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TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLYSeptember 26 2018 I No. 2513

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Local is lekker!To celebrate Tourism Month and promote domestic travel, SA Tourism is running a week-long campaign offering 50% off travel deals, exclusively to South African travellers. Partner suppliers are offering 50% off bookings made for travel between September 24 and September 30. The offer is only valid for South African ID holders. Visit www.shotleft.co.za for more information. Pictured: Sisa Ntshona, ceo of South African Tourism. Photo: Savannah Freemantle

Fluctuating rand wreaks havoc with bookingsSavannah Freemantle

SALES have dropped and cancellations are on the rise as clients

balk at the fluctuating rate of exchange (ROE).

Over the last month, the rand reached a low of R18,03 to the euro, from a high of R16,43.

In a recent eTNW survey, agents reported a significant drop in both business and leisure forward bookings compared with the same period last year, with one agent referring to the ROE fluctuations as a “nightmare”.

More than 50% of the agents surveyed said they had had clients cancel bookings after the rand

weakened. “Compared with 2017 sales figures for the period July to August, we saw a 37% drop in sales and an increase in cancellations on European travel for December 2018,” one agent said, adding that some clients were opting to forfeit deposits rather than follow through on bookings.

Riana Lourens, from ICAN Holidays, explained that clients opted for this because the cancellation fees were often smaller than the increase in the clients’ total package price.

While a number of operators have fixed the exchange rate, Lauren Christelis from Dreams Unlimited, said clients who could afford to travel were

hesitant to pay for fixed ROE packages as they were more expensive than other packages.

“These clients want to wait and see if the rand strengthens,” she said. However, she also pointed out that the likelihood of the rand returning to previous levels was virtually zero.

Lauren said she was also concerned that agents might face a flood of enquiries for December in November and be unable to assist due to problems with availability.

The ROE had also increased the likelihood of clients shopping around online to secure the lowest rate, agents said.

Travel to Europe has been hit hardest, according to agents surveyed. “Product quoted in euros has increasingly been abandoned in favour of last-minute, specials quoted in rands,” said one agent. Travel Counsellor, Bianca Pretorius, added: “[Instead] clients are looking at South African holidays, or self-drive international holidays.”

Some agents have also sought to put together packages without an operator. Caroline Steenkamp from Sure Epcot

Euro-rand exchange rate Aug 20-Sept 17, 2018EUR/ZAR close: 17.36383 low: 16.42504 high: 18.03417

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Agents unite against airline payment policiesSarah robertSon

THE World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA), which represents agents in more than 60 countries, has taken a stance against airline policies that block card payment methods, such as

the use of agent and virtual cards.

Otto de Vries, chairman of WTAAA, explained that airlines were blocking certain card payment methods because of the perceptions around cost. Instead, Otto said a more

To page 24

2 n Wednesday September 26 2018 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

NEWS

Rubes® By Leigh Rubin

Phone: (011) 327-4062 Fax: (011) 327-4094 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.nowmedia.co.za Address: Now Media Centre, 32 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, Illovo, Johannesburg. PO Box 55251, Northlands, 2116, South Africa.

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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Exhibitors declare online expo a huge success

OVER 300 members of the travel industry attended the virtual

Into Africa Travel Show on Thursday, September 13, 57% of whom were from a senior decision-making level.

“It proved to be an immersive and interactive experience, adding tremendous value without us even having to leave our office,” said Sharon Richards-Lund, sponsorship and marketing lead for GBTA Southern Africa.

She added that while expos were traditionally expensive for exhibitors and delegates in both time and monetary values, an online expo proved to be very cost effective. “The speaker slots in the exhibition hall

were easy to navigate and to join, and allowed us as exhibitors to communicate in real-time discussions with both the speakers and fellow delegates,” said Sharon.

“The Into Africa Travel Show was a great success for Radisson Hotel Group.

“It was convenient and time-efficient for our teams to simply log on and connect with multiple visitors,” said William McIntyre, Radisson Hotel Group’s regional director.

Both Sharon and William found the format allowed exhibitors to easily share additional information with delegates. “The real-time discussion on our virtual stand allowed us to provide everything from video links

and marketing collateral, to signing up members and delegates,” said Sharon.

“We are most certainly looking forward to the next online expo taking place in October,” said William.

Members of the trade that missed out on the show can still access the stands and listen to the speakers by visiting www.intoafricatravelshow.co.za.

Now Media’s next online trade show, The Great Holiday Show, will take place on Friday, October 26, from 12h00 to 18h00. The online travel event is aimed at the South African holiday-maker and will boast two exhibit halls, one dedicated to local travel, and one to international travel.

Globus introduces new flexible touring categoryJade Kelmovitz

THE Globus Family of Brands has introduced an entirely new category of touring – Cosmos Lite – with tours starting next year.

Cosmos Lite is an addition to the existing Cosmos tours, with the difference that it offers customers the flexibility to tailor make their tour.

Janine Pienaar, sales and marketing manager at Globus Family of Brands, said: “Often Cosmos clients comment that they want the security of a coach tour,

however they would prefer more free time to explore on their own. Cosmos Lite is now the perfect option for these clients.”

Cosmos Lite also offers a lower price point, costing 50% less than Cosmos 2019 tours. The average price of all 2019 Cosmos Europe brochure tours is R28 000 per person sharing and the average price of 2019 Cosmos Lite tours is R13 400 per person sharing.

The new tour includes breakfast and the day starts at 09h00, slightly later than on a Cosmos tour.

Travellers on Cosmos Lite can choose from additional activities, including foodie, walking and cycling excursions. They are distinct from the optional excursions on Cosmos.

The Cosmos Lite package includes the availability of the CosmosGO mobile app, which provides users with entertainment, sightseeing, dining and shopping suggestions. It gives travellers information at their fingertips that can be accessed at any time, even while exploring, as it is not mobile data dependent, adds Janine.

Cruises International bags Virgin VoyagesJade Kelmovitz

CRUISES International has signed a contract to sell Virgin Voyages, with the first ship set to sail in 2020.

Virgin recently announced that it would be expanding its portfolio by offering cruises. Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, made the announcement in Fincantieri on July 20.

George Argyropoulos, ceo of Cruises International, told TNW that negotiations with Virgin Voyages were ongoing and

that further details on the product would be revealed at a later stage. However, he added that, with the first ship only launching in 2020, there would be plenty of opportunities to update the trade well before then.

A Virgin Voyages spokesperson confirmed that the brand had two other ships due for delivery in 2021 and 2022. Virgin Voyages’ first ship, Scarlet Lady, will arrive at PortMiami in 2020 for its inaugural sailing season in the Caribbean.

Gina Richter selects the top specials from Travelinfo

Travel 2 Réunion. Réunion Island self-drive December package from R16 600pp sharing. Offer includes return flights from Johannesburg, approximate taxes, meet and greet, car rental with unlimited mileage and seven nights’ accommodation at various hotels. Set travel dates December 9-16.Perfect Destinations. Five-star Thailand offer from R48 690pp sharing. Offer

includes return flights departing Johannesburg to Thailand, approximate taxes, return transfers and seven nights’ five-star accommodation in a hideaway pool villa with breakfast daily. Valid until October 31.Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Tyger Valley. Couples getaway

from R1 350 per room per night. Offer includes one night’s accommodation with breakfast and sparkling wine on arrival. Valid until December 7.MSC Cruises. Sail Durban, Portuguese Island and Pomene from

R6 100pp sharing. Offer includes four nights’ accommodation and all meals and entertainment on board. Offer excludes mandatory charges of R1 235 per person. Set departure November 8.

Terms and conditions apply. SAA passengers booked on Mango enjoy a R70 meal voucher on board Mango flights and also earn Voyager Miles.

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The Globus Family of Brands has gone paperless, opting to use Cosmos Holidays’ CosmosGO mobile app, which is available in the Apple Store and Google Play Store. The app allows clients to log in up to 45 days prior to departure and have access to daily itineraries, hotels and transfer details, suggested restaurants, entertainment and sightseeing. The app also offers a built-in GPS that works without WiFi or mobile data. Pictured: Justine Choveaux, business development executive, Perfect Destinations. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl.

