Travel Bulletin 10th January 2014

L O N G W A L K T O F R E E D O M

January 10 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,855 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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Improved accessibility &value for money drives

renewed demand

Southern Africa

January 10 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,855 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

agent bulletinRCI offers agentschance to win a placeat its Royal B.R.I.T.SAwards

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

uk & ireland'Poshtels', the artsand lycra to play apart in holidayspredicts VisitEngland

9 2011this week

red seaoperators see demand forclassic Egypt following FCO advice

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SO SPA SO GOOD...Superbreak ran an overseas incentive for agents in the North East to win a spa day and lunch bymaking flight inclusive bookings from Newcastle Airport. The two agents that made the most bookings were treated toa day at the spa at Newcastle Airport and lunch at the Doubletree Hotel located next to the airport terminal. Picturedgetting ready for some pampering are, from the left: Kelly Giblin, Superbreak; Pamela Rutherford and Michelle Hepplefrom Dawson and Sanderson, Hexham; Andrew Devine, Thomas Cook, Cramlington; Laura Halliday, Newcastle Airport;and Julianne Moscrop, Thomas Cook, Cramlington.

This Week

3 newsa round-up of the industry'slatest announcements anddevelopments

8 at home with eileenEileen comes face to facewith Richard Branson on herflight to Barbados

9 agent bulletinRCI offers agents chance towin a place at its RoyalB.R.I.T.S Awards

11 puzzle bulletintry your luck at Su Doku towin a £50 M&S voucher

12 bulletin briefingNeil Basnett from EliteTravel Group highlights hisTop 10 wishes for 2014

14 airline bulletincarriers announce new flightroutes & capacity boosts

15 southern africahow improved accessibility &good value are drivingrenewed demand

25 red seaoperators see return indemand for classic Egyptfollowing FCO advice

20 uk & ireland'Poshtels', the arts and lycrato play a part in holidayspredicts VisitEngland

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HOLIDAYMAKERS ARE carrying more than £2,200 worth of technology in their suitcasewhen travelling abroad according to Hotels.com, despite only 28% of respondentsalways taking out insurance.

The survey revealed that despite more than 49% of Brits carrying smartphones withan average value of £522, almost half (49%) believe that the average worth of theirsuitcase is less than £500. The most popular gadgets packed were chargers (67%),adapters (58%) and smartphones (49%), while tablets, SLR cameras, Kindles and hairstraighteners were all carried by a fifth (21%) of respondents. A third of the 2,000respondents revealed that they would be devastated if they were to lose their suitcase.Female holidaymakers were found to be marginally more cautious than their malecounterparts with 29% always insuring their case compared to 26% of men.

The company's senior director of global communications, Alison Couper, said: “It'sincredible to see how little Brits estimate the value of the possessions they travel with.

“Hopefully this revelation of the true value of people's suitcases will persuade thestaggering 72% of holidaymakers opting to forgo insurance to think twice."

LOOKING AT growth figures,demand and market trends,G Adventures has identifiedIndonesia, Ecuador, Morocco,Turkey and Rwanda asplaces that will drawtravellers looking for excitingnew experiences this year.

Indonesia has seen solidgrowth of 21% year-on-yearfor Brits travelling beyond

Bali and the company saysthat this number is set toincrease with theintroduction of direct flightsfrom London to Jakarta,starting in May with GarudaIndonesia. The operator hasdoubled departures onexisting trips and launchedseven new trips in Indonesiafor this year, including its

Classic trip, Best of Java,priced from £749 per personfor a nine-day trip fromJakarta to Sanur.

The company also reportsa 53% increase in growthyear-on-year for mainlandtrips in Ecuador, a countryoften overshadowed by its

Hotels.com reveals technology-loving Brits underestimatesuitcase value, despite only 28% always taking out insurance

G Adventures identifies top five destination trends for 2014

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SUNVIL DISCOVERY haslaunched its 2014 realScandinavia brochure,featuring the Danish capitalof Copenhagen for the firsttime, as well as a selectionof hand-pickedaccommodation anditineraries throughoutSweden, Norway and theFaroe Islands.

The addition ofCopenhagen offers visitorsthe chance to experienceone of Europe’s oldestcapitals, either as a stand-alone city break or as partof a new rail tour ofScandinavian capitals, alsotaking in Stockholm and

Oslo. Plus, Sweden’s thirdlargest city, Malmö, is ashort hop across theÖresund Bridge fromCopenhagen, offering anideal two-centre shortbreak itinerary or a daytrip.

A total of 12 newitineraries have been addedfor this year, ranging fromWildlife encounters inSweden’s Västmanland, toThe Sognefjord by publictransport in Norway. Eachitinerary has been designedto offer the visitor a uniqueperspective on the region’sdiverse natural beauty,culture, wildlife and natural

phenomena at differenttimes of year, from theAurora to the Midnight Sun.

The programme alsooffers 11 new properties inSweden, Norway andCopenhagen, each hand-picked for their location,charm, local culinaryexperience and warmwelcome. Highlightsinclude the Kirkenes SnowHotel in Norway, artisticallycrafted each Decemberfrom local snow and ice,and the Aurora Safari Campin Gunnarsbyn, Sweden, aluxury tented wildernessretreat inspired by thesafari camps of East Africa.

Prices in Copenhagenlead in at £449 per personbased on two sharing forthree nights’ breakfastaccommodation at theHotel Ibsen includingflights from Heathrow.

The destination alsofeatures in the operator'snew, four-night Shortbreak in Malmö andCopenhagen itinerary andin a new 14-night Capitalsof Scandinavia:Copenhagen, Stockholmand Oslo tour by publictransport. For more information call020-8758 4747 or seewww.sunvil.co.uk

Luxury Collection brochures from PremierPREMIER HOLIDAYS has unveiled the latest in its selectionof 2014 brochures; the new ‘Luxury Collection’ replaces theoperator’s ‘Prestige’ brochure and highlights its most eliteand exclusive hotels and holidays for 2014 travel.

The range offers new five-star hotels in exoticdestinations such as Siem Reap, Langkawi and KualaLumpur, including additions such as Raffles in Phnom Penh,De La Paix in Luang Prabang and The Majestic Hotel inKuala Lumpur.

The operator’s trading update for last year details anincrease in high-revenue bookings, with 11% more clientsmaking bookings of £10,000 or more per holiday, and thecompany is expecting this trend to continue this year. It alsoidentified the destinations showing strongest growth of high-revenue bookings over the course of the year as Australiaand Thailand, followed by Singapore and the Middle East.

Agents can earn between £25-£150 per Luxury Collectionbooking, dependent on the booking value. For details visit www.trade.premierholidays.co.uk or call 0844-493 7444.

Sunvil Discovery adds Copenhagen to real Scandinavia brochure for 2014

www.travelbulletin.co.ukJanuary 10 20144

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LEED-ING THE WAY...Pictured marking Monarch Airlines' firstanniversary of flights from Leeds Bradford Airport are, from theleft: John Parkin, Leeds Bradford Airport, Monarch crew and IainRawlinson, Monarch Airlines. The carrier recently announced itssummer 2014 flight programme from the Yorkshire base, flyingto a total of 11 destinations including Lanzarote, Antalya,Barcelona, Bodrum, Dalaman, Faro, Heraklion, Larnaca,Menorca, Mallorca and Tenerife.

own Galapagos Islands. The operatorincreased its capacity in the Galapagoslast year, but is this year turning itsfocus to mainland trips, following thesuccess of its Local Living: EcuadorAmazon Jungle trip. New trips includethe Comfort trip Ecuador, Amazon andHot Springs, which leads in at £1,279 fornine days.

Meanwhile, with air capacity from theUK increasing by 60% this winter, theMoroccan Tourist Board is alsopredicting double-digit growth intravellers to the country, with newroutes including Royal Air Maroc directfrom London to Marrakech.

The operator reports a 159% increase

in trips to Morocco last year and ispredicting double growth again this year.As well as increasing departures, it hasintroduced new trips such as Comforttrip Morocco, Sahara and Beyond, whichcosts from £1,669 for 15 days.

Turkey has also emerged as anothersolid alternative for travellers lookingfor culture and sun in the wake of thetroubles in the Middle East, and itsgovernment has ambitious touristtargets in the build-up to the celebrationof 100 years of the Republic in 2023.

The operator reports a 42% increaseyear-on-year for travellers to Turkey andas a result has introduced four newtrips for this year including SailingTurkey - Fetihye to Bodrum, wheretravellers can sail the Turkish Riviera.

Meanwhile, re-emerging destinationRwanda has been given a helping handwith the introduction of an East Africacross-border visa for travel to Rwanda,Kenya and Uganda, making it possiblefor visitors to travel to all threecountries on one visa which costsUS$100.

To coincide with the introduction, theoperator has launched its first trip toRwanda, a nine-day Rwanda andUganda Gorilla and Chimp Adventure,which costs from £3,999 and includespermits for gorilla, monkey andchimpanzee treks, plus all national parkfees. For more information call 0844-272 2040 or visitwww.gadventures.co.uk

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EXODUS HAS issued its new wildlifeencounters brochure for 2014/15 whichfeatures 14 new itineraries.

Offering travellers the chance to sleep inthe tree canopy of the Borneo Rainforest, seekout gorillas in the Congo and swim with whalesharks in Mozambique, the company’s newwildlife trips have been designed to gettravellers as close to nature as possible.

As examples, a 16-day Borneo canopyadventure, departing on February 2 and 9 andMarch 9, leads in at £3,999 per person,including flights from London,accommodation and all meals. The trip takestravellers into the heart of the rainforest,where they will literally ‘learn the ropes’ ofhow to ascend into the canopy and will spendthe night there.

Also new is a ten-day Bears in the Alaskanwilderness, departing on June 15 and August3, and leading in at £5,999. It includes flights,

accommodation and most meals and followsin the footsteps of the BBC’s Great BearStakeout, delving into the Alaskan wilderness.Guests will stay at an eco-friendly camp in theheart of Katmai National Park. The trip is ledby an expert naturalist and wildlifephotographer to ensure travellers get close tothe bears.

Meanwhile, a 12-day Lowland gorillas inthe Congo costs from £4,599 including flights,accommodation and all meals, departing onAugust 2 and September 27. Guests willspend time in the Congo Rainforest at 'Bais'(clearings) to find lowland gorillas, forestelephants, sitatungas, buffalos, red river hogs,otters and crocodiles. A trip extension isavailable to cross the border from the CongoRepublic to the Democratic Republic of Congoto visit a bonobo sanctuary.To book or for more information call 0845-8639601 or visit www.exodus.co.uk

CHINA, COMMEMORATIVE Battlefieldtours and the Northern Lights inLapland are just three trends in railtours for 2014 identified by Great RailJourneys (GRJ) and its sister company,Treyn.

According to GRJ, rail holidays havenever been more popular, and 58 newtours across both brands have beenintroduced for this year.

A new China by Rail option sees GRJoffering a programme of tours to Chinafor the first time, with prices for the17-day trip leading in at £2,995 perperson.

