travel bulletin 12th october 2012

How to capitalise onyouth market trends

Escorted Trips

October 12 2012 | ISSUE NO 1,798 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

agent bulletinwin a 3G Kindle fromCrystal Ski

hotel bulletina round-up of thelatest hotel openings& offers

agent reviewfind out what oneagent thought of herfam to St Lucia

98 15this week

middle east

get on trend by sellingalternative family breaks

17

TB1210 2012 Cover_TB Front Cover.qxd 09/10/2012 12:38

75th Anniversary Incentive £75 Love2Shop voucher for our top seller each month

BROCHURE OUT NOW!

Order your copies from trade-gate.co.ukT 0844 875 4026 E [email protected] www.intouristuk.com

CITY BREAKS, RIVER CRUISING, TRANS SIBERIAN JOURNEYS & TAILOR MADE TRAVEL

RUSSIAAND BEYOND 2013

S01 TB1210 Start_Layout 1 10/10/2012 10:37

A CUT ABOVE...The Midcounties Co-op Travel has launched its new concept branch in Shrewsbury. Pictured marking the opening of the new High Street store, tobe branded cooptravel.co.uk, is Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall (middle) who plays Tyrone Dobbs with, from the left: the agency's Natalie Turner, Sue Reid,Wendy Hudson and Alistair Rowland.

This Week

3 newsthis week's latest industrynews & announcements

8 agent reviewfind out what one agentthought of her fam to StLucia

9 agent bulletinwin a 3G Kindle bycompleting Crystal Ski's e-learning programme

11 puzzle bulletinplay the crossword for achance to win £50 PizzaExpress vouchers

15 hotel bulletina round-up of the latesthotel openings & offers

17 middle eastget on trend by sellingalternative family breaksto clients

23 escorted tripshow to capitalise onyouth market trends inescorted touring

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newsbulletin

ACCORDING TO the latest Long Haul TrendReport from Hayes & Jarvis, Thailand is backin favour with holidaymakers after a yearwhen national carrier Thai Airways went allout to offer a series of specially-priced faresthat helped to secure a spike in bookings forthe destination. The report also reveals thatVietnam has been another big winner for thisyear, but, while the Far East gained ground asthe year progressed, New York trumped theopposition to emerge as the most populardestination worldwide.

In what the operator describes as an“extremely strong short breaks market”, NewYork benefited from heavy demand forsummer trips, Christmas shopping breaks,twin-centre holidays with Boston, linked byAmtrak, and even early bookings for 2013. LasVegas was not far behind in fourth place withholiday bookings boosted by high demand fortrips combining Sin City with San Francisco orHawaii.

However, after the company's last trendupdate six months ago when holidaystravelling westward to the US, Caribbean andMexico were outperforming traditionalfavourites in the east, Far East destinationshave gone a long way to redress the balance.Thailand is back in the top ten in the runner up

position after recovering well from a poorperformance earlier this year.

The operator's commercial director, NielAlobaidi, says that the recovery has beenhelped by a “determined long term policy byThai Airways to offer the kind of prices thathave enabled us to offer seven-night packagesfrom as little as £599 per person.”

He said: "This autumn canny travellers canfind Thailand prices down by as much as 12%compared with last year on the Andaman coastprovided they are flexible about their resort.For example, a four-star flight-inclusivepackage to Krabi in November costs £699compared with £795 12 months ago in Phuket.

"Growth in demand for multi-centre breakscombining Thailand with other destinations ineither the Middle East or Far East is anotherfactor that has helped to account for an 8%boost to bookings this year – rising to 20% forbookings that include Thai Airways flights.Smaller Far East destinations like Vietnam,Cambodia and Japan have also done well.Japan has recovered well from turmoil in 2011with a 44% increase in bookings whileVietnam, already a rising star, has put ongrowth of 41% year-on-year on the back ofdirect flights and attractively-pricedpackages."

Hayes & Jarvis' Long Haul Trend Report reveals Far East gains ground

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PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS’annual 2013 “Destinations”brochure features newhotels in the Algarve,Turkey, Crete, Tenerife, LaPalma, Mallorca, Marbellaand Morocco. The operatoris offering more familyfriendly and all-inclusiveoptions and, for the firsttime, a “star buy” guidewhich highlights hotelsthat offer particularly goodvalue in 2013.

Also new for next yearare QR bar codes on eachresort intro page. Whenscanned, these takecustomers direct to therelevant resort page on thecompany Website wherethey can read more aboutthe destination.

Holidays lead in at £357per person for a week'sbreakfast stay at theHoliday Inn in the Algarveincluding flights fromLondon, the services of alocal representative andprivate transfers.

Also new to the Algarveprogramme is the familyowned Belavista da Luzlocated above a sandybeach in Praia da Luz,where prices start from£518 per person.

New in Turkey are the"Design Hotel" Hillside SUResort near Antalya andthe Hilton Bodrum. As anexample of prices, a

week's stay at the HillsideSU next summer costsfrom £566 per person on abed-and-breakfast basis,including flights andtransfers. The price alsoincludes an early bookingsaving of £33 per person ifbooked by March 31, 2013.

Two hotels make anentrance in Crete - theGrecotel Meli Palace andthe all-inclusive IberostarCreta Panorama, where aweek's stay next summercosts from £699 perperson including flightsand private transfers ifbooked by December 31.

Meanwhile, a newaddition in the Canaries isthe adults-only Haciendade Abajo on La Palma. Therestored 17th Centurysugar estate features apool and a spa and offers32 rooms. A week’s staywith flights and transferscosts from £883 perperson including a freenight, saving £70 perperson.

The new brochure alsofeatures holidays in GranCanaria, La Gomera andLanzarote in the Canariesas well as breaks to Malta,Gozo, Cyprus, the ItalianLakes, Madeira andMorocco.For more information call01425-480400 or seewww.prestigeholidays.co.uk

Prestige Holidays adds 13 new hotels across eight destinations for 2013

www.travelbulletin.co.ukOctober 12 20124

newsbulletin

COLSON'S COUP...Andrew Schweitzer from Viking River Cruises,presents the winner of the ‘Big Viking Giveaway’, Jan Colsonfrom Symphony World Travel, with a bottle of Champagne. Theincentive gave agents the chance to win a prize each day forseven days when they correctly answered a question included inthe daily Viking agent email. To sign up for the email and be in with a chance to win visitwww.vikingrivercruises.co.uk/agents

Mailings with Travel Bulletin this week include:

● Mainstreet Travel Group - Disney Dining - Staybetween 1st Jan -19th March 2013 & 7th April -8th Dec 2013 to take advantage of FREE diningfor the whole family. You also receive $100Disney Dollars per room and 14 day UltimatePark Pass for the cost of 7 days.Call 0191-384 5500.

Mailbox

For further details and special offers please read the mail shots that accompany this issue

ABTA HAS launched a newchecklist for consumersoffering advice on whatpaperwork to look for whenbooking travelarrangements. Thechecklist is intended tohelp consumers understandthe impact of the changesbrought in by theGovernment reforms to theATOL scheme of financialprotection, including theintroduction of ATOLcertificates from thebeginning of this month.

The “Your ProtectionChecklist” provides adviceto consumers on thebooking process andoutlines whatdocumentation consumersshould receive whenbooking travelarrangements.

The association's chiefexecutive, Mark Tanzer,said: “ABTA welcomes theimplementation of ATOLCertificates as a helpfulstep forward in providingconsumers with evidence

of their protection underthe ATOL system offinancial protection andalso for streamlining theATOL claims process.However, there is stillmuch confusion about whatholiday arrangements areor are not protected byATOL and therefore whatpaperwork consumersshould expect to receive.ATOL certificates are onlyevidence of ATOL protectedholidays. We estimate thataround 50% of holiday

arrangements sit outsideof the ATOL scheme. Someof these will be ABTAprotected, for examplecruise and rail holidays,some may not be protectedat all. The “Your ProtectionChecklist” will helpholidaymakers tounderstand what to lookfor and whatdocumentation they need.We also advise consumersto always check what isprotected when making abooking.”

ABTA launches checklist & advice for consumers on financial protection

S01 TB1210 Start_Layout 1 10/10/2012 10:38

TRANSUN IS offering a range of Christmasbreaks this winter with a number of freechild places available and direct flights fromLuton.

Examples include Santa’s Lapland DayBreak in the Arctic Circle, where guests canmush husky sleds, drive snowmobiles, ridereindeer sleighs and visit Santa Claus. Priceslead in at £449 for adults and £399 forchildren, departing on December 23.

The company is also offering Santa’sLapland Short Break where guests can trackdown Santa in his cabin with the help of hisreindeers and teams of huskies. Departingon December 21, prices lead in at £1,119 for

adults and £1,039 for children, including astay in a hotel or log cabin.

Alternatively a Northern Lights shortbreak flies directly to Enontekio in the ArcticCircle on December 21, where guests willhave the chance to mush a team of huskies,embark on a snowmobile safari and visit areindeer camp.

