Travel Bulletin 8th August 2014

Operators unveiltheir latest

promotions & deals

Middle East

August 8 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,883 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

this weekchristmas marketsget your clients in thefestive mood with new

Xmas getaways

15agent bulletinthe latest agent offers,booking incentives &training

9 puzzle bulletinplay Su Doku for yourchance to win a £50M&S voucher

personality bulletinthe account manager ofTipto answers ourquick-fire questions

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NEWCASTLE NEWBIE...Pictured celebrating the launch of Thomson's first 787 Dreamliner flight (Angel of the Sky) from Newcastle Airport to Orlando,Florida are, from the left: Leon McQuaid, Newcastle Airport; and Trudy Greenwood, Nick Heathcote and Carl Gissing, Thomson Airways. The carrier has alsointroduced non-stop flights on the Dreamliner from Newcastle to Cancun, Mexico. The Dreamliner can fly further distances than similar-sized aircraft andis more environmentally friendly, using 20% less fuel. Thomson will take delivery of a further two aircraft next summer, bringing the fleet to eight.

This Week

3 newsa round-up of industryreports, product launches &developments

8 notes from normantonSandy reflects on thesuccess of the annualYorkshire Travel Ball

9 agent bulletinthe latest agent offers,booking incentives & training

10 agent reviewfind out what one agentthought of their stay at IbisStyles Blackpool

11 puzzle bulletinplay Su Doku for yourchance to win a £50 M&Svoucher

12 bulletin briefingnews and views from EliteTravel Group

14 personality bulletinthe account manager ofTipto answers our quick-firequestions

15 christmas marketsget your clients in thefestive mood with newChristmas getaways

19 middle eastoperators unveil their latestpromotions & deals

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3www.travelbulletin.co.uk August 8 2014

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Powerful pound helps prices plunge in most topEuropean family resorts says Family Holiday ReportFAMILIES TRAVELLING to the eurozone and other European hotspots at the end of theschool term will find that the powerful pound will make it cheaper in almost everydestination surveyed for the annual Post Office Travel Money Family Holiday Report.

Sterling’s increased buying power has been compounded by local price-cuts in three-quarters of resorts, making it up to 31% cheaper for families compared to a year ago.

Family meals remain cheapest in the Costa del Sol and in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria atless than £33 for three-courses plus a bottle of wine and kids’ drinks. This has againmade the two resorts best value of 14 surveyed for the holiday report basket of 15items. However, Sunny Beach (£65.97) has extended its lead on the Costa del Sol(£79.69) with an 18.1% year-on-year fall in prices, thanks partly to the lower resort costs.

The biggest falls have come where competition between resort restaurants has ledto hefty cuts in meal costs. Even though it remains the most expensive resort to eatout, meal costs have plunged 39% year-on-year in Sorrento. This enabled the Italianresort to surrender its position as the highest-priced destination to Nice. At £142.54prices in Sorrento are down 26%, compared with 17% in Nice (£147.63).

Meal prices have fallen even further – by more than 46% - in the Croatian resort ofPorec and this contributed to a 31% drop in its barometer total to £105.25. Bycontrast, meal prices have mushroomed in Mallorca, not only making this one of thepriciest places for families to eat but also increasing its barometer basket to almost£130. This represents a rise of almost 26% compared with 12 months ago.

Although visitors will have nearly 20% extra cash in their pockets because ofsterling’s surge against the Turkish lira, local prices in Marmaris have risen morethan 7%, wiping out some of the benefit. As a result, the barometer basket forMarmaris has dropped by just over 10% to £92.85 and visitors will pay roughly thesame for meals as they did a year ago.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Med, a 24% fall in meal prices will make it much cheaperfor visitors to Crete. At £87.15, its barometer total has plunged by around 27% sincelast year, making Crete almost 15% cheaper than Corfu (£101.98). As a result, Cretehas risen to third place in the barometer table above the Algarve (£98.33) and AgiaNapa in Cyprus (£98.55) as well as Marmaris.Resort costs can be compared at www.postoffice.co.uk/familyholidays2014


MORE THAN half (54%) of British guests fail to complainabout hotel cleanliness issues, according to new researchfrom CheckSafetyFirst.com. The health and safety expertwarns that hotels are allowing standards to slip becauseBritish guests, often stereotyped as reluctant grumblers,don’t complain to staff when they experience issues. Nowthe company is calling on both guests and hotels to raiseexpectations of what is acceptable in order to limitdangerous hygiene risks.

According to Which? figures, only a quarter of UK hotelsscore top marks (five stars) for cleanliness, proving there isa large number of high profile hotels in the UK that aren’tdoing enough to keep guests safe. In light of the newresearch results, the company is urging Brits to put hotelsunder constant pressure to ensure rooms are kept spotless.

The company's chair, Steve Tate, said: “The internet is a

powerful tool for travellers because people can read reviewsor ask questions of hotels before they arrive. That said,often these gripes aren’t picked up by hotel staff. If you havean issue with a hotel, it’s vital to communicate the problemto a member of staff so it can be dealt with quickly. Even themost basic issues, if left untreated, can manifest into acause for concern in terms of hygiene. While hotels shouldbe monitoring standards carefully, if this is not being donecorrectly, it is up to travellers to demand this.

“Often people feel embarrassed to complain about issuesthey have, especially if they haven’t paid a massive amountfor a hotel room, but it shouldn’t matter how much moneyhas been spent. If you are a guest in a hotel then your roomshould be spotless and maintained to a high standard. If not,what can seem like a trivial issue at first can lead to moresevere problems such as an injury or illness.”

A NEW tablet and phone app calledVamoos, which is designed for touroperators and travel agents, has beenlaunched. It allows holidaymakers toaccess their travel documentsincluding itineraries, boarding passes,e-tickets, weather and mapping –without the need for Wi-Fi or dataroaming.

Claiming to totally change the waypeople will travel and use informationwhen travelling, the app – which travelfirms can offer their customers free ofcharge – was developed by Tony Beanof Appex Mobile.

Bean said: “The reaction from thetour operators and travel agents whohave seen Vamoos demonstrated hasbeen extremely encouraging; in fact anumber of travel firms includingExperience Travel, Fleewinter, OriginalTravel, In-The-Saddle and travel agentRobert Broad Travel are alreadyproviding the app to their customers.

“The design of the app is totallyflexible; tour operators can tailor it to

their own holiday area, choose theirown imagery and use their owndocuments. Their customers can restassured that they have every ‘piece ofpaper’ required for their holiday neatlystored in one place for quick and easyaccess; it even has a holiday countdownto increase anticipation and excitementas the departure date grows evernearer.

“It’s not only clever and functional, itprevents the need to print out reams ofpaper, so it’s even good for the planet –all the customer needs to rememberother than their tablet or mobile phoneis their passport.”

The cost of the product – which wasspecifically designed for smallercompanies who don’t have theresources or budgets to design theirown - will average around £1 perpassenger, per year for the operatorsand travel agents that sign up to thesubscription service. For further information visitwww.appexmobile.com

Royal Air Maroc announces daily flights to CasablancaROYAL AIR Maroc will commence daily flights fromGatwick to Casablanca from October 26.

The outbound journey departs Gatwick at 15.15 andarrives at 18.30, while the inbound journey departs at11.10 and arrives in Gatwick at 14.20.

The new service complements the existing daily flightfrom Heathrow and increases the total frequency to atwice daily direct service.

Marrakech will also be served daily from Gatwick. Atpresent the carrier offers four weekly non-stop flightson Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Theremaining three days of the week will be operatedthrough to Marrakech with a 50-minute touchdown inCasablanca.

Launch of new tablet & app designed for operators & agents

Hotel standards fall as Brits fail to complain according to new research

www.travelbulletin.co.ukAugust 8 20144

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SUPER BOOKING...Dawson and Sanderson in Middlesborough recentlywon a SuperBreak prize draw by making bookings for the operator'sspecial, one off London Rail and Sail weekend which included a journeyon the Marco Polo cruise ship from Tilbury back to North Shields.Pictured receiving £30 of Love2Shop vouchers is Helen Newton (left)from Dawson and Sanderson with Kelly Giblin, SuperBreak.


THE TRAVEL sector is setto benefit from new,patented technologydesigned to protect itscustomers’ ePassports,biometric identity cards andcontactless payment cardsfrom data theft.

Plastic cardmanufacturer, Plastic CardServices (PCS), inpartnership with technicalsolutions provider,VoyagerBlue, has developedan innovative ‘shield’device, which is available inthe VoyagerBlue ePassportShield and Credit CardShield formats.

