TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLYJuly 17 2019 I No. 2552

Kim CoChRane

THE recent decision by two offline carriers to suspend all travel agents’ ticketing authority from

South Africa does not signify the start of a mass exodus, as the main airlines servicing this market have, and are still heavily invested here.

This is the view of Franz von Wielligh, head of innovation and member relations at XL Travel, in response to TNW asking if other offline airlines seemed likely at this point to consider this option.

At the end of April, Xiamen Airlines took this step due to the “abnormal fluctuation of the currency”, according to Greg Fuller, country director of APG South Africa, the GSA for the airline in South Africa.

China Southern Airlines also suspended ticketing authority for SA agents at the end of June, citing a “large devaluation risk of the South African currency”. A decision to reopen ticketing authority will be based on the airline’s ongoing assessment of the market.

Franz says there is another side to

the story, as the airlines may have disguised this move as a response to a risky trading environment, but made this call based on “lack of local support”.

“Luckily the XL Travel Group has access to technology to sell these offline carriers still, if needed,” says Franz.

Asata ceo, Otto de Vries, says South Africa is the second-oldest market in the BSP and there is no reason to think that the market is high risk, not least because there are many online airlines that continue to operate in SA.

“We also have a stable BSP and our

APJC meets regularly to provide inputs on the local financial criteria,” he says.

Border Air has one offline carrier, AeroMexico, which actively participates in the ZA BSP, says Border Air commercial manager, Isla Moffett. “We have had positive year-on-year growth from this market.”

Isla says the chosen alternative normally in this type of scenario is that the carriers have interline agreements with ticketing platforms such as Hahn Air or APG Airlines, but that decision obviously lies with the

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Offline carriers ‘unplate’ – not a trend

To page 16

Page 7

The latest domestic travel news

Travel Twist shuts doors amid scandalsaRah RobeRtson

TWO more companies – as well as Destiny Holidays – allegedly connected to Vincent and Marelise De Bruyn (alleged fraudsters and owners of Destiny Holidays) have closed.

In TNW dated July 3, it was reported that the couple, who have allegedly defrauded clients of more than R2m, were also connected to travel technology company Travel Twist.

Kim Enslin of Gallivant Travel, an eTravel ITC, says she migrated across from the Sage accounting system to Travel Twist in April after dealing with Vincent. But, she says, when she logged on to the system this week it was no longer available.

“They simply shut their doors with no forewarning, no emails and absolutely no notification whatsoever. No one answers the phones and I simply got

To page 2

Stop Press!

After 40 years of operating in the SA market, Travel Vision is entering a joint venture with Side Street Explorer, an experiential tour operator in Gauteng. Travel Vision will be moving to join Side Street Explorer at its Randpark Ridge offices. The agreement is effective August 1. Both entities will retain their individual brands. Travel Vision has had the GSA for Delta Air Lines for over 20 years. Dharmesh Kooverjee has owned Travel Vision for around 10 years.

2 n Wednesday July 17 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

NEWS

Rubes® By Leigh Rubin

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Close call for Travelbags continuitySarah robertSon

AT THE recent Travelbags AGM, the executive committee detailed the

losses that it had reported in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 financial years.TNW previously reported in

the June 19 issue that part of this deficit had for a time been unaccounted for. The executive committee stated at the AGM that all funds had now been correctly attributed.

It attributed the 2017-2018 loss to a small decrease of R6 569 in income for the year and a rise in expenses. These included a R6 012 increase in unspecified admin costs; R7 876 increase in bank

charges due to the introduction of credit card machines for lunch payments; an increase of R42 980 in funds distributed to charity and a R48 513 increase in lunch expenses due to fewer sponsorships and more no-shows. Printing increased by R9 696 and R13 500 was spent on uniforms for volunteers.

For the 2018-2019 financial year the club reported a much smaller loss of R30 678. The membership numbers lost in previous years had been regained during the 2018-19 financial year, said the committee.

The club was experiencing dwindling attendance and was

struggling to round up 100 attendees for each event.

The club’s accounting officer reported that the club was currently solvent, but the executive committee said if things remained the same for the rest of 2019, Travelbags would have to shut down within a year.

The majority of AGM attendees voted in favour of changing the format of the club, with members coming forward with suggestions on how to operate more profitably.

The members voted to change the percentage of distribution of club funds to charity, from 50% to charity to only 40%, with 60% retained to fund club expenses.

New Travelport ceo Deena robinSon

TRAVELPORT has appointed a new ceo, Greg Webb, who succeeds Gordon Wilson. Greg most recently served as gm of Oracle Hospitality, and was previously vice chairman at Sabre – where he served for 20 years – and chief information officer of BellSouth.

The appointment is a positive one, says owner

of Sure Voyager Travel Janet Aldworth.

Janet believes that Gordon has elevated the product to world-class status, and there won’t be a huge difference to the South African market with this new appointment.

But Morné du Preez, ceo of Tourvest, is concerned that the South African market may now be overlooked. “Gordon knew the South African market

and our capabilities,” Morné says. “Our technology is first-world quality but I’m worried that the South African market may not necessarily get the support that a first-world country would get if this ceo doesn’t understand this market.”

Gordon celebrated 28 years with the company in May and has been president and ceo since 2011.

