CANADA A GUIDE TO A BIG COUNTRY THEME PARKS EUROPE’S COASTERS NORWEGIAN B737 MAX MELTDOWN IATA bonds and agents
Irish Ferries WB Yeats reviewed
Aiports burgeoning
R U YO DE A R R T PE PA
IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION Free
MAY 2019
Big Country
What your client should know about Canada 2019
VOLUME 24 NUMBER 5
J O U R N E Y
T O
THE NEW HOME OF TURKISH AIRLINES THE AIRLINE THAT FLIES TO MORE COUNTRIES THAN ANY OTHER AWAITS YOU IN THE WORLD’S NEW AVIATION CENTER
I S TA N B U L A I R P O R T
MAY 2019 PAGE 3
www.travelextra.ie
F
NEWS
Charters return
TUI seats up 79pc at Dublin for summer 2019
or the first time in 13 years a charter airine features among the top providers of seats from Dublin airport this summer. TUI airlines will offer 9.450 seats this summer, up 79pc on last year. Growth indicates some revival of IT charter business. This is more evident in England where Jet2 has become a significant carrier at several airports including Manchester and Stansted. It also follows the withdrawal of Ryanair form the package holiday business, having realised it is a lot more complicated than they expected. TUI customers will once again be offered 1000’s of free child places and low deposits on TUI’s hotel concepts including Splashworld, Holiday Village, Family Life, Sensatori,
.BODRUM Dublin 2w seasonal with Ryanair this summer.
BORDEAUX Dublin 2w seasonal with Ryanair this summer. CALGARY Dublin from Westjet
CARLISLE Dublin 7w from Loganair scheduled for spring 2019. COLOGNE:
weekly from Ryanair,
Shannon
DALLAS
American will link Dublin daily to Texas next year.
DUBROVNIK from Cork
Aer Lingus
Gardens Tampa Bay much-anticipated new roller coaster Tigris officially opened, a 100kmh launched coaster with a 41m drop and a heartline roll which places it among the tallest inversions in the world, on the site of The Tanganyika Tidal Wave which closed in April 2016.
EU v USA The European Union vowed to protect their businesses from the Trump administration’s threat to allow lawsuits against foreign companies based in properties seized during the Cuban evolution, as Trump imposed new travel bans on US citizens preventing them travelling to Cuba. EMPIRE OUTLETS The long
awaited Empire Outlets in NYC Grand Opening Party and Shopping Spectacle takes place Wednesday, May 15.
NEBRASKA’s new tourism motto is
an attention-grabbing catchphrase: “Honestly, it’s not for everyone.”
Tom Randles of J Barter Travel with Antoinette Young and Leila McCabe of TUI at the Travel industry trade show
DESTINATIONS TO WATCH
AALBORG one of two new Danish destinations from Dublin
BUSCH
HALIFAX Westjet move their MINNEAPOLIS Aer St John’s service April 20
Lingus 2019 destination.
IBIZA Shannon’s signature new
MOSCOW: Pobedoa are listing a Sheremetyevo service.
sun route this summer.
KIEV Dublin 2w seasonal with Ryanair this summer.
NICE: Aer Lingus from Cork resumed May 1
LISBON TAP launched Dublin double daily, opening S America
SHENZEN: Hainan started a third Chinese route February 25
see prices plunge on route
Dublin
LOURDES Ryanair 2w will
MALTA Ryanair service form Cork to Europe’s wedding capital. MARRAKESH: Dublin 2w resumed Ryanair route after short interruption.
SPLIT: Ryanair June 1 from
TALLINN Dublin 1w from Air Baltic started March 31
TEL AVIV: Dublin 1w from
Arkia Israel
TORONTO:
Norwegian commence Hamilton on March 31.
EXPLORE THE AWEINSPIRING AUSTRIA Away from Mozart and The Sound of Music, you’ll find a dramatically different Austria. Discover unspoilt landscapes, historical treasures and towns rich in culture.
Lakes & Mountains
TUI is a trading name of TUI Ireland Limited and is fully licensed and bonded by CAR T.O.021.
PHUKET Holidaymakers are being moved from Phuket’s famed Mai Khao beach because the taking of selfies may endanger incoming aircraft about to land on Phuket International Airport’s Runway 9, under a law that calls for the death penalty for the most extreme offences. SRI LANKA will offer a six-month free visa period from 1 May to more than 30 countries. FAROE ISLANDS
will close its shores to tourists for a weekend to honour the Earth Day celebration, which takes place during the last week of April.
ENGLAND The new King Richard
III Visitor Centre was among 76 attractions including museums, galleries, farm attractions, and churches were recognised in the VisitEngland Attractions Accolades for 2018.
VISIT SCOTLAND celebrated
its 50th anniversary and the 40thedition of VisitScotland Expo at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow with 340 businesses meeting 550 buyers from 28 countries.
FRA
was dra on Aust recover a fractu unique
MAY 2019 PAGE 4
THE KNOWLEDGE
Travel Extra Clownings, Straffan, Co Kildare (+3531) 2913707 Fax (+3531) 2957417 Managing Editor: Gerry O’Hare gerry@travelextra.ie Editor: Eoghan Corry eoghan.corry@ travelextra.ie Publisher: Edmund Hourican edmund@bizex.ie Sales Director: Maureen Ledwith maureen@bizex.ie Sales Manager Paulette Moran paulette@bizex.ie t: +353 (0)1 291 3702 Accounts and Advertising: Maria Sinnott maria@bizex.ie Sunday Supplement & Online: Mark Evans markevanspro@gmail.com Chief Features Writer: Anne Cadwallader anne@travelextra.ie Contributors : Damian Allen damianjamesallen@ gmail.com Marie Carberry marie@travelextra.ie Carmel Higgins carmel@travelextra.ie Cauvery Madhavan cauvery@travelextra.ie Sean Mannion sean@grafacai.ie Ciaran Molloy ciarancmolloy@ gmail.com Catherine Murphy cathmurph@yahoo.com Aileen O’Reilly aileencoreilly@gmail.com
Travel Extra takes no responsibility for errors and omissions. Distribution Manager: Shane Hourican shane@bizex.ie Origination: Typeform
Printer: WG Baird Limited Caulside Drive Greystone Rd Antrim BT41 2RS
Contact +353872551675 if you have difficulty getting Travel Extra.
CONTENTS
3 News Where to go,h ow much to pay 6 Hotels: News 8 Postcards: News from the trade 10 Canada: Access all areas
P
www.travelextra.ie
18 Theme Parks: What’s new 24 Bordeaux: Wine city 26 Afloat: WB Yeats still winning 28-32 Flying: Norwegian cancels Cork 33 Ireland: Epic goes for award
34 Global Village Inside the travel industry 36 Window seat: Cormac Meehan 37 Pictures: Out and about
Theme park plans pick the least crowded times. Note that tickets are not refundable or transferable and subject to availability.
lanning a theme park visit can be a bit of a rollercoaster. How can you make your clients’ theme park trip a better experience for adults and children alike? Here are a few hints.
CALCULATE
Price systems can be complicated, and to make sure you are going to get maximum benefit, you need to do your sums and plan your time. There’s no point buying an expensive multi-visit pass, only to find that you use it once before it expires.
TURN RIGHT
Most people gravitate to the left when they enter a theme park. By going right and taking in your attractions anti-clockwise, you will beat the queues to the rides, particularly if you go early.
GO EARLY
Theme park queues lengthen and shorten in cycles. The early comer gets to do five or six extra rides because the queues are shorter. Something as simple as a baseball hat can gain you valuable midday time in the hotter parks such as Orlando and Portaventura.
BREAKFAST
Food in theme parks can be exorbitant, so eat well before you set out. Most theme parks won’t allow you to bring food, so work out the prices in the various restaurants in advance so that you won’t be ripped off. Very often the most expensive are strategically placed to capitalise on lunch breaks or the exact moment teenies are hit by the munchies.
FAMILY
Tickets can save a surprising amount of money. A family of two adults and up to four children aged between six and sixteen can save around $30. The same applies to Duchas attractions
COMBINE
Getting the right ticket can be a roller coaster
at home. Visiting in a group of two or three families is usually better value than just with your own. At some parks, a group of twelve or more qualifies for a ‘passport’ ticket offering savings of up to 30pc.
SUNDAY Evening. This is when the resorts empty, as everyone returns home for work on Monday. When planning your trip stay an extra day and take advantage of the empty theme park and the short queues on Sunday evenings, particularly in parks that stay open late. Sunday evening in February is the best time ever to do Disney Paris, Ireland’s favourite theme park destination. FAST-TRACK
when and where you have the option. The time saved makes it well worthwhile for the small outlay, particularly as the sun climbs or, in Orlando, humidity soars. It saves queuing time
and makes everyone less grumpy, and if you are paying for a day ticket, gives you an extra couple of rides for time spent queuing. There is a snag: Disney’s fastpass locks you into a particular ride. You cannot get a fast pass for another ride until a stated time. So gather fast passes for the most crowded rides early in the morning, and use the transport system to travel between them to do your rides. Tickets are multiple entry and the monorail is air conditioned, so it doesn’t take as much time as the queue would in the first place.
BOOK in advance and online if you can. Ticket specialists such as Attraction Tickets Direct can offer big savings. In Europe, most big attractions now offer internet booking deals, typically offering savings 10pc. Tickets are cheaper if booked at least 48 hours in advance. If you have internet access, you can
Many of the attractions within a region or within the same parent group also team up with one another to offer combined entrance at reduced rates.
LONG -Term The
Americans stay for shorter periods than Europeans at the major Orlando theme parks, so the owners offer us five day passes which can be incredibly good value.
who don’t need to take children out of school.
AGE -specific theme parks can save money and stress. Legoland is the best for teenies, Disney for middle children and white knuckle specialists such as Universal, Cypress Gardens, Knott’s Berry Farm, Portaventura or Alton Towers keep the teenagers happy. But don’t be put off, every park has a teenie section, and Disney has a spectacular under sevens for free offer. The best rides are often found in lower profile legacy theme parks such as Knott’s Berry farm in Anaheim or Six Flags parks around the USA. STRESSFUL
Surveys show that maximum pressure on parents is exerted by children between six and nine years of age. Once you know you can prepare. Set limits in advance.
PROMOTIONS BEWARE BeThese are a favourite device in theme parks, as with hotels and airlines, to boost low season capacity. Arrive in a big European theme park outside of school holidays in shoulder season you will not only enjoy shorter queues but lower prices too. This is a big advantage for anyone with pre-school kiddies or who have unusual discretion days, such as the traditional Punchestown closing for Kildare schools. Checking websites is the easiest way of finding one-off, seasonal deals. Offers include May reductions for those
ware of prices of up to $250 for a ticket if you haven’t taken up one of the discount schemes. There are over 75 different types of ticket types to Disney, so buying them is a complicated business. Watch out for places that have no-child discount like Discovery Cove. And be wary of attempts to up-sell. Merchandise can make a theme park visit very expensive indeed. After every ride you can purchase a photograph of yourself looking terrified for u6-u15. T-shirts at u15-u24 are close to rock-concert rates.
MAY 2019 PAGE 6
HOTELS POWERSCOURT John Malone’s MHL is to acquire the Powerscourt Hotel from Sugarloaf Investments subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to become their 12th hotel in Ireland and fourth five-star after the InterContinental, Westin and Glenlo Abbey.
TRIVAGO sad average Dublin hotel prices are down 1pc to €138 in April (down 7pc from March) according to Trivago’s monthly survey for April 2019. AN BORD PLEANALA
greenlit n Paddy McKillen Jr’s 52-bedroom hotel at the former Howl at the Moon venue on Dublin’s Lower Mount Street. n Johnny Ronan’s proposed 106-bedroom hotel on Dublin’s Tara Street, to take up four of the building’s 22 storeys.
GALGORM Belfast City Council greenlit Galgorm’s plans to develop an £8m 18-room hotel, restaurant and bar to open Spring 2020 on the site of the Holy Rosary Church and an adjacent Parochial House building at 348-350 Ormeau Road. ABBEY ST Property group Marlet
commenced work on a 239-room hotel and 256-room aparthotel on Upper Abbey Street in Dublin after An Bord Pleanála withdrew their appeal.
EUROPE
Hotel & Resort Killarney opened a €3m staff accommodation development, a unique move to tackle the staff accommodation issue which is dogging the hospitality sector throughout the west of Ireland.
HASTINGS Edward Carson is new chair of Hastings Hotels, having served as its financial director since 1972. TEMPLE BAR INN Dhotel in
Dublin is for sale for €45m with vacant possession, along with a ground-floor retail unit currently occupied by Tesco.
WESTIN Dublin’s Westin Hotel un-
veiled a €500k upgrade to its luxury suites by Millimetre Design, featuring Irish handcrafted bespoke furnishings, tonal floor and wall coverings, and Carrara marble bathrooms.
DUBLIN CITI Stanley Quek and Peng Loh from Singapore purchased Dublin Citi Hotel and Trinity Bar for an estimated €12m. AIRBNB Under pressure from US-based lawyers, Airbnb has changed plans to remove Jewish settler homes in the occupied West Bank from its rental listings.
TETRARCH Discussions concluded
without agreement between Starwood and Michael McElligott headed Tetrarch hotel group, owners of Citywest, Dawson, Killashee, Marker, Mount Juliet, Mount Wolseley and Powercourt,
DUBLIN
City Council approved planning for a €35m development on Dublin’s Dawson Street that includes a 117-bedroom hotel and redevelop the RIAC..
www.travelextra.ie
Juliet’s romance
Mount Juliet Kilkenny becomes Ireland’s 42nd 5-star
M
ount Juliet Estate has been awarded a five-star rating by Fáilte Ireland across its two properties, the 32-bedroom Manor House and newly-opened, 93-bedroom Hunter’s Yard hotel. Mount Juliet has a Michelin-starred restaurant, the Lady Helen, a championship golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus and activities such as fishing, falconry and equestrian centre. An 18th century walled estate overlooks the River Nore, gusts can sit for Afternoon Tea in the Manor House with views of Ballylinch Stud or a pre-dinner drink by the fire in the Major’s Bar. Executive Chef Ken Harker and Head Chef John Kelly’s contemporary fine dining restaurant, the Lady Helen, has retained its Michelin Star for 5 years in a row while The
Lady Helen restaurant in m Mount Juliet Hound in Hunter’s Yard, awarded a Michelin Plate, offers an informal dining experience. Newly-appointed general manager
Mark Dunne said: “This recognises the highest standards of excellence within the hospitality industry.”
IRELAND’S 42: The FIVE STAR HOTEL LEAGUE Adare Manor Aghadoe Heights Killarney Ashford Castle Cong Ballyfin Demesne Laois Castlemartyr Cork Cliff House Ardmore Conrad Dublin Dromoland Castle Druids Glen Wicklow Dunloe Killarney Dylan Dublin Europe Killarney Fitzwilliam Belfast Fitzwilliam Dublin
Fota Island Cork G Galway Glenlo Abbey Galway Hayfield Manor Cork Heritage Killenard Holyrood Co Down Hotel Dunloe Castle Inter Continental Dublin K Club Straffan Killarney Park Lough Erne Fermanagh Lough Eske Donegal Lyrath Estate Kilkenny Marker Dublin
Merchant Belfast Merrion Dublin Monart Destination Spa Wexford Mount Juliet Kilkenny Muckross Park Killarney Park Kenmare Powerscourt Wcklow Radisson Blu St Helens Dublin Savoy Limerick Sheen Falls Lodge Kenmare Shelbourne Dublin Trump Resort Dunbeg Westbury Dublin Westin Dublin
HARVEY’S POINT SOLD FOR REPORTED €18m
L
eading hotel in Ireland for six of the past seven years of the TripAdvisor Readers choice awards, Harvey’s Point
has been sold by owners Deirdre McGlone and Marc Gysling to Davy Real Estate for a reputed €18m. In extracts from a
wide ranging interview with Travel Extra in 2013, Deirdre McGlone talks about how it all started with 20 rooms and Thierry Delacroix
Deirdre McGlone
EUROPE HAS MOST STAR HOTELS
B
oldData research maintains half of the world’s star rated hotels are located in Europe. Europe has 50.7pc of all star rated hotels, Asia
21.2pc, N America 13pc, Africa 3,8pc, S America 2.5pc and Australia/ oceania 3.4pc.They listed 23,624 one star (5.9pc), 86,681 two star (21.6pc), 176,764 three star
(43.9pc), 90,755 four star (22.5pc) and 24,923 five star (6.1pc). The number of 5-star hotels in Europe has doubled over the past three years: from 5.508 to 9.112 (Ire-
land has 42). Star ratings are notoriously inconsistent, there are twice as many in Britain as in France, where five stars is notoriously difficult to achieve.
MAY 2019 PAGE 7
NEWS
www.travelextra.ie
4th in the world
Nomad ranks Ireland;s passport among most valuable
F
or the first time in 13 years a charter airine features among the top providers of seats from Dublin airport this summer. TUI airlines Ireland has the fourth most valuable passport in the world, according to annual research carried out by the offshore consulting firm Nomad Capitalist, The Passe/Port Passport Index places Ireland’s passport joint
SANTORINI Overweight cruise tourists have been asked not to take donkey rides up the hills of Santorini as animals suffer from spinal injuries, saddle sores and exhaustion.
RAI The Restaurants Association of Ireland appointed Mark McGowan of McGowans of Phibsboro and Scholars Townhouse Hotel of Drogheda as its new president
FINLAND was named happiest nation in the world for the second successive year by the United Nations World Happiness Report, with Denmark second and Ireland 16th.