The shield technologycan also be incorporatedinto any plastic card designto sit in passports, walletsand purses, providing abrand’s customers with aprotective barrier againstaccidental or unauthoriseduse.

ePassports, nationalresidency cards andcontactless payment cards

use radio-frequencyidentification (RFID)technology, where anembedded chip enablestravellers to have theiridentification data storedand read electronically tofacilitate more efficientborder checks, andconsumers can wave theircard over a reader to payfor goods.

With more than 80countries issuingePassports and around 36million contactless cards incirculation in the UK, RFIDtechnology is increasinglycommon. However, whilethese devices can simplifysecurity checks and retailtransactions, accidentaluse can occur and in somecases, personal data can beelectronically skimmedthrough phone apps.

Having identified thisflaw, VoyagerBlueapproached PCS toresearch and manufacturethe technology capable of

safeguarding the detailsstored in RFID devices.

Rob Nicholls, managingdirector at PCS, said: “Asbiometric identitydocuments and contactlesscards become morecommon, so does thepotential for fraud. Theshield technology providesan innovative and easy-to-use method of preventingboth accidentaltransactions and data theftfor consumers. It’s an idealoffering in the travel sector,where data protection is anissue and contactlesstechnology is popularamong busy travellers.

“As the only patentedtechnology of its type thatcan be incorporated intocard designs, we areconfident that it willrevolutionise the security ofcontactless devices.”For more information seewww.plastic-card-services.co.uk/contactless-card-shield.php

New Mexicanproperty from HardRock International

HARD ROCK Internationalhas announced theconstruction of Hard RockHotel Los Cabos, whichwill be located on theshores of Mexico's CaboSan Lucas and is expectedto open in 2016.

The 600-room propertymarks the fourth Mexicandestination for the hotelgroup and will offer bothsections for families andexclusive adult-onlysections.

The resort will offer sixrestaurants, a spa andseveral pool areas alongwith a range ofentertainment for guestsincluding live musicperformances.

In addition, the propertywill offer 5,017sq.m ofmeeting space, musicmemorabilia and a RockShop store.

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SOUTH AFRICAN Airways (SAA) has teamed up with a new on-board catering partner, DO & CO Event and Airline Catering, andhas announced a new menu in both Business and Economycabins on all flights from Heathrow to Johannesburg.

Passengers are now offered meals handmade from thefreshest, locally sourced ingredients, along with a hand-pickedselection of South African wine pairings. Menus will be keptfresh and inspiring with a seasonal quarterly rotation.

New dishes on offer for Business customers include freshLoch Fyne Scottish Smoked Salmon, Grilled Cod (MSCapproved) from the North Atlantic served with saffron velouté,baby carrots and mushy peas, or freshly prepared handmadeTruffle Tortellini with grilled artichoke and parmesan. For

dessert, there’s a wide choice including Mango Panna Cotta,Avocado Chocolate Mouse and Passion Fruit Tiramisu.

Economy customers are offered meals such as ViennesePaprika Chicken with homemade buttered Spätzle and broccolior Rigatoni with a Rosemary Sauce, rocket and tomato salad,sprinkled with parmesan, followed by a carrot and banana cakewith cheese and crackers.

The carrier, a Star Alliance member, operates the first directflight of the day from Heathrow to Johannesburg and offerstwice daily flights to the destination. For more information visit www.flysaa.com or call 0844-3759680. A new trade website can be found atwww.flysaatrade.com

South African Airways introduces new in-flight Business and Economy menus

New data protection for travel sector unveiled

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CONDOR FERRIES hasintroduced a number ofMARINElife day trips to theChannel Islands, offeringpassengers the opportunityto view the marinemammals and seabirds inthe English Channel.

MARINElife conductsmonthly surveys on thecompany's ferries runningto Jersey and Guernsey.Over the past few months awide variety of marine lifeand seabirds have beensighted from the ferries thatdepart from Weymouthincluding the commondolphin, Harbour Porpoiseand Minke whale, as well asGreat Skua, Manxshearwater and Gannet.

To make the most of thewildlife, Condor hasintroduced weeklyMARINElife day trip sailingsto Guernsey throughout this

month. With a wildlifeofficer on board,birdwatchers, marineenthusiasts and naturenovices will have the chanceto discover the variousspecies in both air and sea

and learn more about howto spot and identify species.

The day trips depart fromWeymouth to Guernsey onAugust 20 and from Pooleto Guernsey on August 13and 27.

Adult day trip tickets cost£20 and children aged four-15 cost £15, which includesa £5 donation to MARINElifewhen booked online. For further information visitwww.condorferries.co.uk

MARINElife Channel Islands day trips now available with Condor Ferries


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LOYAL LAUNCH...Pictured marking Encore's relaunch of itsLoyal Circle loyalty club for group travel organisers are, fromthe left: Sergio Cicao, Encore; Diane Grandison, a group travelorganiser; and Daniella Mullins, Encore. The new schemeoffers a host of new awards including an improved prizestructure to offer more giveaways and an easier bookingprocedure so that points collected are never unaccounted for.The scheme offers GTOs 1 point for every £10 spent withEncore and prizes range from a pair of theatre tickets throughto two return flights to New York including two nights in ahotel and two tickets for a Broadway show. For details email [email protected] or call 020-7492 1525.

Monarch announces new winter routesfrom Leeds Bradford Airport

MONARCH HAS announced a new route from LeedsBradford Airport to Gran Canaria for winter 2014/15.

The route will begin on November 8, operating onMonday and Saturday. Flights to Barcelona will also beadded to the winter schedule. The flights to the Catalancapital will depart on Monday and Friday, starting fromFebruary 13, 2015.

The airline's managing director, Andrew Swaffieldsaid: “We are delighted to expand our winterprogramme from Leeds Bradford airport with the newroute to Gran Canaria and additional flights toBarcelona. These destinations provide customers witheven more variety from their local airport, as well asgiving them the options of both sun and ski winterbreaks."All flights are now on sale at www.monarch.co.uk

CONTIKI HAS launched itsnew 2015/16 brochurefeaturing 22 itineraries.

New to the NorthAmerican lineup for 2015 isa 55-day Epic Adventure thattakes young travellersthrough 36 states and twoCanadian provinces andleads in at £5,324 land-only.

Also being highlighted is a26-day Grand Northernoption taking in the sights of

New York from £2,379; a 13-day Eastern Escapefeaturing the Niagara Fallsfrom £1,364; an 11-day LA tothe Bay itinerary featuringthe Grand Canyon from£1,058; and an eight-dayCalifornia Highlights tourwhich takes in San Franciscofrom £869.For more information visitwww.contiki.com/destinations/usa-canada

Contiki issues 2015/16 USA & Canada brochure


www.travelbulletin.co.uk

TABER HOLIDAYS is offering a three-night 'Reykjavik And The GoldenCircle' itinerary from £791 per person. The tour takes in some ofIceland’s most spectacular sights such as the geyser area, GullfossWaterfall and the Þingvellir National Park, where the American andEurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart at a rate of a fewcentimetres per year. Optional excursions include whale-watchingfrom Reykjavik harbour and a dip in the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.The price includes flights from Heathrow, transfers, breakfastaccommodation and the full day Golden Circle excursion. It is basedon two sharing and departs daily until September 30. For details call 01274-875199 or see www.taberhols.co.uk

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THE 2014/15 brochure from Diamond Rail Holidays offers thecompany's largest collection of holidays to date, and featuresnine new itineraries to its range of escorted rail holidays,including trips to French châteaux, Italian carnivals and famousChristmas markets, with departures ranging from Septemberthrough to June 2015. The trips all begin on the Eurostar fromSt Pancras with a variety of rail and coach options taking guestsacross Europe and beyond.

New holidays include a four-day 'Monet’s Gardens, Chartres,Versailles and the Loire Valley', which offers the opportunity forart fans to follow in the footsteps of two of the greatest artists ofall time. Guests will visit Monet’s famous garden, wanderthrough medieval streets, visit Leonardo Da Vinci’s former homeand explore the palace of Versailles. Prices start from £449 perperson, with departures between April and May 2015.

A six-day Venice Carnival option is available for a February12 departure and leads in at £799. Every February the city ofVenice comes alive as the Carnevale di Venezia come to town;this traditional and vibrant celebration is one of the big dateson the Venetian calendar. The itinerary travels by train fromParis to Milan, stopping in some of Italy’s most iconic citiesbefore reaching Venice on Valentine’s Day.

