guaranteed sunshine options are limited, Malta, Cyprus, Tunisia, Morocco, Madeira and the four islands. Otherwise holiday makers are flying for eight hours, and often through more than one airport. The Canaries thrived as a tourist haven. Today a total of 12m tourists arrive on the islands, 4m from Germany, 3.5m English, 500,000 Scandinavians and 397,000 Irish. Laly Lozano Martel, for many years a rep with Stein Travel and Sunway tells how the same families would return, season after season from the 1970s, and resume where they had left off. A warning about prices though: the Irish, in common with most northern European markets, moved their focus from troubled North Africa, and the Canaries took up the slack. The key is to book early.

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JULY/AUGUST 2014 PAGE 19

LANZAROTE the favourite, is the most volcanic of all, the Isla de los Volcanes, It measures just 40 miles from north to south and 13 miles east to west. The landscape is stark and stony, peppered with 300 volcanic cones, a moonscape that leads to lush valleys full of vegetation. Unesco declared the entire island a biosphere reserve in 1993. New development must be balanced against the need to preserve the island’s heritage and environment. That means that the tourist resorts, noisy and boisterous as they are, are easy to escape. The best trip is to Timanfaya the so called Fire Mountains to have lunch cooked by the volcano. The lava slopes and craters can be ascended by camel. Cueva de los Verdes (Jameos del Agua) is a memorable system of volcanic caves extending some 3 miles to the sea; they are the home of blind albino crabs, usually only found at 200 metres below. One cavern is used as a nightclub. Montañas del Fuego. You can also take sea trips by schooner to Arrecife to Papagayo beaches. Mirador del Rio in the north is a famous viewing point from which the island of Graciosa (the graceful one) can be seen. Yaiza village wins the "Best Kept in Spain" award year after year for its pristine white painted houses. Each Sunday there is a market in the old inland town of Teguise from 8am. Some operators offer a day trip to Marrakech, a short flight away.

G CANARIA second most popular, has a circular coast road with a number of steep mountain roads striking inland to the central mountains, which reach an altitude of 6,400 feet. In the north are green valleys, pine trees and abundant sub-tropical crops and flowers. The south is dry and desert-like. Its 538 square miles can be explored by tour bus, jeep safari or hire-car. Sioux City, just outside Playa del Inglés, is a spaghetti western film set (the Hard Ride, 1975) now turned into a Wild West theme park open 6 days

WINTERSUN: THE CANARIES

Teide under snow

aweek, with evening shows. The capital Las Palmas, a sizeable city and port, offers the best shopping opportunities, with some good duty-free bargains. La Vegueta is the historic quarter where Columbus called en route to the New World and in the eccentric 18-room Hotel Madrid the clocks are stopped at July 17 1936, when Franco was governor and invited by English supporters to go fight for fascism in Spain. The most famous beaches are in the south, where the Malpalomas sand dunes do a good impression of Africa. Puerto Mogan has a wide range of water sports including jet ski trips and paragliding. If you propose somewhere above water-level, it is also the only place on the island you can get married. If you want to escape the crowds go west to Playa de Guigui, a two hour hike through a roadless landscape, or the slightly more accessible Playa de Tasarte, with its single bar, which has an asphalt road to the last kilometre.

retired. Some theme parks, Sky Park Tenerife, and two expansive waterparks Aqualand Costa Adeje and Siam Park have gone some way to changing that and reimposing its family appeal. There are also half a dozen animal parks. There is no escaping the outstanding excursion here: Mount Teide (El Pico), the 12,402 foot volcanic mountain which dominates the island was once accepted as the tallest in the world. Visitors can also day-trip south to see Las Cañadas National Park with its lush verdant scenery in the Oratava valley and moody deserted volcanic landscapes. There is a 3,000-year-old

TENERIFE is the old

maiden, largest of the Canary Islands at 795 square miles just slightly smaller than Louth, so there is plenty to explore. It has a great variety of subtropical and high altitude landscapes, flora and fauna which reflect its volcanic origins and proximity to Africa. It was the first big destination in the islands for Irish holiday makers but for a period was regarded as the preserve of newly-weds and

Gran Canaria adventure

dragon tree at Icod. There are medieval shows at San Miguel (a "Knight" to remember) and a variety of water based experiences.

FUERTEVENTURA

has almost guaranteed sunshine, supposedly only 15 days of the year without, and is the quietest of the four biggies. There are beaches - over 150 of them - which are considered among the best in Europe, with clear waters ideal for snorkelling and diving, miles of soft, light sands, rising to windblown dunes in places, sloping down to clean, clear waters. At Nuevo Horizonte they constructed Lagos de Antigua, a sea-water swimming lake

with restaurants and shops nearby.

LA GOMERA is mountainous, quiet, unsophisticated, rural retreat for those seeking total relaxation with the options of scenic drives to see the spectacular mountain scenery or serious hiking in the National Park, definitely not for the booze and beach brigade. The island is a popular with Germans, a knowledge of whose language can be more useful than Spanish on occasions, especially in Valle Gran Rey. It lies 20 miles west of the port of Los Cristianos in Tenerife from where ferry boat and hydrofoil services operate to San Sebastian de la Gomera.

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JULY 2014 PAGE 20

DESTINATION CUBA

n the middle of the warm waters of the Caribbean sea, fringed by white coral beaches and palm trees, sits the green island of Cuba - two fingers held defiantly up at Uncle Sam less than 100 miles away. Her strategic location and recent history might make the largest island in the Caribbean seem more a target for news reporters than tourists – but the island is changing quickly and tourism is changing with it. Ten years ago, fewer than two million people visited Cuba annually. Last year, there were over three million visitors. A 30% increase in less than ten years isn’t bad – and the trend is inexorably upwards. The Commercial Director of the Cuban Ministry of Tourism, Maria del Carmen Orellama, told the country’s annual travel fair (Feria Internacional de Turismo) in May this year that the new visitors want a diverse experience.

uba needs the new wave of visitors to see much more of the country than the stan-

dard one-week-in-Havana-and-the-other-inVaradero and the pace is changing much faster than many thought possible. Since Fidel Castro’s illness led to his brother, Raul, taking over the helm, there’s been a relaxation in the rules governing property and businesses. Before long Cuba could change beyond recognition. If people want to see it before irrevocable change takes over, now is the time and not a minute to waste. Hotels are springing up along her northern (Atlantic) coastline while her 4,000-plus islands and islets (known as “cayos”, or – as in Florida – “keys”) make for an increasingly appealing holiday destination, winter or summer. The capital, Havana, also on Cuba’s Atlantic coast, has some elegant boutique-style hotels amidst its intriguing mixture of acres of colonial Caribbean architecture and the occasional example of Soviet-funded brutalism (see the Plaza de la Revolucion as a prime example). The famed vintage cars, a hangover from the

WHAT’S HOT

n Music, music, music everywhere. You had better be a fan of samba. n Cocktails. Daiquiris, Mojitos, Pina Coladas, Cuba Libres. If you don’t like rum, too bad. n The beaches are pristine and the water wonderful. The northern side of the island is more exposed to the Atlantic, the southern side to the warmer Caribbean Ocean. n The new railway line that, it appears, is being built down the central spine of the island should make independent travel far easier and quicker. All hail railways! n Cuban tourism, regarded by its government as an invaluable way of earning foreign currency, is regulated with relatively few corporations, such as Cubanacán, which means less likelihood of scams and profiteering.