Meanwhile, with 18 special tours tocommemorate the 100-year

anniversary of the First World War, theoperator predicts that many people willwish to mark this special year bysoaking up the history of NorthernFrance and Belgium, both of which areeasily accessible by train from StPancras into the Northern area ofFlanders and the Somme. In addition,there are Bruges & Battlefield toursplus Remembrance Day tours.

As an example, a five-day'Battlefields of Flanders' option costsfrom £425 per person while Treyn’sbattlefield tours start from £295 for afour-day ‘Bruges & Ypres’ tour.

Lapland and the Northern Lightshave also been introduced to make the

most of next year’s peak in solaractivity during an 11-year cycle. Thetour features Lapland as well asNorway’s Lofoten Islands travelling onone of Scandinavia’s most scenicrailways. There are two opportunitiesto view the Northern Lights in Lofotenand Narvik, and the rail tour itself goeswell into the arctic circle.

Prices for an 11-day ‘The NorthernLights & Lapland’ tour start from £2,325.

Other destinations predicted to see anincrease include India, the US,Switzerland, Italy and Scotland. To book or for further information seewww.greatrail.com andwww.railholidays.com

Great Rail Journeys and Treyn identify emerging trends and destinations

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TOUR TEAM...Pictured are staff from Jet2holidays promoting four new bumper brochures for summer2014 and winter 2014/15, including the introduction of a new lifestyle collection, ‘On Tour’. The newbrochure offers a choice of hand-picked hotels in party resorts across Europe, ideal for groups andcouples looking for fun in the sun. The new brochure range also includes Family Holidays, BeachHolidays and the luxury option, Indulgent Escapes. On Tour beach breaks start from £279 per person,based on two sharing a one-bedroom apartment on a self-catering basis at the three-star Ryan’s IbizaApartments, Playa D’En Bossa in Ibiza for seven nights. For details call 0800-408 5587 or visit https://tradesite.jet2holidays.com

Tweets of

the WeekWho’s saying what

on Twitter...

@VisitBritainDid Christmas clean youout? You can still enjoy agreat 2014 city break atbudget prices herehttp://bit.ly/18lumyU

@British_AirwaysLas Vegas is a greatstarting point foradventures in the Nevadadesert. Holidays from £649in the #BASalehttp://bit.ly/Ko5EIn

@DiscoverAdWe're excited to announcewe will be at the@DestinationShow London6 - 9 Feb as part of the@AITOHQ stand. Comealong & meet us!

@IATAExplore the 100 yearhistory of commercialflightwww.flying100years.com

@DTW_HolidaysOur new Canada & Alaskabrochure is out soon! Viewonline or pre-order theprint version herewww.discover-the-world.co.uk/canadabrochure

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

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Exodus launches 14 new wildlife encounters for 2014/15

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Newsbites● ISIS EQUITY Partners has announced the sale of

Encore Tickets to ECI Partners in a secondarymanagement buyout.

● GETABED.CO.UK HAS integrated with eRevMax, aprovider of hotel online distribution solutions, tofurther expand connectivity options available to itsportfolio of hotel partners. Accommodationproviders will now be able to make immediate ARI(Availability, Rates and Inventory) updates on thechannel through eRevMax’s RateTiger solution.

● THE ASSOCIATION of Independent Tour Operators(AITO) and AITO Specialist Travel Agents havereached their target to raise £20,000 to support theJust a Drop clean water project in Uganda.

● WARNER BROS. Studio Tour London - The Makingof Harry Potter has extended its Hogwarts in theSnow experience until February 2.

● SKOBBLER HAS announced a major update to its GPSNavigation, designed to turn an iPhone or iPad into asatnav. The new system allows consumers to utilisean internet connection for online use when available,or download maps (via in-app purchases) to store ona device – from individual cities to the world – for usein poor connection or data roaming areas.

Extended booking period from EurostarEUROSTAR PASSENGERS are now able to book ticketsfor travel to Paris, Brussels or Lille even further inadvance as Eurostar introduces an extended, summerbooking horizon. Extending the horizon to six monthsmeans that travellers can now finalise their summertravel plans up to two months earlier.

Tickets are now on sale for travel to Paris, Brusselsand Lille up to the June 7. By March 4, the remainder ofthe summer travel period, up to August 31, will beavailable to book. For details see www.eurostar.com

Bag your family holiday

Call 0844 844 0000Visit www.eurocamp4agents.co.uk

.

The Aspect holiday home is brand new and exclusive to Eurocamp for 2014. This is the next generation of accommodation and has been designed to give you more space and modern comforts than ever before.

for under £500

per party, per week

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INSIGHT VACATIONS hasreleased its new ExoticsCollection, bringingtogether the countries ofIndia, Nepal, Bhutan,Greece, Jordan, Israel,Turkey, Egypt and Moroccointo one brochure.

The collection featuresa range of new premiumescorted journeys –including the new 11-dayBhutan, Dragon Kingdom- and an expanded rangeof Signature hotels, diningand experiences.

The new Bhutanitinerary begins in thecapital of Thimphu andtravels to Paro, with ahost of SignatureExperiences along the waysuch as viewing Buddhistmanuscripts at theNational Library, meetinglocal artists, watchingmonks study at the greatGangteng Monastery andtaking a traditionalBhutanese cooking class.

Prices start from £4,475including flights, VIPdoor-to-door airporttransfers, ten nights' bed-and-breakfastaccommodation in four-and five-star hotels with afurther five meals,included sightseeing andthe services of a tourdirector.

Two new itinerarieshave been added to theoperator's Indiaprogramme for this year.As an example, an 11-dayColours of Rajasthanitinerary allows guests toexplore Rudyard Kipling’s

realm in search of theelusive Indian tiger in theRathambhore NationalPark, as well as visitingDelhi, Agra, Jaipur,Jodhpur and Udaipur.Signature Experiencesalong the way includevisiting the Taj Mahal,visiting the house in whichMahatma Gandhi spentthe final 14 days of his lifeand ascending by jeep tothe Amber Fort. Guestswill stay in the company'sSignature hotels,including the five-star TajLake Palace Hotel. Pricesstart from £3,375including flights, door-to-door airport transfers, tennights' breakfastaccommodation in four-and five-star hotels with afurther ten meals,included sightseeing andthe services of tourdirector throughout.

A range of Signatureinclusions have also beenadded to existingitineraries such as the 14-day Treasures of Greece &the Islands, which nowincludes a cookingdemonstration in Olympiaand accommodation in theDivani Caravel Hotel.

An eight-day TurkishDelights itinerary has alsobeen enhanced with anight in Izmir at theSwissotel Grand Efesoverlooking the KordonPromenade on Turkey’sAegean Sea.For more information visitwww.insightvacations.comor call 0800-206 1468.

New Exotics Collection from Insightoffers premium escorted journeys


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WEBSCLUSIVES● Funway’s Super Sale is now on! Running throughout

the month of January, the sale will feature thefollowing destinations: New York, Las Vegas, Florida,California, Hawaii, Mexico, Dominican Republic,Barbados, Caribbean.Go to www.vaxvacationaccess.co.uk

All this and more at:

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

The home of the web savvy travel agent

Go

MOVERS● SANDRA MATTHEWS-MARSH FTS, chief executive of Visit Kent,

has been elected as the new chairman of the Tourism Society.● CAPTAIN’S CHOICE, the luxury escorted touring operator

specialising in group travel on private jets, has appointed KatiePanagou as UK manager.

● SAMOA TOURISM Authority has announced the appointmentof Cindy Landlust, formerly of VisitBritain, as UK and Europetravel trade manager.

● THE JHOUSE Greenwich, a contemporary 85-room property,has appointed Jonathan Wise as general manager.

● NEIL JONES has joined Travel & Tourism Marketing (TTM) Ltd.as account manager.

● AIR PARTNER has appointed Kiran Parmar as group marketingdirector.

● AZAMARA CLUB Cruises has appointed Richard Twynam as itsfirst managing director in the UK and Ireland.

● UNITED AIRLINES has appointed Greg Hart as executive vicepresident and chief operations officer.

TRAFALGAR HAS launched a new 11-day Northern Spain itinerary.Kicking off in Madrid, the journey travels through Burgos, Argomaniz,San Sebastian, Bilbao, Santander, Picos de Europa, Covadonga,Oviedo, Luarca, Santiago de Compostela, Zamora and Salamanca.Highlights include wine tasting in the northern wine regions, a visit tothe modern Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and a visit to the grotto of‘Our Lady of Ovadonga’. In Oviedo, guests will experience a glass ofthe region’s famous cider before a ‘Be My Guest’ dinner at a cider millto sample Austrian cuisine. In Santiago de Compostela, guests willlearn about the ‘Way of St. James’ from a local expert. The itinerarycosts from £1,650 per person based on two sharing, including privatedoor-to-door transfers, ten nights’ breakfast accommodation with afurther six meals, sightseeing and the services of a travel director.For details visit www.trafalgar.com

with Eileen...At home

What has homeworker Eileen

been up to this month?

HAPPY NEW Year everyone!Hope you all had a great Christmas. I went away atChristmas this year for the very first time. I felt a bit

guilty about going off on holiday and leaving the family to theirown devices, but once the decision was made, I must admit itwas really good looking forward to a break from the usualhard work of hosting Christmas.

We flew with Virgin down to Barbados and on the outwardflight, we were surprised when Richard Branson walked intoour cabin. I wondered if perhaps he’d heard that a TravelBulletin columnist was on board and was hoping for somefree publicity. However, when he didn’t make a beelinestraight for me to try and coax me into having my photographtaken with him, I realised I may have been mistaken.

On arrival in Barbados, we enjoyed five nights at theFairmont Royal Pavilion, a really lovely hotel situated on thewest coast, before heading off on a wonderful Windstar cruisefor a week. We had a really great time and it was such a lovelyrelaxing way to spend Christmas.

We arrived back just before New Year and since arrivinghome, I’m pleased to say I’ve been busy. I’m currentlyworking on a real mixed bag of new enquiries including anautumn tour of Japan, a trip to Verona to see the opera, aholiday to Canada and a Swan Hellenic cruise for 2015.

It’s noticeable that customers are now booking further inadvance than in the last few years and whilst customers arestill looking for value for money, I sense that there doesn’tseem to be the same emphasis on price. This is a really goodsign that confidence is returning following the economicdownturn so let’s hope that this trend continues and we allhave our best year yet!

by EILEEN SAUNDERS of Travel Counsellors To respond to any of Eileen’s comments email

[email protected]

DISNEYLAND DOES not sell chewing gum. Walt Disneydid not want guests inconvenienced by stepping on gumpurchased in the park.

Source: Interestingfacts.net

DID YOU KNOW...


● SUNSPOT TOURS is giving agents thechance to win a free stay in Malta oncompletion of its training modules beforeMarch 31.

