September 14 2018 | ISSUE NO 2,076 | travelbulletin.co · 9/14/2018 · Shearings Holidays launches 2019 brochures for Britain and Ireland SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS has launched its ‘Britain

September 14 2018 | ISSUE NO 2,076 | travelbulletin.co.uk

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September 14 2018 | ISSUE NO 2,076 | travelbulletin.co.uk

newsnew research looksto the benefits ofair travel

bulletin briefingembrace challengingclients & adapt to achanging industry

trainingcheck out the highlightsfrom AMResorts’summer vibes tour

3 1514

this week

cyprus help clients capture those‘Insta-worthy’ holiday moments

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Inspirational tourismcampaigns give a fresh spinto holidays in the Caribbean

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3travelbulletin.co.uk September 14 2018

THE AVERAGE traveller spends the equivalent of more thantwo full days and nights (50 hours) per year in the sky, on6.5 flights, according to research released by HSBC.

The international bank looked at the 11.9 millionpeople around the world, who are flying on any given day– a veritable country in the sky with the populationequivalent to that of Cuba, which the bank has playfullydubbed ‘Flyland’. Its research found that ultra-long-hauljourneys (more than 12 hours) now account for almostone fifth of all flights (18%), showing the increasingdesire from travellers to explore the world.

With so many people spending the equivalent of aweekend break on-board an aeroplane, it comes as littlesurprise that they’re looking to get away from it all whenchoosing holiday destinations; half of all respondentsprefer flying to undiscovered locations and 32% claim toactively avoid popular tourist hotspots.

Despite this, travellers are overwhelmingly positive aboutthe benefits of flying, with the research finding that travelreally does broaden the mind. Nine in ten air travellersbelieve they now understand the world better, with 74%claiming to be more tolerant and 66% more patient as aresult of frequent travel. There are personal benefits, too,with 81% feeling more independent and 78% moreconfident and both topping the list.

Becky Moffat, the bank’s UK head of personal banking,said: “Air travel has been transformed over the last decade,helping more people from more backgrounds experience evenmore of the world and reap the benefits. We help millions oftravellers make meaningful international connections aroundthe globe and that’s why ours is the first name people see asthey step in or out of Flyland through an HSBC-branded jetbridge in 17 major airports across the world.”For more information visit hsbc.com

A GROUP of homeworkers from The Personal Travel Agents at Co-operative Travel attended a fam trip hosted by Hoseasons toHenlle Hall Woodland Lodges, Shropshire. The day visit included a tour of Henlle Hall, including the luxury on site lodges & cottagesthat are bookable via the operator. Pictured, from the left, are Amanda Pritchard, Kerry Ashley, Sandra Benton, Joanne Saunders,Ginette Steele, Vanessa Evans, Clare Gilliver and Sue Mackintosh, who all had the chance to enjoy some champagne, canapes,afternoon tea and a tasting table of local produce on the day.

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trainingcheck out all the fun fromAMResorts’ UK summer vibes tour

This week

03 newsa roundup of all the latest news fromacross the travel industry

08 notes from normanton find out what Sandy’s been upto lately

09 agent bulletintech treats, flights & Love2Shopvouchers all up for grabs in thesecompetitions

11 puzzle bulletinplay Su Doku for your chance to wina £50 M&S voucher

14 bulletin briefingAITO’s guest writer offers a fresh perspective 23 caribbean

inspirational campaigns & holidays tobe won across the caribbean

19 cyprushelp clients capture those perfectholiday moments

15

Countryside hideaway...

HSBC research finds that the average person takes 6.5 flights each year


travelbulletin.co.ukSeptember 14 20184

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FRED. OLSEN Cruise Lines is promotingits cruises from the north of the UK in itsnew ‘Balmoral from the north’ brochure,showcasing a variety of holidays fromNewcastle and Rosyth (Edinburgh) nextyear, aboard its flagship, Balmoral.

Passengers are invited onboard toexperience scenic, historic waterways intothe cities of Germany, Sweden, Belgium orthe Netherlands. For those who want toenjoy some late summer sunshine,travellers can cruise to France, Portugaland Spain, or instead discover the naturalwonders of Iceland.

The cruise company is also offeringtravellers the option to discover thecapital cities of the Baltic, or to go on aNorwegian fjords adventure, where theycan either join a ‘Mystery Cruise’, whichvisits a different country every day.

For a short break, there is a selection offive-night taster holidays to choose from.Next year, Balmoral will be offering a totalof eight cruise holidays from Edinburgh(Rosyth), between June and August,including a seven-night‘Norwegian Fjords’departure, a 14-night ‘Baltic Capitals’discovery, and a nine-night ‘EuropeanRivers & Canals’ experience.

Clare Ward, director of product andcustomer service for the cruise line, said:“We look forward to another successfulcruise season from the scenic Port ofRosyth in 2019, when we will once againbe welcoming Scottish guests aboardBalmoral, both old and new.”

Fred. Olsen issues 2019 ‘Balmoral from the north’ brochure

Ponant launches Facebook group for travel agentsPONANT HAS created a dedicated Facebook group for agents in the UK and Ireland.Called 'Ponant Experts UK & Ireland', the French cruise line's initiative aims tostrengthen ties with the trade and get closer to agents.

The platform will be used to share news about products, incentives, ship visits andevents, run monthly competitions and also to receive any agent feedback. Agents canjoin the group by providing their agency number to the group's administrator.

Stephen Winter, international sales director for the cruise line, said: "This is thefirst time that PONANT has launched such an initiative in any of its markets. It showsour continued involvement and dedication to the UK and Irish markets, and ourambition to significantly grow our share of the market in the UK and Ireland."For more information go to en.ponant.com/customer/account/login/

Accessibility improvedfor The Enchanted

Forest visitorsORGANISERS OF TheEnchanted Forest soundand light event, located inPitlochry, Scotland, haveinvested £6,000 to improveaccessibility forwheelchair users anddisabled customers. The investment at theaward-winning showincludes improvedpathways, increasedaccess to the catering andstorytelling areas and aMobiloo toilet with grabrails, electronic hoist andadult-sized changingbench.Faskally Wood, where

the shows are held, willbe made more accessiblethanks to the plannedinstallation of matting ontop of bark pathways.This year, the shows will

run from October 4 untilNovember 4 and 80,000visitors are expected. Zoe Squair, creative

producer of the event, said:"While The EnchantedForest has always had agood reputation foraccessibility, there isalways room forimprovement. That's whywe wanted to step thingsup this year and pump asubstantial amount ofmoney into making thingseven better."For more details, go toenchantedforest.org.uk



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Last few spacesavailable for CMV

ship visitsCRUISE AND MaritimeVoyages (CMV) is hostingagents on educational shipvisits. The cruise line recentlywelcomed travel agentsfrom the North West whojoined two of the line’sbusiness developmentmanagers on boardMagellan in Liverpool.Lisa Jacobs, the cruise

line’s head of trade sales,said: “We still have agentship visit dates available atthe London CruiseTerminal in Tilbury onSeptember 25, October 5,and October 12 to seeColumbus plus anopportunity to view MarcoPolo on November 5. Foragents in the South Westwe have a few places stillavailable to visit Magellanin Bristol. Agents shouldcontact CMV as soon aspossible to book a place.”During a visit, agents are

able to have a look aroundthe ship and will receive ashort presentation onCMV’s latest news. A fivecourse meal with wine canbe enjoyed and otherhospitality on board.For more information visitcruiseandmaritime.com

Brits spend 22 hours ofholiday taking photos

for social mediaBritish holidaymakersspend 22 hours and 36minutes to take and editphotographs for socialmedia, reveals newresearch by InternationalCurrency Exchange (ICE).The study found that theaverage Brit takesapproximately sevenminutes to take theperfect holiday photo andtakes 21 photos a dayacross a nine-day trip,meaning almost a day'sworth of holiday is spenton shooting photos forsocial media.Holidaymakers tend tofurther take five-and-a-half minutes for editingpictures and writing awitty caption.Of those surveyed, 55%said their holiday choicesare influenced by thedesire to get a good photofor social media. Amongthe 18-24-year-olds, thisfigure rose to 78%indicating that this agegroup are willing to go toalmost any lengths to getthat perfect Instagramimage.The mere act of postingphotographs on socialmedia provides a sense ofhappiness to more than38% of the peoplesurveyed whilst 22% feelstress about not getting'likes'.Visit icenewsroom.com/holiday-photo-fails to findout more.