Che mo laoch

Anne Cadwallader has a rum time in Cuba

CHldren line up fora parade in Cifuentes

mafia days of the dictator Batista and the subsequent US blockade, are everywhere. Burnished and loved by their owners, there are no greys here. Expect to see plenty of gaily painted oranges, lime-greens, reds, pinks, yellows and pale blues.

avana is just perfect for those who want to

WHAT’S NOT

n Don’t be tempted to go to Cuba between June and September. Not because it’s the rainy season or because hurricanes are more likely. It’s simply too damn hot to do anything except lie on the beach and dip into the pool. n It’s nine hours from Europe – and there are no direct flights – so you’re talking real long-haul here. n Many places won’t accept either debit or credit cards – so you have to take cash (Euro – no US dollars) – and make sure the notes are crisp and intact, no folded corners or rips. n Double check your transfers before you leave home and the day before you intend to return to the airport – and keep 25 Cuban Convertible Pesos (known universally as “CUCs”) to pay airport tax on departure. n You also need a visa, available from the Cuban Consulate in central Dublin. Apply in good time and take advice from your travel agent.

wander and peoplewatch. There are plenty of outdoor cafes and bars where crushed-ice cocktails or the local beers are served in the shade of the trees and cathedrals. Noone ever appears to be in a rush. Don’t miss the “Rum Museum” where a thankfully-short quick ride through the history of rum and its current manufacture on the island, branded “Havana Club”, ends in a free snifter of the amber fluid. Colour is what Cuba has in plenty. Colour in its landscape, colour in its food and drink, colour in its music and many

colours in the mixedraces of its people. And Cuba is surprisingly large. With a population nearly twice the size of Ireland’s (all 32 counties), she is a quarter larger than Ireland in landmass (nearly 50,000 square miles to Ireland’s 32,500) and stretches across 12,000 kilometres of ocean. “Sustainable tourism” which benefits local people is being actively encouraged. One example is the “Las Terrazas” community village not far from Havana where you can stay in a small hotel in the midst of a huge park that offers nature

trails, lakes, mountains and a 800 metre canopy zip-ride. One company offering either the new or old-style of Cuban tourism experience is headed by an Irish girl, Tanja Buwalda of Esencia Travel (+535 3255 239). Tourism, however, is still very much in its infancy which makes Cuba right now ideal both for those who want sophisticated and smart and those who prefer authentic and rough at the edges. So there is more than one kind of holiday you can take on the island: beach-based or a discovery adventure.

n Anne Cadwallader travelled to Havana courtesy of the Cuban Tourist Board as a delegate to Fitcuba Tourist Fair 2014

A dog looks out on the world from a classic baroque house in Santiago

Page 020-021 Cuba 18/06/2014 13:04 Page 2

is said that it is “better to travel than to arrive” and this is so true of Cuba. Five hours on the road might not ordinarily seem appealing – but to this stranger’s eyes, the Cuban landscape and the vignettes of everyday life seen through the window of an air-conditioned coach was totally absorbing. As you travel – at some speed – down the deadstraight spine of motorway (which appears to be largely empty of traffic) the landscape changes from mountainous, to flat with fields of sugar cane stretching to the horizon, interspersed with towns and villages. One in every two cars is a vintage special (Pontiacs, Chevrolets and the occasional Lada). Men (it is usually men) with little or no wealth, as we would understand it, can be seen riding in classic cars with huge cigars stuck firmly between their teeth. Children walk to school in bright uniforms. Local, battered, pale-blue buses take workers to the fields and towns in the mornings and evenings. Farmers wearing straw hats and chewing cigars sit on top of aged tractors, or on horse-drawn carriages, carrying crops to market or taking their wives to the shops. Tourists seem to travel mainly in brand new Chinese-made Yutong airconditioned coaches in red, white and blue livery which speed down the roads. And there are absolutely no advertising hoardings – unless you count the occasional political slogan or a Fidel Castro giant cut-out about every twenty miles or so along the highway. One more interesting one pronounces the (now dead) Venezuelan president Hugh Chavez as the country’s “best friend” (he sold Cuba oil at subsidised prices in return for

JULY 2014 PAGE 21

DESTINATION CUBA

Palm tree in Trinidad de Cuba

Cuban health and educational expertise).

here are historical reminders of the Cuban revolution everywhere, although it’s not pushed down your throat. Villa Clara is home to the Ernesto Che Guevara sculpture complex and museum and the globally iconic portrait of the heroic martyr of the revolution, trembling of lip and limpid of eye, is everywhere. You can visit the Bay of Pigs where a failed 1961 CIA-sponsored attempt to overthrow Castro led to nuclear war coming dangerously close in 1962. (Che Guevara reportedly once sent JFK a message thanking him for the invasion and claiming that “Before the invasion, the revolution was weak. Now it's stronger than ever”.) But back to the here and now. Travelling through Cuba, overhead everywhere fly gracefullooking, huge-winged black birds. They look like eagles soaring on the thermals to the amateur eye but – sadly – they are,

reportedly, members of the vulture family! The massive fields on every side grow pineapple, banana, limes, lemons, mango (the fruit hanging from the trees like dangly earrings), corn/maize and sugar cane (the new bio-fuel which Cuba is planning to use to generate electricity). The animals in the fields vary from skinny, long-horned cattle to water buffalo, horses and wandering pigs and goats of every colour and size. Elegant egrets stalk through the irrigation canals that feel the paddy fields. Saturday is laundry day with jeans and t-shirts hanging on lines everywhere. Every welltended garden is full of either flowers or vegetables (or both). Plentiful road-side bars offer cold beer (my favourite was the 5.4% Bucanero with its logo of a smiling pirate) and rum cocktails. There are new watertowers, electricity pylons, irrigation canals feeding the paddy-fields where rice is also a new crop.

Along the central reservation of the motorway, colourful crotons and hibiscus have been used to soften the lines. A Cuban journey is like no other in the Caribbean. Wherever you visit, there will be samba music and dancing – no matter what the temperature – and the towns all have bars and boutique hotels (I recommend the Hotel Barcelona in Remedios with its vine-clad central courtyard as an example) with genuine and unforced “atmosphere”. Remedios itself has the air of a Wild West Holly-

The ubiquitous Mr Lynch

wood film set. You expect John Wayne to come around the corner on an ancient steed, tie up outside the nearest bar and start shooting the place up.

he town I visited that would entice me back, in particular, was Trinidad de Cuba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral square, the colourful streets with their houses painted in different pastel colours, the palm trees and the cobbled streets. Then the bars – all of

which, it seems, were visited by Hemingway. In Trinidad don’t miss the Canchánchara which has given its name to a honey/rum and lime cocktail said to have kept Che Guevara’s men going through the hardest times (Che’s dad was a Lynch from Ireland who boasted that the blood of Irish rebels flowed through his son’s veins).. Or the Floridita Bar in Trinidad, which shares its name with the more famous bar in Havana. Hemingway is said to have announced "Mi Mojito en La Bodeguita, mi Daiquiri en El Floridita!” (ie he drank his Mojito in one bar and his Daiquiri in another). Back in Havana, if playing golf in one of the island’s developing clubs doesn’t grab you, there are also an increasing number of small businesses offering sport fishing in the Hemingway tradition (such as the Marlin group of marinas and nautical services: (537 273 1867 www.nauticamarlin.com). There’s an international sport-fishing tournament every June organised at the Marina Hemingway just outside Havana and charteryachts and catamarans now ply their way along the city’s cornice so you can watch the sunset with a Mojito close to hand and plan your next Cuban adventure.

Page 022 Seychelles ad feature 18/06/2014 13:54 Page 1

PAGE 22 JULY 2014

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

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his archipelago, containing the only midocean, granitic islands on the planet and certainly known to the early Arab sea-farers, was a favourite pirate haunt before being colonized by the French in 1769 and the British in 1814. Seychelles became an independent republic within the Commonwealth in 1976. The islands are predominantly Roman Catholic with an ethnic mix every bit as diverse as the makeup of its islands. In an ecologically compromised world Sey-

chelles offers sanctuaries for numerous endemic species of flora and fauna that are amongst the rarest on earth. The islands are also home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: The Vallée de Mai, upon whose ancient palms grows the wondrous Coco-de-mer and fabled Aldabra, largest raised atoll in the world. Throughout the islands are to be found unparalleled opportunities for sailing on bare-boat or skippered yacht, deep-sea and flyfishing as well as a broad diversity of dive experiences. Seychelles also boasts excellent eco-holidays, walks & trails, spa & wellness vacations, island-

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JULY 2014 PAGE 24

AFLOAT

IRISH FERRIES CEO Eamonn Rothwell said Irish tourism authorities can be tempted to become “wound up in exotic markets” when Britain should be more of a focus. Irish Ferries said it carried 95,000 cars in the 20 weeks up to May 17 up 5pc on the same period last year. Car passenger numbers were up in line with the car volumes but foot passengers fell leaving total passenger volumes in line with the previous year at 441,100. ROYAL Caribbean Cruises launched its

2015/16 brochure. The cruise line will return to Dubai, itineraries which were very popular with the Irish trade. Royal lost market share in ireland last year when it dropped itineraries from Palma and Malaga.

AUSTRALIA has emerged as the

fastest growing cruise market in the world, according to figures compiled by CLIA. Ireland and Britain was up just 1pc.

