Travel Bulletin 30th March 2012

A round-up ofnew itineraries &the latest offers

Cruising

March 30 2012 | ISSUE NO 1,772 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

agent bulletinCrystal Cruises offersagents £50Love2Shop voucherin new bookingincentive

uk & irelandTourism Ireland jumpsto it with newcampaign to boostvisitors from UK

indiaTravelsphere predictsIndia will be top-sellerfor 2013

2517this week

cultural tours & eco-tourism 229Tourism Authority of Thailand highlights eco-tourism initiatives for holidaymakers

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in North Africa

March 2012

All About

North Africa supplement with this issue

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TWITCHING TIME...Saint Lucia Tourist Board hosted its first birding fam trip earlier this month and the group, includingowners and senior staff from UK birding operators, spotted all the endemic birds of Saint Lucia including the island'snational bird, the Jacquot Parrot and also visited a range of properties. Pictured taking in the sights are, from the left:Sarah-Jane Thompson, Wild Wings; Adams Toussaint, Saint Lucia Forestry Department; Nigel Jones, Ornitholidays;Sylvester Augustin, St Lucia Birding; Gerry Griffiths, Avian Adventures; Keith Vinicombe, Bird Watch; and John Brodie-Good, Wild Wings. All attendees will be adding Saint Lucia to their birding programmes for 2012 & 2013.

This Week

3 newsa round-up of the latestnews, developments & deals

8notes from normantondiscover what the owner ofSandy Travel has been upto lately

9agent bulletinCrystal Cruises offersagents £50 Love2Shopvoucher for bookings onselected Med voyages

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

16event bulletinthe news in pictures fromTourism Ireland's newpromotional plan

17uk & irelandTourism Ireland jumps to itwith new campaign to boostvisitors from UK

22cultural tours & eco-tourismthe Tourism Authority ofThailand highlights eco-tourism initiatives forholidaymakers

25 indiaTravelsphere predicts Indiawill be top-seller for 2013

29 cruisinga round-up of new itineraries& the latest offers

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Leger Holidays reveals consumer trends for 2012 getaways ACCORDING TO Leger Holidays, 2012 is the year of upgrades and longer stays forBritish holidaymakers, despite the economic downtown, following a poll of more than1,000 respondents.

When surveyed, more than 43% of Brits said that a holiday was what they weremost looking forward to this year, and rather than cutting back on the occasion, theoperator's sales suggest that consumers are now far more likely to make the most oftheir holiday allowance by opting for something extra special.

Key trends identified in the survey include upgrades: investing in extra comfort;longer stays: travelling for longer duration; and opting for experiential destinations.

In terms of luxury upgrades, compared to last year, the number of Silver Serviceshort breaks sold by the operator is up by 33% this year, with as many as seven out often customers opting for the service when booking. Facilities include extra leg room,on-coach entertainment with free headphones, on-board climate control and aspacious rear lounge.

When it comes to booking a holiday, it’s not just the destinations or types of travelthat people are investing in but the length of holiday too. As a result of this trend, theoperator has seen a substantial rise in the sales of its tours of 12 days or more,recording a 40% year-on-year uplift.

Creating a holiday around a must-see destination or experience is also becomingincreasingly popular amongst travellers. Rather than concentrating solely on rest andrelaxation, holidaymakers are looking for locations which offer an added sense ofachievement or the opportunity to experience things they haven’t witnessed before.

Events such as Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix and the Floriade 2012 Expo arecurrently some of the operator's most popular destinations, while for familiesDisneyland Paris is one of the most sought after experiences.

The operator's marketing director, Huw Williams, said: “Holidays have alwaysprovided that all important respite from day to day life. However, when facingeconomic climates like we see today, they become so much more vital for our well-being. As such, rather than budgeting or cutting back on their annual escapes;consumers are investing in them in order to making the very most of their time away.It’s a real sign that people are more aware of the value of money and the importanceof quality when it comes to something as critical as a break away.”For more information call 0844-504 6250 or visit www.leger.co.uk

14all about meone homeworker revealsher experiences in thetravel industry


SUPERBREAK IS featuring a range of new shows &attractions in London over the coming months.

As examples, a package that includes a saver ticket towatch Singin’ In the Rain costs from £102 per person,staying one night on a bed-and-breakfast basis at the three-star President Hotel, based on two sharing.

Other new shows include Sweeney Todd, The SunshineBoys, All New People and Top Hat.

Alongside concerts at the O2 Arena, this summer a rangeof new events for families are coming to London. The Lion,The Witch and The Wardrobe will be launching in KensingtonGardens between May 8 and September 9.

Royal-themed events available include BuckinghamPalace & Garden Highlights Tour, featuring an audio tour ofthe State Rooms and guided highlights tour of the 39 acregardens, which is the setting of the Queen's Garden Partieswill be available from August 16, including one night’saccommodation from £135 per person.

A Private Evening Tour of Buckingham Palace whichfeatures an exclusive evening guided tour of the State

Rooms once the doors have closed and which is exclusive tothe operator is available on October 5 and 6, priced from£245 per person including two nights' accommodation.

New to the brochure and added to a hotel booking are anumber of new attractions including a new Shark ReefEncounter at Sea Life London Aquarium from £18 perperson, including priority entrance.

Also new for this year is a studio tour for The Making ofHarry Potter from £162 per family including accommodation;London Rock Tour Classic Rock and Beatles Sites from £30per adult and £20 per child (aged four-12); a visit to theLondon Film Museum from £13.30 per adult and £9.50 perchild (aged five-15); a Private Tour Of Hampton Court from£99 per person including one night’s accommodation; aPrivate Evening Tour of The Tower of London from £139 perperson including one night’s accommodation; and a HarrodsVintage Bus Tour including a river cruise & Champagne atHarrods for £49 per adult and £44 per child (aged four-15).For details call 0871-221 1199 or visitwww.superbreak.com/agents

ATTRACTION WORLD isoffering a free ‘Cruisethe Blues’ boat trip withlunch for clients bookingone of eight specifictours in Turkey'sMarmaris and Icmelerbefore the end of May.

All tickets are fullycommissionable toagents and toursfeatured in the dealinclude Scuba Diving for£15 per adults and £13per child (aged seven-12); a trip to Ephesus for£55 per adult and £28per child; a trip to Dalyan(Caunos) by boat for £25per adult and £13 perchild; a trip toPamukkale for £52 peradult and £26 per child;an Ephesus & Pamukkaletour for £90 per adultand £44 per child; anEcoventure off-roadsafari for £22 per adultand £11 per child; a tripto Koycegiz Lake andDalyan (Caunos) for £25per adult and £13 perchild; and a TurkishNight for £30 per adultand £15 per child. For details seewww.attractionworld.com or call 0871-700 8888.

Free 'Cruise theBlues' trip from AW

Superbreak introduces new London shows, events & attractions to programme

www.travelbulletin.co.ukMarch 30 20124

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VIKING VICTORY.... JoannaLumley became thegodmother of the VikingOdin, one of four newViking River Cruises'Longships launched inAmsterdam last week,designed by maritimearchitects Yran &Storbraaten. The shipsset sail immediately alonga range of routesthroughout Europe, takingin rivers such as theRhine, Danube and Elbe.

Mailings with Travel Bulletin this week include:

● Great Rail Journeys - offering: first class rail travel, high standard hotels, all excursionsand most meals are included within the package price. To make a reservation call 01904 734200 and for further details on all our holidays visit: www.greatrail.com

● Cox & Kings - We hope that this new mini-brochure enables you to grow your luxuryshort breaks sales and we look forward to serving you and your customers in the yearahead. For an even greater range of destinations check online atwww.coxandkings.co.uk/short-breaks.

● Funway Holidays - Florida Preview out now, all the best offers for the sunshine state,free lounge passes year-round from London, Gatwick and Manchester. Half price depositfor all April bookings. Seven nights for the price of 6 on villas and fantastic free Disneydining - book by July 10th.Reservations 0844 557 0626 or visit www.funway4agents.co.uk

● Viking River Cruises - The Great Big Viking River Cruises Giveaway - New Brochure,New Ships, New Savings, Amazing Prizes to be won!Email us at [email protected]

Mailbox

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


Late honeymoon escapes with Emirates Tours FOR CLIENTS looking to secure a late deal honeymoon package, Emirates Tours has puttogether a selection of offers at its finest properties across the Indian Ocean for travel fromnext month through to July.

Bookings must be made by April 30 and savings of up to £1,820 per couple are available,with extra benefits for the bride and groom.

As an example, a seven-night half-board stay at The Residence Mauritius costs from£3,169 per couple, offering a saving of £750. The price includes flights, a complimentarystay for the bride, complimentary Champagne and a Catamaran cruise. The offer is basedon two people staying in a Colonial Garden View Room with breakfast and dinner daily andis valid for travel between May 1 and July 15. For more information call 020-7590 1450.

Spring opening for India’s Leela Palace Chennai LEELA PALACES, Hotels & Resorts is set to open itseighth property in Chennai in the South East of Indiathis spring, which will be the city’s first beachfrontluxury hotel.

The opening of Leela Palace Chennai will bringback some of the early glory of its history as theUK’s first bastion in India from which an empire grew– it was formerly a banana grove.

Located in a quiet residential area of Chennai, the14-storey hotel is located on a 6.25-acre site facingthe Bay of Bengal and will feature 329 rooms and suites; five international restaurants,serving Indian, Italian, Asian, Western and Japanese food; a dessert bar; spa; swimmingpool and fitness centre. A 24-hour butler service will also be available in the Royal Club. For more information visit www.theleela.com(India feature - page 25)

SIX STAR Cruises has created a luxury124-day holiday, which costs £8,000 perday.

The exclusive holiday, thought to be themost expensive cruise to ever go on sale,has been specifically designed fordiscerning holidaymakers who love to livethe high life - and have deep pockets tomatch.

The cruise departs from Los Angeles inJanuary next year and includes visits to atotal of 28 countries including FrenchPolynesia, New Zealand, Malaysia, theMaldives and Mauritius.

The epic trip has every last detailcatered for, and begins when theholidaymaker is picked up from their homeby Sikorsky helicopter.

The transfers whilst in the US areequally as glamorous - a chauffeur drivenride in a Rolls Royce Phantom.

Holidaymakers stay in the Royal Suite on'Silver Whisper', which features twobedrooms over 1,000sq.ft., two marbledbathrooms, a separate dining area and barand two spacious verandas.For more information visitwww.sixstarcruises.co.uk

Leela Palace Chennai

Holy Island &Northumberlandcoast trip from

InntravelINNTRAVEL, WHICH offers aselection of self-guidedshort walking breaks in theUK, has launched a newHoly Island & TheNorthumberland Coast trip,which is available from April1 to October 31.

Guests on the self-guidedhotel-to-hotel walking breakcan discover the peace andtranquillity of ruralNorthumberland, taking inunspoiled coastlines.

Rural and coastal routestake in the Holy Island ofLindisfarne, St Cuthbert’sWay, Bamburgh Castle andthe ruins of DunstanburghCastle.There is also thechance to take a boat trip tothe Farne Islands to spotseals, migratory puffins andother seabirds up close.

Guests stay in twoguesthouses - one adjacentto St Cuthbert’s Wayfootpath with coastal viewsacross to Holy Island in Bealand a stay in a convertedchapel in Seahouses.

Prices lead in at £280 perperson based on twosharing and include fournights' breakfastaccommodation, one picnic,luggage transfers betweenhotels and walking mapsand notes.For more information call01653-617000 or visitwww.inntravel.co.uk

DEPOSITS – we don’t demand full payment up front *COMMISSION – we’ll reward you for booking with us

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£1million price tag for 124-day cruise

S02 TB3003 News 1_Layout 1 28/03/2012 15:04 Page 5

NOW IN its 21st year, the St Lucia Jazz Festival has becomeone of the major events on St. Lucian’s calendar of events.During the month of May, more than 50 international,regional and local artists will perform, with multi Grammyaward winner Lionel Richie set to take centre stage.