Trade bet pays off for fastjetTessa Reed

A DECISION by fastjet to work directly with the travel trade and load

content on its traditional platform, the GDS, has paid off for the carrier.

The airline partnered with Amadeus in 2017 to have its content available on the GDS and entered into a similar deal with Travelport earlier this year.

Sylvain Bosc, fastjet chief commercial officer, told TNW that the airline had started off-selling tickets to the public through its website. However, when former Mango ceo, Nico Bezuidenhout, was appointed fastjet ceo in 2016, the airline changed its strategy, opting to work more closely with the trade.

Moving on to the GDS has seen the portion of the airline’s business coming from travel agents grow from 5% to 40% in the South African market. A similar move in the

Tanzanian market saw its share of business from travel agents grow from 5% to 24%. Since it started domestic operations in Mozambique towards the end of last year, agents in this market account for 57% of fastjet’s business there.

Sylvain said the revenue generated by agent sales was 18% higher than that generated by the airline’s average yield. He said while, traditionally, low-cost carriers had not distributed in the GDS because of the high costs involved, low-cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet had also moved on to the GDS. “This demonstrates that there is value in distributing through the traditional channel.” He added that it also allowed the airline to access clients that it wouldn’t otherwise reach.

“We also wanted to be able to enter into interline agreements with bigger carriers,” said Sylvain. The airline had an interline

agreement with Emirates and was in the final stages of entering at least two similar agreements with other major carriers, he said.

For the year ended December 2017, the airline narrowed its losses from US$49,7 million (R739m) to $24,5m (R364,5m). In June, the airline reported that it had achieved a cash flow breakeven in the last quarter of 2017, while the group’s revenue was up 29% year-on-year following a 45% increase in passengers. “Trading in the year to date has been in line with market expectations and the company is now well positioned to capitalise on future growth,” Nico said at the time.

Sylvain told TNW that fastjet was looking to expand sales into markets including the US, UK, Germany and France, participating in the BSP for these markets.

Globus goes digital

Spring is here and with it comes the Gauteng bumper lifestyle events

season. To coincide with the excitement, the Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) has launched its 2018 GPSho’tleft Domestic Tourism campaign with a special focus on #GPLifestyle events, which promotes the lifestyle offering of the province.

Historically, August to February has seen more major lifestyle events take place in Gauteng than at any other time of the year. These events famously attract leisure travellers from all over South Africa, and this year will be no different, says Barba Gaoganediwe, head: destination marketing and communication of GTA.

“The months of August and September were already packed with a wide range of lifestyle and leisure events to suit all interests,” Barba says. From Women’s Month events to the annual DStv Delicious Food & Music Festival and the Soweto Wine Festival to the first ever Comic Con Africa, Gauteng was bursting with lifestyle and leisure events that saw visitors from around the country flock to the province to get a taste.

“As we continue into summer, we prepare for visitors to enter Gauteng to attend the popular Spring Fiesta Music Festival (October 6), the annual Gauteng Summer Cup (November 27), as well as the concerts of international

superstars Daughtry (October 27) and Calum Scott (November 11). And these are just a few of the highlights,” Barba says.

Another event that will certainly have domestic and international travellers flooding into Gauteng this summer, will be the second annual Afropunk Arts & Music Festival, taking place at Constitution Hill on New Year’s Eve. “The first event was an incredible success, which saw more than 3 000 international travellers visit South Africa specifically to attend this event. It also attracted more than 5 000 domestic travellers and was attended by over 20 000 people in total. We expect those numbers to increase

this year and we encourage travel agents and tour operators to remind their

clients about this special event and to package tours around it,” Barba says.

Gauteng attracts the highest number of VFR (visiting friends and relatives) tourists of any of the provinces in South Africa. Hosts and general residents alike must, therefore, aim to amplify the holiday experience for these travellers by introducing them to the unique gems hidden around the province, Barba says.

“In line with South African Tourism’s Sho’t Left, the 2018-2019 instalment of our #GPLifestyle offerings encourages Gauteng residents to familiarise themselves with all that the golden city region has to offer – from the popular sites to the lesser-known attractions,” Barba says.

In doing so, GTA hopes Gauteng residents will serve as

ambassadors for the region, showing it off to domestic and international travellers while exploring it themselves. “While we encourage our residents to do this, because they understand the socio-economic impact that tourism has on our provincial economy, we also feel it is important for our residents to get to know their own back yards,” he says.

This will also assist Gauteng residents travelling outside the province to endorse their region during their domestic trips – another facet important to the GTA’s 2018 #GPLifestyle campaign. “We hope that our residents will take this energy with them when they visit other parts of

South Africa, continually promoting their province and all it has to offer,” he adds.

Noting that Gauteng residents have the highest per capita income in the country and traditionally travel more domestically than residents of other provinces, Barba says travel agents and tour operators can benefit from putting together itineraries that

suit their clients’ lifestyles. “Gauteng is known for its fast pace and its immense lifestyle scene offering – and when they travel,

they take their #GPLifestyle mentality with them. Travel professionals can leverage this by highlighting these offerings in other cities and encouraging clients to book

these packages through them,” he says.

The Gauteng Tourism Authority website offers an extensive range of activities, attractions and events to

explore around the Gauteng province. For more, visit www.gauteng.net and follow the bumper GPSho’tleft packages and #GPLifestyle events @visitgauteng

Residents urged to embrace #GPLifestyle

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Airlines’ ad hoc refund policies contravene CPASarah robertSon

VAGUE airline policies stating that cancellation penalty waivers for

hospitalised passengers will be considered on an ad hoc basis are in contravention of the Consumer Protection Act, say legal advisers.

Melissa Phillips, owner of Sure Map Travel, says many airlines address penalty waivers on a case-by-case basis and have no consistent implementation rules, with these varying from day to day, depending on who you speak to.

“A client of mine recently went in for an emergency operation two days before he was due to fly on an international airline. We submitted a doctor’s letter stating he was not ‘fit to fly’ plus the hospital records. I spoke to an airline call centre agent who advised that I could submit his ticket for a full refund but only 50% of the ticket was eventually refunded, with the airline stating that the passenger was not in hospital on the date of travel. I had luckily taken down the name of the call centre consultant and was therefore able to dispute

the payment with the airline on the basis of conflicting information and the client finally got a full refund,” said Melissa.

Caryn Myers, managing partner of Myers Attorneys, said Section 17 of the CPA dealt specifically with a customer’s rights to cancel advance reservation bookings or orders.

Section 17(5) of the Act specifically states:

“A supplier may not impose any cancellation fee in respect of a booking, reservation or order if the consumer is unable to honour the booking, reservation or order because of the death or hospitalisation of the person for whom, or for whose benefit the booking, reservation or order was made.”

Caryn said airlines definitely needed to have a formalised policy on cancellations in place stating specifically that they cannot charge any cancellation fee where a

booking has been cancelled because of death or hospitalisation. They must further ensure that when they do charge cancellation fees that these are reasonable.

Kirby Gordon, head of sales and distribution at FlySafair, agrees, saying that airlines are bound by Section 17 of the CPA to waive all cancellation fees when a passenger is unable to honour a booking, reservation or order due to death or hospitalisation.

“If we have a passenger who dies or is hospitalised, we refund the booking 100%. We also offer a leniency in our terms and conditions over and above this, offering partial refunds in the instance of the death or hospitalisation of an immediate family member of the passenger,” added Kirby.

Caryn added that if airlines did impose cancellation penalties in the instance of death or hospitalisation of the passenger, agents should take the matter up with the management of the airline and if the fee was still not reversed, passengers could ask the Consumer Commission to investigate.

“Airlines definitely need to have a formalised

policy on cancellations in place.”

BA adds new Rome, Zurich flightsBRITISH Airways is to add more aircraft, routes and frequencies to its network. From November 11, 2019, a new year-round service will be launched to Rome from London City Airport and a fifth service will be added to the Zurich route on weekdays. In other news, IAG, holding company of British Airways and Iberia, has increased its GDS surcharge from R160 to R180 per segment.

