travel bulletin 10th february 2012

Book your clients a homeaway from home at thisyear-round destination

Malta

February 10 2012 | ISSUE NO 1,765 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

agent reviewfind out what one agent thoughtof her Las Vegas wedding

puzzle bulletincan you solve this week’sTravagrams?

escorted tripshow this market is buckingthe trend to become a raresuccess story

brainstorm bulletinNEW for 2012! Agents worktogether by pooling ideas andsharing problems & solutions

17

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this week

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A HEARTFELT OFFER...To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Funway Holidays is offering agents two different ‘love’ themedincentives this month. For every package holiday booking made, agents will receive a fun treat in the form of aheart-shaped cookie, and at the end of each week, agents that make three bookings (at least one online) willreceive a ‘Smartbox’ experience including a choice of a three-course meal for two or a Zen & Spa experience. Toenter visit www.funway4agents.co.uk and print a log sheet or call 0844-557 0649. The sheet can then be faxed to0844-557 0349 or scanned and emailed to [email protected] Pictured marking the new incentive is the operator'steam - from the left: (back row) Kathryn Fairbairn, Holli Bennett, Casey Hurford, Stephen Rhodes, Rob Thornton andKatharine Sullivan with (at the front) Cheryll Bisram and Nandita Patel.

This Week

3 newsa look at the latest reports,industry updates & offers

8 agent reviewfind out what one agentthought of her Las Vegaswedding

9 agent bulletinwin tickets to see Coldplayin concert with DFDSSeaways' booking incentive

11 puzzle bulletincan you solve this week'sTravagrams?

12 brainstorm bulletinNEW for 2012! Agentswork together by poolingideas and sharing problems& solutions

13 hotel bulletina round-up of the latestproperty launches & offers

14 W-AITO-Go!the latest news & viewsfrom AITO Agents

17 escorted tripshow this market is buckingthe trend to become a raresuccess story

23 maltabook your clients a homeaway from home at thisyear-round destination

26 accommodation-onlyMallorca Farmhouses offersdiscounted Easter holidays

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newsbulletin

Post-Concordia figures show cruisemarket is still buoyant say cruise.co.ukCRUISE BOOKINGS appear to be weathering the storm in theaftermath of the capsizing of the Costa Concordia according towww.cruise.co.uk

In the two weeks prior to the incident, visitors to the Websitewere up on the previous year with 100,000 unique visitors,making 157,000 searches for cruise-based information, and inthe seven days following the incident there was roughly thesame number of hits, with searches for cruise ship videos upby 150%, with more than 45,000 videos viewed.

Up to January 13, the big UK and American brands such asP&O accounted for 25% of the clicks to the site followed byRoyal Caribbean with 21% and Cunard third with 9% - thethree have more than 55% of the enquiry market.

Following the Concordia incident, site hits showed a slightchange with 25% of searches on P&O and 20% on Cunard. Andas an indicator to the strength of the market, over the lastthree weeks, 70% browsers were looking for cruises in the firstseven months of the year with both March and July showingthe biggest percentage number of hits – possibly showing themarket is being led by late bookers and those who need to goduring the kids’ summer holidays.

The company's managing director, Seamus Conlon, said:“Like everyone in the industry we’re truly shocked andsaddened by the Costa Concordia accident last week butalready our figures show that the accident is having little or noeffect on bookings for the key brands.

“Early January showed that P&O, Cunard and RoyalCaribbean are still top with British browsers but we’ve alsonoticed that the interest in the luxury brands such asSeabourn, Holland America and Oceania has risen 100% overthis time last year.

“River Cruising is up 50%, showing strong growth with moreinterest in both the specialist operators and the less wellknown destinations such as the Far East and Russia."

Cheapflightssuggests unusualplaces to proposeCHEAPFLIGHTS.CO.UK’SIN-HOUSE romance expertshave searched and selectedthe world's best places topropose to mark Valentine’sDay.

The operator’s listhighlights unusual locationsin the usual places, with thetop five consisting of: ● London - but not the

London Eye: A privatecapsule on the LondonEye with truffles andchampagne is one wayto do it, but analternative suggestion isMonument, the 17th-century flame-toppedtower that stands in theheart of the City ofLondon. Climb the 311stone-cut steps to thetop and see London laidout in all its glory. Thecandle-like constructionwith its fiery orbsuggests love's eternalflame and a newbeginning.

● Continues on next page

29 Sloveniathe destination iscelebrating its EuropeanCapital of Culture year

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● Paris - but not the Eiffel Tower: Jardin du Luxembourg wasmuch loved by writers such as Baudelaire, Victor Hugo,Balzac, Hemingway and Sartre and a favourite spot for aproposal is a shady one by the Medici Fountain.Commissioned by a king's widow in the 17th century, thefocal point is the statue of Acis and Galatea, young loversembracing, watched over by the powerful Polyphemus.Flights to Paris start from £102 return.

● Verona - it's not Venice: "In fair Verona, where we lay ourscene," is Juliet's House. Verona's romantic credentials arewell established but if you're thinking about proposing toyour beloved here, forget about the Via Cappello and take astroll through the Giardino Giusti instead. From the belvedereof the Renaissance garden are tower-strewn and timelessviews of Verona. Flights to Verona cost from £102 return.

● New Orleans - not New York: Pop the question on a romantic

old mahogany-lined streetcar or under the ancient moss-clothed oak trees in Audobon Park. Flights to New Orleansstart from £436 return.

● India - but not the Taj Mahal: There are few more enduringtestaments to true love than the Taj Mahal, but Ram Bagh,the oldest Mughal garden laid out in a way that suggestsparadise, is a less clichéd location. The pathways andwaterways are fed by the Yamuna River while the shadypavilions offer an unparalleled setting for that all-importantquestion. Flights to India are from £358 return.

The company’s travel expert, Nadine Hallak, said: "Awedding proposal is the height of romance, makingValentine's Day a natural time to pop the question. Ouradvice is to skip the flowers and chocolates and takeromance on the road for the moment that neither of you willever forget." For the full Top 10 Best Places to Propose, visithttp://news.cheapflights.co.uk/top-ten-places-to-propose/

BLACKPOOL AIRPORT is gearing up to launch a newseasonal service to and from Albert Picardie Airport innorthern France from April.

The service will bring tourists into Lancashire as it gearsup for an exciting year of iconic celebrations, such as thePreston Guild and sporting events including The OpenChampionship at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Golf Club.

Albert is twinned with Ulverston in Cumbria and teamsrepresenting the two towns meet to play football at Easterwith the Cyril Barker Shield being contested every year.

Flights will be available on selected dates from April toAugust and will also take passengers from Lancashire andThe Lake District to Albert in the heart of the Sommeregion.

Flights will be operated by Danish Air Transport (DAT) onan ATR 72-200 aircraft which holds up to 66 passengers.Prices start from £95 and bookings can be made by visitingDAT’s Website at https://dat-charter.worldticket.net or bycalling Blackpool Airport on 01253-472507.

First flights to France take off fromBlackpool Airport

www.travelbulletin.co.ukFebruary 10 20124

newsbulletin

One Man and His Campervan: Northumberlandon BBC iPlayer - available until 29th FebruaryMartin Dorey, campervan lover and passionate foodie,journeys around Britain in his 1970s classic campervan onthe ultimate escapist adventure. In this episode Martin'scampervan adventure continues in Northumberland. It's anearly start on Holy Island and he has to beat the tide to joinlocal fishermen Sean and Richard on a quest to pick upfresh lobster for a campervan feast.

Ones to WatchA pick of the top travel programmes

you don't want to miss...

Mailings with Travel Bulletin this week include:

● Canvas Holidays - Specialists in Camping,Mobile Home and Lodge Holidays across 8European Countries. Visit www.canvasholidays.co.uk for informationor to book call 0845 268 0858

● Amathus Hotels latest newsletter with all thehotel developments, full of all the details on thehotels and their upgrades for 2012.

For further details on the special agent offersand what the hotels have to offer visitwww.amathus-hotels.com

Mailbox

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

● continued from previous page

SUPER SALES...the Superbreak sales team have been calling onAffinion agents to promote its new Eurostar packages. Picturedfrom the left are: Scott James, Superbreak; with Lorena Gray, Donna Starsmore and Kylie Bowyer from Affinion.

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Newsbites● AIR FRANCE is continuing to innovate its

Business Class services and product as partof its efforts to provide a more refinedservice. Examples include the enhancementof its menu, two thirds of the fleet equippedwith the new Business Class seat by the endof this year and a more personalised serviceon board.

● CRUISE & Maritime has revamped itsWebsite which now has the facility to trackMarco Polo and Ocean Countess live at seaand view films at www.cruiseandmaritime.tvUsers can view the description, route,itinerary and fares all on one page. For details see www.cruiseandmaritime.com

● GREEN HOLIDAYS WebsiteGreentraveller.co.uk and the West Sweden

Tourist Board have published a Guide toGreen Holidays in Gothenburg & WestSweden to show how travellers can makethe most of the region in a way that has alow impact on the environment and apositive impact on biodiversity conservationand on the local economy.

● TRAVELPORT AND TAP Portugal (TAP) haveannounced a continuation of their globalcontent agreement. The new multi-year dealcontinues the long-standing relationshipbetween the companies and secures fullaccess to all TAP fares and classes forTravelport-connected travel agenciesworldwide.

● VOYAGES TO Antiquity has become a cruisepartner of Advantage Travel Centres.

newsbulletin

TRAVEL BULLETIN is inviting travel agents to join us for aninformative and fun networking evening on Tuesday March 6.

The Southern & East Africa Showcase evening takes place atShaka Zulu restaurant inLondon’s Camden Town from17:30-21:30.

Agents will have theopportunity to learn moreabout the destinationthrough combinednetworking andpresentations and willalso have the chanceto win a rangeof prizes –

from a luxury rail trip and fam trip places to flights, theatretickets and more! A delicious buffet featuring authenticSouthern African food plus evening entertainment is also on

offer! To confirm your place at this

exciting event, email the namesand job titles of up to three staffmembers to

[email protected] orcall 020-7834 6661 for more

information.

Join us for a Southern & East Africa Showcase treat!

Tucan Travel offers clients 15% savings TUCAN TRAVEL haslaunched a February saleand is offering clients15% off their nextadventure, departinganytime this year whenbooked by February 29.

The discount applies toall group tours, exceptJust Go Tours on alldeparture dates listed atwww.tucantravel.comFor more information about the range of toursavailable visitwww.tucantravel.com/travel-styles

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EXPLORE HAS launched a new holiday brandcalled edge, which caters for the 18-30adventure travel market. A total of 75 small-group trips are featured, offering flexibleitineraries in more than 40 countries,available for sale through the trade.

Tour durations range from four to 82 daysand customers can choose whether toexplore a specific place, region or wholecontinent. The trips are run by a groupleader and free time is also built into theitineraries for independent exploration.