Shearings Holidays launches 2019 brochures for Britain and IrelandSHEARINGS HOLIDAYS has launched its ‘Britain and Ireland’ brochure for 2019, including 20 new tours and the ‘BayPreferred Hotels’ collection.Among the new tours for 2019 is a break which includes a ride on the Jacobite Steam Railway (best-known as the

Hogwarts Express by Harry Potter fans); a Peak District tour with a stay at Britain’s oldest hotel; a Cornwall and Poldarktour; a British Isles Discovery Cruise; and an optional day trip to Guernsey for clients staying in Bournemouth.Additionally, the latest brochure has been redesigned to include panels showing monthly prices and transport options

available for the tours. Three editions of the brochure have been created for North, South and West Country agents, aswell as new posters, images and window cards.For more information, log on to shearings.com/toolkit

Big Bus Tours expands to SingaporeTHANKS TO the acquisition of the Singapore DUCK &HiPPO tour company group by Big Bus Tours, thefamiliar open-top tourist buses can now be found on thestreets of the south-east Asian city. The official Singapore launch took place last week

and, as well as the buses, the seven sub-brands ofDUCK & HiPPO will continue operations, includingHiPPO Bus, Singapore 7 Sightseeing, Singapore Trolley,City Sightseeing and SIA Hop On. DUCK & HiPPO’s Original Tour buses have been

rebranded to become Big Bus Singapore complete withnew livery. Existing routes will remain the same withtours taking in sights such as Orchard Road, MarinaBay, China Town, MBS Shopping, Little India, SingaporeFlyer, Sentosa Island and Raffles Hotel. Pat Waterman, executive chairman of Big Bus Tours,

said: “Singapore itself is an amazing and diverse city – it isone of the greenest cities in the world and yet has one ofthe most impressive city skylines, it is a major fixture onthe Formula One world circuit while also home to theUNESCO World Heritage Botanic Gardens,” “The eclecticmix of cultures, food and architecture make this city perfectfor open-top sightseeing, giving visitors the freedom tohop-on and hop-off to explore all its wonders.” For more information, go to bigbustours.com

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EUROSTAR HAS introduced a new cocktailexperience for it’s Business Premiercustomers. The London cocktail bar is locatedupstairs in the London lounge and offers anatmospheric space for travellers to sample aselection of complimentary cocktails,designed by the London Cocktail Club.The cocktail bar presents a range of Dutch,

French, Belgian and British spirits andingredients, encapsulating Eurostar’s heritageand the four cultures in which it operates.Yann Bayeul, the company’s catering product& service manager said: “Following thesuccess of the Paris cocktail bar, we’reexcited to unveil the London edition. OurBusiness Premier passengers are oftenlooking for somewhere to unwind after work,and our leisure travellers are typically up fora tipple! With a winter menu designed by theLondon Cocktail Club featuring spirits fromour key destinations, we hope travellers willenjoy the new experience.”

Customers can try a bespoke cocktailexclusively for the lounge designed byMichelin star chef and Eurostar BusinessPremier culinary director, RaymondBlanc OBE, in partnership with theLondon Cocktail Club.Named Lavender Dusk, the signature

cocktail is a distinctive mêlée of delicateflorals, punchy fruit flavours and piquantundertones. Mixed using Eurostar’s veryown gin, Toujours 21, it is a delightfulfusion of French botanicals and honeyfrom the Kent countryside.Eurostar is also introducing a winter G&T

menu, featuring gins from Amsterdam,Brussels, Paris and London. Each exotic ginis perfectly paired with local tonic to offerpassengers a twist on the classic.The introduction of the new bar marks six

years since Eurostar and Raymond Blancjoined forces to transform the on board diningexperience for Business Premier passengers.

Eurostar opens new cocktail bar in London lounge

Wendy Wu launches‘Complete Collection’and new solo tours

WENDY WU has launchedindividual new collectionsfor China, India, Nepal, SriLanka, Japan, SoutheastAsia and, for the first time,South America, as well asnew solo tours andbusiness class upgrades.The tour styles have also

been expanded to include‘Classic’ for leisurelytravellers, ‘Go Beyond’ foradventurous clients,‘Private Tours’ for bespokeguided journeys, and forthe first time ‘Solo Tours’.The solo packagesinclude no room-sharingor single supplements.As well as China, India,

Nepal, Sri Lanka andJapan, the Southeast Asiatours include itinerariesfor Indonesia, Vietnamand Cambodia. The SouthAmerican tours includeChile, Peru and the new‘Eclipse & Atacama’ tour,which takes in the solareclipse in Chile’s Atacama Desert and staysin the cities of Santiagoand Valparaiso.For bookings made

before September 30, thecompany is offeringbusiness class upgradesfrom £199 per person andfree VIP door-to-doorhome transfers.For more information, goto wendywutours.co.uk

Hotelbeds Group partners up with Singapore AirlinesHOTELBEDS GROUP and Singapore Airlines have signed an agreement for thebedbank to supply an online packaging platform. The collaboration allows Singapore Airlines to utilise Hotelbeds Group’s packaging

platform so holidays can be curated with real-time flight selection, including morethan 170,000 hotels, and more than 24,000 transfer routes and 18,000 activities suchas theme parks and museums. Packages will be made progressively available across Singapore, other parts of Asia

Pacific, as well as Europe, India and North America, with the roll-out starting in Australia.The bedbank is a business-to-business provider of travel services and uses a

technology platform that aims to increase reach, revenue and yield for providers andsellers. In regard to the partnership with the airline, Sam Turner, wholesales sales andsourcing director for HotelBeds said the bedbank has “spent a lot of time working withvarious teams at Singapore Airlines to understand how to best design the solution.”For more information, go to hotelbeds.com


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TRAVEL COUNSELLORS has launched a newprogramme tailored to industry professionalsin customer facing roles, but withoutprevious travel selling experience. The new ‘Travel Trade’ programme will

enable people from these backgrounds, suchas travel suppliers and hotel staff, to embarkon a bespoke training course and ongoingsupport programme that will equip themwith the tools and skills to run their owntravel franchises as part of the company. Thelaunch comes as the organisation reports anincrease in enquiries from these types ofexperienced travel professionals, with over10% of enquiries over the past 12 monthscoming from airline, hotel industry and other‘non-selling’ travel roles.

The programme will include an initial fullweek induction at Travel Counsellors’ HQ inManchester; including training on thecompany’s in-house booking technologyPhenix, which enables business owners totailor-make travel packages whilst takingcontrol of the margin they make. This willbe followed by a series of dedicated follow-up training courses over the next 20 weeksand ongoing business development support,alongside a digital training programme, aswell as regular conferences and events. The first Travel Trade programme is tolaunch this month.For more details visitrinfo.travelcounsellors.com/travel-trade-programme or call 0808 231 2879.

New Catalonian hotel for golf lovers opens in GironaHOTEL CAMIRAL is the latest hotel to open in the grounds of PGA Catalunya Resort. Locatednear the historic town of Girona, an hour out of Barcelona, the hotel has 145 rooms and suites,including duplex suites, which feature private balconies overlooking the swimming pool. Thelargest suite, the Presidential Suite, is 154sq.m and rooms have been designed by celebratedCatalonian designer Lazaro Rosa-Violan.The five-star property is adjacent to two championship golf courses and other activities on

offer include cycling, hiking, nature walks with the resident biologist, fishing, horse-riding andwine tasting. Golf lovers can also take tours of the course.For more information, go to hotelcamira.com/en

Olympic Holidayssimplifies deposit

policyOLYMPIC HOLIDAYS nowhas a simplified depositpolicy. The new policy, which wasimplemented September3, has a streamlined four-point scheme, whichreplaces a morecomplicated scheme. Thenew policy includes a £59deposit, including a £2.50ATOL charge, on allpackages; a £59 depositwith no ATOL charges onaccommodation-onlybookings; a £200 depositon Island Hoppingbookings including ATOL;and full payment onbooking for flight-only.The cancellation policy

- if a customer cancels aholiday up to 12 weeksbefore travel - remainsthe same.