Proflight to expand network with new aircraftZAMBIAN airline, Proflight, plans to extend its regional routes from Lusaka. Flights to Johannesburg, Gabon, Entebbe and Dar es Salaam are all being evaluated by the airline. The additional routes will be made possible thanks to Proflight’s plans to grow its fleet of aircraft. It has recently purchased a 50-seat Bombardier Dash 8. Its current fleet also includes a 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-100 jet, three 29-seat Jetstream 41 aircraft and two C208 Caravans.

Qatar to launch direct flights to Da Nang QATAR Airways will operate direct flights to Da Nang, Vietnam, starting December 19. The four weekly flights will depart from Da Nang on Mondays and Saturdays at 19h35 and arrive in Doha at 00h05 the following day. The Wednesday and Friday flights will depart Da Nang at 08h30 and arrive in Doha at 13h00. They will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 with 22 seats in business class and 232 seats in economy.

KQ ups frequencies to CPT, MRU and SEZEFFECTIVE December 1, Kenya Airways will operate five direct flights a week between Nairobi and Cape Town International Airport, up from the previous three a week. The airline has also announced additional flights to Mauritius and Seychelles. From October 28, KQ will operate five weekly flights to Mauritius on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and five weekly flights to Seychelles on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

American Airlines to fly daily London-PhoenixAMERICAN Airlines will launch a daily flight from London Heathrow to Phoenix from March to October next year, serviced by a B777-200ER. Flights will depart Heathrow at 09h30 and arrive in Phoenix at 12h30. The return flight will depart Phoenix at 15h10 and arrive in Heathrow at 09h20 the next day.

A snapshot of the week's airline news

SAA diversifies Voyager offeringSavannah Freemantle

SAA Voyager has partnered with NetFlorist to give members the option of using Miles to purchase gifts through the e-commerce platform.

For 5 000 Voyager Miles (equivalent to R200), members can purchase flower arrangements, jewellery, hampers, personalised gifts (including gowns and wine), and cupcakes from the NetFlorist Bakery.

David Pegg, md of Sure Viva Travels, said the offer would appeal to existing Voyager members who don’t travel frequently enough to accrue a larger number of Miles. “This will allow Voyager to offer these members a reward for their loyalty. The majority of these

clients would be travelling domestically.”

However, he says clients started moving away from Voyager when SAA had to rationalise its domestic routes and increase its prices. “While this was probably in the airline’s best interests as it has improved its yield, British Airways took the opportunity to increase its frequencies shortly afterwards, increasing its market share.”

David added that a significant number of his corporate clients chose to earn BA Executive Club points instead of Voyager Miles, as this gave them access to a broader network and more benefits. Emirates Skywards is also increasingly perceived to have more value than Voyager.

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WHO ARE JACKIE AND JANE

The doer and the dreamerIn the latest Who Is… Tessa Reed chats to Jackie Adami and Jane Davidson, the dynamic duo behind Development Promotions.

JACKIE Adami and Jane Davidson, md and director of Development Promotions respectively, have

plenty in common: they both started their careers within the TFC stable and have followed similar career paths; they are both the youngest of three children; have a brother and a sister; and they are married without kids – by choice. The pair also go on fly-fishing trips with their husbands.

Jane grew up in Bryanston in a liberal household where she was encouraged to be a free thinker. Her mother was spiritual and yogis were frequently at her house chanting, so it’s not surprising that Jane is a self-confessed hippie who wore long flowing dresses. She was also a sporty child – playing in the first teams for netball and tennis in primary school, although she didn’t enjoy school.

“I always wanted to travel, so I wanted to be an air hostess, but I was too short,” Jane says with a chuckle. She landed her first job at TFC as a receptionist. At the time, Development Promotions was a subsidiary of TFC, which was partly owned by the Foggitt

family. In 1991 DP was bought out.As Jane was always interested in

marketing and PR, she took some courses and grew through the ranks at DP within the company, working in reservations, sales, product management and marketing. She jokes that her career is now going backwards. “I was product manager, then sales manager, marketing manager, general manager, director, managing director and now I am director again,” she says. “I am looking forward to reception.”

Jackie grew up in Northcliff in a stricter home, although she says being the baby of the family, she was quite spoiled. While she preferred sports over books, having a strict mom, Jackie knew failure was not an option. It’s something that’s carried through to her adult life – Jackie says she hates failure and will do anything to avoid it.

With no idea what she wanted to do after school, Jackie went overseas. On her return she completed a travel course. She went for an interview at TFC Tours, but landed a job at Development Promotions. Jackie also worked in various aspects

of the business, including sales, reservations, product management and even a brief stint in accounts, before she was made director.

Both Jackie and Jane pride themselves on being hands-on directors, jumping in to support staff no matter what the task – something they are both able to do after having worked in all the different aspects of the job. “It’s been an interesting journey and it’s nice to have gone through all the aspects of the business because it helps you understand your staff better – what they do and what the business needs,” says Jane.

“When you have been in the various positions, you understand how the company works and it’s a lot easier to strategise,” says Jackie, adding that it gives one insight into the different challenges in each department and how to overcome them.

Because the company’s product is so varied, they are never bored. “One day you’re working with an airline and the next with a cruise line. One day you are running a charter of an airline coming to South Africa

and another you’re in Abu Dhabi speaking to the tourism board,” says Jane. “It’s so diverse, there’s always been something new throughout our careers.”

Together the pair have worked to craft a culture of individuality. “Everything in our company is based on attitude,” says Jackie. “Our philosophy is work hard and have a lot of fun,” she says, adding that it’s important to her that her staff see their office as a home away from home.

Years of working together have helped Jackie and Jane forge a partnership where the one complements the other. Jackie explains that Jane takes care of the finance and marketing, while she looks after sales and operations. “We’ve worked well as a team,” says Jackie.

“I am more of a dreamer and I hope that things just happen,” says Jane, who is also prone to procrastination. “Jackie is more of a doer,” she says, adding that Jackie will bulldoze through obstacles and make things happen.

Getting to know Jackie Getting to know Jane Jackie is a shopaholic. When it comes to travelling,

she loves cruising and visiting cities. If Jackie could live in a

different time, she would pick

the 1920s for its glamour. She has learned an

appreciation of the bush from her husband and loves spending time in nature. Jackie is an avid golfer.

Jane enjoys wildlife and photography.

She loves dancing – particularly cosmic dance, where people let go and “go into another planet, without taking drugs,” says Jane.

In high school she was recognised for missing more than 120 school days. She wasn’t ‘big’ on school.

She is a hippie at heart. If she could live in another time, it would be the 1960s.

Jackie Adami (left) and Jane Davidson. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

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AGENT REPORT

MICE in MauritiusJohan Venter, md of Urban Ginga, recently travelled to Mauritius as a guest of World Leisure Holidays. Here he shares the island’s MICE offering.

MAURITIUS’S value-for-money proposition – especially in terms of

the MICE market – and easy connectivity from South Africa make it a popular choice of destination.

Our first stop on the island, the InterContinental Resort Mauritius, has one of the largest event beaches on the island, coupled with an array of outdoor event space and restaurants that can be privatised – any event or incentive travel planner’s dream. Guest rooms are very spacious too, with bathrooms featuring separate baths and showers. The property remains one of the top choices for conference groups.

Next on our itinerary was the Maritim Resort & Spa, and here Mauritian hospitality is taken to a new level with one of the warmest welcomes I have ever experienced on the island. From the horseman with his South African flag, who led us all the way up the winding driveway, to the colourful welcome drinks

served in coconuts, all the refreshment stops along the way during our walkabout, to the grand finale at the Château Mon Désir and Balaclava Fort, which included a relaxing shoulder massage, bubbly, canapés and even a sabrage demonstration, this popular resort never fails to impress!

One of the most anticipated highlights of the trip for me was the visit to the hip and cool Long Beach, and it did not disappoint. It’s even better now than how I remembered it from my last visit a couple of years ago. In my opinion, it remains one of the top choices for MICE groups to consider when visiting Mauritius.