PASSPORT CHART 1 Luxembourg – 114 points, 2 Switzerland – 113.5, 3 Sweden – 113.5, 4 Ireland – 113, 5 Belgium – 113, 6 Italy – 112.5, 7 Portugal – 112.5, 8 Finland – 112.5, 9 Spain – 112, 10 France – 112.
SUNWAY selected its best beaches list for 2019: Praia de Alvor, Praia do Camilo, Portimao, Makronissos Beach, Ayia Napa, Torrevigía Beach, Benalmádena, Bitez, The Bodrum Peninsula, Turkey.
CAR RENTAL A survey of six car rental companies in five destinations, Tenerife, Nice, Barcelona, Milan and Larnaca) by iCarhireinsurance.ie showed the cost of car hire ‘extras’ at the rental desk can differ by hundreds of euros. Irish people are visa free or visa-on-arrival in 160 destinations
15th, with five more visa-free destinations added since 2017, Ireland has 114 via free destinations, 46
visa on arrival and 34 still requiring visas. The rival Henley index placed Ireland in 18th place.
QATAR The national museum of Qatar
opened featuring daring architectural concept.
SEAWORLD Orlando became a Cer-
tified Autism Centre
DUBLIN TO FRANCE DIRECT Summer in France is calling. Sail in style direct from Dublin to France on the brand new W.B. Yeats. Take the family, take the car, take all the luggage you want and start your holiday in the most relaxing way possible. Book now with a deposit of just €100 at irishferries.com
Get in touch: Ireland Trade Support 0818 300 400 N.I. Trade Support 00353 818 300 400 tradesupport@irishferries.com www.irishferries.com
N363
Book with A100 deposit minimum 43 days in advance of travel. Final balance payable 42 days before departure. Standard terms and conditions of booking & travel apply. See irishferries.com for details.
MAY 2019 PAGE 8
POSTCARDS FROM THE TRAVEL SCENE
M
eitheal 2019 hummed into action Hotel on the first week in April. First held in 1975, Ireland’s annual tourism showcase saw 600 Irish tourism businesses meet 300 buyers from 20 countries over two days at Citywest, Saggart, Co Dublin. New attractions on show included the Vaults in Dublin, with its live acting experience while Shannon airport came to event as a sep-
E
tihad Airways and the Department of Culture & Tourism joined forces to host 78 key travel in Ten Square Hotel in Belfast on Wednesday and 117 trade at The Loft in Dublin for a night of food, sparkling wine, music and update on Abu Dhabi. From June 27th to September 15th Etihad will be increasing their 7 B787 weekly flights to 11 per week. The event highlighted Abu Dhabi as a cul-
R
achel Lewis of South African tourism and tour guide Siseko Yelani of Uncuthu Tours - one of 11 faces showcasing the nation in S Africa’s guide led campaign - hosted a group of Irish travel writers in the Eastern Cape, taking in the city of Port Elizabeth, Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve in Graaff-Reinet, An award-winning 35 000 acre private game reserve in South Africa’s spec-
arate entity for the first time. The evening event was held in Weston. This year’s event had a new focus on the Business Tourism by the Irish trade, with international business events and conference planners from the US, Canada, Britain, France and Germany attending. The event sees 600 Irish tourism businesses pitching to 300 international buyers and tour operators from 20 countries.
tural and beach holiday destination: the 9km white sandy beaches of Saadiyat, the new Louvre and proposals for a Guggenheim museum. The Jumeirah, Rixos and Rotana showcased their 4 - 5 star accommodation and offered prizes to attendees on the night. Picture shows Gina Liuzzi, Shannon O’Dowd and Karen Maloney of Etihad who cohosted the event with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism.
tacular Great Karoo region, and the renowned tourist destinations of Graaff Reinet and Nieu Bethesda. Picture shows a rain-sodden visit (during an otherwise scorching trip) to Paardefontein Boer War battlefield site for Mark Evans of Travel Extra, Jim Murty of the Irish Daily Mail, Isabel Conway and Iain Buchanan, owner of Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve.
P
icture shows Olwen McKinney of Amadeus with overall winners Shay Mitchell and Audrey Headon and TIGS captain Dermot Merrigan of Irish Ferries at the Travel Industry Golf Society’s second event of the year at Greenore. Upcoming events include Thursday 16 May - Esker Hills Tullamore. Friday 21 June - Palmerstown House, Johnstown, Co Kildare (President’s Prize). Friday
H
autes-Alpes region in France hosted key travel trade from around the world in advance of Rendez Vous de France. Picture shows Maxime Yehouetome of Klook Travel Netherlands, Anne Courcier of Snowventures Sedona USA, Alex Blanc Vea of Marseilles Tourism, Sashko Donchovski of Atlantis Travel Macedonia, Manish Kripalani of Baywatch Travels Chennai,
A
t Aqua Libera Rural Hotel in Aljucen in rural Extremadura visitors can dress like a Roman and eat food prepared according to imperial menus handed down by classical writers. A group of six Irish travel media sampled the experience as part of a visit to Extremadura The visit took in the extensive Roman remains at Mérida , Cáceres Game of Thrones filming location and Zafra, also
26 July - Beaverstown Donabate. Tuesday 10 September - Killeen Castle Dunsany, (Captain’s Prize) and Thursday 3 October - The Castle Golf Club Rathfarnham, sponsored by Travel Extra. TIGS captain Dermot Merrigan describes theTravel Industry Golf Society outings as a pressure free event to network with travel colleagues. Tee times are between midday and 2pm, with a three course meal following golf.
Tina Kanuga of Bathija Travels Mumbai, Anton Ikannikov of KMP Travel Russia, Andres Serrano of Contiviajes Ecuador, Loïc Lastapis of Les Roches Blanches. Front row: Isabel Nicolas of Hautes-Alpes Tourism, Michelle Vallet of Cassis Tourism, Eoghan Corry editor of Travel Extra Ireland, Madhuri Kanga of Ahura Travels Mumbai and Hutokshi Marker of Trail Blazer Tours Mumbai, at Les Roches Blanches hotel Cassis.
known as Little Seville Picture shows Sorcha O’Connor of the Irish Independent, Gillian Tsoi of the Herald, Anne Hattaway of the Sunday Independent, Eoghan Corry, Yadira Chaparro of Extremadura Tourism, Tony Baillie of the Irish News and John Donlon of the Sunday World, at the Aqua Libera Rural Hotel, a recreation of a Roman house, ancient cuisine, massages and Spa in Aljucen.
MAY 2019 PAGE 9
POSTCARDS FROM THE TRAVEL SCENE
I
reland’s Celtic Tigers beat Britain 9-3 in the media golf team match at Druids Glen and Powerscourt sponsored by Stena Line, on April 9-10 2019. After a hard-earned 3-1 lead for Team Ireland in the opening day’s four-balls at Druids Glen, the home side won six of the following day’s singles matches at Powerscourt to run out worthy 9-3 winners. Picture shows the winning Irish
G
lobe Hotels and United Airlines hosted prize winners on a three day fam trip to New York. Picture shows the group at Top of The Rock: Martina Greene of East West Travel, Nicola Churchill of Best4travel, Caroline Martin of Dempsey Travel, Janice Barron of O’Leary Travel Julie Farmer of O’Hanrahan Travel, Ger Dinan of Douglas Travel, Dympna Crowley of Lee Travel, Linda
I
rish Ferries and Normandy Tourism showcased the route to Cherbourg and the attractions of the hinterland of the port to a group of key travel media this week. They sampled the new ship’s faster 26 knot sailing to France direct from Dublin port, with fine dining in the Lady Gregory restaurant and relaxation time in the club class lounge Picture shows a Bridge visit on board
team: Jonny MacCann of Off The Ball / Golf Weekly, Jill Kelleher of Stena Line, Dermot Synnott – Team Captain of Destination Golf, Ann Mooney of the Irish Sun, Eamon Gibson of the Sunday World. Front: Maurice Jay of U105FM / NI Golf Channel, Kevin Collins of Stena Line, Karl Doyle of the Irish Sun on Sunday and Eoin Murphy of the Irish Mail on Sunday
McNamara of Ace Travel and Gerald Rowland of Kilkelly Travel. The group visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum, Top of the Rock, took a boat trip along the Hudson, visited the Irish Hunger Memorial, strolled Battery Park, toured around the city on the Hop on Hop off Red Bus and managed to fit in a bit of retail therapy in Macys and Bloomingdales, escorted by Jeff Collins MD of Globe Hotels and Audrey Headon,.
Irish Ferries WB Yeats, David Gray of Michael Gray coaches, Stephen Moore of the Sunday World, Martin Burns of the Irish Sun, Martine McKenna of Irish Ferries, Simon Maple Captain of Irish Ferries WB Yeats, Ailish O’Hora of the Irish Independent, Front row: Fran Lambert of Normandy Tourism, Anne Sheridan of the Irish Mail and Eoghan Corry editor of Travel Extra
T
ravel Partners Group hosted 40 key travel trade from Cork at their roadshow in Cork. The next dates in their tour are Galway, May 9 in Galway, May 22 in Dublin, September 12in Dundalk and September 25 in Belfast. Attendees will be entered into a €1,000 cash prize draw.
P
ark City Chamber hosted six key travel media from four countries to a range of activities in the Wasatch mountains of Utah. The group skied Park City and toured Deer Valley with Olympian Kris ‘Fuzz’ Feddersen, went fat tyre biking with White Pine tours, rode the 2002 Olympic bobsled, snowmobiled, snow shoe, had spa treatments at Waldorf City park spa, and sampled local food and
A
delegation from Western Massachusetts, the other side of Aer Lingus’s Hartford route, came to Kerry for the Dingle summit. They visited the Blaskets, many of whose islanders settled in Springfield, local tourist attractions and an official event with Minister Brendan Griffin. Picture shows the group about to embark on a boat trip at Dingle harbour, Jim Flannery of Blaskets Boat Tours,
Picture shows Jason Whelan of Blue Insurances, Alan Sparling of ASM, Alan Lynch of Cruiseescapes/Travelesscapes, Brenda Roche of Cork Airport, prize winner Donagh McCarthy of Lee Travel, Olwen McKinney of Amadeus, Alana Byrne of MSC, Niall McDonnell of Classic Collection, Marie McCarthy of Irish Ferries and Lee Osborne of Bookabed
beverage options. Picture shows Esthur Checksfield of Park City Chamber, Lauren Irvine of Who Magazine Australia (in front), Eoghan Corry editor of Travel Extra Ireland, Steve Meacham of Sydney Morning Herald, Thomas Becker of Abendzeitung Munchen, Kathrin Thoma-Bregar of Customer Magazin Nebworld, Seb Ramsay of Manchester Evening News and Marilyn Stinson of Deer Valley Resort.
Caroline Boland of Dingle Tourism Alliance, Gene Cassidy of Eastern State Exposition, Will Reichelt Mayor of Springfield, Michelle Goldberg and Alicia Szendo of Greater Springfield CVB, Laurie McDonald of Yankee Candle Company, Karen Fisk of Dr Seuss Museum, Gillian Palmer of the Big E, Eilis Ni Luing of Dingle Tourism Alliance and Ed Sullivan ex Mayor of Springfield Mass, front: Eoghan Corry .
MAY 2019 PAGE 10
DESTINATION CANADA
B
eyond those aviation gateways, Canada has a lot to offer. The Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) are known for its history, particularly during the formation of Canada as a sovereign state. Atlantic Canada is well-known for unique accents, the origin of Acadian culture, natural beauty (particularly around coastal areas), the historic beauty of Halifax, and a huge fishing and shipping industry. It is also home to the distinctive culture of Newfoundland and Labrador, which was simultaneously the first part of what is now Canada to be explored by Europeans and the last part to join the confederation. Originally settled as part of New France, Quebec is culturally distinct from the rest of Canada. French is the dominant language, unlike the rest of the country, and the province is known for great cultural sites like Quebec City’s Winter Festival, Montreal’s classic architecture, and maple syrup and poutine (two staples of Canadian cuisine). Montreal is also the second largest French-speaking city in the world, though through centuries of in-
Canada Calling
More routes to Canada than ever before Improved access to Canada has long moved interest beyond Toronto
fluence from both the British and the French, its inhabitants have developed a distinct sense of identity. Ontario. Canada’s most populous province is also quite geographically vast, allowing for endless activities to partake in. Toronto, Canada’s largest city, is eclectic and vibrant, and prides itself on its multiculturalism. The province is also home to Ottawa, Canada’s charming, bilingual capital, as well as Niagara Falls, and the untapped natural
beauty of the Muskoka and beyond. All these things and more make Ontario showcase a lot of what is considered quintessentially Canadian by outsiders. The prairies (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) are known for their vast open spaces and plentiful resources, the Canadian Prairies are a dynamic set of provinces with some of the most stunning natural beauty in the world. On the western edge of the Prairies, in Alberta lie the mountainous national
CANADA THINGS TO DO IN THE REGIONS
n Vancouver VanDusen Botanical Garden Museum of Anthropology Queen Elizabeth Park n Quebec City Old Quebec Montmorency Falls Park Rue du Tresor n Montreal Old Montreal Montreal Botanical Gardens Mont (Mount) Royal n Toronto St Lawrence Market Distillery Historic District Edge Walk at the CN Tower n Victoria Inner Harbour Royal BC Museum Beacon Hill Park
n Niagara Falls Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory Queen Victoria Park Skywheel n Whistler Peak 2 Peak Gondola Whistler Blackcomb Lost Lake n Ottawa Canadian War Museum Rideau Canal Peace Tower n Calgary Glenbow Museum Heritage Park Historical Village The Calgary Zoo n Halifax Halifax Public Gardens Maritime Museum of the Atlantic Point Pleasant Park
parks of Banff and Jasper, and on the eastern edge in Manitoba, lies the beginning of the Canadian Shield, which contains some of the oldest rock on the surface of the earth. The major cities of Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg are modern cities with everything from massive rodeos to high-class museums. British Columbia prides itself on being beautiful. From cultured Vancouver, to charming Victoria, to the iconic ski slopes in Whistler, to the wineries of the Okanagan, B.C. is filled with wonder, both natural and man-made. The province also has the mildest winters in Canada on average (though often cloudy), especially in coastal regions, making it popular with Canadians who are less enthusiastic about winter. The North (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon) are some of the most remote regions on Earth and constitute most of Canada’s landmass. Though more known for their unique fauna and landscapes, the Territories also have some interesting human settlements, including
Dawson City, a city that looks nearly untouched from the gold rush of 1898, and Iqaluit, Canada’s newest territorial
capital, which is home to some interestingly adaptive architecture to the harsh climate of the North.
CANADA 30-SECOND GUIDE n Getting there 45 flights per week from Dublin Calgary 1w Westjet Montreal 3w (Air Canada) Halifax 7w (Westjet ) Montreal Aer Lingus (posptoned) Toronto Pearson 24w (Air Canada 7, Aer Lingus 7, Air Transat 5 Westjet 7 via Halifaxs) Toronto Hamilton Norwegian 7w TBA Vancouver 3w (Air Canada Rouge) n What to buy Maple syrup from Quebec. Indian crafts ranging from the horn carvings of the west coast Haida to the soapstone sculptures of the Northwest Territories’ Inuit peoples. n Currency a euro buys approx. 1.56 Canadian dollars n Timezone Six zones, ranging from GMT -3.5 in the east to GMT -8 in the west. Daylight saving time (timezone +1) from April to October. n Related literature Girlfriend in a Coma, Generation X and other titles by Douglas Coupland. Surfacing, Margaret Atwood A young divorcee returns to the remote island of her childhood in Northern Canada to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her father. In the Skin of a Lion, Michael Ondaatje A mid-western Canadian farm boy leaves the backwoods for Toronto, where his life becomes linked to the building of the city’s waterworks. The Deptford Trilogy, Robertson Davies Three 1970s novels tracing the lives of three men from a small Ontario town, connected and transformed by a single childhood event. The Shipping News, E Annie Proulx. Celebrating frozen, unforgiving, desolation of Newfoundland.
SAVOURING CANADA’S CULTURAL HOT SPOTS Enjoy convenient non-stop flights from Dublin. From Montreal’s classic charm to the eclectic mosaic that is Toronto to the natural wonders of Vancouver, Canada’s diverse delights are closer than ever. Now, your clients can fly non-stop from Dublin to all three cities. Plus, they can enjoy smooth connections from Canada’s major travel hubs to more than 160 destinations across North America and the Caribbean. Book at aircanada.com
MAY 2019 PAGE 12
DESTINATION CANADA
F
rom a seasonal service to Montreal, Canada has grown to a 33-flights a week destination from Ireland. The growth shows no sign of abating. This year there are new Air Canada routes from Dublin to Montreal and from Shannon to Toronto. Aer Lingus fly daily to Toronto and Air Canada upgrade their Tonto Pearson service form Rouge to full service. Air Transat continue their Toronto service. Rouge will continue to serve Vancouver. Westjet fly daily to St John’s and onwards to Toronto Pearson. There are also myriad connections through the USA with United, American and Aer LIngus Jetblue. The only casualty amidst all this growth is the ASL service to Halifax which will not run in 2018.