Other confirmed acts include Ziggy Marley, son of reggaelegend Bob Marley; R&B singer Keri Hilson; The GypsyKings and jazz artist Joshua Redman.

The event takes place from April 30 to May 30 andFunway Holidays has put together a special 11-nightpackage for jazz enthusiasts. Prices lead in at £1,999 perperson based on two adults sharing and includesaccommodation at Sandals Halcyon and flights with BA,based on travel on April 27. For details see www.sandals4agents.co.uk or call 0844-557 0624.

St Lucia Jazz Festival package from Funway


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Great British Railway Journeys

on Tuesday 3 April at 19:30 on BBC4

On his journey from Swindon to Penzance, MichaelPortillo explores Torquay, where he meetsmeteorologist David Braine to find out whether thetown is Britain's warmest spot. He also takes a tripon the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, sailsup the River Dart and visits Totnes.

A pick of the top travel programmes

you don't want to miss...agentreviewGill Brown from Travelcentre in South Manchester booked

a three-night stay at Travelodge, Sheffield Richmond.

Here's what she thought of the accommodation...

Gill receives a £10 Love2Shop voucher for her review.

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

voucher please email [email protected]

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

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

Nice out-of the way hotel but within easy reach of thecity centre. A very warm welcome was received andalthough reception was not always manned, a quickpress of the buzzer brought help immediately.

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

Surroundings were very clean and comfortable. Wewere given more towels and bedding on request. I alsoasked for more tea/coffee which we were given. Aproblem with the bedroom heater was immediately fixedand the person who fixed it was extremely helpful.

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

Excellent – especially for a budget hotel. It felt like five-star.

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

Very affordable – it cost around £60 a night as this wasa short notice booking. The hotel also offers excellentdeals if you book well ahead. Staff were extremelycourteous and polite and any special requests we madewere met.

Good to know ............................................Budget hotels such as the Travelodge are fantastic. Youdon’t need to pay top prices for top hotels. The Travelodgereally is top accommodation with excellent service.

Overall scoring: ..................

1010/

Ones to Watch

MOVERS● Oceania Cruises has appointed Louise Craddock as

sales manager, South of England, to spearhead a newsales drive to agents operating in the South.

● Ian Thomas has been appointed commercial directorfor QHotels.

● David Hinder has been appointed sales executive forthe South West and South Wales at Superbreak.

● Intrepid Travel has appointed Lizzie Maber as sales &marketing coordinator.

● Danielle Genty-Nott has been appointed regionalmanager, UK and Europe at Tourism New Zealand.

● TAP Portugal, a member of Star Alliance, hasappointed Rui Lemos as general manager for the UK.

● Brittany Ferries has appointed Dan Joynes as business& trade development manager in order to strengthenthe company’s relationship with the trade.

● Accor has appointed Thomas Dubaere as managingdirector for UK and Ireland.

● Wendy Wu Tours has appointed Ben Briggs asmarketing manager.

● Visit York has appointed Nick Cust OBE as chairman.


BUTLINS HAS launched three new diningoptions – The Deck, Beachcomber Innand The Firehouse Grill.

The Deck restaurant, at the BognorRegis resort, opened this month and isdesigned for those staying at the soon-to-open Wave Hotel. The restaurant willoffer a grilled BBQ selection as well as avariety of fresh pasta and sauces cookedto order.

Also in Bognor Regis, a newBeachcomber Inn offers a moderngastro-style pub serving breakfast, lunchand dinner. It also has a new loungemenu serving lighter bites throughoutthe day, as well as a children’s menu.

Meanwhile, the Minehead resort also

has a new addition to its restaurantportfolio in the form of the new FirehouseGrill, a new restaurant giving guests thechance to spice up a choice of meat andhave it cooked to individual taste. Therestaurant also has vegetarian options aswell as a frozen yoghurt bar and adedicated children’s menu.

Dining plans are available to buy for£13.50 per adult per day and £6.75 perchild for food court dining. Premiumdining plans cost £21 per adult per dayand £10.50 per child.

Prices at the Wave Hotel andApartments start from £689 for a familyof four sharing a Reef Apartment on aself-catering basis for a three-night

weekend stay. This includes access to arange of facilities and activities includingsports coaching, the funfair, SplashWaterworld and all live entertainment.For more information visitwww.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0845-070 4742.

The Wave Hotel

SWAN HELLENIC is offering savings of up to £2,160 per cabinthis summer.

Clients paying in full at the time of booking can cruise from£1,705 per person for a 15-day cruise on MV Minerva. Eachbooking is non-refundable and the cabin number will beallocated the day before the cruise departs.

As an example of prices, a 14-day Gardens of the CelticFringe cruise leads in at £1,745 per person and offers a 20%

saving (£1,700 per cabin) on the brochure price. The cruisedeparts on July 19 from Portsmouth and calls at destinationsin Ireland, England, Guernsey and France. Excursions includethe Giant’s Causeway, Ring of Beara, Tresco Abbey Gardens,the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Seine River transit toRouen. For more information visit www.swanhellenic.com or call 0844-822 0679.

newsbulletinButlins adds new flavours to short breaks with launch of three restaurants

Summer savings of up to £2,160 with Swan Hellenic


by SANDRA MURRAY of Sandy Travel in Normanton, Yorkshire

Notes from

Normanton...

To respond to any of Sandy’s comments email

jill. [email protected]

THANK GOODNESS it has been a bit busier – andit’s great that we have lots of nice sunshine toencourage people – it certainly seems to be

making people think they really need a holiday (Iknow the feeling!) I also think people seem to be in amore positive frame of mind. I have redone mywindow and put a map of the world in - if nothing elseit makes people stop to look, even if it is only to pointout where they have been!

Kieran from Jet2Holidays came in to see us. They arecertainly proving a good alternative (as well as in theirown right) to sell for Thomsons and Thomas Cook whentheir prices are ridiculous on their Website and we havemanaged to cross sell quite a few - worth considering.

Had a great night at the Geordie Ball - thanks toStephanie Robins of Antatolian Sky for inviting me and Iam sure Darren and his team will have raised lots ofmoney for St.Oswalds Children’s Hospice, Newcastle.The good news is that Stephanie has agreed to have atable at the Yorks Ball on the 12th July. There are stilltables left, so come on you tour operators out there,support the Yorkshire Ball - it is a great evening andlet’s face it, we don’t have many big events in Yorkshire.The event is themed as ‘A night at the Oscars’ so emailme for more details: [email protected]

I can’t wait for the end of April (18th–22nd), when Iwill be spending a few nights (mini educational –thanks to Mark Richardson of Constantinou ) at theConstantinou Bros Asimina Suites in Paphos. It lookswonderful and it is quite a few years since I was last inCyprus. I’ll also be celebrating a special birthday on theJet2 flight coming back on the 22nd!

‘All except the shallowest living involves tearing upone rough draft after another’ and ‘Patience issomething you admire in the driver behind you andscorn in the one ahead’.

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WEBSCLUSIVES● Brochure of the Week is: Treyn’s ‘Holidays by Rail’

brochure for Winter, Christmas & Spring 2012/13,including all the popular favourites and a number ofnew experiences. The brand new brochure containsover 30 tours including visits to Europe’s springcarnivals and snowy escapes; short breaks to Europe’sChristmas Markets; and Christmas & New Yearcelebrations.

● There’s still time to win a superior Hotel ChocolatEaster Egg courtesy of Castaways.Every booking before April 6 qualifies.Visit www.castaways.co.uk/travel_agents.html tobecome a Preferred Agent.

All this and more at:


The home of the web savvy travel agent

Go

CYPRUSCYPRUSSpecialist in Tailor-Making Holidays

matched by product knowledge & 40 years experience

To request brochure or booking

call us on 020 8340 7612

Cyplon Supreme

Agents Club

email sales on how to join and what

the benefits are

Price Matching Will be ConsideredBook on line www.cyplon.co.uk or Email: [email protected]

TRAINING TRIO...AITO Specialist Travel Agents recently held its Londonproduct training roadshow at the Marylebone-based Swedish Church.Hosted by Visit Sweden, attendees were updated on new developmentsin Sweden – including Daniel Craig’s starring role in the new StiegLarsson film. Pictured is Julie Lovell (right) from Vacations to Americashowing the company’s latest brochure to June Blaiklock (left) fromTraveltime and Debbie Suenson-Taylor from Haslemere Travel.


● CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT is offering agentsthe chance to win a range of prizes in its newbooking incentive. To be in with a chance ofwinning, agents need to register bookings forthe company's Las Vegas resorts atwww.caesarshowstopper.com before April 15.Agents can also play the company's Tic-Tac-Show game to earn the chance to win one ofnine random prize offerings, as well as refercolleagues to earn bonus entries for randomprizes.

● CRYSTAL CRUISES has launched a newincentive and is giving a £50 Love2Shopvoucher to agents booking selected 2012Mediterranean voyages between now andApril 30. The incentive is valid for newbookings on all Serenity’s Mediterraneanvoyages departing between June 19 andNovember 28. Agents can claim theirvouchers (by May 15) by [email protected] The newincentive is in addition to the line's 'Sell 3Sail Free' incentive where agents who makethree new bookings on any 2012Mediterranean departures on Serenity canearn a free cruise for themselves and apartner on any of the company's 2012departures. For details call 020-7287 9040 or visitwww.crystalcruises.co.uk

● TRAVEL 2 is continuing its 30th birthdaycelebrations by offering agents the chance towin tickets to the Manchester Derby, inpartnership with the Abu Dhabi TourismAuthority. Winners will receive a ticket towatch what could be the title deciderbetween Manchester City and ManchesterUnited on Monday April 30 at the EtihadStadium in Manchester. To qualify for theincentive, agents have to confirm a bookingon any flight or package holiday to Abu Dhabiwith the company by April 13. Agents willreceive one entry for any flight booked andwill receive three entries if they book a flightand hotel package. See www.travel2.com for details.

● PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS is offering agentsbooking winter breaks by April 30 a £10Love2Shop voucher for every passengerbooked to Canada or any of the operator'sEuropean destinations. Bookings to Bermudawill earn agents £20 per passenger and anynon-winter bookings to Canada will earn £10per booking on holidays up to the value of£5,000 and £20 for bookings above this.

Agent offerBALKAN HOLIDAYShas launched a newonline trainingmanual for agentsto gain in depthknowledge of itsfeatured destina-tions in EasternEurope. The eight-moduleprogramme coversthe operator'swinter and summer programmes and can beaccessed via its dedicated agents' Website atwww.balkanholidays.co.uk/agentsAgents successfully completing any of themanuals before the end of April will receive acertificate and the chance of winning one of sixeducational places to Bulgaria flying from eitherDoncaster, East Midlands, Edinburgh or LeedsBradford airports. The operator has alsoannounced that it is now live on the ABTA SPSPayment System.For more information call 0845-130 1114.

Booking incentives

EUROPEAN SHORT BREAKS

PLUS MARRAKECH, TEL AVIV & BEIRUT


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RAIL HOLIDAY specialist,Treyn, has launched itsnew unescorted railholiday product, ‘Rail &Stay’. The programme,which has a dedicated 24-page brochure, has beendesigned for travellerswho want an independentrail holiday without agroup or tour manager,but with the confidenceand value that all the hotelaccommodation and railtravel has been checkedand approved by thecompany.

The operator's new Rail& Stay programme offersEuropean city breaks byrail to nine destinationsincluding Paris, Brussels,Bruges, Amsterdam,Berlin, Venice, Rome,Cologne and Nice. Eachholiday includes rail travelfrom St Pancras in London(although rail travel fromthe traveller’s localdestination can also bearranged) and hotelaccommodation.

Brochure prices lead in at£195 per person for a two-night city break to Brusselsincluding bed-and-breakfast accommodation atthe three-star Park InnBrussels Midi hotel whichhas a city centre locationand Eurostar travel.To book or for moreinformation call 01904-734940 or visitwww.railholidays.com

HURTIGRUTEN IS offering up to 25% off its Classic RoundVoyage for selected departures next month, including directflights.

Guests can save up to £535 per person on a 12-day voyagedeparting from Bergen in the south to Kirkenes by the Russianborder and back, with prices leading in at £1,452 per person.