Other new options include a six-day L’île de Ré and LaRochelle tour from £759, a seven-day Springtime in Menton onthe French Riviera from £699, a six-day Château in theDordogne from £949, an eight-day Lisbon, Porto and the DouroValley from £1,149 and a six-day Christmas on the FrenchRiviera from £799.

All prices are based on two adults sharing and includetravel by Eurostar from London St Pancras; all rail journeys;accommodation; main visits and excursions; many meals, andthe services of a tour manager. Also available with a numberof holidays are regional rail departures. For more information visit www.sellingrailholidays.com or call 0844-544 7581.

Diamond Rail Holidays adds new itinerariesto escorted trips for 2014/15


Eurostar reveals refurbishment planfor Brussels-Midi business loungeEUROSTAR HAS unveiled plans for the comprehensiverefurbishment of its business lounge in Brussels-Midi,as part of an extensive programme of stationimprovements to enhance the passenger experience.The Brussels business lounge, which is now closed to

allow the works to be completed, will undergo acomplete facelift before it re-opens in October. The lookand feel of the area will be completely overhauled withseating capacity increased, Wi-Fi connectivity improvedand the lighting upgraded to subtly change in tonethroughout the day creating a more welcoming space.While the lounge is closed, Business Premier

passengers and Eurostar Frequent Traveller carteblanche holders can go to the general information deskin the Eurostar departure lounge to pick up vouchers forWi-Fi and a drink from the Coffee Club café, as well asmake taxi bookings and collect complimentarynewspapers and magazines.The refurbishment is the latest in a series of

improvements underway across Eurostar’s terminals. Anew ticket office area at St. Pancras International wasrecently completed and work has started at Lille Europestation where capacity is being increased in response todemand from passengers using the station to connectby high-speed rail across France.For further information visit www.eurostar.com or call 0843-218 6186.

Notes from

Normanton...

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WEBSCLUSIVES

� Win a 100 Euros train voucher courtesy of Deutsche Bahn. Enter today atwww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

� Win £75 worth of World Duty Free vouchers withBirmingham Airport. Go towww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

� Win two round-trip flight tickets from London to Brazil(via Frankfurt) with Condor. Just answer 3 simplequestions to enter, atwww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

� Complete Disney Stars training by August 31st andwin a DVD. Register at www.disneytravelagents.co.uk

All this and more at:

www.travelbulletin.co.ukThe home of the web savvy travel agent

Go

by SANDRA MURRAYin Normanton, Yorkshire

To respond to any of Sandy’s comments email

jill. [email protected]

HAD A great night with lots of wonderful people atthe Yorkshire Travel Ball – one minute it seemsages away and then it’s here! The Village Hotel

just off M62 junc 28 did a great job again and it was a fullhouse as they say. I would like to thank all the touroperators especially LBIA who sponsored the pre-dinnerdrinks and Jet2 who sponsored boy band, The Future,who were great. Thanks to all those who took tables andall the people that got tickets – I couldn’t do it withoutyou - and a big thank you for all the great prizes donated.I had Nicola and Mike Graham from Reuben’s Retreat asmy guests and I was able to hand over a cheque for£1,000 - they are so close to meeting their £1milliontarget. Being the animal person that I am, I couldn’t leaveout the cats and dogs! Hull Greyhound Rescue got £500(pictured) and Greek Cat Welfare Society got £650 - thankyou to all who donated.Can’t believe a Malaysian Airways plane has been shot

down – not quite sure whether we should be flying overwar/fighting zones because even if it was at the rightheight, it wasn’t high enough was it? Just a dreadfultragedy and then another couple of planes have eithercrashed or missing – what is happening in our skies?And is it me, or are countries fighting more with lessemphasis on getting a peaceful outcome? Must besomething in the water! ‘Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb –

that is where the fruit is’ and ‘You willlearn more about a road by travellingit, than by consulting all the maps inthe world’.

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� LUXURY AGENTS looking for some indulgence oftheir own can check out Travel 2’s ‘FashionableLates’ campaign, which is dedicated to capturinglast-minute luxury holiday bookings. Agents canearn up to £1,000 of concession towards their owntailor-made luxury getaway on all qualified SimplyLuxury Short Haul bookings made by September 30.Qualifying bookings must include flights and aminimum of three nights’ accommodation made viathe company's Simply Luxury Short Haul team withproduct featured in the short-haul brochure editionfor 2014/15. As an example, agents making sixbookings will receive a £500 concession towardstheir own Simply Luxury Short Haul holiday, while12 bookings will see agents receive a concession of£1,000. Agents can also earn up to £50 worth ofshopping vouchers on each and every Simply LuxuryShort Haul booking they make. For details see www.travel2.com

� AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS is giving agents the chance towin a £50 Love2Shop voucher in a prize draw for allChannel Island bookings made by August 30.Bookings will automatically be entered into a prizedraw and the winner will be notified by September 15.

WINTON WINNERS...The Winton branch ofBath Travel has been named best performingBath Travel shop in 2013 by escorted touringspecialist, Collette. The award was given toreflect the success of the branch in selling theoperator's escorted tours. Pictured accepting theircertificate from the operator's Allan Trinidad(left) are, from the left: the agency's KimTamplin, Rhian Haynes and Jane Kolowski.

Booking incentives


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Training updateSATOA IS hosting a Tour Operator Dinner onSeptember 25 in Glasgow. SATOA's TravelAwards take place on September 18.

For details call 0844-880 2421 or email [email protected]

Agent offers� BUTLINS IS offering exclusive tradediscounts on some of its most popular LiveMusic Weekends at its Minehead resortincluding WWE Live, Peter Andre and BackTogether, enabling agents to offer thecheapest prices possible on the breaks,beating the direct consumer website prices.A WWE Live break at Minehead fromNovember 7-10 leads in at £99 per personbased on four sharing a standard room,while a break to see Peter Andre atMinehead from November 14 - 17 startsfrom £40 based on four sharing a standardroom. Agents should quote the codeAGENTMH when booking a WWE Live, PeterAndre or Back Together break to benefitfrom the heavily discounted prices. For anyother 2014 Live Music Weekend breakagents can receive a £20 discount perbooking for their customers by quoting codeAGENT20.

� VISIT ORLANDO’S annual savingsprogramme for hospitality employees,Travel Industry Deal Season, returns fromAugust 15 to September 30, with savings ofup to 50% on exclusive deals. Theprogramme offers heavily discounted ratesfor industry employees to experienceOrlando’s hotels, attractions, dining optionsand more. Blockbuster new attractions at Orlando’stheme parks include New Fantasyland atWalt Disney World Resort’s Magic KingdomPark, Universal Orlando Resort’s WizardingWorld of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley andIhu’s Breakaway Falls at Aquatica –SeaWorld’s Waterpark. Offers range from accommodation toattractions and include a stay at Rosen Innat Pointe Orlando for $49, 25% off the bestavailable rate for two- and three-bedroomsuites at Floridays Resort and 50% off thegate price on two adult one-day tickets atLEGOLAND Florida. A complete list of offersis available at visitorlando.com/hospitality.ID may be required to take advantage ofindustry rates.

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MSC CRUISES has unveileddetails of a newprogramme that willrevolutionise the way itdoes business with travelagents in the UK. The ‘Serving You’

initiative covers a range oftrade-friendly measuresdesigned to increaseawareness of the cruiseline, make it easier to workwith and boost sales.The comprehensive

package covers all areas ofthe line's relationship withretailers – includingcommission and marketingpayments, improvedaccount management,increased on-the-roadsales support, clearer andbetter targeted promotionalcampaigns and new groupand net-rate schemes.The company has also

outlined details ofcomprehensivetechnological upgrades,including the launch of itsnew ‘MSC Book’ salesplatform for agents, anupdated fun and interactiveonline training programmeand a high-tech telephonesystem at its UK call centreto reduce waiting time.The line's executive

director UK and Ireland,Giles Hawke, said: “Wehave made no secret of our

desire to become asignificant player in the UKcruise market – ‘ServingYou’ signals our intent tomake the trade our toppriority.“Our aim is to reach

200,000 UK passengers by2017 – more than treblingour current level ofbusiness. We can only dothat by engaging withagents and putting them atthe heart of what we do.“Our ‘Serving You’

programme represents ahuge investment. There willbe a bigger sales teammanaging our relationshipsto bring our brand closer toagents and give them allthe help they need to sell.The focus is on developingstronger and deeper tieswith the trade, and we havelooked at every area of ourbusiness to do this.”The investment in

‘Serving You’ follows theline's recently announcedexpansion which sees fourmegaships on order,scheduled for deliverybetween 2017 and 2019,plus options for three more. Meanwhile, the

‘Renaissance Programme’to lengthen and improve thefour Lirica-class vesselsbegins this month and seesa €200million investment.