Travel Twist shuts doorsa WhatsApp saying ‘Travel Twist has closed’ after several unanswered calls and emails this week,” Kim says.

Kim eventually got hold of another Travel Twist director who said that the company had been forced to close down after being affected by fraud, in which he alleged Vincent had played a part. The director took Kim’s banking details and immediately refunded her payment for the month of July.

Travel Twist’s website is now unavailable and none of the directors is responding

to TNW’s attempts to call or email them.

Not so Perfect TravelA consultant who had worked at Destiny Holidays told TNW that at the beginning of the year, when tour operators started to block Destiny Holidays from making bookings due to late payments, the Destiny Holidays directors told consultants to start processing quotes through a company by the name of Perfect Travel. TNW retrieved a report

based on CIPC information for Perfect Travel and found

that the company was registered in April this year, owned by Isabel De Bruyn. According to the consultant, Isabel is allegedly Vincent’s step-mother. TNW contacted the CIPC-listed contact details for the agency but the numbers went unanswered. One of the numbers belonged to a company where Isabel had worked years before.

Paul Peens, a victim of Destiny Holidays’ alleged fraud, told TNW that, following the spate of media attention about the couple’s modus operandi, Perfect Travel’s website and Facebook page had been taken down too.

From page 1

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4 n Wednesday July 17 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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Biometrics – a boon for travelDeena Robinson

AIRLINES and airports worldwide are focusing on biometrics to

streamline the passenger experience from check-in to boarding.

This was discussed at the Sita ID4Africa 2019 conference

Helping travellersEmad Muhanna, vp of Sita government sector, says biometrics help travellers in three ways: Identity management and verification. With a higher degree of accuracy than humans, biometrics help governments combat forgery, terrorism and illegal immigration. Automation of border control through the use of self-service kiosks. This means that travellers don’t have to wait in line for passport control or security; minimising the opportunity for individuals to interfere in the process.

Biometrics allow governments to focus on the passengers who pose threats, in reality about 5% of travellers, according to Emad. The other 95% of low-risk passengers can easily move through the process.

Problems and concerns Like any data, the possibility of hacking and theft exists for biometrics. However, Emad says what makes biometrics safer than other forms of data is a concept called ‘tokenisation,’ which protects a passenger’s information in the same way credit card information is protected. A token is generated based on information provided, which hackers can do little with as the token is essentially only a representation of data.

Privacy is a concern for technology providers like Sita, and it is here where collaboration is essential.

Emad believes data privacy

standards must be adopted by governments, who will govern when, how and with whom information is shared.

A challenge in the adoption of biometrics is the lack of availability of digital IDs (birth certificates, passports, etc). If very little information has been digitised, it is difficult for technology providers to implement solutions.

Where to next?Emad admits that Africa is behind the rest of the world in the adoption of digital identity and e-passports, however there is a sincere effort to catch up.

E-passports, a passport on a cellphone or a tablet, are emerging as a trend.

E-passports make forgery much more difficult, as they are tokenised, says Emad.

He envisages a future where a passenger can take a complete journey through the airport using only their face as their primary form of identification.

SAA codeshares with Brazilian airlineSAA has announced a codeshare and frequent flyer agreement with Brazilian airline Gol Linhas Aéreas (GOL), effective from July 5. SAA’s code is placed on flights operated by GOL to cities in Brazil including Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Curitiba and Porto Alegre, which will allow easy connections on flights of both carriers. The frequent flyer programme agreement allows members of the airlines’ programmes, Voyager and Smiles, to accrue and redeem miles. Customers from Smiles can accrue and redeem miles on flights operated by SAA to Africa, Asia and Australia, and Voyager members can accrue and redeem Voyager miles on flights operated by GOL.

Ethiopian continues expansionETHIOPIAN Airlines launched thrice-weekly flights to Amman, Jordan, on July 16. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, flight ET 0426 departs from ADD at 22h30 and arrives in AMM at 02h10 the following day. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, return flight ET 0427 departs AMM at 03h10 and arrives in ADD at 06h50.

Emirates unbundles business-class faresEMIRATES has started to sell unbundled business-class fares. The airline is selling lower-priced tickets for business class without amenities usually included in bundled fares, such as lounge access (if the passenger doesn’t have access with Emirates Skywards), chauffeur transfers, points upgrades to first class and ticket cancellation. Emirates has labelled the cheaper business-class fares as ‘special’ offered on certain routes based on seasonal trends in travel demand. Passengers booked on this business-class ‘special’ fare will continue to receive services and products on board including a baggage allowance of up to 40kg and priority boarding. As yet, the special fare is not applicable on South African routes.

A snapshot of the week's airline news

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6 n Wednesday July 17 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

NEWS

Local is lekker! City Lodge Hotels has 54 hotels across all SA provinces. Here is the latest news in domestic tourism.

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Cabinet downsize – less travel?Deena Robinson anD Kim CoChRane

FOLLOWING the recent reshuffle that saw the Cabinet size reduced

from 72 to 64 members, the travel industry has been divided on whether this will lead to a reduction in travel. There are, however, bigger concerns about whether government departments will pay and what the changes mean for suppliers operationally.

Marco Cristofoli, ceo of BCD Travel, believes there won’t be a big difference in government travelling. He is optimistic that the incumbent administration will be compliant with account payments and doesn’t feel that TMCs and suppliers will experience negative effects from the Cabinet downsize.

