Late May 2012Issue 203

The online magazine for inbound tour industry reaching 8 million escorted visitors into and around Europe

The Olympic flame passed through OTR’s home city - Bath and Olympic fever hit. Children were let out of school to cheer and madly wave flags, everyone seemed to get into the spirit on a lovely summers day.

Local torch bearers - see their beautiful city fall in love with the excitement of the Games as they carry the Olympic torch from the Team Bath sport academy at Bath University, into the City and beyond on it’s journey through SW England.

will also have to work on 5 October, which celebrates the foundation of the Republic in 1910, and 1 December, the anniversary of the overthrow of Spanish rule in 1640. Portugal agreed an emergency loan package of €78bn last year with the EU and IMF. In return for which the Portu-guese Government has imposed higher taxes, and cut public- sector pay and state benefits.

August, said W.S.I., a US based weather forecaster.

The lack of an atmospheric blocking pattern indicates that the summer months will be warmer and drier than in recent years in the Nordic region and northern Europe, including Britain, the U.S.-based forecaster said.

Todd Crawford, chief meteorologist at W.S.I., said in a statement, “Reduced levelsof blocking should result in a distinctly different summer, with high pressure driving warmer, drier and less windy conditions across northern and western Europe.” Cooler, wetter and windier conditions are very likely in Southern and Eastern Europe, according to W.S.I.

A Nobel speech will finally be delivered by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the Burmese democracy movement, who was prevented from traveling to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 because she was under house arrest. She will finally get a chance to deliver her acceptance speech in City Hall on June 16, a Nobel Peace In-stitute spokeswoman, Sigrid Langebrekke, said in an interview .

Portugal has demonstrated its commitment to the pan-European austerity drive by suspend-ing four of its 14 national public holidays for the next five years. Portuguese Following lengthy negotiations with the Vatican, Lisbon announced last week that from 2013 two religious feast days - All Saints Day on 1 November and Corpus Christi, which falls 60 days after Easter - will be regular working days in the largely Roman Catholic country.

Alan Bennett

Hotter and drier europe

olympic flame sets otr‘s Home city of batH on fire

21 year delay in nobel acceptance speecH

Portugal holidays scraPPed

Olympic torch on the road in Bath

Premier Mario Monti promised that the State would do everything necessary to get the earthquake-hit region of Emilia-Romagna back to normal. “I guarantee that the State will do everything that it is possible to do, to ensure this very special, important and productive region for Italy can return to its normal life in a short period of time,” Monti said.

powerful earthquake in northern and central Italy knocks down whole buildings…

Epicentre of the earthquake

Chiesa di San Paolo Mirabello - Province of Ferrara

15 people were killed today, Tuesday May 29, when another big earthquake hit Emilia-Romagna; nine days after a 6.0-magnitude quake in the region claimed seven lives and caused massive damage.The earthquake struck at 9:00 a.m. local time and was of magnitude 5.8 on the Richter scale and about six miles below the earth’s surface, said the Civil Protection department. Once again the epicentre was in the province of Modena, in Emilia.

Security officials said two of the people were killed in the town of San Felice sul Panaro, near Modena, and there were also reports that a person was missing there. Another fatality was at Mirandola, which is also in the province of Modena.

Italy struck agaIn

STOP PRESS!

The quake was felt throughout northern and central Italy including Florence, and in Milan and Bologna many residential buildings and offices were evacuated because of fears they could cave in.

Most of Europe, except areas in the southeast, will be warmer than usual from June through

2 - 3 People news4 - 5 Places news

6 Faith Tourism news7 Transport news

8 - 9 Mice news / Cruise news9 Cruise news / Flight plan

10 Hospitality news11 Hospitality news / ETO

12-14 Options and attractions15 Travel Industry news16 European Eccentrics17 ‘We Welcome Groups’

On the Road issue 203 Page 2

Late May 2012 issue 203

After downloading, save the magazine to your computer. Click the above titles to view articles, then click grey panels at the base of the pages to return to contents page. You can also click links throughout the magazine

IN THE NEWS

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People news

MarriottBill Marriott has revolutionised the hotel business over the past four decades. As CEO of the company that bears his family’s name, Marriott led the industry in opening hotels next door to highway exits and suburban office parks. He was also a pioneer in catering to niche markets. In 1983, he launched Courtyard, a chain for cost-conscious business travellers.