Travel Counsellors launch ‘Travel Trade’ career opportunity


https://www.markwarner.co.uk/

by SANDRA MURRAYin Normanton, Yorkshire To respond to any

of Sandy’s comments email [email protected]

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Brilliant Travel introduced online portalfor homeworkers & MSTPsBRILLIANT TRAVEL, Barrhead Travel’s homeworkingdivision, has launched an online portal for homeworkersand Managed Service Travel Partners (MSTPs) whichincludes an integrated system to allow access to directdebit payments, online document delivery anddestination information. The portal also distributestrigger emails to keep customers informed at eachstage of the booking process as well as a 24-hour web-based messaging service.The portal is an addition to company’s existing

technology support which includes an integratedintranet platform, telephone systems, a CRM databaseand in-house IT support.Linda Pyle, director of Brilliant Travel, said: “The

portal will allow for an advanced streamline service thatwill bring members closer to their customers throughan enhanced product offering including instant webmessages and user-friendly management tools.”

Normanton...Notes from

Eco-chic boutique hotel in Thailandre-opens for travellers THE LET’S Sea Hua Hin Al Fresco Resort in Thailand hasre-opened for travellers, offering those who are consciousof the environmental impact of their travels, a place to stay.The boutique hotel holds the accolade of a Gold ClassAward for Green Accommodation from the Ministry ofNatural Resources. The resort’s commitment to its greenethos is reflected in the hotel’s eco-architectural designthat minimises the overall environmental impact and locallysourced produce that celebrates its locality.The resort has a waste management plan in place, using

glass water bottles and in-room toiletries that are non-branded to avoid superfluous packaging and avoid morethan 200 plastic water bottles being disposed each day.Furthermore, the hotel places newspapers withincommunal areas to encourage multi-use.The resort caters to food lovers, while reducing its

carbon footprint in terms of the way food is transportatedand frozen. A cap is placed on what the hotel buys and willonly order produce that will be used with eco-friendlyproducers and local farmers.

I’M BACK from one of my favourite places – Gouves inCrete where I decided to have a quick week in the sun.When I arrived, John and Mary Apartments was fully

booked (which I expected) so I rang Anna, my nextfavourite, who looks after Harristella Mar Apartments.It’s just around the corner which is handy. Anna andYianni are a lovely couple but I recieved a shock when Iarrived as she said they were full. This wasn’t aproblem though as I was told I could stay in theirwinter flat instead in same building. I found myselfwith a huge kitchen, sitting room with two comfysettees, a big TV, and an open-plan dining room with alarge table to fit six people. It also features a showerroom and double bedroom and two balconies − biggerthan my bungalow at home! As a bonus, Anna hadcleared some space in her wardrobe for my clothes,which was very kind. I flew with TUI, which of course got me reminiscing

about when I started at Thomson’s regional office when itopened on July 15, 1976 – 42 years ago! I had noticedwhen they were bringing drinks round that the trays inthe trolley still had “Britannia” printed on them. It’s funny when you think back to the days when

Thomson’s airline was called “Britannia” but some trayshad “Air 2000” on them. I chatted to one of the moremature flight attendants and she told me she had startedat Air UK and then First Choice and reflected on howthings have changed so much − these days, people aremore careful with their oboard conversation as everyoneis more aware about what might be considered offensive. Wow! People are already booking tables for the

Yorkshire Travel Ball on July 18, 2019 and the renamed‘Love Travel Party’ − we thought one ball was enough andwe all know how travel trade people love to party, sothere is a name change but the event is still on samedate − Tuesday, Feb 12, 2019 so do email [email protected] if you want a table. ‘The happiness in your life depends on the quality

of your thoughts’ and ‘The heaviest thing you can carry is a grudge’.


AGENT TRAININGA NEW series of training videos has been

introduced by Tourism New Zealand. There are five videos in total with each video

addressing a key selling theme and answeringmany questions asked by agents. Themes include

overcoming barriers to travel, landscapes andwildlife, self-drive holidays, flying domestically inNew Zealand and the seasons and time of yearto travel. Between three and five minutes long,these bite-sized videos have been designed fortime-pressed agents who want to pick up the

basics of selling New Zealand. Go totraveltrade.newzealand.com

9travelbulletin.co.uk August 3 2018

AGENT Incentives� Exodus is giving agents the chanceto win a range of prizes incelebration of the launch of itsnew brochure. Prizes includeiPads, cases of wine and Love2shopvouchers and to enter agents needonly to make any Exodus tripbooking by december 15. Theincentive marks the launch of theoperator’s first-ever tradebrochure which showcases more than150 of its best-selling adventuresaround the world.Visit exodus.co.uk to find outmore.

� To HELP agents capitalise on thebusy september booking period,Travel 2 is offering quadruple T2Rewards on bookings. Agents canearn £12 on bookings valuedbetween £250 and £2,499 up to £100on bookings valued above £10,000.Agents making a qualifying bookingcan claim their quadruple T2rewards if they email the bookingreference [email protected] no laterthan september 30. For fulldetails go to travel2.com

� THRouGHouT sEPTEMBER, agentsbooking any Paul Gauguin Cruises’2018 cruise will earn a £200Lifestyle voucher. There is nolimit to the number of bookings,so the more cruises agents book,the more money they can earn. Allbookings must be made by september30. Visit pgcruises.com

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WIN! WIN! WIN!WITH

COMPETITIONS!

For all competitions on the site visittravelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

WIN AN XBOX ONE X WITH SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT

WIN A PRE-CHRISTMAS SHOPPING FAM TRIPPLACE TO SCOTTSDALE WITH MACERICH

WIN A 5-NIGHT STAY ON HALF-BOARD ANDMORE PRIZES WITH OUTRIGGER

WIN A CASE OF DELICIOUS SPANISH WINEWITH VOYAGES-SNCF

PAMPER DAYS, THREE COURSE MEAL FORTWO AT THE SHARD PLUS

FIVE ACCA KAPPA GIFT SETS WORTH £100EACH WITH HUMMINGBIRD

ETIHAD AIRWAYS is offering agents achance to win a holiday to Abu Dhabi fortwo. The winner will enjoy a three-nightstay at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi and

return Economy flight tickets. For a chanceto win agents need to complete the airline's

Online Training Course and become acertified Eithad Airways specialist by

September 30.The five-module course covers all theproducts and services offered by theairline, its network and programmes.

AGENTCOMPETITION


HAVEN HAS introduced stand-uppaddleboarding sessions to its water-based activity programme acrossselected holiday parks.Lake-based paddleboarding is on offer

at the company’s Lakeland and PrimroseValley parks for guests aged eight andover who can swim unaided. There arealso mini paddleboarding lessonsavailable for children aged six to ninewho can swim 25 metres. At the PerranSands and Riviere Sands parks, sea-based paddleboarding is on offer.At Rockley Park, the paddleboarding

programme is aimed at those with more

water confidence with a paddleboardingexcursion available for guests who canswim 50 metres unaided.As well as paddleboarding, other

water-based activities on offer includeAqua Jets, Turbo Paddlers, inflatables,Water Walkerz and water confidence andlearn-to-swim programmes.For travel agents who become a Haven

Expert via the online course, free daypasses can be claimed as well as earning awards for bookings madefollowing completion.For more information, go toHavenExpert.co.uk

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Hoseasons reveals most visited holiday hotspots by BritonsRESEARCH CARRIED out by Hoseasons found that out of the top ten most visitedhotspots in the UK by Britons this summer, Cornwall, Devon and Yorkshire came out ontop, with 12%, 11% and 8% of the company’s total bookings respectively. This comes asthe holiday brand confirms a record number of bookings in it’s 74-year history. Simon Altham, the company’s MD for Revenue, commented that the number of UK

destinations visited is an indication of the strength of the UK tourism industry andsaid: “There’s been huge investment in accommodation and facilities in all thecounties listed in our top ten over the last few years.” For bookings visit hoseasons.co.uk

SLS Las Vegasintegrates W Hotel

SLS LAS Vegas recentlyannounced the W Hotel atSLS Las Vegas has beenintegrated into the fullresort operation and isnow The Grand Tower.