The charter flight packages will depart on April 9 and 20from Stansted to Bergen and both voyages will be on board MSNordnorge, a ship decorated in a maritime style with a slightart deco influence. Guests travelling in April will also be ableto experience their journey under a new ‘Arctic Awakening’theme, including a wide range of shore excursions and onboard activities. For details call 020-8846 2666 or seewww.hurtigruten.co.uk/agents

Summer sale by VoD offers savings of up to £1,953 per personVOYAGES OF Discovery is offering a series of summer savingsof up to 40% per person on 2012 cruises. Prices start from£489 per person for an eight-day cruise, including transfersand gratuities.

All cabin grades have been reduced; meaning the higher thegrade of cabin booked, the bigger the saving. The sale is validon all bookings made before April 12.

As examples, an eight-day Voyage to the Mediterranean,departing on September 17, leads in at £489 per person, whilea nine-day D-Day, Normandy, Dunkirk and Beyond itinerarydeparts on June 9 and costs from £589.

Prices include flights, transfers (where applicable), gratuities,service charges and port/airport taxes, a guest speakerprogramme and all meals and entertainment on-board.For more information call 0844-822 0820 or see www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk

Save on a Classic Round Voyage with Hurtigruten

Treyn issues new'Rail & Stay' brochure


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Tweets of

the WeekWho’s saying what

on Twitter...

Jet Airways For a 360º view of ourflight simulator & detailedinfo about some majorinstruments in the cockpit,click here >http://bit.ly/GLHEGA

PATA Courtyard by MarriottBangkok Open NewBusiness Loungehttp://ow.ly/9Ptq4

Best Western Hotels A “Girls Getaway” is fastbecoming a growing trendin tourism. Have yourecently taken a girls trip?http://bit.ly/AEx2Zd

VisitBritain Discover why the London2012 Olympics aren't justfocussed on the Capital:http://ow.ly/9KngU

Travel Professionals Reduced Rates + FREEHalf Board - HiltonVilamoura, Algarve. From£711pp, departs 1 Oct for7nts on half board. -http://l8card.co.uk/4R

Black Tomato Need a challenge? This isours http://bit.ly/GJzjGp

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

TravelBulletin

FREE NO.1 TRAVELLER LOUNGE PASSES WITH EVERY BOOKING TO ORLANDO! PRICES FROM £575PP

NEW FLORIDA 2013

PREVIEW BROCHURE

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Brochure requests: www.trade-gate.co.uk

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Olympic signs new deal with Aegean OLYMPIC HOLIDAYS has strengthened its summer 2012offering in signing a new deal with Aegean Airlines toprovide flights on key routes this summer.

The first routes announced are Birmingham toCyprus, Humberside to Crete, Belfast to Cyprus andBelfast to Rhodes, with the first departure on May 4. Call 0844-499 4449 or see www.olympicholidays.com


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Where Am I?

The World Economic Forum is held in this popular ski resort.

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, April 5th. Solution and new puzzle will

appear next week.

The winner for 16th March is Susan Tooke, Emsworth Travel

in Hants.

March 16 Solution: A=7 B=4 C=6 D=8

➠A

➠B

➠C

➠D

Number: 058

Travagrams

Across 1. Family-owned operator specialising

in Scandinavia (5)4. Red Funnel operates to this port (5)6. National airline of Lebanon (3)7. P&O cruise ship exclusively for adults (6)9. Rocky Mountain state (5)12. Nassau International airport code (3)13. Surname of Scottish musician, Midge (3)14. Capital of Jordan (5)16. Bird on Gulf Air's logo (6)18. San Francisco airport code (3)19. Flows between Devon and Cornwall (5)20. Andorra is on the border of this country (5)

Down 1. One of the judges on the TV talent show,

The Voice (3,5)2. Known as the Living Museum of the North (7)3. Wine from 20 Across (5)4. North African capital city (5)5. Celebrity fashion guru, Gok (3)8. Capital of Sierra Leone (8)10. National Trust property on the

Thames, ___ House (3)11. The Dinar is the currency of this country (7)14. Major hotel group (5)15. Thomas Cook brand (5)17. International airport code for 14 Across (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 34

Crossword

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

Num

ber:

058

This cruise line sails on clear waters – but how clear are they?

A great place to learn the Tango

Ascetics Slurry

Beanie Sours

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


CHILDREN'S THEME park Gulliver's has announced plans tolaunch a fully inclusive ticket to offer families better value.

The company, which has theme park sites in MiltonKeynes, Warrington and Matlock, says the ticket will helpfamilies budget more easily for a day out.

The ticket will cost from £21 per person and will includeadmission price, all rides and attractions, food, drinks andsnacks. One package will also include a voucher towards atoy to take home.

Tickets will be on sale from the Easter break onwards. For more information visit www.gulliversfun.co.uk or call 01925-444888.

GOLD MEDAL has teamed up with Emirates for a joint venturemarketing campaign aimed at boosting sales of the airlinefrom its base in the North of England.

The campaign will see the operator target 30 keyindependent agents across the North West with marketing andpromotional support to drive sales of the airline's servicesfrom Manchester.

Agents will receive a range of point of sale materialincluding a mini-brochure showcasing the company's latestEmirates offers to destinations throughout the Middle East,Australia, the Indian Ocean, the Far East and Africa.

Agents will also be supplied with branded pop-up standsand flight-boards, as well as a £200 marketing fund for use onlocal promotional initiatives.

As an added incentive, throughout the campaign period,which runs until April 8, agents will be able to offer theirclients a £50 High Street voucher as an incentive to upgradetheir booking to Business or First Class.

Gold Medal and Emirates targetManchester growth

Theme park to launch fully inclusive ticket


newsbulletin

Newsbites● VISITENGLAND HAS launched a new online training

course to help tourism businesses deliver excellentservice to disabled customers. Designed in partnershipwith disability organisation, DisabledGo, the course isspecifically tailored to help those working within thetourism industry. A total of 1,000 free spaces areavailable to tourism businesses in England, andbusinesses can register up to five places each byvisiting: www.disabledgo.com/tourismtraining

● THE LOWCOSTTRAVEL group reports that more than10,000 agents have signed up to use the lowcostbedsplatform across Europe. The increase in agents followsa rapid programme of European launches, includingSpain, France, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Germanyand Switzerland.

● THE BERMUDA Department of Tourism has teamed upwith 15 participating hotel properties and its major touroperator partners, to launch an exclusive promotion.The ‘Compliments of Bermuda’ promo offers guests upto $500 resort credit for a minimum of five nightsbooked. The deal is available for bookings made byApril 15 for travel until May 6.

● ON JUNE 15, Caribbean Airlines will launch four weeklynon-stop services from Gatwick to Trinidad and Tobago.The new service will be shortly followed by a threetimes weekly services to Bridgetown, Barbados andonward to Trinidad. For details email [email protected] or visitwww.caribbean-airlines.com

● ETIHAD AIRWAYS has increased its baggage allowancefor premium guests by 10kg, meaning Business Classpassengers can now travel with up to 40kg of luggage.

Keeping an

i on AppsIPHONE, ITOUCH and iPad owners

can now learn more about the

Falkland Islands through a new

travel app which is free to download.

The app provides a guide to the

destination’s best experiences, with

tools to research and plan trips.

Visitors can browse itineraries, tag

experiences and gain a snapshot of

practical information including

details on getting there, when to visit

and entry requirements. Once

downloaded, users can search and

explore the Falklands App offline.

A COMPREHENSIVE North Cyprus

guide is now available for free

download on the iPhone from

Direct Traveller. The app features

comprehensive information

including interactive functions,

maps, photos and videos.

Highlights include viewing

descriptions, maps, photos and

videos on historic attractions,

beaches, hotels, and other sights

with interactive resort guides; in-

depth interactive road maps; and

map locations for attractions,

hotels, police stations, hospitals,

sports, coach stations, beaches

and ports. A “Where am I?”

function also helps users identify

their location.

FARELOGIX HAS launched aniflybags iPhone app, which givestravellers the option to calculatebaggage fees and allowances acrosshundreds of airlines while on the go.Available for download from the Appstore, iflybags tells travellers howmuch it will cost them to checkeverything from luggage to bicyclesto musical instruments and muchmore. The app takes into accountairline-specific rules and travellerfrequent flyer status, to present thebest combination of checked bagsfor individual or multiple travellerson a single itinerary. The app isbeing offered at an introductoryprice of $0.99. For details see www.farelogix.com




All About Me Michelle Stammers

Every day is so different to the last. It can be exciting,stressful, fun and demanding.

A client asked me where he needed to take his car at theairport as he thought a fly/drive meant that you take yourown car and it goes on the plane with you.

A ski group booking for 28 people for £28,000. Also sold to apremiership football manager to Dubai with his familystaying at Atlantis the Palm for £22,000.

Luxury holidays and high spenders are the main area ofmy business now. Especially tailor-made itineraries.Anything that can't be done by the clients on the internetthemselves!

Best selling is Caribbean, Spain and ski bookings. Worstis Bulgaria, Tunisia and Egypt.

Adventure style holidays ie walking,trekking, cycling. Ihave won a place on the Explore Everest base camp tripand will be trying it for myself in May!

A tailor-made itinerary across America. I spent over 2weeks and did nearly 20 adjusted quotes for the client. Itwas within budget and exactly what he asked me for. Iwas waiting for him to ring me with his card details andhe just never called me back. He wouldn't answer mycalls and I never spoke to him again.

My colleague had a client that returned from her holidayand said the apartment was dirty. She produced a pair ofsocks out of her bag and shook them over the desk toshow how much dust was on the bottom, claiming thatthis was from her apartment floor. And a client that saidshe fell over in her bathroom because the floor wasunsafe showed us a picture of her bare bottom with a bigblack bruise on it as evidence.

Israel last year. We stayed in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem andEilat. Organised by the tourist board. We actuallyexperienced the feel of each place by being a tourist -going on all the trips, eating in local restaurants, talkingto the locals, having an amazing guide. When you want tosell somewhere, you are selling the feeling, theexperience, the sights and sounds and memories - not

how many rooms a hotel has or how many roomcategories it has. I avoid fam trips that just have multiplehotel visits for this reason.

I deal with all my clients over the phone and one clienthad a very deep voice. I assumed it was a man and itturned out to be woman.

Las Vegas. It’s so over the top and glitzy but such anexciting place to be.

New Zealand- hire a motor home and explore.

The way you treat a client matters above anything else.They need to feel nurtured, valued and cherished. Use everycontact you have with them as an opportunity to impressthem. You must try and improve your product knowledgewhenever you can by doing online training or attendingtraining courses. Choose Twitter or Facebook to keep incontact with your clients.

There isn't just one thing I say to close the sale because youcan’t treat all clients the same. Some need a directapproach, some need to be handled gently and some wouldget offended if I put pressure on them. I keep a record ofevery client I have and I know everything about them. Theytrust me and know I would never sell them anything thatwasn't completely perfect for them. I call each one whenthey return to have a chat about their holiday. It’s very rarethey are not delighted with their holiday.

There isn't anything I would want to sell more of but Iwould like to continue increasing my client bank with aview to targeting more of the luxury market.

Retaining my clients and promoting myself.

The high spend adventure style holidays sector.

I would love to stop online discounting by tour operatorsthat really don't need to do this. If the price was the samefor online and agents, it’s a win-win situation for whoevergets the booking. At the moment, it’s the clients that arewinning and not the operators or the agents.

I have had some really good customer service fromKirker, Sunvil and Sovereign.

I LOVE MY JOB...

STRANGE BUT TRUE...

THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOLIDAY I’VE SOLD...

WHAT’S WORKING FOR ME...

WHAT’S HOT & WHAT’S NOT...

I WANT TO LEARN...

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY...

MY BIG MISTAKE...

MY FAVOURITE DESTINATION IS…

THE PLACE I’D LIKE TO VISIT…

MY TIP FOR INDUSTRY NEWCOMERS...

CLOSING THE DEAL...