Prices start from £899 per person andinclude full-board accommodation, thermalsuits and boots plus transfers.

Free child places are subject to availabilityand subject to terms and conditions.For more information or to book call 01865-265200 or visit www.transun.co.uk

Two-for-one full board offer from Cap Maison CAP MAISON in St Lucia is enticing guests with a 'two for one' full board meal plan, whichoffers savings on its lunch and dinner menu, and also includes a free daily beverage creditof USD$75 per room daily.

Available as a daily supplement of $150 to the bed-and-breakfast rate for two people,the new 'Wining & Dining' gourmet package is ideal for guests looking to indulge in finedining cuisine for less during their stay, and is valid for all stays of a minimum of fivenights until December 19.

The package is also combinable with the property's “Summer Free Night”, a specialoffer that represents savings of up to 40% on a summer break. For more information call 020-8977 6099 or visit www.capmaison.com

Qatar Airwaysannounces newChicago route

QATAR AIRWAYS is tointroduce daily passengerflights to Chicago fromApril 10. The carrier,which currently operatestwice-weekly cargo flightsto Chicago O’Hare, will useits Boeing 777-300Extended Rangepassenger aircraft on thenew Doha-Chicago route,with an approximate flyingtime of 15 hours.

The aircraft will feature335 seats in a two-classconfiguration of 42Business Class seats and293 Economy seats.

Flights will depart Dohaat 09:15 and arrive inChicago at 15:50. Flightsfrom Chicago will departat 21:30, arriving in Dohaat 19:00 the next day.Visit www.qatarairways.com

newsbulletinTransun offers free child places on Christmas breaks

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SPAIN’S LA Manga Club has introduced a range of semi-inclusive golf packages.

With three 18-hole championship courses, the five-starresort offers a four-night stay including three rounds ofgolf from €411 per person.

Available for three months from November 1, includingChristmas and New Year, the break features golf on anyof the club’s lay-outs, accommodation and breakfast inthe four-star Las Lomas Village apartments.

A similar length stay at the club’s five-star hotel costs€507 per person. The package also offers guests half-

price golf buggy hire, a two-course dinner each night atany of the restaurants, unlimited drinks in the evening andcomplimentary use of the spa and fitness centre.

Golfers seeking a longer stay can take a seven-nightbreak including five rounds of golf from €713 per person,with all prices including VAT and based on two peoplesharing a room, while groups of eight or more will receiveone free place. For more information or to book [email protected] or visit the property’s Websiteat www.lamangaclub.com

SOVEREIGN LUXURY Travel has announced its latestOctober half-term holidays, with offers including free childplaces and free meals for children.

Examples include an online discount and free child placein a one-bedroom suite when staying seven nights at thePrincesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort, Lanzarote, departing onOctober 28. Prices lead in at £3,225 for a family of three,including flights from Manchester, transfers and bed-and-breakfast accommodation. The offer provides savings of upto £470 per family of three.

Alternatively, a free child place and online discount isoffered on a seven-night stay at the Hilton Vilamoura AsCascatas Golf Resort & Spa in the Algarve, also departingon October 28. Prices start from £3,295 per family of fouron a bed-and-breakfast basis and include flights fromGatwick and private transfers, offering a saving of up to£374 per family.For more details or to book visit www.sovereign.com

Volunteeringadditions fromBales Worldwide BALES WORLDWIDE islaunching new worldwidevolunteering trips for nextyear, which offer a mix ofadventure travel withculture.

As an example, a ten-dayKenya option includesflights and a week'svolunteering project, andcosts from £3,495 perperson. Departures are onNovember 11, January 6and February 10, 2013.For more information call0845-057 0600 or visitwww.balesworldwide.com

October half-term deals from SovereignLuxury Travel

New range of semi-inclusive golf packages from Spain's La Manga Club


newsbulletinBETWEEN NOW and October 31, Universal Orlando is hosting selected Halloween Horror Nights. Thisyear’s event features several themed haunted houses and a reinvented street experience. A FrequentFear Pass costs £60 which offers up to 15 horror nights. For details visit www.universalorlando.co.uk

Tweets of

the WeekWho’s saying what

on Twitter...

@VisitBritainHistorical horror, thrillingtheatrics and ghostlygoings-on. There's noscarier place than Londonfor Halloween 2012http://bit.ly/SxRsxe

@LBIAirportGreat family 4* deal fornext summer fromhttp://jet2holidays.comsnap it up now! 14 nightsfrom £1535http://fb.me/24BvAKkIq

@GermanyTourismNew app for walkers! Finddetailed information etc.on your chosen route inthe BerchtesgardenerLand http://bit.ly/SnrRXP#Germany

@FredOlsenCruiseFred. Olsen Cruise Linesimproved its e-tickets -http://bit.ly/UgWZeB

@coxandkingsUKCox & Kings might notspring to mind when youthink of #Rhodes but readour 72-hour guide on theblog todayhttp://bit.ly/QWHR2S

@BristolZooGdnsFind out more about ourHalloween festival here:http://bit.ly/QJqQst

Follow us on Twitter!http://twitter.com/

TravelBulletin

S02 TB1210 News 1_Layout 1 10/10/2012 10:55

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

Celebrate New Yearat Romania's Ice

Hotel UNTRAVELLED PATHS isoffering a four-night stay atRomania’s Ice Hotel in theFagaras Mountains for £479per person over the NewYear period.

During their stay, guestscan explore Bucharest andBrasov, along with visitingthe Bran Castle, and on NewYear’s Eve, a four-coursedinner is available beforethe countdown to the NewYear begins and a fireworkdisplay takes place.

The offer includes fournights’ breakfastaccommodation, transfers,excursions, an English-speaking guide and the the‘Ice Hotel DiningExperience’.For more information visitwww.untravelledpaths.com

SHIP MATES...Major Travel recently hosted a group of agents on avisit to the ‘Empress’ Pullmantur cruise ship in Dover. The dayincluded a ‘cruise clinic’ Q&A session followed by a tour of theship and buffet lunch. Pictured are: Emma Hughes (top left),Natasha Jones (top right) and Dawn Tompkins from TUI withAndrew McKenna from Major. For more information visit www.majorcruise.co.uk

newsbulletin

Essential Travellaunches insuranceadd-on ESSENTIAL TRAVEL haslaunched a new travelinsurance add-on whichhas been specificallydesigned for cruises andcan be added to any singleor annual travel insurancepolicy.

The new option providesextended baggage cover ofup to £3,500, up to £500cover for missed shoretrips, up to £600 cover forcabin confinement (due toillness) and up to £700 forvaluables.

Additional cruiseinsurance starts at £4.74for an 18-year-old, £6.90for a 42-year-old, £7.32 fora 60-year-old and £10.77for a 70-year old-traveller.For more information visitwww.essentialtravel.co.uk

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WEBSCLUSIVES

● Make sure you enter our crossword, sponsoredby The Holiday Team. Full details can be foundon Puzzle Bulletin, page 11 of this issue. Youcould be the lucky winner of £50 of PizzaExpress vouchers.Send your entries towww.travelbulletin.co.uk/crossword

● Destination Asia: Up to 50% hotel discounts andgreat incentives to be won on properties inChina, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Singaporewith Travelcube.

Go to www.travelcube.com

All this and more at:


The home of the web savvy travel agent

Go

MOVERS● THE 240-room, London Marriott Hotel Marble Arch has

appointed Richard Hider as director of sales andmarketing.

● BRENDAN DWYER has joined the Hyatt Global Sales Officein London as the new director of global sales for the UK &Ireland.

● VISIT YORK has appointed Jane Gibson as its new chair.● DIRECTLINE HOLIDAYS has appointed Gareth Scurlock as

head of content.● DOSOMETHINGDIFFERENT.COM HAS appointed Daniel

Clynburn as northern sales manager.● AIRBERLIN HAS appointed Wolfgang Prock-Schauer as

chief strategy and network planning officer (CSPO) and DrMartina Niemann, the airline’s chief human resourcesofficer, to its management board.

● KATHRYN ROBERTSON has joined Air New Zealand assales and market development manager for the UK.

● JET2.COM HAS appointed Trevor Caplis as tour operatorsales manager.

● INTREPID TRAVEL and The Adventure Company (TAC)have appointed Claire Wilson as regional director forIntrepid UK & Ireland, Daniel Pawlyn as sales director forboth brands and Antony Barton, formerly head of sales forTAC, takes on a new role leading private group sales.Agents will be supported by four business developmentmanagers including the newly appointed Sarah Whibley,who is responsible for supporting agents based in theMidlands, North, Scotland and Ireland. Jon Barber fromTAC will lead the industry sales support team, joined bynewly appointed Callen McGarringle.

agentreviewRachel Crangle from Pinnacle Worldwide in Lurgan,

Northern Ireland went on a seven-night fam to St Lucia with

the St Lucia Tourist Board to view properties specialising in

destination weddings. Here's what she thought...