Long Beach has certainly carved out a niche for itself on the island. It offers everything in one fabulous package: an array of dining options, a variety of outdoor event space, value-for-money all-inclusive packages that run until midnight, the very spacious rooms (be sure to request the

Beach Access Junior Suites for the ultimate spoil) and, most important of all, warm hospitality and exceptional service from one of the best events teams on the island.

Following Long Beach was the spectacularly reinvented

Shangri-La Le Touessrok Resort & Spa, where we kicked off our visit with a speedboat ride to its private residents-only island for a gourmet lunch under the palm trees that included their famous truffle pizza. This was followed by some leisure time to experience the wonderfully rejuvenated spaces of this lavish, yet laid-back resort, which has reaffirmed its position as one of the best five-star offerings on the island.

The day ended at La Pirogue with an invitation to celebrate its 42nd birthday with all sorts of treats, spoils and festivities. Having stayed here a couple of years ago, I was

blown away by the new-look public areas and bungalow-style bedrooms in lighter tones and cleaner lines, which has reaffirmed its position as one of the island’s favourite resorts. La Pirogue has certainly been reinvented to a spectacular degree, with five-star hospitality to match.

Our journey around Mauritius ended on a high at the fantastic Sugar Beach resort with a picture-perfect sunset and fabulous beach party under a Bedouin tent, complete with canapés, free-flowing champagne, local entertainment and a BBQ dinner fit for a king… Life certainly does not get any better than this.

Pictured at Maritim Resort and Spa with the horseman, are (from left): Lara Wild from Dragon Fly; Penny Mason from WLH; Roxy Robinson from Roxtar Concierge; Jenna De Alende from Giltedge; Johan Venter from Urban Ginga; and Martine Sanderson from WLH and (behind), Heinrich Morkel from BCD.

The main pool at La Pirogue.

Sugar Beach. TNW8018

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Bidvest Car Rental has moved its head office to 15 Anvil Street, Isando. Trade and partners were recently invited for cocktails and canapés at the new office. Pictured (from left) at the roof wetting are Gaynor von Loggenburg, executive: sales and marketing; Mary Reynolds, md of Reynolds Travel Centre; and Lina Da Costa, regional sales manager, Travel, Bidvest Car Rental. Photo: Tessa Reed

We’ve moved

TIC reveals top travel destinationsSarah robertSon

TIC’S top destinations for policy issuance over the past 12 months

reveal Africa as its top business travel destination and Europe as top for leisure travel.

For business policies Africa comes out tops with over 57% of all corporate policies issued for travel to the continent. Europe accounts for 23% of policies, Asia 8%, North America receives just 6% of business travel policies, Oceania 4% and South America accounts for the remaining 2%.

Top business destinations per country are Germany, US, UK, Mozambique,

Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ghana.

On the leisure front, about 37% of policies were issued for travel to Europe, 25% to Africa and 23% to Asia. North America accounted for 9% of policies with Oceania and South America accounting for 5% and 1% of travel policies respectively.

Top country destinations for leisure included Mauritius, US, UK, Thailand, Italy, France, Australia, Germany, Spain and UAE.

Simmy Micheli, manager – sales and marketing at TIC, points out that Thailand and Mauritius are two of South Africa’s top leisure destinations and if you add the total percentages for Africa and Asia together they add up to 48% of total leisure sales, and account for a higher percentage of policies than policies issued for travel to Europe.

“Thailand and Mauritius are two of South

Africa’s top leisure destinations.”

Postal applications introduced for Belgian visasTHE Belgian Visa Application Centres in Cape Town and Johannesburg have introduced postal application submissions, as of September 4.

The postal submission is only available for applicants who are exempt from

providing fingerprints, or whose fingerprints were previously collected by any of the Schengen member states within the last 59 months.

If clients have not provided their biometric data during a previous visa application

process, they are advised to submit their application in person.

For postal applications, the passport can only be returned via Fedex and cannot be collected. Applicants will be able to track the courier.

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday September 26 2018 n 13

With improved airlift and new hotels, Mozambique is on a path to see more South Africans visit for both business and leisure. Sue van Winsen investigates.

Maputo targets leisure travellers

MOZAMBIQUE’s capital, Maputo, has always had its fair share of

business travel but many travellers, some of whom have visited for work, are returning to experience the destination for leisure.

Commenting on the city’s leisure offering, Bruce Chapman, gm of the Southern Sun Maputo, says South Africans account for 70% of the traffic that comes into Mozambique. “Also, increasingly, operators are including Maputo as a leg on a ‘beach and bush’ travel itinerary. It is only 90km from the Kruger Park gates, and visa simplification has enabled cross-border packages to become increasingly popular.”

Karin Sieberhagen, sales and marketing manager for Serena Hotels in South Africa, agrees and says she has seen that some clients like to break their journey and spend a night in Maputo. “However, we still aren’t seeing the numbers for weekend travel we would like to.”

Steve Cooke, sales and marketing manager of Africa Stay, agrees and says clients use Maputo as a halfway stop to their final destination in Mozambique. “We do, however, get those leisure travellers who visit Maputo to learn more about the history, culture and nightlife and we usually recommend they spend between three and five days there.”

More packagesA positive trend for the trade, says Bruce, is that while Maputo had previously

been a “DIY destination”, there has been a growth in inclusive packages out of SA from the likes of Dana Tours and Thompsons. “This has simplified travel and added value to Maputo as a destination.

“Increased investment in infrastructure has made nearby resorts and leisure activities much more accessible from Maputo, with Macaneta Beach now only 20 minutes away, and with the new Maputo-Katembe bridge opening next month, Ponta do Ouro and Machangulo will also be accessible within a 90-minute drive,” he adds.

History and culture“With over four centuries of recorded history, Maputo is crammed with architecture, arts and culture, that differentiate it from any other African capital,” says Bruce. “Guided walking tours are perennially popular, as well as visits to the many markets and art and craft centres across the city.”

Karin agrees that the history of the city and nightlife are both major drawcards, as well as its food offering.

“Maputo has become a cosmopolitan city with sidewalk cafés and quaint little restaurants where one can sit, relax and watch the world go by. From Mpumalanga, you can easily visit Maputo for a day, take the two-hour drive, have prawns for lunch at the Polana Serena Hotel, a massage, play in the pool, have high tea and then drive back,” says Karin.

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SightseeingOne of the best ways to explore the city is on foot. There are several established operators that provide walking tours, with knowledgeable guides taking visitors to see the city’s interesting art deco architecture and historic sites.

The National Art Museum is worth a visit and showcases works by some of Mozambique’s most celebrated contemporary artists, including the sculptor, Alberto Chissano and the colourful paintings of Malangatana Ngwenya. The museum also includes a workshop where visitors can see artists at work.

The Iron House is one of the more unusual architectural attractions of the city, with an exterior built entirely out of metal by a student of Gustav Eiffel (of Eiffel tower fame) for the governor in the 19th century. Unfortunately, the metal used in the structure was entirely unsuitable for the

Maputo climate and made the residence too hot to inhabit.

The Jardim Tunduru Botanical Gardens were designed by Thomas Honney in the late 19th century. The shady trees make it a popular location for midday picnics – but the gardens also feature a restaurant and tennis courts. The gardens are also right next to a statue of the Mozambique’s first president, Samora Machel.

ShoppingStreet vendors are where the most exciting shopping happens in the city, and advise your clients that they should be willing to negotiate when it comes to getting a good deal. The Municipal Market is where they can find local crafts such as paintings and wooden masks and sculptures, as well as the traditional fabric, capulanas.

Guests staying at the Southern Sun Maputo can visit the Artedif arts and

crafts market, which is just about 400 metres from the hotel. This market is a co-operative for disabled people and while the goods may be slightly more expensive than those found at other street markets, they also tend to be of a higher quality.

EatingOf course, seafood is ubiquitous in Maputo and if your clients are after an authentic food experience, they should head to the fish market off Avenida Marginal, where they can buy freshly caught shellfish and seafood and have it cooked by one of the nearby restaurant stalls and served with a choice of side dishes.