T
he spread of destinations is serving the Irish traveller well. Visiting Canada all in one trip is a massive undertaking. At the launch of the Westjet route, the Canadian ambassador noted that Dublin is closer to St John’s than Vancouver. Over 5000 kilometres (3100 mi) separate St. John’s, Newfoundland from Victoria, British Columbia (about the same distance separates Dublin and Kuwait, or Tokyo and Kolkata). To drive from one end of the country could take 7-10 days or more (and that assumes you’re not stopping to sight see on the way). A flight from Toronto to Vancouver takes over four hours.
W
hen Brendan Behan was asked why he visited Canada he said that he had looked out the window of the Irish Press office in Burgh Quay and
Mountain memories Some of the great tourist expereinces
Iconic Rocky Mountaineer train ride seen a big sign; Drink Canada Dry. “So I said to myself, why not?” There are 49 more reasons to visit each week this summer. A vast country of unexplored open spaces, Canada is a mixture of ultra-modern cities and forests, rivers, mountains and valleys that date back millennia. Signature attractions consist of natural treasures such as Niagara Falls in the east and the Rocky Mountains in the west. The edginess in the relations between Canada’s indigenous, English and French traditions give the country a unique feel. Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia, a vast expanse of forests, lakes, snow-capped mountains and prairies.
The tourist board promotes Canada as a four season destination offering a selection of adventure holidays (hiking and skiing to climbing and whitewater rafting), city breaks, winter activities, touring holidays by car, coach and train, and wide open spaces.
T
oday’s Irish visitors to Canada appreciate the ease of access, the friendly, English speaking locals, the affordability with a favourable Euro-dollar ratio, the safety and the variety of products to suit all ages. Canada is a land of huge contrasts - from the rural prettiness of Nova Scotia to the bustling cities in Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe, to the spirit
of the west in the Prairie Provinces and the dramatic seascapes and maritime traditions of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are all more accessible this year with 29 flights per week from Dublin to Canada. Officially bilingual, the main languages are English and French. French is mainly spoken in the Quebec region although you will find the language across the entire vast country. Indigenous languages have also survived in pockets and can be discovered through folk music and interpretative centres.
A
s befits the world’s second largest country, the climate of Canada varies widely. The west
CANADA TOP TEN PLACES TO SEE
n 1 Notre-Dame Basilica Montreal, n CN Tower Toronto, n Capilano Suspension Bridge Park North Vancouver, n Parliament Hill and Buildings Ottawa, n Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, n St John’s Anglican Church, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
n 7 St Joseph’s Oratory of Mt Royal, Montreal, n 8 Swallowtail Lighthouse, Grand Manan, New Brunswick n 9 Signal Hill, St. John’s, n 10 Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, Nova Scotia Source: Tripadvisor
coast is the most temperate, with temperatures in Vancouver averaging 3-17C. The east coast has long, humid summers and heavy winter snowfall; Montreal temperatures average from -10 to 20C. The Prairies region, between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Lakes, has hot summers and cold winters, with little rain. The northern icecaps are permanently frozen. Canada’s multicultural society means a variety of cuisines are available in most cities. French, Greek, Italian, Indian and Chinese restaurants abound. Quebec has its own gastronomic tradition based on traditional French cuisine. On both coasts seafood is plentiful and affordable.
C
anada’s big hotel opening of 2018 is in Sparks Street promenade, the dual branded Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton, Ottawa Downtown will be the first Hilton property in downtown Ottawa.
The project features the redevelopment of two existing towers that will be transformed into a 17-storey Hilton Homewood Suites for extended-stay accommodations and a 10-storey Hilton Garden Inn for short-stay accommodations. Radisson is to open its first hotel in Atlantic Canada, Radisson Kingswood Hotel & Suites, Fredericton, 15 minutes from the Fredericton International Airport. The hotel offers 121 guest rooms and suites. The newly constructed hotel features modern interiors, stylish furnishings and spacious guest rooms and suites. Guests can enjoy the spectacular views of Kingswood Golf Course, The hotel also has an onsite entertainment centre that includes bowling, laser tag and arcade games with plans to open an indoor waterpark in summer 2018. Travelodge Canada opened Travelodge Whitecourt Conference Centre & Suites in Alberta, and Travelodge Welland in Ontario.
Daily direct flights from Dublin to Toronto We’re so proud of our 4-star Skytrax rating for our quality and excellence in guest experience. Fares to Toronto include 23kg checked luggage allowance, complimentary meals and a great choice of inflight entertainment. Our Business Class experience includes fully lie-flat beds, complimentary Wi-Fi, luxury dining and 16” HD touch screens to enjoy top quality entertainment. Join AerClub, our loyalty programme, and collect Avios every time you fly. As well as Toronto, we fly direct to 13 other North American destinations including Boston, Chicago, Hartford, Newark, New York JFK, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis– St. Paul (July 2019), Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC.
For more information on our routes visit aerlingus.com
2457 003 AL_Travel Extra Canada Supplement Advert_240x330_Andrea Hunter_FA.indd 1
04/04/2019 08:57
MAY 2019 PAGE 14
DESTINATION CANADA
W
ith so much outdoors to explore, it is no surprise that Canada offers an astonishing range of activities. Polar bears With tens of thousands of beluga whales in the Hudson Bay and polar bears making their way off the ice, Churchill, Manitoba, is a fantastic place to visit in the summer for anyone with a passion for wildlife. The town offers many ways to catch a glimpse of these creatures, from guided walks to boat trips, and all adhere to strict conservation guidelines. Spirit bear Found only in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, the Kermode bear – also known as the “spirit bear” – is a unique white subspecies of the more common black bear. Prime viewing time is September and October, when the local mammals feast on spawning salmon (with luck you’ll see wolves and grizzlies, too). Moose safari What could be more ironically Canadian than a moose? And where better to see them than in Ontario’s stunning Algonquin Park? Take an early morning or evening paddle along Hailstorm Creek, or drive through the park along Highway 60 in the spring, when these magnificent beasts are drawn to the salt spread on the wintry roads. Caribou migration Walk with the caribou and get a sense of what wildlife on the North American continent must have been like before European settlement. The incredible spectacle of the mass migration of tens of thousands of caribou some 1,200 miles across Nunavut’s Arctic tundra occurs twice a year, in late spring and early autumn. Orcas, belugas On the east coast you can find up to 20 different species of whale in the waters of the Atlantic. Humpbacks and
Bear faced
Things to do in the world’s second largest country Bear necessities minke the most common, but finbacks, pilot whales and even blue whales might make an appearance. On the Pacific coast, look for humpbacks and grey whales, but orcas (the distinctive black and white killer whales) are most plentiful. Meanwhile, off Manitoba in Hudson Bay, you’ll find belugas, their ability to sing earning them the moniker “canaries of the sea”. Shellfish season and PEI Shellfish Festival Prince Edward Island is a culinary treasure trove at harvest time, but the bounty of the sea takes some beating. The annual Shellfish Festival (14-17 September 2017) features oyster-shucking competitions, celebrity chefs, an “all-you-can-eat” oyster bar and the world’s longest lobster roll. Party all night to some of the best good-times music on this side of the Atlantic. A short hop from London by air, you could leave in the morning and make it to the bar well before the final encore. Ice wine festival Ice wine is a highly prized, sweet dessert wine made from grapes picked while
frozen on the vine – and a specialty of vintners in both of Canada’s main wine-growing areas, Ontario and British Columbia. Niagara Icewine Festival takes place over the last three weekends in January, with tastings, dinners and cocktail competitions, ice skating and winery tours. Niagara, Ontario, also hosts a traditional wine festival in September. Out west, the Vancouver International Wine Festival attracts top name wine-producers from around the globe and, in 2018 (24 February-4 March), the festival celebrates its 40th anniversary. Maple syrup Canada’s finest contribution to breakfast dining, maple syrup is sap tapped exclusively from maple trees. Quebec accounts for 75pc of the world’s output, but you can find sugar shacks (cabanes à sucre) and festivals that offer their sweet bounty alongside hearty fare, sleigh rides, and other wintry delights across eastern provinces through March and early April. Breweries – and enthusiasm for their hop-
filled products – are in plentiful supply from coast to coast. This summer festival offers the chance to taste upwards of 300 different brews, both Canadian and international, while taking in live bands, beer-school sessions, and dozens of food options, from the classic poutine and burgers, to more gourmet offerings. On the west coast, Vancouver’s micro-brewery scene has exploded in the past five years, offering opportunities to cycle-crawl the East Vancouver tasting rooms (and food trucks parked outside) and Craft Beer Week in spring (25 May-3 June 2018).
Lights with latitude
Northern lights The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are one of the most spectacular sights in nature, a shimmering nocturnal radiance. Your best bet for this glimpse of transcendence is in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, between December and March. In the daytime, try your hand at dog-sledging and your feet in snowshoes. Ski Whistler Blackcomb is 90 minutes north of Vancouver. It boasts more than 3,230 hectares (8,000 acres) of terrain and 200 marked runs to suit all ski and boarding abilities. If there is a way to have a good time on snowpack you’ll find it at
Whistler, along with the best in après-ski, yearround zip-lining, and the record-setting Peak2Peak Gondola. The summer season brings hiking and mountain biking, bungee-jumping and rafting. Iceberg Alley – the stretch of coast between Labrador and the northeast of Newfoundland – offers iceberg hunters the chance to view these 10,000-year-old sparkling giants from late May to early June. The best way to get up close is, of course, by boat (or kayak), though landlubbers can also experience the thrill of seeing them from the shore, along with gannets, puffins
Di s cov erCa nadawi t hAi rT r a ns at Ai rT r ans ati st heSky t r ax201 8Wor l d’ sBes tLei s ur eAi r l i ne. Fl y i ngupt ofiv et i mesaweek,di r ectf r om Dubl i nt oT or ont o,bet weenApr i landOct ober ,wi t h connect i onst oCal ga r y ,Mont r eal ,andVancouv er .Pas s eng er scanex pectacomf or t a bl efli ght wi t hgr eatv al ueeconomyf a r est hati ncl udei nfli ghtmeal sandent er t ai nment .
t i onPl usprovi Addi ngOp desEconomyper ks : •Compl i ment a r ys t a nda r ds eats el ect i on •Onecheck edbagat23k g •Pr i or i t ycheck i n,s ecur i t y * ,boa r di nga ndbag gag e ha ndl i ng •Onboa r dComf or tKi t ,i ncl udi ngabl a nk et ,neckpi l l ow, ey ema s k&nat ur a l woodea r budheadphones . •Wel comea l cohol i cdr i nka nds nack
Cl ubCl as spassengersrel axi nanex cl us i v e , 1 2s eatca bi nwi t hs paci ous ,comf or t a bl es eat s anddedi cat eds er v i ce . Theyal s oenj oyt hef ol l owi ngbenefit s :
•Gener ousa l l owa nceof2check edbag sat32k geach •Pr i or i t ycheck i n,s ecur i t y * ,boa r di nga ndbag gag e ha ndl i ng metmea l scr eat edbyQuebecchefDa ni el Véz i na •Gour •Compl i ment a r yba rs er v i ce,s nack sa ndmor e!
Av ai l abl et obookv i at heGDS Ai r T r ans at . co. uk | Sal es Suppor t UK@t r ans at . com | 0080087267 283
201 8Wor l d’ sBes tLei s ur eAi r l i ne * Av ai l abl eatMont r eal ,Vancouv er ,L ondonGat wi c kandGl as gowai r por t s .
|
Ca nadas t ar t sher e
MAY 2019 PAGE 16
IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION
DESTINATION CANADA
Lightning & Tundra T
Observing polar bears from custom fitted vehicles in northern Manitoba he ice melts on Hudson Bay in July, transforming it from the world’s biggest skating rink back into a living sea with astonishing speed. This is the signal for scores of Beluga whales move with their young from the estuary of the Churchill river on to the bay. They are easy to find. “We will move. That should draw them,” says Mike Macri and starts up the throttle of the zodiac water craft. Most whale watching experiences tell you to keep the engines down, to whisper and not to point. Belugas are different. They are curious. They like the sound of the motor and the motion of a zodiac on the surface. They come to see
what visitors they have. There are teams of them, swimming past, below and beside, turning and looking up at me with those winsome eye. This is nature viewing on nature’s terms, like being let into someone’s living room One mother whale nuzzles my toes and then guided her calf to do the same, snow white with puppy eyes, leaving us looking at each other wide-eyed in a way it was impossible to tell who was the tourist and who was the attraction. You cannot claim to have completely experienced whale watching or any diving experience until you hit the cold water of the Hudson and see these magnificent animals. There are 57,300 sur-
viving beluga whales, and 3,500 of them in western Hudson. The 600 in the Lawrence River have a higher profile, but these guys are worth coming to see. Mike loves his whales, and has been taking visitors to see them for 35 years. He revs up and springs into action when the report comes in of a two year old male polar bear near the coast. The bear is wandering out to the headland near the ancient fur-trading fort. The bear is oblivious to his aquatic viewers, and this is as good a sighting as we could imagine.
C
hurchill, Manitoba is a Hudson Bay port so far north there are no roads. Tourists can stay safe
here from the roaming Polar Bears that have just come off the ice. According to Duane Collins the Canada parks interpreter co-ordinator there were 1300 polar bears in the western Hudson 40 years ago. Now there are 950, a significant proportion of the 1,400 who survive in Canada. Churchlll is the only place on the planet it is illegal to lock your car. The reason is there are 950 polar bears around the Western Hudson and they cluster here because it is last place to freeze and first to ice up again. It has two must-do experiences. The first a polar bear safari in a bus on giant tractor wheels, a huge tundra buggy invented here for the experience.
There can be injuries. A local nurse told me of the photographer who lost an arm when he leaned out of the buggy, oblivious to the bear that was directly below. With global warming there are three weeks less ice a year than was the case in the traditional cycle. Every week affects the weight of the polar bear by 10 kilos. Bears are hungrier, and hungry bears are dangerous.
I
t was not a bear or a beluga that savaged my arm, but bugs. Millions of them. Up here the caribou can lose a pint of blood a day. At first the mosquitoes, the really dominant animal up here on the fringe of the treeline, seemed not as bad as we
Clockwise: Tundra vehicle, man versus mosquito, beluga whale spotting, polar bear alert and driving the tundra vehicle
suspected. A few minutes in the boreal forest was enough to finish that delusion and show us they had menace. They found us and descended on us, so much that the bussing sounds and the attack flight path comes to dominate the whole experience. They call it the Churchill Wave, the hand flicking as you walk through the street. I wore my Coghlan’s bug jacket. The net keeps mosquitoes out but not their proboscis, and I soon have the scars to prove it. We travelled for a mile with a small sub-pack of Qimmiqs, which apparently are Canadian Eskimo Dogs, very different from the Alaskan Huskies.
D
avid Daley of Wapusk Adventures has spent his life working with these dogs and speaks their language. His favourite, Storm, broke his choke chain to protect another dog when a wolf came in to the kennels and died in the process. David is a classic musher, closer to the dogs than his own family. He puts deet on them, which sounds bad idea until you think of the alternative. You can imagine what the early explorers had to do without deet.
S:215 mm
Next stop: Canada
S:300 mm
Route
Frequency
Effective dates
Dublin - Halifax
Up to 6x weekly
April 30 - October 26, 2019
Dublin - Calgary
Up to 3x weekly
June 2 - September 30, 2019
Your clients next adventure awaits. Starting April 30 they can travel direct from Dublin to Halifax, or starting June 2 they can experience the new WestJet Dreamliner, which has non-stop flights three times weekly from Dublin to Calgary. Your clients can take in the breathtaking scenery of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, canoe along stunning turquoise lakes in Banff National Park and do it all within reach of a vibrant city. With over 35 convenient connections from Halifax and Calgary, exploring all that Canada has to offer has never been easier.
Book today.
Schedule subject to change.
Travel Extra FP print ad Design
1057432_CMYK.pdf
MAY 2019 PAGE 18
IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION
THEME PARKS 2019-20
Galaxy Vs Hagrid, who wins? We all do
Disney and Universal go head to head with 2019 openings
T
T
A wild ride for theme park fans as Universal continue to pile on the pressure with another big Harry Potter themed launch in 2019
here is no doubting the big theme park story of 2019. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is, arguably, the most highly-anticipated addition in Disney history. Disney CEO Bob Iger took the opportunity to announce that Galaxy’s Edge land will open on May 31 at Disneyland in Anaheim, just in time for IPW, and DisneyWorld in Florida on August 29. Iger says the 14-acre attraction will be “by far the largest lands we’ve ever built.” One of the feature elements in the new areas will be an interactive experience called “Rise of the Resistance.” Which “will blur the lines for our guests between fantasy and reality and put them right in the middle of the rebellion. No one has ever attempted anything of this magnitude.” Along with transporting guests to a galaxy far, far away with “Star Wars”-themed shops and a cantina, the land will also feature two new rides.
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will put guests in the cockpit on Han Solo’s famous ship, having to fulfill their role as pilot, gunner, or flight engineer. The other attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, places guests in the middle of a space battle with the First Order. “Not only are they big in size and scale, they are huge in ambition in terms of both the experience that we aim to create, meaning the immersive
experience, as well as the specific experiences people will have and the attractions namely in both cases too, very, very innovative and we believe compelling and exciting e-ticket attractions.” He recalled early meetings he held with the company’s design team after the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm. Iger recalled asking that they “make sure they are ambitious. I think they have certainly taken that word seriously.”
he plans for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are complex indeed. Disney says it will allow guests to “take the controls of one of the most recognisable ships in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon, on a customized secret mission”. Guests will be able to turn, bank and fire weapons. Gunners in the centre will have weapons controls while engineers in the back will have buttons and levers related to keeping the ship flying.