Rachel receives a £10 Love2Shop voucher for her review.

If you'd like to take part and receive a free Love2Shop

voucher please email [email protected]

or call 020-7834 6661 with your name and contact details.

First impressions ..................................10/10

The flight with BA was great - I was so excited I really didn’tnotice the time go. Half way through our journey one of thecrew found out we were agents on a fam and broughtChampagne for the group - a lovely little touch!

Comfort ..................................................10/10

We arrived at the Rendezvous Hotel to commence our first twonights, I was lucky enough to have an ocean view room with abeautiful four-poster bed. For me the highlight was returningfrom a night out to find my room covered in candles, rosepetals and a platter of chocolates. Such a treat I can onlyimagine how honeymoon clients might feel to receive this.

Quality ....................................................10/10

I would rate Rendezvous as a very good four-star hotel andgive it 8/10. iPod docking stations in each room were a lovelyaddition. The Stonefield Villa Estate offers amazing views andwould suit both families and couples alike.

Affordability ..........................................10/10

Prices in St Lucia were extremely reasonable so visitors don’tnecessarily have to go down the all-inclusive route. Althoughall our meals were very generously hosted by the hoteliers Iwas told a three-course meal for two with a bottle of winewould work out at approx £60.

Service ..................................................10/10

Service was exceptional and always with a smile - nothingseemed to be too much bother.

Good to know ........................Go to a street party if you want a taste ofauthentic St Lucia. And if you aren’tafraid of heights the zip-lining in therain forest is a fantastic day out!

1010/

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● BOTSWANA TOURISM has launched its updatedtraining course which features interactive anduseful information designed to enhance agents’knowledge of the country. Agents completing thesix new modules by October 19, which offer thetools needed to sell the destination, will beautomatically entered into a prize draw for thechance to win a goody bag. Each entry will alsoreceive a free invitation to attend World TravelMarket on Monday November 5.Visit www.onlinetraveltraining.co.uk

● TOURISM IRELAND has launched a new moduleas part of its Shamrock Agents online trainingprogramme, which focuses on Northern Ireland.Agents completing the module by October 31will be entered in to a draw to win one of 50luxury travel bags. See www.shamrockagents.com

● CRYSTAL SKI has re-launched its agent e–learning programme and is giving agents whocomplete the course by October 31, the chance towin a 3G Kindle, £75 Love2Shop vouchers and£50 Love2Shop vouchers. Visit www.onlinetraveltraining.co.uk

Win a £10Love2Shop voucherTAKE PART in our Brainstorm Bulletin featurewhere you can help other agents with theirquestions. This month's question is: How do otheragents get clients to take their travel insurancewhen so many people have it with their banks etc?To respond, just email [email protected] by October 22. The star response wins a£10 Love2Shop voucher.

WINE TIME…Ramsey

World Travel in

Kirkcaldy recently won

an inter-agency

incentive run by

Superbreak by

achieving the highest

percentage growth

above its target of all

five of the company’s

branches. Pictured

presenting six bottles of

wine to the agency's

Ryan Hamilton and

Louise Hamilton

(right) is the operator's

Wendy Cameron .

Training incentives

Booking incentiveTO CELEBRATE the launch of Carrier's 2013

brochures, the operator is giving agents the chance to

win a luxury holiday to Las Vegas, including five nights

at Wynn Las Vegas & Encore with Virgin Atlantic

flights. Agents booking any holiday over the value of

£2,500 before October 31 will be entered into the prize

draw, with each booking counting as one entry. To

increase the chances of winning, agents booking Virgin

Atlantic flights will receive two entries per booking.


agentbulletin

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JET2HOLIDAYS HAS launched Discovery Weekends to threenew destinations, Marrakech, Iceland and St Petersburg.

The packages, which include direct flights, transfersand three- to five-star hotels, depart in April and May 2013from Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Edinburgh airports.

As examples, a three-night Magical Marrakech packagefrom Leeds costs from £359 per person, with flights from£229, while a three-night awe-inspiring Iceland packagefrom Newcastle leads in at £415, with flights from £279. For more information or to request a copy of the brochurecall 0800-408 5587 or visithttps://tradesite.jet2holidays.com

SICILY’S DONNAFUGATAGolf & Spa Resort haslaunched a selection ofOctober half-term packages.

The resort’s Family Dealoffers a 25% discount for afamily of four, offering asaving of €798 per week,plus a 50% discount on asecond room, with sevennights’ breakfast

accommodation for twoadults and two childrenunder 18 costing €2,394,including taxes.

Also new for October is a‘Five-Star Dream’ spapackage, comprising seven-nights’ breakfastaccommodation with pricesleading in at €895 perperson. It includes two

massages, four days’ accessto the spa circuit, three-course dinners, threelunches and taxes. Pricesare based on two peoplesharing a twin or doublestandard room.For more information or to book visitwww.donnafugatagolfresort.com

New Icelandservice fromWOW AirGATWICK AIRPORT haswelcomed the launch ofWOW Air's twice-weeklyservice to Reykjavik.

Departing from Gatwickevery Monday at 13:15, theflight arrives in Reykjavik at15:25. The return flightdeparts Reykjavik everyFriday at 16:20, arriving atGatwick at 20:20.

Gatwick will operateeight flights to Reykjavikevery week in the summerseason, with flightsincreasing to 15 flights aweek in the peak seasonwith three differentcarriers.

Half-term offers from Donnafugata Golf & Spa Resort

New Discovery Weekends from Jet2holidays


newsbulletin

NORWEGIAN CRUISE Line’s newest ship will have a two-level spawith a fitness centre and a salt room at sea. Breakaway, due tolaunch at the end of April next year, will offer salt room therapy,which has reportedly been proven to alleviate respiratory and skinailments, strengthen the immune system, promote better sleepand have a long-term positive impact on overall lung function. Thethermal suite will offer 13 heated loungers, a vitality pool, sauna,solarium, steam room and whirlpools.The ship’s 22 treatment rooms will feature more than 50 signatureservices for both men and women, including Elemis facials, ThaiHerbal Poultice Massages and a Bamboo Massage. It will also offeracupuncture, teeth whitening and cosmetic medical treatmentssuch as Botox, performed by a licensed medi-spa doctor.For details call 0845-201 8900 or visit www.ncl.co.uk

Newsbites● BANGKOK AIRWAYS has introduced an eco-friendly

e-boarding pass service to reduce check-in times.Passengers can check-in between two- and 24-hours prior to departure on domestic flights. For details see www.bangkokair.com

● CRESTA MOWANA Safari Resort and Spa hasappointed Talking Stick as its UK and Irelandmarketing company.

● ADVANTAGE HAS announced that Simon Reeve,presenter of BBC series Indian Ocean, will addressdelegates at its 2013 conference, which takes placein Malaga from May 9-12.

● THE FOURTH annual Miami Attractions Month takesplace this month, with 19 attractions in GreaterMiami offering buy one, get one free admissions andother special deals until October 31. See www.miamiattractionsmonth.com

● FOLLOWING THE launch of TAP Portugal’sManchester service last year, the airline iscommencing daily Lisbon flights from the airport onOctober 28.

● CRUISE & Maritime Voyages has published a newbrochure for 2013/14 which gives details of its ‘NewAdditions Programme’, including new forms ofentertainment, guest speakers and activities. See www.cruiseandmaritime.com

● ESTONIAN AIR, in partnership with Optiontown, isoffering passengers the chance to secure emptyseats next to their seat for a nominal fee, affordingthem more space on their journey. For details see www.estonian-air.ee/en

● TOURISM AUSTRALIA, in partnership with Qantas,has announced that Cairns is to be the host city ofCorroboree Europe 2013, which takes place fromMay 15-26.

Maldives' Taj Exotica Resort re-opens following renovation THE TAJ Exotica Resort & Spa in the Maldives has recently re-opened after a $400,000renovation of its Rehendi Presidential Suite.

The new Suite offers a 500sq.ft sand-deck, which stretches into a large lagoon, aswell as a glass-walled bathroom, a 15ft infinity pool, hammocks, plus an open airsalas.

Prices for a night's stay start from US$5,500.For more information visit www.tajhotels.com

S03 TB1210 News 2_Layout 1 10/10/2012 12:42

puzzlebulletin


Where Am I?

'Carry On' up this mountain pass!

Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the

3 x 3 squares contains the digits 1-9.Once you have completed the puzzle, simply identify the numbers that relate

to the letters, A, B, C and D then e-mail the solution, with your name,

company name, and full postal address plus phone and ABTA number if

applicable to:

[email protected]

Closing date for entries is Thursday, October 18th. Solution and new puzzle

will appear next week.

The winner for 28th September is Ian Butters, Anders

Travel in Hove.

September 28 Solution: A=4 B=7 C=3 D=9

➠A

➠B

➠C

➠D

Number: 084

Travagrams

Where Am I?

Su Doku

This cruise line shares its name with royalty and a well-loved sponge cake!