Today, Marriott has 18 brands, including Fairfield Inn for budget travellers and Ritz-Carlton for the luxury market.

But perhaps Marriott’s biggest innovation was his decision to transform the company into one that manages - but does not own its properties. That left the company a steady stream of revenue but little exposure to fluctuating bricks and mortar values.

Marriott turned 80 in March and stepped down as CEO. He’ll remain Chairman of Marriott’s Board of Directors and will have considerable power over the company through his 10% equity stake, which is worth $1.2 billion.

AIDAMonika Griefahn has been named Director of Environment and Social Responsibility at AIDA Cruises, becoming the line’s chief sustainability officer.

From 1984 to 1990 she sat on the board of Greenpeace International and was also the environment minister of Lower Saxony from 1990 to 1998.

Bill Marriott

Continued...

© Copyright 2012. Articles published in this magazine are copyright and should not be reproduced without permission from the publishers.

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers and all information is given in good faith. No responsibility can be taken by the publishers for any errors or omissions, howsoever caused. Readers are advised to check upon any information given, and where relevant take professional advice before acting upon it.

Chalk Farm Publishing Ltd, Riverside Lodge, Collier Close, Camerton, Bath BA2 0QB Publisher/Editor-Alan Bennett Tel: +44 (0) 1761 479 645 Fax: +44 (0) 1761 479 663 E-m: info@ontheroad.co.uk, info@chalkfarmpublishing.co.uk Design/artwork: Imageloading

Highlights details of 100’s of Advent and Christmas marketsand Festive events from Aarhus to Zurich and beyond

Photo: Christmas Market - Tallinn Town Square by Toomas Volmer

You can also identify many benefits on offer during the festiveseason to make your itinerary even more appealing

www.christmas-markets.org

Steppes TravelJustin Wateridge has been appointed as Managing Director of Steppes Travel. He joins from Abercrombie & Kent, where he has been MD for the past four years. Nick Laing, Chairman of Steppes Travel, said:

“Justin has proved to be an excellent leader and we are looking forward to him adding to, and developing, our team. He will bring negotiation skills and a wealth of valuable experience to Steppes Travel and I am sure that he will be invaluable in building on the innovative heritage of Steppes Travel by growing the team, expanding into new markets, developing new initiatives and com-municating the key strengths of Steppes.”

Isabelle Birem

AccorIsabelle Birem joins Accor as Senior Vice President Direct Sales, reporting to Jean-Luc Chrétien, Executive Vice President Sales, Distribution and Loyalty Strategy.

She replaces Cédric Gobilliard, who was appointed Senior Vice President Global Sales earlier this year.

Isabelle Birem will be responsible for defining and implementing Accor’s Direct Sales strategy which notably includes Accorhotels.com, the multi-brand booking portal, and Le Club Accorhotels, the group’s loyalty program.

On the Road issue 203 Page 3

Carnival Carnival PLC has announced that Pier Luigi Foschi is to retire as CEO of the company’s Costa Group subsidiary effective 1st July and will be replaced by Michael Thamm, currently President of Germany-based AIDA Cruises a position he has held since 2004.

Thamm, has been appointed CEO of Costa Crociere, which includes Costa Cruises, Aida Cruises and Ibero Cruises. Foschi, 65, will remain as Chairman and a Managing Director of the Costa group and remain on Carnival Corp.’s Board of Directors.

Long-time Aida senior executive Michael Ungerer has been named Aida’s President.

Gianni Onorato will continue in his role as President of the Costa Cruises brand. The

During her five years with Preferred Hotel Group, most recently in the role of Area Managing Director, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Ms. Devine was respon-sible for tripling the growth of Preferred’s LAC membership, and was instrumental in developing key partnerships with several internationally acclaimed hotel companies.

ETCEduardo Santander has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Euro-pean Travel Commission (ETC). With a PhD in Sports Science and an MBA degree, he has also been a guest lecturer on tourism marketing at International Business Semi-nars in a number of US Universities.

He comes to ETC from Mountain News- Vail Resorts Inc. (Innsbruck / Denver) where he was Managing Director for Europe.