For details see http://tinyurl.com/obyog53

● OUTRIGGER HOTELS and Resorts hasannounced several changes to its travelagent education and loyalty programme.The ‘Outrigger Specialist Program’ hasbeen renamed ‘Outrigger Expert Agent’ toplace greater focus on agents'achievements and expertise. Thecompany's education and loyaltyprogramme has also been migrated to anew technology platform that provides afresher, more visually rich trainingexperience and its enhanced functionalitynow allows agents to view their learningcourse history and offerings. Meanwhile, aspecial re-launch bonus promotion is beingoffered where agents who complete any ofthe five optional learning courses andquizzes before January 31 will receivedouble learning course rewards.

For details see www.outriggeragent.com

ROYAL CARIBBEAN International has launched its ownRoyal B.R.I.T.S Awards for agents to win one of 16places at the 2014 BRIT Awards. The new musicinspired awards follow the line's earlier announcementthat new ship Anthem of the Seas will launch in spring2015, sailing from Southampton during the summerand autumn seasons.The awards, designed to help drive trade sales andexcitement around the peak booking season, requiresagents to nominate their colleagues in one of sixcategories including:● Best Breakthrough Act - best New to Selling Cruise

agent● Best producer - best booker● Best Solo Female - best female travel agent● Best Solo Male - best male travel agent● Special Recognition - for commitment, dedication,

enthusiasm● Critic's Choice - best overall agentThe winning agents (announced on February 13) willreceive a night's accommodation in a four-star hotel inLondon; dinner and drinks in The VIP Club before theshow and a live performance by one of the UK's hottest

musical artists; Level 1 VIP seats in The 02 Arena;after-show party at The VIP Club; and transport to andfrom their home.To be in with a chance to win one of six places,agents need to get a colleague to post a photo ofthem and 150 words on why they deserve to wintheir chosen category at the cruise line's dedicatedFacebook page for agents atwww.facebook.com/royalcaribbeantravelagentsAgents can also increase their chance of winning bybooking and confirming a 2014 cruise that is part of the‘Turn of Year’ campaign before February 12, to beentered into a prize draw to win one of ten places.The rewards aren't just limited to agents either. Thebenefits that can be passed on to clients includesavings of up to £500, free parking and a free kids sodapackage on select UK sailings.Agents will be able to vote on their favourite submis-sions and winners will be determined by two equallyweighted measurements - the number of votes eachagent receives on Facebook and the number of votesthey receive from the line’s judging panel.

GAMBIA GROUP...The Gambia Experience hosted a

group of agents on a four-day fam trip to The Gambia.

Pictured enjoying the sights are, from the left: Pat

Svanberg, Chobham Travel ; Yvonne Holmes, Classic

Travel of Loughton; Vicky Samwell, Broadland Travel ;

Karen Brooks, Travel PA; Debi Phillips, Newells Travel ;

Claire Hilferty and Gill Synnuck, Serenity Holidays;

Jackie McKay, Sovereign Travel ; and Michael Carr,

Voyager Travel Direct. Agents interested in future fam

trips should email [email protected]

Agent training


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Virgin unveils newCash Passport card VIRGIN HOLIDAYS hasintroduced a new multi-currency Cash Passportcard in partnership withMasterCard.

The card is a chip andPIN enabled pre-paid cardthat can be loaded with onecurrency – or a selection ofup to seven, whilst lockingin the exchange rate at thetime of load, reload orwhen moving fundsbetween currencies. It canbe topped up online or overthe phone for the lifetimeof the card. Customers canthen use it to withdrawlocal currency at nearly twomillion cash machinesaround the world, or use itto pay for goods at morethan 31 million merchantsdisplaying the MasterCardAcceptance Mark.

The operator has alsorecently introduced its firstbespoke travel insurancepolicy. Providing cover forsingle or multiple trips and90 different activities fortravellers up to the age of70 as standard, withupgrades for winter sportsand cruising available, thepolicy has been designed inassociation with AllianzInsurance to providecustomers with acomprehensive, good value,basic level of peace ofmind.

COINCIDING WITH the recent Freedom TravelGroup Conference in Glasgow, Bedbank tookthe opportunity as headline sponsor to re-launch Bedbank.com, showcase its newwebsite and introduce a new incentive toFreedom Travel Group members.

Features of the new site include fastersearches, improved content, integratedtransfers by Transfers4Travel and the facilityto personalise and forward accommodationinformation and quotes to the customer. Thesite also has a new strapline, ‘luxuryaccommodation and transfers worldwide’ andfeatures only four- and five-star hotels, villas

and apartments with bookable upgrades andtransfers.

Added-value and exclusive special offersalso make it easier for agents to increasemargins and control how they mark-up theproduct.

The launch incentive, in association withElite Island Resorts, includes each FreedomTravel Group Conference Delegate receivingthree free nights’ accommodation, with everybooking earning them an extra night - plus acompetition to win £1,000 for Caribbeanflights.

Agents can sign up at www.bedbank.com

TEXAS TREAT...In partnership with Texas Tourism, the Dallas and Austin CVBs hosted a group of luxurygroup tour operators on a trip to Texas, sponsored by American Airlines. Highlights included attending the

Pearl Jam concert at the American Airlines Center and the UnitedStates Formula 1 Grand Prix Race at Circuit of the Americas.

Pictured are, from the left: Julie Chase, Austin CVB; Rich Smith,Secret Escapes; Graham Jowers, Thomas Cook; Liliana Rivera,Dallas CVB; and Brad Smyth, Texas Tourism.

Bedbank chooses Freedom Travel Group for relaunch

THE DISNEY ATTRACTION... Katy Lee, head of digital sales & partnerships at Attraction World, attended a VIP fam trip to Disneyland Parisrecently and picked up the company's award for 'Top Ticket Seller 2013'. Pictured with Katy is Hugh Wood (left) from Disney DestinationsInternational and Frans Leenaars, Disneyland Paris.

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Early booking & kids go free offers from Condor FerriesPASSENGERS BOOKING a family holiday to France or the Channel Islands can benefit from thereturn of Condor Ferries’ Kid’s Go Free offer, as children sail for free on all crossings bookedbefore February 14 for travel up to March 2015.

Other offers include a 20% saving for high speed sailings to Guernsey, Jersey and St Maloplus a Caravans Go Free offer for clients making bookings by February 14 for travel on Sundayservices direct from Portsmouth to Cherbourg between May and September. The company hasalso removed the supplements for taking a motorhome to France, meaning clients can travel atthe cost of a standard car. All fares include a vehicle and luggage, with no booking fee, noadditional taxes and no debit and credit card charges.For more information visit www.condorferries.com


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Where Am I?

Italian character off the Magic Roundabout?

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, January 16th. Solution and new puzzle

will appear next week.

The winner for 6th December is Gemma Deakin, Fred

Olsen Travel in Ipswich.

December 6 Solution: A=9 B=3 C=5 D=2

➠A

➠B

➠C

➠D

Number: 001

Travagrams

Across 1. Flag carrier of Spain (6)4. First name of 2013 Sports Personality of the

Year (4)7. French island in the Indian Ocean, sounds like

a good place to meet old friends (7)8. South African Airways, initially (3)10. Wiltshire World Heritage Site with the

largest stone circle in Europe (7)12. Capital of the Shetland islands (7)15. Often served by 4 Across (3)17. Nationality of celebrity chef, Gino D'Acampo

(7)18. Hotel chain, ___ Inn (4)19. Device required for a Selfie (6)

Down 1. Actor portraying Mandela in Long Walk to

Freedom (5,4)2. South American country (7)3. Popular Spanish holiday isle (5)5. Nassau international airport code (3)6. Award-winning West End musical (4)9. Former name of Ethiopia (9)11. Kiev is the capital (7)13. Accor hotel brand (4)14. Cuddly Aussie marsupial (5)16. Cathedral where P&O Ferries won Workplace

Choir of the Year (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 28

Crossword

Su Doku

Num

ber:

001

Flag carrier for Ireland

The third largest city in Spain

Alien Rugs

Lava Nice

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


WELL, HERE we are in 2014 and all braced forwhat hopefully will be a successful tradingyear for all of us involved in this wonderful

industry. For many, 2013 proved to be a reasonableyear and the continuing signs that the UK economyhas finally turned the corner all indicate that thetravelling public will have greater confidence inbooking holidays. Politicians of course have awonderful knack of spoiling things for us all and withthe European elections coming up in May, this willgive a serious wake-up call as to how committedBritish people really are to the monster that the EEChas become.

It is always nice at the start of any year to havesome aims and wishes for the year both for businessand also in general, most of which sadly are probablyunrealistic and not within one’s powers to achieve!Here are my Top 10:

● Could politicians of all parties please comprehendthat the purpose of Airport Taxes is to raise money toimprove facilities at airports and not use them as ameans of raising revenue for the Exchequer. Ourlevels of APD remain totally scandalous but there isno guarantee that they will ever come down.

● How many sofas can the British people really sit on?Television advertising after Christmas and into the NewYear used to be full of holiday adverts but it now seemsthat every advertisement break encourages us to buysome of the most garish sofas that have ever beenmade. There is an unfounded rumour that on March 2,DFS will not be holding a sale.

● Would it not be lovely to know that from 2014 therewill be total price parity for all travel arrangements,whether bought via a travel agent or directly fromthe supplier by the client?

● Despite medical advances, there is still no cure forthe common cold! How many working days are losteach year to something that is thoroughlymiserable? One pill to be taken at the first signs of acold and it never develops; how marvellous thatwould be!

● Please can the whole world have no political unrestand conflict in 2014! A false hope but what anachievement if it actually happened. Tourism is vitalto the economies and employment in so many

countries but there are those who try to wreck it fortheir own selfish purposes; the world would be abetter place if we all could live in peace andharmony.

● Could Sir Paul McCartney let us all see the realcolour of his hair in 2014?

● Can we please go back to normal weather patterns?Clearly defined seasons; proper summers with lotsof sunshine and cold winters with lots of snow? Noneof this in-between mild weather with far too muchrain! Global warming is of course always blamed forthe world’s changing weather patterns but whateverthe cause, let’s just have proper weather.

● Could somebody please tell Sir Bruce Forsyth thathe used to be funny and now he is not. I am sure thatthere is a nice holiday home in Puerto Rico to whichhe could retire gracefully.

● When is somebody going to make a decision aboutLondon’s requirements for better airports? Howmany proposals have there been over the years andstill there is no solution in sight? The UK has beenleft far behind by the development of airports inother European countries and the consultations stillgo on. Most of us will have retired from this industryby the time any final decision is made and will thecorrect decision actually be taken?

● Could a promise be made that we have finally seen theback of the X-Factor?

It is always nice to live in hope as sometimesdreams can come true! Take a few minutes to look atyour own businesses for 2014 and try to come up withten things that you would like to have achieved byyear end. Even if you achieve partial success, that canbe immensely satisfying and could have a significanteffect on your business.

My warmest wishes to you all for a fantasmagorical2014!

Industry Insight by...

Neil Basnett, chief executive of Elite Travel Group, highlights his Top 10 wishes for 2014...

bulletinbriefing

"When is someone going to

make a decision about London’s

requirements for better airports?"




MALAYSIA AIRLINES has launched a new route to Darwin,capital of the Northern Territory in Australia for UKpassengers.