Those who bring succeed in their mission and fly the ship expertly without a lot of damage will be able to earn extra Galactic Credits, which will change the way characters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge interact with them. Conversely, guests who lose the bounty or damage the ship will end up owing money, which will also produce different interactions with characters. One thing is unclear: how long will the queues be? With seven pods that
Theme parks; the 2019 award winners
U
niversal Orlando have won the theme park award at the irish Travel Trade Awards every year since the category was first sintituted in 2011. The Themed Entertainment Association awards last month saw the theme park industry pay tribute to its own leading lights. * Bazyliszek (Attraction, Limited Budget), Park Legendia, Chorzow, Poland * Be Washington: It’s Your Turn to Lead (Museum Experience, Limited Budget), Washington’s Mount Vernon, Virginia
* Fantawild Oriental Heritage (Theme Park), Xiamen, China * Nemo & Friends SeaRider (Repurposed Attraction), Tokyo DisneySea * Legend of Camel Bells (Live Show Spectacular), Huaxia Resort, Xi’an, China * Illuminations: human/nature (Connected Immersion – Digital Overlay Experience, Limited Budget), Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity,, Canada * Justice League: Battle for Metropolis (Attraction), Six Flags, Valencia, California
* Intel Shooting Star Drone System (Outstanding Technical Innovation) * SlideWheel (Attraction), Chimelong Water Park, Guangzhou, China * The Evel Knievel Museum (Museum, Limited Budget), Topeka, Kansas * Fantastic Journey, Majestic Princess (Live Show Spectacular, Limited Budget), Princess Cruises * Volcano Bay (Water Theme Park), Universal Orlando Resort * Dollywood won the Thea Classic Award,
seat 6 each, you’re looking at an attraction that can only handle 42 guests per ride cycle, which is very low for an attraction that will be one of the most popular on the theme park circuit. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride will be a more traditional dark ride experience. If features a motion base ride vehicle moving through a scene with screen, similar to Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The ride will place guests in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance with a face-off with Kylo Ren.
M
ickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, is the first attraction starring Disney’s signature character, based around the short Mickey Mouse cartoons seen on the Disney Channel since 2013. Described as a “2 1/2 D” ride, meaning no 3-D glasses will be required,
2460 Pa
A WORLD OF CES N E I R E P X E E U UNIQ
BOOK YOUR HOLIDAYS NOW, WE’LL SEE YOU THERE! PortAventura PARK
FERRARI LAND
LIVE THE PASSION. FEEL THE EMOTION. • 70,000 m2 of fun. • 16 fantastic rides and games. • Incredible theming inspired by the real Italy. • Shows, shops, restaurants… and much more!
CARIBE AQUATIC PARK
6 WORLDS IN A SINGLE DESTINATION
THE MOST REFRESHING FUN
• 6 theme areas: Mediterrània, Polynesia, SésamoAventura, China, México and Far West.
• 50,000 m2 of tropical adventures in an intricately themed setting that will transport you to the Caribbean.
• 40 rides to suit all tastes: thrill, water and not forgetting family.
• Fantastic attractions and refreshing slides.
• Up to 40 daily shows.
• Exotic pools where you can relax and have fun.
• Family restaurants and shops to pick up the best souvenirs.
• Restaurants and shops where you will find the perfect gift. Opening 1 June
PORTAVENTURA HOTELS
GRAND OPENING 2019: NEW HOTEL COLORADO CREEK 4*
6 THEMED HOTELS • Five 4-star hotels and an exclusive 5-star hotel. • Unlimited access to PortAventura Park and 1 day in Ferrari Land (according to opening times and dates of the parks). • 4 hotels with direct access to PortAventura Park. • All kinds of services: restaurants, shops, Wellness centres, entertainment…
www.portaventuraworld.com
2460 Pagina Travel Extra mayo.indd 1
23/4/19 11:10
MAY 2019 PAGE 20
IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION
THEME PARKS 2019-20 it will allow guests to literally step “through” a movie screen and join Mickey on an adventure where they become the star in their own right. . Guests see the premiere of a new cartoon short with Mickey and Minnie preparing for a picnic. As they head out, they drive alongside a train and find out that the engineer is Goofy. Then, one magical moment lets guests step into the movie and on Goofy’s train for a wild ride. Disney’s Magic Kingdom will see a new Jungle Cruise and Tron Lightcycle Power Run. A new Beauty and the Beast sing-along in Epcot’s France pavilion, replacing “Impressions de France.”, A show based on the world of Cars called Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a projection-based nighttime spectacular, “Wonderful World of Animation,” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the NBA Experience at Disney Springs will all be opening in summer 2019.
I
n addition, Disney is adding a hotel, Riviera Resort, next to the Caribbean Beach Resort and connected to the new Disney Skyliner system. It will overhaul
Opening of Tigris at Busch Gardens Tampa last month
Coronado Springs Resort, including a new 545-room tower and two new restaurants. The new resort will be connected by a new gondolas project, Disney Skyliner, will connect Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort,Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will take over the space formerly occupied by The Great Movie Ride.
A
t the other end of Orlando’s International drive, It is hard to miss all
the construction taking place on the former site of Dragon Challenge, as Universal ponder their response to the mouse. Their response is the Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle, set in the Forbidden Forest adjacent to the castle and containing several indoor elements and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. “The new experience will become Universal’s most highly-themed coaster yet — immersing guests in an all-new adventure that is the next installment of the Wizarding World brought to life at Universal Orlando Resort,” Universal said
THEME PARKS TOP 20
1 Magic Kingdom At Walt Disney World 2 Disneyland, Anaheim, Ca, U.S. 3 Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo, Japan 4 Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan 5 Tokyo Disney Sea, Tokyo, Japan 6 Epcot At Walt Disney World, Flordia. 7 Disney’s Animal Kingdom At Walt Disney World, 8 Disney’s Hollywood Studios At Walt Disney World, 9 Universal Studios At Universal Orlando, Fl, U.S. 10 Islands Of Adventure At Universal Orlando, Fl, U.S. 11 Disney’s California Adventure, Anaheim, Ca, U.S. 12 Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, Hengqin, China 13 Disneyland Park At Disneyland Paris, 14 Lotte World, Seoul, South Korea 15 Universal Studios Hollywood, California 16 Everland, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea 17 Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong Sar 18 Ocean Park, Hong Kong Sar 19 Nagashima Spa Land, Kuwana, Japan 20 Europa Park, Rust, Germany
. -0.5% 20,395,000 -1.80% 17,943,000 -0.40% 16,540,000 4.30% 14,500,000 -1.00% 13,460,000 -0.70% 11,712,000 -0.70% 10,844,000 -0.50% 10,776,000 4.30% 9,998,000 6.50% 9,362,000 -0.90% 9,295,000 13.20% 8,474,000 -14.20% 8,400,000 11.5% 8,150,000 13.9% 8,086,000 -3.0% 7,200,000 -10.3% 6,100,000 -18.8% 5,996,000 -0.3% ,850,000 1.8% 5,600,000
in a written press release in October 2018. Universal’s other 2019 addition is an unnamed show replacing Terminator 2:3D in Universal Studios Florida. Universal Studios Hollywood will also see Jurassic World, a retheme of Jurassic Park The Ride.
O
n the hotel side, the first phase of Universal’s Endless Summer Resort will open August 2019, an event some say could mark a major turning point in the Orlando hotel market. Universal Orlando Resort has grown by 7,000 hotel rooms in the past five years. Endless Summer will add 750 rooms with the Surfside Inn and Suites opening. Another 2,050 rooms will follow in the second phase, Dockside Inn and Suites, opening in 2020. The resort’s location at the corner of International Drive and Universal Boulevard and aggressive promotional pricing may put pressure on neighbouring I-Drive hotels and Disney World’s “value” resorts.
O
verall there are 100 new roller coaster and theme park rides planned to open in 2019, 75 of them in the USA. Many of the advances are in the technology sphere, enhancing the story-telling that accompanies so many new attractions and rides, allowing parks to transport guests to immersive lands or destinations. Theme parks are using apps that allow guests to pre-order their meals, or to hold a space in queue. SeaWorld Orlando will see the opening of Sesame Street, with six rethemed versions of existing rides from the former Shamu’s Happy Harbour section of the park. Busch Gardens Tampa opened Tigris roller coaster last month, a ride which ranks among the tallest inversions in the world Tigris launches out of the station up into a partial twist. The train then falls back through the station, where it is accelerated backwards into another twist. Once again, the train falls back into the station and riders are accelerated to a top speed of 62 miles per hour (100 km/h). It then travels up to a height of 150 feet (46 m) where
it completes a non-inverting half-loop, a heartline roll, before exiting in a second non-inverting half-loop. It then enters a full non-inverting loop before returning to the station. Other Busch Gardens Tampa openings include Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!, a retheme of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Wildwood Grove, a family-ride midway themed to an enchanted Smoky Mountain grove and Yukon Striker dive coaster. Busch Gardens Williamsburg will have Finnegan’s Flyer (a Screamin’ Swing), What Legoland Florida is calling its largest investment, Lego Movie World will recreate the city of Bricksburg seen in the 2014 film. It will also include three attractions: Lego Movie Masters of Flight, a flying theatre attraction with a 180-degree turn after riders have been seated, Unikitty’s Disco Drop, replacing The World of Chima, and Battle of Bricksburg, a rethemed version of the park’s Quest for Chi boat ride. Elsewhere, Hershey Park in Philadelphia will have Reese’s Cupfusion, an interactive dark ride, retheming Reese’s Xtreme Cup Challenge, SeaWorld San Diego
MAY 2019 PAGE 22
IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION
THEME PARKS 2019-20
Dragon Khan at Portaventura has been turning he world up side down since 1995, the first ride worldwide to have eight inversion will have Tidal Twister, Six Flags Great America will have launch coaster Maxx Force, Six Flags Magic Mountain will have launch coaster West Coast Racers, Knott’s Berry Farm in California will have Summer: Calico River Rapids, a retheme of Bigfoot Rapids Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim will have Inside RailBlazer and Out Emotional Whirlwind and Jessie’s Critter Carousel in Pixar Pier. Gran Destino Tower opens at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
A
n Irish favourite, Portaventura in Salou, con-
sists of two major parks and also includes PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park, five hotels, a convention centre and a RV park. It is the biggest resort in the south of Europe which attracts 5m visitors per year. Reus Airport is within 15 minutes of it and Barcelona Airport within an hour. There is a train station for PortAventura which has connections to Barcelona, Salou and Tortosa. Portaventura’s main rides are: n Furius Baco, an intamin accelerator coaster with winged seating, which opened in June 2007. It has a top speed of 83.9 mph (135 km/h). n Stampida, a duelling
The opening of Sesame Street Portaventura
wooden roller coaster. n Tomahawk, a junior version of Stampida and which runs parallel to it. n Silver River Flume, a traditional log flume. n Grand Canyon Rapids, a whitewater river rapids ride along the Grand Canyon. n Hurakan Condor, an Intamin drop tower ride, one of the tallest in the world at 330 ft. n El Diablo, Tren de la Mina, a mine train roller coaster with a top speed of 60 km/h. n Dragon Khan, with eight inversions former record holder for the most inversions of any roller coaster and holder of the world record for the tallest vertical loop, one of the two roller coasters that Port Aventura had when it opened in 1995 and still the signature of the resort. n Shambhala, the fastest (134 km/h) and tallest roller coaster in Europe when it opened in 2012, 76 m tall and has the longest drop in Europe at 78 m (2 m underground). n Angkor, a large splash battle themed in the Angkor ruins that opened in
2014. n Tutuki Splash, a shoot the chute themed along an erupting volcano. n Tami Tami, a roller coaster for children. n Street Mission, the big 2019 opening, an interactive Sesame Street dark ride, using motion pictures to enhance it.
F
errari Land next to Portaventura in Salou opened in 2017, covering 75,000 m2, including new rides, a 250-room hotel with restaurants, shops and car racing simulators. The signature ride is a 112 m tall vertical accelerator coaster that surpassed Shambhala (which opened 2012) as the tallest coaster in Europe and is also the fastest coaster in Europe. The park was opened on 7 April 2017, after an investment of more than €100 million. Ferrari Land opened a kids area in 2018. PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park is a water park which is adjacent to PortAventura Park. It has an area of 50,000 m2, which includes 16
attractions and slides, as well as over 8,500 m2 of water-covered surface area. It is themed to the Caribbean, with beaches, palm trees, and Latin and reggae music, and it also includes shops and restaurants. Signature ride is King Khajuna, Europe’s tallest free fall slide of 31 metres and 55 degree descent by ProSlide.
D
isneyland Paris will have no new openings in 2019 but remains a firm Irish favourite. The park is divided into five themed “lands”, which house 49 attractions, designed like a wheel with the hub on Central Plaza on front Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant.. The pathways spoke out across the 140 acres (57 ha) of the park and lead to the lands] The 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Disneyland Railroad runs along the perimeter of the park and stops in Main Street USA., Frontierland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland. There are five on site hotels, suiting different
budgets, ranging downwards from 428-room Disneyland Hotel, the top-tier accommodation perched over the gate of the park to 565-room Disney’s Hotel New York, the mid range 1,011 room Sequoia Lodge and Newport Bay Club, value hotels Cheyenne and Hotel Santa Fe and budget Davy Crockett Ranch.
S
econd in Europe with 5.7m visitors, after Disney, is Europa-Park, located in Rust, between Freiburg and Strasbourg, France. The park is home to 13 roller coasters, the oldest being Alpenexpress Enzian, a powered coaster that speeds through a diamond mine, and the newest coaster being the Ba-a-a Express, a small kiddie roller coaster. Europa-Park has very high capacity roller coasters and attractions meaning the park can accommodate up approximately 60,000 guests per day. Europa-Park’s Rulantica water park will open in November 2019, following a themed
MAY 2019 PAGE 23
IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION
THEME PARKS 2019-20
Opened In 2013, The Smiler at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England, broke the world record with 14 inversions. hotel Krønasår to open May 2019. There will be 25 water attractions, including 17 water slides, a wave pool, a surf simulator on a static wave and a wild river. In entails is an indoor part of 32 600sqm and an outdoor part of 8 000sqm.
A
lso in Germany, the signature rides at Phantasaialand are Taron (the world’s fastest multilaunch coaster), Black Mamba an inverted coaster, and Colorado Adventure, which runs through hills in the park’s Wild West. In Netherlands, Efteling near Rotterdam will see Max and Moritz joining its 30 rides and attractions that attract 5.18m visitors annually. Its signature is Baron 1898, a dive coaster and its newest ride is Symbolica a dark ride, opened in 2017. Tivoli gardens in Copenhagen, Europe’s second oldest theme park (after Dyrehavsbakken in nearby Klampenborg,
also in Denmark) will open a new powered coaster, Mælkevejen, in 2019. Tivoli’s signatures include legacy ride Rutschebanen,, Europe’s oldest wooden coaster, Vertigo, a looping plane ride where the rider pilots the ride, able to control the carriage, Air Race ride, Aquila, a giant swing and spinner with centrifugal powers up to 4 g, Fatamorgana with its two compartments, one milder version with twoseater gondolas, and an adrenaline compartment where riders are slung around at high speed while seated in a ring, facing away from the centre. Gardaland in Italy is adding Sequoia Magic Loop. Gardaland attracts 3m visitors annually to its 32 rides, including seven roller coasters and three water rides, signature rides include Blue Tornado, Magic Mountain, Sequoia Adventure, Raptor, Orto Bruco, Mammut, Oblivion: The Black Hole and “Shoot the Chute” Fuga da At-
E
lantide. ngland’s biggest theme parks are Alton Towers (2.59m visitors), Legoland Windsor( 2.2m), and Thorpe Park (1.8m). Alton Towers is a easiest accessible from Ireland and operates partnerships with the major ferry companies, New openings for 2019 at Alton Towers include Alton Towers Dungeon for teens and, for littlies, Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop, two mini drop towers based on the CBeebies programme Peter Rabbit which opened on March 23, and Teletubbies Big Band Live Show Last year’s big opening was the Wicker Man, the first wooden roller coaster to open in England since Megafobia. The ride interacts with a flaming wicker man feature Alton Towers is the second most visited theme park in the UK after Legoland Windsor. [3] The park features a range of major attractions, such as Congo
River Rapids, Runaway Mine Train, Nemesis, Oblivion, Galactica, The Smiler, and Wicker Man. It operates a total of ten roller coasters. The first hotel accommodation opened in 1996 as the Alton Towers Hotel. The Alton Towers Waterpark and a Caribbean-themed Splash Landings Hotel were added in 2003. The Enchanted Village opened in 2015, and a new hotel based on the CBeebies brand opened in July 2017.[4] The complex also includes conference facilities, a crazy golf course, and a high ropes course. The theme park is open from mid-March to early November, whilst many of its hotels and amenities are open year-round. The theme park is occasionally closed midweek during the season during the quieter months. Special events are hosted throughout the year, including Alton Towers Scarefest (the park’s Halloween event), and a season-ending fireworks display held on the last two days of the season.
L
egoland Windsor sees one new opening, the The Haunted House - Monster Party. The park is split into 11 themed lands, incorporating various attractions, restaurants and shops: The Beginning, Imagination Centre, Duplo Valley, Miniland, Adventure Land, LEGO City, Pirate Shores, Heartlake City (New for 2015) , Knight´s Kingdom, Land of the Vikings and Kingdom of the pharaohs. New for 2019 is the Haunted House: Monster Party, (tagline a madhouse attraction). Ninjago The Ride opened in 2017, a dark ride where riders use their hands to shoot. The 2017 Rockin’ Tug ride was renamed Destiny’s Bounty. Thorpe Park attractions include a large water ride Tidal Wave, rollercoasters including Colossus, Nemesis Inferno, Stealth, Saw The Ride, The Swarm, The Walking Dead: Ride and dark ride Derren Brown’s Ghost Train: Rise of the
Demon. Smaller attractions include Amity Beach water area and an Angry Birds themed land. Chessington World of Adventures sees the opening of Room on the Broom.