The birthplace of jazz that shares its name and culture with a city in France.

Savour Criticise

Renewal Son

Can you solve the following anagrams to decipher the destination & tour operator?Win a £50 Hotel Chocolat voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle

Fill in the crossword to spell the mystery location highlighted bythe blue squares and visit www.travelbulletin.co.uk/crossword tosubmit your entry. All correct entries will be placed in a free prizedraw and one lucky winner will win £50 Pizza Express vouchers.Closing date for entries is Thursday October 18th.

The Where Am I and Travagrams solutions can be found on page 26

Crossword

Num

ber:

084

Sponsored By

THE HOLIDAY TEAM IS A CONSOLIDATOR PROVIDING BEST VALUE FLIGHTS & PACKAGE HOLIDAYSTO BOOK CALL 020-8843 4300; www.theholidayteam.co.uk

Across 1. Tour operator, specialising in safaris (5)4. Title, sounds like a pantomime character (4)7. Europe beat this country to win the

Ryder Cup (3)8. Historic IOW House (7)9. Greek peninsula and popular holiday

destination (9)12. Luxury travel operator, part of TUI (9)15. Resort near Lisbon, well known for its

casino (7)16. Black jewellery, sounds like an airplane (3)17. Capital of Qatar (4)18. Canadian territory, site of the Klondike

gold rush (5)

Down 1. YouTube phenomenon Psy is from this

country (5,5)2. Flag carrier of Lebanon (3)3. Tailor-made luxury holiday operator (5)4. The operators at 12 Across and 3 Down can

take you to this Middle East destination (5)5. 007 has been drinking this at the movies for

the last 50 years (7)6. Antipodean city (10)10. Maseru is the capital (7)11. UK river, sounds like a letter (3)13. Popular Bulgarian resort on the

Black Sea (5)14. Actress Lisa, currently performing on

Strictly (5)16. New York airport, initially (3)

Congratulations to Anna Cass, Martin's World Travel who won the28th September crossword prize of £50 Pizza Express vouchers

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CRUISE AND MaritimeVoyages is highlighting athree-night Christmasshopping cruise on MarcoPolo, which departs fromTilbury on December 16 totake in Antwerp andAmsterdam.

Fares lead in at £219per person and guests canbring back their gifts withno hidden baggagecharges.

The company is alsooffering a two-night minicruise sailing toAmsterdam on January 3,with fares from £169. For details seewww.cruiseandmaritime.com or call 0844-414 6185.

New flights fromGatwick, Exeter & Norwich inBalkan's 2013brochureA TOTAL of 19 new hoteland self-cateringproperties in Bulgaria,Montenegro and Croatia,plus a new weekly charterfrom Exeter and additionalflights from Norwich toBourgas, Bulgaria, arebeing featured for the firsttime in Balkan Holidays'second edition summer2013 brochure, which isbeing issued on October15.

Highlights in thebrochure include newscheduled flights fromGatwick to Varna,Bulgaria; new low-costflights from LeedsBradford to Split and Pula,Croatia, in conjunctionwith the operator'spackages; new low-costflights from Newcastle toDubrovnik and Pula,Croatia, in conjunctionwith packages; a newExeter to Bourgas,Bulgaria charter flightfrom August 22 toSeptember 26; a new tourof Croatia, Bosnia andSlovenia; and more than60 all-inclusive properties.

Prices lead in at £299per person for sevennights' breakfast stay atthe Hotel Arda, SunnyBeach in Bulgaria.

Early booking discountsof up to £498 per coupleare also available, as wellas special offersthroughout the season,saving customers up to£300 per couple; a 5%loyalty bonus for previousbookers; free child placesand child prices from £99;and free children’sinsurance, plus no singlesupplements and groupdiscounts. For more information seewww.balkanholidays.co.uk/agents or call 0845-130 1114.

Christmasshopping cruisefrom C&M


newsbulletin

SUPER SHOW...Superbreak recently treated agents to a nightout in London’s West End to see hit musical Les Miserables.Pictured getting ready to enjoy the show are John Sullivan(left), head of commercial at Advantage and GrahamBalmforth, national sales manager at Superbreak.

REGENT HOLIDAYS has launched a newtour to increase the chance of seeing theNorthern Lights in Iceland.

The Northern Lights Explorer Tourincludes six separate hunting expeditionsover six nights in some of the country’smost remote locations.

Guests will also be able to attendnightly lectures from experts who willlead guided tours around the countrysideof West and Southeast Iceland, fromSnæfellsnes peninsula to Vatnajökullglacier.

The tour also includes trips towaterfalls, lava fields, fjords, geysers,hot springs, glaciers, icebergs, black lava

beaches and the Blue Lagoon. Prices leadin at £1,245 per person and departurestake place on selected dates until Marchnext year.

Included are flights from Heathrow orGlasgow with Icelandair, accommodationat a choice of hotels on a half-boardbasis, sightseeing with guides, entrancefees on sightseeing tours, a traditionalIcelandic dinner at a Northern Light Innand a Northern Lights Academyprogramme with six evenings of lectures,presentations, guided searches andmidnight refreshments. For details call 020-7666 1244 or seewww.regent-holidays.co.uk

Regent tour maximises chance of seeing Northern Lights

ITC Classics issues new touring brochureITC CLASSICS has launched a new touring brochure, including new escorted tours andnew solo traveller tours alongside the expansion of its existing touring portfolio.

New destinations for escorted tours include Africa, India, Peru and Iceland, whilesolo travellers can explore New York, Mexico, Marrakesh and South Africa.

An example of a new escorted tour is Peru in Luxury, a 15-day trip to Lima andArequipa, where guests visit Lake Titicaca and ‘The Lost City of the Incas’, MachuPicchu.

Prices lead in at £8,495 per person based on two sharing, with a maximum of 16guests. Departure dates are on November 4 and May 5, 2013.

Also available is a Journey through India tour, which offers guests the chance to stayin royal palaces and explore Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur, with sights including the TajMahal and the Red Fort of Agra. The Jodhpur leg of the tour has been arranged tocoincide with the celebrations of Holi.

With a maximum of 16 guests, the tour costs from £11,495 per person, based on twosharing and departs on March 17, 2013. For details call 01244-355527 or visit www.itcclassics.co.uk

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Fiesta Hotel Groupannounces Ibizahotel expansion

FIESTA HOTEL Group hasannounced the opening of anew luxury complex in Ibiza,replacing the existing FiestaPlaya d’en Bossa with TheUshuaïa Tower; an eightfloor property which formspart of an ambitiousexpansion project to extendthe existing Ushuaïa IbizaBeach Hotel.

The Ushuaïa Tower hasbeen developed by thecompany in response to anincreasing demand forpremium styleaccommodation,particularly since theopening of Ushuaïa IbizaBeach Hotel last year.

The new complex willcomprise of two buildingsThe Ushuaïa Club (currentlyknown as Ushuaïa IbizaBeach Hotel) and TheUshuaïa Tower, scheduledto open in June 2013.

The property will house181 suites, complimentingthe existing 236 rooms. Therooms and suites will bedivided into ten categoriesand decorated with a rangeof natural materials mixedwith high-tech functionality.All the new suites comewith their own exteriorterrace and Jacuzzi and alsofeature an LED system,enabling guests to changethe room lighting accordingto their mood.For details seewww.ushuaiabeachhotel.comandwww.fiestahotelgroup.com

THE SAROJIN, Phang Nga, Thailand, is encouraging customersto book early discounts to mark the beginning of Thailand’s dryseason. Guests booking 45 days or more prior to their arrivalwill receive a 10% discount off the usual room rates and thosebooking from 21 to 44 days in advance will be rewarded with a5% saving, valid until the end of the year.

The property is also continuing to offer one free night forevery night booked for reservations made until October 31.

Next month also marks the relaunch of property's“Shipwrecked in Style” package, where guests can benefit froma private island dining excursion with a private butler and chef.The package also includes a luxury all-day à la carte breakfast

with sparkling wine, a journey through the jungle to a waterfallwhere guests will learn how to cook Thai food and a trip on theluxury yacht, the Lady Sarojin.

Prices start from approximately £240 per room per night,based on two sharing. Children ten years and above sharingwith their parents go free and only pay for breakfast.

Prices for the “Shipwrecked in Style” package, available fromNovember 1, cost approximately £2,000 for two people,including six nights’ accommodation in a luxurious GardenResidence, private transfers and the above mentioned activities.Prices exclude taxes. For more information visit www.sarojin.com

Early booking discounts of up to 10% & special deals from The Sarojin, Thailand

hotelbulletin

KHWAI BEDOUIN Camp has been launched to offer authentic African accommodation in Botswana.Situated near Moremi and the Okavango Delta, Khwai offers a diversity of animals and the campitself features seven tents with twin beds and en-suite bathrooms. The camp meets allrequirements for responsible tourism, with low environmental impact and is removed at the endof each season allowing for the ground to replenish itself. To book or for more information email [email protected]

InBrief● ALILA HOTELS and Resorts is to launch its own luxury wooden Phinisi in December which

will take guests on voyages of discovery and relaxation throughout the waters and islandsof Indonesia. The inaugural sailing is on December 15 from Raja Ampat in Indonesia’s WestPapua province. Guests will arrive by plane from Bali to Sorong for a six-day itinerary.