The four times weekly service to Darwin, departs Heathrowto Kuala Lumpur on the double-daily A380 flight before aquick transit onto the new and improved 737-800 aircraft tocomplete their journey.

The carrier is also increasing frequency from KualaLumpur to key Australian destinations. Flights from Kuala

Lumpur to Sydney will increase to 21 weekly from February 5and flights to Melbourne increased to triple daily lastNovember. Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland, NewZealand also on the A330 aircraft, increased from six timesweekly to a daily service last year and will be permanent fromMarch 30.

Return Economy fares to Brisbane cost from £899 includingtaxes and charges and fares to Auckland cost from £1,037.For more information visit www.malaysiaairlines.com

SOUTHAMPTON AIRPORT has announced that EasternAirways is to expand its route network this month toinclude services between Southampton and Leeds.

Leeds is an important route as it links two keycommercial centres and also provides access for peoplefrom the north of England to the cruise ships that departfrom Southampton to America, Europe, the Baltic and theCaribbean.

The airline will commence operations on January 20,running three daily services between Monday and Friday.In addition, it will also operate a Sunday afternoonservice, providing flexibility for business and leisuretravellers and ensuring the continuation of air linksbetween two of the UK’s major cities.

Weekday services depart Southampton at 08.20, 16.05and 18.40 and depart from Leeds Bradford Airport at06.50, 10.20 and 17.10, with flights timed to allow a fullbusiness day in both cities.For more information see www.easternairways.com

Eastern Airways expands at SouthamptonAirport with new flights to Leeds

Malaysia Airlines boosts capacity to Australasia with four times weekly service


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HIGH FIVE...Pictured marking Flybe's five-year anniversary ofits franchise agreement with Scottish airline Loganair are,from the left: Captain Andrew Forey; Loganair crew memberKirsty Walter; First Officer Murray Gibbons; Phil Preston,Loganair; and Fred Kochak, Flybe.

InBrief● GULF AIR has unveiled its new inflight entertainment (IFE) games

offering with the launch of six traditional Middle Eastern gameson its flights. They include the regional favourites of Tawle, anArabian-style backgammon game; Basha, a popular regional cardgame; and Moosiqar, which offers players the chance to createmelodies with one of the Middle East’s oldest instruments, the‘Oud’, using familiar and intuitive controls.

● FLYBE WILL operate a new daily service between Birminghamand Newquay as part of its summer schedule. Flights areavailable for booking at www.flybe.com with travel effectivefrom May 16 to September 9. One-way fares start from £23.99including taxes and charges.

● FROM MARCH 31 British Airways will operate direct flights toFlorence from London City Airport.

● AER LINGUS Regional, operated by Aer Arann, is expanding itsoperations from Bristol Airport with the announcement of a newservice to Shannon. The daily flight will commence on April 3,operating alongside the airline’s existing Dublin service, whichlinks Bristol with the Irish capital up to three times daily. Lead infares start from £29.99 one-way including taxes, fees and charges.

● TAP PORTUGAL has announced two new destinations in Brazil,Manaus and Belém, commencing in June 2014. The new servicessignal the carrier's first destinations in northern Brazil, wideningits existing network which will now serve all regions from the UK,via Lisbon. The route is to be launched with three weeklyfrequencies (Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays) with fares from £735including all taxes and charges.

For details see www.flytap.com

Airlines announce new routes to CroatiaAIR LINGUS will launch two weekly flights from Dublin toPula on Tuesdays and Saturdays in April.

Pula joins Dubrovnik as the carrier's seconddestination in Croatia, with return fares starting from€83.99 (approximately £69.74) per person including taxesand charges.

Also commencing in April, Ryanair will fly fromStansted to Osijek, in Eastern Croatia. Located on theRiver Drava, Osijek is the economic and cultural centre ofthe Slavonia region and flights take just over three and ahalf hours from the UK.Return fares start from £61.98 per person.


The vast region of Southern Africa isundergoing rapid change retainingits rugged, raw beauty, whilst

evolving to meet the increasingly diverseneeds of today’s leisure traveller. MyAfrica story started as a seven year oldchild, and was immediately filled with anoverwhelming sense of space andadventure. Our family had taken a tripout from Port Elizabeth on the EasternCape of South Africa to Maitland, abeautiful natural beach backed by milesof huge sand dunes. After a long dayswimming, fishing and playing on thedunes our day was complete as,mesmerised, we watched in awe as aneight foot snake slowly made its wayacross our coastal road home. I washooked. It’s perhaps that wonderfulsense of spontaneity that gives all ofSouthern Africa such an edge. Fast-forward to today and the region’s abilityto meet diverse needs is clear - todaythose dunes are enjoyed by sand-borders, and the sea provides abundantopportunities for whale watching andcage diving.

There is a depth to the region whichwill inspire generations to come. Werecently saw the UK general release ofMandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Thefilm, shot in more than 200 locations inSouth Africa, spans Nelson Mandela’sexceptional life journey from the earlyyears through to his inauguration as thefirst democratically elected President of

South Africa. We began a conversationwith the UK distributors of the film lastsummer and brought South AfricanTourism in to partner on what was to bea unique project. The film showcasesSouth Africa on a global cinematic stageand is set to inspire a far reachingaudience while telling one of the mostincredible true life stories of our time.Prior to the film’s UK premiere we hadforged a strong partnership with theNelson Mandela Children’s Fund. Theiraim is to help realise Mandela’s dreams,to make a world-class healthcareavailable to the children of SouthernAfrica with a state-of-the-art newchildren’s hospital. Whilst this has beena truly humbling experience it’s also anexample of the strong social,conservation and environmentalmessage from the region.

On a tourism platform, accessibilityhas increased enormously. Value forvisitors to South Africa has improvedwhere a troubled rand has made thedestination 20% more affordable thanlast year. A cost of living index publishedby a leading ex-patriot website currentlyindexes the cost of living in Cape Townat nearly half that of Rio de Janeiro, andthree times more affordable thanLondon. Whilst there are hugecontrasts across the world, it shows whycontent strategies are both at the heartof good value, but primarily the desire tounearth unique experiences.

Increasingly, more and more travellersuse South Africa as their first experiencebefore discovering the riches of broadersub-Saharan Africa. The development ofJohannesburg or Tambo in recent yearshas provided a seamless connecting hubfor investment in the region, and a travelportal for those seeking to explore waybeyond the glorious, lazy afternoons inCamps Bay.

It’s this infinite choice that will alsokeep people returning to the regionalongside the continued development ofspa breaks, golfing holidays, adventure,eco tourism holidays that have beenwedded to the already strong reputationfor the region’s food and wine tours andsafari and wildlife. The iconic KrugerNational Park continues to thrill visitors,but it finds tough competition from otherregions at home and abroad. My lastexperience of a game drive in theHluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve on thenorth coast of KwaZulu-Natal, in theheart of Zululand, left me with enduringmemories that will stay with me for along time. With visitor numbersbeginning to bounce back in Zimbabwe,I’m looking forward to discovering thenew story the country has to tell, with somuch of the country relativelyunexplored in recent years. According tothe Zimbabwe Tourism Authority thecomparison of tourism statistics for the

by JON DANKS, head of UK marketing at South African Airways

and chair of the Country Marketing and Communication Group for

the Star Alliance in the UK.

Improved accessibility and

good value drives renewed

demand for destination


southernafricaCape Town, South Africa

● continues on next page

S04 TB1001 Southern Africa_Layout 1 08/01/2014 10:57 Page 15

VISIONS OF Africa is highlighting a safari holiday to Botswanawith a two-day trip to the Victoria Falls.

Guests will first travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site ofthe Victoria Falls, staying at a four-star hotel on the banks ofthe Zambezi River for two days.

From there, guests will be transferred across the borderinto Botswana for two nights at the Chobe Safari Lodge forgame drives and safari cruises in Chobe National Park.

Next stop is the heart of the Delta with two nights at theMoremi Crossing Lodge, before flying by light aircraft fromKasane and transferring by boat to the lodge which is a waterbased camp, with all game viewing by motorised boat, mokorocanoe or walking on neighbouring islands.

The final stop is Sango Camp located on the edge of theMoremi Game Reserve. The tented camp offers twice dailygame drives and guided walks into Moremi and the Khwaiconcession. On the final morning guests are flown back toMaun for their return journey to Heathrow.

Prices lead in at £3,435 per person, based on two sharingincluding eight nights' accommodation (four nights on fullboard with drinks, two nights on full board and two nights'breakfast accommodation), game viewing activities, inter campand airport transfers.

Flights, optional activities in Victoria Falls and Chobe andvisas are excluded.

Botswana safari holiday from Visions of Africa


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ENCOUNTER MARA is one of only six camps in the 50,000 acre MaraNaboisho Conservancy on the north eastern border of the Masai MaraNational Reserve in Kenya. The private conservancy is a tourismproject benefiting conservation and communities and promotes,preserves and develops land for livestock, wildlife and tourism. It alsomanages issues of land-use and human-wildlife conflict together withresidents and ensures economic growth through increasedcommunity participation in the planning and development of projects.The camp employs 95% local Maasai community members as staffand also provides educational projects which facilitate localemployment in tourism. These include training locals to becomeguides, supporting local schools, improving access to healthcare andclean water and empowering women. Visitor numbers and camp sizeis strictly controlled to ensure visitors have an exclusive experience.For details see www.encountermara.comBookings can be made through Africa Exclusive atwww.africaexclusivesafaris.com or by calling 01604-628979.

first quarter of 2013 showed a 17%increase of International arrivals from allregions compared to 2012. This figurewas buoyed by a 215% increase invisitors from UK & Ireland and so it willbe interesting to see if this strong trendcontinues for the first quarter 2014. Formany visitors, the journey from HwangeNational Park up to the great ZambeziRiver is a must, as you reach one of thegreat wonders of the world - VictoriaFalls. For many years the Falls haveinspired a diverse range of travellers,from extreme sports fanatics, to thoseseeking inspiration from the thunderoussounds and views.

It’s perhaps also a great illustrationtoo of where Sub Saharan SouthernAfrica has built such a strong reputationfor quality in the face of challenge andadversity. Rich in history the banks of the

Zambezi are home to some of the mostcharming and beautiful hotels in all ofAfrica. The Zambian side first marks thespot where in 1855 David Livingstonefirst viewed the Falls - the Kololo peoplewho he’d travelled with called it Mosi-oa-Tunya – the smoke that thunders. On theriver you’ll find floating spas that gentlymake their way along the banks of theChobe River, uniquely located where fourAfrican countries meet - Zimbabwe,Zambia, Botswana and Namibia. Whilstpampered indulgence may take amorning, a professional team can alsoassist in your quest to land a prizedTigerfish. Whilst there are many placesin the world where you’d find uniquenatural experiences side by side withstrong competition for revenues, perhapsthere are few that offer such warmththat drives world-class, authentic serviceorientation.