Sailesh Parbhu, md of XL Nexus Travel, thinks the cost-cutting measures will most likely translate into less travel because the departments will have fewer resources to dedicate to travel.

Kananelo Makhetha, ceo of Club Travel Corporate, says even if there is a reduction in government travel, the volumes will still hold much significance for the industry.

National Treasury has gazetted cost-containment measures for municipalities, saying that mayors may only travel business class if their flight exceeds five hours.

The regulations state: “The cost containment policy must limit international travel to meetings or events that are considered critical. The number of officials

or political office bearers attending such meetings or events must be limited to those officials or political office bearers directly involved in the subject matter related to such meetings or events.”

Travel perks have been tightened for new Cabinet members. According to AfricaCheck, the new tighter allowances include first-class tickets for themselves and spouses for official international journeys, 30 single business-class flights per year within SA, six single economy-class flights per year for dependent children, and a choice of any hotel for Cabinet members, spouses and dependent children when travelling on official business. Members may travel by train when not flying to a destination, including on the Blue Train.

Legacy Hotels group sales manager, Hara Jackson, says since the introduction of the government’s cost-containment policy, some of the group’s hotels have had to adjust rates to accommodate government business.

“Where possible we will listen to a plea and accept if viable for the business. The issue of B-BBEE is also being advocated. Government departments are allowed and have a right to further negotiate rates over and above current stipulated cost-cutting policy rates.”

The travel trade continues to express concerns about the economy, saying more stability in government policy is needed for the travel and tourism sector to improve.

Mauritius for less!Constance Belle Mare Plage on the east coast of Mauritius is offering your clients a 40% discount, valid until September 29. Room options include 104 Prestige Rooms, 149 Junior Suites, six Deluxe Suites, 18 Villas and one Presidential Villa. Facilities include the Constance Kids’ Club, seven restaurants and six bars. The hotel also features two golf courses, a gym and spa. The offer applies to Prestige Rooms, Prestige Beachfront Rooms, Junior Suites, Junior Beachfront Suites and Deluxe Suites. Taking advantage of the special offer are Michele Abraham (left) and Juan Nel, both sales and marketing; and Anke Paterson (centre) md, all of African Synergy, which represents Constance Hotels. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

UAE to keep visitors connected TOURISTS arriving in the UAE will soon get free sim cards loaded with data and international calling minutes.

Travellers will get three minutes of talk time and 20 GB of data. The sim can be recharged with a credit card or at any point of sale, just like all other sims bought across the UAE.

The card will be given to the visitor at immigration and will automatically be activated and registered in the name of the traveller. No documentation is required to obtain the sim.

The sim cards will be valid for a month and will automatically be renewed if the tourist extends their visa.

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday July 17 2019 n 7

Local is lekker! City Lodge Hotels has 54 hotels across all SA provinces. Here is the latest news in domestic tourism.

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Upgrades on the cards for Kruger National Park A NEW day visitor site at Shingwedzi, a conference venue at Mopani and upgrades to the tented accommodation at Lower Sabie are some of the upgrades and developments planned for the Kruger National Park. Last year, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism awarded SANParks R396m in funding for infrastructure development over the next three years. Of this, SANParks allocated R195m to the KNP for new student, contractors’ and staff accommodation; conference and day visitors’ facilities; entrance gates; roads; and smaller upgrades.

Blake Schraader, head of the Department of Technical Services, says the designs for the upgrades to the tourism facilities at Punda Maria, Shingwedzi, Letaba, Satara, Orpen, Roodewal, Lower-Sabie, Berg-en-Dal and Pretoriuskop are 99% finalised. The plans to upgrade the tents at Lower Sabie and the camping sites

at Berg-en-Dal and Skukuza have been finalised.

A project to turn the shop at Mopani into a conference venue is under way, and upgrades to the existing conferencing facilities at Skukuza are planned.

New day visitor facilities, similar to those at Letaba, Satara and Orpen, will be built at Shingwedzi and Olifants. Several new bird hides and viewing points will be constructed throughout the park.

All commercial activities at the gates will be concentrated in one area. A swipe card system will also be introduced at all gates to facilitate fast lanes for Wild Card holders. All the southern gates, as well as Phalaborwa and Orpen, will be upgraded and a new bridge and road will be built at Crocodile Bridge camp to ensure that the camp becomes an end destination. The road will no longer pass through the camp as it does now.

New trails camp for TimbavatiSIMBAVATI Trails Camp, a walking trails camp, is expected to open in a secluded area of the Timbavati later this year, pending final environmental impact assessment approval.

The camp will comprise four en-suite meru-style safari tents and host a maximum of eight guests.

The rustic camp will offer bucket

showers, filled on demand, and meals prepared over an open fire. There will be no electricity or cellphone reception.

Days will start with a four-hour walk with an armed specialist guide, followed by brunch. Afternoons begin with tea, before another two-hour walk, ending at a viewpoint at sunset, before a drive.

Winter Wonders at Kirstenbosch KIRSTENBOSCH National Botanical Gardens in Cape Town is hosting its annual Winter Wonders special, letting families explore the gardens and learn about indigenous flora.

Entry for children under 17 is free. They can take part in the kids’ programme, which includes drumming, arts and crafts, slime-making, movies, rides and more, at the Moyo Kirstenbosch Restaurant.