For details see www.alilahotels.com

● JEBEL ALI International Hotels has announced a strategic rebranding process with a newlogo and new name ‘JA Resorts & Hotels’.

● IBIS LONDON Shepherd’s Bush has opened this month. The hotel offers 128 rooms, allfeaturing the new ergonomically-engineered concept bed: Sweet Bed by ibis, designed todeliver the ultimate night’s sleep. Nightly rates start from £69.

For details visit www.ibis.com

● WORLDHOTELS HAS added a unique hotel to its portfolio - the ss Rotterdam, located inRotterdam, Netherlands. The ship features 254 hotel rooms, designed to reflect its 1950sorigins, which accommodate up to four people with working desks, flat-screen TVs, internetaccess and air-conditioning.

For details see www.worldhotels.com

● CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT is to re-name its center-strip resort currently known asImperial Palace to The Quad Resort & Casino. Although guests will begin to see the brandtransformation on property as early as next month, the official conversion will be completedby December 21, with renovation plans scheduled for completion by late 2013.

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middleeast

IT WASN’T too long ago that winter sun holidays were all about the Canaries and the Caribbean. Going back ten years, the idea of suggesting a family pack their bags and

take their February half-term break in Abu Dhabi, for example,and you might have had some strange looks.

But I’d urge any travel agent unfamiliar with the region totake a closer look at how it has evolved and look at some of thealternatives to Dubai which are opening up, particularly for thefamily market. For rain-weary Britons, the quality and climateis a huge selling point.

The learning curve

When I was chatting to a friend last week, she made a pointthat she really wanted to visit Egypt with her son, as he wasabout to start learning about ancient Egypt at his primaryschool. As well as the rest and relaxation, the history of theregion was a big attraction for her.

It made me think that tapping into what children arelearning at school could be a good selling tip for agents -what better way to bring history to life than actually beingthere? With all the “horrible history” books, TV programmes

and live shows, history is very cool forkids right now too. And there’sdefinitely evidence that children doinfluence their parents' choice of aholiday.

There’s no doubt that Dubaicontinues to be a best seller as it

appeals to all ages - it’s a much morefamiliar and mature destination, so for

families it continues to be the number one.The resorts are out of this world, Altantis

the Palm being just one which standsout.

But the capital of the Emirates, AbuDhabi is also perfect for families andeasy to explore with excellent family-friendly hotels and a brilliant rangeof excursions. It’s certainlybecoming one of our fastestgrowing destinations, snapping atthe heels of the ever-popularDubai, and it’s easy to see why.

One of a kind

It’s not all about history of course. A big attraction forfamilies in Abu Dhabi is the world’s first Ferrari theme parkand the largest attraction of its kind. The park tells theFerrari story with more than 20 rides and attractions,including the world’s fastest rollercoaster.

As “alternative family winter sun” destinations the MiddleEast as a region is hard to beat. Between October and Aprilthe temperature drops to a glorious thirty-something ofendless blue skies - and with the direct flight times averagingseven hours, depending on the destination, the region isattractive, affordable and high quality for a family.

It’s almost two years since the ‘Arab Spring’ swept throughthe Middle Eastern region, which resulted in a sharp declinein tourism that some worried may linger. But right now, weare seeing strong sales and confidence has certainlyreturned. There has certainly been investment in new resorts,infrastructure and marketing to woo the European market.

New contenders

One of the up and coming winter destinations is Fujairah andI would suggest any agents unfamiliar with the area take alook at this option for a winter sun family break. With astunning setting against a majestic mountain backdrop thatleads down to the shores of the Gulf of Oman, sleepy Fujairahon the east coast is a low-key destination that is perfect foran affordable relaxing beach stay and family fun.

As well as sprawling beaches, with warm water and greatcoral reefs for snorkelling and diving, customers can alsobook excursions to the Hajar Mountains to see spectacularvistas, small oasis villages and deep canyon scenery.

Without question Dubai is the best seller, but forcustomers who want a taste of old Arabia with pristinebeaches, excellent hotels and a vibrant culture, then Oman ishard to beat.

Where Dubai has Gap and M&S, Oman boasts 5,000 yearsof culture. It is the country where the Queen of Sheba hadher legendary palace, Alexander the Great his headquarters,and from where Sinbad the Sailor set sail in a dhow.

Now that’s what I call a family holiday. The perfect blendof sunshine, sand and stories to keep all ages happy,entertained - with their eyes opened and horizonsbroadened. ✦

by RAJAN SAWHNEY, sales director, The Holiday Team

Get on trend by selling

alternative family breaks

Rajan Sawhney

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NEW FIGURES released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & CultureAuthority (TCA Abu Dhabi) show the emirate welcomed1.37million hotel guests between January and July 2012 - an11% increase over the corresponding period in 2011 - makingit well placed to meet its annual target of 2.3million.

In total, 178,099 guests stayed at Abu Dhabi's hotels andhotel apartments in July of this year and the average length ofstay rose to 2.84 days, an increase of 6% on the correspondingmonth last year, while full seven-month figures for guestnights and room nights show year-on-year increases of 7%and 6% respectively.

Europe delivered a 12% year-on-year hotel guest increasein July 2012 with the UK contributing 8,195 hotel guests.

Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general of TCA Abu Dhabi,said: "We remain on track as we enter our traditional busyseason. With a packed entertainment schedule of world-classevents and a host of new leisure attractions due to open acrossthe emirate, including the UAE's largest water park, YasWaterworld, we are confident momentum will rise and we'llreach our 2.3million hotel guest target."

Abu Dhabi now offers 128 hotels and hotel apartmentsaccounting for 22,800 rooms. The figure is expected to exceed24,000 by the end of the year.

JUMEIRAH CREEKSIDE Hotel in Dubai has opened this monthfeaturing 292 rooms and suites, 23 meeting rooms, a ballroom, sixrestaurants and bars, an Executive club lounge, spa, tennis andindoor squash courts, two pools and a beach volleyball court. The hotel offers architectural tours of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, whichinclude art galleries, cultural centres such as Bastakia, Shindagaand a Spice souk.

Abu Dhabi on track to meet 2012 hotel guest target


middleeastPEGASUS AIRLINES is expanding its flight network with the introduction of four timesweekly flights to Dubai from October 18. One-way fares from Stansted via Istanbul costfrom £152.65 including taxes and charges. Passengers can also take advantage of thetwin-centre connection, taking in Istanbul en-route. For details see www.flypgs.com

DESPITE TOURISM figures highlighting a decline in UKoutbound travel during Q2, Dubai continued to performstrongly as a destination, reporting an 11% increase inguest numbers during the quarter.

According to the latest report issued by the Departmentof Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), hotel andapartment bookings in Dubai in Q2 were up 170,452 from154,180 in 2011. Figures also show a 5% increase in theaverage length of stay with UK visitors now choosing tostay for seven nights.

Self-catering apartments saw the most dramatic surgein guest bookings, with year-on-year increases of 33% for

Q2. The DTCM says that the significant rise in thepopularity of apartments can be attributed to the growingappeal of Dubai amongst the family market, as anincreasing range of accommodation options gives familieseven more flexibility and makes holidays more affordable.

The DTCM's director UK & Ireland, Ian Scott, said: “Weare delighted with the UK results for Q2 and we areconfident that visitor numbers will continue to be positivethroughout the year. Increasingly, families are realisingthat Dubai can offer them a fun and affordable familyholiday with a relatively short flight time of only sevenhours.”

Dubai bucks the trend in Q2 with 11% increase in hotel & apartment guest numbers


At Rotana, we have chosen to acknowledge how precious time isto you by making all time spent with us, Treasured Time. This means

that we pledge to understand and meet the individual needs of all our guests. In so doing, we have evolved our product brands to include,

Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana, Centro Hotels by Rotana and Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana.

Treasured Time.Our promise to you.

P.O. Box: 43500, Abu Dhabi, UAET: +971 (0)2 644 4412, F: +971 (0)2 644 4413, [email protected]


ROTANA IS predicting the top destinations in the Middle East towatch for next year.

The company says that having been the host to numerousinternational sports tournaments in the last few years, Qatar ison the International radar. The destination offers a mix ofmodern buildings and a plethora of shopping malls, both ofwhich will entice holidaymakers in the coming year.

Other destinations to watch include the Garden City of Al Ainin the UAE, which offers seven oases, a wildlife safari park andparadise gardens for nature lovers; and Bahrain, which is setto be the Capital of Arab tourism for 2013, with attractionssuch as the Al- Fatih Great Mosque and shopping opportunitiesin Bahrain city centre.