E
lsewhere, Clarence Pier in England is adding Mad Mouse and Tidal wave, Speelpark Oud Valkeveen in the Netherlands is adding Draken Achtbaan, Julianatoren in the Netherlands, and there are new dive coasters at FICO World Eataly, Freizeitpark Plohn in Germany and Parc de la Récréation. Family Park in France are adding roller-coasters, Ankapark in Turkey is adding four major rides brining their roller coaster count to 17 roller coasters second in the world toCedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Major rides in other parks added in 2018 include Ladybird Loop at Tayto Park, Tom and Jerry’s Swiss Cheese Spin in Warner Brothers’
MAY 2019 PAGE 24
DESTINATION FRANCE
Vintage Bordeaux Aileen C O’Reilly travels on Ryanair’s latest Dublin service
W
Pont de Pierre, Bordeaux’s oldest bridge Bordeaux’s connections with Ireland have endured through the centuries. Now Ryanair fly direct twice weekly
ith Ryanair now flying directly to the world’s wine producing capital twice weekly (Sunday and Thursday) and the recent addition of a 2 hour TGV route making Paris easily accessible, Bordeaux is repositioning itself front and centre as a far greater attraction for Irish holidaymakers scouting about for a convenient city break. And it’s not just tour-
ists availing of this newfound proximity to the French capital - the 250,000 plus Bordelaise population is now increasing by 15,000 a year as those working in Paris realise they can have the best of both worlds thanks to the TGV. Insignificant though it might sound the basic economics of the situation lie in the simple purchase of a morning coffee - while a foamy cappuccino will set you back €7
or more in Paris - Bordeaux is far easier on the wallet with both an espresso and a cappuccino together costing under €4 (as little as €3.50). Meanwhile a Pastis, the famed anise-flavoured spirit and apéritif of choice synonymous with France, (typically 40–45pc proof) can be enjoyed for as little as €1.50 on the resplendent banks of the Garonne. In 2018 alone the city hosted 8 million visitors
TOP TEN THINGS TO DO n Place de la Bourse - Bordeaux’s very own Versailles with the Three Graces fountain. n Lunch and River Cruise - amazing views of the city and a fabulous lunch too! From €55. n Quais de Bordeaux - the left bank of the city is one of the most spectacular waterfronts you will ever see. n Cite dú Vín - There’s ten hours worth of audiovisual material to experience, so if you’re a complete philistine when it comes to wine you can leave as an expert. n Chateau Pape Clement - Bordeaux’s oldest vineyard located just 40 minutes from the center of the city. n “Le Fletche” - Bordeaux’s 15th century freestanding bell tower in Lá Place Cantaloup offers spectacular views of the city and it a work of art itself.
n The Darwin Project - Located among the warehouses of a former military barracks in Bordeaux, DARWIN is an alternative space shared by 100 companies and 30 associations united around common goals: the reduction of their companies’ environmental footprints, creating new economic synergies and promoting urban cultures. n Bordeaux Cathedral - with its stained glass windows, flying buttresses and Gothic architecture is well worth a visit. n Cafe du Port - offers spectacular views of the Pont Dé Pierre and the freestanding bell tower. n Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux - one of the city’s most impressive 18th century buildings and home to the wonderful Quatrieme Mur restaurant.
- a figure which they are looking to increase significantly as the heretofore unexploited right bank is developed in stark modernist contrast to the historic left bank.
S
ince 2007 Bordeaux’s beautiful old city has been a UNESCO world heritage site. Her central area, Place de lá Bourse, is one of her most stunning as it bears a striking resemblance to Versailles and even has its own mirror pool where the elegant blonde sandstone facades are reflected perfectly. The Place de la Comedie is yet another jewel in her crown with the (very) Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, which was first inaugurated on 17 April 1780, rivalling the Pantheon in Paris. It faces the Intercontinental Hotel where, on a quiet morning, you may hear Gordon Ramsay hurl-
ing abuse at his battery of sous chefs…if you’re lucky. The first thing you need to pack when you’re visiting is your glasses sunglasses as opposed to wine glasses that is. Apart from the fact that the city was drenched in sunshine and a balmy 18 - 20 degrees on our recent visit in early April, it is also in the throes of a massive government funded cleaning programme and the previously dull sandstone facades are now blindingly bright in the sunshine. In actual fact it is the presence of so many shells and tiny starfish in the stone that have earned Bordeaux her other title, the Blonde City. In order to view her to her best advantage one must step aboard one of several riverboats - as our guide informs us. Bordeaux was built to be viewed from the river and it’s only when we set off
on our lunchtime cruise on the Garonne that we can fully appreciate her in all her splendour with her elegant 18th century facades preening in the sunshine along the quais. With her tiled and cobbled streets, secret squares strewn with outdoor cafes and curving medieval lanes, Bordeaux is a city still immersed in her own impressive history and made for ambling with endless photo opportunities. The impressive 15th century Porte Cailhau with its dark purple turrets offers a magnificent view of Bordeaux as does the freestanding bell tower in Place Canteloup (33000 Bordeaux), which the people of Bordeaux call “La Flèche” (The Spire). The 15th century tower is 114 metres high and offers amazing views of the city - after you climb its 229 step spiral staircase.
n Ryanair fly direct to Bordeaux on Sundays and Thursdays. n Aileen stayed at the IBIS Place de Bastide which is a 10 minute walk from the city centre. n A Bordeaux City Pass is well worth investing in during your stay as it covers tram fares and entrance fees to many of the city’s attractions. A 24 hour pass is €29, a 45 hour pass is €39 and a 72 hour pass is €43.
T
here are boutiques, mainstream stores. restaurants and bistros all across the city but you won’t see gaudy tourist shops hawking their universally recognisable tat. During our stay we spotted only one. The city’s famed Pont de Pierre, or “Stone Bridge” is Bordeaux’s oldest,which connects the historic left bank of the Garonne River to the right bank’s Quartier de la Bastide and is around 5 times the width of our own O’Connell bridge. It has 17 arches (the number of letters in the name ‘Napoléon Bonaparte’) and also carries the coat of arms of the city (three intertwined crescents). However it’s still hard to believe it was the city’s only bridge until the construction of pont Saint-Jean in 1965. It is the right bank that is currently being developed as a modernist counterweight to all that history and is now home to amazing modern street art and the Darwin Eco-Systeme project which was opened in 2007. Featuring a group of eco minded companies dedicated to economic co-operation and ecological development the Darwin is located among
the warehouses of a former military barracks in the city. Showcasing a visually stunning gallery of urban art and design the space is shared by 100 companies and 30 associations united by the common goals of reducing their companies’ environmental footprints, creating new economic synergies and promoting urban cultures. A short walk away another new modernist structure has carved out a distinctive silhouette on the Bordeaux skyline - it is the €81 million Cite du Vin which has welcomed over 1.2 million visitors since it opened its doors in 2016. Hardly surprising considering Bordeaux’s world renowned vineyards are annually fuelling a €2 billion winemaking industry. he unique exterior alone has visitors to the city reaching for their cameras long before they even draw near to it. It is a shining, flowing facade shaped by symbols of Bordeaux’s identity - gnarled vine stock, wine swirling in a glass, eddies on the Garonne. Every detail of the architecture is designed to evoke “the soul of wine
T
Evening in Bordeaux
and its liquid nature”. Spread over 8 floors (with 360 degree views from the Belvedere wine sampling room at the top) it is an absolute must for wine connoisseurs and philistines alike with tours, workshops and exhibits that will educate you in every facet of the grape from terroirs to tannins to table and all of the fascinating history in between. We also visited Chateau Pape Clement (216 Avenue Dr. Nancel Pennard) which is just a 40 minute drive from central Bordeaux. It is home to Bordeaux’s oldest vineyard (for 400 years it belonged to the
MAY 2017 PAGE 25
DESTINATION FRANCE
church) and had its first harvest in 1250. Here it is possible to make your own wine crafted to your own specific tastes under the tutelage of head sommelier Jeremy Fargeat. A morning’s enjoyable work not to be sniffed at. The current owner, philanthropist Bernard Magraz, who owns vineyards around the world, bought the 90 hectare award winning Chateau Pape Clement estate in 1987. His name is synonymous with the Bernard Magraz Cultural Institute in Bordeaux and he is recognised as a leading figure in Bordeaux’s ongoing cultural development.
P
erhaps the most eye opening revelation of this visit was just how little the wine making process has changed over those passing centuries. While workers are no longer crushing grapes with their feet, they are still picking and sorting each and every grape by hand. Horses plough the furrows for new vine planting as tractors would simply crush 5he underlying drainage of the soil and sheep graze between the vines to keep the soil-holding grass in check. Neither are there any vast tents in place to protect the precious crop - the vines are
exposed to the elements and at the full mercy of the weather. “In a bad year we might lose 40pc - 50pc of the crop Jeremy explains, “but there is nothing we can do. Yes, it pushes up the price of the wine but a fully natural environment must be maintained or we would simply lose our reputation for taste and quality earned over centuries”. Just as well the Dutch decided to drain all that marsh and swamp land back in the 1600’s and reveal those rocky outcrops where Bordeaux’s finest world renowned vines are now grown
Clockwise: One of Bordeaux’s most beloved figures - the Monument aux Girondins on the Esplanade des Quinconces., Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux, in the sunshine, 99pc of the city’s buildngs are made from sandstone which has been cleaned as part of a rejuvenation programme which is set to be completed by 2030, Outside one of Bordeaux’s newest and most popular attractions - Le Cite du Vin - the Euro 81 million centre, opened in 2017, is housed over 8 floors and pays homage to the region’s world renowned reputation for superior wines. Karolina Walczowska of Onet Podroze, Yann Delomez of Ryanair, Mark Kavanagh of the Star, Aileen C. O’Reilly of Travel Extra, George Keegan of Northern Ireland Travel News and Emma Pietras of the Sun, This is what Euro300,000 of Cognac looks like....A case of France’s most expensive tipple in a glass case at Le Pont Rouge restaurant in Bordeaux.
MAY 2019 PAGE 26
IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION
AFLOAT NCL opened bookings for 2021 with Norwegian Encore deployed to Alaska, Norwegian Joy to its new home port of New York City with sailings to Bermuda, Canada and New England, Norwegian Epic returning to Europe for seven-night Mediterranean cruises, Norwegian Dawn to the Greek Isles starting May 2021, Norwegian Getaway to Rome, sailing 10- and 11-night cruises to the Greek Isles and Italy, Norwegian Escape to the North of Europe featuring nine-night cruises to the Baltic region from May 2021. OCEANIA Cruises unveiled its
new 2020-2021 Tropics & Exotics Collection with 85 itineraries, 69 of them new, including 13 new voyages to Asia & Africa, 8 new voyages to South America, 7 new sailings to the South Pacific & Australia, 7 new Transoceanic journeys, and an extraordinary 30 new voyages to the Caribbean, the Panama Canal & Mexico. Royal Caribbean is to introduce facial recognition technology with tech providers IDEMIA at the Port of Miami and Cape Liberty.
JETLINE Cruise has launched in Ireland offering bespoke and exclusively built cruise holiday itineraries
PRINCESS Cruises will homeport in Tahiti in 2020 for the first time since 2015. P&O Cruises Aurora has been redesigned as an adults-only vessel with 28 new cabins added to Deck 8. BRITTANY Ferries hopes to capitalise on Irish Ferries’ decision to drop Rosslare enticing holidaymakers in the south-east to travel to Cork rather than Dublin Port. That was message - along with a 16pc rise in bookings this year in the Irish market - as Ireland manager Hugh Bruton and executives from France and Spain hosted journalists in Dublin. UNIWORLD’s transformed SS Bon Voyage, set sail on her maiden voyage in France after an eight-month renovation in Druten in The Netherlands.
AMA WATERWAYS is to add
a new 156-passenger ship to its European fleet on 1 July, 2020: AmaSiena, serving a variety of seven, 10 and 11-night itineraries along the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube rivers, and featuring connecting staterooms, increased personal space, luxury amenities, regionally-inspired cuisine in the Main Restaurant and the wine paired tasting menu in The Chef’s Table Restaurant.
ROYAL Caribbean’s Richard Fain
and Michael Bayley officially received Spectrum of the Seas from Meyer Werft Managing Partner Bernard Meyer at Bremerhaven.
CMV have are to open a port in Puerto Penascoin Mexico and will offer six identical 11night itineraries starting December 7, 2019. TUI has purchased three river cruise ships from Werner-Tours and Reiseburo Mittelthurgau Fluss and plans itineraries on the Danube, Rhine, Moselle and Main from summer 2020. Tauck’s new 84 passenger ms Andorinha will run family-friendly river cruise on the Douro from 2020.
Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas during construction: major lines will lunch 18 ships this year
Heading for 30m Seatrade hears of global cruise industry growth
G
lobal cruise passengers grew 7pc to 28.5m, supporting 1.1bn jobs worldwide and a total economic impact of $134bn, the Cruise Lines Industry Association reported at Seatrade. The annual conference returned to the Miami Beach Convention Center this year following a three-year run in Fort Lauderdale. Lines used the conference to explain product changes, ship expan-
sions (Windstar), new partnerships (Carnival, which is partnering with Family Feud) and details about upcoming vessels (Seabourn expedition ship Venture). NCL’s Frank Del Rio told the CEO forum that “there is nothing I see that suggests any kind of slowdown is on the horizon.” Arnold Donald of Carnival Corp noted that millennials are attracted to cruising because they are searching for adventure, but people
with time and money continue to be a strong source of clientele as their numbers double in the next few years. Richard Fain of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Pierfrancesco said the industry has continued growing because it continues to innovate to meet changing tastes of customers. The industry’s major lines will launch 18 new ships this year. Kelly Craighead, CEO of CLIA said the projected total in 2019 is 30m.
CLdN BRINGS 8,000m SHIP TO DUBLIN ROUTE
L
uxembourg based CLdN added a direct freight service from Dublin Port to Zeebrugge and Rotterdam with the 8,000 lane metre ro-ro MV
Laureline, CLdN now accounts for 40pc of all units moved between Dublin Port and Continental Europe. Eamonn O’Reilly of Dublin Port Company
says two and half times more goods move on direct routes from Dublin to the mainland than via the English landbridge. Eamonn O’Reilly
DUBLIN PORT DWELL TIME PLAN
D
ublin Port announced a new dwell time initiative to remove the possibility software delays after Brexit, now due at the end of October. The port says containers and freight trailers must move through Dublin Port lands at faster pace as growth continues with vol-
umes up 7.0pc in Q1 2019 Dublin Port Company hopes its initiative will decrease the dwell time of containers and trailers at Dublin Port so as to increase the Port’s throughput capacity for future growth. The target is to achieve an average dwell times of 16 hours, before end 2021.
The port says this will require many trailers to be removed from the port to inland locations, particularly during off peak hours. It defines dwell time as time spent in the same position, waiting to be picked up. The plan is in phase 1: n Reduce the free time period allowed for containers and trailers (from 7 to
4 days) n Double the daily quay charges applied after this free period. Phase .: n Objective of achieving an average dwell time of 2.0 days in container terminals in Dublin within three years.
IRELAND'S PREMIER SOURCE OF TRAVEL INFORMATION
MAY 2019 PAGE 27
AFLOAT
The back wash
Dublin Port intends returning to the cruise business
A
widely reported Dublin Port briefing document for a meeting with Transport minister Shane Ross has been released which said that construction work to extend the North Wall Quay can bring cruise calls back to a projected 150 in 2024/25, and 200 the following year. Before the ropes are thrown, it is subject to third party financial support as has happened in other cruise ports such as Barcelona. The briefing came as waves created by the port’s proposal cut cruise ship calls to the city from 172 in 2019 to 80 in 2021 continue to cause concern world-wide and trouble stake holders in the home holiday industry. The move comes two years after winning the long battle to secure home port mini season status from first Celebrity and then Princess, the port has backpedalled on cruise calls
ROYAL CARIBBEAN sus-
pended its SkyPad bungee trampoline shipboard pending a safety review after Casey Holladay fell to the deck in February fracturing his pelvis when ropes connected to the harness snapped.
MARELLA Cruises adults-only 1,814-passenger Marella Explorer 2 emerged from an eight-week makeover marked by a performance by X Factor winning group Rak-Su at a ceremony for Marella employees in Malaga. HAL Holland America announced at
Seatrade that its new Pinnacle-class ship will be named Ryndam, due to launch in May 2021, sister ship to Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam
Barton’s bus at Dublin cruise port and put a cap of 80 on the number of cruise calls to the city from 2021. In a further withdrawal from cruise promotion, the city will not be represented at Seatrade in Miami last month, where the cruise world gathers to make decisions.
What initially appeared to be a public pitch to achieve €120m funding for a North Wall extension, currently not affordable from the port’s €2m a year cruise ship income, could turn into a reversal of twenty years of progress in establishing Dublin.
SILVERSEA announced at Seatrade that Silver Origin will sail the Galapagos Islands from the summer of 2020. Silversea’s culinary programme Sea and Land Taste (SALT), will launch with new ship Silver Moon in August 2020.