The future for the region is truly

inspiring; the wine routes and theexperience of standing amongthousands of African Penguins atBoulders Bay, or a swim in the shelteredbeach next to the colony will thrillvisitors for years to come. The vibrancyof Johannesburg and Soweto will emerge as strong city-breakoptions, buoyed by a strong time-zoneadvantage. I spent time at the Grande duPilat last summer which has nowinspired me to visit Sossusvlei inNamibia. The vast and beautifulSerengeti in Tanzania offers one ofAfrica’s most captivating migrationsafaris. Set this alongside its beautifulisland coasts, the two-centre option is aclear rival to the stunning coastlines andthe diving experience of Mozambiquefurther south. With such strong naturalresources, a reputation for quality andaffordability, the sub-Saharan Africanregion is only set to thrive. ✦

● continued from previous page

ISANDLWANA LODGE, located within the KwaZulu-NatalBattlefields and cultural areas of Isandlwana and Rorke’sDrift, has announced a programme for families who wouldlike their children to have an educational, yet fun experiencewhile parents participate in Battlefield tours or otheractivities offered by the lodge.

The children’s programme is run by Africa!Ignite, a ruraldevelopment agency that works in community developmentacross the province of KwaZulu-Natal where the BattlefieldsRoute is situated.

The WOWZULU Marketplace, situated at the IsandlwanaMuseum, is one of Africa!Ignite’s enterprise developmentand the children’s programme includes walking to the

WOWZULU Marketplace from the lodge through the villageand hearing stories about the village. African-themed story-telling, singing, colouring-in of pictures with an Africantheme, drawing on a large chalkboard in the garden,making a beaded name bracelet and refreshments are alsoincluded.

Costs are based on the number of children in any oneprogramme and may vary slightly depending on the lengthof time required and any special requests, but a four-hoursession costs approximately £6 based on four childrenparticipating to £18 for a one-on-one experience. For more information visit www.isandlwana.co.za or email [email protected]

KwaZulu-Natal’s Isandlwana Lodge introduces new programme for children



Cape Town Walking& Winelands option

from ExploreEXPLORE HAS introduceda new Cape Town Walkingand Winelands tour forthis year. Combining easywalks with sampling finewines and traditionalfood, the tour is ideal forfoodies and activetravellers.

Passing through thecharacteristic fynbosvegetation, guests willexplore the South Africancountryside which offers9,000 different floralspecies; explore CapeTown and Table Mountain;spend a night on ahouseboat; and visitscenic wine estates.

The nine-day tourdeparts in September andOctober and costs from£1,991 per personincluding flights,breakfast accommodation,five other meals,transport and the serviceof a driver and tourleader. For further information or to book visitwww.explore.co.uk or call 0844-499 0901.

2by2 Holidaysadds Wildflowers,Winelands andWhales itineraryfor 20142BY2 HOLIDAYS haslaunched a 15-dayWildflowers, Winelands andWhales tour led by KeithKirsten, “the Alan Titchmarshof South Africa”, for August.

The tour will give travellersthe opportunity to view thewildflowers of South Africa'sWestern Cape, visitKirstenbosch and KarooBotanical Gardens and gainaccess to selected privategardens.

The itinerary departs onAugust 31 and will be led byKirsten, who has publishedseven gardening books andhas had his own gardeningshows on TV and radio.

It includes a visit to theLangebaan Lagoon and thePostberg Flower Reserve inWest Coast National Park,where, from mid-August tomid-September, visitors cansee fields of wildflowers thatform a carpet of colours andmay see zebra, wildebeest,eland, red hartebeest,grysbok, caracal and rockhyrax.

Also included are visits tothe Stellenbosch Winelandsto see the Karoo DesertBotanical Gardens in thefoothills of the Hex RiverMountains; the privategardens of Stellenbosch,including the StellenboschBotanical Garden; thegardens of Vergelegen; thevineyards of Stellenbosch andFranschhoek; the Cape ofGood Hope Nature Reserve,home to baboons, ostrichesand dolphins; and BouldersBeach, where there is aresident penguin colony.

The tour ends with twodays at the small seasidetown of Hermanus for a spotof whale-watching.

Prices start from £2,995per person including flightsfrom Heathrow.For details call 01582-766122 or [email protected]

VIRGIN HOLIDAYS has added a wide range of additionalproperties to its programme for South Africa in its 2014/15Africa brochure.

They include the Protea Hotel Breakwater Lodge in CapeTown, which is the new lead-in property for the brand in theWinelands; the Oude Werf Hotel and the Grande Roche.

On the Garden Route, there are four new propertiesincluding the Belvidere Manor, while new properties alsofeature in the Eastern Cape, Kruger area and KwaZulu-Natal.

As an example of prices, seven nights on the Garden Routeleads in at £1,237 per person including scheduled flights withVirgin Atlantic from Heathrow to Johannesburg, BritishAirways flights onwards from Johannesburg to Port Elizabethand accommodation at the Belvidere Manor on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

It is based on two adults travelling on a May 5 departure,sharing a garden classic room and includes all applicabletaxes and fuel surcharges.To book or for more information see www.virginholidays.co.ukor call 0844-557 3859.

Virgin boosts property portfolio in South Africa

southernafrica

SUN DESTINATIONS has launched new tailored Botswanaitineraries to a selection of independent camps located in theCentral Kalahari, Okavango Delta and Chobe, with net rates of upto 25% off rack. The circuit includes Haina Kalahari Lodge,Machaba Camp, Mapula Camp, Sango Safari Camp, Ghoha HillsSavuti, Camp Kuzuma and Chobe Elephant Camp. Agents can alsomix and match camps that suit their client. For details email [email protected] or visitwww.sundestinations.co.za

Debut property launch in Mozambique from AnantaraSOME 30KMS east of mainland Mozambique on Africa’s east coast, the BazarutoArchipelago of protected national park islands lie scattered across the turquoise IndianOcean. On the largest of these tropical islands, covering 12,000ha, Anantara BazarutoIsland Resort & Spa has recently become the brand’s first property in Mozambique andAnantara’s eighth country.

The resort formerly operated as Indigo Bay Resort & Spa, which Minor Hotel Group,Anantara’s owning company, took over management of last year, with the intention torebrand to Anantara.

The resort is located a 15-minute flight from Vilanculos Airport on the mainland, whichconnects to Johannesburg with a direct two-hour flight. The resort offers a boutiquecollection of 44 villas, with a choice of garden and shoreline panoramas. Outside, somevillas offer a living sala complete with a hammock, plunge pool and a veranda, while theAnantara Pool Villa affords exclusive seclusion with a private driveway and entrance, twoen-suite bedrooms, a spacious lounge and dining areas both inside and out, as well as apool and Jacuzzi.

Other resort features include six restaurants and bars, a family pool, adults-only pool,children’s entertainment room, fitness centre, spa, tennis, volleyball and golf course.Wedding and honeymoon packages are also available.

Beyond the resort, guests can tour the island by 4x4 to discover other bays, exotic floraand fauna, local life and a 19th century lighthouse.

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotel Group, said: “The addition of Anantara BazarutoIsland as our first Anantara in Africa is a significant milestone for the brand and one thatwe are very excited about. We are currently exploring other opportunities in Africa, bothwith our partners and independently, and we are looking to further develop the Anantarabrand on the continent.”




Peregrine adds Kalahari escape from £1,285PEREGRINE ADVENTURES has introduced a three-dayshort break which takes travellers from Botswana’scapital, Maun to the Deception Valley Lodge.

Set on 15,000 hectares of private reserve, the lodge isaccessed by its own private airstrip and, bordering theCentral Kalahari Game Reserve, overlooks a popularwatering hole for local wildlife. During their stay, guestscan experience game drives, guided walks with KalahariBushmen to explore their culture and hunting skills, plustraditional Boma dinners. Prices start from £1,285 perperson based on two sharing, for a three-day break.

Kwandwe Private Game Reserveintroduces eco activities to kids safarisKWANDWE PRIVATE Game Reserve has launched its newBlue Crane Conservation Club which introduces an ecotheme plus new ‘see & learn’ activities to its safariprogramme for kids. The aim is to teach young Kwandwe guests about green livingand to inspire them to take up their own initiatives once backat home.

Children receive a backpack that includes a Blue CraneConservation Booklet comprising animal check lists, themedgames and puzzles, as well as a list of environmentally-friendly activities to accomplish.

Back at home children will be encouraged to email indrawings and photos of their safari and the eco initiatives theyhave started which will be posted on Kwandwe’s Facebookpage. Also included in the packs are crayons/pencils, areusable BPA-free water bottle and a ‘Frolicking Rhino’ rangeof bath products.

The new eco activities include a Bugs & Bones walk, whichidentifies animal tracks and droppings. Children will alsohave the opportunity to offset their own carbon footprint byplanting Spekboom, a type of thicket vegetation that is nativeto the Eastern Cape and prolific at Kwandwe.

Families can also participate in the property's voluntourismactivities through the reserve’s Angus Gillis Foundation, whichworks with communities living on and surrounding thereserve. Activities are tailored according to individual andfamily interests and skills. For young guests this includesassisting with gardening projects at the local MgcamabeleCommunity; playing with the pre-school kids andparticipating in arts and craft activities including Kwandwe’s‘Knit a Bit’ programme. The knitted squares are then joinedto make blankets and given to the Angus Gillis Foundationthat distributes them to the needy communities surroundingKwandwe.

On safari, children six years and under can experience adedicated Hooves & Stripes adventure - with or without theirparents - to view ‘non-aggressive’ game such as giraffe,zebra, monkeys and warthogs. They can also join the rangersto try their luck at fishing.

Back at the lodge children learn more about recycling andhow to care for our planet playing one of the new ecoeducational board games. There is also face painting, Plasterof Paris mould making and Sand Art. Alternatively they canjoin the chefs in an interactive kitchen baking biscuits,making chocolate spider webs and insects and pizzas forsupper.

A newly designed children’s menu includes fun andnutritional mealtime options, categorised under “Somethingyummy for your tummy” (including fish cakes withhomemade chips and veggies) and “Something sweet as atreat” (including homemade ice cream with a choice oftoppings and homemade chocolate brownies).

Wrapping up the day, and also part of Kwandwe’s see andlearn theme, the staff have written a series of African bedtimestories recalled from their own childhood that recount howthe reserve came to be the conservation and communitysuccess story that it is today.

Prices lead in at approximately £270 per adult per night atEcca Lodge on a full board basis, including meals, a kids'menu, drinks and safari activities. Children under six yearssharing with their parents stay free while six-11 year-olds pay25% and 12-16 year-olds pay 50%. For more information email [email protected] or see www.kwandwe.com

Tuli Safari Lodge concludes communityproject at Molema

TULI SAFARI Lodge has announced the successfulconclusion of its involvement in the community project atMolema, in the Tuli Block, Botswana.

The lodge formed a joint venture with three localvillages to create a new tourism venture at Molema in2006, to enable the local community to participate in andbenefit from tourism to the region. The aim was toestablish a new self-catering and camping facility andfor the operation to be ultimately handed back to thecommunity, which has now taken place. The communitywill have the support of another local tourism business,Tuli Wilderness, which will further assist in developingtourism and conservation initiatives in the adjacentvillage areas.For more information email [email protected] or seewww.tulitrails.com and www.molema.com

INTREPID TRAVEL has re-introduced a camping trip in KrugerNational Park as an alternative to its lodge-based safaris. The four-day ‘Kruger Wild Camping’ leads in at £387 per person, based on twosharing, and includes minibus transfers to and from Johannesburg,two nights' camping at the Andover Game Reserve, one night atThornhill Safari Lodge, game drives, some meals and local guides.Pre- and post- accommodation in Johannesburg can also be added.