The SLS Las Vegasbrand will discontinuemembership as aStarwood Tribute PortfolioHotel & Resort.

The Grand Tower willcontinue as a FourDiamond experience forguests, while existingreservations for the W LasVegas past the August 17date of operationaltransfer will be honoured.SLS Las Vegas has alsotaken over operation ofthe spa, pool, lounge and meetings spacelocated within the Tower’s footprint.

Haven adds paddleboarding to activity programme


http://www.sunset.co.uk/

puzzlebulletin


Where Am I?

Harry Potter fans might recognise this famous stretch ofrailway line used as a filming location in the second and third

movies. Spanning 1,000 ft. across and 100ft. above theground the Jacobite steam train runs from here to Fort

William and Mallaig in the summer months

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, September 20th. Solution and new

puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 31st August is Karen Trowbridge, Wessex

Travel in Dorset

August 31st Solution: A=6 B=2 C=7 D=3

Number: 033

Across 1. Major car hire company (4)3. Capital of Liechtenstein (5)6. Frankfurt International airport code (3)7. Flows through Budapest (6)9. Cambridgeshire city, famous for its cathedral

(3)10. Tenerife mount and national park (5)11. Media and telecommunications company (3)12. Japanese city (5)14. The world's leading tourism group (3)15. Capital of Rwanda (6)16. San Francisco International airport code (3)17. Italian cruise line (5)18. Florida resort town, ___ Beach (4)

Down 1. Blackpool-born tenor who recently switched

on the Illuminations (5,3)2. European country (5)3. ITV drama series based on a Thackeray novel

(6,4)4. The QE2 is now a floating hotel in this city (5)5. Capital of Ethiopia (5,5)8. Popular Costa Blanca resort (8)13. Star sign (5)14. Puccini opera, set in 2 Down (5)

Where Am I?

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

For the solution to the Crossword and Where Am I? Please see page 28

Crossword

Su Doku

Num

ber:

033

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

�A

�B

�C

�D



https://moments.vikingcruises.co.uk/


WARNER LEISURE Hotels has announced anew line up of star studded eveningentertainment as it welcomes its StarBreak acts for 2019. Live performancesfrom X-Factor favourite Rebecca Ferguson,pop and jazz singer Mari Wilson and soulsinger Mica Paris join a programme offamous faces that are back by populardemand for 2019.As runner up on the seventh series of X

Factor, Rebecca Ferguson has gone on to seecritical and commercial success with herrecord-breaking debut album, Heaven, whichshe co-wrote. Now on her fourth album,Ferguson has showcased herself as both asongwriter and live performer and she bringsher versatile style to selected properties in2019. Guests can see Rebecca Fergusonperform live at Alvaston Hall, Cheshire, onSeptember 7, 2019 from £300 per person; orvisit Sinah Warren, Hampshire, on November2 from £280 per person.Jazz and pop singer Mari Wilson will wow

guests with her unique interpretation of thesongs of some of Britain’s famous femalesingers including Dusty Springfield, PetulaClark, Sandie Shaw and Cilla Black to namebut a few. Following her recent Pop Deluxetour, Mari will perform iconic hits such asDon’t Sleep In The Subway, You’re MyWorld, Always Something There To RemindMe, and 24 Hours from Tulsa; as well her80s classic Just What I Always Wanted.

Mari will perform at Bodelwyddan Castle,North Wales, on November 9, 2019 from£285 per person.Mica Paris is one of the UK’s most

respected female singers with a vocal rangeand power that ensured she was an instanthit on the UK music scene. Releasing herdebut single and platinum selling album in1988, Mica has gone on to collaborate withrespected artists such as David Gilmour,Prince, Jimmy Barnes, Jools Holland,James Morrison and more. As a liveperformer, Mica has performed in the WestEnd and at the Royal Albert Hall and willnow bring her soulful style to Warner’sThoresby Hall in Nottinghamshire. Guestscan book now for her Star Breakperformance on August 31 which startsfrom £319 per person.These three new acts will join popular

names from the holiday brand’s currentStar Breaks line up including AlexanderArmstrong, Matt Cardell, Brian Conley andJane McDonald, who will all return for next year.Guests booking any of the Star Breakoptions listed will enjoy a three-nightweekend break based on two adults sharinga Standard room inclusive of the SimplyDine package (English and continentalbuffet breakfasts and three course evening meals).Visit WarnerExpert.co.uk to find out more.

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TIME TO BOOGIE...For 2019 Warner Leisure Hotels has a brand-new line up of star studdedevening entertainment as it welcomes its Star Break acts. Live performances from X-Factorfavourite Rebecca Ferguson, pop and jazz singer Mari Wilson and soul singer Mica Paris join aprogramme of famous faces that are back by popular demand for 2019.

Maldivian Resortoffers ocean healing

THE HURAWALHI IslandResort in the Maldives isinviting guests to join it’snew wellness programme.Set in the Lhaviyani Atoll,one of the Maldives’ mostbio-diverse areas,Hurawalhi’s ‘At One withthe Ocean’ programmeincludes a series ofmindful practices,movements and therapies.

Research suggests thatoceans can bring a mentalshift in the way weperceive our lives;teaching us aboutcalmness, depth,intensity, harmony andopen-mindedness. Thewellbeing experts ofHurawalhi have thereforedesigned a programme toprovide guests with a deepinner-connection withthemselves, with theelements and themes ofthe ocean throughout.

The ‘At One with theOcean’ programme willsuit a wide range of tastesand includes: Yoga Underthe Sea - the world’slargest, all-glassundersea restaurant thatwill be converted into ayoga studio; WaveMeditation on DreamIsland - the ideal locationfor a guided meditation;Snorkeling the Island Reef- home to over 2,000species of sea lifeincluding turtles,dolphins, the majesticmanta ray and reefsharks, as well as morethan 200 species of coral;Sound Bath - an experttherapist will put guestsin a deep state ofrelaxation, mediation andhealing, using a set ofHimalayan singing bowlsand Balinese Massage atthe Duniye Spa with agentle massage usingacupressur to soothe andrestore both the body andthe mind. For more information visithurawalhi.com

Warner Leisure welcomes new Star Break acts for 2019


IndustryInsight by...

Embracing challenging clients and adapting to a changing industry should be encouraged,says Hisham Mahmoud, agency sales manager UK & Ireland for Kirker Holidays.

BEFORE I joined Kirker in 2005 I spent seven yearsworking as a travel agent at the sharp end, and interms of what we sold then and how we wonbookings, if I am honest we managed pretty wellwithout the need for AITO or AITO’s independentoperators. Since then, however, I have become agreat supporter, and AITO Specialist Travel Agentsare now the most dynamic and fastest growingsegment in our market thisyear. So, what is the secretof their ongoing success?One of the most

surprising aspects of myrole is not what haschanged, but what hasstayed the same. I often feelthat we are distracted by‘what’s new’ and lose focuson the very positiveopportunities that still exist for all those agents andoperators who remain determined to look after theconsumers at the top end of the market. These areusually also the most demanding clients – and mymission is to encourage colleagues and agents tocelebrate when their most challenging clients needhelp researching a niche holiday that will be tricky andtime-consuming to fulfil. As Agency Sales Representative I see many different

aspects of the trade, and the trend that seems toseparate a thriving agent from their competitors is thatthose who adapt, and focus on specialist products,make positive headway when combined with excellentcustomer service. Those selling on price compete

head-on with the internet - so, what more can I do tosupport agents to compete more effectively in thecurrent market, and how can AITO Agents help?We try to focus on communication and attend every

AITO networking and training event we can, as they area great way to exchange ideas and it is the best way tolearn from each other. The ‘frontline’ staff needtraining in promoting products tailor-made by the

operators who support theagent and their clients before,during and after the holiday. AtKirker, in common with all AITOoperators, we develop new,niche products such as operaor walking holidays and thenwork closely with agents to helpthem tailor-make the rightholiday to suit each individualclient’s needs. We are always

looking for independent travel agents who share ourambitions to add value and (in a perfect world) avoidprice reductions – but I appreciate that the reality isoften much more challenging. I do believe passionately that there are still excellent

opportunities to improve relationships betweenindependent, specialist agents and AITO’s touroperators – and choosing to get involved with AITOSpecialist Agents could be the best decision you make.Of course, the internet will continue to take the marketshare but if we do our job right, I remain convincedthere is a bright future ahead. In the meantime, I ampraying hard for cold, wet and miserable weather toencourage clients to book their Autumn short break.