Jumeirah GroupThe group has announced the appoint-ment of Nicholas Clayton as Chief Operating Officer and the retirement of Guy Crawford from that position.

Nicholas Clayton joins Jumeirah from the Viceroy Hotel Group where he was Presi-dent and later CEO. In that role he led a team of 3,500 colleagues in 15 properties.Prior to that he held senior positions with Ritz-Carlton and Mandarin Oriental.

Kempinski HotelsMichel Gehrig has taken over the position of Vice President Talent Development, he succeeds Henrike Gosemann . Michel will be responsible for talent management on a hotel level, including talent development and recruitment, and will lead Kempinski’s Talent Development teams, on a Corpo-rate, Regional and hotel level.

Gehrig will also be responsible for strengthening the cooperation between Kempinski and various hotel schools, and will report directly to Kempinski’s President & CEO Reto Wittwer.

moves are part of a long-term succes-sion plan, which included the scheduled retirement of Foschi once he reached the age of 65.

People news continued

Eduardo Santander

Harriet Green

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts The UK’s largest privately owned hotel group, with a portfolio of over forty-five 4 and 5 star hotels and resorts throughout the UK and Spain, has announced two new appointments to its senior manage-ment team: Debbie Milburn joins the group as Head of Marketing and Stephen Dodman joins as Revenue Director.

Stephen joins Macdonald Hotels & Resorts from von Essen Hotels where he was most recently Sales & Marketing Director. Previously, Stephen spent 17 years working in several positions within the DeVere Group.

Debbie Milburn brings with her over 8 years’ experience in the hospitality, tour-ism and leisure industry and was most recently Director of Marketing for QHotels

Debbie Milburn

Michael Tham

m

Captain Michael M

cCarthy

Susan Devine

Preferred Hotel Group™The provider of sales and marketing support to independent hotels around the world, announced the appointment of Susan Devine as Executive Vice President of Preferred’s European Region. The appointment is part of a larger presence for Preferred Hotels in Europe.

“We see tremendous growth potential in Europe” said Lindsey Ueberroth, President of Preferred Hotel Group. “We plan to open an office in Kazakhstan next month, and expand our offices in Moscow, Munich, and London later this quarter.”

Cruise Europe Captain Michael McCarthy of the Port of Cork, was unanimously elected Chairman succeeding Dirk Moldenhauer. Michael brings over 40 years of maritime experience to the position having served as Master at sea, Marine Surveyor, Deputy Harbour Master and is currently Commercial Manager with the Port of Cork Company.

Princess Cruises Senior Vice President of Commercial Affairs - Tony Kaufman has assumed responsibility for the line’s worldwide shore operations func-tion. The change brings this area together with Kaufman’s other fleet operations responsibilities.

The line’s shore operations department includes shore excursion operations, port operations and passenger logistics in the more than 300 ports where Princess ships sail. The department previously was part of the company’s corporate services division.

Kaufman has worked for Princess since 1993.The consolidation of shore operations into the fleet operations department creates natural operational efficiencies and increased align-ment to enhance the passenger experience.

Dorchester CollectionHas announced the appointment of Klaus Kabelitz as General Manager of Le Richemond in Geneva. He was most recently. General Manager of The Berkeley, London.

Vienna Convention Bureau May Sollinger-Soucek, CMP, who has been responsible for the US and Canada since 2004, takes over the responsibility for the UK and Ireland markets.

Verena Jandak, who has been responsible for the UK and Ireland since 2003, will in turn take responsibility for North America and Canada. She also remains responsible for the India and Australia markets.

They will be supported by Judith Settele and Karin Stattmann.

Contact Details: Verena Jandak Marketing Manager USA, Canada, Australia, Indiaverena.jandak@vienna.info Tel.: +43-1-211 14522

May Sollinger-Soucek, CM P Marketing Manager UK & Ireland may.sollinger-soucek@vienna.info Tel.: +43-1-211 14 529

Phone+43121114ext521-529Fax +43121461 17 convention@vienna.info

Thomas Cook GroupA successor to Manny Fontenla-Novoa as Group Chief Executive has been announced. It is surprisingly Harriet Green, currently Chief Executive of Premier Farnell plc, a Leeds-based group supplying electronic products and maintenance and repair ser-vices.She is also a non-executive Director of BAE Systems plc and the Fortune 200 company, Emerson Electric Co.