AVALON Waterways named its 13th Suite Ship in Budapest.
WINDSTAR Steel was cut for the new mid-body section that to be inserted into Star Breeze as part of Windstar Cruises’ $250m revitalisation.
Hotel
to Britain Spring Hotel Breaks Sale to Britain It’s time for a change of scenery! Book your clients a spring break in our hotel sale and let them relax into a 2-night stay at a 3, 4 or 5 star hotel from only €119 per adult sharing, including return ferry travel with car from Dublin - Holyhead, Rosslare - Fishguard or Belfast - Cairnryan. Drive off on a city adventure or a countryside escape and get busy making new memories! You can choose from hundreds of hotels and B&Bs all over Britain, with the option to upgrade and extend your stay. At this great price, space is limited, so you’ve got to be quick - book today!
For further information and to book visit
stenaline.ie/agent
or call 01 907 5399 or see your travel agent Travel up to 30 June 2019. Please see website for full terms and conditions.
2 Nights
€119
From
per person sharing incl travel
MAY 2019 PAGE 28
THE FLYING COLUMN EUROPE included aircraft parts on a list of $20bn worth of US products it could tax from early next year in retaliation for US financial support to Boeing, in response to Donald Trump’s tit for tat trade-mongering last week. Dave O’Flanagan, Alan Giles and Dermot BOXEVER O’Connor’s Dublin-based
personalisation platform Boxever will work with Ryanair to bring together data from Ryanair’s digital channels, tools and databases to automate decisions about how to personalise each interaction. Boxover airline customers also include Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, Air New Zealand, Cebu Pacific, Emirates, Finnair, Jetstar, VivaAerobus, VivaAir and Volaris.
OAG
reported the first summer decline-in trans-Atlantic frequencies in five years, down -0.7pc, with capacity up 0.3pc. Largely due to the failure of Primera Air and WOW air and the end of Air India and Kuwait Airways fifth freedom flights between Europe and North America. BA trans-Atlantic capacity is down 2.7pc. Norwegian trans-Atlantic capacity is up 27.9pc.
DELHI authorities were lobbied to
deregister aircraft leased to India’s beleaguered Jet Airways by SMBC Aviation Capital, seeking the return of 4 B737s and Avolon, who are waiting on two B737-800s. Even as the last domestic fights were grounded last month the airline claimed : Jet Airways will now await the bid finalisation process by SBI and the consortium of Indian lenders, while creditors said that they are “reasonably hopeful” that a bidding process with potential investors for a controlling stake in the airline will save the company. Aer Lingus’ partnership with the Qantas Frequent Flyer programme will end July 1. The option of using Qantas Points with British Airways remains on flights to Dublin. The partnership is already dropped from the Aer Lingus web-page.
FINNAIR is to serve Guangzhou in China year round.
DUBLIN Airport’s Twitter account won The Moodie Award for the best Airport Twitter account, which is the fourth time it has picked up this award in the past six years. No other airport has won the Airport Twitter category more than once. KERRY England-based international
asset and infrastructure management company Babcock International is to open a helicopter base facility at Kerry Airport in Farranfore to service oil and gas exploration operations off the west coast.
UNITED has reduced
its new daily San Francisco-Amsterdam service to seasonal.
AIR CANADA intends to remove B737 MAX flying from its schedule until at least July 1, as the aircraft remains grounded and MAX deliveries are suspended. The carrier has extended leases for aircraft which were scheduled to exit the fleet, accelerated its A321s from WOW Air into its fleet, and leased and chartered aircraft from Air Transat
Eamonn Brennan speaking at A4E in Brussels
I
Eamonn’s aims
Eurocontrol’s Galway born CEO on disruption
n the keynote interview at the A4E summit in Brussels, Eamonn Brennan Director General of Eurocontrol, Brennan warned that “we are heading to the wall” on air traffic delays. He announced that Eurocontrol are
L
sion to implement change. There are two issues: fragmentation of the airspace and monopolies. He also stressed the need to introduce financial incentives for the different air navigation service providers in order to compete.
LAUDA’S NEW NAME MOTION NO MORE
audamotion has decided to delete the word “Motion” from its name. The Ryanair owned airline decided to keep only “Lauda” for marketing reasons, CEO Andreas Gruber said at the presentation of new uniforms. Lauda will increase its fleet in Vienna by 3 to 11 aeroplanes in the
T
changing airways for summer 2019, moving routes away from Marseille area. He said these measures and moves are not enough and in the long run the airlines have to lobby with governments and the European Commis-
autumn and to 14 in summer20. Vienna will be the largest of the four bases, ahead of Dusseldorf, Palma and Stuttgart. The fifth base will be outside the German-speaking area, Gruber announced. In the winter19 timetable, Lauda will operate 21 more routes from Vienna, including to
Athens, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bordeaux, Marseille, Brussels-Charleroi, Eindhoven, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Lisbon, Porto, Riga, Sofia, Tel Aviv, Oslo, Vilnius and Muenster-Osnabrück. Lauda joins parent company Ryanair for the negotiations with the airports as well as for jet fuel purchasing.
Andreas Gruber at Lauda launch in Dublin
AIR FRANCE/KLM NEW SEATS
he Air France-KLM group is harmonising the distribution of its cabins on its longhaul network in order to guarantee its customers a clearer, simpler and more consistent travel experience. The Air France La Première cabin will be
available at least once a day to routes including San Francisco, New York, Washington, Atlanta, Houston, LAX, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Dubai, Beirut, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, TokyoHaneda and Singapore. The company is standardising its routes by
mainly assigning its A380s to the US. Air France is harmonizing its products and services by constantly operating the same type of aircraft to a destination such as Tokyo-Haneda, which is operated daily by B777-200, Santiago de Chile by B777-300 and Toronto by B777-300.
KLM will be offering its new World Business Class on all long-haul destinations. Its new Economy cabin will be available on all B777, B787 and A330. As a result of code-sharing with Virgin Atlantic, AF-KL customers will have access to a wide choice of additional flights
MAY 2019 PAGE 29
THE FLYING COLUMN DUBLIN
airport is on course for 34m passengers in 2019 if the 8pc growth rate to date is sustained. March traffic is up 8pc to 2.5m, Europe up 11pc, Britain up 7pc, Transatlantic up 11pc and M East down 8pc.
ETIHAD
plans to become the first Middle Eastern airline to operate a flight without any single-use plastics on board on ‘Earth Day’ in a bid to raise awareness of the effects of plastic pollution.
CSO Aviation Statistics show growth
of 6.9pc in Q4 2018. Kerry had the highest growth at 8.9pc but the lowest passenger headcount at 365,000.
35 new routes
Surprises among new routes from Irish airports
D
ublin Airport will welcome a total of 23 new routes and four new airlines in the coming weeks, making this the busiest summer in the airport’s 79-year history. The rowth means 1.3m extra seats have been added across the airport’s route network, which is a 6% increase in capacity when compared to last summer. The number of seats to and from North America is up 3% this summer, with an extra 91,000 seats this year. The peak summer months will see nine airlines flying 464 flights per week to and from 18 destinations in the US and six destinations in Canada, which equates to an average of 66 flights daily to and from North America. Total capacity on existing shorthaul routes is set to increase by 6% with almost 1.2 million additional seats this summer. Four new airlines, airBaltic, Great Dane Airlines, SunExpress and TAP Air Portugal are joining Dublin Airport’s growing list of airline customers. Six long-haul routes and
E
17 short-haul destinations are being added to Dublin Airport’s flight schedule this summer. Of the six new long-haul routes,
Hainan Airlines and Norwegian have already launched new services to Shenzhen and Hamilton Toronto respectively.
NEW ROUTES 2019 Dallas American June 6 BELFAST INTERNL Dubrovnik Ryanair June 2, Bourgas Jet2 May 29
BELFAST CITY Carlisle Loganair July 4
CORK
Dubrovnik Aer Lingus May 4 Budapest April 4 Malta Ryanair April 4 Poznan Ryanair April 2 Naples Ryanair June 2 Nice Aer Lingus May 1
DUBLIN
Aalborg Great Dane June 21 Billund, Ryanair, October Bodrum Ryanair May 4 Bordeaux Ryanair April 4 Bournemouth Ryanair April 2 Caligari Ryanair July 2 Calgary Westjet June 1 Carlisle Loganair July 4
Gothenburg Ryanair May 4 Halifax Westjet April 20 Hamilton Norwegian March 31 Kyiv Ryanair May 2 Lisbon TAP March 31 Lourdes Ryanair June 2 Milan Malpensa, Ryanair, Minneapolis Aer Lingus July 8 Riga Air Baltic March 31 Shenzhen Hainan, February 25 Southend Ryanair April 2 Split Ryanair June 1 Thessaloniki Ryanair May 3
KNOCK
Cologne Ryanair June 1
SHANNON
Ibiza Ryanair April 3 East Midlands Ryanair April 5
NATS JOINS WITH CANADIANS
ngland’s NATS and Canada have started a joint trial of space-based surveillance of aircraft flying over the North Atlantic. They say the capability will deliver immediate safety and capacity bene-
fits for oceanic travel. NATS began tracking aircraft over the eastern half of the North Atlantic the night March 27, using the Aireon system of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast receivers carried by Iridium Next
satellites. This will be the start of a joint operational trial with Nav Canada, which manages the western half of the oceanic airspace. Using space-based ADS-B, controllers will receive vastly more frequent position
updates from aircraft plying the oceanic airspace, allowing them to substantially reduce separations between aircraft on the current track system. Eventually, the track system may be eliminated.
BOMBARDIER Alain Bellemare of Bombardier says the continuation of its regional jet program hinges on whether the company can fill up the CRJ’s partly blank order book.
AIR TRAFFIC handled by Irish air
traffic control is up 3pc in January-March 2019 to 245,461 movements.
CORK
passengers numbers increased by 11pc in the first three months and is on course for 2.6m passengers this year. Picture shows the inaugural flight from Cork to Nice this week.
FLY Leasing completed the sale of a port-
folio of 12 aircraft, A320s and B737s with an average age of over 10 years, for an aggregate price of US$295m over book value.
IAG Steve Gunning, currently chief finan-
cial officer at British Airways will replace Enrique Dupuy de Lôme when he steps down from his role as chief financial officer and Board executive director at IAG’s Annual General Meeting in June 2019.
STOBART Group appointed Lewis
Girdwood as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director.
UNITED extended the suspension of
Newark-New Delhi to July 3 “due to seasonal winds and the continued closure of Pakistani airspace.”
RYANAIR announced Preveza will be its 14th Greek airport, with a new weekly route to Budapest commencing in July.
CAUSEWAY Lisburn-based Causeway Aero Group, headed up by Michael Rice (pictured), became the first company in the north to receive money (£500,000) from the £30m Brexit Growth Finance Fund, set to directly lead to the creation of 17 new jobs specialising in stress analysis and design of aircraft structures and systems. WILLIE WALSH told Oneworld’s
20th anniversary event that Aer Lingus is unlikely to rejoin the alliance any time soon as it is currently busy, having applied in December to join the existing transatlantic joint venture with American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair. “That’s a complex regulatory process they have to go through and their intention is to focus on that at the moment.”
MAY 2019 PAGE 30
THE FLYING COLUMN KERRY Airport’s new General Manager, John Mulhern has taken over from the recently-retired Peter Moore. He is a Waterville native and was previously the Chief Operating Officer with responsibilities for Business Development at Mater Private Hospital Cork. Donegal Airport has been named world’s bestknown lists of scenic landing for the second year in a row in the annual poll conducted by private jet booking service PrivateFly.
AVOLON announced the closing of
its inaugural US$500m three year unsecured term loan facility. The transaction was oversubscribed and upsized by over 60pc based on the original launch size of US$300m. Avolon intends to use the net proceeds from the financing for general corporate purposes which may include the future repayment of outstanding secured indebtedness. The financing was led by Natixis and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Ltd who acted as joint mandated lead arrangers, underwriters and bookrunners for the deal. Lenders to the facility consist of a group of 13 international banks from across Asia, Europe and the United States.
CHINA is looking at excluding the B737
MAX from a list of American exports it would buy as part of a trade deal with the US.
JOHN SLATTERY Ennis born
John Slattery has been announced as president and CEO of the commercial aviation and services joint venture between Boeing and Embraer
APPLEGREEN are to take on Shell Aviation and Texaco Valero for the €400m aviation fuel market at Dublin Airport with a new €16m fuel terminal. LIMERICK Institute of Technology
and Lufthansa Technik Shannon announced a three-year undergraduate degree programme in aircraft maintenance engineering.
INDIA Youth Ireland founder, Shashank Chakerwarti, organised a protest to campaign for direct flights between Ireland and India.
AVIANCA Brasil will have 10 aircraft
seized following a court ruling in favour of the Irish subsidiary of Aircastle to begin April 13.
SMBC Aviation Capital Finance closed
the sale of $500m principal amount of 3.55pc, five-year senior unsecured notes due Ap 2024.
TUNISIA’s tourism minister Rene
Trabelsi said the country is to open airspace to other carriers and said Ryanair had expressed interest for 2019/20 pending the open skies agreement.
ZEPHRYS Aviation Capital ap-
pointed Daire Shiels as Finance Manager based in the Dublin office.
TRUENOORD Regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord Netherlands appointed Michael Adams as European Sales Director, based in TrueNoord’s Dublin office. AIR FRANCE to provide free flights for those involved in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame cathedral.
Kenny Jacobs launching Ryanair’s connecting flights service
Ryanair connects Ryanair offers baggage transfer at Brussels airport
I
n another giant step towards becoming a fun service airline, Ryanair launched its connecting flights service at Brussels Charleroi, Ryanair, the kings of self-connect since they launched 34 years ago, is offering 27 routes including Alicante, Budapest, Milan Bergamo and Prague, providing Ryanair customers with the opportunity to book
and transfer directly onto connecting Ryanair flights, not including Ireland. In a scheme likely to be extended to other cities, Ryanair customers can now: n Book connecting flights on 27 routes via Brussels Charleroi on Ryanair.com n Transfer ‘air side’ between connecting flights without having to go
‘landside’ n Have their checked-in baggage transferred through to their final destination n Use one booking reference for both flights n Travel to a wider range of destinations across Europe including:
AERCAP LEASE 43 AIR CRAFT SINCE JAN
A
erCap reported that business transactions during the first quarter 2019 included signed financing transactions for $1.9bn. Aercap signed lease agreements for 43 aircraft, including 6
widebody aircraft and 37 narrowbody aircraft, purchase of 17 aircraft, including 12 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, 1 Airbus A350, 3 Boeing 787-9s and 1 Embraer E2, sale of 21 aircraft, including 7 Airbus A320 Family air-
craft, 2 Airbus A330s, 3 Airbus A340s, 6 Boeing 737NGs and 1 Boeing 767-300ER from AerCap’s owned portfolio and 2 Airbus A320 Family aircraft from AerCap’s managed portfolio.
Gus Kelly
DUBLIN AIRPORT PLANS FOR 40m
D
AA says its suggested development plans would enable Dublin Airport to develop in a sustainable manner and accommodate 40m passengers per annum in the next step of a bigger plan under which the airport can accommodate 55m. The plan suggests linear extensions within the DAA campus with
bussing stands on front of the hangar area south of the north runway and to the south of the terminal area,avoiding a T3 or any need to acquire the McEvaddy lands to the west. The suggested layout would require an estimated 56 minutes from T2 check-in to the most remote CBP gate. The plan is exclusive of the North runway which
is already cleared by the CAR. Proposed expenditure is now €567m on core projects, capital expenditure required to maintain existing infrastructure and including an element of revenue generating commercial projects, and €1,230m on capacity increases, down from a previous estimate of €1,085m, €378m on T1,
€568m on T2, and €214m on the airfield. DAA say €926m of other projects have not been prioritised following an internal due diligence process,. They say they would still welcome feedback on as part of this consultation process. Some works relating to the plans for 2025 and their associated costs have been deferred,
MAY 2019 PAGE 31
THE FLYING COLUMN FAA Former Delta Air Lines executive
Steve Dickson is to be nominated to lead the US FAA
NORDIC Aviation Capital has successfully completed its third Senior Unsecured Private Placement issuance. The issuance, rated BBB by Kroll Bond Rating Agency, was launched at US$250m and was substantially oversubscribed allowing NAC to source a total of US$786.25m.This is believed to be the largest US private placement by an aircraft leasing company.
ORIX Aviation expects to hit its US$2.5bn acquisition target in next financial year, starting 01Apr19. The lessor aims to grow its fleet to 300-400 from about a current 233, with 320 aircraft by March 2021. For the current year, Orix expects to have acquired 33 aircraft and sold 54 aircraft.