The Portuguese influence on local dishes is prevalent, so there are also plenty of restaurants serving favourites like piri-piri chicken, prawns, pregos and pasteis de nata (custard tarts). Added to this, says Bruce, there are many new

Must-include activities

To page 14


MOZAMBIQUErestaurants and cafés popping up to compete with the old, established favourites. “Arabic, Indian and African styles use a wide variety of local crops, spices and seafood to blend an unforgettable culinary experience.”

NightlifeA great place to start an evening out is at the nearly 100-year-old Polana Serena Hotel. The Polana Bar is one of the city’s most popular spots for cocktails.

Coconuts Live is probably the biggest club in the city, with three big video screens

and a huge dance floor. The party only gets started around midnight though and is mostly frequented by a young crowd. For something a bit more laid back and relaxed, Gil Vincente Café Bar is a good choice and regularly features live performances by local musicians.

From page 13

Hotel development on the riseA NUMBER of recognisable hotel brands have eyed expansion into Mozambique, with some big openings scheduled to take place a bit later this year. However, some of these have been delayed, possibly due to a challenging economic environment in the country.

According to the HVS 2018 African Hotel Valuation Index, the country’s recovery has been slower than expected, with some of the country’s key industries, including oil and gas, only expected to recover in 2022/23. The report states that in 2017 “economic growth shrank and hotels’ occupancies dropped significantly”.

But there is hope on the horizon, as government has taken measures to boost the travel industry, such as easier visa regulations, the rehabilitation of natural reserves and improved services and infrastructure, states the report. “In addition, the opening of new supply in Maputo is likely to induce demand.

“Maputo has been defined as one of the top-five priority destinations for investment in Mozambique tourism. The capital has benefited from the boom in sub-Saharan tourism, as well as the open skies that attracted international airlines to fly direct to Maputo. 2018 shows positive trends,” concludes the report.

Upcoming Maputo hotelsOne of the most highly anticipated openings is likely to take place in November or December, when the new City Lodge Hotel Maputo opens its doors. Located along Para O Palmar Road, the hotel will be in easy reach of the airport, a short walk from the beach (Costa do Sol) and close to restaurants, a private hospital, shopping mall and the university.

It will feature 148 rooms (including one deluxe suite), all air-conditioned with bar fridges, selected DStv, tea-and-coffee facilities and electronic laptop safe.

Hotel facilities include four boardrooms comprising two 12-seaters that can be converted into one 24-seater, one 14-seater

and one 16-seater; WiFi throughout, fitness room, café serving breakfast, lunch and light evening meals, sundowner bar, 24-hour reception, same-day laundry service, swimming pool and free parking.

Another new development for the city is the Melia Maputo Hotel – the first for the company in Mozambique. Situated 10 minutes from the train station and 20 minutes from the airport, the hotel is within walking distance of some of the city’s main attractions.

It offers 171 rooms and suites along with facilities for meetings and events, including two event rooms and an auditorium for up to 150 people. Other facilities include a fine-dining restaurant and coffee bar.

Did you know?

Zipping through heavy downtown Maputo traffic in one of the city’s txopelas, or tuk-tuks, can be a thrilling experience. But for those after calmer transportation, this year, a new Uber-style app, ‘ZIP’ has enabled visitors to access luxury sedans anywhere in the city, safely and affordably, and is proving to be a popular alternative to self-drive. The new Maputo-Katembe Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Africa, will open by the end of October

2018. The new motorway serving this is anticipated to draw many more visitors from neighbouring KZN, who were previously deterred by poor road infrastructure and consequent long travel times.

Top tipsBruce Chapman of the Southern Sun Maputo provides his suggestions for agents looking to include more Maputo packages in their offering. Mozambique’s sub-tropical Indian Ocean location means it is always about 10 degrees warmer than Johannesburg. This makes it a very popular winter sun destination for South Africans keen to escape the cold Highveld or rainy Cape Town winters. South African and SADC passport holders can obtain a 30-day visa free at all borders. Other passport holders such as US and EU can purchase a double-entry, 30-day visa at border points of entry for the local equivalent of US$50, payable in Mozambican meticais, rands or US

dollars. There is a credit card facility at Maputo Mavelane International Airport, but the road border crossings tend to be cash only. Maputo has plenty of ATMs that deliver meticals at the prevailing exchange rate. This is usually a better option than changing cash with money dealers at the border or carrying large amounts of foreign currency. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in most restaurants and hotels across the city. Travellers arriving from yellow fever endemic areas may be required to produce

a yellow fever vaccination card (e.g. Livingstone; Lagos; Nairobi; and Addis Ababa). Maputo and southern Mozambique are malarial areas and visitors should talk to their medical practitioners for advice. Those self-driving from SA must have their car ownership papers or a letter of permission from the owner (or bank if the car is financed) to obtain the temporary importation permit (TIP), as well as compulsory insurance. The insurance costs about R300 for 30 days and the TIP is free.

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+27 11 592 9000 | [email protected] | www.africastay.com

MOZAMBIQUE

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TERMS AND CONDTIONSGuinjane & Laguna Camp prices are based on self-drive to Mozambique. Accommodation prices are per person for Seven (7) nights Self Catering. Prices are based on a mandatory 7 night stay 27 December 2018 – 4 January 2019. Vilanculos Beach Lodge & Casa Rex prices are based on fly in packages for 4 nights on B&B basis. Prices include accommodation, return flights & taxes and transfers Prices are subject to change and currency fluctuations without prior notice. Prices are correct as advertised at the time of issue and print. E&OE.

4* Casa RexPremium RoomBed & Breakfast

From R9 995 per person sharing10 Sep - 14 Dec ‘18

An artist’s impression of the City Lodge Hotel Maputo.


MOZAMBIQUE

Polana Serena is offering South Africans a special rate of R2 760 per room per night, bed and breakfast, including taxes. Valid from Friday to Sunday, with no minimum stay. It also includes a free sundowner cocktail per couple on the first night of stay at the Polana or Aquarius Bar.

Aviation sector gets a boostFOR a long time, Mozambique was notoriously tricky when it came to booking flights, but it seems as if the tide is starting to turn.

Bruce Chapman of the Southern Sun Maputo, says the capital city is currently served with five daily flights from Johannesburg and twice weekly from Durban, in addition to new, excellent road infrastructure serving the self-drive market. “We have also seen strong growth from EU and US markets, as we are now served by important long-haul carriers with direct flights from their international hubs: TAP from Lisbon, Qatar Airways from Doha, Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa and Kenya Airways from Nairobi. The new international airport has made arrival, immigration and customs slicker, and more comfortable, as well as increased on-time arrival and departure statistics.”

Several airlines have expressed interest, forged partnerships and signed deals to operate flights to various destinations in the

country. Earlier this year, Ethiopian Airlines’ regional manager for SA, Abel Alemu, confirmed plans to enter Mozambique’s domestic aviation market. The airline said it intended to operate a B737-800 and three Q-400 aircraft on future domestic routes within Mozambique following the securing of its Air Operator’s Certification from Mozambique’s Civil Aviation Authority.

Another airline that has started looking into potential opportunities in Mozambique is fastjet, which signed an MOU with LAM to explore long-term commercial co-operation. The memorandum covers codeshare and interline agreements between the two carriers, optimised network synergies, as well as co-operation on other commercial systems, such as engineering and maintenance.

Commenting during the signing of the agreement, fastjet ceo, Nico Bezuidenhout, said: “The approach to commercial co-operation is the first

of its kind on the African continent. There is significant opportunity in stimulating not only commercial aviation but also up and downstream economic growth through key co-operative initiatives. Fastjet is committed to exploring and leveraging the agreement to the best benefit of both companies and, ultimately, the people of Mozambique.”

In August, Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Carlos Mequita, announced that Maputo International Airport’s runway had received certification for large aircraft. This follows the roll-out of a series of airport improvements, including investment in the control tower, navigation aid systems, fuel supply and runway rehabilitation.

The Mozambican government has also launched tenders for the concession, construction and operation of commercial developments at Maputo, Beira and Nacala airports, ranging from shopping centres to hotels and apartments.

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Book it!


Mandela Centenary

This year, the travel trade celebrated what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday by giving back to their communities. Savannah Freemantle reports.