There are guided or unguided tours that start at the Conservatory and include the main house with a baobab

tree growing in the centre, and four corner houses each representing an ecological region of southern Africa. It then heads along Tree Canopy Walkway, where there are birds and life-sized dinosaurs hidden throughout the Cycad Amphitheatre.

During the tour, guests can view the different species of proteas and visit the Useful Plants Garden, Fragrance Garden and Sculpture Garden.

Kirstenbosch is open every day from 08h00-18h00 in winter. It is on Rhodes Drive, Newlands.

Cape Town Cycle Tour launches shorter route

CAPE Town Cycle Tour and the City of Cape Town are finalising plans to offer a short route for

next year’s Cape Town Cycle Tour.The Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust

wants to encourage the youth, novices and the not-so-fit to participate in the event.

“A shorter course, in addition

to the full traditional route, is the perfect solution. We will release more details as we confirm them, but the thinking is that the short route will be held on the Saturday, followed by the 109km route on the Sunday,” says David Bellairs, director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust.

8 n Wednesday July 17 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

REPORT ZANZIBAR

Last month, Holiday Packages, the B2B division of AfricaStay, sent a group of over 130 agents to Zanzibar for the launch of Mango’s direct flight between Lanseria and the island. TNW’s Sarah Robertson joined the trip.

More affordable, more accessible

FROM the moment you step off the flight in Zanzibar, it is instantly apparent that this

Indian Ocean island offers a very different experience to the regional Creole islands such as Mauritius and Seychelles. The island has a laid-back and rustic feel and is a great option for clients looking for a beach holiday with a more authentic African feel than the manicured Mauritian resorts offer. Holiday Packages offers a range of affordable packages to the island and the direct flights that Mango offers from both ORTIA and Lanseria make it easily accessible.

While child-friendly, the resorts do not have the array of children’s clubs and facilities that are on offer in

Mauritius and, as a result, the island may be more suited to couples. It is also officially a malarial area and, although resort staff say reported cases have dropped significantly due to regular insecticide spraying, this is a factor to take into consideration when travelling with children.

Wherever you travel in Zanzibar you are met with warm and cheery Swahili “Jambos”, whether you are passing young girls in flowing skirts and headscarves or intimidatingly tall Maasai warriors. Cuisine is a spicy infusion of African, European, Indian and African flavours and local dishes often include traditionally African ingredients such as morogo, samp, beans, and even goat.

Cool connectionsMango’s new service offers good connections for clients transiting from Cape Town and Durban. JE972 departs from Lanseria

on Sundays at 09h50, arriving in Zanzibar at 14h15. JE973 departs Zanzibar at 15h05 arriving in Lanseria at 18h05.

Where to stayHoliday Packages arranged visits to resorts on the island to help agents to sell the properties to their clients, having been there and experienced them for themselves.

Sea Cliff Resort and Spa The focal point of this resort is a large infinity pool built on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. Rooms are airy, and are decorated in simple whites and natural woods. A large open-air buffet restaurant adjacent to the pool terrace serves Western favourites and a selection of spicy Zanzibar curries. The resort also boasts the only golf course on the island. Two holes on the nine-hole Matkovitch course are played along the Indian Ocean. There is an in-house spa and the stables offer horse riding for riders of all levels. A bar on the jetty, jutting out

over the sea, is a great spot for sundowners and the resort is an easy 20-minute drive from Stone Town. The variety of facilities and activities on offer make it a great option for high-end couple or family visits.

La Gemma dell’EstThe best beaches in Zanzibar are said to be in the north, where the azure waters and powder-white sand are less affected by dramatic tidal movements than in other parts of the island. La Gemma Dell’Est is a five-star resort in the north offering a choice of four restaurants, a conference centre, a dive centre and one of the finest beaches on the island. Each room has a private terrace and view of the sea. Excellent fusion cuisine, prepared by executive chef, Bjorn Van Den Oever, is a highlight.

From left: Graham Cannings, Ane Steyn and Anel Snyman of FCA. Photos: Sarah Robertson

From left: Andrea de Villiers of Travelstart, Belinda Claassens of FCA, Deborah Magrath of Club Travel, and Heidi Smit of Travel About, enjoy a rustic lunch on the beach.

FCA’s Carla van Eck parties with SA’s The Bachelor, Lee Thompson (left), and singer Bobby van Jaarsveld.

Executive chef Bjorn Van Den Oever, enjoys an after-dinner drink with (from left) Adri Botha, Lollie Pietersen and Elmarie Mulder of The Big Blue Travel Company, and (back right) Samantha Laird of Daddy’s Deals.

Susan Habanyane of Travel Connections enjoys a dance with locals.

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday July 17 2019 n 9

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South African families continue to flock to Orlando, visiting Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and more. Sarah Robertson reports.

Evergreen Orlando – more than just Disney

OPERATORS report that Walt Disney World in Orlando is by far the

most popular Disney resort for South Africans.

“As the US is so far away, clients tend to travel for at least seven nights and often longer. We see more and more clients who are visiting Orlando splitting their stay between Disney and Universal Studios. Sea World, Kennedy Space Center and Legoland in Orlando are also very popular as are trips that include a visit to nearby Miami or a short cruise off the east coast,” says Venice Barris, reservations supervisor at Travel Vision.