WHEELS IN MOTION...Ethos Marketing recently hosted a FairestCape Fam trip which saw Alison Whitfield host five tour operatorson a wining and dining adventure in the South African sunshine.Pictured enjoying a cycling tour around Fancourt on the GardenRoute are, from the left: William Boocock, Kuoni; Harriet Spicer,TUI; Chloe Gilchriest, Virgin Holidays; Sandra Robinson, TravelCounsellors; and Tracey Chadwick, Carrier.

southernafrica



WITH A SPATE of new and refurbished luxury hostels openingthroughout the country, a rush of British musicals hitting theWest End and a 15% annual growth in cycling, VisitEnglandpredicts that “poshtels”, the arts and lycra will all play a part inEnglish holidays this year.

According to the tourist office, glamping is going one stepfurther this year, with budget holidaymakers opting for thehomier comforts of a poshtel (posh hostel). The YHA hasrecently spent more than £10m on refurbishments, creatingnot just private rooms with en-suite bathrooms, but bridalsuites with roll-top baths and four-poster beds and even on-site art galleries – YHA York now features a six-foot artinstallation charting the history of the Rowntree family. It alsohas a new hostel on the South Downs, offering a contemporarytake on country life. In other poshtel news, Hoax is a newluxury hostel brand which launched with its first opening inLiverpool in July last year while the Safestay Hostel in London’sElephant & Castle was recently awarded four stars inVisitEngland’s accommodation quality assurance scheme. Thehostel, situated in an 18th Century Georgian building, formerlythe Labour Party Headquarters, features private twin roomsand family rooms with 40” plasma TVs and is one of a series toopen across London over the next three years.

This year also looks set to be the year of the arts. AnishKapoor’s landmark ArcelorMittal Orbit – Britain’s largest pieceof public art – opens to the public in April and WANDER – arton the Yorkshire Wolds Way is the UK’s first public arts projecton a National Trail. Made-up of artworks ranging from greenoak benches, each featuring poetry, to a viewing platformflanked by ten oak warrior figures, the ten new artworks havebeen commissioned by Visit Hull and East Yorkshire.

Other new openings include a sculpture trail in Stoke-on-Trent and The Potteries – 34 works that take visitors fromTrentham Gardens to the city centre; Manchester CentralLibrary, which will open in the spring as the city’s 'living room',featuring performance, exhibition and creative spaces; and theWhitworth Art Gallery, also in Manchester. The gallery hasundergone a £15m investment that has funded two new wings,connecting the building to its surrounding parkland andcreating a café in the trees and an art garden.

The West End will also see a bumper year with six newBritish musicals opening, while outdoor art also continues togo from strength to strength with Hauser & Wirth Somersetopening at Durslade Farm on the edge of the ancient town ofBruton, where visitors will be able to view new and innovativepieces of contemporary art and architecture, designed tomirror the Somerset landscape.

Meanwhile, the tourist office reports that the cycling market isgrowing 10-15% per annum and will be worth more than £3bnby 2015. As such, investment in infrastructure abounds - £160mwill be spent cycle-proofing Britain’s roads, National Parks areinvesting £12m in cycle paths, seaside towns are opening uptheir promenades to cyclists and new city-centre cycling hubsare in the pipeline. VisitEngland’s own research shows that 25%of us (3.8m) are keen to go cycling on holiday.

In March, the Lee Valley VeloPark opens to the public,allowing access to its four cycling disciplines (track, BMX,road and mountain biking) and L'Eroica, the famous historicTuscan bike tour dubbed as 'the most handsome bike race inthe World' is coming to the UK in June. L'Eroica Britannia willtravel through the Peak District National Park on a three-dayfestival, known as 'The Great British Adventure', celebratingthe joys of heritage, wellbeing and local food and drink, aswell as the joys of cycling. Adventurers can choose a 30, 50 or100-mile route to be ridden on pre-1987 bikes. Plus the Tourde France will commence in Yorkshire this year, taking ridersfrom Leeds to Harrogate, then York to Sheffield, before itmoves south for a third stage from Cambridge to London.

Meanwhile, the tourist board has confirmed that it is totake part in the Best of Britain & Ireland Show as an officialpartner of the show’s dedicated Meetings Area.

It will join Tourism Ireland, Visit Scotland and Visit Walesand will be one of 250 exhibitors at the UK’s domestic tradeshow for tourism destinations.

The partnership will include a hosted business breakfaston the second day of the show, while a VisitEngland-brandedinformation desk will welcome buyers to the Meetings Area,which will also be manned by the tourist board’s personnel.

The event will take place in Hall 19, the NEC, from March 12-13.

GREAT RAIL Journeys and sister brand Treyn is predicting that its Yorkshire tours will prove popular this year on the back of theTour de France taking place in the region. Treyn’s five-day ‘Yorkshire by Steam’ tour costs from £295 per person based on twosharing. It includes four nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast, four dinners, a guided tour of the historic city of York,journeys on Keighley & Worth Valley Steam Railway, the Brontë Parsonage and The North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway, plus avisit to the seaside town of Whitby. The price includes the services of a professional tour manager throughout.

'Poshtels', the arts and lycra to play a part in holidays predicts VisitEngland

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GRAND UK Holidays says that it expectsthe domestic and short breaks marketsto continue growing this year, andpredicts that mature holidaymakers willincreasingly upgrade to higher qualityhotels, coaches and cruise line options.

The company's sales director, HaroldBurke, said: “I was at World TravelMarket and saw that a lot of thepredictions which people were makingabout the industry are reflected in ourbooking trends.

“Sales of UK breaks remain strong,thanks to factors such as the heatwave ofsummer 2013 and the legacy of theOlympics and Diamond Jubilee, whichhelped boost interest in British culturaland historical attractions.

“We are also seeing growth in shortermidweek and weekend UK breaks, asopposed to the traditional eight days,partly due to the fact that our customers

take several trips a year with us.“Furthermore, customers are

prepared to pay for quality so theproportion of three- and four-star hotelsin our brochure is rising. We are alsoseeing strong sales from our Gold coachtours range, and the more upmarketriver and ocean cruises.”

The 100th anniversary next year of theoutbreak of World War One is a majorevent in the travel trade calendar, andthere are also World War Twocommemorations.

The operator has two WWI tours inEurope, as well as a new Bournemouth &D-Day holiday marking the 70thanniversary of the D-Day Landings.

Burke said: “Our WWII tours, such asthe Battle of Britain break inLincolnshire, have long been popularwith our mature holidaymakers, and weare seeing strong sales for our new 2014

tours too. I would urge travel agents tohighlight these holidays to maturecustomers as they really are special one-off opportunities this year.”

As well as the remembrance breaks,holidays with other themes are alsogrowing in popularity according to theoperator.

Burke said: “People increasingly wantto enjoy something connected with theirinterests and hobbies, rather than just adestination, so our themed breaks –such as Lark Rise to Downton Abbey –are always a ‘sell out’ success. Tourswhich feature English Heritage andNational Trust properties also remain invogue, as do trips to see the manyoutstanding gardens and stately homesacross mainland UK and Ireland.”For bookings or further information call01603-619933 or seewww.grandukholidays.com

Grand UK Holidays predicts boost in domestic and short breaks market

OPENING IN May, the National Forest Way long distance trail willtake walkers across 75-miles of footpaths from the NationalMemorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to Beacon Hill Country Parkin Leicestershire. The trail leads through young and ancientwoodlands, market towns and the industrial heritage of thechanging landscape at the heart of the Midlands, and is beinglaunched as part of the 2014 National Forest Walking Festival.For details see www.nationalforest.org

FOLLOWING RUSSELLWatson’s successful shows atThoresby Hall and Cricket StThomas this year, WarnerLeisure Hotels hasannounced new datesfeaturing the internationalsinging star for this year.

Watson, who started hiscareer singing in workingmens’ clubs, will beperforming various numbersfrom his Double Platinum,Platinum and Gold albums ofboth operatic-style and popsongs at Sinah Warren,Hampshire on April 4,Alvaston Hall, Cheshire onAugust 22 and November 14at Somerset’s Cricket StThomas Hotel.

A total of 30 guests willhave the chance to upgradeto the Star Break PlatinumVIP Experience package foran extra £50 per person.These include the best seatsin the house, acomplimentary drink, VIPwaiter table service and theopportunity to meet Russellbackstage in ‘the Green Room Experience’.

Prices for the additional three-night break start from£329 per person at Cricket St Thomas in Somerset onNovember 14, based on two adults sharing a standardroom including Simply Dine. For more information see www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0808-141 111.

Russell Watson

'In Notts We Love' campaign proves fruitful for NottinghamshireNOTTINGHAMSHIRE'S ‘IN Notts We Love’ tourismcampaign has paid dividends for the region's visitoreconomy according to Experience Nottinghamshire.

The campaign, which was run in partnership withVisitEngland and supported by the Government’s RegionalGrowth Fund (RGF), has resulted in a £3.1m incrementalvisitor expenditure in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire,which is the equivalent of 60 jobs.

Jennifer Spencer, chief executive of ExperienceNottinghamshire, said: “It’s great to be able to reportsuch excellent results from the first year of our campaign.To generate this level of incremental spend and safeguardso many jobs is a fundamental boost to Nottinghamshire’svisitor economy. And this is just year one.

“The ‘In Notts We Love’ campaign has enabled us tofocus on and profile what is great about Nottinghamshire:our heritage, our culture, our legends, our local produceand our sporting prowess, and we can now build on this inour activity in years two and three."

Warner Leisure Hotels announcesadditional Russell Watson date

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THIS YEAR marks Hoseasons’ 70th anniversary and, to markthe occasion, the operator has launched its 2014 HolidayCottages programme with a collector’s edition brochure,featuring a front cover illustration by Mark Thomas.

The programme features 1,365 hand-picked properties fromacross the UK and includes more than 100 new properties.

Also featured in the programme is a range of more than 250Ultimate Cottages, which offer added extras such as swimmingpools, entertainment systems and hot tubs.

An extended selection of short breaks are also available,with many properties offering stays of two, three or four nights.The cottages sleep between two and 22 people – or more ingroups of cottages and more than 850 also welcome pets.Prices start from £315 for seven nights, based on four sharingfor arrivals between October 30 and December 17.

The operator's dedicated website features a location searchfacility, allowing agents to search for cottages near a specificpostcode, town or attraction, as well as locating cottages inunique locations such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beautyand National Parks.

Among the new properties is The Old Mill Cottage based inNorthumberland. The hotel is set in a garden close to the RiverTweed and offers walking trails by the riverside and up the

nearby Cheviot Hills. The historic towns of Kelso and Berwick-upon-Tweed are both within a short drive and a little closer isthe town of Coldstream, offering a selection of shops, pubs andcafes. A seven-night stay at the cottage costs from £350, basedon seven people sharing and two pets.