ROYAL Caribbean's Quantum of the

Seas suffered u50,000 of damage after fire broke out June 5 at the shipyard where it is being constructed.

OCEANIA cabins have been upgraded with new decor. Updates to the Owner's and Vista Suite bathrooms include marble and granite materials. The Penthouse Suites received all-new furnishings.

HOLLAND America Line's Volendam will feature 21 new lanai cabins as well as Mix, a new bar area, when the ship emerges from dry dock in December.

ROYAL Caribbean is testing a new seafood restaurant on Radiance of the Seas during its Alaska summer season. Rita's Crabshack, located in the Windjammer aft where Rita's Cantina used to be, serves fresh seafood - Alaskan King crab, of course, as well as chowder, fish and chips, and crab cakes - and craft beer from Alaskan Brewery Company. Price is a la carte and it's only open for dinner. P&O Cruises has upped gratuity charges across its seven-ship fleet from £3.50 per day to £3.95. The gratuities are automatically added, and are applicable to over-12s only.

BUS Éireann Eurolines added extra coach

and ferry services from Dublin to Birmingham and London for the summer. The additional services will run until September 13.

BRITTANYFerries is offering 15pc off

all Cork-Roscoff regular ferry fares and onboard accommodation when passengers book a minimum four night’s accommodation. The offer excludes special offers and promotions.

IRISH Ferries announced a family pack-

age of a three-night stay in Best Western Tillington Hall Hotel in Stafford in connection with the new CBeebies Land at Alton Towers.

NORWEGIAN Cruise Line launched

new marketing and sales tools and an enhanced agent on-board rewards programme.

NEW ORLEANS will no longer be

a homeport for Royal Caribbean.

Keel of dreams Marie Carberry reports from St Nazaire

ravel writerss who went to cover one big cruise story were unexpectedly presented with another. Last in the evening at the keel laying ceremony for the third Oasis-class ship at the STX shipyard in SaintNazaire, Royal Caribbean announced that they would move forward on the order of a fourth Oasis-class ship for delivery in 2018. The ship which will measure 90 metres in height, 47 metres in width and almost a quarter of a mile in length, will be the biggest cruise ship in the world when she is launched in 2014. Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean,who hosted the ceremony with Adam Goldstein and STX France Chief Executive Officer Laurent Castaing, said that Oasis ‘resonates with the public because there is a choice for everyone on board and something for every whim.” The cost of Oasis 3 comes in at around Eu1bn and while he explained that making these spending decisions was ‘intense’ and ‘a little scary.” The ship will eventually eclipse her sister ships and become the world’s largest cruise ship by approximately 1pc as measured in Gross Registered Tons. St Nazaire shipyard embellished the occasion by using its gigantic

1400 ton rated gantry crane for the first time to lower the first grand block into the dry dock. The grand block in question was in vicinity of 1,000 tons and almost certainly the heaviest grand block ever constructed in one piece and lowered into a drydock to become part of a cruise ship. The first block of Oasis 3, the keel, was lowered into place in the drydock. STX France Chief Executive Officer Laurent Castaing said the 1,000-ton keel was 'almost certainly the heaviest grand block ever constructed in one piece and lowered into a drydock to become part of a cruise ship. Goldstein described this as “not a business as usual keel laying. It was gratifying to witness the expressions of pure joy and pride on the faces of the shipyard workers.” “While it is far too soon to say where Oasis IV will sail, with Oasis

of the Seas visiting Europe briefly in 2014 and Allure of the Seas sailing a full European season in 2015, there are no meaningful limits on where Oasis-class ships may sail over the years. “ “Together with the three Quantumclass ships we will have by spring 2016, it’s clear that our flagships will be visible in many parts of the world much sooner than many might have expected.” “When Quantum enters service later this year, she will replace Oasis and Allure as the world’s most fuel efficient cruise ship. And then when Oasis III is delivered in 2016, she will push the boundaries of energy efficiency well beyond Quantum and her two Oasis-class siblings. These achievements are truly a credit to all of the engineers and architects involved.”

ntertainment on Quantum of the Seas will be the "complete package deal," similar to what you'd find in Las Vegas, the ship’s godmother Kristin Chenoweth said a live Google Hangout broadcast from the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. The ship’s 450-seat 270-degree venue will enable audience members to feel like they're part of the performance, Chenoweth said. Two70 will pair advanced technology with dancers, singers, aerialists and musicians to deliver a series of shows that they said “merge the vibrant animation of Avatar with the artistry of Cirque du Soleil.” The visuals will appear via a floorto-ceiling window of digital screens over 100 feet wide and 20 feet tall that will be able to create any scene, real or imagined. Six moveable Ro-

boscreens, which measure seven feet high will twist and turn. The space will also host a series of virtual concerts. All shows will be free, though Royal Caribbean say they are looking at opportunities to charge for exclusive entertainment offerings in the future. Carnival Cruise Lines has already begun charging for some entertainment with its Carnival Live concert series. Quantum of the Seas' Royal Theatre will be home to one other main show In addition to the already announced Mamma Mia, , as well as 3D movies. Sonic Odyssey is a musical show created by 2013 America's Got Talent contestant William Close that combines the music of his gigantic Earth Harp with a 136-drum Drum Wall, a Vocal Percussion Jacket and Violin

Dress. The show also will incorporate singers, dancers, aerialists and gymnasts to tell a story through music and movement.. Quantum of the Seas is the first ship in the much-anticipated Quantum Class. It will bring to the sea innovations like a sky-diving simulator, the North Star -- a jewel-shaped glass capsule that extends 300 feet above the ship for 360-degree sea views -- the Seaplex sports and entertainment complex and Dynamic Dining, a concept that dispatches with the traditional main dining room in favor of multiple, more flexible options. The ship launches November 2014, sailing seven- to 12-night itineraries to the Caribbean and Bahamas, before moving to Shanghai in June 2015.

Big lift for a big project

QUANTUM’S VEGAS ON THE WAVES

CityJet_GDS_Irish Travel Extra_Fullpg_PRESS.pdf

CMY

30/05/2014

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JULY 2014 PAGE 26

LONDON CITY AIRPORT

Access and the city

Aer ial view of London City airprot: the city is seven miles away making the airport attractive for more than traditional business passengers

ondon City Airport is planning big. The airport wants to accommodate up to 120,000 flight movements (take offs and landings) per year, a level already permitted under a planning permission application granted in 2009. The proposals will also allow the airport to double its passenger numbers (to six million) over the next ten years, while continuing to attract inward investment into east London and acting as a catalyst for the regeneration of the area. LCY - based in the Royal Docks and predominantly serving the business and political centres of Canary Wharf, The City and Westminster - currently handles 70,000 flight movements and 3 million passengers per annum. The need for enhanced and expanded infrastructure is driven by three factors n The majority of pas-

sengers travelling through LCY are doing so for business reasons, and want to fly during the morning and evening peaks - freeing up capacity on the existing runway is the only way to meet demand and achieve the permitted level of movements. n The next generation of aircraft, expected to arrive at the airport in 2016, are larger (and quieter and more fuel efficient) and require bigger parking stands. n Increasing the capacity of the existing runway to allow more flights at peak, combined with larger aircraft, will mean greater numbers of passengers, all of whom will still want the convenience and time-saving of using LCY The £200m expansion planned for the airport includes new aeroplane parking stands - to accommodate larger aircraft - a parallel taxilane to optimise runway capacity in peak operating hours and

a terminal extension to ensure that LCY's convenience and speed-oftransit propositions are maintained. Crucially, the airport is not proposing a second runway, or any extension to the existing runway.

eclan Collier, Chief Executive Officer, London City Airport, believes that the expansion of the airport is vital - not just to satisfy growing demand for business travel, but also for the ongoing development of the Royal Docks and the east of London. "The airport currently employs just under 2,100 people, of which more than 60pc are local. The proposed development has the potential to create as many as 1,500 new jobs, providing further employment in east London. "Increasingly, this area (the Royal Docks) is a

focus for foreign investment - the recent announcement by ABP of its intention to build a multi-billion pound business park on Royal Albert Dock is one such example - and the connectivity to business centres across Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East that the airport provides, or will provide in the future, is central to this continuing. "In terms of the wider

ondon City Airport (LCY) is the only London airport situated in London itself. It is just three miles from Canary Wharf, seven miles from the City and 10 miles from London’s West End and linked to all via the Docklands Light Railway. Catering for over 3 million passengers and 70,000 movements annually, in 2012 LCY celebrated its millionth flight,

UK economy, the airport already contributes £750m every year through business and leisure tourist spend, the operation of businesses on site, productivity savings and air passenger duty; and when this project is completed, we can expect to double that amount." London City Airport’s planning application has been submitted to the London Borough of

Declan Collier 36 millionth passenger and 25 years of operation. LCY claims that it offers a unique rapid transit proposition – a short check in, door to lounge, and a shorter arrival, tar-

Newham for determination. The airport has also made submissions to the Davies Commission – around optimising use of existing infrastructure and commenting on proposals for new infrastructure – outlining its development proposals and highlighting its ability to relieve capacity pressure on other airports by accommodating more short-haul flights.

mac to train. 11 airlines fly out of LCY, serving 48 destinations, eight of which were new for 2012, with six further announced in 2013. In 2009, the airport was granted permission to increase its operation to 120,000 movements per annum, which it intends to do by 2023, via the City Airport Development Programme. Further information about the airport and its services can be found at londoncityairport.com.