"The trend that seems toseparate a thriving agent from

their competitors are thosewho adapt, and focus on

specialist products..."

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THE ADVANTAGE Travel Partnership will be hosting its first travel agent training session for selling to the over 50s’ market – SilverTraveller Training. Scheduled to take place next month and run in partnership with Silver Travel Advisor, agents will learn moreabout the over 50’s market and the many opportunities it presents, how to profile the customer and specific skills for selling to themature traveller. Once agents have completed the training day they will become an accredited ‘Silver Travel Advisor Agent’.Advantage members can book their place at tinyurl.com/ybtzzmpg with a full-day of training costing £175 per delegate.

New Thailand trainingmodule puts the focuson local experiences

THE TOURISM Authority ofThailand has added a newmodule to its agent trainingsite called ‘CommunityBased Tourism’. Emma Arnott, trade

marketing executive, for thetourism authority, said: “Inline with our marketingobjectives to increase moretrade and consumerinterest in local tourism,we’ve added this newmodule to highlight some ofthe key areas, tours andactivities the trade can sellto customers wanting toexperience undiscoveredThailand and to have a moreengaging experience withlocal Thai communities.”There is a new offers tab

with airline and hotel tradediscounts that agents areencouraged to make themost of. The organisation isalso currently working on anew look trade hub whichwill be a one-stop shop fortraining, offers, news,events & competitions dueto launch at the end of 2018.Visittraining.tourismsthailand.co.uk for more.

Win spa vouchers with Bourne Leisure’s ‘Train with Brainz’ AGENTS WHO ‘Train with Brainz’ can now win spa vouchers and treat themselves to ahealing massage or firming facial. Agents simply need to register a booking with one of Bourne’s three brands - Butlin’s

Haven or Warner Leisure Hotels – and successfully complete all ‘Train with Brainz’online modules to be in with a chance of winning.Throughout the interactive programme, the brand’s mascot Brainz will deliver details

on the latest developments and product updates for all three brands. On successfulcompletion of the training course, agents can also receive a free day pass to experienceone of the properties along with bonus prizes dotted throughout the year. For more information and to log any bookings agents should head to BourneExpert.co.uk

training

AS PART of its ongoing commitment tosupporting the UK & Irish travel trade,South African Tourism (SAT) is running asocial media initiative designed to helpagents effectively sell South Africa.The tourism organisation’s series of five

Facebook Live videos, dedicated to providingtravel agents with insider insights on thedestination, is hosted by representativesfrom the tourism board and is beingbroadcast via its UK & Ireland Travel TradeFacebook page every month. Each videofocuses on one region of the country with aspecial guest offering top tips on the bestexperiences for holidaymakers. A live Q&Aallows travel agents to engage directly with SAT and the special guest to receiveinstant responses to any burning questionsthey might have.The Facebook Live sessions will centre

on the Eastern Cape, the Western Cape,KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Limpopo,

Mpumalanga, the North West and theNorthern Cape with the next two videosplanned to be broadcast on September 25and October 30.Tolene Van der Merwe, the tourism

organisation’s hub head for UK & Ireland,said: “Our travel trade strategy for 2018 hasconsistently been to ensure that we areengaging with and supporting the UK andIrish travel trade wherever possible toencourage growth from these markets. Asthe UK is our number one source ofinternational arrivals and Irelandrepresents a fantastic opportunity forgrowth, it is vital that we work hard to drivevisitor numbers from these two countries inorder to achieve our overarching global goalof attracting five million more tourists toSouth Africa within the next five years.”To check out the videos visitfacebook.com/SouthAfricaTourism.UKandIreland.TravelTrade

South African Tourism runs Facebook Live series to helptravel agents sell South Africa

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THE 2018 AMResorts Summer Vibes tour saw the team visit Manchester, Birmingham, Horsham,Glasgow, Newcastle and London - all in just over three weeks. Throughout the tour the companytrained nearly 400 agents on its ‘Amazing Sale’ - with 50% off adults, third person, teens & kidsrates at selected AMResorts – and bookable up to September 30! Delicious food, beveragesaplenty, music and prizes were enjoyed, take a look and see just how much fun they were!



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WeddingMoon training from SandalsSANDALS AND Beaches Resorts has launched the ‘SandalsWeddingMoon Specialist Training’ programme, providingagents with the opportunity to expand their knowledge onthe company’s ‘Aisle to Isle’ wedding offering.The training sessions will be held in locations across

the UK from mid-September to mid-December and eachwill be followed by a ‘Sandals Mini Masterclass’,equating to a full day of training from 09:00 to 17:00. Featuring Caribbean inspirations, enhanced food and

beverage options and new ceremony and reception venues,the brand’s ‘Aisle to Isle’ concept looks to help clientscustomise every facet of their wedding day. The company also runs an intensive full day ‘Sandals

MasterClass’ training programme, which touches briefly onthe Aisle to Isle programme, with new dates also availableto sign up to from mid-September to late-October. Agents interested in attending should contact theirregional business development manager or visitsellingsandals.co.uk to find out more.

training


Discover all Alabama has tooffer with new training platformALABAMA TOURISM has launched a new onlinetraining portal, providing travel agents with awealth of information and destination tips to helpthem become experts across all areas ofsouthern US state.The training programme is split into eight

modules with each one focusing on a specificsubject, such as Alabama cities, adventure andactivities and interesting history including theprominent roles played in both the AmericanCivil War and American Civil rights movement.The platform is now live. Andy Facer, account director for Alabama

Tourism in UK & Ireland, said: “We are reallyexcited to be working with Online Travel Trainingand to educate travel agents on the great state ofAlabama. We have designed a course that iseasily digestible, so travel agents can get a goodoverview and understanding of the stateincluding highlights of all of Alabama’s uniqueselling points which will help our travel agentpartners increase their knowledge and convertenquiries into sales. There are also greatgiveaways and prizes to win throughout the yearfor agents who complete the modules includinga place on a fam in 2019.”

VISIT MALDIVES’ recently held a training session for agents at Thomas Cook’shead office in Peterborough. Representatives from the tourism organisationprovided agents with background information on the popular Indian Oceanholiday destination and updated them on new tourism developments, such asthe expansion of Velana International Airport and the opening of 23 new resortsthis year. Pictured following their training session is, from the left, RaimondaUnguraityte, Anna Magalhaes and Helen Cross from Thomas Cook.


http://www.travelbulletin.co.uk/component/rsform/form/1489-SeaWorldParksEntertainment-Competition


FOLLOWING AN extensive renovationprogramme, the Olympic Lagoon ResortAgia Napa from Kanika Hotels & Resortshas been upgraded to a five-star resort. The hotel group celebrated the property’s

opening as a five-star at the beginning ofthe summer with a special ‘Rockin’Xperience’ event for guests along with thearrival of a custom-made Harley Davidsonfor its new entertainment venue – theXperience Arena.Along with newly renovated rooms and

suites, the property has also been furtherextended with the addition of a dedicatedkids’ pool, two new á la carte restaurants,and the new entertainment space. Theproperty now features five themed pools, alazy river and an indoor pool.The resort’s ‘Luxury All-Inclusive’

gastronomy programme includes a choiceof seven restaurants, four bars and coffeeshops, a snack bar offering all day snacksand a gelateria for ice cream at any time.For entertainment, the ‘Kanika All-Stars’ in-

house team offers daytime activities andevening programmes for all ages and thenew Xperience arena comes complete withhuge screens and a state-of-the-art soundand lighting system for evening shows. Forchildren, there are dedicated facilities suchas two fully supervised and separate clubsfor Kids and Teens, a new and bigger kidspool, an outdoor play area andentertainment programme. Those lookingfor a more secluded holiday, have thechoice to stay at one of the two adult wings– the Fisherman’s Village and the OlympicBay – which offer private pools andcomplete relaxation for couples.The hotel group has properties across

the main resorts on the southern coast ofCyprus: Alexander the Great Beach Hotel,Olympic Lagoon Resort in Paphos, OlympicLagoon Resort in Agia Napa, Elias BeachHotel in Limassol and the Amavi in Paphos– a couples-only hotel opening its doors onFebruary 23, 2019.Go to kanikahotels.com to find out more.