As examples, for guests who can onlyspare a long weekend but are looking for anadventure, a four-day Iceland Weekendoffers the opportunity to experienceIceland’s glaciers on snowmobiles, ride giantsuperjeeps into the wild or horse-rideacross lava landscapes. With time factoredin for sightseeing and a visit to the BlueLagoon, the tour also provides the chance to

spot the Northern Lights during the wintermonths.

Year-round departures are available andprices lead in at £279 per person, whichincludes breakfast accommodation, transportand the services of a group leader.

A 15-day Cuba Adventure incorporatesmusic, mojitos and revolution, taking inhighlights such as Trinidad, Vinales,Camaguey, Santiago de Cuba and Havana.The trip also includes some down-time on thebeaches of the island of Cayo Levisa, as wellas a trek in the Escambray Mountains. Withdepartures from June to December, priceslead in at £799 per person including breakfastaccommodation, six other meals, transport, agroup leader and local guides. Flights areexcluded but can be arranged if required. For more information visitwww.edgeadventures.com or call 0844-225 3135.

ABERCROMBIE & Kent has introduced new cities to its line-up of top destinations, where travellers can make the mostof in-transit hours by seeing the sights rather than theairport.

City tours can now be booked in Madrid, Dubai,Johannesburg, Singapore, Bangkok and Delhi, the company’stop in-transit destinations and are part of the operator'sAirport Concierge service.

Tailor-made tours include a private guide to take travellerson a sightseeing excursion of the city or offer an interestingexperience tailored to personal interests and time available.City sightseeing tours can be arranged alongside the

traditional 'Meet and Greet' portion of the Airport Conciergeservice which includes being met directly from the plane andguided through security, customs and immigration.

Airport Concierge VIP packages start from £183 for up tofour passengers and are available for single independenttravellers or for groups in more than 350 airports indestinations including Hong Kong, Beijing, Delhi, Bangkok,London, Istanbul, Nairobi, Cape Town, Dubai, Cairo, Vienna,Miami, JFK and Paris. For more information call 0845-618 2220, [email protected] or visitwww.akairportconcierge.com

Pegasus unveilsnew WebsitePEGASUS AIRLINES hasredesigned the home pageof its Website to deliver asmarter look with newuser-friendly features.

The site aims to make iteven easier for users tobook tickets and otherservices online and featuresa more spacious ticketsales section; a check-intab; a Book Hotel tab;easier access to flightservices including excessbaggage, seat selection andinflight meals; campaignsand routes on offer forpassengers seeking valuedeals; on-time performancedisplay; and a news section. For more information seewww.flypgs.com

A&K introduces new city tours for in-transit destinations

Explore launches new holiday brand for the 18-30s adventure travel market


newsbulletinMAKEOVER MAGIC...An exclusive pamper evening at BenefitCosmetics Boutique in Covent Garden, London took place recentlyin aid of Funway Holidays' ‘Makeover Campaign’. A total of 20agents were invited to a night of pampering including makeovers,canapés and bubbly, and agents were also treated to a £20 BenefitCosmetics gift card, to spend on any product of theirchoice. Pictured receiving a makeover is DaisyMaguire from Thomas Cook.

Tweets of

the WeekWho’s saying what

on Twitter...

FredOlsenCruiseLines Cruise with F.OCL fromDover, Southampton,Newcastle, Portsmouth,Rosyth and nowHarwich and Belfast for2013! bit.ly/AiE5l5

DERTOUR UK Want to go to Germanybut don't speakGerman? To ask for abeer in a pub, use yourthumb to indicate 'one',rather than your indexfinger.

Cunard Line A great blog fromguests on QueenElizabeth's WorldVoyage: karenandrecruise2012.wordpress.com

Sunvil Geocaching - what is itand is it a good way toexplore the Azores?Find out herefb.me/BrndHlsR

lastminute.com Worked out Valentine'sDay treat yet? We've gotthe ultimate location,with champagne andchocolates, and a #top#deal bit.ly/zxgw81

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

TravelBulletin

S02 TB1002 News 1_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:03

WINANY

PRIZESof theseFANTASTIC

1x3x4x10x

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How to WIN Simply make a booking for at least £200 in Expedia Special Rate Hotels,

Car Hire or Activities and receive an entry into the GREAT Expedia Prize Draw. There’s no limit to how many entries

you can have, so the more eligible bookings you make the greater your chances of winning these fantastic prizes.

Once you’ve made your booking in the usual way (by first logging into Expedia Access and then booking via the

main Expedia.co.uk website), at the start of each week you’ll receive an email with an entry ticket for each eligible

booking. The Draw will be made at the stat of March. Good Luck to Everyone!

For full terms and conditions please visit www.expedia.co.uk/information/TAAP_2012_Draw.aspx

For any further information please contact the Expedia TAAP Team on:

travel vouchers

travel vouchers

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S02 TB1002 News 1_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:03

Superbreak & DFDS Seaways team upDFDS SEAWAYS and Superbreak have announced a newpartnership this year. As part of the commercial joint venture,the ferry operator will provide crossings from Newcastle toAmsterdam for a range of Superbreak’s hotel breaks toAmsterdam.

The line offers daily return sailings from Newcastle toAmsterdam giving the operator's customers a greater choiceand flexibility in terms of their travel to the Dutch capital.

When booking Amsterdam hotel breaks including a DFDSSeaways’ ferry crossing, agents will also be able to choosefrom the operator's hotel range.

Ferries to Amsterdam depart daily from Newcastle, withthree-night hotel breaks booked via the operator starting from£89 per person, including ferry crossings, coach transfers anda one-night hotel stay. For more information call 0871-221 4444.

PTA flights back for travel agents PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL Advisors has launched a new globalcampaign to win back business that has been lost to theinternet for travel agents and, at the same time, help agentsacquire new clients.

The campaign, available online, gives agents the opportunityto share their experiences and expertise with the generalpublic, along with details of their company and personal profiles.

The site encourages the public to contact the travel agent inorder to have the comments that have been made clarified orexpanded upon, providing agents with the opportunity tosecure new business. For details visit www.professionaltraveladvisors.com

agentreviewGina Keane from Thomas Cook in Ruislip booked a Classic

Wedding Package in Las Vegas with Attraction World for fivenights. Here’s what she thought of her wedding…

Gina 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

Best Chapel (Special Memories) in Vegas. Very warmwelcome and we were seen to straight away. We knew we'dchosen the perfect place.

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

The surroundings were very comfortable and we felt athome.

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

The quality was excellent. There were two chapels tochoose from and we chose the largest one as we had 14guests with us. Everything ran as smooth as clockwork andit was the best wedding chapel in Vegas without a doubt.

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

The total wedding package was originally £250 but we didupgrade it (£300). It was the best money I've ever spent -more than worth it.

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

Service was brilliant – very efficient and all staff werewarm, welcoming, friendly and they couldn't do enough forus. I had a choice of three colours for the bouquet but Iwanted a different colour and they were happy to oblige -at no extra cost.

Good to know ............................................Anyone thinking of marrying overseas...go Vegas...goSpecial Memories Chapel, best ever. Joe the limo driverwas very good, as were all the staff.

Overall scoring: ......

1010/

newsbulletin


www.travelbulletin.co.uk

WEBSCLUSIVES● Agents, this is your last chance to banish those winter

blues! Enter the Air Europa competition for the chanceto win either a Salsa Workshop or a delicious AfternoonTea for two. To enter, visitwww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions. Closing date is20th February.

● There are 3 great prizes on offer with Villa Select’scompetition, hosted atwww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions. 1st Prize: Oneweek’s accommodation at a Villa Select property. 2ndPrize: £100 in Love2Shop vouchers. 3rd Prize: A luxuryhamper.

● Agents, sign up for the Travel Bulletin Southern & EastAfrica Showcase, taking place at Shaka Zulu restaurantin Camden Town on 6th March. The event includesnetworking, presentations, delicious contemporaryAfrican food & drink plus a free prize draw with somefantastic prize. For more details, [email protected]

All this and more at:

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

The home of the web savvy travel agent

Go

S02 TB1002 News 1_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:03

● CRUISE & Maritime Voyages (CMV) is offeringagents the opportunity to earn up to 17.5%commission on bookings made before February 29.The company is aiming to boost early bookings byoffering up to 25% off published fares on certaincruises - available to view atwww.cruiseandmaritime.tv For more information seewww.facebook.com/cruiseandmaritime,www.cruiseandmaritime.com or call 0844-414 6185.

● TRAVEL 2 is urging agents to encourage theircustomers to move away from short-hauldestinations and consider booking long-haul, withthe launch of its latest campaign in partnership withTourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Airways-‘Upgrade to Amazing Thailand’. To coincide withthe campaign the company is giving agents thechance to win an iPhone 4S. To enter, agents mustmake a booking to Thailand with a minimum threenights’ accommodation or retweet the operator's

Thailand offers to their customers. Agents will receive double entries with everybooking secured and retweet made. The campaignruns until the end of this month. For details see www.travel2.com

● DFDS SEAWAYS has launched an incentive fortravel agents to win VIP tickets to see Coldplay inconcert. Between now and April 30, two agents willwin a VIP ticket every month to see lead singerChris Martin and his band at the Stadium of Light inSunderland. Winners will also have a pre-concertthree-course meal and Champagne reception,before watching the band perform favouritesincluding Yellow, The Scientist and Mylo Xyloto,followed by after-show refreshments. To enteragents should make a booking on the line'sNewcastle to Amsterdam or Harwich to Esbjergroutes and submit the booking reference to theagent Website at www.dfds.co.uk/agent or [email protected] along with agency name,ABTA number, name and email address.

9www.travelbulletin.co.uk

agentbulletin

Booking incentives

● Regent Seven Seas Cruises hasannounced that The TravelChannel (Sky, channel 251) iscurrently broadcasting a newreview on its ‘Cruise Today’programme throughout thismonth, showcasing the line'sflagship, Seven Seas Voyager. Toencourage agents to view thereport, the line has launched a‘Tune In And Win’ competition togive agents the chance to winone of three places on a shiptour, lunch on Seven SeasVoyager, an overnight luxuryhotel stay, three ‘Red LetterDay’ experience vouchers and

L’Occitane goodies. Cinema-style tickets are being sent toagents and to enter, agentsshould email their name,agency name, ABTA number andcontact details [email protected] At the end ofthis month the company willemail entrants with threequestions to answer aboutTravel Channel’s report. Ifagents answer all threequestions correctly they will beentered into the prize draw.

● The Hotel Dania Magec inPuerto de la Cruz Tenerife is

offering agents the opportunityto visit and experience the hoteland its facilities and rediscoverthe North of Tenerife. Agentsand a companion [sharing thesame room] pay €20 per personper night on a half-board basis,subject to availability. SpeedyTransfers[www.speedytransfers.co.uk] isoffering agents a special rate of£31 return for transfers to theproperty. To book the DaniaMagec and transfer offer contactSarah Wright, Dania Magec UKaccount manager by [email protected]

Agent offers

LED BY SALES... Lesley Hougham

(right) from Triangle Travel in

Pangbourne won a 42” LED TV for

signing up to Titan’s new dedicated

agents' Website www.titanagents.co.uk

Pictured delivering the prize is the

operator's agency sales manager,

Edwina Coppock.