THE ONE THING I WANT TO SELL MORE OF…

I’M GREAT AT …

I AM/I WANT TO BE A SPECIALIST IN...

IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING...

MY FAVOURITE OPERATOR IS...

OVERHEARD IN MY AGENCY...

THE BEST FAM I’VE BEEN ON...

Personal travel advisor

Co-operative PersonalTravel Advisors

Homeworker in SuttonColdfield, West Midlands

9

Job Title:

Company:

Location:

No. of years in current job:

If you’d like to take part in ‘All About Me’, send an email [email protected] or call 020 7834 6661


Inspiring destinations within your reach

Summer 2012

Superb value independent city break holidays by rail

TREYN

INTRODUCING BRAND NEW

RAIL & STAY

FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE www.Railholidays.comOR CALL 01904 734888

BRUSSELSBRUGESAMSTERDAMPARISNICECOLOGNEBERLINROMEVENICE

Take a look at our

INSPIRINGDESTINATIONS



eventbulletin

TAKING CENTRE STAGE...are, from the left: the Ambassador of

Ireland, Bobby Mc Donagh; Seamus McGarry; John Lahiffe, Tourism

Ireland; Anne Lahiffe; Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism

Ireland; Vanessa Markey, head of Tourism Ireland’s UK Market.

MICHAEL'S MATES...Michael J Feeney(left) hooks up with Neville James(middle) and Barry Higgins from ebookers.

HEAD COUNT....from the left are: Niall Gibbons, chief

executive of Tourism Ireland; Vanessa Markey, head of

Tourism Ireland’s UK Market; John Lahiffe, Tourism

Ireland; and Bobby McDonagh, Ambassador of Ireland.

A FLYING VISIT...Keith Ten (left) from Aer Lingus

and Tony Kelly from Irish Ferries catch up with

Anne Lahiffe (second from left) and Kay Woods.

The Ambassador of Ireland Bobby McDonagh hosted a reception at theEmbassy of Ireland in London recently to help launch Tourism Ireland'snew promotional plan for the Great Britain market to the whole of "theisland of Ireland"...

JUMPING TO IT....are, from the left: Marie McCarthy,Irish Ferries; Miriam O’Connell, Tourism Ireland; andAstrid Nitzsche, Imagine Ireland.


IRELAND HAS just launched its newmarketing campaign to capitaliseon last year’s growth in visitor

numbers from the UK which saw anincrease of 5.1% to the Republic and6% to Northern Ireland compared to2010. In all, there were 2.8millionvisitors to the Republic from the UK,representing roughly half of the totalinbound market, and the aim of thenew campaign is to help generategrowth of 5.5% this year.

The “Jump Into Ireland” theme isappearing across the new range ofadvertising and marketing material,with the outdoor advertising campaignhaving just launched, and a secondquarter multi-channel TV campaigndue to start this weekend. This will besupported by a year-long radiocampaign.

Part of the outdoor campaign will behighlighting Northern Ireland’s newTitanic Belfast visitor experience,which opens tomorrow and coincideswith the centenary of the sinking ofthe Belfast-built ship. Tomorrow alsokicks off a festival of Titanic-relatedevents in the city which will run overthe next three weeks.

The outdoor advertising campaignhas been designed to target the keyregions for generating business to

Northern Ireland – London and theSouth East, Liverpool, Manchester andScotland.

In addition, as well as a mix ofbanners, pop-ups, screensavers andhomepage takeovers on sites such asTrip Advisor, Travel Supermarket,Skyscanner, Amnet and Facebook,there is co-operative marketing withthe airlines and ferry companies tofurther boost awareness and helptowards the increase in visitors whowill benefit from the Irishgovernment’s reduction in tourism VATto 9%, and helping to underline thevalue for money message.

Tourism Ireland’s chief executiveNiall Gibbons said: ”Our first quartermarketing activity has already resultedin a great uplift in enquiries to ourDiscoverireland website, which isobviously very encouraging, and oursecond wave of marketing activity isset to build on that success.

“That, coupled with our recent PRand marketing push for St Patrick’sDay, as well as the buzz around theopening of Titanic Belfast will help usachieve our goal of an increase invisitor numbers of 5.5% by the end ofthe year.”

While statistics reveal that some60% of bookings are made

independently,the trade is acknowledged as a keyelement in helping to drive visitorgrowth this year, and part of TourismIreland’s overall support for agentsand operators is its participation intrade shows throughout the year,culminating with World Travel Marketin November – by when it will know ifits efforts to increase visitor numbershas achieved its target.


uk&ireland

Tourism Ireland jumps to it withnew campaign to boost visitors from UK by PAUL SCUDAMORE, contributing editor

Ballybunion Beach, County Kerry

S04 TB3003 UK & Ireland_Layout 1 28/03/2012 10:50 Page 17

SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS has launcheda new campaign promoting reasonsto holiday in the UK this year.The ‘Discover Your Great Britain’campaign highlights the operator’srange of British breaks, and issupported by a new 24-pagebrochure.

The company is also offeringagents the chance to take advantageof joint marketing opportunities, withpoint of sale materials such aswindow displays.

Caroline Brown, the operator'scommercial director, said: “This yearis shaping up to be fantastic forBritish tourism.

“With monumental events such asthe Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and theOlympics, there are so many greatreasons for people to stay in the UKfor their holiday. With this in mind,our Discover Your Great Britaincampaign has been designed to help

agents sell the ‘best of British’ totheir customers.

“With so much activity puttingBritish holidays at the forefront ofthe public’s minds, there’s neverbeen a better time for agents to sellBritish holidays to their clients.”

The new brochure highlightsholiday programmes from Marchthrough to October and includesDiamond Jubilee themed breaks,with special celebration packages inits own Bay and Coast & CountryHotels, and an exclusive 13-dayDiamond Jubilee Celebration Cruiseon the Athena.

Meanwhile, the operator haslaunched a number of new UK breaksfor this year, visiting London,Lancashire and Liverpool andBelfast.

As examples, itineraries include afive-day Titanic Belfast and SaintPatrick Trail from £319 including

half-board accommodation at thefour-star Park Plaza Hotel andluxury coach travel. A “by air” optionincluding flights and transfers isavailable from £439 and departuresare available between June andOctober.

A five-day London's Royal Palaceshas also been introduced and leadsin at £389.

Highlights include a River Thamescruise, a trip to Windsor Castle,Buckingham Palace and the Tower ofLondon.

There is also an includedexcursion to the recently refurbishedKensington Palace.

Based at the St Giles Hotel,Feltham, the holiday includes fournights' half-board accommodation,three excursions and coach travel. For more information or to book call 01942-823449 or visitwww.shearingsagent.com

AWAY RESORTS is offeringfamilies the chance toenjoy some time out at itsholiday resort with its ownsecluded beach on theIsle of Wight for £200 forseven nights.

Inspired by the Isle ofWight's resurgence in thefestival scene, WhitecliffBay on the southeast sideof the island has mixedfestive and family activitiesto create a Canvas Villageglamping area and MagicRoundabout chill-out zone.The Midnight Screenoutdoor cinema is alsoback for this year.

For children activitiesinclude abseiling, archery,kayaking, flying remotecontrol helicopters, waterwalkerz, walking trails,cheerleading school,geocoaching (a high-techtreasure hunting gameusing GPS devices), bodyzorbing, Junior Geo (kidscan pan for gold and maketheir own fossils), CrackPots (painting pottery,puppets, faces and hands)and Science Bugs(children can try out acollection of experimentsand nature discoveries).

For the pre-schoolers,there is a friendlycharacter called Bear inthe Woods, who takes thekids on little adventureslive on stage.

Seven nights in a four-berth economy chalet startfrom £200 on April 6.Other accommodationincluding luxury holidayhomes, with standard andserviced camping pitchesare also available.

Meanwhile, thecompany's other twoholiday villages are alsogeared up for Easter. Eachpark has its own uniqueselling point but theactivities for childrenremain the same at eachpark.

As an example,Tattershall Lakes CountryPark in Lincolnshire is alake-side retreat offeringactivities such as water-

skiing, wake boarding, jetskiing, banana boats,pedaloes, fishing and golf,plus a new £1.2millionpool complex.

Along with Easter egghunts and chocolatechallenges, the park willalso be hosting theNational UK Jetskichampionships on April 14and 15. A four-berth LilLodge costs £352 forseven nights from April 6.

Away Resorts offers seven-night breaks for £200 to Isle of Wight

Banana boats at Tattershall

Shearings Holidays celebrates UK breaks with launch of new campaign & brochure


uk&ireland


WIGHTLINK HAS published a new guide for Isle of Wight visitors,which aims to attract holidaymakers travelling with dogs.

Pawprint, a 24-page illustrated booklet, has been launched tocoincide with next month's National Pet Month and has beenwritten with the help of Island dogs and their owners.

The booklet includes the favourite haunts of a dozen Wightdogs and covers all four corners of the Island.

The company's marketing manager, Kerry Jackson, said:“Our previous guides have proved big hits with visitors so wehope that Pawprint will be received just as enthusiastically.From the numbers of visitors travelling with their dogs on ourferries, we know that there is strong demand and agents canuse this to target clients who want to holiday with their pets.”The booklet can be downloaded from the Isle of Wight Guide &Events section at www.wightlink.co.uk/pawprint and printedcopies are available free by calling 0871-376 1000.

Value tickets promo from City CruisesCITY CRUISES, which operates a frequent sightseeing servicebetween the four major destination piers on the River Thames(Westminster, London Eye, Tower and Greenwich), ishighlighting a family River Red Rover ticket, which offersunlimited one-day travel for two adults and up to threechildren.

Tickets cost £33.50 and for an extra £5 families can travel onthe Docklands Light Railway (DLR) on the same day. Meanwhile, following the company's success in being awardeda contract to operate the 2012 Games River Tour Service to theEquestrian events at Greenwich Park, the operator hasinvested in the development of a dedicated 2012 Gamesbooking portal, which can be accessed fromwww.citycruises.com or by calling 020-7740 0400.

GRJ promotes Jubilee Thames cruiseAGENTS WITH clients who’d like to experience some of theluxury that the Queen will enjoy as part of her 2012 DiamondJubilee celebrations, can opt for Great Rail Journeys’ ‘TheSpirit of Chartwell Cruise’, a luxury boutique cruise whichcarries up to 40 passengers.

Spirit of Chartwell is the ship that the Queen will sail on aspart of her Jubilee celebrations and the operator is highlightingfour-night trips on the vessel along the River Thames on June17 and 24 and July 1 and 8 from £798 per person.

The price includes visits to Kew and Windsor with coachtransfers, full board dining, a journey on the MV Passepartoutto the upper reaches of the Thames, a Captain's welcomereception and a voyage director. For more information call 01904-521980 or visit www.greatrail.com

Early summer breaks from just £149*

for the whole family

Terms and conditions: Price based on up to 6 people sharing a Standard 2 bedroom caravan at Caister, Norfolk on 15 June 2012 for 3 nights. Full terms and conditions apply as stated in the current Haven brochure. Offers apply to new bookings only and are strictly subject to promotional availability.

To book visit BourneLeisureSales.co.uk or

call 0871 230 1919

To learn more, visit our online training course at HavenSpecialist.co.uk

“”

uk&ireland


ATTRACTION WORLD has added three new products inBlackpool to its UK tours, experiences and excursions portfolio,which are commissionable to agents.

They include a visit to Madame Tussauds Blackpool for £14per adult and £11 per child, aged three-14; a visit to BlackpoolTower Dungeon for £14 per adult and £11 per child (minimumage three years); and a visit to The Blackpool Tower, includingthe new SkyWalk, for £12 per adult and £9 per child.

Meanwhile, the operator has added two new guided biketours to its portfolio of products available for visitors to London.

The tours are for both adults and children (aged ten and over)and include The Grand London Bike Tour, where guests cyclecasually along riverside pathways, cycle lanes and park routes,stopping to take in highlights such as the London Eye, Big Benand the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, BuckinghamPalace. Prices are £20 for adults and £15 for children.