The operator has also launched its 2014 Lodges and Parksprogramme offering 574 locations – 448 in the UK and 126 inEurope.

Two new Daisy Door Cottage Style Collection locations inSouth West Scotland and North Wales have been added, aswell as three new Evermore Lodge Holiday Collection locationsin South Cornwall, Derbyshire and Cumbria.

Also new are two new Go Active locations in Scotland andCornwall bringing the total number of destinations available to18. This year also sees a refreshed logo and the launch of a newsub-brand at five sites called Go Plus which offer a wider choiceof activities available on and off site including climbing walls,horse riding, laser clays, aeroball and off road experiences.

Meanwhile, four new Autograph Lodge Holidays locations inShropshire, South Wales, Lincolnshire and the Yorkshire Daleshave been introduced, bringing the total to 28. For more information call 0844-847 1144 or visitwww.hoseasons.co.uk/agents


Hoseasons launches Holiday Cottages programme to mark 70th anniversary

uk&ireland

Superbreak adds private tours of HamptonCourt Palace & Gardens to portfolioSUPERBREAK IS selling packages that include a private tourof Hampton Court Palace and Gardens.

Packages have been created that include accommodation,afternoon tea and a private tour of the palaces and gardens.

Hampton Court Palace was the home of Henry VIII for 811days of his turbulent reign and, 150 years later, it was alsohome to William III and his wife Mary I.

The private guided tour will include Henry’s vast andoriginal kitchens, the Great Hall and the Haunted Gallery. Italso takes in William’s State Apartments and the gardens,followed by a treat in one of Hampton Court’s restaurants, atour of the maze, the vaulted ceiling of the Chapel Royal or theMantegna and other paintings from the Royal Collection.

Packages are available on selected dates and cost from£115 per person based on two sharing. It includes a night'sbreakfast accommodation at the four-star Warren HouseHotel, afternoon tea and the private tour. For details or to book see www.superbreak.com/agents or call 0871-221 4444.

EDINBURGH'S NIRA Caledonia is offering a three-night shoppingpackage which includes exclusive access to Harvey Nichols, discountsand VIP treatment in selected boutiques throughout the city. Tofurther tempt fashion addicts, the property has linked up with a rangeof shops to offer discounts and treatments including 15% off a VidalSassoon haircut and £50 discount at one of Edinburgh’s art galleries.It costs £4,390 per couple for a three-night breakfast stay in a suiteand includes £3,000 to spend at Harvey Nichols. Travel agents receive10% commission on the package price.

For more information visit BourneLeisureSales.co.ukTerms and conditions apply, visit website for full details.

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Carton Hotel St Moritz promotes

range of sporting events

CARLTON HOTEL St Moritzis highlighting a range ofsporting events that StMoritz will play host to thiswinter.

As examples, the PoloWorld Cup on Snow takesplace from January 30 toFebruary 4 and the hotel isoffering guests three nights'half-board accommodationin a suite, includinggrandstand tickets for thetwo-day event, plus a full-body massage at its spa anddinner. Prices lead in atapproximately £1,162 perperson.

The resort is also due tohost White Turf onFebruary 9, 16 and 23, ahorse race which hastaken place on the frozenlake for 105 years.

The hotel is offering athree-night, half-boardstay in a suite, including aday’s ski pass for theUpper Engadines, amassage and dinner fromapproximately £1,177 perperson. For more information seewww.carlton-stmoritz.ch

THE LATEST Post Office Travel Money SkiResort Report has revealed that bargain-hunters will not only find value for money inEastern Europe, but in traditional favouritessuch as Italy and Austria too.

The seventh annual report, produced inpartnership with operator Crystal SkiHolidays, compared prices for ski equipment,lift passes, ski school, meals and drinks in 30ski resorts – 22 in Europe and eight in NorthAmerica.

It found that Bansko (Bulgaria) andKranjska Gora (Slovenia) are again thecheapest, with barometer totals of around£274 and £326, respectively.

However, prices at Kranjska Gora haverisen almost 7% since last season. As aresult, Livigno in the Italian Alps has gainedground at £351, overtaking Austria’s Ellmau

(£368) to take third place and now just £25behind the Slovenian resort.

Italy and Austria have notched up a total ofseven ski resorts in the Ski Resort Reportbarometer top 12: Sestriere (six), Cervinia(nine) and Selva (11) join Livigno in the 12best value resorts, while Austria’s Mayrhofen(ten) and Schladming (12) resorts join Ellmau(four).

However, the picture is patchy for skiersplanning trips this season. Prices haveplunged 13% in Zermatt to around £593 andmore than 3% in Morzine (£402). At the sametime, rising resort prices and a UK poundalmost 5% weaker against the euro year-on-year mean skiers may have to dig deeper intheir pockets.A full list of the best value resorts can befound at www.postoffice.co.uk/skireport2013

POWDER WHITE is offering super saver weeks on all ski holidays in March with chalets nowavailable from £499 per person per week, offering a saving of £150 per person.

The price applies to a seven-night fully catered stay at The Locarno in Verbier from March22. The three-bedroom property sleeps six and is a short walk to the resort centre.

Other offers include a seven-night fully catered stay at The Pinchbeck in St Anton from£749 per person, based on six sharing; a seven-night fully catered stay at Chalet Eleanor inMeribel from £549, based on 14 sharing; and a seven-night break on a fully catered serviceat Chalet R, Courchevel 1550 for £699, based on 12 sharing.

The company offers self-catered, part catered and fully catered options. Fully cateredpackages include Champagne and canapés on arrival, cooked breakfast, afternoon tea,unlimited house wine and a three-course dinner with select wines.

Each chalet offers free Wi-Fi with a laptop provided, iPod docking station, flat-screen TVand DVD library. The company can arrange international travel (planes, trains and car hire)and private transfers on request, as well as extras such as in-chalet ski fitting, ski schooland lift passes in advance.For more information visit www.powderwhite.com or call 020-8877 8888.

Super saver weeks from £499 from Powder White

FAMILY-RUN HOTEL Rosa Alpina, in the Dolomites is offering athree-night break to discover the cross-country tracks spanning the

woods, meadows and mountains of Conturines, La Varella andSettsass. The trip is suitable for both beginner and advanced skiers

and includes a total of four hours' tuition, two days' hire of equipmentand ski passes. There is also time for guests to take advantage of freeaccess to the hotel’s spa facilities. Prices lead in at €830 per person,

based on two sharing a double room. The offer is subject toavailability and is bookable for January 12-19, January 26-February

9, March 8-22 and March 23-30.For details email [email protected] or visit www.rosalpina.it


wintersports

Ski resorts in Italy and Austria close price gap on Eastern Europe

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Seven-night ski trip in Romania from £463 from Balkan HolidaysBALKAN HOLIDAYS is offering the mountain resort ofPoiana Brasov, Romania, for skiers and snowboarderslooking for new destinations this winter.

With a backdrop of the Southern CarpathianMountains, Poiana Brasov is a lively destination with arange of modern facilities including a Gondola lift with acapacity of 2,000 skiers per hour, an Olympic ski-track,two 80m ski-jumps, and 12 downhill and slalom runs.Après ski ranges from an artificial skating rink, sportfields, riding centres plus a selection of restaurants,bars and discos.

The company is offering seven nights in a twin roomat the three-star Hotel Poiana on half-board fromapproximately £463 per person including flights fromGatwick and transfers.

Pre-bookable ski and snowboard services are alsoavailable on bookings made now including ski, polesand boot hire from £53 per adult and £42 for children.To book or for further information seewww.balkanholidays.co.uk or call 0845-130 1114.

BELAMBRA IS inviting guests to explorea new range of snow sports at its clubsacross the French Alps.

New ways to navigate the pistesinclude Le Ski-Joëring which bringsequestrianism to the snow. Skiers arepulled behind a horse, guided by arider, through woodlands and alongnature trails. Thrill-seekers can takeon the challenge at a gallop andbeginners can enjoy it at a leisurelycanter. The activity is available to try at

Belambra Seizures 'The Embrunes' andArc 2000 'L'Aiguille Rouge' Club.

Le Yooner is also new and offers aboard sport that requires the participantto sit on a seat-mounted mini ski thatspeeds down the slopes like astreamlined version of a toboggan.

Other activities at selected resortsinclude Le Snake Gliss, a team sport thatlinks a group of lugers together to tacklea twisting luge track without falling outof their sleds; and Le Snowscoot, which

is performed on a thin snowboardmounted with BMX-style handlebars.

The company offers 58 propertiesacross France and Corsica, specialisingin affordable family accommodation andranging from bucolic retreats toseaside resorts and mountain ski clubs.Kids' clubs offer care and activities forchildren as young as three months upto 17 years.For more information or to book visitwww.belambra.co.uk

VIRGIN HOLIDAYS has launched its new Ski & Board2014 digital brochure for iPads, its first fully-digital,app-enhanced interactive brochure that features pop-ups, scrolling, click through content and imagery.

From braving the black run slopes to relaxing in a hottub overlooking the picturesque snow-coveredlandscapes beyond, the new brochure features a range ofnew destinations in the US including Winter Park inColorado, together with a choice of resorts in Canada.For details see www.virginholidays.co.uk/order-brochure

The operator is highlighting a seven-night break inWinter Park, including scheduled flights with Delta AirLines from Heathrow and accommodation at the WinterPark Mountain Lodge on a bed-and-breakfast basis,from £975 per person, based on two sharing. It includesall applicable taxes and fuel surcharges and is based ona February 17 departure. For details seewww.vhols4agents.co.uk or call 0844-557 3973.

Meanwhile, ski enthusiasts travelling with VirginAtlantic can benefit from free ski and board carriage atno extra charge in addition to the free 23kg baggageallowance offered.

Ski Club of Great Britain launchesnew Ski Club+ membershipTHE SKI Club of Great Britain has launched Ski Club+membership which offers a FOGG MEDI-CARD, aninsurance system recognised in most European resorts.

In the event of an accident or illness on the mountain,the card is shown to any piste rescue, first ambulanceservice and/or the first treating doctor in Europe. Wherethe card is accepted, the card holder won’t be chargedand payment is made by specialist ski claims handlersFOGG direct to the service provider.

The card covers transport off the mountain by skidooor helicopter; ambulance charges to reach the firsttreating doctor; and first treating doctor, ensuring thatthere are no excess or upfront fees to pay.

The card is valid for the duration of a Ski Club+membership and covers both on and off-piste skiing, aswell as summer mountain activities.

Ski Club members can upgrade their membership for£10 on top of the basic Individual Membership fee (£30for family membership).For details visit www.skiclub.co.uk or call 020-8410 2015.

Virgin Holidays launches new Ski & Board digital brochure for iPads

Belambra introduces new selection of winter sports across French Alps

Strong demand for Cosmos' debut ski programme

COSMOS HOLIDAYS has reported strong demand for its newlylaunched European ski holidays programme, which is aimed atthe family and first time skier market.