cyprus

Kanika upgrades Olympic Lagoon Resort in Agia Napa

Parklane to open inLimassol for March 2019

THE PARKLANE, a LuxuryCollection Resort & Spa, isdue to open its doors inLimassol on March 4, 2019. Sitting on 300m of

beachfront, the resort issurrounded by 25 acres oflandscaped gardens andwill offer 274 rooms andsuites which have beendesigned by HarrodsInteriors, with views overthe Mediterranean orTroodos Mountains.The resort will feature

three outdoor pools − onefilled with seawater andone for adults only − infront of the main building,surrounded by cabanas,waterbeds, and loungeareas for outdoor diningand drinks. It will have atotal of five restaurants,two bars and spa.An all-day kids club

facility will also beavailable for children uponopening and from May ofnext year, kids can honetheir football skills withthe opening of a newFootball Academy, withtraining sessions fromformer professionalsincluding Rio Ferdinandand Bobby Zamora. Rooms start from 200

Euros per night andreservations are now open. Visit parklanecyprus.comto find out more.

Cyprus reveals record arrival figures for first half of 2018THE CYPRUS Tourism Organisation has announced that tourist arrivals for the first sixmonths of 2018 have outnumbered the total number arrivals ever recorded for aJanuary-June period. Cyprus’ global tourist arrivals from January to June reached 1,645,149 – a 12.4%

increase on the same period in 2017 - and of these, there were 560,840 UK arrivalsrepresenting a 9.7% increase.These strong figures have been attributed, in part, due to the tourism organisation’s

promotion of its winter sun offering with February and March global visitor figures up23.4% and 36.4% respectively. Moreover, June saw the highest volume of tourists everrecorded in Cyprus for that specific month. Christos Moustras, marketing director for the tourism organisation, said: “We’re

delighted to see Cyprus continuing to perform well through the winter and are proud ofachieving a record breaking January to June period.”For more information go to visitcyprus.com

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Cobalt Air rewardsagents with 3%

commissionCOBALT AIR is offering 3%commission on all newbookings from the UK toCyprus and Greece up untilthe end of year.The new commission

structure is only availablethrough travel agentsconnected to the GlobalDistribution System (GDS)using UK BSP. The 3% willbe deducted automaticallyat the time of booking.The Cypriot airline

currently operates 20flights a week from the UK:daily from Heathrow toLarnaca; six days a weekfrom Gatwick to Larnaca;two days a week fromGatwick to Athens; threedays a week from LondonStansted to Larnaca; andtwo days a week fromManchester to Larnaca. Inaddition, the airline offersonward connections; forexample, from Heathrow toAbu Dhabi via Larnacathree days a week.Flights from Heathrow

and Gatwick operate ontwo class Airbus A320aircraft featuring largebespoke seats in BusinessClass and a 30” pitch inEconomy Class. Flightsfrom Stansted andManchester feature an allEconomy A319, but again ina 30” pitch.Paul Simmons, chief

commercial officer for theairline, said: “At Cobalt wereally value andunderstand the role thattravel agents play in ourindustry. We alsounderstand that it issometimes a good idea togive our partners in thetrade a small advantageover other channels. Thisis why we have launched a3% commission scheme viaBSP on all Cobalt Airbookings between now andDecember 31.”


cyprus

WITH ITS picturesque mix of cultural sights,blue waters, meze feasts and hillsidevillages, Cyprus offers myriad experiencesfor clients to enjoy and capture on camera.The Mediterranean isle recently scoredthird place in a list of the most hashtagged destinations on Instagram for thefirst quarter of 2018 and, to helpholidaymakers find the top things to doand most sharable snapshot spots, theCyprus Tourism Organisation has puttogether a quick guide:

Majestic mountainsThose who venture to the top of theTroodos Mountains, the largest mountainrange in Cyprus, will be able to capturemesmerising views of green peaks andByzantine monasteries in the distance. Therange is dotted with characterful, hillsidevillages, all of which are worth a visit intheir own right thanks to their rural charm- Kalopanayiotis, Pedoulas and Kakopetria,are a must see.

Mythical originsThe rumoured birthplace of the GreekGoddess of Love and Beauty, Aphrodite’sRock is a standout sea stack cluster thatcan be found in the shallow waters ofPaphos. Tourists photograph the rock formany reasons, namely its huge size butalso to capture the beauty of the waves

rising and breaking during certainweather conditions.

Sweeping sunsets From its rare and diverse flora and fauna,to its rolling hills and scenic coastline,Akamas Peninsula provides countlessphoto opportunities and makes for a goodplace for visitors to stop, roll out ablanket and enjoy the sunset.

Sharing platters From meze platters to moussaka, expertlycrafted bread to freshly made halloumi,Cyprus offers many gastronomictraditions and culinary delights for thosewho just have to share a snap of theirdish before they tuck in.

Hidden gemsAside from its popular beachside resorts, theisland destination has many charminghillside villages to be discovered. Idyllicvillages like Omodos, Tochni and Lefkara, areall slightly different but boast similar standout features; stone built buildings, longcobbled paths, narrow streets and historicalarchitecture along with bright colourful doorsideal for a striking background as visitorsexplore their peaceful streets.

For more information go tovisitcyprus.com

Help clients capture perfect snaps in Insta-Worthy Cyprus



cyprus

WITH ITS PGA-awarded 18-hole golf course undergoing a 2.5million euro refurbishment,Tennis and Football Academy and a Retreat Spa by Atlantica, Aphrodite Hills Resortmakes for a good winter holiday option for clients seeking some sun, sea and luxury inCyprus. The resort is home to 18 restaurants and bars, a Children’s Club and VillageSquare with quirky boutiques, shops and an entertainment stage. Located on the coastand a 20 minute drive from Paphos airport, this five-star resort offers hilltop villas withviews of the Mediterranean and is open 365 days a year with high-class service andactivities available throughout. Rates start from approximately £356 per night for athree-bedroom superior villa with private pool.

Olympic Holidays expandswinter offering in Cyprus

OLYMPIC HOLIDAYS has announcedan expansion of its winter flyingprogramme to Cyprus, with two newweekly flights from Heathrow intoLarnaca adding to its winter flying programme from eight UKairports to Paphos.A popular destination for the

operator throughout the summermonths, an increase in passengerdemand for winter 2018 has seen notonly the addition of these flights butalso some new properties to theholiday brand’s portfolio.New to the operator is the Pyramos

Hotel, located in the centre of Paphosfor guests who wish to explore thishistorical city, and the Basilica Hotelwhich has been re-introduced. The operator will also be selling

the Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphosthroughout the winter season and forthe first time. The luxury all-inclusiveresort offers tailored accommodationoptions, facilities and services forfamilies, couples and adults-only andis located in Kato Pahos, in front ofthe blue flag beach. A wide choice oflocal dining options, activities andentertainment are available andthemed pools for all ages. The company will also be featuring

the new five-star Amavi; the firstcustom-designed, couples-only, hotel− developed under the Made-for-Twobrand − in Cyprus and openingFebruary 2019. The retreat willoverlook the medieval castle andpicturesque old harbour in Paphos,have access to a Blue Flag beach viatropical and Mediterranean gardens,and onsite spa with an outdoor pool,sauna, steam bath and relaxation andtreatment rooms. Also newly introduced, the

operator will be offering a selection of villas for the winterseason suited toward groups offriends or family looking for somewinter sun, Christmas and NewYear celebrations.As an example of packages, the

company is offering seven nights atthe Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphos ina Deluxe Room Inland View from£972 per person travelling November10 on an all-inclusive premium basis.This includes flights, accommodationand transfers.Visit olympicholidays.com to find out more.