Meanwhile, the hotel management company is extending itsGulf portfolio with an additional nine properties by 2013.

The company will open its first properties in Bahrain andOman, its second hotel in Qatar and will extend its portfolio inthe UAE by an additional six developments, three of which arescheduled to open in October; Al Ghurair Rayhaan by Rotana,Dubai, Al Ghurair Arjaan by Rotana, Dubai and Centro CapitalCentre, Abu Dhabi.

The company's president and CEO, Selim El Zyr, said: “Oneof the key areas for growth that we are currently addressing isdevelopment across the Gulf region. We will grow our portfolioof four brands by expanding into Bahrain and Oman and wewill also be boosting our presence in the UAE and Qatar. Ourgrowth is supported by our continued commitment to evolvingour product offering in line with travel trends and guestpreferences.” For more information visit www.rotana.com

HAYES & Jarvis has introduced Abu Dhabi to its flagshipworldwide brochure, giving customers the option of anotherdestination within the Indian Ocean.

Other recent introductions to the operator's brochureinclude the five-star luxury Banyan Tree Seychelles, the newly-opened four-star Movenpick Jumeirah in Dubai, the five-starMovenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta in Dubai, the four-star ChaayaLagoon Hakura Huraa Maldives and the three-star RecifeAttitude in Mauritius.

The company's head of product, Andrea Loddo said: "Thepopularity of Dubai and ongoing demand for Indian Ocean

twin-centre holidays has prompted us to feature Abu Dhabi inour worldwide brochure for the first time. We expect Abu Dhabito be in strong demand as an alternative Emirate stopover, andalso as a destination in its own right.”

As an example of prices, three-night packages at theMovenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta in Dubai lead in at £799 perperson. The hotel, which offers the option of all-inclusiveaccommodation, gives guests free access and shuttle rides tothe Oceana Beach Club on Palm Jumeirah. For more information or to book call 0871-200 2211 or visit www.hayesandjarvis.com/ agents

MOSAIC HOLIDAYS, which is set to launchits latest Egypt and Morocco brochure atthe end of this month, reports that salesto Jordan have continued to grow.

The operator's founder and managingdirector, Sabina Shaida, said: "The MiddleEast has obviously suffered considerablyfrom a bookings perspective in the last 18months. Jordan, however, is a nichedestination and despite unrest inneighbouring countries, continues to gofrom strength to strength.

"The primary draw to the destination isthe World Wonder that is Petra, in thespotlight even more this year with theKingdom celebrating the 200thanniversary of the rediscovery of the Rose

Red City. Other destinations in Jordan arealso becoming ever more popular asvisitors tour this small and fascinatingcountry discovering unique, spectacularand breathtaking scenery and sights suchas that of the desert landscape of WadiRum or the awe-inspiring Dead Sea, thelowest point on earth.

"Jordan's Red Sea coast is alsogrowing in popularity with an everexpanding tourism infrastructure for thediscerning traveller. Jordan is an oasis ofcalm in the Middle East and an idealdestination for those looking for a mid-haul, winter sun holiday, combiningculture, adventure, luxury, as well asrelaxation on the Red and Dead Seas.

“Another important destination in theregion is Egypt, which is showing realsigns of being on the road to recovery asbookings pick up gradually. ClassicalEgypt, including Cairo, Luxor, Nilecruises and private multi-centre toursare particularly popular. The key sellingtip we can currently offer agents is tourge clients to go soon. Whilst tourismis recovering, take advantage of dealsput out by hotels, resorts and cruisecompanies to attract tourists back tothe destination, as the offers won’t lastfor long.”For more information call 020-3393 8653 or visitwww.mosaicholidays.co.uk


middleeast

DUBAI IS to welcome the opening of a four-star beach hotel on itscoastline, as Jebel Ali International Hotels prepares to open theOcean View Hotel on The Walk at JBR beach at the end of thisyear. The property will feature 341 guestrooms and suites andseveral interconnecting rooms will also be available for families.Other facilities include five restaurants and bars, an executivelounge for guests staying in Club rooms and suites, a pool, spa,health club, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

Hayes & Jarvis adds Abu Dhabi to flagship worldwide brochure

Rotana predicts destinations to watch for 2013

Mosaic Holidays reports sales boost to Jordan & urges agents to encourage early bookings



DISCOVER EGYPT hasunveiled a new private NileCruise docking area outsideLuxor and is highlightingseven-night full board Nilecruises from £624 perperson.

The operator's director,Philip Breckner, said: “Weare experiencing strongdemand for Egypt at themoment, especially classicNile cruising andannounced to the tradeearlier this year that wehad added extra allocationon the Monarch chartersthis autumn. We are one ofvery few tour operatorsoperating two weekly cruiseboats from Luxor and theextra flight capacity willhelp us cope with demand.

"Already the first eightmonths of 2012 have seen a30% increase on last year inour traffic to Luxor andSeptember passengers willdouble those of the sameperiod last year. We are

also pleased to announcethat our lovely new dockarea is ready forpassengers and will makeembarking on their boatmuch easier, as they willdo it from the comfort ofour exclusive dock, whichwe are sure our clients willgreatly appreciate.Passengers also have theadded convenience of afree shuttle bus from thedock into Luxor, shouldthey wish to visit the citybefore or after thecruises.”

The lead in price for aNile cruise is from £749for the first person and£499 for the secondtraveller departing onDecember 3 on therecently refurbished five-star Viking Princess,including full board, flightsfrom Gatwick, transfersand ten guided excursions.

Alternatively, a seven-night full board cruise

departing on December 3on the five-star deluxeRoyal Viking leads in at£949 for the first personand £599 for the secondtraveller, which includesfull board, flights,transfers and tenexcursions.

A week’s city stay inLuxor in early Decembercosts from £449 includingflights, transfers andbreakfast accommodation

at the four-star El Luxorwith a free upgrade to aNile view room.

The operator is alsohighlighting a selection ofpackages to Jordanincluding a seven-nightClassic Jordan Tour whichincludes visits to Petra andWadi Rum and costs from£1,399 per person. For more information or tobook call 0844-880 0461 orvisit www.discoveregypt.co.uk

THE CARLSON RezidorHotel Group has announcedthat the Park Inn byRadisson Dubai Al Jadaf,featuring 300 guest rooms,is scheduled to open in2015.

The property is located inthe Al Jadaf area, 5km fromDubai International airport,Downtown and BusinessBay, and 3km from DubaiFestival City, DubaiInternational FinancialCentre, the internationalexhibition centre and thetraditional centres of Deiraand Bur Dubai.

The hotel will be part of anew development that willcomprise two further hotelsthat will cater to differentmarket segments. It willalso offer two restaurants,one lobby-lounge, one bar, afitness centre andapproximately 400sq.m. ofmeeting space.

Park Inn by RadissonDubai Al Jadaf toopen in 2015

middleeastTHE FIVE-STAR Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi is to host Coutts ‘Polo at the Palace’, a two-day tournamentfrom November 23-24, inspired by popular London event ‘Polo in the Park’, which has pioneered the city poloseries by bringing the classic sport to a contemporary cosmopolitan audience. Admission is restricted to aselect 1,000 people per day and guests visiting ‘Polo at the Palace’ will be treated to an up-close view of thegame along with lunch and refreshments. Tickets cost from AED1,600 per person per day. To book email [email protected] or visit www.citypoloseries.com

Royal Viking moored in new dock

Discover Egypt announces new Nile Cruise docking area outside Luxor


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OPERATING IN the youth travel sector keeps you on your toes - recent research has shown that 52% of peoplehave been inspired to travel somewhere by seeing their

friends’ photos on Facebook. And it’s not just Facebook andTwitter but a whole range of social media platforms includingPinterest, Instagram, Google+ - every technologicaldevelopment is changing the way we communicate, shareideas, memories and experiences. As sellers and marketers ofholidays, we need to rapidly adapt to this or we lose not onlymarket share, but also credibility, and, for want of a betterexpression, “cool” factor. The 18–35 audience is all across thelatest trends and experiences, or certainly want to feel thatthey are, so every operator in this space needs to deliver aproduct that provides bragging rights to their clients.

The rise of social media

Young people are communicating 24/7. They are connectedall the time and engaged with the brand well before theyleave on their tour. They are widely using Facebook, Twitterand other social media platforms to share their excitementpre-trip, their experiences while on the road, and theirmemories when they get back. They are also using socialmedia to research their trips. This up-to-the minuteconnectivity means agents should be aware of customers’demands and conscious of selling high quality, otherwisethey can be easily caught out on social media.

We’re also seeing that attending festivals has becomeincreasingly popular with young travellers and they are nowchoosing to travel to certain destinations because of certainevents, which can be anything from St. Patrick's Day in Dublinand Oktoberfest in Munich to music festivals such as BBK Livein Spain and Coachella in the US.