STRAIGHT TO BUSINESS Be in a taxi or on the DLR within 15 minutes of landing in the heart of London. Fly from Dublin or Belfast City Airport to London City Airport. New from Flybe. On sale now, for travel from 27.10.14

Average direct journey time as sourced from www.flybe.com/proof. Fares are one way including taxes and charges, only available onflybe.com, subject to availability. Advance purchase may be required. Available for travel from 27.10.14 until 28.03.15, subject to availability. Route information correct at time of going to print. No debit card fees apply. Bookings made by credit card will incur a fee of 3% of the total transaction value, with a minimum charge of ÂŁ5.00/â&#x201A;Ź7 per booking.

FLY BE FP.indd 1

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THE FLYING COLUMN Aviation with Gerry O’Hare

JULY 2014 PAGE 28

IMMARSAT mobile satellite operator

is to roll out an EU-wide broadband service for commercial and business aviation passengers. The pocket-sized Knee Defender gadget is designed to prevent the seat in front of you from reclining and save “precious legroom”.

FLYBE commenced three of its six new

European routes from London Southend Airport operated by Stobart Air.

EASYJETis examining the introduction of a loyalty program as the latest part of its plans to attract business clients. Perks could include dedicated customer-service phone lines for the best customers, while stopping short of an air-miles-for-flights offer. It is also looking at ways to offer lounge access at London Gatwick, its biggest base. EasyJet will spend 20pc of its marketing budget on campaigns aimed at Europe’s business-travel market in the year from 1 Oct, versus 10pc previously. RYANAIR topped the table for the sec-

ond year running in Bristol Airport’s annual Tracker Awards. The scheme measures compliance with departure routes set up to minimise noise disturbance.

LUFTHANSA launched a promotion for their new Premium Economy class with a range of special promotional return fares for Irish passengers travelling from Dublin. Premium Economy is now available for booking on flights flown by Boeing 747-8 aircraft from December 10th.

CATHAY Passengers may soon be able to bid online for an upgrade to a premium class cabin VIRGIN Galactic signed a deal with the US Federal Aviation Authority, which will allow it to charter space flights from a base in New Mexico as early as August.

BRITISH Airways added a burger to its first class menu the "Flying Burger" developed by a team of chefs using three different cuts of British beef, picture shows BA Chef Mark Tazzioli with the BA Burger. TURKISH Airlines are considering Belfast to Istanbul. Turkish new routes this year include Asmara, Catania, Luanda, Bamako, Conakry and Cotonou. There will be 35 more new routes to until end of this year. The Turkish Airlines pilot recruitment roadshow came to Ireland on June 12-13. Currently 16 Irish pilots work for Turkish.

KERRY-Dublin passengers were up 40pc in April.

CITYJET and Travelport announced the

successful complete integration of the airline with Travelport. This enables Travelport connected travel agencies using Galileo and Worldspan to take advantage of bookability of CityJet fares and ancillaries within their normal workflow.

B/E AEROSPACE which em-

ploys 800 people at its factory in Kilkeel, Co Down - is to reorganise by splitting into two independent companies.

test flight on the A350 with cabin crew posing as passengers and real Air France cabin crew

A350 thumbs up

Test flights with passengers for craft ordered by Lingus

he Airbus A350 has passed its most rigorous test programme yet in advance of its coming into service later this year. Airbus says its five new A350 XWB commercial aircraft consisting of manufacturer’s serial numbers MSN1, MSN2, MSN3, MSN4 and MSN5 have already accumulated 2,000 total flight hours in more than 500 test flights. The test programme continues against a background of uncertainty created by Emirates’ cancellation of seventy Airbus A350s although the International Bureau of Aviation said the cancellation will not immediately impact values. The first test flights have taken place flights operated in a real airline environment with Air France and Lufthansa cabin crew and with almost 250 passengers on board comprising Airbus employees, and some 30 cabin experts from Airbus and equipment manufacturers. Airbus shares fell 3pc after Airbus

lost 9pc of its order for the new jets which cost $15bn to develop over eight years. The decision follows ongoing discussions with the airline in light of their fleet requirement review, as demonstrated by their order of 50 additional A380 at the last Dubai Airshow and their continuous interest in the program. Harald Wilhelm, Airbus Groups CFO, said the manufacturer plans to deliver one or two aircraft this year, 10 to 15 by 2015 and reach a production rate of 10 per month late 2018. Two of the test craft have been equipped with a cabin. Paving the way for the A350 XWB’s planned certification and subsequent fourthquarter service entry with Qatar Airways this year, the flight-test program is scheduled to last just more than 12 months and accumulate approximately 2,500 flight hours, with specific duties assigned to each of Airbus’ five developmental A350 XWB aircraft: n MSN1: Initial handling qualities; natural icing campaign; systems and

powerplant testing. n MSN3: High altitude (in Bolivia) and cold weather (in Canada) testing; performance measurement; hot and cold weather campaigns; systems and powerplant testing. n MSN2: Cabin certification testing; early long flights; in-flight entertainment (IFE); cabin hot and cold tests, including the aircraft’s current visit to the McKinley Climatic Lab in Florida, USA and flights operated in a real airline environment . n MSN4: External noise and lightning tests; avionics development and certification; training for first customer pilot and maintenance teams. n MSN5: Cabin operability training; route-proving; ETOPS (Extended range Twin Operations) certification. It was speculated Emirates cancellation of their A350 order could open the door for Aer Lingus, which has nine aircraft on order for delivery form 2016 on, or even for Ryanair Transatlantic.

EU DISMAY AT US RESOLUTION

orwegian Air International complained US House of Representatives legislation “includes language attempting to pressure the US Department of Transportation into denying Norwegian Air International's application.”

Siim Kallas, vice president of the European Commission and Commissioner in charge of transport, said “I think any decision not to allow Norwegian Air to fly would be entirely against the spirit of the open skies agreement,” “I would hope that in the

end,” he said, “openness will win and that we won’t have to get the lawyers involved.” The Air Line Pilots Association trade union commended an amendment passed unanimously by voice vote by the US House of Representatives

as helping “safeguard the US airline industry’s ability to compete on a level playing field by making certain that federal transportation funds are not used to grant foreign airlines that violate US law or the US-EU Air Transport Agreement access to US markets.”

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JULY 2014 PAGE 29

RYANAIR took advantage of 5 early Boeing 737-800 deliveries offered by Boeing in early 2015 increasing the order to 180 aircraft. The 2014 deliveries are cheaper than 1999 deliveries and will lead to lower unit costs but Michael O’Leary told investors that winter ownership of 11 new Boeing 737-800s for 6 months had generated little revenue.

COMPARETHEFAIR Bob Haugh launched Comparethefare.ie, a new, free service that will directly compare Aer Lingus and Ryanair flight prices. THOMAS COOK Airlines is to fly three long-haul flights from Belfast Airport to Orlando and Las Vegas for summer 2015. The airline will operate two flights to Orlando onboard a newly refurbished Airbus A330 on June 30 and July 7, 2015. A one-off flight to Las Vegas will take place on July 5, 2015, returning a week later.