A Secret London Bike Tour reveals the history of the EastEnd and costs £20 per adult and £15 for children. For more information see www.attractionworld.com or call 0871-700 8888.

Attraction World adds new tours & experiences in Blackpool

Wightlink launches new guide for dog owners travelling to Isle of Wight


EVERY YEAR, an itinerary isdevised by Insight Vacations'Insight Forum, an onlinecommunity of past guestsand tour directors whoregularly share ideas andtips. Guests have theopportunity to share theirtravel experiences withothers and plan their nexttrip.

A new itinerary for 2012has now been created fromthe forum called TheChannel Islands, which startsin Guernsey and travels to StPeter Port. Highlights includea guided tour of St PeterPort, taking in thefortifications from Germanoccupation of WWII, visitingthe ‘Little Chapel’, decoratedwith shells and brokenpottery and spending anafternoon browsing theboutiques of ‘Arcade’ lanes orrelaxing in one of the manybistros.

An included excursion tothe island of Sark is alsofeatured, as well as a stay onJersey.

The seven-day itineraryleads in at £1,425 per person,based on twin share, landonly. For more information call020-7468 4335 or visitwww.onestoptouringshop.co.uk

HOSEASONS REPORTS that it has seen a 100% increase inlate bookings for park accommodation for the Easter weekendas holidaymakers leave it to the last minute to decide on theirspring staycation.

The operator has also seen strong increases in year-rounddemand for the best known destinations with Cornwall,

East Anglia and the South Coast increasing by around20%, compared with the same four week period lastyear.

The company’s vice president of lodges and parks,Pali Badwal, said: "We’ve seen a surge in the last few

weeks for popular UK holiday destinations, but have beensurprised by the late demand for Easter. Last year

we saw increased demand for late bookings,especially in the summer months, but to doublethe number of bookings for the Easter period is

remarkable.“Economic factors obviously have an impact

on people’s holiday choices, but as the figures suggest, there isstill demand for UK breaks, and it’s the timing of the decisionmaking that’s changing. There are also some great offers forthe last-minute bargain-hunters who are prepared to beflexible, while others may have been waiting for the first signsof spring.

“Another trend we have seen is the continued popularity ofthe best known ‘destination brands’ like Newquay, GreatYarmouth and Bournemouth, with families returning thisEaster to areas they know and trust.

"Continued investment in quality accommodation and newfacilities on holiday parks, with more than 1,000 new unitsadded to parks in 2012, is bringing customers back for greatholidays in locations they love, while the creation of newAutograph and Evermore lodge developments are bringing newconsumers into the staycation market.”For more information visit www.hoseasons.co.uk/agents or call0844-847 1144.

Hoseasons sees last minute Easter weekend bookings double

Pali Badwal


uk&ireland

WILDERNESS SCOTLAND ishighlighting a new mountainbiking trip for this year, TheHebridean Trail, whichdeparts on May 5-11 andSeptember 8-14 and leads inat £995 per person. The OuterHebrides journey is 280kmand weaves its way throughseven islands on a variety ofancient paths, historic by-ways, mountain tracks andquiet roads.For details visitwww.wildernessscotland.com

PREMIER HOLIDAYs has launched exclusiveweekend packages to encourage bookings toJersey for spring and summer, which lead inat £269 per person.

The operator's short-haul manager,Beverley Scarr, said: “Three-night bookings toJersey are currently 60% up year to date. Onlyan hour’s flight away, Jersey is the perfectweekend destination for a girly break. Theisland boasts great bars and restaurants, funadventure activities and a fantastic range ofspas.

“We have recently launched our secondedition Channel Island brochure, featuring arange of new products including Les OrmesLodges in St Brelade. Summer is the perfecttime to visit Jersey and take advantage ofsome great offers.”

The company recommends that women takea trip to Creepy Valley Activity Centre, wherethey can experience the Zip Wire and KingSwing. Following a day of adventure, a stop bythe Old Portelet Inn for lunch is suggested.

A three-night stay leads in at £269 perperson by sea or £355 by air. On arrival inJersey, guests will be transferred to the four-star Radisson Blu Waterfront, St Helier, whichis located close to Jersey’s boutiques andcafés. The offer is valid for travel throughoutMay.

Alternatively, clients can spend three nightsat the Hotel De France and Ayush WellnessSpa in Jersey from £290 per person by sea or£385 by air in May. The spa offers a range oftreatments, including an Ayush Indian headmassage and hot stone therapy.

Packages are based on two adults sharingand include travel by sea from Weymouth orflights from Gatwick to Jersey and a glass ofChampagne on arrival.

Agents can also benefit from a bookingincentive, where they can earn £5 of shoppingvouchers for any booking made to Jersey.For more information or to book visitwww.trade.premierholidays.co.uk or call 0844-493 7444.

Exclusive weekend Jersey breaks from Premier HolidaysInsight Vacations'forum createsnew ChannelIslands itinerary


VISITGUERNSEY HAS launched a new walking e-brochure tocelebrate the Island’s miles of cliff top paths, rural lanes andmild climate, which make it ideal for a walking themed break.

The e-brochure includes information needed to plan a visit toGuernsey with walking in mind - from events listings andvideos for inspiration, to maps and practical travel information.

A highlight of Guernsey’s landscape are the RuettesTranquilles, a growing network of quiet country lanes wherepriority is given to walkers, cyclists and horse riders, with a topspeed of just 15mph. Clearly marked, the Ruettes Tranquillesoffer a chance to really explore Guernsey’s peaceful

countryside and to get a sense of Island life barely touched bytime.

For clients after a more guided ramble, Guernsey celebratesthe outdoors during the Spring (May 5-13) and Autumn(September 8-16) Walking Weeks, with diverse programmes ofthemed walks. As well as the downloadable e-brochure, a variety of maps andwalking guides are available for Guernsey, including the newlypublished ‘The Channel Island Way’ featuring walking routes forGuernsey and four other Channel Islands. For more information see www.visitguernsey.com/walking

uk&ireland

www.travelbulletin.co.uk March 30 2012

ESSENTIALLY PRESTIGEreports that it has seen asurge in UK bookings withbusiness up 18% on thistime last year.

The operator's ‘Closerto home’ UK programmefeatures St Mary's, Tresco,Bryher and St Martin's inthe Isles of Scilly andJersey, Guernsey and thelesser-known ChannelIslands of Alderney, Sarkand Herm. Commenting on

the strong sales, thecompany's deputymanaging director, DavidNash, said: ‘’Our bookingfigures show that the greatBritish holiday is verymuch alive and kicking.This year is a great year tostay in the UK and VisitEngland's "Holidays atHome are Great" campaignwill give a further boost toBritish breaks.

"Sales to the Channel

Islands are beginning topick up after our launch lastyear with Jersey andGuernsey business lookingparticularly strong. The OldGovernment House Hotel inGuernsey remains our topselling property."

The operator's UK breakslead in at £259 for a three-night stay at the CrebinickGuest House in St Mary's inthe Isles of Scilly includingferry crossings from

Penzance. In addition, thereare flights fromSouthampton, Bristol,Exeter, Newquay and LandsEnd and a helicopter servicefrom Penzance.

The operator is alsooffering agents £10Love2Shop vouchers forevery booking made. For more information or tobook visitwww.prestigeholidays.co.ukor call 01425-480600.

Essentially Prestige sees 18% growth for 'Closer to Home' programme

VisitGuernsey launches e-brochure for walking enthusiasts

ABTA No. Y0662See booking conditions for full

details of our ABTA membership

Book Now! Visit www.hoseasons.co.uk/agents or call: 0844 847 1144

Experience more at 14 fantastic locations across the UK...Hengar Manor Country ParkNorth Cornwall

Finlake LodgesSouth Devon

Devon Hills Holiday VillageSouth Devon

Crowhurst Park LodgesEast Sussex

BryntegNorth Wales

The BayYorkshire Moors & Coast

Kielder Water LodgesNorthumberland

Great Glen Water ParkNorthern Highlands

Piperdam LodgesSouthern Highlands

New for 2012 Oakdene ForestHampshire

New for 2012 BainlandCountry ParkLincolnshire

New for 2012 Sherwood CastleHoliday ForestNottinghamshire

New for 2012 Hunters QuaySouthern Highlands

Gurnard PinesIsle of Wight

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KIRKER HOLIDAYS hasavailability across a numberof its 2012 cultural tours.

These include ThePalaces & Galleries of StPetersburg, a six-night tourdeparting on May 10,August 16, September 6and December 21. Priceslead in at £1,997 perperson, based on twosharing in May, August andSeptember and £2,396 inDecember. The price

includes BA flights fromHeathrow, six dinners andone lunch, all entrancefees/gratuities, Russianvisa and the services of atour lecturer and tourescort.

A 15-nightMediterranean MusicFestival at Sea onFred.Olsen’s Black Watch,with an exclusiveprogramme of musicalperformances, departs

from Dover on July 7 andleads in at £2,298 perperson, based on twosharing. Ports of callinclude Motril (forGranada), Cagliari, Naples,Palermo, Algiers andLisbon.

Also available is a MusicCruise to the NorwegianFjords, a nine-night cruiseon Fred.Olsen’s BlackWatch, with musicalperformances by the

Chilingirian String Quartetand a performance byDame Josephine Barstow.The itinerary departs fromDover on May 10 and priceslead in at £1,598 perperson, based on twosharing. Ports of callinclude Stavanger, Flaam,Olden, Bergen,Kristiansand and Oslo. For more information call020-7593 2284 or visitwww.kirkerholidays.com

TRAFALGAR IS highlighting its ten-dayeco adventure in Costa Rica, whichleads in at £1,115 per person.

The tour allows guests to get upclose to the rainforests and exoticwildlife of the destination andhighlights include a ride to TortugueroNational Park by river boat, visitingTortuguero Village and the Green

Turtle Research Station and cruisingthe canals in search of wildlife.

At Monteverde Cloud Forest, guestsstay for two nights in park and join apark naturalist for a guided walk.Activities on the tour include white-water rafting, a canopy walk, a nighttrek in the forest and swimming underwaterfalls. Other activities include

escorting turtle hatchlings on their wayto the ocean and a coffee plantationtour.

Prices include private door-to-doortransfers, accommodation, 19 meals intotal including a Be My Guest lunch inArenal and sightseeing. For more information visitwww.trafalgar.com

Trafalgar promotes ten-day Costa Rican eco-adventure from £1,115

Kirker Holidays highlights availability for range of 2012 cultural tours

GUSTAV KLIMT would have celebrated his 150th birthday thisyear and Vienna is marking the event by honouring the painterwith several special exhibitions on his life and work.

His best-known painting "The Kiss" can now be seen at theVienna Belvedere. A “KLIMT – The Collection of the WienMuseum” exhibition is also being held between May 16 andSeptember 16, while the Historical Museum of the City ofVienna will present a wealth of Klimt-related objects from itsown holdings, including the painter’s Portrait of Emilie Flöge(1902), posters, publications, the artist’s painting smock, hisdeath mask, and Egon Schiele’s drawing of the dead artist. The

centrepiece of the exhibition, however, will be the 400 Klimtdrawings, the largest collection in the world, which will beshown for the first time in its entirety.

Dertour is offering a two-night package to Vienna whichcosts from £599 per person, including flights from Gatwick,transfers and two nights' breakfast accommodation at theDesign-Hotel ‘The Levante Parliament’. A three-course dinner,museum ticket for the Belvedere Palace and a two-hourexclusive city tour in a chauffeured limousine is also included.For more information call 020-7290 1111 or visitwww.dertour.co.uk and www.wienmuseum.at

Dertour marks 150 years of Gustav Klimt with two-night Vienna package


&eco-tourismculturetours

Arenal volcano, Costa Rica

S04a TB3003 Cultural Tours_Layout 1 28/03/2012 12:35 Page 22


COSMOS TOURS & Cruises has introduced anew 12-day ‘This is Burma’ tour to meetdemand for the destination .

It includes city sightseeing in Yangon, InleLake, Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin and Bagan andcosts from £2,095 per person including flights,ten nights' full board accommodation, a guide,transfers and all local and airport taxes.