Grounded Boeing 737MAX at Dublin airport. Picture by mike Kelly
BA has revealed a new business class Club Suite, “your own personal space to sit, sleep, work, or relax” isolated by a sliding screen. It will be featured on the first of its A350 aircraft due for delivery this July, with B777s and B787s to follow. The Club Suite itself is based on the Collins Aerospace [formerly B/A Aerospace] Super Diamond, manufactured in s things stand, Cork and daily, and Dublin-Stewart down to receive a refund to the schedule chan- Co Antrim and customised by British Airways’ Shannon are both to lose daily from twice daily, probably ges in response to the suspension of in-house design team. their Norwegian Airways driven by concerns of non-availabil- B737 Max planes by European aviEASYJET’s Strabane born chief operatrams-Atlantic services for summer ity of B737 MAX aircraft. ation authorities. ing officer Chris Browne has taken early retire2019 and the Dublin service has been Rerouted passengers who were due Norwegian currently has 18 Boe- ment due to her husband’s ill health. cut back by 50pc. to fly on Norwegian’s transatlantic ing 737 Max 8 planes in its fleet and OAG filings for Norwegian trans- services from Cork and Shannon who uses them on seven North American VIRGIN Atlantic will launch daily B787 atlantic B737s for July show no will travel via Dublin until the end of routes, including Cork, Dublin, and flights between London Heathrow and Sao Cork-Providence, Shannon-Provi- June are being asked to book their Shannon to Newark and Providence. Paulo, in 2020, its first foray into South Amerdence or Shannon-Stewart filings own transport and to claim expenses Norwegian says it will be seeking ica. (3w, 4w and 3w last year), Dub- by producing receipts compensation from Boeing for exSTOBART Group has disposed of its lin-Providence down to 4w from Passengers can rebook flights or penses and loss of revenue. regional airline and aircraft leasing businesses in return for becoming a 30pc shareholder, alongside Virgin Atlantic and Cyrus Capital, in a newly created private vehicle, Connect Airways to take over Flybe. The disposed businesses will be treated as discontinued operations in the FY 2019 results, with the FY2018 a t t h e w marina and coastguard Shannon Commercial results restated. Stobart Group expects to inThomas is to under the Ports of Jersey Properties in its first clude 30pc of any profit after tax of Connect step down as banner. The appoint- phase of redevelopment Airways in its Group results CEO of Shannon Group ment comes following of the Shannon Free plc to take up the same an extensive recruitment Zone, occupancy rates VINCI The European Commission has position at the Ports of and selection process at the industrial space given the go-ahead for French airports operator Jersey. overseen by the Jersey are now at 94pc. and infrastructure specialist Vinci to acquire Passenger numbers The South African Appointment Commismajority control of London’s Gatwick Airnative Thomas departs sion. at Shannon Airport hit port. Vinci is acquiring Cayman Islands-based in June to Jersey where In his three years at 1.86m last year up 6.5pc holding company, Ivy Topco Limited, which he will be responsible Shannon, he oversaw increase on 2017. indirectly controls Gatwick Airport. for the airport, harbour, a €40m investment by Austria’s Supreme Administrative Court has Matthew and Rose Hynes confirmed the approval for the construction of a third runway at Vienna Airport.
B737Max hits plan
Norwegian cuts routes and capacity after groundings
A
MATTHEW THOMAS TO LEAVE SHANNON
M D
FINGAL QUERIES DAA PLANS
AA has been told by Fingal County Council to provide more information about plans to make changes to infrastructure including taxiways planned as part of its €320m runway project at Dublin Airport.
Issues raised by the council relate to a floodrisk assessment and surface water drainage. DAA plans to reduce the number of taxiways and relocate others. It also wants to make other changes to the project, including the
relocation of electricity sub-stations, a new perimeter fence, and the installation of airside blast -protection fencing. The total paved area at the airport following construction of the runway is to be significantly reduced
under the changes being sought by DAA. DAA has previously said that the changes to the runway project primarily relate to changes in aviation standards and compliance regulations.
BA announced plans to introduce daily Heathrow-Bahrain-Dammam (Saudi Arabia) service from 01Dec19, operating with four class B777-200.
RYANAIR is poised to grow its seat capacity in Cyprus by 22pc in S19, making it the largest carrier there. Cyprus’ two leading airports of Larnaca and Paphos handled a record 10.94m passengers in 2018, up 6.7pc. All this is despite the collapse of Cobalt Airways.
MAY 2019 PAGE 32
THE FLYING COLUMN AER LINGUS has dropped Dublin-Murcia and Stuttgart from the summer 2019 programme,
UNITED
Airlines resumed flights between Shannon and Newark for summer daily until October 26.
EMIRATES is holding cabin crew recruitment Open Days at the following locations, all of which commence at 9am, Sligo on Saturday 20thApril at The Glasshouse Hotel; Saturday 20thApril at Muckross Park, Killarney and Monday 22ndApril at: Maldron Dublin Airport.
WATERFORD Despite having no services since 2016, Waterford airport has not yet given up the fight and is lobbying for a runway extension.
SINGAPORE Changi won the award for the best airport in the world in the always contentious Skytrax Awards for the seventh year in a row, ahead of 2 Tokyo Haneda, 3 Seoul Incheon, 4 Doha Hamad, 5 Hong Kong, 6 Centrair Nagoya, 7 Munich, 8 Heathrow (whose Terminal 2, used by Aer Lingus, won best airport terminal), 9 Tokyo Narita, and 10 Zurich. Dublin dropped from 80th to 84th place, Surprisingly, Amsterdam Schiphol dropped from 12th to 14th.
RYANAIR brought forward to June 1 its planned cuts on the Belfast International to Stansted route from three times daily to three times weekly, citing operational reasons. They are similarly cutting Edinburgh to Stansted to four a week from four flights a day (fares on both routes had been extremely low as Brexit uncertainty impacts on average fares). RYANAIR launched 41 new routes for summer, 13 on sectors which are already flown by at least one other carrier, with the biggest competing airline being easyJet which is present on four services. Tetouan in Morocco joins the network. AIR CANADA has delayed the
seasonal start of the Shannon-Toronto route until July 1, 2019. The following options are available: re-route through Dublin-Toronto, or Ei through Aer Lingus via Shannon-Heathrow or United Airlines via Shannon-Newark. All change fees and charges will be waived if origin, destination and cabin remain the same and if you re-book within 7 days of the original travel dates.
EASYJET added two more weekly flights from Belfast International to Bristol on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Easyjet winter schedule, released this month, will offer 13,000 seats from Belfast but no new routes. SABRE Data released by Sabre in
Hannover, where 1,200 aviation professionals gathered this week to pitch for business at Routes Europe, showed Heathrow-Dublin retaining its third place among international passenger numbers ex Europe in 2018 with 1.81m behind Heathrow JFK with 2.92m and Heathrow-Dubai with 2.67m. Spain is the largest domestic market. Bergen in Norway will host Routes Europe 2020
Ryanair will consolidate its lead in market share at Dublin airport in summer 2019
Ryanair share up Growth of 12pc increases lead from Aer Lingus
R
yanair’s market share at Dublin is now 38.3pc and Aer Lingus3 4.9pc, according to the summer 2019 preliminary report by Airport Coordination, responsible for slots at Dublin Airport. Combined Aer Lingus and Ryanair is up from 71.0pc to 73.2pc. The report shows total air passenger movements up 3.6pc to 145,395, 5.3pc higher than the actual seats for summer 2018. Seats cleared are up 4.7pc to 25.39m, 6.5pc higher than the actual seats for summer 2018.
For the peak week, movements are up 5.0pc to 5,140, and seats up 6.5pc to 848,556. Ryanair is up 12.1pc with capacity share up from 36.1pc to 38.3pc, and Aer Lingus, who have four more peak week slot pairs than a year ago, up 3.5pc to 308,700 seats, with capacity share down from 35.9pc to 34.9pc. The 52 other passenger carriers, have a share of 26.8pc, down from 29.0pc as the two big airlines increase their dominance of seat capacity from Dublin.
PEAK SEASON SEATS 1 Ryanair jup 12.1p to 337,365 2 Aer Lingus up 3.5pc to 308,700 3 British Airways up 10pc to 21,836, 4 Lufthansa up 14.9pc to 16,926, 5 American up 12.2pc to 14,070, 6 Norwegian down 17pc to 12,426, 7 Emirates up 9.4pc to 11,032, 8 Delta unchanged at 10,052, 9 TUI Airways up 79pc to 9.450, 10 United down 4.5pc to 9,184, 11 Etihad up 20.0pc to 8,808 12 Flybe down 41.5pc to 8,084.
WISE PERSONS JOIN CRITICISM OF ATC
F
urther to comments by Eamon Brennan at the A4E conference in Brussels last month, the European Commission Wise Persons Group issued 10 recommendations to reduce
delays on European Air Traffic Control reform. The group recommended taking a central network management approach under Eurocontrol and implementing capacity contracts with national
ATC providers. Europe suffered 19.1m minutes of ATC delays in 2018, of which 60pc were caused by ATC staff shortages and 15pc due to ATC strikes, a figure due to double in 2019. Eamon Brennan
TAP SAYS 30pc ARE CONNECTIONS
A
PG wil represent Portuguese airline TAP in Ireland as its new double daily summer service between Dublin and Lisbon. The airline’s new service will be operated by an Airbus A319 aircraft.
TP1325@10.35 and TP1327@17.30, will fill the void left by the long-established Madeira charter, and the Azores which had direct flights from Dublin in 2006 and 2007. Carlos Oliveira of TAP says 30pc of advance
bookings are connecting through Lisbon and he expects that proportion to grow. Brazil, Ponta Delgada, Terceira, Funchal and Porto Santo featuring a network of 89 destinations in 35 countries. TAP offers full service
in business and economy class, with Portugal menus and Portuguese wines. The new service connects with holiday destinations, as well as long-haul destinations in Africa and South America, with a free stopover allowed in Lisbon.
MAY 2019 PAGE 33
I
will arise and go now” may be the most famous opening line by an Irish poet, and WB Yeats would, no doubt, approve that his name has been attached to one of the most luxurious modes of sea transport in the world. The €144m vessel commenced business on the Dublin to Cherbourg route last month. The decision to base in Dublin, rather than Rosslare, was contentious in the south east, but it is what Irish ferries’ customer base wanted, the freight drivers who sustain the ferry through the ten months of the year that tourists are not travelling in numbers, and the customer base in Leinster and Ulster that travel in large numbers in summer. Ferry companies make much of the fact that the customer experience is superior to the airport equivalent. While there was a queue to board of about 40 minutes on the return leg the experience is more comfortable in a car. Once on board there are stairs and lifts to the reception area on deck 11 and to the rooms, ready for a shower and a freshen. Our accommodation
ONBOARD WB YEATS
Poetry in motion
De luxe suite on board Irish Ferries WB Yeats which sails Dublin to Cherbourg four times a week was in large (by shipping standard) de luxe sites with chocolates, wine and, appropriately, Writer’s Tears whiskey presentation packs.
W
e had access to the Innisfree club class lounge (where we DID “arise and go now”) with newspapers, drinks and finger food and a view to the tossing sea ahead, and the Lady Gregory restau-
rant where we sampled a signature “taste of sea:” wild cod and seabass, mussels, asparagus and rich tomato bouillabaisse. There is a freight driver’s lounge, a large buffet style Boylan’s Brasserie, Maud Gonne’s bar, two Cinemas (named “The Abbey” and “The Peacock” Hazel Wood quiet lounge, Crazy Jane’s games room, Sally gardens children’s room and two decks of public
space, with the souvenir shop and seating areas dwarfing the public space on Yeats’ predecessor, Oscar Wilde, which was of its time and now has nothing to declare other than the genius of developing a journey to France that became an experience in itself. There is a passenger-accessible outdoor, open-air deck area for strolling, letting the wind run through your hair, and watch for the
dolphins that sometimes come to play alongside.
U
p on the bridge, captain Simon maple showed us the technology, echo sounders, four GPS’s, radar that identifies the other ships by name, and the tech for precision docking. It is faster at 23 knots, and the journey takes 21 hours. Car passengers can
bring as much luggage as their vehicle can handle. Foot passengers between Ireland and UK must check-in bulky items, but have no access to them during the voyage. Foot passengers traveling between Ireland and France are allowed to bring only carry-on luggage as check-in facilities are not available. All staterooms are air-conditioned and with en-suite bathrooms. The ferry company provides bed linens, towels, and toiletries. The ship also has wheelchair-accessible cabins (adapted for disabled passengers). Priority boarding is offered to all car drivers. Deluxe suits cost €379, premium suites €700 and those with a private balcony €800. , You can see why Irish Ferries’ WB Yeats has been picking up design awards since its launch, notably the ‘Ferry of the Year 2019 award at the annual Ferry Shipping Summit and the Shippax Ferry Concept and Shippax Interior Architecture Awards. The real prize to be won will be the burgeoning holiday market from Ireland to France.
Group in the Lady Gregory restaurant: Martine McKenna of Irish Ferries, Fran Lambert of Normandy Tourism Stephen Moore of the Sunday World, Eoghan Corry editor of Travel Extra Ireland, ,Martin Burns of the Irish Sun, David Gray of Michael Gray coaches,Ailish O’Hora of the Irish Independent and Anne Sheridan of the Irish Mail, Boylan’s restaurant general scene and buffet locations, Maud Gonne bar, Innisfree club class lounge, view to Cherbourg as ship prepares to dock, boarding Cherbourg, Captain Simon Maple and a seagull passes as WB Yeats arrives in Cherbourg.
MAY 2019 PAGE 34
GLOBAL VILLAGE
Inside the Travel Business
WENDY WU Bookings that include China with Wendy Wu between April 1 and May 31 will be entered into a competition or a 5-6 day trip to Chongqing in June 2019, with 10 places being given to the top-selling agents during the two-month period, and the other five places being allocated by a draw of all agents who have made at least one booking. Agents get an opportunity to visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites and experience how easy it is to travel through Chongqing with visa-on-arrival instead of getting a visa before travel.
EMIRATES were visiting agents this week as part of their Easter Sales Blitz with chocolates from on-board partners Butlers.
WALLACE Travel Group is looking to
hire an experienced retail travel consultant with a minimum of one to two years’ experience, with GDS knowledge and sales experience.
TURKISH Abby Chung has joined Turkish Cargoas Regional Cargo Representative. Abby has 18 years sales and distribution experience and six years management experience. She was with Air France KLM Cargo for 11 years as Sales Manager for Ireland.
Pat Dawson CEO of the ITAA, Des Abbott of Des Abbott Travel, Jean Maxwell of the ITAA, Teresa Gancedo Director of the Spanish Tourist Board in Dublin and Antonio Martin of Andalusia Tourism, on an inspection mission to Cordoba in advance of the ITAA Conference on October 18 2019
TRAVEL COUNSELLORS
are doubling capacity to Bulgaria for their 2019-20 ski programme, with weekly flights to Sofia, transferring to Borovets, from December 22 2019 to March 22 2020 as well as weekly flights to Plovdiv, transferring to Pamporovo.
CELEBRITY Cruises’ Jo Rzymowska
has been shortlisted in an awards ceremony for diversity champion of the year.
TURKISH Airlines extended their sponsorship with Cricket Ireland for another two years. Topflight are partnering with the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon to offer seven night stay in a villa at Hotel Villa Maria in Desenzano on the shores of Lake Garda. ATE next Australian Tourism Exchange
will be hosted by Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on May 10-14 2020. Brodie Carr and John O’Sullivan hosted 600 international and domestic buyers, 70 media from 30 countries and 1,400 sellers from 550 companies at ATE, one of three major travel trade events to be hosted by Perth in 2019.
CARTRAWLER appointed Charlie
Conigliot o head up its North America operations. CarTrawler B2B mobility platform now has 100 airlines and 2,000 travel partners,
JIM MURTY Bearded bandamanan
Jim Murty has departed the Irish mail, five years after building the travel section up from two pages at the back to six pages at the centre of the Saturday edition. He intends setting up a blog, Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel.
GOHOP group appointed Ann Marie Durkin as leisure travel manager. She previously held senior roles with American Express, Omni Travel and most recently Cassidy Travel.
CSO figures for overseas trips made by Irish residents during February 2019 were up 13.0pc to 556,300.
The rail deal
ITAA conference readies up for Andalusia in October
A
ntonio Martin of Andalusia Tourism led ITAA delegates on an inspection mission to Cordoba in advance of the ITAA Conference on October 18 2019. Subject to confirmation, the conference will take place at the 5 star 162-room Eurostars Palace situated between the new town and old centre
of Cordoba, complete with rooftop bar (flashbacks to Granada 2013). The venues for the evening events have also been inspected. It is intended that delegates frying to Malaga with Aer Lingus or Sevilla with Ryanair will travel to Cordoba by high speed train to familiarise them with the options for transport around
Spain available to their client. Conference content will include a suppliers’ forum to discuss relationships on trading and updates from IATA and ECTAA. Travel Extra’s Eoghan Corry has been confirmed as moderator for the conference.
TRISH MOVE TO TRADE REPRESENTATION
T
rish O’Leary, an industry veteran is now striking out on her own with her own company, Travel Support Ireland. She has seen a gap in
the market for the provision of expert support to companies in one-off or longer projects to grow their brand loyalty and revenue. She has offering a
wide range of specialities, including trade representation, public relations, project and account management, as well as business development.
Trish O’Leary
HEALTH SCARE REPORT DOUBTED
D
oes scopolamine turn tourists into zombies? Another devil’s breath scare in Tenerife, where an Irishman allegedly emptied his bank accounts while under the influence of scopolamine, is being treated with scepticism by pharmacologists. Val Cur-
ran, professor of pharmacology at UCL’s Clinical Pharmacology Unit says “you get these scare stories and they have no toxicology, so nobody knows what it is.” The DFA advisory on Spain warns people to watch their drinks, just in case: The Spanish author-
ities have warned of date rape drugs, including GBH and liquid ecstasy, being used. Don’t inadvertently lower your alertness to these risks simply because you are on holiday. The USA travel advisory goes further, suggesting its use in Colombia is widespread:
“usually men, perceived to be wealthy, are targeted by young, attractive women.” The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction says it has never had any mention of scopolamine being used in this way.
u
MAY 2019 PAGE 35
Inside the Travel Business
GLOBAL VILLAGE WTTC Keynote speaker at the WTTC
summit in Seville was Barack Obama, former President of the USA, who discussed his view on the travel and tourism sector and its importance to cultural awareness and the global economy.