RYANAIR launched a city travel section

Stobart Air have painted an aircraft in their own new livery to enable the craft to be used as a substitute for its Aer Lingus Regional and Flybe franchise operations. Mike Kelly’s pictures shows the new livery and logos. Pictures by Mike Kelly

Then there were 2 Irish based Stobart Air commences Flybe franchise

tobart Air, formerly known as Aer Arann, have commenced franchise operations with Flybe from London Southend to Europe. Stobart are to base two ATR72500s out of Southend for Flybe operations. New Flybe branded routes to Rennes, Münster Osnabrück and Groningen are operated by Stobart Air as part of a franchise agreement between the two airlines. Stobart Air has targeted 200,000 passengers on

its six new London Southend services in the first full year of operations, rising to 700,000 passengers within three years. Stobart reported their busiest ever day, 5,525 passengers booked to travel on May 23rd. For the first time 100 flights operated on a single day. Stobart Air, a franchise flying specialist, operates 764 flights per week across 33 routes from 22 departure points throughout England, France,

YEAR ROUND DUBLINMUNICH 2W IN WINTER

ufthansa announced that the Dublin to Munich service is to become a year round service following the success of the seasonal summer flights. The service will operate Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays during November and March, reducing to twice weekly (Wednesday and Sun-

day) between December and February. Christian Schindler, Lufthansa UK and Ireland GM, said: “We have seen a continual increase in demand on our Dublin to Munich summer service since it was introduced in 2008 and have increased the frequency of the flights accordingly. Developing the route

into a year round service is the obvious next step. It reinforces our commitment to meet the expectations of our Irish passengers and also confirms the continuing importance of Dublin Airport within the Lufthansa worldwide network.” Return fares on the new flights start from u119.

Belgium, Germany, Holland and Ireland. The airline, which employs 420 people, operates services for Flybe and Aer Lingus under franchise flying agreements. Stobart Air is owned by the Stobart Group along with other investors. Stobart Group’s aviation assets comprise London Southend Airport; Carlisle Lake District Airport; Stobart Air; plus air freight, maintenance and airport services.

on its website, ryanair.com. The new guides include hotel listings, recommended things to do, nightlife and shopping guides, maps and other information. The new function includes guides to all 186 Ryanair destinations.

US AIRLINE COMPETITION

A study by the US Government Accountability Office says that there is still healthy competition in the majority of US air routes despite mergers in recent years. The report says that there is only a slight decline in overall competition on US air routes. The analysis looked at the effect on airline mergers from 2007 to 2012, but excluded the December merger of American Airlines and US Airways.

SAA South African Airways will offer a

complimentary baggage wrapping service to customers travelling out of Johannesburg.

AER LINGUS Regional recorded a 35pc increase in passenger numbers for May 2014. The airline flew 122,079 passengers, 31,580 compared to May 2013.

RYANAIR are to carry over their routes

from Shannon to Beauvais, Berlin, Fuerteventura, Krakow and Warsaw to winter 2014-5.

FUNWAY Holidays signed an agreement with Aer Lingus to sell services to the US.

RYANAIR announced an u850m Euro

Bond at 1.875pc, fixed for seven years. The airline said this is part of its plans to access debt capital markets to source financing for its new 180 Boeing 737-800 order.

FLYBE reported a 6.9pc increase in pas-

senger number in the UK for 2013/14 despite a 1.4pc reduction in seat capacity. The group also reported a load factor of 69.5pc, up from 64.1pc in 2012/13. See here for the full results.

PASSPORTS Interpol’s chief called for more airline action on stolen passports.

GATWICK hosted an event for cus-

tomers to see its refurbished Service Centre.

Christian Schindler

RYANAIR said Tuesday 10 June was its heaviest day ever for bookings.

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AMERICAN The newly amalgamated

American Airlines and US Airways launched its first service at Shannon with the reopening of the summer route to Philadelphia Airport. The service will run until September 2. RYANAIR carried the most international passengers last year, according to IATA. The airline carried 81.3m international passengers last year. Easyjet came in second with 52.7m and Lufthansa third with 50.7m. Ryanair carried 8.2m passengers in May with over 89pc of its flights arriving on-time, down 5pc from the same period last year. The airline blames the French ATC strikes for the decrease. According to the Ryanair’s customer statistics for May, the number of complaints per 1,000 passengers is down from 0.42 to 0.35, but the number of bag complaints per 1,000 passengers has increased from 0.33 to 0.41. 99pc of complaints were answered within seven days, which matches last year’s figure. The airline attributed passenger growth to their “new website, allocated seating, a free second small carry-on bag and PED use on all flights”.

MH370 A fundraising campaign has been launched by the families of missing Malaysian flight MH 370 to try and find more information of its whereabouts. ETIHAD Airways announced that it will withdraw from Skytrax including the Skytrax World Airline Awards and the Skytrax Audit.

SHANNON Airport and Bank of Ire-

land will host a ‘night-run’ in aid of the Samaritans. Over 1,000 runners will trek Shannon’s 5km runway. The event will take place on July 4 at 11pm and participants can register online at sportstiming.ie. Entry fee is u20. RYANAIR reported full year net profit of €523m, traffic up 3pc to 81.7m and load factor up 1pc to 83pc. The airline’s push for new passengers has targeted a profit increase. CEO Michael O’Leary said Ryanair is falling behind, and we can learn from easyJet. Ryanair will need to sell less seats through summer season and full year yield will be up 2pc and unit costs will be flat. Ancillary revenues were up 17pc in the last 12 months.

UNITED Airlines’ Mileage Plus pro-

gramme will earn award miles based on the price of their ticket, rather than by distance flown from March 1, 2015. Members will earn five miles for every dollar spent.

ETIHAD Gabriele Del Torchio said Ali-

talia will have to cut 2,200 jobs to meet the conditions of Etihad’s u560m deal to invest in the airline.

RYANAIR launched a branding agreement with National Express.

AER LINGUS passenger numbers

rose by 2.4 pc in May. Short haul passenger numbers fell by 3.5 pc in May 2013, long haul numbers were up 20.6 pc last month. Aer Lingus Regional passenger numbers rose 35.6pc to 122,000, load factor was down 1.1 pc.

RYANAIR launched its new Knock to Glasgow service.

Emirates ops top Dubai carrier wins inaugural IAA aviation award

mirates won the Aviation company of the year award at the inaugural Aviation Industry Awards, sponsored by the IAA, in Dublin. Nineteen winners were chosen from more than 120 entries and received their presentations before an attendance of 550. The full list of award winners was: n Outstanding Contribution to Irish Aviation Award: Tony Ryan (posthumous) n Aircraft Operator Award Emirates n Aviation Leasing Achievement Award Avolon Safety Award Installation and Use of Stop Bars and Stop Bar Violation Monitoring Dublin Airport n Aviation Innovation Award Eirtech n Aviation Military Achievement Award Brigadier-General JBConnor n Airport Achievement Award Shannon Airport Authority n Aviation Export Award Botany Weaving n MRO of the Year Award Dublin

Anita Thomas of Emirates, Minister Leo Varadkar, Margaret Shannon of Emirates and Michael Meagher at the Irish Aviation Awards Aerospace Limited tion Award Bray Air Spectacular Simtech n Aviation Academic Education Award BSc in Aviation Management n Aviation Sustainability & Envi(with Pilot Studies) - Dublin City ronment Award Etihad Airways PeoUniversity ple n Aviation Training Award Shannon n Development Award Training and Aerospace Aviation R&D Award Development Strategy - GE Capital The Department of Mechanical, Aviation Services Ltd Aeronautical and Biomedical Engin Customer Service Award Cork neering, University of Limerick Airport n Aviation Support Services Award n Upcoming Aviation Professional Part M Award Peter Bagnell - Aero Inspection International n Aviation General and Sport Avia-

Heathrow T2 open United flight from Chicago was first to land

er Lingus are to move into Heathrow Terminal 2 on July 9th, ending 24 years of misery for crosschannel passengers. the key dates to remember for Irish people traveling to (or even more importantly traveling from) Heathrow are July 9th, when Aer Lingus move to Terminal 2, and October when British Airways move to terminal 5. For the first time when flying to Dublin from London, passengers will have to pay more attention to what airline they are travelling with as BA and Aer Lingus will be in separate terminals quite a distance apart. The new terminal will means better connections – Aer Lingus passengers to Star Alliance airlines and BA passengers to the BA flights from terminal 5. Aer Lingus check in desks are to the left and near the front and will have several manned check-in desks as well as automatic check in machines. A feature of the new terminal is the bright departure lounge lit with natural light. The Irish departure gates at Terminal 1 were a temporary measure installed in 1990 with an expected shelf life of ten years. In Heathrow’s T2, the walk for transferring passenger from Terminal 2 to Terminal 2’s satellite known as Terminal 2B is a good 600m almost as bad as the walk to the 80-90 gates in Terminal 1, but for transferring passengers it will be a little short of an ordeal. Passengers will have some travelators to help them along the way, but not as many as they should have. The

Mike Rutter of Aer Lingus in Heathrow’s new T2 plan is to get, eventually, passengers to transfer by fast train similar to that between terminal 5A and its satellite 5B. Heathrow bosses say that is a long way in the future. A soft opening of T2 last month helped Heathrow avoid the mishaps of T5 in 2008. United Flight 958, a Boeing 767 arriving from Chicago O'Hare to Terminal 2's gate 38B at 5:49am local time. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales was among the first passengers to board the flight from Chicago and Heston Blumenthal brought his liquid nitrogren recipes to the Perfectionists’ Café, his latest restaurant (right beside the new Aer Lingus lounge). BA and Aer Lingus shared the old T1 at Heathrow, while Ryanair and Aer Lingus currently share the south terminal at Gatwick.