The operator reports that demand is strong from Gatwick,Luton and Manchester with the combination of the newlylaunched Monarch scheduled flights, handpicked mid-rangeaccommodation and included transfers proving popular.

Breaking down sales figures for the best performingdestinations, Austria represents 55% of bookings with resortssuch as Soll, St Anton and Hinterglemm proving to be the mostpopular. The resorts of Les Deux Alpes, Alpe d'Huez and LaPlagne in France are also performing well, representing 36% ofbookings to date, with Italy taking the remaining 9%.

Neil Garner, Cosmos' head of product, said: "Following asuccessful ski season in Europe last winter, we were confidentthat this season would see growth. Although it's a highlycompetition market we are delighted with our first seasonsales and we are looking to increase volume by developing ourprogramme and introducing new resorts and other destinationsas well as broadening the accommodation mix with chalets."

Package prices in France lead in at £285 per person for aseven-night stay departing Gatwick on January 19 and stayingat Plagne Lauze Apartments.

wintersports

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CLUB MED is highlighting its Egyptian resort, Sinai Bay. Located in the heart of Sinai, the resort provides guests withopportunities to discover the region’s famous sites, such as St Catherine’s Monastry and offers colourful bungalowssurrounded by oriental gardens. Kids' clubs are also offered including Baby Club Med (for children aged four-23 months),Petit Club Med (two-three years), Mini Club Med (four-ten years) and Club Med Passworld (for 11-17 years).


redsea

DISCOVER EGYPT is offering a seven-night package to theMövenpick Resort in Hurghada from £899 per person or£499 when combined with a seven-night classic Nile cruise.

The destination is around five hours’ flying time fromthe UK, but winter temperatures in February and Marchare around 24°C.

Originally a traditional fishing village, Hurghada is nowone of the most popular holiday resorts on the Red Seaand visitors are attracted, not only by the favourableclimate, but its natural beauty.

The resort provides something for everyone with a widerange of hotels, shops and restaurants and also offers ahaven for watersports enthusiasts whether it is diving offthe coral reefs or windsurfing along the coastline.

One of the hotels featured by the operator is the all-inclusive, five-star Mövenpick Resort located ten minutesfrom Hurghada Airport and the centre of Hurghada, whichis easily reached using the hotel's shuttle service orwalking along the promenade. Prices for seven nightsstart from £899 including flights from Gatwick toHurghada, transfers and all-inclusive accommodationbased on two sharing.

The company's commercial director, Philip Breckner,said: "Hurghada is easily reached from Luxor and the Nilewhich makes it a popular choice for a multi-centre holidayin Egypt. Many people combine a holiday to Hurghada witha classic Nile Cruise or a break in Luxor. These multi-

centre holidays offer excellent value and provide a diverseholiday experience for those wanting to see more of whatEgypt has to offer, a great way to combine the beach andflop with a visit to the world’s largest open air museum.With the lifting of the FCO advice for Upper Egypt, we’veseen a strong demand for classic Egypt and urge the tradeto support what is a uniquely special travel experience.”

The company is offering a two-centre holiday thatcombines one week in Hurghada staying at the MövenpickResort on an all-inclusive basis from £499 per personwhen combined with a seven-night Nile cruise on the five-star Viking Princess including full board, ten guidedexcursions, flights and transfers.

Breckner said: “Offer your clients the opportunity tocombine the ideal winter sun beach holiday with a seven-night Nile cruise on full board to really get the most out ofa visit to Egypt. Nile cruises in February and March departweekly and start from £899 per person and include visitingmany of the ancient sites that Egypt is famous for,including the Valley of the King and Queens, temples ofKarnak and Luxor and the Aswan High Dam.

"With direct flights to Luxor re-starting on February 17on scheduled Egyptair from Heathrow, your customers willbe given an even bigger choice which will enable them tocombine a stay in Upper Egypt with a stay on the Red Sea.” For more information or to book call 0844-880 0462 or see www.discoveregypt.co.uk

Discover Egypt highlights all-inclusive seven-night Hurghada getaway

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ORASCOM DEVELOPMENT has takenover management of two properties inthe Red Sea resorts of El Gouna andTaba Heights to streamline operationsand booking processes in thedestinations.

The former Hyatt Regency becamethe first Orascom-managed property inTaba Heights under the name MiramarResort Taba Heights, while the ClubMed Resort in El Gouna has beenrenamed Club Paradiso.

The two Orascom-owned resortscurrently operate 22 hotels, 16 ofwhich will now be managed by thedeveloper.

The company's senior director of

marketing and sales, Jens Freise, said:“We are excited to be expanding ourcurrent hotel management portfoliowith these two special properties.Anticipating and satisfying guests’desires remain our core values andwe’re looking forward to continuing thecurrent success and popularity of theseproperties.”

The five-star Miramar Resort TabaHeights offers a beachfront locationagainst a backdrop of mountains andhouses 426 guestrooms with sea,lagoon or mountain views; threeswimming pools; a kids' club; healthclub; two tennis courts; and fourrestaurants.

The hotel also owns a Bedouincampsite in the nearby mountains.

The four-star Club Paradiso in ElGouna is located along an extensive2km stretch of sandy beach and issurrounded by landscaped parkland,gardens of palm trees andbougainvillea.

The hotel’s 239 rooms offer modernamenities and an ideal base fromwhich to experience a range of sportand leisure activities including golf,tennis, squash, sailing, windsurfing,snorkelling and beach volleyball. For more information seewww.elgouna.com andwww.tabaheights.com

FAMILY ADVENTURE holiday specialist, The AdventureCompany has resumed its tours of Egypt this monthfollowing the recent change to FCO advice and increasedconfidence among travellers.

As well as tours that take in ancient sites such as thePyramids at Giza and the temples at Luxor, the operatoroffers family holidays to the Red Sea area including anActive in the Sinai trip for teens and their families (eightdays from £939 per person with flights).

Based at a resort in Dahab, it includes a snorkelsafari in the Southern Oasis, which has a variety of

colourful marine life and coral, plus optionalwatersports including windsurfing, a boat safari, scubadiving and kayaking.

Michael Edwards, the company's UK & Europeregional director, said: "We hope that the change to FCOadvice will give UK passengers the confidence to returnto this incredible country. Not only will this help thelocal businesses who work in tourism to get back ontheir feet, but anyone who visits Egypt now will havesome of the world's most impressive sites and sceneryalmost to themselves, which is a rare opportunity."

The Adventure Company resumes Red Sea trips for families

Orascom Development adds properties in El Gouna & Taba Heights to portfolio

MONARCH HAS announced a new twice-weekly serviceto Hurghada as part of its route network expansion forsummer.

Departing on Tuesdays and Fridays from Birmingham,Gatwick and Manchester, the new flights commence onMay 2 and serve a number of Red Sea resorts includingEl Gouna.

Located a 30-minute drive from the airport, El Gounaoffers 17 hotels, 100 bars and restaurants, threemarinas, an 18-hole golf course, a variety of retail, spaand fitness facilities, plus a range of watersports.

The resort has also recently opened Elgounacable, anew cable park for water skiers, wake boarders and wakeskaters of all levels, while Ancient Sands, a new luxuryresort and residential project, is due to open in April.

The carrier is offering a seven-night, all-inclusive stayat the three-star Three Corners Rihana Inn from £400per person.

Departing Gatwick on May 2, the package includesflights, taxes and all-inclusive accommodation based ontwo sharing a double room. To book or for more information visit www.monarch.co.uk

Monarch adds twice-weekly service to Hurghada as part of route expansion plans


redsea


We asked our staff thefollowing question this week:

What's the best thingabout getting older?

Publisher: Jeanette [email protected] now don't have to worry about what bands are cool and canhappily admit my favourite 80s track was 'Come On Eileen'

Editor: Lauretta [email protected] feeling that I have to conform with the latest trends,fashion etc...

Assistant Editor: Jill [email protected]

Contributing Editor: Paul [email protected] continuing increase in wisdom, winter fuel allowance,bus pass, senior rail card...

Sales Director: Simon [email protected] slightly less gullible each year

Advertisement Manager: Tim [email protected] and being content

Online Sales Manager: Nick [email protected] with power taking what you have to say moreseriously

Account Manager: Bill [email protected] is nothing GOOD about getting older...

Sales Executive: Chris [email protected] get a free bus pass, you don't pay your TV licence,free flu jabs and cheaper gas

Sales Executive: Matt [email protected] there yet

Senior Designer: Genaro [email protected]

Assistant Designer: Nicky [email protected]

Production: Nick Salt [email protected] to death

Circulation Manager: Jim [email protected]

Crossword:Across: 1. IBERIA, 4. ANDY, 7. REUNION, 8. SAA, 10. AVEBURY, 12. LERWICK, 15. ACE, 17. ITALIAN, 18. DAYS, 19.CAMERA. Down: 1. IDRIS ELBA, 2. ECUADOR, 3. IBIZA, 5. NAS, 6. ONCE, 9. ABYSSINIA, 11. UKRAINE, 13. IBIS, 14. KOALA, 16. ELY.

Highlighted Word: NORWAY

Travagrams: (top) Aer Lingus (bottom) Valencia

Where Am I?: Florence

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WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN... A total of 20 agents embarked on an Egyptianadventure to Sharm el Sheikh with Red Sea Holidays. The fam trip offered a rangeof excursions including camel riding, quad biking, snorkelling, boat trips andEgyptian dancing. Pictured getting into the swing of things at the Ghazala GardensHotel are, from the left: Stacey Turland, East of England Co-op; Karen Smith, BathTravel; Kizzy Woollacott, Premier Travel Centre; Joy Stanley, Thomas Cook; MaryPoole, East of England Co-op; Lynsey Bushell, Bath Travel; Samira Bahrami andAmy Cox, Your Holidays; Charlene Woodcock, Laura Brittain and Cara Hall,Lincolnshire Co-op; and Kirstie Hayward and Nichola Bradley from Thomas Cook.

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A NINE-DAY Essential Egypt itinerary has been added by Explore forthis year.

On the fast-paced tour, guests will be introduced to all the mainhighlights that Egypt has to offer including archaeological sites such asthe Pyramids and Great Sphinx of Giza, the Valley of the Kings andKarnak Temple.

The tour also offers travel by traditional felucca on the Nile and a fullday boat trip with snorkelling in the Red Sea.

Departing in September and October, prices lead in at £897 perperson including flights, five nights' hotel, two nights' guesthouse andone night felucca accommodation, all with breakfast; five other meals;transport; and a driver, tour leader and boat crew. For further information or to book visit www.explore.co.uk or call 0844-499 0901.

Explore adds Essential Egypt itinerary

Cosmos reintroduces Hurghada region for summerCOSMOS HAS re-introduced the Red Sea coastal region of Hurghada forsummer (April-October), packaged with the newly launched Monarchscheduled flights from Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester.

Featured resortsinclude Hurghada, ElGouna, Makadi Bay,Soma Bay, El Quesirand Marsa Alam.

A seven-nightpackage leads in at£489 per personincluding flights,transfers andaccommodation.


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Travel Bulletin 10th January 2014