Celeste Muir, marketing manager of Thompsons Holidays, agrees and says the sheer size of Walt Disney World in Orlando makes it the biggest selling Disney resort for South African travellers. She also points out that the Orlando resort is closer to home for South Africans than the smaller Disneyland resort in California.

“Most of our clients choose to pay a little extra to stay at the hotels inside Walt Disney World,” says Venice. Celeste agrees and says the extra value that the resorts within the park provide is

definitely worthwhile. Some of the advantages

include extra hours in the parks every day before or after they open for day-pass visitors, complimentary airport-hotel transfers and transportation in Walt Disney World, the ability to pre-book selected shows and attractions on the Fastpass+ app 60 days before arriving at the park, complimentary MagicBands that allow visitors to enjoy the resort without carrying cash or keys, and the option to take advantage of Disney Dining Plans.

Both Celeste and Venice say the Disney Dining Plans are overwhelmingly popular with South African travellers.

“Families can budget in advance for their meals and often end up saving with exchange rate fluctuations,” says Venice. She says in the current economic climate Travel Vision is also seeing more clients choosing non-direct flights to the States for the savings they offer. Many clients prefer to save on the flights and, if possible, spend a bit longer in the US, explains Venice.

Thaybz Khan, head of product for Cruises International agrees, saying they increasingly see clients

booking add-ons to their cruise in the form of pre and post accommodation and

Disney packages. “In view of the long haul

to the USA most travellers

opt for minimum seven-night itineraries when it comes to US cruises,” adds Celeste.

Cut costs with new date-based ticketWalt Disney World recently introduced a new date-based ticket option.

“The new, more cost-effective, date-based ticket options allow guests to save if they specify their dates for entrance to

the parks and use them consecutively,” says Venice.

“The original ticket option is also available at a higher price, which gives guests 14 days to use their tickets.”

She adds that there

has been a lot of uptake for the new ticket option from South African travellers as they have set international travel dates and are eager to take advantage of the cheaper tickets.

In a recent TNW poll, 78% of respondents said their clients were experiencing more difficulty in obtaining US visas. Agents say they are now advising passengers that they need to apply for US visas three months ahead of travel.

Agent alert

USA & Disney Universal Studios, Orlando

10 n Wednesday July 17 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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USA & DISNEY

New at Walt Disney World Lightning McQueen’s

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be a champion racer from the legendary Lightning McQueen. Toy Story Land Head inside Andy’s

room and blast your way through a carnival-themed 4D Arcade at Toy Story Mania, take a

wild ride on Slinky Dog as he twists around, curves up and springs across Andy’s backyard, or power up for an out-of-this-world experience on the Alien Swirling Saucers. Character encounters include Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and the Green Army Patrol.

Ride Hagrid’s Motorbike

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which opened at Universal Orlando in June, features new technology where guests can take a seat on a roller-coaster shaped like Hagrid’s motorbike, visiting mysterious places and getting up close to thestrals, unicorns, centaurs, giants and more.

Disney World ups tech offeringFastPass+FastPass+ allows visitors to pre-book access to selected Walt Disney World theme park attractions and entertainment options.

Venice says Orlando is humid and that queuing for rides in the heat can be fatiguing, especially during high season. She recommends that clients download Disney’s free

FastPass+ app, which allows them to pre-book five attraction time slots 30 days before their visit.

“If they are staying at a resort within the park they can pre-book timeslots up to 60 days before their visit,” adds Venice.

MagicBandsMagicBands can be used to enter Disney theme parks,

check in at FastPass+ entrances, unlock Disney Resort hotel rooms and charge purchases to the Disney hotel room account.

“This means that clients and their children do not have to carry cash around the parks. They can also redeem their meals from the MagicBands if they have pre-purchased these,” says Thompsons Holidays’ Celeste Muir.

Toy Story Land, Orlando.

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12 n Wednesday July 17 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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depart the everyday

Now flying twice a day between Johannesburg and London Heathrow.Grab a piece of the action. Visit vsflyinghub.com

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Galaxy’s Edge opens

The new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction has just opened at Disneyland in California, with the Walt Disney World Orlando attraction set to open on August 29. Guests can fly the Millennium Falcon, explore remote outposts, outfit themselves for galactic adventures or sip on Luke Skywalker’s blue or green milk.

Cape Town-New York in time for Christmas UNITED Airlines plans to start its three-weekly non-stop service between Cape Town and New York (Newark) on December 16. While this is still subject to government approval the airline has confirmed that tickets are available for sale.

The new service will decrease the current travel time from Cape Town to New York by more than four hours and will allow customers from South Africa to connect to more than 80 destinations across the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, says the airline.

Marcel Fuchs, vice president sales international for United Airlines,

adds that the seamless service will also support business opportunities between the Western Cape’s technology sector and the US.

The service will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring 48 seats in business class, 48 seats in Economy Plus, and 116 seats in economy class.

UA1123 will depart Cape Town to New York on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 20h50 arriving the next morning in Newark at 05h45. UA1122 will depart from Newark on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 20h30 arriving in Cape Town the next day at 18h00.