Continuing Madiba’s legacy

THROUGH its Club Cares initiative, and in partnership with

little Lambs (an NPO assisting crèches in the Du Noon Township near Cape Town) Club Travel hosted 130 children at a party in celebration of Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday. Celebrations started a bit earlier than the rest of the country, with Club Travel choosing to host the party on Friday, July 13.

The children, aged two to seven, were entertained at the Italian Club in Milnerton. Club Travel spokesperson, Tatum Vermaak, said: “The looks on their little faces when

entering the hall – made up with balloons, jumping castle and sweets galore – was priceless!”

The party included clowns, balloon shapers, a petting zoo and indoor train rides. Attending the event on the day were staff and volunteers from Little Lambs, along with Club Travel’s management team and staff.

“Madiba loved children and I can think of no better way to honour his legacy than making these little ones’ days by making them feel special,” said Luana Visagie, marketing manager Club Travel and Club Cares custodian.

Wally Gaynor, md of Club

Travel said: “When we say Club cares, we imply that we care about our people, our customers, our community and our country. We’d like to think that what we did here today is exactly what Madiba himself would have done – which is showing how much we care about making a difference in the lives of children that are less fortunate than most.”

The highlight of the day was cutting the cake and singing happy birthday to Tata Madiba. All the children left with a bag filled with goodies and a gift. All the games and activities that were enjoyed on the day were also donated to the crèches.

Ubuntu first THIS year, during ‘Mandela Month’, Old Mutual Insure teamed up with Habitat for Humanity South Africa to build 100 family homes for the less fortunate in Orange Farm. Old Mutual Insure staff built three of the 100 homes from July 16-20.

The staff also helped the families build a vegetable garden after the homes were completed.

Khanyi Khanyile, Old Mutual Insure’s head of responsible business, told TNW that while Old Mutual Insure built houses with Habitat for Humanity SA annually, the vegetable garden was a recent addition. “In the process of handing the newly built houses to the families who would benefit from them, we realised there was still more we could contribute towards the families’ sustainability. That’s why we decided to assist them in building subsistence vegetable gardens and upskill them so they could continue to harvest fresh produce for years to come.”

She said Mandela Day was one of many annual ‘days of service’ that Old Mutual Insure staff participated in. “Serving others is inherent in the company’s values. We recruit employees who feel the need to give back to their communities and then we set up initiatives to ensure they have the ability to do this. Our staff volunteer year round – assisting in the wake of

natural disasters such as the Knysna fires, or when communities are affected by floods.”

Khanyi said: “As a company that has been operating for more than 180 years, we understand that we cannot function in isolation from our communities. Both our employees and our customers are part of broader communities. In order to truly serve our clientele, and look after our employees, we need to ensure that we are supporting these communities at a fundamental level, over and above providing an insurance service.”

Old Mutual Insure was also the corporate travel insurance provider for the two Trek4Mandela groups that summitted Mount Kilimanjaro this year. Trek4Mandela is an annual expedition to summit Africa’s highest peak on Mandela Day. The expedition was established by social entrepreneur and humanitarian, Richard Mabaso, and was led by South African adventurer and motivational speaker, Sibusiso Vilane – the first black African to conquer the three Poles challenge: South Pole, North Pole and Mount Everest. Trek4Mandela brings hiking groups together to assist in raising funds and creating awareness for the Caring4Girls programme.

Teaming up

Harvey World Travel in George and Thompsons Holidays sales executive Derek Ledward teamed up on a food drive to give back on Mandela Day. From left: Karen Dehon, Jenetta Philander, Derek, Nadine Smal and Inga Nel.

Vision is vitalKLM visited the Polokegong Primary School in Vosloorus on Nelson Mandela Day, in partnership with Vision 4 Change, and tested the eyes of over 1 000 children. They identified the children in need of visual aids, before handing out spectacles made specifically for these learners.

This initiative was undertaken as part of the KLM Vision 4 Change ‘Vision is Vital’ project. Launched

in 2015, the project aims to ensure that children are not prevented from receiving a quality education due to vision impairment.

As part of the Vision is Vital project, learners who receive a pair of spectacles, are shown (along with their teachers) how best to clean and take care of them. KLM and Vision 4 Change staff also handed out pencil cases to the whole school.

A Polokegong Primary School student and Wouter Vermeulen, KLM gm Southern Africa.

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Ubuntu first


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MANDELA CENTENARY

Soup for the soul EIGHTEEN members of Thompsons Holidays Johannesburg team spent the day working for Africa Food for Thought (AFFT) soup kitchen in Slovoville, feeding 2 000 people. Thompsons

also donated bread and fruit to feed the community outreach project and handed out toiletries and clothing collected by the staff in the Johannesburg and Cape Town offices.

Hilary Viljoen (left) and Jena Timm, Thompsons Holidays Cape Town.

Walking with the eldersTHE Johannesburg Virgin Atlantic team joined the founder of Virgin Group, Richard Branson, and members of the travel trade, to walk with The Elders (an independent group of global leaders working together for peace and human rights) around Constitution Hill on Mandela Day (July 18). The airline also named its newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft ‘Lady Freedom’, in honour of global icon, Nelson Mandela.

Eugene Cronje, Virgin Atlantic, and Robyn Christie, owner of Just Saying. Photo: Savannah Freemantle

Clockwise, from left: Maphefo Radebe, Tourvest Travel Solutions (TTS), Zamakuhle Sikakakane, Virgin Atlantic, Agie Adams, Nancy Drummond and Portia Manana from TTS. Photo: Savannah Freemantle


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UKWhile the UK is considered expensive by most, creative packaging that includes unique elements such as royal culture and special events will ensure the destination remains a favourite for SA travellers. Sue van Winsen investigates.

Royal fever takes hold

THIS year’s wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

has only added to the revival of the popularity of the UK monarchy, with travellers eager to get a small taste of the royal life of the upper crust of British society.

Tour operators have recognised this trend and found ways of incorporating royal elements into their packages. For example, Travel Vision’s London City Break package includes a Leisure Pass with access to more than 55 tourist attractions. “Some of these include Kensington Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, Jewel Tower, Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, the

Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews, to name a few,” says Annemarie Lexow, sales and marketing manager for Travel Vision.

Globus has also devised itineraries that allow travellers to get the royal treatment with a range of optional excursions. Commenting on the popularity of these experiences, Janine Pienaar, sales and marketing manager for the Globus Family of Brands, says:

“South Africans love to include a visit to Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace in their itinerary. To be able to see how the royal family live is such a treat as we in SA are not used to having a monarchy.”

Some of the excursions on offer from Globus include a visit to the Tower of London, which has been guarded by the Beefeaters since the 14th century and houses the Crown Jewels. On

visits to Windsor Castle, travellers can see the State Apartments and St George’s Chapel.

Another operator to embrace this trend is Trafalgar, which offers a number of experiences with a royal twist. For example, several packages include an English tea at Kensington Palace. During this activity, guests will get a glimpse into the life of the royal family on a tour of the palace that was once home to Diana, Princess of Wales, followed by a cream tea served in The Orangery. Another experience included in various Trafalgar UK itineraries is a visit to Windsor Castle, one of the Queen’s homes and a

working royal residence with a history dating back to the 11th Century. In north Wales, guests can even stay overnight in the 13th Century Ruthin Castle.

Bronwyn Strydom, marketing manager of Trafalgar SA, says: “Guests love our culture and stays with stories and experiences. They are welcomed with VIP sightseeing and these experiences really add memorable moments to their holiday.” An added bonus, is that, often on Trafalgar’s tours, guests sightsee as VIPs and therefore do not have to stand in queues. Often experiences are only offered exclusively to Trafalgar guests.

Don’t wait for confirmation, book the packageJason simpson

WHAT do agents need to know when booking packages for sports and other events in the UK? We spoke to Helen Brady, marketing, United Europe,

for some perspective.Helen says when it

comes to sporting events, the English Premier League is the biggest seller, which they package with accommodation or sell as stand-alone tickets.

She says it’s important to remember that these packages are 100% non-refundable, so payment is required to secure a booking.