PREFERRED HOTEL Group has launched Explore Africa, anexclusive offer that extends 20% off the best available rate atmore than 20 member properties in countries as diverse as SouthAfrica, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Madagascar. As anexample, rates at the five-star Cape Royale Luxury Hotel &Residence in Cape Town (pictured) lead in at US$158 per night.With free transfers to any destination within a 5km radius of thehotel, guests can experience a range of city tours, wildernesssafaris, winelands excursions and whale-watching. On-sitefacilities include a spa, fine dining, a rooftop pool offering views ofTable Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean and a Sky Bar. For details see http://preferredhotelgroup.com/africa

agentreviewNicky Pankhurst from JetAir Travel, Gatwick spent six

nights at the Ibis Styles Blackpool after booking it through Accor's travel agent website. Here's what she thought of the hotel...

Nicky receives a £10 M&S voucher for her review. If you'd like to take part and receive a free

voucher email [email protected] or call 020-7834 6661 with your name and contact details.

First impressions ................................9/10First impressions were great - the hotel is in a perfectlocation on the seafront next to the North Pier, tram stopand all bars and restaurants. It’s an old listed building so abit tired on the outside. On arrival, there was only one staffmember on duty but I was welcomed with a smile.

Comfort ..............................................9/10The hotel was impeccably clean throughout, newlyrefurbished and very comfortable. The breakfast/hospitalityarea had sofas, beanbags and free hot drinks and juice allday for guests plus a children's play area.

Quality ................................................8/10I was very pleasantly surprised at the standard of therooms and public areas compared to other Ibis hotels.

Affordability ........................................9/10Although I got a travel agent's rate, this hotel is veryreasonably priced if booked in advance compared to otherhotels much further out of the town - and continentalbreakfast is always included.

Service ................................................9/10Staff were very helpful and replenished our room onrequest. The hotel is manned 24-hours a day and food anddrinks are also available round the clock.

Good to know ............................................Use the Wilkos car park 5 minutes up the road for cheaperparking. Also join the Accor "Le Club"hotel membership programme forother benefits.

Overall scoring: .................. 910/

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MSC Cruises introduces new ‘ServingYou’ agent initiative programme


puzzlebulletin


Where Am I?

The world's first recorded railway station beganpassenger service in 1807 in this city.

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, July 14th. Solution and new puzzle will

appear next week.

The winner for 18th July is Kim Fazackerley, Althams Travel

in Ramsbottom .

July 18 Solution: A=8 B=9 C=2 D=7

�A

�B

�C

�D

Number: 030

Travagrams

Across 1. Specialists in escorted touring holidays (5)3. Resort in the Swiss Alps (5)6. Celebrity cruise ship, sounds like a solar event(7)

7. Flows through Cambridge (3)8. Canadian city where totem poles are a popularvisitor attraction (9)

12. Giant puppets recently paraded through thestreets of this English city (9)

14. The national airline of Portugal (3)16. Operator specialising in 18-35's holidays (7)17. European country with a flag of green, whiteand red (5)

18. Ms Boyle who recently sang at theCommonwealth Games (5)

Down 1. Channel 4 drama weaving a story about a 19thcentury workplace (3,4)

2. City in Israel (3,4)3. California city, close to the Mexican border, San___ (5)

4. Melbourne is the capital of this state, initially (3)5. Chinese speciality, dim ___ (3)9. A fitting award for sports people who play fortheir country (3)

10. Capital of Lithuania (7)11. French island in the Indian Ocean (7)13. The ___ Mountaineer offers scenic Canadianrail tours (5)

14. Major travel group (3)15. Pakistan International Airlines, initially (3)

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 22

Crossword

Su Doku

Num

ber: 030

This operator recently won the PATA Grand Award for Heritage & Culture

This airline named its 8th B787 Dreamliner Taj Mahal

Rave Hilt Irk

A Orientalise Hi Pin

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

Image Credit: Catrin Austin


THE TRAVEL news is sadly againdominated by another tragedy to befall Malaysian

Airlines: this time the shooting down of flight MH 17 en routeto Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam.What has made this particular incidenteven worse has been the seeminglyhaphazard manner in which the sceneof the crash and its aftermath hasbeen handled by the pro-Russianauthorities in the eastern Ukraine.There does not appear to have beenany room for human sentimentstowards the families of those who havelost loved ones and Vladimir Putin inparticular has not emerged out of thissituation with any credit at all. It alsodoes not say very much for thedithering monstrosity that is the EUthat they have taken such a weakstance towards Russia with thepotential loss of huge arms-sellingcontracts outweighing the need topunish Russia and its supporters forhaving committed such an outrageousact.History has shown that whenever an

airline has two or more incidentswithin close proximity time-wise, itplays havoc with bookings. Eventhough Malaysian Airlines has a goodsafety record and can’t in any way beblamed for either of their two recentplane losses (one seemingly caused bya troubled pilot and the other as aresult of blatant terrorism), thetravelling public will be deterred fromflying with them. They have been verymagnanimous by offering to letpassengers cancel with a full refund(something that they did not need todo) but I honestly fear for the long-term future of the airline as theseplane losses will have a devastatingeffect on new bookings. I am sure that

their government will not allow themto fail but they will face worrying timesahead. This has all sadlyovershadowed the loss of the AirAlgerie flight from Burkina Faso toAlgiers, which will have caused equalheartbreak to affected families.If any good can come out of the MH

17 episode, it will be that a worldauthority will dictate to all airlineswhether they can fly over the air-spaceof countries that are recognised aswar zones. At the moment, there doesnot seem to be a central policy inplace to which airlines have to abideand they take their own commercialdecisions as to whether to fly overcertain countries. It is an appallingindictment that financialconsiderations could ever outweighsafety of passengers e.g. it is cheaperfuel-wise to carry on flying overpotentially dangerous countries. Powershould be given to the InternationalCivil Aviation Organisation (which ispart of the UN) to dictate to all airlineswhere they can fly and their advice hasto be followed: passenger safety mustnever be compromised and it is onlyreasonable for all air travellers toexpect that airlines take allprecautions possible to guarantee theirsafety. Moving onto happier topics, what a

fabulous time we all had at theYorkshire Travel Ball. Yet again thetruly magnificent Sandy Murrayarranged a superb event at which touroperators and travel agents networkedand notworked! It is at times like thisthat we all remember how fortunatewe are to work in this industry wherefriendships are so valued andimportant. It also gives us anopportunity to support such incrediblecharities such as Reuben’s Retreat

with the amazing work that Nicki andMike have done after such trauma intheir lives.I have to say that I am genuinely

excited (doesn’t happen so often thesedays!) at the arrangements and theprogramme for the Travel Conferencefor Independents arranged by the EliteTravel Group in Seville at the end ofSeptember. In addition to the fabulouslocations being used for the socialside of the conference, a highlyinteresting and varied programme isbeing finalised for the day-timeincluding the much-travelled TVpresenter Simon Reeve, the BBCastronomer Pete Lawrence and thehighly controversial Simon Calder,who seems to be like Marmite!Registrations are still available for anyindependent travel agent orhomeworker including very limitedplaces on a complimentary tour ofAndalucia after the conference, allmade possible by the generosity of ourfriends at Tourism Andalucia.

Industry Insight by...

bulletinbriefing

"If any good can come

out of the MH 17

episode, it will be that a

world authority will

dictate to all airlines

whether they can fly over

the air-space of countries

that are recognised

as war zones"


by Neil W Basnett, chief executive of Elite Travel Group, reflects on the industry's recent air disasters...



personalitybulletin


Account manager, Tipto

What's your favourite household gadget?The kettle – I can’t live without tea!

What are your favourite TVprogrammes?Modern Family & The Good Wife.

What's a typical weekend for you like?My friends are spread far and wide over theUK so visiting friends or having friends tostay. Good food, lots of laughs, a bit of adance and usually a little too much rum!

What's your guilty pleasure?Rum and raisin ice-cream.

What do you do to relax?A good book or a bit of yoga.

What music do you listen to?A very eclectic mix depending on my mood,but I love a good dance/house tune.

What's been your latest DIY project?Hanging pictures is about the extent of myDIY skills.

If you could change one thing inthe industry what would it be?The amount of red tape.

What personal item do you haveon your desk at work?I’m only in the office once a week orfortnight so my desk is rather bare apartfrom my phone and post tray! I usually classmy desk as the kitchen table.