February 10 2012

S03 TB1002 News 2_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:05

THE FOUNDERS of The Bestof Morocco, Chris and MaxLawrence, have launched anew bespoke programmecalled Lawrence of Morocco.

The product, which offerscommission to agents,introduces the latest inaccommodation, adventureand travel experiences inthe country - fromweekends away to multi-centre trips combiningcities, the coast, the AtlasMountains, the South andthe Sahara.

Activities are varied andrange from camel and muletrekking to Saharan star-gazing and cookery lessons,

and accommodation isfocused on the authentic andthe unusual including riads(medina houses built aroundornate courtyards), ksars(fortified Berber villagesconsisting of interlinkedhouses) and kasbahs(castles or palaces).

As an example of prices, afour-night break toMarrakech costs from £387per person, based on twosharing and includes flights,four-star breakfastaccommodation and privatetransfers. For more information call 020-7183 6401 or visitwww.lawrenceofmorocco.com

OLYMPIC AIR has announced the launch of its new Athens -Tel Aviv - Athens route from March 9.

The new route is tailored for both business and leisurepassengers and is also intended to cover the 'religioustourism' market.

For passengers travelling on the Tel Aviv - Athens leg,the carrier offers connecting flights to destinations in theBalkans, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Greece, and the Greekislands. Travellers from Tel Aviv to Athens can access 31domestic destinations from Athens.

Flights from Tel Aviv to Athens will be operated by anAirbus A320/A319 three times weekly and during summerthe frequency of flights will increase to four weekly.

AW highlights Athens city tour ATTRACTION WORLD is promoting its half-day coach andwalking city tour, which takes in all the key sights ofAthens.

Passing through the modern city to the remains of itspast, guests will visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, thePanathinaiko Stadium, home to the first Olympic Games in1896. The tour then includes 15 further landmarks andnotable historical sites including the Greek PrimeMinister’s residence and the Acropolis.

All tours are fully commissionable to agents and priceslead in at £46 per adult and £31 per child aged four-12years. For details visit www.attractionworld.com or call 0871-700 8888.

Olympic Air launches Athens-Tel Aviv route

Launch of Lawrence of Morocco product

newsbulletin

Now it’s not just your customers that can enjoy

With three weekly draws throughout February, all you need to do is send us an email to

as soon as you’ve made your booking with the following information:

Make any Voyages of Discovery booking to be

eligible to enter and make sure you send your email before 15th, 22nd or 29th February to be eligible for one of the prize draws. You can enter as many times as you like, so the more bookings you make, the more chance you have of winning this amazing prize!

WIN

AN IPAD 2 WITH

VOYAGES OF

DISCOVERY

Booking details must be sent by email to [email protected] in order to be entered into the prize draw. Bookings made but not sent by email will not be entered into the draw. No limit on entries per agent. Deadlines for entries are midnight on 15th, 22nd and 29th February 2012. Draw will be made the following day. Entries submitted after 29th February will not be eligible for the prize draw. Winners will

£69pp applies to ‘Voyage to the Mediterranean’ cruise departing September 17th, 2012.

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Fares Pay in full at time of booking

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the prize draw. Bookings made but not sent by email Booking details must be sent by email to prizedraw@

ting September 17th, 2012.se depar

ary will not be eligible for the prize draw. Winners willh, 22nd and 29th February 2012. Draw will be made

ed into the draw. No limit on entrieswill not be entered intoder to be enter.com in or@voyagesofdiscovery


S03 TB1002 News 2_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:05

puzzlebulletin


Where Am I?

I am at 350 Fifth Avenue New York City, 1,250 feet in the air!

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, February 16th. Solution and new puzzle

will appear next week.

The winner for 27th January is Debra Webster, Claridon

Travel in Notts.

January 27 Solution: A=9 B=5 C=7 D=2

➠A

➠B

➠C

➠D

Number: 051

Travagrams

Across

1. Hotels and resorts group (8)

6. Sydney is the capital of this state, initially (3)

8. Highest Mount on Tenerife (5)

9. Scottish isle (4)

11. British pop band, sounds out of focus (4)

12. Can keep you afloat in the pool (4)

13. Des Moines is the state capital (4)

16. Daniel, author of Robinson Crusoe (5)

17. San Francisco International airport code (3)

18. Hampshire based tour operator offering

More Affordable Luxury (8)

Down

1. Thriller movie release, not for those with

vertigo (3,2,1,5)

2. Country on the Med and Adriatic (5)

3. Dorothy's dog in the Wizard of Oz (4)

4. African country (6,5)

5. Famous sisters, Serena and Venus (8)

7. Irish band with a farewell tour this year (8)

10. Edinburgh airport code (3)

14. Royal Caribbean cruise ship, ___ of the Seas (5)

15. Nickname for Mr Grylls, the survival expert (4)

Where Am I?

Fill in the crossword to reveal the mystery location highlighted by the green squares.

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 30

Crossword

Su DokuWin a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle

Num

ber:

051

Don’t forget your pink shorts when visiting this destination

Part of this operator’s name is the same as a well-known ‘Cocker’ singer

Ear Dumb

A Jays Shiver

Can you solve the following anagrams to decipher the desitnation & tour operator?

S03 TB1002 News 2_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:05

Like a lot of agents, we have been hit over the last few years by having to refundclients in full for cancelled bookings. Do you charge your clients cancellation fees?

And if so, what wording do you use to justify this and at what stage do you notifythe client? We feel it is not fair for us to lose our commission on bookings when we

have worked so hard on them – what do you think?

NEW FOR 2012, brainstormbulletin encourages all travel agents to worktogether by pooling your ideas and sharing your problems and solutions. This week, Anneka Bones from Southern Cross Travel in Wadhurst, asked foryour feedback on the following...

THE NEXT BRAINSTORM QUESTION IS: One of the bug-bears in our office is that when wecall certain operators we are often connected to a call centre abroad. The other day mycolleague had to speak to three different people at the call centre before someone couldunderstand what she was saying! I think if you are going to employ people in call centresthey really need to know how to speak English to a high level. Do other agents feel thesame and do they have any tips on how to deal with being understood?

Send your responses to [email protected] with the subject 'Brainstorm'.If you have a dilemma or question that you would like to ask other agents then please getin touch by email or by calling 020-7834 6661.

Here's what some of you thought...


brainstormbulletin

I SYMPATHISE with allagents who have torefund cancelledbookings and lose theircommission and I wish Ihad the answer.

All the hard work andoften no commission atall. I remember a £12,000Travel2 Australiabooking, greatcommission - until theycancelled. Days of hardwork putting the itinerarytogether, booking all thecomponents and thenthey cancel.

In fact I don’t thinkthere is an answer unlessagents have a separatecontract with their clientsfor cancelled bookingswhich in practise isimpossible. The onlyother way would be forsuppliers/tour operatorsto build a ‘cancellationfee’ for agents into theirdeposit so at least we andthey cover a smallamount of costs.

Regretfully not alloperators are agentfriendly these days.

A tough old world forthe agent!

PS... If I find a MagicWand I will email it to allagents but regretfully Ihave been looking for itfor 40 years!

STEVE ALLERSTON,HOLIDAY TRAVEL,BRIDLINGTON

OUR AGENCY do not charge a cancellation charge as we do not want to add extra cost to theclients.

However if a customer's holiday is cancelled we feel strongly that agents should get atleast 10% of the deposit paid. After all we will have put time and effort into the wholeprocess including the administration of the cancellation.

Operators often forget how much time and effort a cancelled booking can involve!

KAREN EASON, SUNSHINE TRAVEL, CORSHAM, WILTSHIRE

STARRESPONSE

WINS a£10

Love2Shopvoucher

WHEN WE had the problems regardingthe volcano we had no choice but torefund bookings and unfortunately losethe commissions we had worked hard for.

However, you have to look at the biggerpicture and not just at the problem infront of you.

Yes, we had to lose on the bookings, butthe clients did rebook later and so wemade them back. If you play fair withcustomers, then hopefully they will comeback to you and by word of mouth,hopefully pass more customers on to youbecause you have helped them.

This was certainly true in our case, asone guy who I helped who was stuckabroad, let it be known that his agent was

brilliant, and yes you can book cheaperonline, however when you have a problemwho do you turn to? One of his friends(who booked online) was still waiting for arefund more than six months later.Needless to say this guy is now one of ourclients.

So always look at the bigger picturefirst. Yes it may not seem right/fair in thebeginning but hopefully it will work out inthe long run.

If clients are cancelling of their ownvolition then this would be a different ballgame altogether.

GORDON LAWRENCE, GAZELLE TRAVEL,NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

S03 TB1002 News 2_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:05


BUSINESS AND leisure travellers passing through Newcastle Airport can now benefit from astay at a new onsite hotel.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Newcastle International Airport hotel has officially opened followinga multi-million pound investment by the North-East based Cairn Hotel Group.

Located metres from the airport terminal and offering direct links to Newcastle city centre viathe Metro, the glass fronted, modern building has been designed to cater for business andleisure travellers - including families.

The hotel offers a choice of 179 en-suite rooms, each with flat panel TVs, free high speedinternet access and soundproof windows.

Facilities include car parking, five function rooms, which can accommodate between 40 and150 people for corporate and private events, a fitness suite and a choice of dining options and24-hour room service.

Manager of the property, Seamus O’Hara, said: “Newcastle International Airport is a keygateway for those leaving and entering the North East of England, with dozens of airlinesoffering flights to more than 80 destinations worldwide.

“The DoubleTree by Hilton Newcastle International Airport hotel has been specificallydesigned to cater for the millions of travellers who pass through the airport every year and offerthem comfortable and convenient accommodation that will enhance their journey.”For more information or to book call 01661-824266 or visit www.newcastleinternationalairport.doubletree.com

Check-in and getonline at

Premier Inn PREMIER INN is offeringguests free Wi-fi for up tohalf an hour and unlimitedconnectivity for 24-hoursfrom £3 per day.

The 30-minutes of freeWi-fi lasts for the durationof a stay with metered time,meaning the minutes areonly used when guests areonline.

Longer stay guests canalso benefit from the newinitiative, with unlimited Wi-fi for one week for £10.

The company'smarketing director, MarkFells, said: “We are alwayslooking at ways to go theextra mile for our guests,and with the rise of smartphones and the demand formobile internet access wewanted to provide guestswith the opportunity toalways feel connected.”

The new initiative, whichhas been rolled out acrossall of the 600-plus sites, isin addition to the freeservice already providedacross Whitbreadrestaurants, Brewers Fayre,Beefeater Grill, Table Tableand Taybarns where guestscan connect for free at therestaurant or bar.

hotelbulletinCENTARA HOTELS & Resorts has announced that its latest hotel in Thailand, Centara Pattaya Hotel,has soft opened. The hotel joins two other Pattaya properties that are currently open and a third thatis currently under construction. The property is centrally located and within a few minutes walk of thebeach. It offers 152 rooms and suites, including family-friendly units. Facilities include a swimming pool, pool bar, fitness centre and a kids' club. For details see www.centarahotelsresorts.com

InBrief● THE GROSVENOR in Victoria is the latest member of

the luxury Guoman Hotels’ collection following thecompletion of an extensive refurbishment project.