“Another thing to keep in mind is that match

dates are only confirmed eight weeks before, and there is the possibility that match dates can change,” she says. “If a match changes from a Saturday to a Sunday or vice versa, refunds are not possible.

Matches usually move a day or two apart but there are exceptions that occur in the second half of the season.” Helen explains that when the knock-out tournaments

Annemarie Lexow

To page 20


take precedence over the league games, matches can be moved by a few weeks. “If travellers cannot stay over the new dates then a refund is possible with an amendment fee charge of approximately £50 (R1 000) per person.”

Even so, Helen says that because the tickets sell fast, and prices can fluctuate, United Europe does not encourage people to wait until the match

dates have been confirmed. “Rather book the package and book an airline ticket with fewer restrictions.”

But, as Helen points out, there is more to the UK than soccer. “West End Theatre is part of the UK experience. We book West End theatre shows and musicals and have access to online live availability.” She recommends that tickets be booked before travel, so that wholesale rates

can be taken advantage of, and to give travellers the assurance of having a legitimate booking/ticket. She adds, “Tickets are collected at the box office and clients must produce an ID. Full payment is required as these are also non-refundable. We also get access to concert tickets for Wembley Stadium. This year we had Taylor Swift tickets but I am not sure at this stage what is coming for 2019.”

UK

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TNW8022

Contact Travel Vision for your next break-away: [email protected] | (011) 408-8000

Self-drive: Scottish Castle Stay – 7NFrom R14 575pps1 April – 31 October 2019Incl. 5 x Nights accommodation, Daily breakfast, 7 x Day Explorer Pass, City Tour

Rail: Glasgow & London – 7NFrom R17 960pps1 January – 28 February 2019Incl. 4*Hotel, Std class train tickets, City Tours

London City Break – 3NFrom R8 085pps1 January – 31 March 2019Incl. 4*Hotel, 3 x Day Leisure Pass, London Eye

5%

discount

Beat the exchange rate woesWITH the rand flirting with R20 to the British pound, there is opportunity for agents to prove their worth and use their expertise to identify opportunities for savings.

Even those with itineraries that feature central London can make simple changes that can save clients money and help stretch travel budgets a bit further. Accommodation selection has a huge role to play here, says Annemarie Lexow of Travel Vision. “Central London is more expensive, so rather opt for three-star hotels, or alternatively, look for accommodation just outside the city bowl.

“It is definitely more affordable, and guests can make use of London’s excellent network of public transport, including the

buses and Underground. We offer the London Leisure Pass, which also includes the Underground and clients will save a lot by using the discounted rates these passes provide to many tourist attractions, from museums, soccer stadiums, theatre tickets and canal cruises,” she adds.

Annemarie also says that if your travellers’ accommodation is in central London, then it’s better to advise them to use rail services over taxis or private

transfers. Another way

to ensure clients get more bang for their buck, is to book them on a package, rather than attempting DIY packaging. Bronwyn Strydom of Trafalgar SA, says when booking with Trafalgar, the rand rate is

guaranteed because all the necessary arrangements have already been taken care of. “All the expenses that are often hidden or forgotten about when clients travel, such as transport, are already included in our trips.”

From page 19

Bronwyn Strydom

Travel Vision is offering a 15-day rail tour package through Britain, starting in London and including Salisbury, Bath, Cardiff, Chester, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. It is offering an early-bird special on this tour for all bookings made before January 31, 2019.

Book it!

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rwandair.com

Now connecting you to Gatwick 3x weekly via Kigali

011 289 8050 | 8080 [email protected]

Virgin to revise loyalty programmeVIRGIN has announced plans to launch a group-wide loyalty programme. The new programme will offer members the chance to earn and spend miles, the currency of Virgin Atlantic’s frequent flyer programme, Flying Club, across a range of products and services.

A new company, Virgin Group Loyalty Company (VGLC) will be established to head up the initiative, scheduled to launch in 2019 and to be owned by Virgin Group and Delta Air Lines. Flying Club will continue to be owned and managed by Virgin Atlantic as its frequent flyer

programme, and will continue to use miles as its currency.

Flying Club members will continue to earn tier points and spend miles across Virgin Atlantic, Delta and a range of other partners, but this will be expanded to new ways to earn and spend miles in the future.

Concert at Wembley Stadium.

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UK

New flights, promo fares from RwandAirRWANDAIR is increasing flights between Kigali and London Gatwick, stopping in Brussels, for the December-January period.

The airline will operate four weekly flights on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, adding a flight on Friday beginning December 14 and operating until January 17, 2019. The route will be operated by an Airbus A330.

The new Friday service, flight WB700, departs Kigali at 08h00 and arrives

in Brussels at 15h50. It departs at 17h10 to arrive in Gatwick at 17h25. Flight WB701 departs Gatwick at 19h00 and arrives in Brussels at 20h40.

It departs at 21h40 to arrive in Kigali the following day at 07h00.

The airline is offering a promotional business-class fare to Gatwick of R19 960, valid until December 31, with unlimited stopovers permitted at US$100 each. The fare excludes taxes of about R7 135.

Book it!

Globus’s 12-day tour, Britain Uncovered, includes overnight stops in London, Exeter, Cardiff, Warwick, Liverpool, Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh. Excursions include lunch at a local pub in Ilminster, a visit to Shakespeare’s schoolroom in Stratford-upon-Avon and a ride in the Lakeside and Haverthwaite steam train with views of the Levens Valley. Selected departures also include the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. For bookings before December 31, a 10% discount will apply, plus a 5% second tour discount and US$150 ‘Welcome Back’ credit.

Did you know?

United Europe also offer packages for the British Grand Prix, Wimbledon, rugby internationals in Wales and Scotland, and the British Open, which can be booked with a 25% non-refundable deposit, or with full payment 90 days prior to travel (also non-refundable). All rates for 2019 are available, except the British Open.

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A SECOND DAILY FLIGHT TO LONDON STARTS 28 OCTOBERFIND OUT MORE AT VSFLYINGHUB.COM OR VIRGINATLANTIC.COM

BA upgrades Club Europe cateringBRITISH Airways is making a multimillion-pound investment in its short-haul, business-class cabin, Club Europe.

From this month, the airline will introduce new menus with improved recipes and dishes developed around key British ingredients. Launch options will include shaved Herefordshire roast beef on a tartare cream with rocket, British pork sausage and mash and a celebration of British cheeses.

On flights to destinations such as Faro, customers will now have the choice of two hot options and one cold. Menus on flights to and from Heathrow will also be changed twice a month, rather than monthly.

The airline will refine the beverages on offer, with new wines served in quarter bottles and coffee provided by British

speciality roaster, Union Hand-Roasted coffee. Short-haul economy customers will also see the new M&S On Board menu launch, with new items such as the chicken and bacon sandwich.

The spend is part of the airline’s current £4,5bn (R88,2bn), five-year customer investment plan, which also includes new bedding and

amenity kits in the Club World cabin (which has already been introduced on SA routes), the opening of a First Wing check-in area in Heathrow with direct security and lounge access, the revamping of lounges (including in Johannesburg), the installation of WiFi throughout its fleet and the upgrading of cabins on all long-haul aircraft.

New dishes are served on short-haul business-class flights.

JOBSCOMMUNITYNEWSBirths, deaths, marriages, promotions – we want to know! Please fax or e-mail TNW’s Savannah Freemantle, at [email protected] or (011) 214 7324.


Appointments

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REWARDIf you can give us the name of any bona fide travel agency (at least two consultants at the same premises) that is not receiving TNW

at its address

R300 is yours

Send the contact details to [email protected]

T&Cs apply

TNW8001

Has your agency reached a milestone?

Celebrate by sending us the details and images. Your news could be featured in TNW.

Photos must be high res (1MB or more).Email [email protected]

Beachcomber recently hosted an educational to Mauritius where agents had the opportunity to experience Beachcomber properties and participate in a number of the activities offered to guests. From left: Travel consultants, Zita Strydom, Travel Pantry; Jacqueline Joshua, Jacqui J Events; Tanya Castelyn, Travel Connections; and Madelein Rall, Pentravel Cresta.