What's the best thing about your job?As TIPTO account manager I get to workwith and meet some fantastic people, travelall over the UK attending and hostingvarious events and such variety in the rolereally keeps me on my toes!

What's a typical day like?There really isn’t a typical day – I could beat home, in the office or in the car, updatingthe www.tipto.co.uk website and Tipto Terripages, event planning, visiting potentialvenues, hosting a fun filled TIPTO eveningwith 50 independent agents, invoicing,

budgeting, designing an invite, puttingtogether presentations or meeting with touroperators and suppliers.

Who has been your inspiration inthe travel industry?There are so many great females to look upto in the travel industry. I will always fondlyremember my first ever boss, Gill Peachey atMidlands Co-op Travel head office, back inthe 90s. And Jane Dyson who I’ve had thepleasure to work with over the past ninemonths - it was sad to see her leave TheNetwork.

What was the last email you received?A menu with lots of delicious food anddrink options for me to choose from for our‘TIPTO VIP Summer Event’ for IndependentAgents.

What do you love about the travel industry?The people, the passion and it’s such a funindustry to work in.

I get to work with and meet some fantastic people and travelall over the UK attending and hosting

various events

Lorna Willis

“”

Where would youmost like to visit and why?I’d love to travel aroundSouth America – it’s sodiverse, lots of culture,interesting sights to seeand I speak a little Spanishto get by.

What's your favourite(non-work related)website?I love Instagram(technically an app). There

are some amazingphotographers on thereand it inspires travel.

What trait do youdislike in otherpeople?Dishonesty and negativity.

What is your best quality?My positive attitude andability to get on with mostpeople (who aren’tdishonest or negative!)

If you could invent anew law, whatwould it be?No Christmas songsoutside the month ofDecember.

At home

At work

At play


15August 8 2014

FRED.\ HAS launched its new Christmasmarkets programme for winter 2014, withnew destinations including more ‘off-the-beaten track’ locations includingWürzburg, Wiesbaden, Ludwigsburg and Bremen.

Prices start from £219 per person, basedon two people sharing, for a two-nightChristmas markets break to Brusselsincluding breakfast accommodation at theIbis Brussels Ste-Catherine Hotel and flights.For details call 0808-159 5256.

xmasmarkets

TRAFALGAR IS offering an eight-day German Christmas Markets Winter itinerary from £1,185 per person including seven night's breakfastaccommodation, VIP door-to-door transfers, sightseeing and the services of a travel director. After checking into a hotel in Frankfurt, guestsparticipate in an orientation tour of the city's financial centre and medieval Römerplatz, before heading to the medieval walled city of Rothenburg,followed by visits to Nuremberg to see St. Sebald’s Cathedral and Germanys famous Christmas market in the main Square. Other highlights includetrips to Eisenach to explore Wartburg Castle, the Christmas market in the province of Thuringia, the historic market square of Weimar and Dresden toview the opera house and Zwinger Palace. Guests will also visit Berlin to take in the city's sights including the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den LindenBoulevard, the German State Opera House, Reichstag Building, Tiergarten and the shopping and entertainment district of Kurfürstendamm.For details see www.trafalgar.com

FROM NOVEMBER 8 toDecember 14, Christmascelebrations commence atBlenheim Palace inOxfordshire, with groupsinvited to join in with thefestive spirit, seasonalexperiences and things tosee and do.

The theme for this year'sdecor will be 'Glitter andGold', with the Great Hall,Saloon and Long Librarydecked with decorationsthroughout the Christmasperiod.

Groups can enrich theirvisit with an exclusive talkand tour. ‘Christmas – Pastand Present at BlenheimPalace’ looks at howChristmas traditionsbeginning in the Victorianera and beyond havecarried through the ages atBlenheim Palace, and howcurrent staff transform thepalace each November intoa Christmas feast for theeyes.

Living statues will provideseason’s greetings on

November 15-16 in thepalace, appearingthroughout the day; whileBletchingdon Silver bandwill be playing winter carolsin the afternoon ofDecember 6 and 7. Schoolchoirs will also be singingin either the Library orGreat Hall on December 7,13 and 14.

The courtyards will alsobe transformed for the‘Living Crafts forChristmas’, which takesplace from November 20-23and, for the first time thisyear, the event is extendedto four days where morethan 150 British designer-makers will be showcasinghigh quality, contemporarycraft - from individual giftsand special commissions tosimple stocking fillers.

Christmas convivialitycontinues with seasonaldining choices for groups,with festive menus in thecafes and restaurants.Groups can enjoy traditionalChristmas lunch with all

the trimmings includingwinter favourites, localturkey and PalaceChristmas pudding.Vegetarians can also enjoya fantastic festive menuoption.

Groups can travel on theChristmas Train toBlenheim Palace’s PleasureGardens where they candiscover the ‘Twelve days ofChristmas trail’ findingclues and competing to wina Christmas hamper offestive treats. Meanwhile,Christmas time would notbe complete without Santa’sGrotto. Father and MotherChristmas will be inresidence on November 7,8, 13 and 14 fro 10:00 until17:00.

As an example of prices,a group rate (of 15+) costs£11.80 for adults for aPalace, Park & Gardensticket.For more information or tobook seewww.blenheimpalace.comor call 0800-849 6500.

Champagne-Ardenneplays host to festiveevents & markets A VISIT to Champagne-Ardenne is less than threehours by car from Calais,and an ideal opportunityfor clients to stock up onregional produce thatmake unique Christmasgifts, as well asChampagne and winesfrom local producers.

As an example, theChristmas market atReims is the biggest in theregion and also one of thelargest in France with 135chalets offering a range ofgourmet products, artsand crafts and creative giftsuggestions.

The market is heldannually in the tree-linedpedestrian streets aroundPlace d’Erlon and the citycentre. It is open dailyfrom 11:00-19:30 (anduntil 21:00 on Saturdayand Sunday) from the endof November until the endof December.

Highlights include aChristmas fun fair, BigWheel, Children’sKingdom, Ice rink andInternational Craft Market.For suggestions on whatto highlight to clients visitwww.champagne-ardenne-tourism.co.uk

Christmas for groups at Oxfordshire's Blenheim Palace

Fred.\ adds new destinations for winter


S04 TB0808 Xmas Markets_Layout 1 05/08/2014 14:50 Page 15

JET2.COM ANDJet2holidays haveannounced two Christmasmarket destinations fromLeeds Bradford andNewcastle airports - Vienna,and new for this year,Christkindlmarkt in Munich.

Return flights start from£179 per person while ATOLprotected Jet2holidays’festive breaks can bebooked from £259 perperson to Vienna and £299

to Munich, secured for a £60deposit.

The companies' chiefexecutive officer, SteveHeapy, said: “Our EuropeanChristmas market packagebreaks are always popularand we’re thrilled to add themagical city of Munich fromboth Leeds Bradford andNewcastle airports this year.There’s something foreveryone in Munich andcustomers can enjoy

traditional Bavarian foodand drink and browse forunique Christmas gifts inthe huge market coveringthe heart of the city. Vienna,a city of nostalgia andromance, offers trulyseasonal inspiration with avast array of concerts,nativity displays andtraditional markets.

“All our festive getawaysare perfectly timed to allowtravellers to really

maximise their break, withour early flights ensuringthey can immersethemselves in theChristmas spirit as soon asthey arrive. With limitedplaces available we’reurging customers to bookearly to avoiddisappointment.”For further information call0800-408 5587 or visithttps://tradesite.jet2holidays.com

FFESTINIOG TRAVEL is featuring twoescorted Christmas Market tours aimedat train enthusiasts.

Departing on November 27, guestscan visit the Christmas Markets of eitherVienna or Nuremberg on a choice ofseven-night itineraries that also includefree time to explore independently or joinone of the optional excursions available.

Vienna features more than 20Christmas markets and optionalexcursions on the tour including the

Mariazellerbahn (a narrow-gaugerailway which runs for 84km toMariazell) and a day trip to Budapest,with prices from £1,135 per person.

Optional excursions for clients optingfor the Nuremberg Christmas marketinclude the medieval town ofRothenburg ob der Tauber,Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg - home of one ofGermany’s best railway museums andtravel on the Oberweißbacher Bergbahnand Schwarzatalbahn mountain railway.