● KIWI COLLECTION has launched a new online guestreview system, meaning travellers staying at any of the2,300 hotels can have their independent reviewspublished to the Website. To help facilitate theirreviews, guests are sent a questionnaire encouragingfeedback and comments following their stay.

For details see www.kiwicollection.com

● JAKES HOTEL, a boutique resort on the south coast ofJamaica, is offering guests free two-hour “Way BackWhen” heritage tours of the town of Black River,capital of St. Elizabeth, when they book seven-nightstays.

For details visit www.jakeshotel.com

● FOUR SEASONS Hotels and Resorts has launched a newWebsite that offers a user-friendly experience, combinedwith rich global content and social media integration.

See www.fourseasons.com

● NATURAL RETREATS has announced that it has receivedplanning permission to expand and develop its LlŷnPeninsula site in North Wales. Located on the coast of NefynBay, Natural Retreats Llŷn Peninsula is currently home toeight traditional Welsh-stone cottages. The planningpermission will allow the company to demolish the nearbyderelict Plas Pistyll Hotel and replace it with 20 luxury self-catering residences, plus an additional 16 residences,extending the Welsh stone cottages in the existingfarmstead. A seven-night stay in a two-bedroom cottageleads in at £490.

For details see www.naturalretreats.co.uk or call 0844-384 3166.

DoubleTree by Hilton opens at Newcastle Airport

S03 TB1002 News 2_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:05

WHEN CHOOSING the venue for the AITO Agents’overseas conference, it seems to have become atrend to alternate between a familiar destination

and somewhere new and fresh. Last year, for the first-ever joint conference with AITO

operators, we did exactly this by visiting Vilnius, thecapital of Lithuania - which surprised all our delegateswith its local charm, culture and even warm weather!

This year it looks like we’re returning to familiarground by holding the conference on Madeira, from June14-17, kindly sponsored by the Portuguese NationalTourist Office and the Madeira Promotion Bureau. Many ofus think we know Madeira, but there is a new generation intravel that have never had the pleasure of visiting theever-popular island.

And for those who do know it, this is a great opportunityto rediscover its charm and learn something new. Did youknow, for example, that the island offers wonderful,accessible walks along its 25-miles of levadas footpaths -an open canal system developed to distribute water to thedrier sun parched regions of the island?

Did you know about the buzzing foodie scene in itscapital, Funchal, plus the Madeira Wine Festival and othercultural events there?

For those of us new to Madeira, it will be intriguing tosee what all the fuss is about. With no beaches and animage that I wouldn’t link to the younger market, I aminterested to see what may appeal to me personally. I’vecertainly sold the destination over and over again and itseems to sell itself, with a high repeat clientele - perhapsbecause of the traditional quintas and the range of walkingopportunities with jaw-dropping views over themountainous terrain.

As for the conference itself, bringing both the AITOAgents and operators together for the first time inLithuania worked really well.

Our agents had the chance to network with moreoperators and affiliates than ever before. We will repeat

the format this year, with some tweaking of course. What Ihope will be the same - as with all our AITO events - iswhat I call the spirit of AITO. There seems to be anunwritten bond between members, whether an affiliate,agent or operator, that brings us all together with acommon goal – to support the independent sector.

Last year’s conference theme was ‘The state ofindependence’. The 2012 theme will be announced soonand doubtless the debate about how to make the most oftoday’s difficult situation will be just as prevalent. AITO’sup-front involvement in ATOL reform will be central to thedebate too - who knows where we may be by June!

As costs rise and consumers feel the squeeze evenmore, events like this adapt.

Maybe the days of overseas conferences with soaringnumbers are gone, but one thing is for sure, and that isthat AITO is all about quality, not quantity. I’m sure this iswhat will be celebrated and embraced anew this June.


Oliver looks forward to rediscovering Madeira’s charm at theAITO Agents’ overseas conference in June

To respond to any of Oliver’s views email [email protected]

opinionbulletin

W-AITO-Go!by OLIVER BROAD

Many of us think we know Madeira,but there is a new generation in travelthat have never had the pleasure ofvisiting the ever-popular island.

What I hope will be the same - as with

all our AITO events - is what I call the

spirit of AITO. There seems to be an

unwritten bond between members,

whether an affiliate, agent or operator,

that brings us all together with a

common goal – to support the

independent sector.

S03 TB1002 News 2_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:05

S03 TB1002 News 2_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:05

tours & cruisesExperience the best of Europe with Cosmos Tours & Cruises

Reservations & Admin 0844 573 0660The UK’s No 1 Independent Tour Operator

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From £819 pp

ABTA No.V3031

Prices are correct at time of going to press. Prices apply to new bookings only and are subject to availability. Cosmos Tours & Cruises reserve the right to amend prices and details at any time.

S03 TB1002 News 2_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:05

T here aren’t too many sectors of the travel industry growing at the moment, but the escorted tours

market is certainly bucking the trend – upin passengers and up (nearly 10% up, in

fact) in revenue, according to 2011 figurespublished by BEST (Better Escorted Tours).

There is great potential for agents tobecome more involved in this success story

and earn superb commissions on what aregenerally high value bookings – the

average customer spend on escortedtours topped £1,500 per person for the first time last year. Allthat is required is an understanding of the many benefits of anescorted tour and the confidence to debunk a few of thosemyths that we hear from agents and customers alike.

At its most basic level, I would describe an escorted tour asa pre-designed itinerary accompanied by a tour managerthroughout, but that definition allows for a million possibilitiesin destination, method of transportation, customer age groupand theme. Taking each of these aspects in turn:

DestinationEscorted tours can take you literally anywhere in the world. Theescorted tours specialist that I work for offers more than 200itineraries to more than 50 countries and every continent.There are some countries of the world that you can only visit onan escorted tour – North Korea, for example – and somecountries that are so well suited to touring that there is simplyno better way to experience them. I’d put Egypt and Jordan inthis category, along with New Zealand, Vietnam, China andSouth Africa.

TransportationA coach might still be the most popular form of touringtransport, but this shouldn’t really be perceived as a negative.Choose a reputable operator and the coaches will be spacious,comfortable and hi-tech with large picture windows and oftendaily seat rotation in the interests of fairness. But escorted tourtransportation is not simply limited to coaches; ocean and rivercruises may feature, for example, private flights (particularlypopular in top-end safari holidays) and journeys on iconictrains such as Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer, Australia’s Ghanor Europe’s legendary Orient Express. A well thought-out tour

might even include a combination of these to offer the mostappropriate and memorable perspective on a destination.

Customer age group Escorted tours are often assumed to be suitable only for oldercustomers. If that was ever the case, it certainly isn’t any more.You will have noticed that mature travellers are becoming moreand more adventurous and ‘younger-minded’ and, as the focusof escorted tours reflects this, the mix of holidaymakers isbecoming increasingly broad, from 20-somethings to 80-somethings. There are very few customers these days likely tobe ‘immune’ to the attractions of an escorted tour.

Theme Again, the imagination of the customer or the tour operator isthe only limit. The majority of escorted tours focus onspectacular landscapes and cultural treasures, but there isalso an escorted tour to suit every special interest fromarchaeology to watercolour painting, motorsports to HarryPotter!

In addition to this infinite variety, there are a host of otherbenefits to an escorted tour. Value is key – escorted toursgenerally include as standard scheduled flights, good hotel andcruise accommodation, a number of meals, visits andexcursions, and the services of a tour manager throughout.Some operators are even including door-to-door transfers foran extra dimension of comfort and convenience. On anescorted tour, all of the planning has been done and all thearrangements made by a destination expert. The tour manageris there to provide complete peace of mind, as well as anintroductory guiding service, and your customers forge lifelongfriendships amongst groups of holidaymakers with the sametravel motivations and passions.

And, from an agent’s point of view, these kind of ‘pre-packaged’ high value holidays can be a dream to book – as partof Titan’s ‘Five’ campaign, for example, they answer everyagent call within five seconds and it takes, on average, lessthan five minutes to complete a £5,000 booking that earns theagent more than £500. That’s how easy it can be!

In this difficult market, I would urge you to put aside anypreconceptions you may have about escorted tours, embracethe countless possibilities and benefits for your customers, andtake advantage of the growing commissions to be earned fromthis rare success story. ✦

by CRAIG LIDDLE, key account manager, Titan Travel

How the escortedtours market is buckingthe trend to become a rare success story

17February 10 2012www.travelbulletin.co.uk

escortedtrips

Craig Liddle

S04 TB1002 Escorted Trips_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:11

New agent online booking engine forTravelsphere, Just You and Page & Moy

AGENTS ARE now able to make online bookings for any of theescorted tours offered by Travelsphere, Just You and Page &Moy following the launch of a new booking engine.

Agents will need to log into the relevant brand’s websiteunder the 'Travel Agent' tab and follow the bookings procedure.

To register for the online service, agents should [email protected] with their chosenpassword of up to eight digits prior to logging in.

As an added incentive, any agents making an online bookingfor any of the escorted tours offered by the companies untilFebruary 29 will receive a £10 Love2Shop voucher per booking.

To claim a voucher, agents must email agency sales withthe booking reference(s), their name, ABTA number andagency address. Claims must be made by March 2 to be validand vouchers will be sent out after the claim closing date.For more information visit www.pageandmoy.co.uk,www.travelsphere.co.uk and www.justyou.co.uk

escortedtrips


EXPLORERS ASTRONOMY Tours has released its 2012/13 brochure,which acts as a preview of what the skies have on the horizon overthe next few years. The brochure includes holidays taking in twototal eclipses, an annular eclipse, the Transit of Venus and theNorthern Lights. All tours are accompanied by the company'sGalactic Rangers to provide an insight into the celestial activity. Inaddition to increasing the number of departures for its sell-out tourto see the much sought-after aurora borealis, the operator hasintroduced a five-day family-only Northern Lights holiday thismonth. Prices lead in at £1,099 for adults and £1,039 for childrenand departures are on February 14 and February 12, 2013. For details call 0845-609 1591 or visit www.astronomytours.co.uk

GRAND UK Holidays reportsthat its customers arecontinuing to book upmarketand luxury escorted tours,and says that the success ofits new ‘Gold’ coach tours andits other luxury escortedholidays is thanks to thecombination of qualitycoaches and accommodationwith value-for-money prices.

The company's salesdirector Harold Burke said:“We have been getting verygood feedback from ouragency partners andcustomers about ourupmarket tours.

“Customers are attractedby the quality on offer and thechance to pamper themselveson a UK break – and thanks tothe buying power we have aspart of the UK Holiday Group,we can offer very competitiverates too.

“Many of our Gold toursare approaching capacityalready, as agents andholidaymakers realise theycan get a top-quality holidaywith coach travel, excursions,half-board accommodationand experienced tour guideall included in the price."

The 2012 brochurefeatures 45 new tours -mainly in the UK and Ireland- ranging from specialinterest and themed breaksto a new holiday by train.