TIANGUIS Turístico 2020 will be held in Mérida, Yucatán. Mexico’s tourism minister Miguel Torruco Marqués said the 2019 event in Acapulco this week attracted 1,249 buyers from 45 countries for 47,114 appointment, up 5.3pc.
PRINCESS Cruises launched what it
The opening of the Travel; Trade show with Pat Dawson, john Spollen and Maureen Ledwith
2 day trade show Trade show to be held in Dublin and Cork in 2020
T
he ITAA’s Irish Travel Trade Show will double up in 2020 with an exhibition in Cork on Tuesday, April 1 and a new Dublin venue on Wednesday, April 2. Business Exhibitions says that the Dublin show will totally revamped as a result of consultation with exhibitors. Pat Dawson, CEO of the
ITAA, said, “the Munster trade found it difficult to attend the Dublin show. With this in mind, we have decided to bring the show to them to save time out of their busy day.” The Dublin show will totally revamped as a result of consultation with exhibitors. The new venue for Dublin’s Trade Show will be an-
nounced in due course. An initiative of the ITAA, the Irish Travel Trade Show is Ireland’s largest travel trade show and offers an unrivalled opportunity for travel professionals to meet one-to-one with existing and potential suppliers.
TRAVEL COUNSELLORS FIND CUSTOMER TRENDS CHANGING
T
ravel Counsellors’ annual national conference, (tagline TCX – Travel Counsellors Experience) took place at the 5-star Powerscourt Hotel, Travel Counsellors General Manager Cathy Burke told Travel Extra that cruising is up 44pc and overall business up 12pc in 2018, “The corporate side of the business is steadily increasing as is the average spend per booking, while soft adventure holidays in destinations such as Japan and Vietnam are increasingly popular with holidaymakers. For the first time Japan is in the Top 10 of holiday destinations.”. Travel Counsellors, which held its first conference for its 20 homeworkers in Dunboyne Castle 12 years ago, now has 74 and continues to grow. Cathy puts its increasing appeal down to the company’s ethos of positivity and success.
Cathy Burke “When I entered the holiday business it was known for being very badly paid - but that’s certainly not the case with Travel Counsellors. All our Travel Counsellors know that the sky is the limit and there is a very strong support system in place for them every step of the way. I know I say it every year but it’s true - we are like family”. Keynote speaker, Disability rights
advocate Sinéad Burke spoke about her career journey to date, from Ted Talks to the fashion industry along with outlining to attendees the need for more accessible travel. Other speakers included Steve Byrne, CEO at Travel Counsellors on the vision of the leading travel company, while Waseem Haq, Digital and Innovation Director spoke about new marketing and digital developments. Jim Eastwood, Director of Sales outlined the importance of DMCs to enhance the customer experience; Michael Vincent, Head of Talent and Learning presented on the tools available to build Travel Counsellors’ personal and business development; and Richard Thompson, accessible travel expert, spoke about the commercial side of accessible travel.
calls a travel agent ‘promise’ to help reinforce its commitment to the trade, three guarantees that have been pledged by the Ireland business, including its sales, guest services and contact centre teams, to be on hand for agents seven days a week via Princess call centre with online chat facility, to deliver profitable growth for its partners with additional incentives including free sailings, monetary rewards, gifts and experience days and bring more agents on board to experience the brand during cruise calls to Ireland.
WTC Selective Travel from Belfast will represent Ireland when travel trade from 110 countries gather for the Turkish Airlines world bowling championship for the travel trade, with 889 points the best of 28 teams. Picture shows Onur Basak Turkish Airlines Sales Manager, Onur Gul, Aaron Bolt, Michael Holmes and Peter Osborough of WTC and Stephen George Fry, Turkish Airlines Operations Manager. The Dublin leg was own by Travel Counsellors(Brenda Murray-Flynn, Audrey Murray and Dymphna Quilligan) and the Cork leg by Lee Travel (Lydia Madigan, Josephine O’ Keeffe and Mary Jones). Accommodation and Gala Night programme will be at Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel between April 18th and 21st. VISIT USA is to revamp its visitusa.
ie website to make it more accessible to the consumer market, as well as its traditional site visitors from the trade and media, said Chairperson Claire Doherty. She and Tony Lane hosted partners from Delta Air Lines, Visit Kansas/Oklahoma, Visit Utah, Hertz and Bradley Airport at Dublin’s Clarence Hotel.
LAS VEGAS Katha Spitz, the new
International Markets Manager for the Las Vegas CVB, made her first visit to Ireland to meet agents. She’ll be highlighting the everchanging face of the city, which has been upping its game in the sports arena, and now boasts a full complement of top-level US sports teams. Full story here. She is pictured with Tryphavana Cross, Las Vegas CVB, at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin.
GUILD The British Guild of Travel Writers AGM selected Simon Willmore as chair.
VIOLET WILLIAMS of River Valley park and Mickey Fin’s pub and brewery, former chair of the Irish Caravan and Camping Council and board member of Skal has died.
MAY 2019 PAGE 36
WINDOW SEAT Last month in numbers
u196m Revenue at Irish Ferries to year end, 7.5pc down from 2018.
142.1m Number of passengers carried by Ryanair in the twelve months to March
34m Number of passengers who will use Dublin
Airport in 2019 if current trends continue
10.9m Number of passengers carried by Ryanair in March
2.6m Number of passengers who passed through Dublin airport in March
u28.9m Sale price of Irish Ferries Oscar Wilde, more than €20m over expectations
-14.2pc Decline in number of visitors from
Brtiain in March 2019 from pre-Brexit March 2016
TRACES OF LONELIER PLACES
T
his is an exploration of remoteness and solitude. The 10 chapters of Outpost are each pinned around a particular place of refuge in somewhat hostile territory. Richards choses remote locates to search for “spaces which afford clarity”, from the bothies of Scotland to a research station in the Utah desert designed to prepare astronauts for life on Mars, from hin to shrine perched on a Japanese mountain to a sæluhús (house of joy) on an Icelandic Viking road. He yearns to achieve new perspectives on the world, the “overview effect”, an escape only
Outpost by Dan Richards is published by Canongate
afforded those who are removed from the bustle of everyday life . He carries humour in his backpack. He wakes on one train “so hungover that I regretted surviving the night”. Stranded at a gas station in Utah. He meets a “short beaverish man who smelled like he ate and washed in cigarettes as well as smoking them”. Halfway up a pilgrimage to a sacred Buddhist shine, he is encouraged by his guide to chant. “I did my best to sound vigorous and enthusiastic but in truth I
rather wished he’d pack it in”. In Hamburg he gets confused and ends up in a Tesla showroom “being shown electric cars by somebody who for some reason thought I was solvent and able to drive”. Good travel writing is about giving the reader the words and context with which to approach a place. Richards’s prose is by turns beautiful, funny, evocative and learned, the pages illuminated by lovely, warming footnotes.
Masai warriors watch safari vehicles and Palenque, Mayan site, Mexico
Busman’s holiday: John Booty
Every month we ask a leading travel professional to write about their personal holiday experience. This month: John Booty of Wendy Wu
A
fter 34 years in travel this is still the toughest question for me to answer where is my favourite holiday place? There are so many, as I was very lucky that from an early age i travelled a lot. With my parents all
I
best of both worlds.
over Britain and with my grand parents all over western Europe. So by the time if came to leaving school the only industry I was interested in was travel, as it gave me the
I have been lucky enough to travel all over Europe touring the party hot spots as well as visiting amazing countries such as Canada, China (seven times) Jamaica, Sri Lanka (five times including living there for five months) USA. And Kenya where I did a Dick Hedges Safari in the Masai Maria, which consisted of sleeping in a tent guarded by the Masai warriors, meals cooked over an open fire and had bucket showers after game drives at 4am and 5pm every day (no wifi out there). All would be contenders, but if I can only have the one then it would have to
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
t is hard to figure which is in the steeper descent path, the reputation of Boeing or of the US regulators. Boeing’s MCAS fix and the positive PR feed from their test flights are not winning the confidence the aircraft manufacturer hopes. Even as US. Federal Aviation Administration said that a joint governmental review of the grounded Boeing 737 MAX will begin on April 29and will include
nine other aviation regulators from around the world, Canada’s astronaut transport Minister Marc Garneau aid that airlines hoping to fly the Boeing 737 Max 8 in Canadian airspace must first train their pilots using a flight simulator. That call goes further than recommendations from US regulators as training procedures for the grounded plane come under continued scrutiny. Sadly, beleaguered Boeing are blaming the Boeing 737 MAX
fatalities on pilot error, despite the fact that in the instance of two hull losses (and a near miss in a third case) the pilots were struggling with an aircraft that was trying to kill them just after lift off. Sounds familiar? English regulators merrily and repeatedly blamed pilot error when one third of its de Havailland Comets crashed in the 1950s. Boeing is facing into a crisis last seen when the DC-10 was in service 40 years ago.
be Mexico. It has something for everyone, amazing beaches , fascinating history/culture and the people are so friendly, PLUS I love Mexican food and tequila. I have been multiple times leading agent fam trips and also with my wife, the last time being our honeymoon so of course this is going to be special & top of my list ! So where’s next I hear you ask?. Boston, South Africa with my wife and Japan with work in June . As I said at the beginning I am very lucky. And make sure to never take this for granted.
IN YOUR NEXT TRAVEL EXTRA: Available to Travel Agents or online May 20 2019
USA ISSUE Park City Philadelphia Baltimore Miami PLUS RIVER CRUISE TRENDS
MAY 2019 PAGE 37
MEETING PLACE
Out and about with the Travel Trade
n Elisha Bernie of Neenan Travel and Craig Donsiness Exhibitions, Joh Maureen Ledwith.of Bu President of the ITAA, nelly of Accident & General, Travel Industry vel Spollen of Cassidy Tra T Industry Trade Show Trade Show I, TU of g un Yo e ett Antoin
Fionnuala Connolly of FC of Hahn Air, Travel Ind M and Phil Collings ustry Trade Show, RD S Dublin
ntejo Tourism, Susana in Fernando Pires of Ale rtuguese Tourism office Po Cardoso Director of ra of TAP, Travel IndusDublin and Carlos Olivei blin Du S RD , try Trade Show
Mary Denton of Sunw ay West Travel, Travel Ind and Anita Fallon of East ustry Trade Show, RD Dublin S
ithin Travel Broker and Bla Deirdre Murray of The , Travel Industry Trade da O’Donnell of Air Cana blin Du S RD , ow Sh
Blaithin O’Donnell of Air Ledwith.of Business Ex Canada and Maureen hibitions, Travel Indust Trade Show ry
Declan Power and Isabel Harrison of Shannon Airport, Meitheal 2019
David O’Connor and Marie McCarthy of Irish Ferries with Derry Cremen of Hello France and Dermot Merrigan of Irish Ferries, Travel Industry Trade Show
Brendan Griffin Tourism CEO of Failte Ireland, Minister and Paul Kelly Meitheal Inetwork eve nt
bed,
lleen Butler of Booka Beverleigh Fly and Co ow Sh Travel Industry Trade
Sophie Phelan of Stran d nan of FEHT, Travel Ind Travel and Jackie Brenustry Trade Show, RD Dublin S
Alper Kanburoglu, Onur Basak, Julie Curran and Onur Gull of Turkish Airlines, Travel Industry Trade Show at the RDS
n re Village and Muirean Alison Johnson of Kilda p, Meitheal 2019 ou King of Doyle Hotel Gr
Dearbhla Hegarty and Nicola Gleeson of the OPW, Meitheal Inetwork event
Lorraine Dunne, Jean ma Frayne of the ITAA, Tra xwell and Bronagh vel Industry Trade Show RDS Dublin ,
David Wardell of the National Stud, Meitheal 2019
sistport Woods Hotel Pre Michael Lennon of We Gibbons CEO of Tourll dent of the IHF and Nia twork event Ine al ithe Me d, lan Ire ism
MAY 2019 PAGE 38
Out and about with the Travel Trade
MEETING PLACE
Kevin Chaney of yal Caribbean, Clare Jennifer Callister of Ro ker and Valerie Murphy Yvonne Muldoon and Jenny Rafter of Aer Lingus, Capture Travel Clickandgo, Katie Doyle of and Tom Murray of Un Dunne of The Travel Brovel Industry Trade Show Meitheal 2019 ique Japan tours, Travel Industry Tra s, Trade Show ise Cru of Celebrity
Mary and Derry Creme n of Hello France, Tra vel Industry Trade Show
nette Hynes of Fahy Caroine O’Toole and An de Show Tra Travel, Travel Industry
Olwen McKinney of Am ad of John Galligan Travel eus and John Galligan , Travel Industry Trade Show, RDS Dublin
and adon Representation Audrey Headon of He ry ust Ind vel Tra , xis y Ta Keeley Leck of Holida blin Du S RD Trade Show,
Lisa Tuckman of Seasi de Deardon of Botanica Te Hotels and Rachel nerife, Travel Industry Trade Show
Stephen Long and Orla Kelly of Clickandgo, Travel Industry Trade Show
apes/Travelesscapes, Alan Lynch of Cruiseesc and Natalia Bel of Salou HT Jackie Brennan of FE ry Trade Show Tourism, Travel Indust
Birgit Neuner of Garmisch Partenkirchen Turismus and Kathryn MacDonnell of The Spanish Tourist Board, Travel Industry Trade Show
Antoinette Young of TU I, Travel President of the John Spollen of Cassidy ITAA, Travel Industry Trade Show
Catherine Whelan and Lettie Cronin of Failte Ireland, Meitheal Inetwork event
hIHF and Joan O’Shaug rk Tim Fenn CEO of the two Ine al ithe Me Ireland, nessy chair of Tourism event
Maya Hristova of Cashel Travel Britain with Liam Mary King of Worldchoice Ire land and Leila McCabe of TUI, Travel Ind O’Brien and Brigitte Brew of Doolin Ferries, ustry Trade Show Meitheal 2019
Stephen Brennan of Amadeus, Loraine Cunningham of Loraine Cunningham Travel and Olwen McKinney of Amadeus, T Industry Trade Show
Centres and Barbara Dominic Burke of Travel vel Industry Trade Show, Tra Garcia of Paradores, RDS Dublin
MAY 2019 PAGE 39
MEETING PLACE
Out and about with the Travel Trade
n- Natalia Bel of Salou Tourism, Jackie Brennan of Catherine Wheland and Jenny De Saule Arminda De Leon of La of Failte FEHT and Carlota Farrial of Portaventura, Travel Ireland, Meitheal 2019 Hector Fernandez and ustry Trade Show Ind vel Tra Industry Trade Show , sm uri To zarote
Ann Kilcoyne of Glasne vin cemetery and Anne Pye of Irish Ferries, Me itheal 2019
Zora Vujanovic of Croatia Tours, Andrew Daines of Visitflanders and Irma McHardy of Visit Flanders, Travel Industry Trade Show
Travel and Paula Cross Helen Kelly of Platinum Industry Trade Show, vel Tra , vel of Platinum Tra RDS Dublin
Anne Ciara Su bott Travel and Carol Robert Dee of Happy Tours, Lisa Thomas of Vis- Greene grue of Failte Ireland and Mervyn Des Abbott of Des Ab ry ust Ind vel Tra d, of Epic, Meitheal 2019 lan Ire ice cho rld Wo of itflanders and Tine Murn of Happy Tours,Travel O’Neill Industry Trade Show Trade Show
Alison Johnson of Kilda re Huang of GZL Internatio Village and Zhichao nal Travel China, Meitheal 2019
d Clare Dunne of The Paul Nolan of APG an ustry Trade Show Ind vel Tra , Travel Broker
Fiona O’Mahony of Iris h and Claire Hickey of Po family History Centre werscourt Distillery, Meitheal Inetwork eve nt
Marian Benton of Map Travel and Barbara Garcia ry Denton of Sunway, Aguirre International Area Sales Manager ParaJeanette Taylor and Ma ow Sh de dores, Travel Industry Trade Show Travel Industry Tra
Will Walsh and Ciara Dunbar of Clickandgo, Travel Industry Trade Show
Georgina Kelly and Rebecca Dunne of The Travel Broker, Travel Industry Trade Show
Siobhan Naughton of To Jim Deegan of Railtours urism Ireland Dubai and Ireland, Meitheal Inetwork event
,
llen of Killiney Travel Shane and Richard Cu ow Sh Travel Industry Trade
★ ★★★★
Disc�ver a w��ld �ull of w�nders...
★★★★★
LIMERICK
The South Court Hotel JANUARY 11/12
FOR MORE INFO LOG ON TO:
holidayshow.ie BELFAST
2020
TITANIC EXHIBITION CENTRE JANUARY 17/19
DUBLIN RDS SIMMONSCOURT JANUARY 24/26 For more info log on to:
holidayworldshow.com
EXHIBIT! 123821 TE APRIL_ HWS 2020 FP_V3.indd 1
Maureen Ledwith Sales Director
Paulette Moran Sales Manager
Angela O’Rourke Business Development Manager
t: +353 (0)1 291 3700
t: +353 (0)1 291 3702
t: +353 (0)1 291 3705
e: paulette@bizex.ie
e: angela@bizex.ie
e: maureen@bizex.ie
3/13/19 1:23 PM