Australia continues to be very popular for young travellers inthe UK, where other destinations are struggling. Travelling inAustralia continues to be a rite of passage for the UK youthmarket due to the working holiday visa scheme. In fact, in anincreasingly competitive youth employment market, youngpeople are regarding travelling - and more specifically workingwhilst travelling - as a great way to boost their CV, so we arefinding that many people are combining a tour with theopportunity to work and travel Down Under.

Asia is also extremely popular, due the culture, food andauthentic experiences and of course the weather. Manychoose to go with a youth travel specialist so they can meetlike-minded travellers of their own age looking for sharedexperiences whilst knowing their plans are being looked afterand they won’t miss out on any of the must see places.

Young people are more clued up than ever before. There is awealth of information out there that young people have easyaccess to and customers can do their research independently,so while Australia remains popular, there's also an interest totravel further afield and discover new destinations from Russiaand Eastern Europe to South America and Asia. Again, itcomes back to bragging rights - young people want to sharetheir travel stories with their friends and are taking more risksand looking for more adventure.

Selling tips you can count on

Get to know the product as well as possible so that youcan sell it to the best of your abilities; escorted packageshave so many amazing experiences included that it’sworth taking the time to discover what makes each tourso special.

Work with a youth specialist operator – it means they aretapped in to the mindset of their clients - you can beconfident they will deliver an amazing experience. Morebroad-ranged products can leave clients in groups that theyhave little in common with.

Remember the value for money aspect – the price mightimmediately look higher than clients were looking to pay,but with inclusions of all (and often varied) transport in thedestination, lots of authentic meals, activities andsightseeing, it works out as fantastic value for money. Alsoagents can earn significant commission selling an escortedtour because of an upfront price paid by the client, whichcovers all the inclusions – a win-win for agent and client.

Don't forget to talk about the huge benefits of touringwith a group of young like-minded people. It's as muchabout the social experience as it is about the destinations,so make sure you communicate to clients the emotionalconnection around the friends they’ll make on tour. It’s somuch more than travelling from A to B.

Take the time to get to know your audience and how theyare communicating. Look for operators that are connectingwell with them e.g. via apps, social forums etc. and providingplatforms for their clients to connect with each other before,during and after they travel. As the youth audience is so techsavvy, it will keep them coming back for more.

Get your client excited about the product you are selling.Tell them about all the great inclusions and exclusiveoptions, the special stays in exclusive accommodation.Communicate to them to make the most of their trip andexperience all the optionals, so they're not missing out onanything on the tour and come back with no regrets. ✦

by MATT FLETCHER, director of sales &

marketing UK & Europe, Contiki Holidays

How to capitalise on

youth market trends


escortedtrips

S05 TB1210 Escorted Trips_Layout 1 10/10/2012 11:54

COSMOS TOURS & Cruises has launchedboth its 2013 Europe & North Africa andNorth America & Worldwideprogrammes.

The operator's Europe & North Africaprogramme features a new holidayconcept, ‘Relax & Explore’, to providecustomers with the flexibility to book theholiday that suits them best. Based onsingle or twin centres in a choice ofdestinations, customers can set their ownpace by adding excursions, in addition tothe sightseeing already included in theholiday. The choice includes historicaland cultural highlights of Europe fromthe four-day Venice Carnival (from £549)to the sub-tropical island of Madeira(eight-day Taste of Madeira from £735) tothe volcanic landscape of Iceland (fivedays from £765) and eight-day Turkey’sTurquoise Coast (£579).

Early booking offers includes a savingof £50 per person on bookings madebefore October 31, while single travellerscan take advantage of no singlesupplement to pay on a choice of tours onselected departures with a saving of up to£375 per person on a 16-day ‘Best ofEurope’, which leads in at £1,175.

New tour itineraries include the 13-day‘Mediterranean Flavours’, which costsfrom £1,259 and a nine-day ‘Lake Gardaby Rail’, from £1,169.

New cruise companies featured fornext year include Amadeus, Pullman andRoyal Crown and all holidays arepackaged with flights and transfers orwith free car parking at UK ports. Newriver, ocean and ‘tour & cruise’itineraries featured for the first timeinclude the 13-day ’Ukraine – Land of theCossacks - from £1,779, an eight-day‘Canaries Winter Adventure’ cruise from£1,249, an eight-day Croatian CoastalCruises from £849 and an eight-day

Relaxing Rhone cruise from £1,449. Cruise offers on selected cruises

include free cabin upgrades, free drinksvouchers and up to €80 onboard creditper couple.

Meanwhile, the operator hasintroduced a private door- to-door homepick up service for customers on a wideselection of its holidays.

The company's head of product, DavidBinns, said: “As our range of holidays andworldwide destinations grows, ourcustomers are travelling further afieldand their journeys are becoming longer.We want to make their journeys as easyand comfortable as possible and providethe flexibility of starting and finishingtheir journeys by being picked up in aprivately chauffeured car. This addedelement of service means customers canstart their their holiday as soon as theyleave the front door.”

Special offers in the company's newUSA, Canada & Worldwide brochureinclude an Airport Hotel offer of £29 perroom available at a four-star ratedairport hotel for a one night pre or posttour stay, which includes up to 14 nights'airport parking.

New holidays to North America includea tour to mark the 50th anniversary of thedeath of Martin Luther King the 12-day‘Footsteps of Martin Luther King’, whichcosts from £1,795, as well as a tour ofTexas - the 14-day ‘Texas – the Lone StarState’, which leads in at £1,965.

The new brochure features more than100 escorted tours, cruise, rail journeys,multi-centre and resort holidays inNorth, Central, South America, Africa,Asia and Australasia for departures untilDecember 31, 2013.For more information call 0844-573 0668or to request the new brochures visitwww.trade-gate.co.uk


escortedtrips

2013 additionsfrom Great Rail

Journeys GREAT RAIL journeys isoffering new worldwideescorted tours for 2013,featured in thecompany's ‘WorldwideHolidays By Rail 2012/13’ brochure.

As an example, a 17-day Southern India tourleads in at £3,548 perperson and includesscheduled flights, rail andcoach travel in India, 12nights' half-board stayand three nights on theGolden Chariot HotelTrain including all mealsand selected guided tours.

Highlights of the tripinclude a harbour cruisein Cochin and a Pillaraiceremony in Madurai.

Also new for next yearis a nine-day tour ofEcuador. Prices lead in at£2,085 per personincluding scheduledflights, rail and coachtravel, seven nights'breakfastaccommodation, fourlunches and five dinners,an excursion to Otavalo, aguided city tour of Quito,a railway journey throughthe Avenue of Volcanoes,an excursion toChimborazo volcano anda journey on the Devil’sNose Train. For more information call01904-521980 or visitwww.greatrail.com/uk

Europe & North Africa launch from Cosmos Tours & Cruises

Inspiring destinations within your reach

• Comfortable hotels in prime locations

• All meals & drinks

• Must-see sightseeing and excursions

• Accompanied by a helpful Tour Manager

WHAT’S INCLUDED

From breathtaking views of Lake Como’s crystal blue waters to exuberant landscapes, picturesque towns and vibrant cities in the Austrian Tyrol. Your customers will delight in our all-inclusive holidays filled with the allure of magnificent landscapes and iconic rail excursions.

Our all-inclusive escorted holidays provide everything your customers will need to enjoy a relaxing break - all meals including packed lunches on day trips, drinks and a full programme of excursions within one great value price - we take care of everything.

Want to know more about selling Treyn holidays? Contact [email protected] and we will be happy to discuss our full range of product and services. Brochure supplies are available via www.Trade-Gate.co.uk

Alternatively please call: 01904 734888

Inspiring destinations within your reach TREYN

Your carriage awaits this summer to an

ALL-INCLUSIVE HOLIDAY


TITAN HAS launched itsCruise & Tour 2013brochure which featuresa range of newitineraries, many ofwhich have beencombined with land stays.

The company isoffering free onboardcredit of up to £200 percabin and pre-paidgratuities included in theprice on selecteditineraries.

Meanwhile, theoperator's new 2013River Cruise brochureoffers a selection ofescorted and unescorteditineraries, including an18-day Mighty Yangtzeand Best of China optionwhich leads in at £2,795per person and a 12-dayWaterways of The Tsars,which costs from £2,895.

New itineraries includethe musically-inspiredten-day DanubeSymphony on MS Mozart,which costs from £1,595and the 15-day GrandVoyage Across Europe,which leads in at £2,595.

Many of the operator'sitineraries include a fullprogramme of excursionsand all onboard meals,while every holidayincludes scheduledflights, accommodation, atour manager and door-to-door transfers. For more information visitwww.titanagents.co.uk

Titan issues Cruise &Tour and River Cruise2013 brochures


TO MARK the launch of its 2013 Grand Tourerbrochure, Shearings is offering savings of upto £100 per couple on many itineraries bookedbefore October 31.

A selection of new itineraries feature in thelatest brochure including a nine-day SwissAlpine Railways tour, which costs from £989.Highlights include travel on the Glacier,Bernina Express and Golden Pass Railway,taking in some of Switzerland’s mostpicturesque spots such as the lake ofLucerne, Meiringen, and Davos, the highestcity in Europe.