New hobby holidays havealso been added, includingbowling and ballroomdancing to cater for thegrowing demand for specialinterest breaks.

The new ‘Gold’ tours alsoinclude a departure toFloriade this year, thehorticultural spectacularwhich takes place every tenyears in the Netherlands.

Other popular newoptions include five-dayescorted tours to WarnerNorton Grange CoastalResort and WarnerBodelwyddan Castle Hotel inNorth Wales.

Five days’ half-boardaccommodation leads in at£389 per person includingcoach travel, entertainmentand excursions to Chesterand Snowdonia.For bookings or moreinformation call 01603-619933 or see

www.grandukholidays.com

Luxury escorted tours booking boost for Grand UK Holidays

Barcelo Buxton Palace Hotel


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EXPLORE HAS launched its newDiscovery brochure with more than 40new tours on offer to destinations suchas Papua New Guinea and South Korea.

Destinations closer to home alsomake an appearance for the first time,including the Channel Islands andWales.

As examples of prices, an 18-dayPapua New Guinea Revealed tour visitsthe country’s remote villages, volcanoesand festivals. Using a range ofaccommodation including hotels,lodges, plantation resorts and villagecamps, the tour costs from £4,799 perperson and includes flights,accommodation, some meals, transportand a tour leader.

A new 23-day Burma in Depth tourtakes customers beyond the classichighlights, giving them the opportunityto learn about Mon Culture, exploreBurma’s ancient temples and tribes,travel to the fabled city of Mandalay andsee the floating gardens, stilt villagesand leg-rowers of the Inle Lake. Costingfrom £2,690 per person, the tourincludes flights, breakfast

accommodation, transport and theservices of a tour leader.

The brochure also includes ten newbudget tours, ideal for clients looking tospend less without compromising ontheir experience. Accommodation is insimpler hotels and customers havemore free time to see what they want.

As an example, the company's newbudget tour of Egypt explores the Nileon traditional felucca sailboats. The NileFelucca Week discovers ancient Egypt’smost famous sites and visits thetemples of Abu Simbel and Karnak.Prices lead in at £497 per personincluding flights, accommodation, somemeals, transport and a tour leader.

Carl Burrows, the operator's salesdirector, said: “In line with our 30thbirthday this year, the 2012/13 brochurecontains our best ever collection ofDiscovery holidays. With 44 new toursand five new countries available, there issomething to suit every client.

In line with our greater trade focus,we have benefited from fantastic tradesupport over the last 12 months. We arecommitted to supporting our agents and

will be offering further training and famtrips over the next year. What’s more, weoffer great commission levels and noonline discounts, meaning that agentscannot be undercut by the web or ourcall centre."

Meanwhile, the operator hasresponded to a growing demand fortrekking holidays with the launch of adedicated Walking and Trekkingbrochure, which includes 22 new trips.

As an example, a GR20 tour is astrenuous trek along Corsica’s mostchallenging long-distance footpath.Claimed to be one of the toughest treksin Europe, the legendary route crossesgreen meadows and rugged mountainpeaks. With departures in June andAugust, the 15-day tour costs from£1,695 per person and includes flights,seven nights’ gite, one night mountainrefuge and six nights’ campingaccommodation on a bed-and-breakfastbasis, most meals, transport, a tourleader and driver. For more information visitwww.explore.co.uk or call 0844-499 0901.

INDIA, SCOTLAND, Floriade - the World Horticultural Expo,the Jungfrau Express’ 100-year anniversary, Italy and food &wine tours are just some of the popular rail holiday ideas forthis year according to Great Rail Journeys and its sistercompany Treyn.

With more than 60 new tours across both brands for 2012,including destinations from Yorkshire to the US, GRJ has puttogether what it sees as its key trends for this year to helpagents sell.

As an example, Italy has been huge growth area due tothe ease of connection by rail and the value for money itoffers. Puglia has been identified as an emerging marketand the operator features a ten-day Puglia & the Delights ofUmbria from £1,598 per person. The operator says thatthere has been increased demand for holidays to Scotland,and this has seen both companies increase their range of

tours. New for this year from Treyn is a six-day WestHighlands & Skye option which leads in at £398 per person.

Other new options include a Beaune & the Wines ofBurgundy seven-night tour from £1,185 per person and a 13-day Andalucian Explorer from £2,475 - both from Great RailJourneys.

The companies' marketing and sales director, AlexRoberts, said: “All of our escorted rail tours to mainlandEurope depart from St Pancras International in London,which sets a relaxed and glamorous tone to the start ofanyone’s holiday. We also offer escorted rail holidays todestinations within the UK as well as Europe, and to six ofthe seven continents, travelling as far away as India, the USand New Zealand."For more information or to book visit www.greatrail.com and www.railholidays.com

Great Rail Journeys & Treyn identify new escorted tour by rail trends


Explore’s 2012/13 Discovery brochure features selection of 44 new tours

escortedtrips

PETER SOMMER Travels has added four new itineraries for 2012. As an example, a two-week Island-hopping in Greece, 'Cruising to theCyclades’, includes more than a dozen islands, from Santorini to the tiny island of Anafi. The history of the group of islands is brought tolife through an expert guide and guests will sail around the Aegean Sea on a 12-cabin gulet. Highlights include a visit to the Bronze Agetown at Akrotiri (the Pompei of the Aegean), cruising around the Caldera and Kameni islets, walking through medieval Naxos andswimming in secluded bays. A departure on May 19 leads in at £3,675 per person, based on two sharing and includes 15 nights’ full boardon the gulet, transfers, all entrance fees and expert guiding. Flights are extra. For details call 01600-888220 or visit www.petersommer.com



ENCOUNTERS TRAVELoffers a choice of tours todestinations includingEgypt, Turkey, Thailand,Tanzania, Jordan, Israel,Sudan, Morocco, Bolivia,Peru and Russia.

As an example, a ten-day Flying Carpet tour inTurkey starts in Istanbul,before taking in thehistoric sites of Troy,Pergamum and Ephesusbefore following theancient silk road to theregion of Cappadocia andAnkara. Available forregular departures thismonth and next, pricesstart from £555 perperson includingtransfers, breakfastaccommodation in four-and five-star hotels, somemeals and a local tourleader. Flights areexcluded. For details visitwww.encounterstravel.comor call 0800-088 6002.

Flying Carpettour from £555

escortedtrips

SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS saysthat agents should behighlighting the value formoney aspect of escortedtours to clients watchingthe purse strings.

The company's Europe &Worldwide holidaysmanager, PatriciaBirmingham, said:“Escorted holidays offersuch good value becausethe price typically includesreturn travel,accommodation with dinnerand breakfast, andsightseeing visits exploringthe local area.

"Customers bookescorted holidays knowingthat everything is plannedfor them – they just need tomake their own way totheir joining point and to bepicked up, after whichthey’ll be looked after untilthe end of the holiday.

“All inclusive escortedcoach holidays are proving

increasingly popular,especially in the currenteconomic climate, ascustomers know they’rejust paying a one-off pricefor everything, including allmeals and drinks at thehotel.

“Escorted tours by coachoffer great value becausethey allow travellers to visitmultiple destinations onone holiday. The in-depthknowledge of the driverguides and the breadth ofplaces visited ensure thatpassengers get the mostout of their holiday."

The operator reportsthat it has seen anincreasing demand formore adventurousdestinations from itscustomers, includingMorocco.

Birmingham said: “Thisyear we have launched twonew holidays to Morocco.It’s relatively inexpensive

and enjoys a warm climateyear round, explaining itspopularity as a holidaydestination.

“Morocco also offerscustomers the chance tosee an exotic country andexperience African culturewithout having to make along journey.”

The new itinerariesinclude a 16-day Treasuresof Morocco & SouthernSpain from £1,569, withdepartures between Mayand October.

Highlights include visitsto the cities of Fez,Marrakesh and Tangiers, atrip to the Alhambra palacein Granada, as well asvisits to Madrid, Gibraltarand a two-night stay in theSpanish beach resort ofEstepona. The priceincludes 15 nights' half-board accommodation, atouring itinerary and luxurycoach travel.

Also new is a 12-dayHistoric Spain, Portugaland Morocco cruise from£1,299, where visitors candiscover the history andculture of southernEurope.

Highlights include a visitto the Moroccan historiccity of Casablanca, achance to see Galicia’sunique Crystal City, a tripto the UNESCO worldheritage site of Porto andtrips to the cities of Cadizand Lisbon.

The price includes allmeals on board, aCaptain’s cocktail partyand gala dinner,entertainment programme,free parking and freecruise connect to port byluxury coach. The holidaydeparts on May 24. For more information call 0844-824 6351 or visitwww.shearingsagent.com

Shearings Holidays urges agents to highlight value of escorted tours to clients

Collette reports 'recession resilient' marketCOLLETTE WORLDWIDE Holidays reports that it has seen sales grow by 30% last year,which it says illustrates that this sector of the market is ‘recession resilient’, highlightingwhat a great opportunity touring is for travel agents.

The operator's general manager, Peter Traynor, said: "Throughout 2011 we were veryproactive in working with agents with mailshots and marketing activity which helped deliversuch positive results, and the success continued with very strong forward bookings. USAand Canada are regaining popularity, while sales to New Zealand have been strong despitethe Christchurch situation.

"New tours selling well include National Parks of America, Tropical Costa Rica andHawaiian Adventure. We are seeing a definite trend towards a shorter window betweenbooking and travelling – traditionally our tours were booked up to a year in advance,especially to Australia and New Zealand, but over the past year, we have seen bookings asclose in as four to five weeks before departure.”

Marble Canyon, Arizona


TRAFALGAR TOURS reports that family escorted touringholidays are proving increasingly popular, with the US andCanada seeing a growth of 65% from 2010 to 2011 and NorthAmerica being the UK’s most popular touring destination.

New for this year is a Wild West Cowboys and Buffalostour, an eight-day itinerary that travels through nationalparks, exploring the old Wild West. Guests will visit theGrand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, experience Old Westhospitality in Montana and journey through the Black Hills

National Forest before arriving in the Mile High City, Denver. The tour runs from May 14 to October 4 and costs from

£1,175 per person based on twin share, land-only, andincludes private transfers, accommodation, a number ofhighlighted lunches and dinners, travel in luxury coachesand sightseeing. Visits include Salt Lake City, Jackson,Yellowstone National Park and Keystone.For more information call 020-7468 4335 or visitwww.onestoptouringshop.co.uk

Insight Vacations adds seven newitineraries in Eastern EuropeIN RESPONSE to demand, Insight Vacations launchedseven new itineraries in Eastern Europe for this year,including Ukraine and Crimea.

A ten- or 12-day tour in Ukraine and the Crimea isavailable, with prices leading in at £2,899 per person,including transfers, breakfast accommodation, sevendinners, the services of a tour director, sightseeing, coachtravel and internal flights.