Columbia Beach Resort encourages waterexploration with new scuba experiencesCOLUMBIA BEACH Resort has launched a partnership with the Pissouri Villagebased Cyprus Diving Adventures, to offer guests five-star PADI certified divingcourses for all levels of experience. Encouraging the exploration of Cyprus’ underwater sites, the resort now offers

daily diving trips that can be customised to guests and their specific needs.Whether a beginner wanting to become PADI certified or an experienced diverlooking to add Cyprus to their list of dive sites, guests can receive expert tuitionand guidance from one of the best dive schools on the island. Cyprus DiveAdventures only work on an individual or small group basis, taking groups ofonly two-four people with the same experience levels out onto the water.Dive sites across Cyprus are varied with sites ranging from wrecks – including

the world-famous Zenobia Wreck – reefs, walls, caverns, caves and arches.Accessible via the shore or by boat, the Mediterranean waters are warm, offergood visibility and an abundance of marine life. Daily trips are available to Paphos, Limassol, Latchi, Akamas and from

Pissouri Bay. All equipment is provided by Cyprus Dive Adventures, who will visitColumbia Beach Resort to discuss all diving needs and book the excursion, aswell as provide transportation to and from the chosen location on the day. Non-divers can join the excursion and enjoy a beach day of sunbathing andsnorkelling. Scuba excursions are bookable upon arrival at the resort via theGuest Services Team. For more information visit columbiaresort.com



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THE SAINT Lucia Tourism Authority’s online training programme has received a makeover − it nowoffers more interactive modules and video content, webinars and a better management system forfam trip requests. This is in addition to the existing and now refined marketing and sales collateral,news updates, factsheets, maps and images. Upon completion of the course agents will become acertified ‘Saint Lucia Expert’ (SLEx) opening up a number of benefits including exclusive agentdiscounts on the island, incentives throughout the year, the chance to join fams and digital marketingtools recognising an agent’s expert status in selling Saint Lucia. Visit saintluciaexpert.com

Jamaica launches next stage of #JoinMeInJamaica campaign THE JAMAICA Tourist Board has launched the second phase of its #JoinMeInJamaicacampaign; a series of eight 60-second inspirational videos with Jamaican personalitiessharing their stories and passion for the Caribbean island. Imani Wilmot features in the first video, describing what she loves about Jamaica’s surf

scene and promising visitors a one-of-a-kind Jamaican experience. Showcasing hercreativity through poetry, photography, surfing and dance, Imani goes by the nickname of‘SoulKisser’ and with her father dubbed ‘the godfather of Jamaican surfing’, and herbrothers professionals in the sport, it was a natural choice for the tourist board to makeImani one of its brand ambassadors. In Imani’s own words: “We're so proud of Jamaicathat we want to share it with everybody.”To check out the video go to the Visit Jamaica UK Facebook page or for more destinationgo to visitjamaica.com

caribbean

LAST WEEK, Caribtours issued its 2019collection comprising two brochures –‘Our Caribbean’ and ‘Our Beautiful World’- with handpicked hotels, inspirationalitineraries and new experiences. DuringSeptember, the operator will also givecustomers the chance to save up to £300on any 2019 holiday booked.Paul Cleary, the company’s managing

director, said: “We are delighted to launchour 2019 brochure collection ‘OurCaribbean’ and ‘Our Beautiful World’. I amparticularly excited to announce that weare expanding our Greece and SouthAfrican programme, which despite beingfairly new destinations for us, have provedhugely popular in the past year. We arealso proud to support destinations such asAnguilla, increasing our offering to four

properties on the island, and the BritishVirgin Islands with the re-opening ofNecker Island.”Throughout this month, agents can earn

up to £200 worth of vouchers based onbooking value. In addition, agents whomake a booking in September, but includepremium seats on British Airways flightswill earn an extra £50 per booking. Using atiered voucher scheme, agents will receivevouchers depending on the booking valueand for every booking made betweenSeptember 1-30, for travel in 2019, will beentered into a prize draw to win a luxurystay at the newly renovated Fairmont RoyalPavilion, Barbados with British Airwaysflights and transfers. Go to caribtours.co.uk or call 0203-553 7543for more details.

Caribtours launch ‘Our Caribbean’ brochure in 2019 collection

Get a taste ofBarbados with Funway FUNWAY HOLIDAYS ispromoting a series ofholiday offers to celebratethe Barbados Food & RumFestival, taking place thisyear on October 18-21.

Malcolm Davies,destination productmanager for the operator,said: “This is one of themost exciting food eventsin Barbados with some ofthe most talented chefsfrom the island andoverseas joining thecelebrations this year. Thefestival is all aboutshowcasing Bajan cuisineand the historic role ofrum in local life completewith cook-offs,gastronomic dinners in toprestaurants and mixologydemonstrations.”

As an example ofpackages over the dates ofthe event, the operator isoffering seven nightsstaying at the Ocean TwoResort (room only) inBarbados from £1,350 perperson based on twoadults sharing and flyingout from Gatwick withAmerican Airlines.Visit funway4agents.co.uk

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SANDALS & Beaches Resorts isgiving agents the chance to win oneof ten Caribbean stays for two tocoincide with its Big Autumn Sale.The new ‘Suite Stay’ incentive will

see one five-night stay for two givenaway every week when agents makebookings for selected Club or ButlerLevel rooms. The sale offers clientssavings of up to 45%, along with anextra £325 off per booking on

selected resorts, room categoriesand travel dates. Some of the mostsignificant discounts are offered onClub and Butler Suites, including thebrand’s LoveNest Suites, and the salefeatures a range of deals on all roomcategories for 2018, 2019 and 2020holidays across the company’s 19Caribbean resorts with departures fromLondon, Scotland and Manchester, plustwin-centre itineraries.

For a chance to win, agents mustmake a Club Level or Elite Butlerroom booking by October 28 andregister it with their regionalbusiness development manager. Themore bookings agents make, themore chance they have of winning.Booking winners will be announcedeach week. Visit sellingsandals.co.uk for moreinformation.

Smile with the Dominican Republic THE MINISTRY of Tourism of the Dominican Republic haslaunched its ‘Smile’ campaign, focusing on distinctivequalities – such as the destination’s natural beauty andDominican hospitality – that will kindle contagious smilesbetween tourists and locals alike.Magaly Toribio, the ministry’s marketing advisor, said:

“The ‘Smiles’ campaign offers a new approach todestination advertising promoting one of the mostvaluable but intangible assets of our country; happiness.Happiness is not just a feeling in our country but a way oflife. The campaign uses stunning visual images andattractive and eloquent content to capture the true warmand welcoming essence of the Dominican Republic, whileextending a personal invitation to visitors from all cornersof the world to experience it firsthand, causing an endlessand contagious smile.”The campaign will promote the north and east coast of

the country with two videos; one that shows the range ofthe island’s offering, starting in Santo Domingo andtravelling to the white sands of the east coast in Juan Dolio,La Romana and Punta Cana; and a second inviting visitorsto explore the north coast to participate in adrenalinepumping activities such as kite-surfing in Cabarete,cultural exploration in Puerto Plata, the natural beauty inSamaná and gastronomic highlights in Sosúa and Miches.In addition to the launch of the campaign, the Dominican

Republic has revealed that the first seven months of 2018saw the arrival of more than 4.1 million visitors, anincrease of 5.9% compared to the same period last year.For more details visit GoDominicanRepublic.com


caribbean

THE VILLA Collection is currently running an agent competition in line with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s ‘Caribbean Month’whereby agents making a booking through the operator to any of its Caribbean destinations will be in with a chance of winning a two-night hotel break in the UK. Bookings can be of any value and for any travel date but must be made by the end of September with oneentry per booking. The winner will be drawn on October 15. For more details go to thevillacollection.co.uk/travel-agents

Pick up Love2Shop vouchers inAMResorts’ ‘Amazing Sale’AMRESORTS IS running its ‘Amazing Sale’,providing customers with a range of discounts –with 50% off adults, third person, single occupancy,teens and kids rates – at selected properties. The campaign booking period runs until

September 30, and is applicable to departuresbetween May 1 and October 31, 2019. The saving means that at some resorts

customers can book higher room categories for alower rate than the leading room type, and at othersfamily rooms are also included in the promotion.For example, a family booking a summer holiday tothe Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa canenjoy 50% off the Family Deluxe Ocean View roomcategory and upwards. For adults wanting extraluxury for less, at Secrets the Vine Cancun, thePreferred Club Junior Suite Ocean View room ischeaper than the lead-in room type. Travel agents making by September 30 will also

be eligible to receive Love2Shop vouchers; bookingsfor travel in 2018 will receive £10 Love2Shopvouchers per booking and those for travel in 2019will receive £30 Love2Shop vouchers per booking.For more information visit amragents.blog/special-offers

Win a Caribbean break with Sandals & Beaches Resorts’ Big Autumn Sale


caribbean

ROYAL CARIBBEAN has announced May next year as thedate for its debut of ‘Perfect Day at CocoCay’, an islandresort in the Bahamas created exclusively for its guests.