The operator's product manager, AmyShine, said: “We believe this tour will attractlots of interest; there’s such a focus ontravelling to Burma at the moment as thecountry continues to open up to internationaltourism.

"In recent years, we have broadened ourlong-haul programme to offer customersmore cultural experiences in destinationswhich are not necessarily easy to arrangeholidays to. Escorted touring in destinationslike China, India and South America is theperfect option as all travel arrangements aretaken care of, leaving our customers to relaxand enjoy the culture and historical highlightsof these countries.

“We are always adding to our long-haul

product range and this year, the Burma tour isin addition to our newly introduced tours inCosta Rica, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Kerala inSouthern India."

Meanwhile, the company has added anadditional departure date (October 8) to itsnew eight-day 'Discover Green Galicia' tour tomeet the steady increase in demand since itslaunch.

The tour is a leisurely scenic tour basedmainly in the seaside town of Samieira on theAtlantic coastline of Galicia in north-westSpain, but with a range of historical andcultural sightseeing excursions includedduring the stay.

Highlights include city sightseeing andcathedral entrance in Santiago deCompostela, Vigo, Pontevedra, La Coruna andOurense.

Prices lead in at £769 per person includingflights from four UK airports, two nights inOporto and five nights in Samieira, all of whichare on a half-board basis.For more information call 0844-573 0668 orvisit www.cosmostoursandcruises.co.uk

Cosmos Tours & Cruises introduces 12-day ‘This is Burma’ tour

culturaltours&eco-tourism

THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT) is encouragingholidaymakers to become more eco-conscious by offeringsuggestions on how to travel more responsibly. These include:Offset your carbon foot print before you travel and donate to atree replanting organisation; walk or cycle while on holidaywhere possible; hire a local guide and eat local produce; refillyour water bottles each day to save on plastics; use watersparingly at hotels; turn off lights, TV etc. when not in yourroom; use a fan rather than air-conditioning where possible orkeep to a minimal temperature; re-use hotel towels; don’tlitter; and travel with a re-useable bag for shopping.

Other suggestions include making a booking at a Green Leafhotel (there are more than 120 hotels involved in theprogramme); trade a day of watersports for John Grey SeaCanoe or trade an elephant trek for a day at an elephantconservation centre; and switch your coffee from Starbucks fora local Thai café and try locally produced Doi Tung coffee.

As an example of a Green Leaf property, the Centara GrandBeach Resort Samui has various initiatives in place including a

water treatment plant on site and a heat reclaim system.The resort’s leisure & environment director, Joe Clasby,

said: “Essentially the Green Leaf foundation gives you a three-part questionnaire: screening, qualifying and grading. Thequestions cover front of house, back of house, spa, fitness -everything really. It's mostly to do with environmental aspectsalthough there is a strong element of Thai culture to it as well.To qualify as a Green Leaf property we had to show that we hadall our environmental systems in place - waste separation,recycling, reduction and conservation strategies etc. and thatour employees were trained to understand why we asked themto be environmentally conscious.”

TAT is currently working with Make Holidays Greener andhas also produced a variety of brochures such as GREET, 50Great Green Escapes, Go Green and Adventurous Holidays – allof which can be ordered via [email protected] forfree. For more information visit www.tourismthailand.co.uk andwww.greenleafthai.org/en/index.php

Tourism Authority of Thailand highlights eco-tourism initiatives for holidaymakers

Longwoodpromotes Israel &Jordan itineraries

LONGWOOD HOLIDAYS iskeen for agents tohighlight Israel as anideal destination forclients seeking adiversity of attractionscoupled with a mix oflandscapes and modernculture.

The company offersseveral different ways ofexploring the destination,including guided toursaround the main historicsights. As an example,the Holyland tour takesvisitors to the biblicalsights of Israel in a week,with prices leading in at£1,219 per person basedon seven nights'breakfast accommodationdeparting from Luton.

Also being highlightedis Jordan, where visitorscan discover the city ofPetra and uncover thetreasures of the ancientworld.

Prices for a 'JordanWorld Wonders' tourstart from £1,569 perperson and includeflights, transfers andfive-star half-boardaccommodation. For more information seewww.longwoodholidays.co.uk or call 0844-770 0450.

PARKROYAL PENANG Resort, situated along Batu Ferringhi Beach in Thailand, is highlighting a rangeof cultural tours available to book at the hotel, including a visit to Gurney Drive. The tour takes gueststo a treasure trove of Penang’s local and international food, where the Hawker Centre provides anarray of culinary treats, including fried flat noodles (Char Keow Teow), seafood and herbal pork soup(Bak Kut Tea). The resort is also offering travel agents a special rate of RM250 (approximately £52.64)for a night's stay.


culturaltours&eco-tourism

WELLBEING ESCAPES haslaunched a new wellbeingprogramme designed toprovide balance for a restfuland rejuvenating butinteresting holiday.

Discover & Unwindcombines spa treatments andfitness alongside culture anddiscovery of the local area.

The programmes vary ateach of the company'sdestinations but all includethe combination of outdooractivities and excursions andtreatments on site.

Rooted in the belief thatcultural stimulation and aconnection to differentcustoms and environments

are an intrinsic part of thewellbeing experience, theoperator has selected themost uplifting activities ineach destination. Examplesinclude jeep safaris,snorkelling, spiritual hiking inthe rainforest, cooking, art,local produce tasting, candlelitmeditation, kayaking, boat

cruises, cultural tours andguided walks.

Destinations includeCyprus, Italy, Morocco,Grenada, Malta and Vietnam,with new additions in India,Miami, Oman, Italy and Greeceto be launched soon. For more information visitwww.wellbeingescapes.co.uk

New options from Wellbeing Escapes combine wellness with local culture

KUONI HAS launched a new sustainable product calledananea, aimed at holidaymakers who want to book ethicaltravel.

Holidays available under the ananea brand, a word thatderives from the ancient Greek word for renewal, areavailable only via an e-brochure, which features videostreaming and slide shows.

Featured tours in the e-brochure also offer authentictravel experiences, from jungle hideaways to volunteeringtrips, from tours off the beaten track to indulgent luxuryescapes. Examples include private access to key projects onan exclusive Born Free Kenya safari; an insight into self-sufficiency in a Sri Lankan village; learn how Vietnam’speople have been scarred by war and contamination inmoving and inspirational visits with Green Cross; take a self-drive tour of South Africa’s Garden Route, staying at Fair

Trade lodges; or discover South India adding onenvironmental activities such as nature walks, a tribalheritage tour and cooking classes.

Volunteering holidays are also available includingVolunteers Without Borders in Thailand, teaching English tovillage children, helping with building projects and assistingwith the development of ecological tourism projects.

The lead-in price is £549 per person for a three-night stayin Sextantio Albergo Diffuso in November, a ‘hotel’ of 32rooms spread over the regenerated medieval town of SantoStefano di Sessanio, 90-minutes from Rome. Each room hasbeen conserved, often with salvaged materials and usingtraditional techniques and local craftsman to do therestoration.For more information call 01306-871187 or visitwww.kuoni.co.uk/ananea

Kuoni launches sustainable travel experiences with new ananea product


Attraction World highlights Agra & Taj tour ATTRACTION WORLD is promoting its Agra and Taj Mahal full day tour from Delhi.

Agra is famous for the marble edifice, the Taj Mahal, as well as the Agra Fort and theFatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone city made by Emperor Akbar.

Tours are commissionable to agents and prices lead in at £155 per person.For more information visit www.attractionworld.com or call 0871-700 8888

50% saving on Easter family trip from Oberoi Hotels & ResortsOBEROI HOTELS & Resorts is offering savings for families travelling to India from this Sundaythrough to September 30. Clients booking a Premier Room (based on two people sharing) for aminimum of six nights at participating hotels, will receive an extra complimentary room for twochildren, subject to availability.

Activities available across a range of properties include spa therapies and daily yoga sessionsfor adults (where a 25% saving is offered) and activities that explore India’s traditions of arts andcrafts, cooking and regal heritage for children, under the supervision of certified hotel staff.Examples include traditional kite-making from paper and bamboo, Rajasthani style dancing,cooking classes and treasure hunts.

After a day of adventure, children can retreat to their rooms to enjoy toys and treats gifted ontheir arrival, including bubble bath and toys, children robes and slippers, DVDs and boardgames.

Prices lead in at £270 per night and participating hotels include Oberoi properties in Rajvilas,Udaivilas, Vanyavilas, New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Cecil. For more information visit www.oberoihotels.com

ITC Hotels addsRajputana in Jaipurto Luxury CollectionITC HOTELS has announceda new addition to its LuxuryCollection of Indian hotels– ITC Rajputana in Jaipur. Designed along the lines ofa haveli (a traditionalIndian mansion), thecomplex, with its splitlevels, hidden courtyards,manicured gardens andminimalistic lattice work, isa tribute to local Rajputarchitecture.

The resort'saccommodation is made upof 201 rooms and 17 Suitesand guests will be able tochoose from a range ofoptions including Royalerooms, luxurious chambersand Executive Club roomsfeaturing workspace forthe corporate traveller.

The property alsofeatures five restaurantsand bars, a range of leisurefacilities including a spa,outdoor pool, gym andjogging track for keenrunners. Conferencefacilities are also available.

A night's stay at theproperty costsapproximately £188 on abed-and-breakfast basis.For more information seewww.itchotels.in

GREAT RAIL Journeys reports that there hasbeen huge growth for India to date and as aresult of this the operator has expanded itsprogramme this year.

The company's marketing and salesdirector, Alex Roberts, said: “There has been ahuge growth in the India rail holidays market,and we’ve seen 150% growth year-on-year toIndia. It's arguably the best way to see thecountry and we have some amazing luxuryholidays at affordable prices.

"We have introduced a long-haulprogramme for Treyn for the first time inresponse to market demand for long-haultours starting at less than £1,500 per personfor a tour to India.”

As examples of prices, a new 13-day India’sGolden Triangle leads in at £1,750 per person,while sister company, Treyn, has introduced an11-day India’s Tiger’s & Palaces. The tourleads in at £1,495 per person includingscheduled flights, rail travel on the ShatabdiExpress in air-conditioned seats; nine nights’breakfast accommodation, three lunches, ninedinners (including one gala dinner), asightseeing tour of Delhi, a guided tour ofAgra, a sunset visit to the Taj Mahal, anexcursion to Fatehpur Sikri, two game drivesat Ranthambore National Park, a sightseeingtour of Jaipur, a visit to the Amber Fort, aguided tour of Patan and Badal Mahal, alltransfers and the services of a tour manager.

Great Rail Journeys expands programme following demand

ALILA DIWA Goa has unveiled its new spa, Spa Alila. The ten-room spa at the resort is set between Majorda beach and the verdant rice terraces ofSouthern Goa and features a yoga centre, juice bar, beauty bar, fitness centre and a facility where guests can sample and blend their ownpersonalised massage oils. A range of locally inspired treatments and Balinese favourites are offered for couples and solo spa seekers, with fivedouble treatment rooms and five single rooms, each equipped with individual steam, chill shower and outdoor patio with day bed. Signaturetreatments include a Balinese Crème Bath, a hydrating crème hair bath with essential oils of rosemary, lavender and grapefruit combined with anourishing base of coconut and cocoa butter. For details visit www.alilahotels.com


india

S05 TB3003 India_Layout 1 28/03/2012 12:24 Page 25

BANYAN TREE Kerala,located in Kochi on thewest coast of India, isscheduled to open laterthis year. The resort is a45-minute drive from theairport and another 20minutes by speed boat.

Designed as a luxuryall-pool villa resort, theproperty offersunobstructed views ofthe surroundingbackwaters alongsideprivacy and exclusivity.

It also features thefirst Banyan Tree Spawith a dedicatedAyurvedic Centre, ahouseboat forcustomised journeys onKeralan backwaters, aswell as meeting facilitiesfor small groups, an allday restaurant and aBanyan Tree Gallery.

CENTARA HOTELS &Resorts will open its firststand-alone Spa Cenvareeduring the first quarter ofthis year, to be located atthe Arcon Arcade, a lifestyleand shopping complex, inNorthern Goa.