Guests have the choice to begin the tour in Moscow orKiev to explore the domed churches, Opera House,Golden Gate, the Monastery of the Caves and take acruise along the Dneiper River. The itinerary then takes inOdessa to understand more of the WWII history, followedby a trip to Kherson to explore the city. Other highlightsinclude the seaside resort of Kurpaty and visits to Yalta,Balaklava and Sevastopol, former home of the SovietBlack Sea Fleet.

Meanwhile, the operator has extended its last minutedeal on a Hawaiian Dreams itinerary until February 14.Departing on March 14, the ten-day option leads in at£2,335 per person, including transfers, breakfastaccommodation, 15 meals, the services of a tour director,sightseeing, coach transport and internal flights.For more information call the One Stop Touring Shop on 020-7468 4335 or visit www.onestoptouringshop.co.uk

Trafalgar Tours adds Wild West Cowboys and Buffalos family tour in response to demand


escortedtrips

FUNWAY HOLIDAYS' newest escorted tour addition, ‘Best ofHawaii’ (operated by Trafalgar Tours) visits three of Hawaii’sislands - Kona, Maui and Honolulu. The ten-day option costs from£1,535 per person excluding flights. For details see www.funway4agents.co.uk or call 0844-557 0626.

AFRICAN PRIDE has added several new escorted tripsthroughout Southern & East Africa to complement itspopular established tours.

Tours include private safari itineraries such as the‘Namibia Adventure Safari’ which combines hotel and lodgeaccommodation in Windhoek, Swakopmund & Etosha withwalk-in Meru tents set up daily prior to guests' arrival.Prices lead in at £3,429 for 15 days.

Also new is a more leisurely paced ‘South AfricanPanorama Tour’ which takes in many of the country’s sights,with prices from £2,889 per person for 17 days and theadventurous ‘Walking & Camping in the Kruger’, which costsfrom £699 for four days.

The operator's general manager, Liz Hall, said: “Escortedtrips are an ideal way to see Africa, everything is organisedfor you, there’s no need to drive and best of all you benefitfrom the guides expert local knowledge which really adds tothe experience.”For more information visit www.african-pride.co.uk or call 01904-619428.

New Southern & East Africa trips fromAfrican Pride


THIS YEAR is set to be one of the most exciting yearsin recent times for Malta, traditionally the best keptsecret in the Mediterranean, as it is becoming more

and more popular with British tourists. Whether seeking asun drenched escape in stunning scenery or embarking onan historical or cultural adventure, Malta provides theideal getaway for travellers wanting both long and shortstays.

This year marks the 70th anniversary since the nationwas awarded the St. George Cross, making the calendar ofevents more jam-packed than ever. Combining this withValletta’s preparations towards becoming European capitalof culture in 2018 means there is no better time to visit theheart of the Mediterranean.

A year-round attractionIn addition, from March 1-28, Harrods will be flying theMaltese flag in celebration of the hidden gems promotionat the world-renowned store. An array of stunning displaysby Maltese artists will be exhibited throughout the luxurystore to give visitors a taste of the modern and traditionaldelights of Malta. This unique event, providing differentand innovative ways of showcasing Malta is beingorganised by the Malta High Commission in the UK,together with Malta Enterprise, Finance Malta and theMalta Tourism Authority.

A year-round holiday destination, Malta has activitiesthat span the seasons as well as the senses and whethercustomers are looking for tranquillity or hedonism, therewill always be a specific reason to visit.

Only a short flight from the UK, but with a year-roundtemperature that rarely dips below 15 degrees, andguaranteed long, hot, dry, summers from May untilOctober, Malta is fast becoming a winter destination for abreak from the harsher climes of Northern Europe.

A family affairMalta is an ideal location for a family break or extendedholiday, providing the ideal backdrop to explore theunknown. Families wanting to experience a culturallydiverse destination without the ordeal of a long-haul flightare greeted with open arms by the family loving Maltese.

Away from our pristine beaches, our visitors can losetrack in our 7,000 years of historic marvels, take part inone of many thrill-seeking activities, enjoy the Islands’vibrant culture and nightlife, or just relax at one of ourmany chic cocktail bars and restaurants.

Malta is the ideal destination for sports lovers, and inparticular Gozo, Malta’s sister island, is a quieter haven idealfor families or those looking for a slower pace of life. Herecycling, walking, horse-riding and the outdoors in generalreign supreme. Not to mention the best diving in theMediterranean. For the culture vultures, our unique historicaldelights and cities built by knights, how many countries cansay they have temples older than the pyramids?

Festival funFor music lovers, festivals ranging from jazz and opera todance and rock take place and draw in the crowds year afteryear. With venues snuggled among cobbled streets, views ofancient harbours and drinks being among the best value inthe whole of the Mediterranean, it’s easy to see why Maltaremains so popular with the British. For orchestra fans thephilharmonic plays in January, The Jazz festival and MaltaMusic Week occur at the height of summer, with Folk inautumn and Opera rounding off the year.

It has become easy to get to Malta these days, be it for aweekend or a long stay. In under three hours, our nationalcarrier Air Malta flies from Heathrow, Gatwick andManchester, along with Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh,Exeter and Norwich. Budget airlines also fly from manyregional airports across the UK, including the recentlyintroduced Stansted airport.

Malta is the short-haul destination that has all theappeal expected from long-haul including a diverseculture, breath-taking scenery, beautiful architecture andan action-packed calendar. All in the EU, with Englishspeaking population and a currency that’s familiar, thereare hotels from the most luxurious spas, to basic, but wellplaced smaller family run accommodation providers.

Its size is one of Malta’s key assets. No matter whereyou’re staying on the island, no place is ever far away.After only a week or so on the islands, visitors soonbecome part of the Maltese culture of turning new facesinto old friends, saying it feels like a home from home. Ican understand why many come back to our beautifulislands again and again.

After all, Malta and Gozo is a temporary home, notsimply a place to visit. The days of Malta being the‘Mediterranean’s best kept secret’ are over. With so muchto do, people to meet and events to participate in, I warmlyinvite you to our beautiful shores, to experience theMaltese hospitality and understand why this is a secretthat was bound to escape. ✦

Why Malta offers a homefrom home for your clients


malta

by ALEX INCORVAJA, director, Malta Tourism Authority

S05 TB1002 Malta_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:14

BELLEAIR HOLIDAYS has announced a newweekly charter flight with Air Malta fromBirmingham, launching from May. This will bein addition to the twice-weekly flights fromEast Midlands (with bmibaby) and the existingroute from Birmingham with Thomas Cook.

As part of the launch of the new flight, thecompany is offering a £50 per person discountoff all flights booked from Birmingham,available for a limited time only on a first come, first served basis.

It has scheduled, charter and low-costflights from 13 UK regional airports, includingBirmingham, Belfast International, Glasgowand Birmingham.

The brochure lead in price for seven nights'self-catering at the Clover Holiday Complex in

Qawra is £259 per person, based on fouradults sharing a one-bedroom apartment andincluding flights from Gatwick and transfers.For more information visitwww.belleair.co.uk/agents or call 0845-365 3412.


malta

AIR MALTA has waived allcharges related to thecarriage of divingequipments on scheduledflights until March 7.

The waive applies topassengers transportingone bag of personal divingequipment up to 32 kilos,saving customers up to €30,which is the applicablecharge if arranged at theairport on the day ofdeparture, or €20 chargedwhen organised in advance. For more information or to book visitwww.airmalta.com

Diving equipmentflies for free with

Air Malta

Blue Grotto, Malta

March deal from Arblaster & Clarke Wine ToursNEW FOR this year,Arblaster & Clarke WineTours is offering an earlyspring escape to Maltafrom March 11-15 for£1,299 per person, stayingat the five-star HotelPhoenicia in Valetta.

Clients can spend a dayon Gozo to visit the TaMena wine estate and theAzure Window.

The operator’s managingdirector, Lynette Arblaster,said: “If you know nothingabout the wines of Malta,or are slightly bemused tohear that these wines areworthy of interest you willbe pleasantly surprised.We have run escorted toursto the archipelago inprevious years and clientswere both surprised andimpressed by the quality ofthe wines, so we aredelighted to be offeringthis new Malta & Gozoitinerary to our 2012programme.

“As average day timetemperatures in March arerecorded as between 18 –20 degrees and with anaverage of seven hours ofsunshine, this is a perfectescape from our Britishweather.”

MALTA OWES its ongoing popularitywith the UK market to the fact that itoffers quality holidays at affordableprices, according to OlympicHolidays' commercial director, PhotisLambrianides.

He said: "Malta has an extensiverange of quality four-star hotels,below luxury level but offering muchmore in the way of facilities than thetraditional family-run three-star. Theisland's four-star product hasevolved over a long period of timeand has been constantly refineddown the years. It's as good if notbetter than the equivalent productelsewhere in the Mediterranean.

"Hotels like the Preluna, Fortina,Qawra Palace and Seashells Resort

at Suncrest have been around for along time and give holidaymakersoutstanding value for their money."

This winter, the company isoffering value packages at theSeashells Resort at Suncrest, withseven nights' half-board starting at£389. Summer prices are from £445for a week's half-board.

The operator features Maltesehotels of three- to five-stars acrossits brochure range: Summer Sun,Winter Sun, luxury Gold & PlatinumCollection and budget Smart Choice.

Lambrianides said: "While Malta iswell-endowed with four-star hotels,there's also a good choice ofproperties at the luxury and budgetends of the market."

He recommends the Alexandra inSt Julian's, featuring its newtrattoria restaurant, as offeringparticularly good value, with sevennights' bed-and-breakfast from £359this winter or from £389 in summer.

All-inclusive options lead in at £509in winter at the Fortina, with summerpackages available from £515.

As an example of packages, aseven-night stay at the four-starQawra Palace Hotel in Qawra on ahalf-board basis leads in at £455 perperson, based on two sharing a twinroom in May. The price includesflights from Gatwick and transfers. For more information or to book call 0844-499 4449 or seewww.olympicholidays.com

Olympic Holidays encourages agents to highlight Malta's affordability to entice new visitors

Belleair Holidays launches new cruises and Birmingham route

S05 TB1002 Malta_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:14


malta

ATTRACTION WORLD is highlighting two tours that arefrequent favourites of visitors to Malta and Gozo.

In Malta, a hop-on, hop-off, open top bus tour is beingpromoted as an ideal way to see all the key tourist attractionsand become familiar with the geography and way of life on theisland.

Two options are offered - The North Tour which costs £21per adult and £14 per children (aged five-15) and The SouthTour, which leads in at £14 per adult and £9 for children.

Meanwhile, holidaymakers have the opportunity to see theislands of Gozo and Comino on the Fernandes I, a 26.5mSchooner rigged Turkish gulet sailing vessel with a largeforward deck, covered stern and a large saloon.

Once in the waters of Gozo, guests can swim, snorkel orsunbathe while the crew prepares a buffet.

After lunch, the ship sails to Comino, where it drops anchorin the Blue Lagoon and guests can then spend the rest of theafternoon swimming. Fresh fruit is served before leaving theBlue Lagoon for the return journey. Prices lead in at £51 foradults and £31 for children, aged up to 12 years. For more information visit www.attractionworld.com or call 0871-700 8888.