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DUBLIN AIRPORT 2m passen-

gers passed through Dublin Airport in May, up 7pc: 665,000 on UK routes, up 9pc, 1.1m on Continental European routes, up 3pc, North Atlantic routes 207,000, up 18pc, other (mainly Middle East) 46,000, up 19pc and domestic 6,500 up 16pc. All number prefixed by “almost”, so they are presumably rounded up to the next thousand for PR purposes.

DAA‘s Kevin Toland was appointed to

chair the review of the Department of Justice in light of the Guerin report findings. MISSED FLIGHTS American maths professor Jordan Ellensberg says “if you’ve never missed a flight, you’re not doing it right” and claims to have formulated a mathematical equation for the best time to check-in. English travel journalist Simon Calder challenges the professor’s argument.

SOUTHWEST Airlines was fined

$200,000 by the US Department of Transportation for advertising cheap fares that didn't exist.

Kenny Jacobs of Ryanair

FR play for families

Is 50pc off bag and seat allocation charges enough?

yanair Family Extra is now available for all families booking on the Ryanair.com website. The question remains whether their much anticipated move back into the family market is attractive enough, with baggage charges and seat allocation charges retained at 50pc of previous levels. Families can avail of discounted seating, baggage and insurance for children, a reduced infant fee and 5kg infant bag allowance/ For passengers travelling with very young children, there will now be bottle warming and baby changing facilities on board every aircraft, something that most parents expect. Families will also be allowed two free pieces of infant equipment, such as buggies, booster seats, car seats or travel cots in the hold.

They also announced 50pc off travel insurance for children, reduced infant fees (now u20), a free 5kg infant bag allowance. With Ryanair Family Extra, families are entitled to: n 50pc allocated seating discounts on children’s seats n 50pc off checked-in bags for children n Discounted priority boarding n 50pc off travel insurance for children n Reduced infant fees (u20) n A free 5kg infant bag allowance n Bottle warming and baby changing facilities on board n Two free pieces of infant equipment (buggy, booster seat, car seat or travel cot, carried in the hold) n Bringing an approved car seat on board when a seat is booked n A Fly & Save bonus – get 20pc

off your third family flight when your family fly twice. In London, Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kenny Jacobs said families who fly twice with Family Extra can enjoy 20pc off their third flight booking. We will next unveil our brand new app and mobile boarding passes, followed by a tailored business product, as we continue to offer so much more than just the lowest fares.” Ryanair customer improvements om recent months include allocated seating, a free second carry-on bag, reduced fees and a new website. Ryanair will add features such as fasttrack security and will roll business product towards the end of August, changeable ticket, free reserved seating, priority boarding, free bag and premium customer status.

AVIATION POLICY PROPOSALS

inister for Transport Leo Varadkar is inviting feedback by July 31 to the draft National Aviation Policy. Controversial issues including the parallel runway at Dublin, regional airports and PSO routes and labour

rights for airline employees are referred for further study or review. The policy proposes that the State “retain its shareholding in Aer Lingus in the short term and will seek to maximise its value. The State remains open to the sale of its sharehold-

ing when conditions are right and if the right price and terms could be agreed”. It is proposed to establish a National Aviation Forum led by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and involving, to varying degrees, the main

airports and airlines, the finance and leasing sector and the IAA, other Government Departments, thirdlevel institutions, the Air Corps, Enterprise Ireland, IDA, maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) industry, and the General Aviation community.

MONARCH Airlines is the latest carrier to ban reclining seats.

BRITISH Airways has taken delivery of two new 98-seat Embraer 190 jets.

QATAR celebrated 100 years since the first commercial flight from Tampa to Florida.

ETIHAD Airways announced a major expansion of its codeshare agreement with Jet Airways, offering travellers more connections throughout India, and linking India with even more destinations worldwide.

FLYBE announced further expansion at

Dublin next winter, with a 4th daily Southampton service and a daily Inverness service in addition to the 4 daily London City services already announced. A single daily Southend service is also shown on the Flybe website. All operations on Dash 8 Q400 aircraft.

AER LINGUS shows no Dublin-

Southend services on its web-site post 25 October. There is an unconfirmed report that British Airways subsidiary BA Connect has applied for slots at London City for a Dublin service.

JET2 apologised to passengers on a flight from Cyprus to Newcastle after it was forced to make an emergency landing in Bulgaria due to a loss of cabin pressure. ETIHAD Airways will forward a letter

detailing the conditions precedent and the criteria for a proposed equity investment by Etihad Airways that have been negotiated with Alitalia and its stakeholders over the past months.

DUBLIN AEROSPACE Donal Rogers, Chief Executive of Dublin Aerospace, has warned that high overhead costs of operating in Ireland could be a barrier to the firm further expanding here.

SITA is to introduce a new flight tracker function for airlines.

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CORK AIRPORT Leo Varadkar

ruled out making Cork Airport independent, saying that if it were to secure its independence now, it would “immediately be loss-making”. Speaking at a Seanad debate on the State Airports Bill 2014, the minister said now is not the right time for Cork to become independent. “Unlike Shannon Airport, Cork Airport’s operating costs substantially exceed its revenues. To operate on a commercial basis it would require significant redundancies and/or pay cuts, which nobody is proposing,” he said. Ireland West Airport Knock has launched a new mobile version of its website, irelandwestairport.com.

IATA says airlines are forecast to make a

net profit of $18bn (u13bn) this year despite rising infrastructure costs, air traffic management and tax and regulatory inefficiencies.

DAA has shelved a u3m re-branding initia-

tive. “The response to a proposed name change was firmly negative and considered to be unnecessary, unwarranted, a waste of money and potentially damaging to the reputations of the Dublin Airport Authority and Government. It was decided, therefore, not to engage in an expensive rebranding exercise and to use instead the existing acronym, DAA, in lower case,” Minister Varadkar said.

UNITED's Belfast-Newark service will

go out of operation for nine weeks from January next year.United recently celebrated its ninth birthday in Belfast.

LONDON CITY The Bloomberg Hub was opened at London City Airport. It provides news, data and information on a media wall in the airport’s business lounge for business travellers. BRISTOL Airport experienced severe

delays after a power failure grounded flights at the busiest time of the day.

MALAYSIAN Airlines passengers can now check-in a two pieces of baggage within the 30kg, 40kg and 50kg free baggage allowance included in their travel in economy, business and first class.

HAINAN Airlines has signed a merchan-

Caroline Green of Ryanair

Ryanair app delay

Mobile boarding passes in place by August

new mobile travel solution will be in place for Ryanair customers by August including mobile boarding passes, Caroline Green of Ryanair told the PhoCusWright hosted European conference in Dublin. Ryanair is moving from being a pure low cost airline to a hybrid low fare / quality service model, Customer Service Director Caroline Green told the PhoCusWright Travel Summit Europe Conference in Dublin. She said the new mobile travel so-

lution would be in place for Ryanair customers by August - including mobile boarding passes. Ryanair will launch a new business traveller product later this year. Caroline Green said Ryanair is targeting 30m additional passengers by 2019. While Ryanair does not plan on investing in a frequent flyer program, they are considering promotional codes for repeat customers. While she admitted that Ryanair do not have a responsive website :it is coming: She said Ryanair would like to boost positive customer feedback

on the web and is looking for 3rd party research to improve SEO results. Ryanair's ancillary sales have plateaued, but the airline sees it as a key part of their business. She said “Britain is a tough market, a challenging market.” “Ryanair's culture is hard work and delivering what matters to customers - low fares. Ryanair recently reentered the GDS to go after business travellers. She predicted that by the end of the summer, Ryanair would have a bundled product.