Prices lead in at £1,165 and bothitineraries are based on two sharingand include breakfastaccommodation, one evening mealin Vienna/two in Nuremberg, SecondClass rail travel throughout,InterRail Pass, public transportticket and the services of a tourleader.To book or for further informationcall 01766-772030 or visitwww.ffestiniogtravel.com

xmasmarkets

JUST YOU’S new 2014/15 Christmas brochure features a four-dayMunich Christmas Markets option with departures available onNovember 28 and December 5. The tour visits the city's markets andhighlights include taking in the architecture such as the Victory Gate,the grand buildings on Ludwigstreet and the Angel of Peace, a tour ofthe traditional market at Marienplatz and visiting the 19th centurypalace, Neuschwanstein Castle. Prices start from £749 per personand include flights, breakfast accommodation, transfers and theservices of a tour manager. To book or for details see www.justyou.co.uk or call 0844-417 1812.


Ffestiniog Travel offers Xmas tours aimed at train enthusiasts

Jet2.com & Jet2holidays add Munich to Xmas market offering


At this very moment30,000 lamps arelighting up a pairof eyes in Vienna.It could be yours ifonly you were here.

WWW.VIENNA.INFO

Christmas market: Rathausplatz

xmasmarketsPortugal promotes Lisbon & Madeira marketsPORTUGAL WILL welcome the opening of the ÓbidosChristmas Village in Lisbon from December 8. Among thebright lights and Christmas spirit, visitors can take in theChristmas fair (where they can shop for unique gifts), adream Carousel and Santa Claus' house, as well asexperience the ice rink and Castle Ramp.

The market runs from 10:00 until 20:00 up to January 3and is open until 16:00 between December 24-31.

Children up to the age of two are admitted for free, whilea standard ticket for children costs €5, a child's show ticketcosts €6 and an entrance ticket and show for children up to11 years costs €9. Adult prices start from €10. For more information visit www.obidosvilanatal.pt

Meanwhile, Madeira will welcome a selection oftraditional festive stalls in its city centre from the secondweek in December. These stalls or little kiosks havetraditional delicacies normally used at Christmas timeincluding honey cakes (bolo de mel), honeycookies/biscuits, home made liqueurs, Madeira wine,traditional poncha (a rum, honey and lemon drink) andsoup stalls, while other stalls feature Christmasdecorations.

On December 23 every year a market night takes placein Funchal, where the market remains open all day andthroughout the night, closing on December 24. In the earlyevening there is a carol concert in the fish market featuringbands and folk dancers, while bars and restaurants oftenstay open all night.

DIAMOND RAIL Holidays is offering a new, four-day StrasbourgChristmas Markets tour, offering guests the chance to take a railjourney across France to Strasbourg. Guests will spend three nightsin the city, visiting the Christmas markets, with the rest of the timeexploring the cathedral or tasting some of the regions’ wines at alocal vineyard. Prices start from £449 per person, with departures onDecember 7. Other new festive tours include Christmas on the FrenchRiviera and Christmas in Bruges. For details visit www.sellingrailholidays.com or call 0844-544 7581.

Back-Roads Touring is featuring a 14-day option that exploresfive countries at Christmas.

The 'Grand European Winter Getaway' visits Germany, CzechRepublic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, with prices leading inat £2,895 per person.

Other options from the operator's portfolio include a nine-day 'Austria: A Winter Wonderland' from £2,095, which takes in

the Tyrol region, Cesky Krumlov and Vienna and a five-dayHeart of England tour from £975 which visits Oxford, Bath,Longleat and Avebury.

Five country option from Back-Roads Touring


CROISIEUROPE IS highlighting aselection of Christmas marketitineraries.

As examples, a four-day 'ChristmasMagic in Belgium' option offers around-trip cruise taking in theChristmas markets of Brussels andBruges plus a guided tour of AntwerpCathedral. There are three departureson MS Modigliani on December 2, 8and 11, with cruise-only pricesstarting from £384 per person.

A four-day 'Alsace & The BlackForest' itinerary offers a round-tripcruise from Strasbourg visitingBreisach, Colmar (pictured) and theBlack Forest, with highlights being theColmar and Freiburg Christmas

markets, wine tastingand visits to a cuckooclock workshop and aglass blowing workshop.There are threedepartures on MSBeethoven on November30 and December 8 and11, with prices from£361.

Also being promotedis a four-day round-tripcruise on a 'ChristmasMarkets in Alsace'itinerary. Departing from Strasbourg,the tour visits Colmar and the wineroute with highlights being theStrasbourg Christmas markets and

wine tasting. Nine departures areavailable between November 30 andDecember 14, with cruise-only pricesstarting from £294.

CroisiEurope highlights choice of six festive market itineraries


xmasmarkets

ACCORDING TO the ViennaTourist Board (VTB), Vienna’sFood Inspection and MarketAuthority recorded 18 large,permanent Advent marketswith a total of 1,053 stalls in2012, which are usually openfrom November untilChristmas. The figure doesnot include the numeroussmall temporary markets,charity stalls and punchstands that spring up aroundthe Austrian capital in therun-up to Christmas.

Traditionalists typicallymake a beeline for the largeAdvent markets in the citycentre, such as the Christmasmarket on Rathausplatz setagainst the backdrop of CityHall, or the Old VienneseChristmas Market onFreyung.

The markets atSchönbrunn Palace and theBelvedere have a distinctlyimperial feel, as does theChristmas Village on Maria-Theresien-Platz, located

between the Natural HistoryMuseum and theKunsthistorisches Museum.For clients looking forexquisite handcraftedartworks, the Arts & CraftsMarket in front of theKarlskirche church,Spittelberg Christmas Marketand Am Hof Advent Marketare the places to suggest. TheChristmas market at theStilwerk Design Center andWeihnachtsQuartier in theMuseumsQuartier aremagnets for fans of designergoods, while foodies willappreciates the Adventmarkets on Mahlerstrasseand in the courtyard ofspecialist tea store Haas &Haas. Nature lovers are alsocatered to in the festiveseason, thanks to theChristmas markets on theWilhelminenberg hill and inTürkenschanzpark.

Vienna’s Advent marketsalso have plenty in commonincluding a wide selection of

products ranging fromcolourful Christmasdecorations to arts and craftsand unique gift ideas, plus achoice of food and hot drinks,including spiced teas,drinking chocolate, mulledwine and punch, as well ashearty snacks and sweettreats.

As the festive seasonapproaches 40 or so shoppingstreets around the city areilluminated by decorations ofall shapes and sizes, includinggiant chandeliers on Grabenand huge red globes onRotenturmstrasse. When thelights are officially switchedon at the end of November,2.5 million bulbs threadedalong 20km of streets createa Yuletide setting. Over thepast few years the city hasreplaced 75% of its Christmaslights with environmentally-friendly LED and energy-saving lamps.For more information visitwww.wien.info/en

Winchester dealfrom Solos Holidays SOLOS HOLIDAYS isoffering a UK-basedChristmas marketitinerary for singletravellers.

A two-night trip toWinchester ChristmasMarket, departing onDecember 5, costs £305per person including twinor double room for singleuse at the four-starHoliday Inn Winchester.

The deal includes half-board accommodation withhalf a bottle of wine eachevening, a welcome drinkand information meeting,transfers to Winchestercity centre, a guided tourof Winchester, a visit tothe Christmas market,entrance to an eveningdisco and the services of atour leader. For more information call0844-371 8860 or visitwww.solosholidays.co.uk

ARBLASTER & Clarke’s Pre-ChristmasChampagne tour coincides with theReims Christmas Market, an eventwhich sees up to 125 stalls selling gifts,decorations and traditional food withinthe Place d’Erlon and the small streetsleading off from the square.

The Cathedral in the historic city ofReims plays hosts to a number oforchestral and choral concerts andstreet artists, magicians, jugglers and

singers during the festive period andthe Christmas market is open dailyfrom the end of November to the end ofDecember.

Once the shopping bags are filled,the aim of the operator's weekend touris for guests to taste a wide spectrumof Champagne. Guests can participatein a selection of private tastings at topquality Champagne houses.

The tour leads in at £795 per person,

based on a November 9 departure andincludes travel by executive coach,ferry crossings, two nights'accommodation in a three-star hotel,breakfast with Champagne, oneadditional meal with Champagne, twocomparative tastings, visits andtastings, plus a wine guide and tourmanager.For further information visitwww.winetours.co.uk

Visit the Reins Christmas market with Arblaster & Clarke

Broad range of markets in Vienna appeals to all tastes



'First Time for Everything' offer from The Oberoi Dubai

OBEROI HOTELS & Resorts' new 'First Time forEverything' offer celebrates the first anniversary of TheOberoi, Dubai.