Mauritius in spring

Ursula hits the double digits

Ursula Jacobs recently celebrated her 10th anniversary working at Travel Counsellors SA head office in Cape Town in the accounts department. From left: Travel Counsellors SA gm, Mladen Lukic, Ursula, and Ian Keane, operations and corporate travel manager, Travel Counsellors SA.

Mark Meehan is backTRAVELPORT has appointed Mark Meehan as md of its newly formed Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APACMEA) region.

Mark has spent over 19 years with the company. Most recently he was md of Travelport’s Asia Pacific operations and, prior to this, he was md of Travelport Africa, a role that saw him

grow the company’s share across the continent and establish owned operations in both South Africa and Kenya.

While he will continue to be based in Singapore, he will also regularly work from Travelport’s office in Dubai, UAE, which acts as the company’s sub-regional headquarters for the Middle East and Africa. Mark Meehan

BON Hotels has appointed Siyanda Zindela as general manager of Shishangeni by BON Hotels in the Kruger National Park. Siyanda will oversee

the entire management of the four-star property, including all three camps – Shishangeni Private Lodge, Camp Shonga and Camp Shawu.

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E mail: [email protected] | [email protected]: www.pcs-sa.co.za

With a combined experience of 24 years in recruitment and an extensive database of experienced candidates, our highly trained consultants can assist you in finding staff for any vacancy you have. We have a solid understanding of the travel industry and strive to source prime candidates for your company.

Why you should use PCS :We provide prompt and professional service with integrity and care. Our aim is to make recruitment of staff easier for you. Please don’t hesitate to contact either Jean or Nono to assist with all your staffing requirements.

We conduct :■ Personal interviews■ Thorough Reference checks■ Criminal, Credit and Qualification checks

011 789 3337

APSO MEMBER

Pick of the week

These adverts were selected from the vacancy section of www.travelinfo.co.za For more details contact [email protected]

brought to you by

TNW

8023

Travel Consultant – FourwaysProfessional Career ServicesJapanese speaking. Make quotations, arrange tours, itineraries of tours using TourPlan. Invoicing and do follow up on payments. Issue tickets on Amadeus. Email: [email protected]

Inbound FIT Team Manager – JNB, NorthProfessional Career ServicesOversee and mentor a team of consultants. Groups and FIT’s. Good product knowledge of Southern Africa. Italian speaking. Email: [email protected]

Travel Consultant – CPT, N/SuburbsFlight Centre Travel GroupSell travel experiences. From adventures to Thailand to city breaks in London. Provide outstanding customer service. Apply now: www.flightcentrecareers.co.za

Senior Agent – CPTLee Botti & AssociatesIndependent travel company seeks ticketing agents with 3-5 years’ experience with Amadeus & Galileo. Email: [email protected]

Senior Tour Consultant – CPTLee Botti & AssociatesUse your Southern Africa product knowledge to WOW our client! FIT knowledge & good group tour experienceadvantageous! Email: [email protected] Travel Consultant – CPT, TygervalleyFlightsiteFlightsite has positioned itself with long-term strategic partners in the banking and retail sectors. Attract, retain and manage relationships with Investec clients and bankers. Deliver exceptional service. Email: [email protected]

To advertise on this page email [email protected]


brought to you by eTNW and TRAVELINFO

eTravel is the ITC market leader in South Africa and assists senior Travel Consultants and Travel business owners to realise their dreams. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own travel business or would like to cut costs by doing away with your IATA license and improve your current business efficiencies then you should call eTravel. We run the back office for over 200 Independent Travel Companies and specialise in making your travel business a success by offering the best commissions, overrides & a comprehensive support structure. If you have a client base, 5 years travel consultant experience or already own your own business but want to make more, then contact us! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is!

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TNW NEWS

Mediterranean

Asia

North America

Southern Europe

Northern Europe

British Isles

South America

78%

7%

6%

4%

2%

2%

1%

Which cruise routes are most popular?

The Med is best!

Agents unite against airline payment policies

holistic view must be taken to acknowledge the broader value that cards brought to the travel value chain, such as risk reduction, new sales opportunities, lower agency costs and speed of settlement.

The association said Iata’s NewGen ISS and Transparency in Payment initiatives were intended to introduce new payment technologies and reduce risk. Instead, blanket card payment blocking policies were resulting in lost distribution volume, as preferred payment methods were not permitted. Also, because existing legacy ticketing systems had not kept pace with fraud detection, agencies and airlines were losing funds to fraud.

The association added that virtual cards allowed the agent to act as merchant for the customer’s transaction. This enables agents to invest in fraud prevention technologies to protect both airline and agent while offering

travellers their preferred payment method. Moreover, it said many virtual cards offered guarantee schemes that ensured 100% of funds were received within a matter of days and offered protection that could be drawn on should an airline file for bankruptcy.

Morné du Preez, ceo of Tourvest Travel Services, advised that regulations against virtual cards were moving the industry backwards. He said as agent card payments to airlines were immediate they were actually less risky than paying Iata on credit through BSP. He added that the best solution was not to limit payment options but rather to introduce risk profiles for different agencies instead of applying one blanket payment policy approach.

Jonathan Gerber from TAG agreed and said, in his opinion, merchant fees were worth the cost as they made the risk the bank’s problem rather than the agent or airline’s problem.

Vanya Lessing, ceo of Sure Travel, added that clients

wanted a choice of secure and efficient payment options. She said as agents were still the airlines’ most effective distributors, airlines should not frustrate this distribution channel by limiting payment options so that agents could best serve their customers.

“South Africa has a state-of-the-art banking system with strict credit controls and there is no difference between the risk associated with a customer and an agency card. Virtual cards offer credible payment solutions and are already a reality of the modern world,” said Vanya.

However Tammy Hunt, md of eTravel, feels that the use of agency cards should be limited. She believes that most ITCs who commit fraud do not have a full understanding of cash-flow management and irresponsibly roll cash due to access to client funds. eTravel insists that all client funds are paid directly into its account to reduce the chance of ITC fraud occurring.

From page 1

Latam is offering agents an extra 10% commission for all long-haul business-class tickets issued in September. Tickets must contain either a return or a one-way sector to qualify. All qualifying tickets will be automatically identified and the 10% incentive will be allocated to the agent via BSP. It is only available for tickets issued in SA and plated on Latam Airlines paper. Refer to GDS for fare rules. Pictured: Kathy Basson, key account manager for MICE and Leisure, Latam Airlines. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

Letter to the Editor

Why airlines like the NDC

NDC has been a hot topic in the trade, especially as airlines began to

impose GDS surcharges to cover the expenses of GDS distribution compared with NDC alternatives.

Agents haven’t been happy about these surcharges.

The thing is, selling through the GDS systems is very expensive for airlines – like very expensive.

Selling a segment through the GDS is upwards of 40 times the cost of alternatives. These fees may sink away into the costs of expensive international flights, but on domestic low-cost flights they can really

rack up. As a result, airlines are recovering these costs through surcharges.

Agents, who are facing surcharges on the GDS, have expressed concern that they are being pushed off their familiar environment and into new booking environments, with some saying these don’t keep in mind the complex functions that TMCs perform (See TNW, June 20).

Actually, airlines are very conscious of the complex functions that the trade perform, but it’s not really up to airlines to provide the wider platforms to perform these functions. What the airlines seek to do is

ensure that their inventory is available through the required channels, but where it’s more expensive to sell it, we’re going to mark it up.

The NDC presents airlines and agents with an opportunity to offer content to their clients with clarity, ease and transparency as well as at a better cost.

This is the first of a three-part series. In my next pieces, I am going to debunk some of the misconceptions about the NDC and look at the opportunities that the NDC presents.

Kirby Gordon, head of sales and distribution, FlySafair.

Don’t miss out

Travel said: “A package I would normally book through a tour operator I now have to curate myself by booking accommodation, transfers and flights separately in order to save money for my clients. Having to search multiple booking engines results in triple the amount of work.”

Fluctuating randWhat do your forward bookings look like compared to a year ago?

Bookings are up

Bookings are down

Bookings are the same

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Source: eTNW survey

8%

64%

28%

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