LABOUR COURT ROSTER ROW

abour Court chairman Kevin Duffy dising agreement with Travelport. took the unusual SKYTEAM anticipates an 18pc instep of strongly criticising crease in membership cooperation for 2014. the industrial relations structures in Aer Lingus in UNITED Airlines launched a second his preface to its findings daily non-stop service between Dublin and on the Aer Lingus-Impact Newark Liberty International Airport. The cabin crew dispute. The service will operate until August 19. dispute caused the first CHARGES The aviation regulator pro- strike at the airline in 10 posed a cumulative 22pc drop in charges at years, a one day stoppage Dublin Airport over the next five years. which cost the airline IAG International Airlines Group chief ex- u10m and affected 35,000 passengers ecutive Willie Walsh said airlines are “embarrassed to make profits” and worry that He made recommendapassengers would “bitch and moan” about high tions “directed at assisting margins. the parties in bringing a general improvePASSENGER traffic rose by 8pc at about ment in the conduct of inEuropean airports during the month of April. dustrial relations within the

airline so as to minimise the possibility of similar disputes arising in the future”. “The parties should carry out an urgent review of current industrial relations practices and procedures, including procedures for resolving disputes. “In that review the parties should agree to the establishment of an internal forum through which issues in dispute can be resolved as close as possible to the point at which they arise”. He added that the court would remain available to provide assistance. Furthermore, in relation

to the court’s recommendations on the rostering dispute itself, he said both parties should commit to reaching final agreement “through negotiation and where necessary, through final adjudication. In particular, the parties should refrain from any form of industrial action.” On the rostering issue the Labour Court recommended a number of measures including: n The parties should establish a “technical group” to consider the technical and operational changes necessary for a 5:3 roster for short-haul which had been sought by cabin

crew. n implementation of such a roster should be cost neutral and deliver a “high level of productivity”; n To facilitate the new rostering being recommended, the company should arrange to recruit an additional 20 full-timeequivalent cabin crew; n On acceptance of the recommendation, staff privileges, should be restored. Cabin crew working on the airline's San Francisco route are also to be granted a third day off post-duty as per the recommendations.

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GLOBAL VILLAGE

AMADEUS released an insight paper which collects the viewpoints of over 20 senior IT leaders from the airport industry to investigate the business case for adopting cloud based Common Use systems at airports. Amadeus launched Corporate Suite, aimed at optimising business meeting planning.

Inside the Travel Business

WORLDCHOICE’s Don Shearer

has almost completed the work on Worldchoice Ireland new web based communication Hub linking all partners and Worldchoice members. The new web site is designed by Granite Digital in Cork. Worldchoice says it will set the standard for any large retail community seeking a real time communication process with all wholesale and retail partners. This will be followed by the unveiling of other web based initiatives for Worldchoice Members to avail of including a Worldchoice Bed bank featuring all trade partners and a Cruise Booking option which will ink into the communication hub.

ITAA Benevolent Fund sent out an appeal to members to supply information on a confidential basis on anyone who may need to access to its funds. OPENJAW Dublin based OpenJaw

Technologies launched the OpenJaw Tribe Developer Community which supports innovation in travel retailing.

TRAVELPORT launched a cam-

paign to see how technology impacts and helps travel agencies around the country with prizes. Travelport is running a series of full page adverts with the ITAA in the Sunday Independent promoting the travel agent channel.

TRAVEL COUNSELLORS

Ireland hosted 50 of their Counsellors at their Irish conference in Lyragh Kilkenny and 49 guest business partners representing 39 companies, 120 delegates in total.

WINGS ABROAD Turkey spe-

cialists Wings Abroad report bookings ahead of this time last year, itself a record, as a result of their Think Turkey campaign.

DOSOMETHINGDIFFERENT,

which won the preferred supplier award at the Travel Counsellors Ireland conference, have added horse drawn carriage tours and PediCab rental through Central Park in New York and a bike tour through the increasingly trendy Brooklyn area.

TRAVEL CENTRES will launch its own 24-page brochure dedicated to South America and featuring Argentina, Brazil Chile, Ecuador and Peru. Product training workshops around the country are planned to start on Monday, July 1st so that members can start familiarise themselves with a lucrative market. ITAA The association is urging members to keep standard of their website up to date and also their windows to attract consumers. “outdated websites are bad for all of us,” ITAA CEO Pat Dawson says. HOTELBEDS reported high growth rates in the Americas

Rendering of North Star on board Quantum of the Seas

Cruise ship ahoy

ITAA conference places sell out in three days

he allocation to members of the ITAA conference on the inaugural sailing of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas sold out in three days. The conference takes place off Southampton on Oct 31-Nov 2, with the ship pulling offshore and returning to port after three days. Royal Caribbean say there are no more places available at this point but if something becomes available they will allocate more cabins. This is the second ITAA conference to be staged on a cruise ship and the eighth to be staged overseas. Ben Bouldin director of Sales Ireland said “We wanted to make a statement to the Irish market and I thought giving them Quantum of the Seas would make that statement. Ireland like a country which it is rather than just an extension to the British market.” “Hopefully we will see this as us repaying them for their support over the

years.” “There are plenty of people that are not happy that the Irish have gotten this. I believe the Irish agents deserve the opportunity to take that one. “Ireland is going to be and is a global source market for us on its own with a good chunk of consumers here booking Royal Caribbean. Ireland is about 10pc of our business. It can outpace the growth of pother parts of Europe.” “One of the things we wanted to do was get our team structure right. We have done that.”

“We had great support from Clare Dunne; She gets how big Allure can be for the Irish market. She gets how big Quantum can be out of New York.” . “We are evolving. The ships get better. The technology gets better. Quantum is different to oasis. Oasis is different from what went before. We have got to take the agents on a journey. The biggest part is to educate the trade. Stuart Leven, the London based MD of Royal Caribbean Ireland and Britain said “I talked to Clare Dunne in November

and to a couple of agents. This is the first ship that Royal has launched in almost five years.” “The question was asked what if? You don’t have the full ship to play with on an inaugural. You also have the crew being trained in as well. We had to do a significant amount of lobbying. We explained the importance of it. We put together a cracking business case why we should do it.” “We thought it would be hard. Of the 1,500-2,000 people we are taking on it was the easiest one to sign off.

1975 Burlington 1976 Killarney 1977 Killarney 1978 Wexford 1979 Tralee 1980 Ennis 1981 Limerick 1982 Limerick 1983 Limerick 1984 Waterford 1985 Cork 1986 Wexford 1987 Limerick

1988 Killarney 1989 Killarney 1990 Killarney 1991 Limerick 1992 Limerick 1993 Killarney 1994 Tralee 1995 Killarney 1996 Benalmadena 1997 Ennis 1998 Killarney 1999 Algarve 2000 Tralee

2001 Galway 2002 Newcastle 2003 Killarney 2004 Citywest 2005 Citywest 2006 Santry 2008 MSC Poesia 2009 Portlaoise 2010 Malaga 2011 Seville 2012 Istanbul 2013 Granada 2014 Quantum of the Seas

ITAA CONFERENCE VENUES

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Inside the Travel Business

JULY 2014 PAGE 34

GLOBAL VILLAGE

TRAVEL CENTRES has added

Midland Travel in Tullamore and Killybegs Travel in Co. Donegal to their network of member agents bringing the total to 76 outlets.