Discover the World is offering a December 14, seven-night cruise on the brand-new Sky Princess from US$1 139 (R16 076). It sails from Fort Lauderdale, visiting Princess Cays, St Thomas and St Maarten. Included is the Sip and Sail promo (receive a premium drinks package for the first and second guests when passengers book an inside, ocean-view, balcony, deluxe balcony, mini suite or full suite). Trafalgar’s 10-day Tastes and Sounds of the South explores Honky-Tonk, Southern-

style home cooking, rock ’n’ roll and jazz. Guests have the option to join a trip that incorporates the Mardi Gras or the Jazz Festival, which take place between March and April on selected dates.

Book it!

Trafalgar introduces new City ExplorersTRAFALGAR has introduced two brand-new five-day City Explorers tours to its product range.

In New York, travellers learn how the dreams of immigrants laid the foundations for an iconic city that celebrates its cultural diversity and the pursuit of progress and prosperity. They can enjoy a city tour of the Big Apple; visit the September 11 Memorial and Museum Battery

Park; Chinatown; the Rockefeller Centre; Chelsea Market; the High Line; Top of the Rock; the Lincoln Center; Chelsea Market; Broadway and Brooklyn.

In San Francisco, guests visit Alamo Square, home to the famous ‘Painted Ladies’; Lombard Street; the Golden Gate Bridge; Sonoma; and the Ravenswood Winery during this tour of one of America’s hippest cities.

USA & DISNEY

DL AD0142 220x314x3 Travel News Weekly Final.indd 1 16.01.19 11:58

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14 n Wednesday July 17 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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WITH

Sabrina Allcock

COME BACK NEWPRINCESS CRUISES has

been represented in South Africa by DISCOVER THE WORLD for the past 15

years. Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, PRINCESS first became famous by The Love Boat TV series in which our Pacific Princess ship was featured. In fact the Pacific

remains a firm favourite of many past passengers

in view of its size with only 680 passengers and 373 crew. But since The Love

Boat the fleet has grown and modernised drastically.

Currently 17 ships and 5 new ones being built over

the next six years makes PRINCESS the fastest

growing Premium Cruise Line in the world.

Imagine cruising in the lap of luxury in destinations like Alaska, Japan, the Mediterranean, Asia,

Australia, South America, California and the Caribbean.

PRINCESS has repeatedly won various Awards and Accolades over the years however ‘Best Cruise Line

Itineraries’ remains one that sets us apart and explains

our enormous repeat passenger profile. And whilst

enjoying the best cruise itineraries, PRINCESS also

makes it possible to keep in touch with family and friends

with the very best WiFi at Sea. I’ve been fortunate

enough to experience many of these cruises and I’ll

share some of those experiences with you over

the next few weeks ..

Meantime our all-inclusive drinks packages called

‘Sip n Sail’ is underway, so contact Aqeela, Najmah or

Anneli for more information.. and remember that with

PRINCESS your clients will always ‘come back new’.

Tel: 011 463-5251princess@discovertheworld.co.za

www.princess.com

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USA & DISNEY

The Deep South rocks!HOME of jazz, the blues and rock ‘n’ roll, tours of the Deep South are increasingly on the radar for South African Travellers.

Geoffrey Bower, who toured the US on a Top Deck tour late last year, told TNW that the highlight of the trip for him was undoubtedly his visit to the south.

Geoffrey describes Savannah in Georgia – his favourite city – as a quaint and vibey student town with a lot of history. He says the warmth of southern hospitality is not just a marketing cliché, and describes the regional cuisine as unique and flavourful. Geoffrey recommends trying a beignet (French doughnut with sugar on it) from the

famous Café Du Mond in New Orleans. TNW rounds up some of

the highlights of this up-and-coming region.

AtlantaDelta Air Lines’ direct flights to Atlanta make this a perfect stopover point and hub for exploring the area. Visit the childhood home of Dr Martin Luther King Junior and learn about Atlanta’s role in the Civil Rights Movement. The city is also the home of Coca-Cola and the museum built in honour of the iconic fizzy drink is well worth visiting.

New OrleansThis laid-back city is famous for its vibrant jazz music scene, riverboat cruises, the

beautiful historic architecture in the French Quarter and its Creole cuisine. Visit the famous Preservation Hall to see the nightly jazz performances, take an alligator swamp tour or delve into Voodoo culture.

NashvilleNashville is the home of country music and the Grand Ole Opry (the world’s longest running radio show). The Country Music Hall of Fame, the Wildhorse Saloon and a succession

of honky-tonk bars are all must-visit locations.

MemphisMemphis, on the banks of the Mississippi, is famous for its blues, gospel and rock ‘n’ roll and is synonymous with Elvis, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Cash and B.B. King. Visitors can stroll down the Walk of Fame on Beale Street, visit the Gibson guitar factory, enjoy a Sunday gospel music performance and explore the National Civil Rights Museum and Elvis’s home, Graceland.

Clients call for US and Caribbean cruises OPERATORS report an increase in cruise bookings to the US this year, with large-ship cruises in the Caribbean and Bahamas ranking as most popular in the SA market.

Thaybz Khan of Cruises International, says the majority of its US bookings are made on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruise liners. She says the newest ships for both brands have been based in this region and that this is a big draw for the region.

Celeste Muir of

Thompsons Holidays says Alaskan cruises are also quite popular and that there is increasing interest in cruises out of New York along the east coast to Canada.

Anneli van den Berg¸ sales and marketing executive for Discover the World, adds that, in addition to only having to unpack once and wake up in a different city every morning, the variety of Princess Cruise itineraries in the Caribbean make it possible to enjoy multiple world-class beaches on a single cruise.