LOCATED WITHIN the walls of a 17thcentury palace, and surrounded byBaroque architecture, The Xara PalaceRelais & Chateaux boutique hotel in themedieval walled city of Mdina, is thenewest addition to Classic CollectionHolidays’ programme to Malta for thisyear.

The only Relais & Chateau accreditedhotel on Malta features 17 individuallydesigned rooms and suites, eachfeaturing a king-sized bed and combiningmodern comforts with unique antiquefurniture and artworks by Maltesemasters and international artists.

Three room types comprise standardduplex rooms over two floors with aseparate lounge, standard panoramicview rooms with sitting area and patio,and deluxe suites with an outdoor Jacuzziterrace.

The operator's head of purchasing,Gary Boyer, said: "The Xara Palace isfamily run and deliciously exclusive. It’sideal for the most discerning of travellersand a perfect secluded setting foranniversary celebrations or romancinghoneymooners. We’re delighted to be

able to feature the property for the firsttime in 2012 as we feel that it addssomething unique to our existing Maltaprogramme."

Three-night stays at the property costfrom £701 per person this April based onbed-and-breakfast in a standard duplexroom, including flights and privatetransfers.

Bookings made before March 31 forstays between May 1 and October 31 willreceive savings of up to £196 per coupleper week. Supplements for deluxe suitesstart from £69 per person per night. For more information or to book call 0800-008 7288 or visit www.classic-collection.co.uk

Classic Collection adds new Relais & Chateaux property in city of Mdina Xara Palace

MaltaGozo & Comino

NEW Routes!Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow & Liverpool

7 Night Holidays from £289pp

• More choice, More flexibility& Lower prices

• 13 UK Airports• Flights now with Air Malta,

easyJet, Thomson, ThomasCook & bmibaby

ABTA No.V5323

Reservations 0208 785 3266 or go online www.belleair.co.uk/agents

Order brochures at www.trade-gate.co.uk

Find us on Facebook – search Belleair Agents

Attraction World highlights favourite tourson Malta & Gozo

Comino

S05 TB1002 Malta_Layout 1 08/02/2012 12:50

YOUHOTELS.COM HASexpanded its portfolio inGreece for 2012,increasing properties onten islands and introducing21 hotels in the Attica.

Now on sale, theexpanded collection seesnew properties in Rhodes,Kos, Crete, Corfu, Zante,Kefalonia, Halkidiki,Mykonos, Santorini andLesvos. All board basesand budgets have beencatered for – from two-starself-catering such as theBoheme Apartments inKos, to five-star all-inclusive, such as the five-star Nautica Blue inRhodes, exclusive to thecompany.

The operator’smanaging director, MattCheevers, said: “Greece isalways a popular

destination for us Brits,with the frequency offlights making the regionso accessible from acrossthe UK. We’re expecting agood year in 2012, and ourbooking figures for theyear to date are 53% upyear-on-year for the sameperiod in 2011.

“As well as increasinghotels on the popularislands of Rhodes and Kos,we’ve introducedproperties on the westernside of Crete and added inmore ‘budget’ propertiesin Halkidiki. We’re alsoreally excited to add agroup of hotels in theAttica region. Thisencompasses 21 hotelslocated in Athens city andthe surrounding resorts,such as Glyfada andVravrona Bay.”

OLYMPIC HOLIDAYS reports that significant numbers ofpeople wanting to build their own summer holidaypackage are booking accommodation-only product from£5 per person per night.

The operator's commercial director PhotisLambrianides said: "We introduced accommodation-onlynine years ago and it has taken off in a big way,developing much faster than we'd expected. By bookingflights and accommodation separately, clients can tailortheir holiday to personal requirements, spending as muchtime as they want in the destination of their choice."

The company offers accommodation-only product in itsmain Summer Sun brochure, plus the upmarket Gold &Platinum Collection and budget Smart Choice.

Lambrianides said: "While package holidays will alwaysbe the bedrock of our business, we've enjoyed moreaccommodation-only sales through the trade than we'doriginally anticipated.

"Accommodation-only sales are for all durations, fromone night upwards. To this can be added the variousholiday elements, such as flights from just £199,transfers and car hire."

The operator's most popular destination foraccommodation-only is Cyprus. On its Website theoperator also offers accommodation-only in Bulgaria,Croatia, Egypt, The Gambia, Goa, Greece, Malta, Portugal,Spain and Turkey.For more information visit www.olympicholidays.com

CLC Holidays makes its debut

A NEW operator, CLC Holidays, has been launched to thetravel trade. As part of the international travel and leisureorganisation, CLC World, that manages 250,000 holidays perannum, the new company's focus is to package holidays atCLC World resorts and provide agents and homeworkers agateway for booking resort accommodation.

Initially 12 resorts in Austria, mainland Spain, Tenerife,Turkey, and Cornwall and Scotland in the UK are featured,with a choice of short breaks or full weeks,accommodation-only or complete packages.

Accommodation range from premium self-cateringapartments, townhouses, lodges and hotel rooms in avariety of resort settings.

As an example of prices, a seven-night stay for two at theMarina del Sol Resort on the Costa del Sol costs £211.

Olympic Holidays reports trade sales for accommodation-only is on the increase

Marina del Sol Resort

Youhotels.com expands Greece portfolio


PIERRE & Vacances is to add a new residence to its summerportfolio from June. Le Coteau et la Mer in the town ofDouarnenez, Brittany is a waterfront residence located 50m fromLes Sables Blancs Beach. It has 64 one- and two-bedroomapartments, sleeping up to seven people, many of which offerpanoramic views of Douarnenez Bay. Guests have access to aheated swimming pool and a solarium and there is a playgroundfor children. A Thalassotherapy centre is just a few minutes walkfrom the apartments and treatments can be pre-booked. For details see www.pierreetvacances.co.uk or call 0870-026 7144.

accommodationonly

S06 TB1002 Accommodation Only_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:15


Dertour becomes fully ABTA bonded for hotel-onlyDERTOUR IS now fully ABTA bonded for hotel-only bookings.

The company’s managing director, Julie Craig, said: “With the increase in the number ofdestinations we offer on our Website we received a number of requests from travel agentsto be fully bonded and we have acted in response to these requests.”

Accommodation-only prices lead in at £19 per person per night.For more information call 0203-131 2895 or visit www.dertour.co.uk

New chalethoteldeals from Mark Warner MARK WARNER is offeringaccommodation-onlybookings to itschalethotels, which havebeen selected for theirclose proximity to theslopes.

Parking is availableeither directly outside theproperty or in a nearbypublic car park.Alternatively, guests cantake one of the company’stransfer coaches whichcoordinates with itsflights.

New accommodationdeals include stays in ValD’Isere departing onFebruary 19 for £740 perperson at ChalethotelMoris and £875 atChalethotel Cygnaski;stays in Tignes from £720at the Chalethotel Hautsde Toviere and £790 atChalethotel L’AiguillePercee – both for aFebruary 26 departure;and stays at La Plagne atthe Chalethotel Christinafor £740, departing onFebruary 26.

Prices are based on aseven-night stay and twopeople sharing andinclude breakfastaccommodation, afternoontea and a three-coursedinner with wine & skihosting.For more information seewww.markwarner.co.uk orcall 0844-884 3800.

Getabed.co.uk seesstrong US growth

GETABED.CO.UK REPORTSthat it has seen asignificant rise in interestfor its US product this year.

The company’smanaging director, MattStuart, said: “We aredelighted to see a strongperformance and growthgenerally across all our USproduct of more than 60%compared to this time lastyear.

“Orlando, Las Vegas,New York and SanFrancisco are performingparticularly well. Weexpect a stronger USperformance as the yeardevelops, as we anticipatethe US representing greatvalue as a destinationcompared to the Euro zonemoving forward.

“On top of this, somepeople have been holdingback on booking long-haulcity breaks over the pastcouple of years, however itseems that confidence isreturning to this sector.” For more information visit www.getabed.co.uk or [email protected]

SUPERBREAK HAS added the three-star Hydro Hotel inEastbourne to its portfolio. The hotel features awardwinning gardens with elevated sea views and all of the 83bedrooms have private en-suite facilities, satellite TV,radio, hairdryer, trouser press, telephone & modem pointsand tea-making facilities.

The Crystal Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch anddinner every day, serving traditional English and Frenchcuisine.

Prices start from £49.50 per person per night includingbreakfast until the end of the year.For details call 0871-221 4444 or seewww.superbreak.com/agents

Superbreak adds new hotel in Eastbourne

accommodationonly

FUNWAY HOLIDAYS has boosted its accommodation offering inFlorida with the addition of Disney’s Art of Animation Hotel, whichopens in May. Prices lead in at £1,419 per couple based on twosharing a themed suite at the three-star property for seven nights,travelling in September. For details visit www.funway4agents.co.uk or call 0844-557 0626.


COAST AND Country Hotels isencouraging agents to highlightromantic breaks in the run-up toValentine's Day.

The company's managing director,Vince Flower, said: "Agents looking tosell hotel breaks for Valentines canattract customers by offering themextras which provide a romantic touchto the stay. We offer a romantic

welcome package, priced at £58which includes Champagne, freshflowers, chocolates and a fruitbasket.

“We also offer the option toupgrade to a Premier room whichgenerally has a four poster bed, aswell as a 3- inch flat screen TV andseating area.”

The company's popular hotels for

romantic breaks include thePortpatrick Hotel, which costs £80per person for a two-night breakfaststay and a three-course dinner andboth the Imperial Exmouth Hotel andthe Imperial Tenby Hotel which leadin at £89 per person for a two-nightbreakfast stay and dinner. For more information, visitwww.coastandcountryhotels.com

MALLORCA FARMHOUSES is offering a 15% discount forEaster bookings at selected properties, which all featureprivate pools and gardens.

Discounted accommodation includes Ses Mates Clares,a three-bedroom villa in Cala d'Or that costs £89 perperson, per week based on six sharing. The property isavailable during the weeks commencing April 7 and 14.

Finca Peric, a rustic two-bedroom farmhouse set in aprivate location between Pollenca and the quieter beacheswest of Alcudia, is also offering discounted rates from£115 per person, per week based on four sharing. The

property is available during the weeks commencing April7 and 14.

Also available is the Sergi, a three-bedroom stone-cladfarmhouse located close to Pollenca old town and within afew minutes’ drive of Cala San Vicente and its small covesand sandy beaches. Discounted prices this Easter startfrom £128 per person, per week based on six sharing, andthe property is available during the weeks commencingMarch 31 and April 7 and 14.For more information call 0845-800 8080 or visitwww.mallorca.co.uk

Somewhere2stayincreases villachoice for summerSOMEWHERE2STAY HASincreased its range ofvillas on sale for thissummer with the additionof two new Greek islandsof Skiathos and Parga, aswell as a wider range ofvillas in Mallorca andTurkey.

In Skiathos villas lead inat £299 per person for aseven-night stay, while thethree-bedroom villaEstella in Portugal costsfrom £199 per villa perweek based on an April 15departure.