Showcasing the best the hotel has to offer, thepackage gives guests the chance to experience a taste ofluxury, from the hotel group's levels of discreet andpersonalised service to the unique experiencesavailable.

Staying in a luxury suite, guests can relax with two60-minute spa treatments and a candlelit dinner ontheir own private balcony, overlooking the iconic BurjKhalifa.

A one-to-one masterclass with executive chef, DirkHaltenhof and a workshop with the hotel's own Kung FuTea Master, Crystal, will teach guests new skills to takehome, while a four-hour private tour service offersvisitors the chance to discover the best of Dubai from aluxury BMW 7 series.

Prices lead in at £170 per person, per night based ontwo sharing for bookings made by December 28. For more information visit www.oberoihotels.com

middleeast

ROTANA HAS announced the signing of the new agreement with Ossis Property Developers to manage a 311-room luxury propertyin Bahrain. Located on the Amwaj Islands, a group of man-made islands in the Arabian Gulf, ART Rotana is at the northeast ofBahrain, near the coast of Muharraq Island, and a few minutes drive from Bahrain International Airport. Features of the propertyinclude extensive banqueting and conference facilities including a ballroom and eight fully-equipped meeting rooms with the latestaudio-visual equipment plus eight food and beverage venues.

HILTON WORLDWIDE and DoubleTree by Hilton haveannounced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel &Residences Dubai - Al Barsha, located within a shortwalking distance of Mall of The Emirates, well known forits Ski Dubai attraction, the first indoor ski resort in theMiddle East.

The 359-room property is the first DoubleTree byHilton hotel to open in the Emirate of Dubai and thesecond to open in the United Arab Emirates this year.

The property offers 181 guestrooms, 13 suites, 41 studiosand 124 one- and two-bedroom apartments. It also featuresa wide range of amenities including complimentary Wi-Fifor Hilton HHonors Diamond and Gold members,

complimentary Wi-Fi in public areas, three meeting rooms,a free shuttle to the Mall of the Emirates and Dubai publicbeaches, complimentary 24-hour business and fitnesscentres, sauna, steam room and an outdoor pool.

Guests will have a selection of dining options in thehotel’s three outlets: Tikka Cafe, where they canexperience Indian flavors; Bistro 55, serving a broadselection of local and international cuisine; and theLobby Lounge, where guests can relax with a coffee ortea and pastries.

Guests who book ahead can save up to 15% off theirstay with an advanced purchase offer. For details see http://hiltonhotelsmea.com/sale

Debut DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Residences opens in Dubai

Abu Dhabi hotels see record performanceNEW FIGURES from Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority(TCA Abu Dhabi) show that in the first five months of 2014, some1,435,932 guests stayed in the emirate’s 155 hotels and hotelapartments - a 30% increase on the same period in 2013. Thefigure equates to 4,375,395 guest nights, up 22% year-on-year.

The UK is the emirate’s second strongest market with85,956 Brits staying there, a 28% rise on 2013. British guestsaccounted for 369,781 guest nights, up 18%, and stayed anaverage of 4.3 nights. The average length of stay currentlystands at just over three nights while the average room rate448 AED (£72 GBP).

New Intercontinental Hotel in MuscatCONSTRUCTION OF a new five-star Inter ContinentalHotel and Golf Clubhouse is scheduled to commencetowards the end of this year, with a completion datebeing at the end of 2016.

The hotel will be built on 50,000sq.m of the total builtup area of land which is set in a hillside locationoffering panoramic mountain and golf greens’ view.

The hotel will feature 270 superior guestrooms andother facilities.

S05 TB0808 Middle East_Layout 1 06/08/2014 10:13 Page 19

20% savings fromOne & Only

TWO OF Dubai’s distinctiveresorts are offering guests20% off the best availablerate, inclusive of breakfaston a three-night minimumstay before September 30.

One & Only RoyalMirage offers a range ofleisure, spa, restaurantand nightlife experiencesacross its three distinctiveproperties - The Palace,Arabian Court and theResidence and Spa, whileOne & Only The Palmoffers a tranquil yetvibrant island getaway justminutes from the energyand excitement of Dubai.

Prices start from AED880 (approximately £143)per room, per night atRoyal Mirage and fromAED 1,560 (approximately£253) at The Palm.

QATAR AIRWAYS has announced substantial investment inits fleet, with the largest aircraft order in its history for asingle aircraft type.

The airline finalised an order for 50 Boeing 777-9Xs andincreased its order with an additional 50 Boeing 777-9XPurchase Rights. The aircraft is due for delivery from 2020and, at list prices, the order is valued at aroundUS$40billion.

To support the continued growth of its cargo business, theairline also signed a Letter of Intent to purchase an

additional four Boeing 777 Freighters, with an option onanother four. The combined value at list prices is $2.4billion.

The carrier's chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Ithas been a year of many new beginnings for Qatar Airways,with the opening of our new home at Hamad InternationalAirport and now these further aircraft orders for our fleet.The Boeing 777 has been a backbone of our operation andour relationship with Boeing will continue to grow anddevelop as we go on investing in the equipment that wevalue and trust.”

TAILOR-MADE Adventures has added itbelieves is its most unique andimmersive itinerary to Oman availableon the travel market.

Described by the company's head ofoperations, Jim O'Brien, as 'The Moroccoof the Middle East', the new two-weeklong 'Arabian Explorer' trip takes whatJim believes to be a 'totally unique andas yet unexplored route' through thislittle visited but, due to ongoing instabilityin other parts of the Middle East,increasingly attractive tourist destination.

O'Brien said: "As a destination, Omanis safer and more accessible than manyother countries in the Middle East, aplace where English is spoken widely.Exotic, far-flung and less developedthan neighbouring states including theUnited Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman

offers the more adventurous travellersomething truly 'different.

"Rather than flying between the northand southern Dhofar region, travellersdrive along remote and little-visitedcoastlines, visiting towns and villagesthat have until now received almost noWestern visitors."

Highlights of the two-week, which isaccompanied by an English speakingdriver and guide, include exploringMuscat; visiting Wadi Nakhr canyon, oneof the largest in the world; and visits tothe ancient city of Nizwa; a homestay inthe mountain village of Bahia; the castleof Jabrin and the Izki tombs dating backto 400BC. Also included is dune-thrashing through the Wahiba sands,spending a night in the desert, enteringDhofar region to visit the 'Queen of

Sheba' Palace' ruins at Samahram, avisit to the fabled lost city of Ubar and avisit to Salalah where the trip concludes.

Prices lead in at £3,280 per personbased on two people travelling, withaccommodation mainly based on three-star hotels. Flights from London costfrom £249 per person.For bookings call 01728-888030 or visittailor-madeadventures.com

Tailor-Made Adventures adds new Oman adventure

Qatar Airways places order for 100 Boeing 777-9X aircraft


middleeast

InBrief● THE BAHRAIN Economic Development Board (EDB) has highlighted details of a new visa policy that

allows nationals of more than 60 countries to obtain a visa on arrival, bringing the total number ofcountries with this option to nearly 100. The new policy will be implemented in 2015 and is asignificant development, with the potential to affect more than 2.5billion people who can nowobtain a one month visa on arrival, with the ability to renew for another three months.

For details visit www.bahrainedb.com and www.bahrain.com

● THE QASR Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in the United Arab Emirates has revealed a collectionof ten royal villa accommodation located in a secluded setting named the Royal Pavilion Villas byQasr Al Sarab. Each villa features a 47-inch flat screen LCD TV in the bedroom and lounge areas, BoseLifestyle Sound System in the lounge, Bose Bluetooth capable iPod dock and alarm with bedsidewireless volume and snooze control, bathroom amenities, butler pantry and a barbecue. Guestsstaying at the Royal Pavilion Villas by Qasr Al Sarab can also enjoy two activities per guest, per nightstay including camel riding in the dunes, hard and soft dune drives, archery, desert walks, desert landsailing and fat biking. There is also complimentary access to the tennis and basketball courtsthroughout the stay, as well as a dedicated private gym within the villa resort. Packages start fromapproximately £1,170 per villa, per night based on double occupancy.

For details see www.royalpavilionvillas.com or email [email protected]

● BUDDING MAGICIANS can watch world-famous illusionist Criss Angel who is performing in Dubaifrom November 12-14 to debut his new 90-minute show Mindfreak Live at Hamdan Sports Complex.This will be the first time the magician has performed outside of Las Vegas in six years and will bethe first live show to be held at the venue, which has a 15,000 capacity.

For details see www.doneevents.com



TRAVEL 2 reports that it has seen an increase indemand of around 70% for holidays to Dubai duringthe summer months of 2014.