PASSPORT ONLINE, a website

Stuart Leven speaking at a Royal Caribbean event for the trade in Fallon & Byrne’s Dublin

‘Talk to the 99pc’

Royal Caribbean targets first time cruise customers

oyal Caribbean is calling on the travel trade to boost the overall cruise numbers from Ireland, with the help of its marketing power. “The numbers speak for themselves,’ Stuart Leven, the London based MD of Royal Caribbean Britain and Ireland said. “Less than 1pc of people in Ireland cruised last year. In England it was 5pc.” “We have world class hardware coming in to Europe, world class hardware that is accessible through the Irish airports.” “This is the biggest opportunity for the trade to talk to the 99pc. We can’t reach them ourselves, we need the travel agents to do it for us.” “We want frontline agents to experience our product. We are spending more money than we ever have on training materials.” Stuart Leven says a major trend is the number of Irish people who are now choosing to go to England to commence their cruise. Southampton is now 25pc of our business. “When we introduced our free flights offer in early June we sold more flights through Dublin than through any

English or Scottish airports.” Royal Caribbean lost market share in Ireland last year and Leven says the loss of market share was driven by deployment. We dropped southern European ports like Palma and Malaga and we dropped Dubai. Feedback from the Irish trade has led us to put Dubai back in October next year. He says early bookings for next year are coming in ahead of expectations and there was a good reaction to Royal Caribbean’s brochure launch in June. “You look at the share we lost through deployment, now look at what is coming back in again. Anthem is coming to Southampton, Allure is coming to the Med, you can get in Barcelona and Rome, and you can go to New York), and Quantum of the Seas going over to New York. When you look at why people choose cruises you look at the itineraries. We have put in better itineraries.” He expects the cruise line’s new marquee ships Quantum and Anthem of the Seas to boost the numbers of first time cruisers. “We announced the ship, skydive, north star, dodgems, then we announced itiner-

aries, having done we talked how we were going to change dining with dynamic dining, turning into five restaurants where you can dine when you chose to dine, with Jamie Oliver, then the industry beating entertainment. Never underestimate the strength of Mamma Mia. “ “The screens in 270 are twice as powerful as an Imax. The best way I can describe robot screens is if you get a box of videos and a guy walking in it, people interacting with screens. It has not been done with the technological advancement we have.” “Then you have the tribute bands which are always a great favourite on cruise ships. You chose the right one and you have a great night’s entertainment.” Leven says there is more technology to come on Quantum. With Anthem the facilities and the capability the same, the only difference will be content. This will be announced late August September. Of Royal Caribbean’s Irish business 50pc is trans-Atlantic either to New York or Canaveral or Fort Lauderdale, 25pc goes to the Med and 25pc goes to England.

FALCON PULLS OUT OF FRANCHISE

alcon are to end their interest in franchised retail shops in November. The company told franchise Partners in March that they had undertaken a

full review of the franchise business model and would not be renewing the agreement which is due to expire in November. Franchise partners will “continue to work with their partners on an indi-

vidual basis” and “in doing so consider new and innovate ways of working together.” This is a further move away from the multiples model which prevails in other markets.

At one stage Budget Travel, which failed in 2009, Panorama, and Falcon all had chains of directly owned or franchise stores throughout the country.

partner for Vacation.com, has introduced a new automated social media service for travel agents. ESP posts news, trending topics, tips, photos, deals and questions to social media. Graham Hennessy will become new Ireland manager for attraction tickets agency Dosomethingdifferent.com. Graham has 22 years experience in the trade and joins DSD form Topflight. Claire Docherty is departing Sunway to become sales manager of a hotel in Saskatchewan in Canada, where her husband is currently working. Barry Hammond is joining Sunway from Topflight.

TRAVELPORT has launched new products including: eNett payments for travel agents; further air content that includes fares and ancillary products from low-cost carriers and network carriers; more hotel content; and airline merchandising which allows airlines to distribute products as well as fares. Travelport acquired B2B hotel distribution technology provide Hotelzon, from Esa Karppinen.

INSIGHT VACATIONS All re-

maining Insight Vacations departures this summer have been confirmed as definite, using premium centrally located hotels.

ITAA A survey suggests that dynamic packaging is increasing and is driving up to 90% of the business of Irish Travel Agents. A recent board meeting of the ITAA cited online discounts by tour operators as a driver of this. CREDIT CARDS The ITAA says

progress is being made with credit card providers some of whom are easing off on double bonding. “There is still a lot be to done on the whole issue and it is very slow to get anywhere,” ITAA CEO Pat Dawson says.

CHARTERS Falcon launched their

new seasonal weekly charter services from Dublin to Ibiza and Diagoras /Rhodes and also launched their Belfast to Corfu charter service. Topflight launched their seasonal summer charter flight programme to Verona from Cork Thomsonfly launched their season weekly charter service from Belfast International to Corfu.

IATA Agents are being urged to make sure they read all correspondences on the BSP link as some of the material needs to be answered and can lead to sanctions. DATALEX Travel software firm

Datalex said that transaction revenue rose by 18pc in the first four months of 2014 on same time last year. New customers so far this year include Brussels Airlines (which is part of the Lufthansa Group) and Air Transat, Canada's leading holiday travel airline.

HOLIDAY PAY The Travel Trade is

watching the implications of a European ruling on holiday pay which could cause commission schemes to be reviewed.

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WINDOW SEAT

Busman’s holiday: Philip Airey

Agadir in Morocco has a special place in the Airey household

After about 10 years of this, there was a great family discussion about going on a "Continental holiday.” So we packed our bags and headed off in the car. Two days later we arrived to our new caravan park in the South of France to a little town called Saint Tropez - the Dad had done his research. As a 15 year old there was certainly a lot to see. Travel definitely broadens the mind. Getting involved in the travel business opened up a whole new world. Our eldest was born the night of Sunway's first charter flight to Morocco (he's now 21), so Agadir in Morocco was on our annual schedule for winter sun in those years of fly and flop, when all you really needed was a good swimming pool, the beach and some good wine.

Every month we ask a leading travel professional to write about their personal holiday experience. This month: Philip Airey, joint MD of Sunway

he early Summers were spent in Wexford at Clone Strand - in a field - in a car-

avan. Were Summers much longer then? I have great memories of swimming in the sea and getting so cold that my teeth would chatter for hours after; Wrapping ourselves around hot mugs of tea, barbequing the day's catch of mackerel and washing them down with ice cream sliders - wonderful.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

hat an interesting summer. Those travel agents who feared the July sunshine might bleed red on their P&L have been pleasantly surprised. The sun came out in June, but the bookings did not stop. The specials that flooded our inboxes and papered our agency windows this summer are not as sharp or as plentiful as they were a year ago. Even Tunisia, which is served by

a new operator this year in Sunshine, while keeping its status as one of the bargain destinations of the summer, is not the bargain-bargain it was last summer when only one operator, Sunway, were on the circuit. Ryanair’s avalanche of new routes has kept the travel trade on its toes, but nobody has been hurt. Aer Lingus are happy to fill their aircraft with passengers who did

not originate in Ireland. What next to worry about? Winter bookings were worse hit by the recession than summer bookings. The real test of the resilience of the travel industry will come this winter when we find out if the traditional canaries run is as strong as ever and whether Ryanair’s retention of many of their summer routes into winter will stimulate demand.

But we soon explored more of Morocco (Marrakech, Essaouria, Taroudant, Rabat, Casablanca). They are fascinating places and Morocco is still one of my favorourite countries a real "feast for the senses". As a family we are all agreed (as much as families can agree) that South Africa was our best holiday, the Safari, the stunning scenery, the food and people, So much to do. I have had the privilege to visit some amazing countries through my time in the industry, Namibia stands out for incredible scenery, Sicily for it's food, Thailand for it's people and I have certainly been " educated " on some great trips over the years. It's a tough volatile business but there are some great perks.

IN YOUR NEXT TRAVEL EXTRA: Available to Travel Agents or online August 11 2014

BED BANKS Dynamic Packaging Work your way through the bedmaze SUMMER TRENDS

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96306 HOLIDAY WORLD full page 2015_96306 HOLIDAY WORLD full page 2015 11/06/2014 17:20 Page 1

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96306 50+ SHOW full page 2015_96306 50+ SHOW full page 2015 11/06/2014 17:51 Page 1

Kings Hall Pavilion, Belfast BT9 6GW, Northern Ireland 16th/18th January 2015

The Belfast Telegraph 50+Show will be staged

alongside the highly successful Holiday World Show, entering its 23rd year and firmly established as one of the BIGGEST and BEST attended public exhibitions in Northern Ireland

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• As a group they are more likely to have substantial assets, cash and the time to enjoy life. Whilst they are less likely to have any mortgages, school fees and 9 to 5 jobs. To exhibit please contact

Maureen Ledwith Sales Director +353 (0)1 291 3700 e: maureen@bizex.ie

Paulette Moran Sales Manager +353 (0)1 291 3702 e: paulette@bizex.ie