It will feature 13treatment rooms, a couplesspa suite with private en-suite facilities including asunken Jacuzzi, a nail andhair salon, a Zen garden

with a relaxation lounge anda wide range of waterfacilities including Vichyrain shower, steam bathand hot air sauna.

Amongst the range ofexperiences is the SpaCenvaree Signaturemassage which bringstogether a blend ofAyurvedic, Thai, Swedish,Shiatsu and reflexologytechniques paired withmedicinal heat compress.

Other treatments on offerinclude Ayurvedic healing,traditional Thai massage,hot-stone therapy and footreflexology. For a morecontemplative experience,guests can choose themulti-day spa retreats,focusing on detox, de-stressand emotional balance.

Couples can share theirexperience in privacy withprogrammes personalisedfor him and for her.

Seasonal therapies such asthe Winter Recharge andSummer Best packages arealso created to counter theeffects of seasonal changeon the body, mind andspirit.

As a post-treatmentexperience, guests areinvited to relax in the Zengarden to sample acollection of Indian tea. For more information visitwww.spacenvaree.com

TRAVELSPHERE IS predicting thatIndia will be one of its top sellers nextyear.

Julie Franklin, national accountmanager for Page & Moy TravelGroup’s escorted touring brandsTravelsphere, Just You and Page &Moy, said: “India has seen a steadygrowth recently and is up significantlycompared to last year. We have areally strong offering in thedestination and are already predictingthat it will be one of our topdestinations for Travelsphere in 2013.

"Our flagship is still Beyond GoldenTriangle, a tour which takes ourclients to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur -

probably the best known destinationsin India, but it also includedRanthambore National Park, whereclients will get a chance to spot atiger. It also offers an overnight intented accommodation at SamodeBagh, one of our Travelsphere clients’favourite hotels.

"For some time now we have beenoffering Shimla add-on, which agentscan bolt on at the end of the tour.We've seen a massive rise inbookings for this add-on and we arenow offering it on every departure.

“We’ve also noticed that Kerala isdoing very well and capturescustomers’ imagination with stunning

views of backwaters and spiceplantations. As this tour is mainlyabout seeing the natural beauty of theregion we have renamed it to betterreflect its nature. It's now calledKerala Vistas.”

A 14-day Beyond the GoldenTriangle with the Shimla add-on costsfrom £2,098 with departures availablethroughout this year and next, while aten-day Beyond the Golden Triangleleads in at £1,299.

A 14-day Kerala Vistas option, withdepartures available this year andnext, leads in at £1,799. For more information visitwww.travelsphere.co.uk

Centara Hotels & Resorts opens first stand-alone Spa Cenvaree in Northern Goa

Banyan Tree Keralawinter launch


india

BALES WORLDWIDE is offering a 12-day Luxury India with Oberoi itinerary, including scheduled flights,accommodation and sightseeing encompassing Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur and Mumbai, staying in each ofthe destinations for two nights. The trip includes an English-speaking guide, sightseeing itinerary and deluxeaccommodation. Prices lead in at £3,175 per person and are based on two adults travelling and sharing on amixed board basis, including airport taxes and fuel surcharges on selected departures this year. To book call 0845-057 0600 or visit www.balesworldwide.com

Travelsphere predicts India will be among top-selling destinations next year


Kathakali Dancer, KeralaIndia Tourism, 7 Cork Street, London W1S 3LH. Tel: 0207 437 3677 [email protected]


NEW BROCHURENEW SHIPSNEW SAVINGSAMAZING PRIZES TO BE WON!

SEE INSERT FOR MORE INFORMATION

OR EMAIL US AT [email protected]

VRC Travel Bulleting Advert.indd 1 26/03/2012 17:07



Viking announcessix new builds for 2013VIKING RIVER CRUISES hasannounced that it hascommissioned six moreViking Longships for deliveryin 2013.

The six vessels will bejoining the line’s Freya, Idun,Njord, Odin, Aegir and Emblaand will feature new designand technology, includingsustainability upgrades, suchas solar panels, an onboardorganic herb garden andenergy-efficient hybridengines that reducevibrations for a smooth ride.For more information visitwww.vikingrivercruises.co.uk

WITH THE debut of its new luxury cruise ship `Riviera’ in May, Oceania Cruises is expanding itsculinary enrichment programme with the introduction of Culinary Discovery Tours to morethan 25 ports worldwide. Designed for each port, the new tours provide guests with theopportunity to explore local food markets in small groups, alongside an expert chef.

Guests will have the opportunity to visit an artisanal cheese maker, a chocolatier, a winevineyard or a fish market. Tours also incorporate mini-lectures, demonstrations or lunchbefore returning to the ship’s culinary centre for a hands-on cooking class, drawing inspirationfrom the local market.

The company’s culinary enrichment director, Kathryn Kelly, said: “In Athens, guests willvisit the Agora meat and fish market followed by lunch in the Plaka. When in Barcelona, weenjoy a Spanish olive oil tasting, shop at Santa Caterina Market and then finish the day withlunch at a top tapas restaurant.”

The new tours will launch this spring in Europe on the 1,250-guest ships Riviera and Marinaand the programme will roll out in Asia, South America and the Caribbean in winter 2012/13.Prices start from $175 per person, including the escorted market tour and cooking class.

On the line’s smaller, 650-guest ships – Regatta and Nautica – the new tours will combineexcursions to local markets with hands-on cooking experiences at a shore-side cooking schoolor a well-known restaurant kitchen. In Istanbul, for example, guests will follow their tour witha cooking class at CookingAlaturka. For more information visit www.oceaniacruises.com or call 0845-505 1920.

Oceania Cruises introduces culinary discovery tours

MSC CRUISES has finalised negotiations and signed a contract to take over a 140,000-ton cruise ship, to be named MSC Preziosa. Theship will become the 13th addition to the line’s fleet, as well as the fourth ship in the series of fantasia-class ships, which includeMSC Fantasia, MSC Splendida and the MSC Divina which will be christened in May. The new vessel will be delivered at the end ofMarch next year and will feature 1,751 cabins, 18 decks (14 of which are for passengers), four main restaurants, two specialityrestaurants, 21 bars, a casino, four swimming pools, including an infinity pool, 12 whirlpools, a bowling alley, a sports area withplaying fields, a fitness centre, a children’s area and a spa. For details see www.msccruises.co.uk or call 0844-561 1955.

CRYSTAL CRUISES is offering a shipboard credit of up to$3,200 per stateroom on selected Mediterraneanvoyages this year if booked before April 30.

The offer, which is exclusive to the UK and is based ontwo people sharing a stateroom, is valid on 14 of CrystalSerenity’s Mediterranean itineraries departing betweenJune 19 and November 28.

The credit – ranging from $500 per stateroom up to$3,200 per stateroom depending on the voyage booked -can be used for spa treatments, shore excursions,Connoisseur’s List vintage wines and select single malt

whiskeys, exclusive Vintage Room dinners or purchasesfrom the shops.

Serenity’s 2012 Mediterranean voyages are pricedfrom £2,519 per person (based on the seven-nightvoyage from Rome to Venice departing on August 6),including scheduled flights, transfers, and seven nightsin a deluxe stateroom with picture window on an all-inclusive basis, plus a shipboard credit of $500 perstateroom.For more information or to book call 020-7287 9040 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk

Crystal offers shipboard credits on selected Mediterranean voyages

cruising

S06 TB3003 Cruising_Layout 1 28/03/2012 12:34 Page 29

Shearings chartersnew Athena ship

SHEARINGS HAS launchedfive new exclusive oceancruises for 2012 on thenewly chartered MV Athena.The ship has a gym, outdoorpool, a spa and a beautysalon as well as bars and ashow lounge.

Itineraries include a 12-day Historic Spain, Portugaland Morocco cruise from£1,149, where highlightsinclude a visit toCasablanca, a chance to seeGalicia’s unique Crystal City,a trip to the UNESCO worldheritage site of Porto andtrips to the cities of Cadizand Lisbon.

The holiday departs onMay 24 and the priceincludes all meals on board,a Captain's cocktail party &gala dinner, entertainmentprogramme, parking andfree cruise connect to portby coach.

A five-day Gardens ofCornwall and Normandyitinerary, which departs onJune 4, is also new andgives guests the opportunityto take in the flora ofsouthern Britain andNorthern France.

Highlights include a tripto St Mary’s, the largest ofthe Isles of Scilly, a chanceto discover the Cornishcountryside, a visit toFalmouth harbour and bayand a chance to explore thefishing village of Honfleur.

Prices lead in at £569including all meals onboard, a Captain’s cocktailparty & gala dinner,entertainment programme,parking and free cruiseconnect to port by coach.

Other new additionsinclude a nine-day Jewels ofthe British Isles from £867departing on June 8; a 12-day Norway and Land of theMidnight Sun from £1,335,departing on June 16; and a13-day Jubilee cruise from£1,377, departing on June 4. For details call 0844-824 6351 or visitwww.shearingsagent.com

FROM SPRING 2013, Celebrity Cruises will offer its broadest range of cruises on sixcontemporary ships which will visit 25 countries from seven departure ports; a total of 88destinations in Europe, six representing the line's ‘firsts’.

The first-time destinations include Liverpool; Waterford (Ireland); Torshavn, the capital of theFaroe Islands; Varna (Bulgaria); Sevastopol, the second largest port in Ukraine; andKristiansand in Norway.

The line's associate vice president and general manager, UK & Ireland, Jo Rzymowska, said:“We are offering some great itineraries across the two UK-based ships featuring more populardestinations such as Iceland. Agents have a huge range of cruise options to choose from nextsummer, all based from the newest fleet in the industry, and we’re looking forward to seeing therecently refurbished Celebrity Infinity become a firm favourite in the UK.”

As an example, the newly refurbished Celebrity Infinity will be based from Harwich for the firsttime next year and will offer ten- and 11-night British Isles, Norwegian Fjords and Iceland &Fjords itineraries. In September 2013, the ship will present the “Immersive Europe WineCruises”, complete with overnight stays in Paris/Normandy, Bilbao and Bordeaux, with pricesfrom £899 per person based on a 12-night cruise only. The price is based on an early bookingoffer which expires on May 31. For details visit www.cruisingpower.co.uk


cruisingCelebrity announces six ships in Europe for summer 2013



cruisingSeabourn launches

European Suite sale

SEABOURN HAS issued aEuropean Suite Sale,featuring a range ofpromotional benefits,such as complimentaryveranda upgrades andonboard credit onbookings of premiumcategory suites, on morethan 100 voyages in theMediterranean andNorthern Europe thisyear.

The sale includescruises on the line’s fleetof six intimate ships,which visit more than 160European destinations.

Complimentaryupgrades to verandacategory suites areavailable on selectcruises on the line’sOdyssey, Sojourn andQuest vessels. Theseinclude a seven-day StPetersburg and the Balticcruise from £2,499 perperson, with acomplimentary verandaupgrade. The route (onSojourn) sails fromCopenhagen toStockholm and departuredates are June 15, July15 and August 13. Portsof call includeCopenhagen, Tallinn, St.Petersburg, Helsinki andStockholm.

The company is alsooffering a free verandaupgrade on its seven-dayAdriatic and Greek Islescruise, which leads in at£1,899. The cruise sailsfrom Venice to Athens onQuest on October 27 andports of call includeVenice, Koper, Zadar,Dubrovnik, Kerkira,Corfu, Mykonos andAthens.

Prices are cruise-onlyand are based on twopeople sharing a suite onan all-inclusive basis. To book or for moreinformation call 0845-070 0500 or visitwww.seabourn.com

AmaWaterways adds new cruise products for 2013AMAWATER WAYS IS introducing four new itineraries in France and Portugal for 2013,cruising the Seine for the first time and returning to the Douro after an absence of nearlytwo years.

The line offers a total of 25 cruise itineraries across Europe, Africa, Russia, Vietnamand Cambodia, and is increasing its fleet to 15 luxury river cruisers with the debut ofthe new AmaPrima in April 2013 on the Danube and the Rhine and the AmaVida, whichdebuts on the Douro in March 2013.