Travel Vision is offering a five-night Take a Bite of the Big Apple special from R24 591pps. The package includes return flights and taxes ex-JNB, five nights at the four star Hudson Hotel, return airport shuttle transfers and a 48-hour Grayline NYC Hop-on, Hop-off bus pass. Prices are subject to availability, T&Cs, and rate of exchange fluctuations. Cruises International is offering a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise

on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas for US$986pps (R14 790). Highlights include Fort Lauderdale, Perfect Day at Cococay, Bahamas, Cozumel, Mexico, Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, Roatan and Honduras.

Book it!

New Orleans French Quarter.

Did you know?

From November, Delta Air Lines will introduce its re-fitted B777 between Johannesburg and Atlanta. It will feature the new premium economy cabin – Delta Premium Select – and the Delta One Suite, making it the only airline offering a business-class suite in the region. New amenity kits are also being introduced to improve the on-board experience. A new Main Cabin experience will be introduced later this year where passengers will receive a welcome drink, hot towel and ‘mix-and-match’ options for their starter and main course, which are also larger than the current offering.

Ethiopian flies into JFKSarah robertSon

EFFECTIVE June 17, Ethiopian Airlines flies three times a week between Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa and John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, via Abidjan. The airline already flies to New York’s Newark airport four times a week.

Flight ET0512 departs Addis Ababa at 09h00, arriving in Abidjan at 12h15 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It leaves Abidjan at 13h15, arriving in JFK at 20h00.

Flight ET0513 departs from JFK at 22h00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, arriving in Abidjan at 12h05 the next day. It departs

Abidjan at 13h05, arriving in Addis Ababa at 22h20.

Abel Alemu, regional manager Southern Africa, says Ethiopian Airlines is reporting strong positive growth from SA to the US.

Its top three destinations for South Africans travelling to the US are New York, Washington and Orlando. The airline also flies to Houston, operating a total of 24 weekly flights between Africa and North America.

“The US is one of our most important markets, owing to the presence of a large African diaspora and the promising multi-faceted relations between Africa and the USA,” said Tewolde GebreMariam, ceo of Ethiopian Airlines.

JOBSCOMMUNITYNEWSBirths, deaths, marriages, promotions – we want to know! Please fax or e-mail TNW’s Deena Robinson, at deenar@nowmedia.co.za

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday July 17 2019 n 15

Appointments

TNW7929

Write your own salary cheque!Advertising Sales Executive wanted for a daily news website that speaks to professionals in corporate travel procurement and the

meetings, conferencing and events industry.

Travel & Meetings Buyer (www.tam.co.za) is looking for someone who thrives on the challenge of finding and securing new clients and

uncovering business opportunities.

We require: a proven track record in sales and / or the corporate travel industry. B2B sales experience an advantage.

Interested?

Send CV to: careers@nowmedia.co.za

Only short listed applicants will be contacted.

TNW7979

REWARDIf you can give us the name of any bona fide

travel agency that is not receiving TNW

at its address

R300 is yours

Send the contact details to dianac@nowmedia.co.za

T&Cs apply

TNW8000

Have you been on an educational?

Send us the details and pictures of your trip. You could be featured in TNW.

Photos must be high res (1MB or more).Email deenar@nowmedia.co.za

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Want to work for TNW?We are looking for an enthusiastic,

dynamic, lateral-thinker...a confident salesperson who isn’t afraid to go hunting

for new business and who wants to be master of their own future. Is that you?

Send CV to careers@nowmedia.co.za

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

Pick of the week

These adverts were selected from the vacancy section of www.travelinfo.co.za To advertise contact jobs@travelinfo.co.za

brought to you by

TNW

8140

Vacation Pro – CPTLee Botti & AssociatesBe part of a winning team and compile unforgettable packages for a multi-national client. Amadeus essential. Salary: R15 400 + commission. Email: lee-annem@leebotti.co.za

Reservations Manager – CPTLee Botti & AssociatesTour operator along the Atlantic Seaboard seeks a manager! The ability to develop a growing reservations department is key. Salary: R25k-R30k. Email: lee-annem@leebotti.co.za

Specialist Group Consultant – JNB, NorthProfessional Career ServicesLuxury groups of up to 30 pax. Must have good knowledge of Southern Africa. Costings & itineraries. Email: jeancv@pcs-sa.co.za

Senior Inbound Tour Consultant – FourwaysProfessional Career ServicesMinimum 7 years’ inbound experience. Tourplan. In-depth knowledge of Southern Africa region. FIT’s and MICE groups experience. Email: nonocv@pcs-sa.co.za

Senior Tour Consultant – CPTQuantex Recruitment GroupLeading luxury specialist wants 5+ years’ inbound consulting experience and fantastic Southern Africa, East Africa & Indian Ocean Islands knowledge. GDS proficiency required. Email: lee@quantex.co.za

Senior Travel Consultant – CPTQuantex Recruitment GroupExcellent Africa destination/product knowledge and no less than 3 years’ inbound consulting experience is vital. Prior experience with the luxury market is required. Email: lee@quantex.co.za

BidTravel’s team hosted a dinner at the newly launched Home* Suite Hotel, Bristol in Johannesburg. Ceo of BidTravel, Lidia Folli, pictured here, helped to take over the kitchen and treated guests to Portuguese-inspired dishes.