Discounted Easter holidays from Mallorca Farmhouses

Sergi property

Coast and Country Hotels promotes romantic breaks for agents to highlight to clients


accommodationonly

AGENTS BOOKING four consecutive nights’ accommodation for their clients at the Ritz Carlton Golfand Spa Resort, Rose Hall in Jamaica, will be able to offer them a fifth night free. Prices startfrom £323 per night and include full board accommodation in a deluxe guest room or suite,beverages, all taxes and service charges. The offer is available until March 31. For more information visit www.ritzcarlton.com or call 0800-234000. For information on Jamaicasee www.visitjamaica.com


Greetings from the green gem ofEurope, or as some like to call itThe Sunny side of The Alps or

even Europe in Miniature.

Capital of CultureThis year, we are hosting theEuropean Capital of Culture in the cityof Maribor - the second largestSlovenian city after the capitalLjubljana - but what makes it sospecial in my opinion is the integrationof several cities that will enhance thehappening with their diverseidentities. For example, Maribor withits festival experience, Velenje whichhas a special industry and miningheritage, Ptuj and its ethnological andhistoric points of interest and NovoMesto with extraordinaryarchaeological findings. There are lotsof things going on - more than 412projects - from a successful openingweekend earlier this month,February’s Kurentovanje festival, aclassical music concert in March,June’s opening presentation of theopera ‘The Man with the Bombs’, andthe showing of Tomaž Pandur’sfamous War and Peace in October, toDecember’s exhibition of Europeancomedians.

You can view all the events here:www.slovenia.info.

Green countryWherever you turn in Slovenia,everything is green. Wherever you go,you can expect a rapidly changinglandscape and this diversity offers avariety of recreational activities. Fromits rivers, the Alps with their skislopes and other winter recreationgrounds, the sea with idealconditions for sailing, the Pannonianbasin and its picturesque valleys forcyclists, to the underground karstwonders and gorges, it’s an idealcountry for those in search of uniqueexperiences and popular with visitorsseeking an active break.

Offering possibilities for sports andrecreation, it has been a desireddestination for hikers, cyclists, loversof various water sports and otherforms of outdoor pursuits fordecades. There are a variety of golfcourses, and along the coast, you canregain your strength thanks to theMediterranean climate and the richesof the Adriatic Sea. Meanwhile, youcan revive your spirit in the spa andwellness centres throughout thecountry and among its many naturalthermal springs.

In the northeast, the Alps shinewith their geologically young peaksand valleys between them; in thenortheast, the Pohorje mountains

stand with ancient dome-likehills. But the forests, which slowlyget lost in the snow-covered peaksabove Bled, reflect beautifully in thewater of the lake, which is oftenclassified as one of the mostbeautiful lakes in the

New flightSlovenia will become even moreaccessible form the UK when AdriaAirways launches a summerschedule from Luton four times aweek from March.

Where the West and East meet, iswhere you will find the tiny country ofSlovenia. ✦

by Tine Murn, head of UK information,

Slovenian Tourist Board London

This small, ‘green gem’ country

has big offerings this year as it hosts

the European Capital of Culture


slovenia

Tine Murn

S07 TB1002 Slovenia_Layout 1 08/02/2012 11:17

Balkan Holidays handpicks three 'Premier Selection' hotelsNEW FOR this year, Balkan Holidays has handpicked three 'Premier Selection'hotels in Slovenia to make it easier to make a hotel choice based onrecommendations for the best service, quality, location and overall guestsatisfaction.

All of the properties are five-star, with two – the Grand Hotel Bernardin andKempinski Palace - located on the waterfront at Portoroz, while the HotelToplice offers views over Lake Bled.

Also new for this year is a two-centre holiday option combining a week in thelakes and mountains of Slovenia with a week in Istria, Croatia.

The operator's sales and marketing manager, Rupert Diggins, said: “We offera range of options for holidaymakers to explore this scenic country forthemselves including an extensive winter ski programme, plus in the summer,lake and mountain getaways, city, golf breaks and beach holidays on the Adriaticcoast."

For skiers, the lead-in seven-night price is £494 per person, including flightsand half-board accommodation at the four-star Hotel Jezero in Lake Bohinideparting on March 17.

As an added incentive, the company is offering a two-for-one ski school offerand kids ski free promotion. The two for one offer is available on all ski andsnowboard equipment and ski tuitions for arrivals from March 7 onwards.

With kids ski free, when two adults and two children (up to 12 years) buy anyof the ski school or equipment services, the second child will be entitled toreceive the same services free of charge. For more information visit www.balkanholidays.co.uk or call 0845-520 1263.

CANVAS HOLIDAYS has addedSlovenia to its programme for the firsttime and is featuring health resort,Terme Čatež.

For travellers looking for more thanjust sun, sea and sand, a stay atTerme Čatež offers rejuvenation andrelaxation and the health resort catersfor sporty types with two large waterparks, along with a range of activitiesincluding basketball, bowling andtrampolining, plus a number ofwalking and cycling routes.

The property's apartments sleep upto five people and are ideal forfamilies, couples and groups. Allfeature an open-plan living area,terrace, barbecue and dining area.

The property is also close to the

vineyards of Bizeljsko and Pišecedistricts, Slovenia’s historic capitalcity, Ljubljana, and the Postojna Cavessystem. The resort runs severalorganised trips where visitors candiscover the changing landscape,mountains and forests.

Prices lead in at £1,249 per family,based on two adults and up to threechildren sharing a two-bedroomapartment for 12 nights for a May 22arrival.

A seven-night stay in an apartmentthat sleeps up to five people costsfrom £274 for arrivals between April13 and May 3. For more information seewww.canvasholidays.co.uk or call0845-268 0857.

We asked our staff the followingquestion this week:

What have you got plannedfor Valentine's Day?

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 - Travel Bulletin ispublished weekly and distributed to every ABTA, TTA &GTG agent.

Subscriptions are £105 p.a. for touroperators and others, plus additionalABTA, IATA copies.

Overseas subscriptions by air mail:£155

ISSN: 0956-2419

Publisher: Jeanette [email protected] fingers, chips, peas and homework with mygorgeous son!

Editor: Lauretta [email protected] in and watching a film, oh and quietly laughing tomyself about Simon being stood-up by Paul!

Assistant Editor: Jill [email protected]'s on a Tuesday and that's pub quiz night

Contributing Editor: Paul [email protected]'m going to book a table for one for me, a table for one formy wife, then after 20min we get together and watch the("Oh, bless") reactions of the other couples. Or stay at home.

Sales Director: Simon [email protected] Paul for a beer

Advertisement Manager: Tim [email protected] is my wedding anniversary and I am playing in a golftournament!

Online Sales Manager: Nick [email protected] soppy

Account Manager: Bill [email protected] in, watching a film drinking beer and wine with aChinese takeaway

Sales Executive: Chris [email protected] with my girlfriend (first night out after new babybeing born)

Design: Genaro [email protected] up with my girlfriend and watch a movie

Assistant Layout Design: Nicky [email protected] on the River Thames with Jimmy Carr

Production: Jeremy Walters [email protected] all day and party all night

Circulation Manager: Jim [email protected]

slovenia

Crossword:Across: 1. MARRIOTT, 6. NSW, 8. TEIDE, 9. SKYE, 11. BLUR, 12. LILO, 13. IOWA, 16. DEFOE, 17. SFO, 18. PRESTIGE. Down: 1. MAN ON A LEDGE, 2. ITALY, 3. TOTO, 4. SIERRA LEONE, 5. WILLIAMS, 7. WESTLIFE, 10. EDI, 14. OASIS,15. BEAR.

Highlighted Word: TBILISI

Travagrams: (Top) Hayes & Jarvis (Bottom) Bermuda

Where Am I?: At the top of the Empire State Building.

puzzlesolutions


Audit Bureau ofCirculations -

Business magazines

Regent offers range of savings on city breaksREGENT HOLIDAYS is offering Ljubljana city breaks up to £50 per personcheaper this year than in 2011 across a range of hotels. The best savingscan be found on three-star hotel packages. As an example, a three-nightbreak in a three-star hotel now costs from £335 per person, includingbreakfast and flights with Adria Airways from Gatwick, offering a saving of£50 per person on last year's prices. For details see www.regent-holidays.co.uk or call 0117-9211 1711.

Slovenia debut from Canvas Holidays


Best advice We believe that there is no substitute for experience and local knowledge. That’s why our travel advisers regularly visit our resorts and hotels to ensure they can answer your questions with facts, not guesses.

Best value We only sell holidays to Egypt. That lets us build strong relationships which we can use to get the best deals for you; not just better prices, but better quality too. Our holidays also include more in the price, with free transfers, in-fl ight meals on many fl ights, and a generous luggage allowance as standard.

Best accommodation Our hand-picked selection of predominantly 4 and 5 hotels has been vetted personally by our team for quality, service, location and value.

Best experiencesIn relaxing surroundings and with all inclusive service, it’s all too easy to forget about life beyond the pool. But Egypt can offer so much more. Our extensive range of excursions, cruises, tours, and cruise and stay holidays ensure you get to experience Egypt’s many treasures.

Best operator to North Africa We’re not just saying that: we were voted it in the 2011 British Travel Awards, plus a silver award for best small tour operator of the year. Try our award winning service for yourself.

ABTA No.Y2507

Experience Egypt with the Egyptian experts

Visit redseaholidays.co.uk/agent Call today on 0845 072 2477Scan me for more information

Enjoy the many faces of Egypt with Red Sea Holidays. We only sell holidays to Egypt that’s why we’re the Egyptian experts.


THIS FEBRUARY EARN YOURSELFA LITTLE LOVE WITH FUNWAY!

PLUS, receive a heart shaped cookie for every

booking made!

For every third booking made we will give you a Smartbox experience*.

Choose between:

3-COURSE MEAL FOR 2Choose from 100 amazing 3-course dining experiences, sampling cuisine prepared by highly skilled chefs in wonderful locations across the UK.You could have a romantic dinner for two in a castle, try something differentin a gastro pub or authentic French cuisine in a chic brasserie.

To enter this incentive visit our website to print a log sheet or call our dedicated agency sales team on 0844 557 0649.This can then either be faxed to 0844 557 0349 or scanned and emailed to [email protected]

ZEN & SPA EXPERIENCE Revitalise mind, body and soul by indulging yourself with one of 200 gift experiences; offering luxurious pampering treats, well-being coaching sessions, stress busting treatments or get-away-from-it-all day retreats. Hand-picked from locations across the UK, the Zen and Spa Smartbox means you can make the most of that special treat,

TO MAKE A BOOKING CALL US ON 0844 557 0626.*Three bookings must be made within the same working week (Monday – Sunday) with at least one booking made online. There is no destination or monetary value requirement, however this incentive only applies to package holidays booked. Applicable weeks for this incentive:Week 1: 6th – 12th FebruaryWeek 2: 13th – 19th FebruaryWeek 3: 20th – 26th February

ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE, FUNWAY HAS THE PERFECT TREAT,

Just for you!


travel bulletin 10th february 2012

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