The new 164-guest AmaPrima is a sister ship to the innovative new ship AmaCerto(which debuts next month) and incorporates advanced river cruise ship design withspacious staterooms, most featuring exclusive twin balconies, a heated swimming pool,multiple fine dining venues, a complimentary Internet and Infotainment system with 42”flat screen TV, complimentary Wi-fi and free use of on board bicycles.

The new 108-guest luxury AmaVida will cruise Europe’s Douro River Valley andfeatures balconies in the majority of its staterooms and suites, which range up to323sq.ft. Guests are offered fine gourmet dining with free-flowing local wines, inaddition to a casual al fresco dining option. The vessel also features a sun deckswimming pool; fitness centre and spa; complimentary in-stateroom Internet access ona 42” flat-screen and ship-wide Wi-fi.

The ship will cruise two new itineraries on the Douro in 2013, from March through toNovember: `The Enticing Douro’ cruises Portugal for seven nights land-only or as aten-night land-cruise holiday. Guests taking the ten-night option will spend three nightsdiscovering Lisbon with five-star breakfast accommodation and cruise to Porto, Régua,Barc d’Alva, Vega Terrón, Pinhão and Bitetos. The itinerary will include free excursionsto the countryside of the Trás-os-MontesRegion; Salamanca, a UNESCO World HeritageSite; a Castelo Rodrigo tour; Palacio de Mateus palace tours and the 14th centuryAlpendurada Monastery.

The week long cruise costs from £1,466 per person, including all meals, wine, beerand soft drinks with dinner and free Wi-fi and the ten night land-cruise stay costsfrom £1,945.

A seven-night `Port Wine & Flamenco’ cruise meanders along the Douro between theSpanish border town of Vega Terrón and Porto and operates from April to October 2013.Guests will visit the small town of Pinhão, known as the wine lovers Mecca, thenventure to the region of Trás-os-Montes; the former Roman village of Bitetos and its11th-century Alpendurade Monastery, before heading to Porto.

Prices lead in at £1,831 per person, including all meals, wine, beer and soft drinkswith dinner and free Wi-fi. .

The company will also introduce Seine cruises for the first time in 2013, commencingin March, with two new itineraries, a seven-night cruise of the Seine, and a combined14-night cruise of the Seine and the Rhone. For more information call 0808-223 5009 or visit www.amawaterways.co.uk


PAUL GAUGUIN Cruises has announced its 2013 sailingschedule on its newly renovated ship, The Gauguin, whichfeatures new flooring and carpeting, new furniture andwindow treatments, decorative wall panels and new signage.All suites and staterooms have also been updated with newteak railings and bathroom floors, while the casino has beenextended and new built-in banquettes now feature on thePromenade on Deck 5.

Following this year’s inaugural 11-night sailing to theAustrals & Society Islands, The Gauguin will return onSeptember 21, 2013, to see humpback whales cavorting offthe coast of Rurutu. Throughout next year the ship will alsovisit the islands of French Polynesia for seven-, ten-, 11- and14-night sailings.

The launch of guest-host sailings have proved popular forthe line this year and as a result the company will becontinuing the programme on selected 2013 sailings. Amongthe guest hosts will be environmentalist and oceanographerJean-Michel Cousteau, creator of The Gauguin’sAmbassadors of the Environment Youth Programme.Cousteau will offer lectures with videos of his work andaccompany several dives from the ship.

Savings of up to 50% off standard cruise fares plus freeflights from Los Angeles are currently being offered for nextyear’s sailings, which lead in at £4,094 for a seven-night Tahiti& Society Islands sailing based on March 9 and 16 departures.The price includes Economy flights from the UK, transfers, anight in Los Angeles and use of a day room post-cruise.

Paul Gauguin announces 2013 sailing schedule on newly renovated ship The Gauguin


cruising

STRICTLY COME Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood will joindancers Natalie Lowe, Ian Waite, Katya Virshilas and PashaKovalev on the P&O Cruises’ Strictly cruises this summer.

Revel Horwood will join the dancers on Oriana in Mayand will then return to the ship in July with a line up ofprofessional dancers from the series including KristinaRihanoff and Robin Windsor.

The top names from the BBC programme willentertain passengers with the foxtrot, rumba,quickstep, jive and more during a 12-night CanaryIslands cruise on May 28 and a 14-night Fjords cruiseon July 14.

In addition to watching the professionals’ routines,passengers will also be able to see a collection of thecostumes worn by the celebrities and stars in the 2011series, as well as join Craig Revel Horwood for a night inthe theatre.

Prices for Oriana’s 12-night Canary Islands cruiselead in at £1,459 per person. The cruise departs andreturns to Southampton and ports of call includePonta Delgada, Horta, Madeira, Gran Canaria,Lisbon and Vigo.

Prices for Oriana’s 14-night Fjords cruise leadin at £1,599 per person. The cruise departsand returns to Southampton and ports of callinclude Stavanger, Alesund, Trondheim,Trondheimsfjord, Ny Alesund, Tromso,Bergen, Eidfjord and Hardangerfjord.To book or for more information call0843-374 0111 or visitwww.pocruises.co.uk

Strictly stars - from theleft: Pasha Kovalev,Katya Virshilas, IanWaite and Natalie Lowe

VOYAGES OF Discovery is marking theanniversary of the D-Day landings witha D-Day, Normandy, Dunkirk andBeyond cruise retracing the steps ofthe World War II conflict for £589 perperson.

On the anniversary of the landingsMV Discovery will visit the famousCherbourg beaches to pay tribute tothe brave men that represented theircountry in military combat. Otherports of call include Rouen,

Heligoland, Ijmuiden and Harwich. Aformer soldier, Brigadier HughWilling, will be a guest speaker,offering his commentary on warhistory and sharing his pastexperience serving in a NATOheadquarters.

The company will make a donationto Help for Heroes and continue tofundraise through sales ofpromotional items.

The eight-night voyage departs from

Portsmouth and calls at Cherbourg, StPeter Port, Rouen, Dunkirk,Heligoland and IJmuiden beforereturning to Harwich (England).

Prices are based on an inside cabinand include all gratuities, servicecharges and port/airport taxes, guestspeaker programme, meals andentertainment.For more information or to book call0844-822 0820 or visitwww.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk

World War II remembrance cruise for £589 from Voyages of Discovery

Strictly stars line-up this summer on P&O Cruises’ Oriana


2013 Preview Brochure - On Sale Now!

Danube Maine Moselle Rhine Rhône Seine Yangtze Mekong

Book by 23 May ’12 and save up to £1500 per couple

New suites ships Avalon Artistry II & Avalon Expression launching 2013

Choose from eleven cruises on the Rhine, Danube, Rhone rivers and Dutch Waterways

Priced from £1,145 per person for an 8 day luxury Rhine cruise - Amsterdam to Basel

Luxury EuropeanRiver Cruises

All air-inclusive packages are protected by ATOL. AvalonWaterways is a trading name of Cosmos Coach Tours Ltd; Registered in England No. 1175122. Registered Address: Avalon Waterways (trading name of Cosmos Coach Tours Ltd), Prospect House, ProspectWay, London Luton Airport, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 9NU. *Lead in price is based on the departure marked with an asterisk on each itinerary. These offers apply to new bookings only, are subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. AvalonWaterways reserves the right to withdraw offers at any time.

For details of the early booking offers on 2013 Avalon cruises or for brochures call 0800 668 1865 or contact

[email protected]


Avalon Waterways launches new training modulesAVALON WATERWAYS reports a significant growth in sales through the trade,and to help agents increase their product knowledge and have more confidenceto sell, the company has launched a range of training modules with Associationof Cruise Experts (ACE) as well as agent training website,www.onlinetraveltraining.co.uk

The modules are designed to give agents an overview of river cruising anddemonstrate the differences between river and ocean cruising as well asprovide detailed information about the company's cruise experience and fleet ofmodern ships.

To further help agents sell river cruises, the cruise operator is set to host twofam trips this spring based on its four-night ‘Taste of the Danube’ itinerary,while its sales team have also been on the road to take part in several agentcruise roadshows organised by ACE, designed to provide more productknowledge and selling tips.

Meanwhile, following high demand for suites and higher grade staterooms,the company is set to launch two more suite ships, ‘Avalon Vista’ and ‘AvalonVisionary’. The christening ceremony on May 11 in Holland will bring the fleet’stotal of suite ships to three.

Post-christening, the Avalon Visionary will introduce Panorama suites to theRiver Rhine for the first time, sailing the eight-day Romantic Rhine (from £1,735)as well as several Christmastime cruises. The Avalon Vista will sail the 11-day‘Legendary Danube’ (£2,345) cruise and 13-day ‘Blue Danube Discovery’ (pricedfrom £2,595) as well as the 15-day ‘Magnificent Europe’ (£3,165).For details email [email protected] or call 0800-668 1865.

We asked our staff thefollowing question this week:

What is your favouriteboard game?

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cruising

Crossword:Across: 1. TABER, 4. COWES, 6. MEA, 7. ORIANA, 9. IDAHO, 12. NAS, 13. URE, 14. AMMAN, 16. FALCON, 18. SFO,19. TAMAR, 20. SPAIN. Down: 1. TOM JONES, 2. BEAMISH, 3. RIOJA, 4. CAIRO, 5. WAN, 8. FREETOWN, 10. HAM, 11. TUNISIA, 14. ACCOR,15. MANOS, 17. AMM.

Highlighted Word: BAHAMAS

Travagrams: (top) Carnival Cruises (Bottom) Buenos Aires

Where Am I?: Davos

puzzlesolutions


Audit Bureau ofCirculations -

Business magazines

CARNIVAL DESTINY will undergo a $155million makeover next year that willincorporate all of the line’s “Fun Ship 2.0” dining, bar and entertainmentfeatures, as well as a variety of new innovations unique to the vessel.

The refit will also include a reconfigured layout, the addition of a partial deckand the expansion of two other decks within the forward section of the ship,providing the opportunity to incorporate new on-board spaces.

Following the extensive redesign, which also sees the addition of 182 cabins,the ship will be renamed Carnival Sunshine following the 49-day dry dock,which will take place from February to April 2013.

The ship will then embark on a schedule of nine- and 12-day Mediterraneanvoyages from Barcelona and Venice from April to October 2013 then launchyear-round seven-day Caribbean departures from New Orleans beginning inNovember 2013.

The line’s president and CEO, Gerry Cahill, said: “This is our most ambitiousship conversion project to date and it will radically transform the CarnivalDestiny into essentially an entirely new ship offering a variety of exciting diningand beverage choices, spectacular outdoor spaces and entertainment options,and on-board innovations not available anywhere else.” For more information call 0845-351 0556.

Carnival Destiny undergoes $155m refit

2013 Saga Cruises on sale with Titan TITAN HAS issued its new Classic Cruise Collection 2013 brochure,featuring three Saga cruise ships. Early booking discounts offeringsavings of up to 35% as well as a range of other special offers areoffered and every cruise includes scheduled flights and door-to-doortransfers as part of the VIP Home Departure Service.

Agents can order brochures through by visitingwww.titanagents.co.uk


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654

987

121110

CzechTourism, 13 Harley Street, London W1G 9QG, uk.czechtourism.com

1 | Litomyšl, 2 | Žďár nad Sázavou, 3 | Lednice and Valtice, 4 | Český Krumlov, 5 | Kroměříž,

6 | Třebíč, 7 | Kutná Hora, 8 | Telč, 9 | Holašovice, 10 | Olomouc, 11 | Brno, 12 | Prague

WELCOME TO THEUNESCO COUNTRY

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CT_UNESCO_297x210_TravelBulletin.indd 1 6.3.12 15:45


Caesars Palace isn’t just somewhere you visit. It’s

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way, the Octavius Tower combines modern and

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for the Las Vegas adventure seeker.

Rooms are now available for bookings. Visit CaesarsPalace.com for details.

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THE LATEST IN LUXURY

Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2012, Caesars License Company, LLC.


Documents

Travel Bulletin 30th March 2012