Cooking with BidTravel

Clifford von Richter has been appointed gm of Road Lodge Kimberley. He was previously assistant gm at City Lodge Hotel Sandton. He joined CLHG as assistant gm at Road Lodge Cape Town International Airport in 2009 and was promoted to assistant gm at Town Lodge Midrand. He recently assisted with pre-opening processes at the City Lodge Hotel Maputo.

Wentzel von Wielligh has been appointed gm of City Lodge Hotel V&A Waterfront after just under a year at City Lodge Hotel Pinelands. Wentzel

joined CLHG in 2002 and has held various positions within the group. He holds a City & Guilds diploma in accommodation services and qualified as a certified hotel administrator through the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute in 2017.

Etienne Grobler has been appointed gm of City Lodge Hotel Pinelands. He has over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, joining CLHG in December 1998 as a receptionist and night auditor at Town Lodge Bellville, followed by various management positions at Town Lodge Bellville, City Lodge Hotel GrandWest and City Lodge Hotel V&A Waterfront. He was promoted to gm of Road Lodge Cape Town International Airport in September 2014.

MSC Cruises has appointed Craig Parvess as local sales manager. Craig has a wealth of experience in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector, and previously held the position of senior product manager for Comair’s travel division. He has also held a range of sales management positions at various other travel and hospitality groups prior to joining MSC. Craig will be responsible for MSC’s domestic sales strategy, including maintaining trade partner relationships.

To advertise on this page email robynd@nowmedia.co.za

For a FREE subscription to TNW contact Gladys on

gladysn@nowmedia.co.za

16 n Wednesday July 17 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

TNW NEWS

brought to you by eTNW and TRAVELINFO

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

Contact Tammy on 0861eTrave1 or info@etravel.co.za

TNW7136

brought to you by eTNW and TRAVELINFO

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

Contact Tammy on 0861eTrave1 or info@etravel.co.za

TNW7136

Have strikes at airports and airlines disrupted your clients’ travel plans over the past year compared with the previous year?

Strikes give travellers headaches

Disruption has increased I don’t know It has stayed the same It has decreased

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With 21 weekly flights from Johannesburg and 12 weekly flights from Cape Town, no other airline flies you to Nairobi as often as we do offering more flight options with seamless connectivity to Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States.

Book your flight today.

Visit kenya-airways.com or call us on 010 205 0000 for more information.

#LetKQTakeYouThere

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33 weekly departures from South Africa to Nairobi, Kenya

41%

33%

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Tech helps beat the crowds

Europamundo has launched a new tool that allows agents to see when certain travelling dates in its brochure are on offer so that travellers can avoid crowds. The offers come with a 10% discount on the brochure, and the ‘superoffers’ come with a 20% discount. As the tool is integrated into Europamundo’s distribution platforms, it is always active on the Europamundo website and in Nemo, Booking Motor and Schultz. Celebrating Europamundo’s new initiative are (from left): Yasthish Singh, travel consultant; Johan Peens, sales executive; and Masixole Funa, leisure consultant, all of Serendipity Tours, GSA for Europamundo. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

US visa delays continueDeena Robinson

SOUTH Africans applying for US visas are struggling to get

appointments, and agents and visa companies canvassed by TNW are reporting only getting appointments in November for Johannesburg, and September/October for Cape Town and Durban.

The US isn’t making as many days available for appointments as a year ago, says Shanaid Nicholson, senior consultant at Visas and Passports Unlimited. Shanaid adds that, while getting appointments for US visas has always been an issue, this year has been the most challenging.

“Once the passenger gets an appointment, the visa is usually issued within three

to five working days.”Visa companies have not

received any word from the American embassy about the reason for the sudden unavailability of appointments, which only adds to the frustration, Shanaid adds.

In TNW dated June 26, it was reported that there had been longer waiting times than usual for South Africans applying for US visas due to heavy demand. The US Mission in South Africa released a statement urging South Africans to apply for their US visas at least three months before the planned travel date.

Katia Bonisolo, owner of Aideena Travel and Tours, says the three-month suggestion is sometimes not enough.

“I have clients planning on travelling in October, who

can only get appointments for November,” Katia says. “Clients have had to postpone or cancel their trips because they aren’t able to get appointments in time, even after adhering to the three-month suggestion.”

“Applicants should not book flights or accommodation until they have received their visas,” Yusuf Laly, consultant at Blade Express advises, as confirmed tickets are not a requirement for applying for US visas.

Shanaid adds that applicants can submit requests for expedited appointments, which are sometimes granted for family emergencies, such as deaths, or urgent business matters. While these requests are not always granted, Shanaid advises applicants to “try their luck”.

Offline carriers ‘unplate’

carrier concerned. Charmaine Thome, gm

Southern Africa for Aviareps, says, however, that its offline carriers specifically have seen a dramatic increase in fraud out of the SA market.

“Airlines such as SriLankan Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines have suffered great losses recently through South

African agents.”Charmaine says many of

these airlines are unfamiliar with the ITC market, so they deem it high risk.

“We have not had any of our carriers stop ticketing yet. A solution to this may be for the holder of the Iata number to put a letter of guarantee in place with the airlines, thereby minimising their risk.”

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