In a USD$200 million transformation, the island willblend both thrilling and relaxing experiences to cater to allaspects of a family holiday in the Caribbean.

An onsite Water Park will feature two water towerswith 13 slides (the most slides found in any water parkin the Caribbean); the Caribbean’s largest wave pool; a135ft ‘Daredevil’s Peak’ waterslide; and a kid-friendlyobstacle course pool. A 1,600ft. zipline at up to 50ft inheight will also crisscross the island and a heliumballoon, named ‘Up, Up and Away’, will float up to 450ft.

above the ground providing one of the highest vantagepoints in The Bahamas.

Alternatively, those looking to take it easy can relaxwith a cocktail around the Oasis Lagoon, the Caribbean’slargest freshwater pool complete with a swim-up bar andin-pool loungers, or enjoy the exclusivity of the CocoBeach Club, which will offer an upscale islandexperience and private overwater cabanas.

Two beaches have also been specially designed: ChillIsland with plentiful cabanas and daybeds for relaxation;and the activity-packed South Beach with volleyball,beachside basketball, soccer, paddle-boarding, glass-bottom kayaking and water-zorbing.

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay coming soon for May 2019


https://www.sandos.com/

PREMIER HOLIDAYS has introduced anew selection of Caribbean resorts intoits 2019 portfolio.In Barbados, the operator has added

several new resorts including Cobbler’sCove, located on the west coast of theisland and offering country housecomfort, with a seven-night stay withflights and transfers starting from £1,899per person. Also new is the four-starAccra Beach Hotel and Spa, tucked awayon the sands of Rockley Beach on thesouth coast of Barbados, with pricesleading in at £1,055 for seven nights bed-

and-breakfast and flights.The family-friendly St James Club and

Villas has also been introduced into theoperator’s Antigua offering, appealing tofamilies and couples. A seven-night all-inclusive stay is from £1,639 includingflights and transfers.The resorts feature in the holiday

company’s 2019 Beaches brochure, valid fortravel until December 2019. Agents can alsoearn between £25-£150 for every Caribbeanbooking, depending on value.Visit trade.premierholidays.co.uk or call08444-937 444 to find out more.


caribbean

THE ELITE Island Resorts Group has reported that it continues to enjoy strong bookings fromtravelling Brits, particularly repeat stays from couples and families at its locations on Antigua, St Lucia, Barbados and Palm Island Grenadines. Work is progressing on the luxury Hammock Coveproject on Antigua, which marks the newest addition to the group and scheduled to open in July 2019,whilst the St James’s Club & Villas Antigua benefits from a $7million upgrade. Also on the island, theGalley Bay Resort & Spa has now completed its multi-million dollar renovation, which includes theopening of a new beachfront yoga pavilion. This summer the pavilion played host to the Caribbean’sfirst ‘Fat Buddha Yoga Retreat’ takeover, in partnership with founder and Nike Ambassador JessicaSkye, an experience which will exclusively return for July 1-6, 2019.

Grenada welcomes its first contemporary-designedluxury resort opening on Grand Anse Beach LAUNCHING ON November 1 is the Silversands Grenada, the first major resort project toopen on Grand Anse Beach in 25 years, and a new option to offer to discerning travellerslooking to experience Grenada – the ‘Spice of the Caribbean’.A new member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the resort features modern

architecture and a contemporary minimalist design anchored by a 100m pool – thelongest in the Caribbean. Accommodation will span across two main buildings off GrandAnse Beach, encompassing 39 open-plan guestrooms, three one-bedroom suites, and asprawling 2,066sq.ft penthouse with sweeping views of the sea and resort grounds fromtwo private terraces. All rooms, suites and villas will feature modern open floor-planswith floor-to-ceiling windows, king-size platform beds surrounded by remote controlledcurtains ideally situated for maximum views, minimalistic furniture and muted colourswedded to a high-spec entertainment system.Guests will also have access to the Silversands Spa and three diverse dining outlets

including traditional Grenadian fare, modern Asian-inspired cuisine, and a curated cigarand rum lounge. The property is to partner with local tour operators and guides toconnect guests with the island’s landscape; from waterfall chasing and scuba dives, toexploring historical sites, centuries-old rum distilleries and organic farm tours.Go to silversandsgrenada.com for more information.

Premier Holidays’ unveils new 2019 Caribbean packages

St. Kitts fam incentiveclosing soon

THE ST. KITTS TourismAuthority (SKTA) isrunning an incentive inwhich the top five agentswho log the most St. Kittspackage holidaysbetween January 1 andSeptember 30, 2018 can win a spot on a four-night fam trip to the island this November.The tourism board is

encouraging all agents toensure that they arelogging all of the St. Kittspackage holidays thatthey book into the St. KittsRewards Programme site,in order to be in with achance to win.Racquel Brown, CEO of

tourism authority, said:“We feel that it isimportant to rewardthose who areconsistently inspiringBrits to come to theisland of St. Kitts, and webelieve it is importantthat our most hard-working agents have theopportunity to experienceSt. Kitts and everything ithas to offer, first-hand.“We highly value our UK

agents, so we would liketo reward our top agentsas a way to say ‘thank you’from all of us at the St.Kitts Tourism Authority.” The Rewards

Programme also offers ayear-round agentincentive of £10 perbooking for all packageholidays to the islandthat are a minimum ofseven nights, with fourhotels offering anadditional £10 forpackage bookings whichinclude their hotel –these include Belle MontFarm, Ocean Terrace Inn,Park Hyatt St. Kitts andSugar Bay Club.Head over to St Kitts’ MyBooking Rewards page(tinyurl.com/y8npuw5g) tofind out more or for moredestination informationvisit stkittstourism.kn



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Travel Bulletin is published by Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) LtdUniversity House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor PlaceLondon, SW1W 0EX

Printed by: Buxton PressSubscriptions are £125 p.a. £195 overseasISSN: 0956-2419

September 14 2018

We asked our staff the following question this week:

Where has been the most awe-inspiring place you have visited?

Crossword:Across: 1. AVIS, 3. VADUZ, 6. FRA, 7. DANUBE, 9. ELY, 10. TEIDE, 11. SKY, 12. OSAKA, 14. TUI, 15. KIGALI, 16. SFO, 17. COSTA, 18. PALM. Down: 1. ALFIE BOE, 2. ITALY, 3. VANITY FAIR, 4. DUBAI, 5. ADDIS ABABA, 8. BENIDORM, 13. ARIES, 14. TOSCA.

Highlighted Word: ANKARA

Where Am I?: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Inverness-shire, Scotland

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020 7834 6661

IBEROSTAR HOTELS & Resorts opened the doors to its new luxury hotel inHavana this week. The Iberostar Grand Packard is set to become the hotelgroup’s flagship for quality and exclusivity in Cuba. It combines thebuilding’s original architecture and the renovation of its 1911 façade,offering guests 321 rooms as well as luxury services and amenities. The opening of the classic building will coincide with preparations tocelebrate the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana and the 25thanniversary of the hotelier’s presence in Cuba.




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September 14 2018 | ISSUE NO 2,076 | travelbulletin.co · 9/14/2018 · Shearings Holidays launches 2019 brochures for Britain and Ireland SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS has launched its ‘Britain