The operator's general manager of short-haulproduct and purchasing, Ricky Wason, said: "Maythrough to October is generally regarded in Dubai as'low season', which not only guarantees sunshine andhigh temperatures but also offers clients excellentvalue for money. Unsurprisingly, two out of three ofthe top hotels in demand are located on The Palm,which in recent years has proven to be a populardestination for UK travellers.

"The Jumeirah Zabeel Saray has seen the biggestincrease in demand of all our featured properties forthis summer. The hotel offers guests excellent service,dine-around options, an infinity pool, an 8,000m TaliseSpa, kids' club and free entry to Wild Wadi Waterpark.

"We also recommend that agents highlight AtlantisThe Palm to their clients. This is without a doubt themost popular hotel in Dubai. The fact it’s the number

one hotel of choice for our retail partners andcustomers is testament to the strong relationship thatwe have with the hotel management team and owningcompany. Agents should keep an eye out for regularexclusive offers each month.

"Also popular is the Jumeirah Beach Hotel whichhas a great wave like design and a prime beach frontlocation facing one of the most iconic buildings inDubai, Burj Al Arab. The hotel offers exclusivediscounts to Travel 2 agents and this has beenreflected in a significant increase in popularity thissummer.”

As an example of prices, five nights' half-board stayat the five-star Jumeriah Zabeel Saray on the Palm,Dubai Beach leads in at £979 per person fordepartures between August 20 and September 30. Theprice includes flights from London with KLM, a stay inan Arabian sea view room and transfers.

For further information or to book contact:www.travel2.com.

ANATOLIAN SKY’S 'The Highlights of Jordan in a Week' itinerary is a holiday designed forclients who prefer to spend the week exploring the sights.

The seven-night itinerary begins in Jordan’s capital, Amman, where guests will take acity tour en route to the Marriott Hotel, their base for three nights.

Whilst staying in Amman, there are excursions to the towering castle of Ayyubid andthe biblical site of Bethany. Clients will then spend two days in Petra at the MovenpickPetra Hotel, where they will have the chance to visit the Petra ruins. The coastal city ofAqaba is next, where there will be a two-hour Jeep tour around Wadi Rum – or the Valleyof the Moons - before stopping at the the Movenpick Residence Aqaba Hotel for the night.

On the way to their final stop, the Dead Sea, there is the opportunity to experience atwo-hour trek through the Dana nature reserve, exploring the traditional village of Danaand taking in the views over the natural gorge of Wadi Dana.

Throughout the holiday, guests will have the assistance of representatives, an Englishspeaking driver and English speaking tour guides.

Prices start from £1,799 per person based on two adults sharing on a bed-and-breakfast basis and include flights, private transfers and car hire. For more information visit www.anatoliansky.co.uk or call 0844-273 3585.

Seven-night Jordan option from £1,799 with Anatolian

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THE QATAR Tourism Authority (QTA) recently took a group of UK tour operators to explore andexperience Qatar's attractions. Pictured are, from the left: John Berry, Abercrombie & Kent;Mandy Gale, Travel Counsellors; Rajiv Shah, Citibond; Rosina Williams, Qatar Tourism AuthorityUK; Francesca Venturi, Quintessentially Travel; Hilary McBrearty, Barrhead Travel; JennaDonaldson, Qatar Airways; and James Smith, Jetset Holidays.

Oman Air boostsSalalah flightsOMAN AIR has increasedits services from Muscatto Salalah to meet extrademand this summer.The national carrier ofthe Sultanate of Omanhas boosted the numberof services to Salalahfrom 52 flights per weekto 84 until September 15,to cope with theincreasing popularity ofthe destination duringthe Khareef season.

The airline's chiefcommercial officer,Abdulrazaq Alraisi, said:"With up to 14 scheduledflights a day fromMuscat, and a minimumof ten per day, we nowoffer a record number ofseats to Salalah fromMuscat this summer toprovide the perfectintroduction to the area’snatural beauty, richculture and superbhospitality.

“However, seats areselling fast, with morevisitors than ever beforeplanning to experiencethe unique attractions ofthe Khareef in Salalahand the surroundingDhofar region. As such,we would advise bookingas soon as possible toavoid disappointment."

Travel 2 sees increased demand for summer holidays to Dubai


Stand-alone Dubai brochure from Hayes & JarvisHAYES AND Jarvis has issued its stand-alone Dubai and Beyondbrochure, which is valid for holidays until March 31, 2016 and features aselection of new resorts and properties in the Middle East. There isalso a focus on multi-centre destinations such as the Indian Ocean andThailand, which are both easily accessible via Dubai.

Working in partnership with Emirates, the operator is using theairline’s extensive network to offer travellers a range of holidays.

The company's destination manager, Zoe Betchley, said: “Thebrochure is there to show the flexibility the airline has and thecombinations we can offer. We wanted to show commitment to thetrade and understand that these are useful training tools with keyimages to showcase to customers.

“Dubai is a fast growing destination with a kaleidoscope of differentattractions in different areas and it was important we showcase this toour customers. The brochure helps to give a feel of this and thedifferent possibilities on offer in each area."

With the inclusion of Ras Al Khaimah as a new resort for thecompany, and Fujairah, which is back in the brochure, the operator hasopened up the United Arab Emirates – and both resorts are within easyreach of Dubai’s international airport.

In Ras Al Khaimah, the five-star Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah hasbeen included, and in Fujairah, another five-star property, Miramar AlAqah Beach Resort is featured for the first time.

In Dubai, two One & Only Hotels - the One & Only Royal MirageArabian Court and the Residence & Spa – now feature in the brochurealongside the popular One & Only Royal Mirage - The Palace.

Beyond Dubai, the four-star Centara Ceysands in Sri Lanka hasrecently opened and is located by the river in Bentota and offers a spaand a range of watersport activities for guests.

On the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius the recently refurbished LUXBelle Mare will be a hit with clients who love the water – it has one ofthe biggest swimming pools on the island and is set on the beach.

Prices for a Dubai holiday lead in at £649 per person for a three-nightstay at the Habtoor Grand Hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Theoffer includes transfers and flights from Glasgow with Emirates. Pricesfor Gatwick departures lead in at £699.For more information or to book call 01293-735831 or visitwww.hayesandjarvis.co.uk

We asked our staff thefollowing question this week:

What characteristic do you most admire

in others?Publisher: Jeanette [email protected]

Editor: Lauretta [email protected]

Assistant Editor: Jill [email protected]

Contributing Editor: Paul [email protected]

Sales Director: Simon [email protected] ability to own up when they've made a mistake

Advertisement Manager: Tim [email protected]

Online Sales Manager: Nick [email protected] who handle their success with humility

Account Manager: Bill [email protected] of humour and care

Account Manager: Chris [email protected]

Account Manager: Matt [email protected] humour

Senior Designer: Nicky [email protected]

Assistant Designer: Lee [email protected] get along with pessimistic people

Production: Erica Sesay [email protected]

Circulation Manager: Jim [email protected]

middleeast

Crossword:Across:1. TITAN, 3. DAVOS, 6. ECLIPSE, 7. CAM, 8. VANCOUVER, 12. LIVERPOOL, 14. TAP, 16. CONTIKI, 17. ITALY,18. SUSAN.Down: Down: 1. THE MILL, 2. TEL AVIV, 3. DIEGO, 4. VIC, 5. SUM, 9. CAP, 10. VILNIUS, 11. REUNION, 13. ROCKY, 14.TUI, 15. PIA.

Highlighted Word: DEVON

Travagrams: (top) Khiri Travel (bottom) Ethiopian Airlines

Where Am I?: Swansea

puzzlesolutions


Travel Bulletin is published by Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) Ltd - University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London,SW1W 0EX, Tel: 020-7834 6661 Printed by: Wyndeham Grange LimitedSubscriptions are £125 p.a. £195 overseasISSN: 0956-2419

TALKS ARE currently underway to open an Atlantis-style theme park inQatar.

Reef Worlds has unveiled plans for underwater ‘theme parks’ thatare expected to boost Qatar’s standing as a diving and snorkellingdestination as well as rejuvenating the nation’s marine life.

Although no potential sites for the park have been confirmed, it isexpected to be part of a new waterfront project outside of Doha, calledthe Seef Lusail development. The project is expected to includeentertainment, recreational and cultural attractions in addition toshops and hotels.For more information on accommodation and other activities in Qatarvisit www.qatartourism.gov.qa

Qatar considers underwater ‘Atlantis-style’ theme park

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Travel Bulletin 8th August 2014