The price includes eight nights' half-boardaccommodation and luxury coach travel anddepartures are available from May toSeptember.

Also new is a 12-day Grand Tour of Francefrom £1,229, where highlights include visits toChenonceau Chateau in the Loire Valley,Avignon & Aix-en-Provence in Provence andMonaco. The tour concludes with a two-nightstay in Paris and includes half-boardaccommodation and luxury coach travel.Departure dates are available from April toSeptember.

Other new additions include a five-dayChantilly Chateau in the North of France from£479 and an eight-day Romantic Railways ofthe Rhine from £699.

The operator's European & Worldwideholidays manager, Patricia Birmingham, said:

“We have introduced new European GrandTourer itineraries for 2013 due to a 20%increase in sales of our premium escortedtours product in the last year. Grand Tourerholidays offer a luxury travel experience,onboard coaches with extra leg room whilestaying at handpicked hotels.

“The fact that many added extras areincluded in the price of these holidays for freecan be used by agents to secure sales. GrandTourer holidays include home connect, takingcustomers from their front door to theircoach, where available. To ensure thatcustomers get the most out of their holiday,we have also introduced dedicated tourmanagers on even more of the itineraries.”

Meanwhile, the operator is introducingGrand Tourer holidays in England for the firsttime next year.

As examples, a five-day Houses & Gardensof Northumberland leads in at £369 andhighlights include the Victorian house &gardens at Cragside, the gardens at BelsayHall with a tour by the head gardener andHadrian’s Wall Country. A five-day YorkshireDelights option showcases the YorkshireDales, and highlights include the Embsay &Bolton Abbey Line, a guided tour of YorkMinster and a cream tea at the famous Betty’stearooms. Prices lead in at £339. For more information see www.shearings.comor call 0844-824 6351.

COLLETTE WORLDWIDE Holidays haslaunched its 2013/14 programme with 11new additions, taking the total number ofescorted tours in the new brochure tomore than 50.

New tours include a 19-day ExploringAustralia option, with highlightsincluding Sydney, Melbourne, BarossaValley Wine Region, Blue Mountains,Alice Springs, Uluru, Cairns and theGreat Barrier Reef. Prices lead in at£4,499 per person. An 11-dayDiscovering Poland tour is also new and

highlights include an overnight stay inmedieval Torun, a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site; Teutonic Knight’sMarienburg Fortress, the largest castlein the world; dining out in a choice ofKrakow’s restaurants; and a visit to theJasna Gora Monastery. Prices start from£1,699 per person, including 15 meals.

Other options include a 26-dayDiscover South America tour from£7,599, a nine-day Rockies RailHighlights from £2,699, a nine-day Heartof the South and New Orleans option

from £1,849 per person and a ten-dayImperial Cities tour, featuring Prague,Vienna and Budapest from £1,549.

Prices are based on two sharing andinclude most meals, flights, door-to-doorpick up within 100 miles of the departureairport and the services of a tour leader.

Early booking offers of up to £250 perperson are available on all tours in thenew brochure.For more information or to book call 0800-804 8700 or visitwww.colletteworldwide.com

Collette Worldwide Holidays unveils 11 new tours in 2013/14 programme

escortedtripsTABER HOLIDAYS is promoting its 'Hidden Powers of the South' Iceland escorted tour, which leads in at£1,376 per person. Highlights include digging up freshly baked hot spring bread in Geysir for lunch; a visit toEyjafjallajökull; a bathe in the Blue Lagoon; and a trip to see the floating icebergs in the Jökulsárlon, GlacialLagoon. The tour departs on November 13 and February 12 and March 12, 2013 from Heathrow and pricesinclude flights, transfers, breakfast accommodation, some evening meals and a guided tour by mini-van. For details call 01274-875199 or see www.taberhols.co.uk

Shearings marks 2013 brochure launch with £100 savings


Cultural Tours & Music Holidays brochure from KirkerKIRKER HOLIDAYS has issued its 2013 Cultural Tours & Music Holidaysbrochure, featuring a range of new tours.

As an example, a Classic Tour of Bulgaria – Icons, Monasteries & Mountainsdeparts on June 3 and September 30, with prices leading in at £1,747 perperson for nine nights with no single supplement. The price includes BA flightsfrom Heathrow, breakfast accommodation, sightseeing, nine dinners, threelunches and a guided tour.

Also new is a seven-night Tenerife – The Nature & History of a Volcanic Islandoption, which departs on January 21 and November 18. Prices lead in at £1,798per person based on two sharing and includes flights from Gatwick, breakfastaccommodation, six dinners, three lunches and a tour lecturer. For details see www.kirkerholidays.com or call 020-7593 2284.

Travel Indochina boosts Burma departures by up to 60%FOLLOWING AN increase in demand for travel to Burma, Travel Indochinahas increased its number of departures for 2013, offering 60% moredepartures for its nine-day 'Highlights of Burma' tour and doubling thenumber of departures on its 13-day 'Burma Revealed' Small Group Journey.

From this month through to March 2013, 'Burma Revealed' will increasein frequency from monthly to weekly departures, offering visits to theregions of Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake, Pindaya Caves and Kalaw.Highlights include exploring the temple-filled plains of Bagan by bicycle,visiting a small countryside school run by monks in Ava, sharing lunch withresident nuns in a convent outside Mandalay and travelling by local trainfrom the hill station of Kalaw to Shwe Nyaung. For more information visit www.travelindochina.co.uk

FFESTINIOG TRAVEL has launched itsnew Rail Holidays of the World 2013brochure, featuring a range ofescorted and tailor-made journeys. New for next year are five Grand RailTours and three Connoisseur RailTours.

As an example of Grand Rail Tours,a 13-day tour of Bohemia takes guestsfrom Prague to the lakes and forestsof South Bohemia.

Prices lead in at £1,665 per personincluding flights (on September 28),transfers, guided excursions andbreakfast accommodation.

Next year also sees the operatorreturn to Spain and Japan after abreak of several years. Departing on

June 13, Green Hills of Spain and LaRhune offers a 15-day holiday thatcombines the northern coastline withvisits to several of Spain’s vibrantcities, plus a short trip to south-western France.

Prices start from £1,625 perperson.

A Japan – North to Hokkaidoitinerary includes the ShinkansenBullet Train and the BanetsuMonogatari steam train, as well asremote branch lines and departs onSeptember 25.

Prices lead in at £5,187 per person. For more information or to book call01766-772030 or visitwww.ffestiniogtravel.com

We asked our staff thefollowing question this week:

How do you spend your weekend?

Publisher: Jeanette [email protected], cleaning, taxi service to my son - karaoke evening this Saturday!

Editor: Lauretta [email protected]'s the usual household jobs, lunch with family,occasional shopping & watching TV

Assistant Editor: Jill [email protected] catch up with friends, chores, exercise, eat out, parties,cinema etc but I'm often away visiting family and friends

Contributing Editor: Paul [email protected], and if sunny a lingering lunch on the watersideterrace of The Old Quay House Hotel in Fowey, Cornwall

Sales Director: Simon [email protected]: Cooking, taxi service, cricket, sometimes golfand a beer on occasion. Winter: Same but no cricket!

Advertisement Manager: Tim [email protected] the beach

Online Sales Manager: Nick [email protected] plans for world domination (he laughed, evilly)

Account Manager: Bill [email protected], eat, sleep, watch football/golf/rugby, OVER SLEEP!

Sales Executive: Chris [email protected] up, cafe, betting office, beer, football, bed

Design: Genaro [email protected] my Air Jordans

Assistant Layout Design:Nicky [email protected] my yodelling

Production: Jeremy Walters [email protected] like to fly my kite when there’s wind

Circulation Manager: Jim [email protected]

escortedtrips

Travagrams: (top) Victoria Cruises (bottom) New Orleans

Where Am I?: Khyber

puzzlesolutions


Travel Bulletin is published by Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) Ltd - University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London,SW1W 0EX, Tel: 020-7834 6661

Printed by: Wyndeham Grange Limited

Subscriptions are £105 p.a. £155 overseas

ISSN: 0956-2419

Follow us on Twitter!@TravelBulletin

Intrepid adds new tours to 2013 brochureINTREPID TRAVEL has launched its 2013 programme of small groupescorted tours in Australasia and Europe. New tours include a nine-dayUkraine Highlights option from £1,060 per person, which travels from Kyivto Lviv by train and bus, discovering Ukraine’s history as it visits theChernobyl Museum and explores the Caparthian Mountains. A new nine-day Highlights of Central Europe tour is also new, which costs from £1,280and visits Bohemian towns and cosmopolitan cities as it journeys fromMunich to Budapest, via Prague and Vienna. For details visit www.intrepidtravel.com

Ffestiniog Travel launches 2013 Rail Holidays of the World


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travel bulletin 12th october 2012

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