Green (50) was last year voted number 30 in the Financial Times’ ‘Women at the Top’ list. She has spent her entire career in the electrical components industry and in 2010 received an OBE for services to industry.

According to an article about her in the Independent, Green starts each day with a 4am yoga session.She will join Thomas Cook Group and the board on July 20, replacing Sam Weihagen.Weihagen will step down from the Board on that date but will remain with Thomas Cook until Sep-tember 30 “to ensure a seamless transition”.

Thomas Cook Chairman Frank Meysman said: “Harriet is an extremely successful executive with the right combination of international, business transformation and ecommerce experience that we need to take the Group forward, and build on our strong reputation and brand. I am confident that she will be an excellent leader for the Group management team as we continue our transformation.”

On the Road issue 203 Page 4

Places news

The renowned Alpine tourist resort Bled in Slovenia is a gem, with it’s beautiful glacial lake ,island, medi-eval castle, thermal springs, fresh alpine climate and outstanding scenery. Bled hosts arguably the biggest traditional summer events in Slovenia, the Bled Days.

play in Spa park and Promenade. At night the lake is candle lit, lasers project on the castle rock and major firework displays light the sky. Lively afternoon program for children and adults and delicious local food - such as the Kranjska sausage, Boh-inj cheese, Lectar gingerbreads, Dražgoše gingerbreads, honey products, and of course the famous Bled Cream cake, can be purchased and sampled.

Bled days 2012 - 20th - 22nd July www.bled.si

Slovenia Many people believe it is a continuation of the celebrations held in the time of King Aleksandar Karađorđević, between the world wars, when boats were lid with candles, and all the buildings were illuminated. The bonfires burned and the castles rocks were lit with fire. Singers and brass bands entertained the royal family and visitors to Bled.

Nowadays, Bled Days offers Slovenian Arts and Crafts Fair, music performances on the open stage, and local brass bands

Hiking in Hell’s GorgePlans are in place to re-open one of Tenerife’s most spectacular natural hiking trails this year following extensive restoration. Barranco del Infierno, also known as “Hell’s Gorge”, is a magnificent gorge located in the inland area of Adeje. Not for the faint hearted, it boasts the deepest gorge in the Canary Islands, together with steep walls covered in lush greenery, a number of historic burial caves, and cascading waterfalls up to 80 metres high. Once a walker’s paradise filled with nature and wildlife, Hell’s Gorge was closed to the public following rain damage to some of the pathways. Expected to re-open between Septem-ber and the end of the yearwww.visitalgarve.pt

Tenerife

Italy

Italian families will be spending more for their days at the seaside this summer, said a report released recently by consumer group Federconsumatori.

A day at the beach will cost a fam-ily of two adults and two children €79, approximately 4% more compared to last year. Travel to the beach will also reflect the economic crisis, with fuel prices up 19% since 2011.

The consumer watch-dog also noted that 66% of Italians will give up traditional, extended summer holidays and opt for city activities during the week and seaside outings at the weekends.

Germany

...continued

Bled, Slovenia Hell’s Gorge

bled days

Recently published European Tourism in 2012 - Trends & Prospects

The following gives a brief overview of the report for the first quarter of 2012.The full report can be downloaded from ETC’s corporate website under the following link shown below

http://www.etc-corporate.org/market-intelligence/reports-and-studies.html

Although only two months of data are available for 2012, relative strength is evident in major European source mar-kets- implying greater internalising of travel in the region.

Russia remains a star performer. Struggles for the US market are continuing into this year, while Japan continues its resurgence.

As a new reference for destination strategy, this report includes a series of market share analyses for ten of Europe’s largest source markets.

Chinese tourist arrivals to Europe reached 4.3 million in 2011, representing 29.7% of the Chinese long haul outbound market. By 2015, Tourism Economics expects Chinese tourist arrivals to reach 5.7 million, representing cumulative growth of more than 30% over a four-year period.

European travel has exhibited resiliency based on visitor data for the first quarter.

Air travel demand has also been encouraging, with European airline passenger growth exceeding 5% through mid-April.

However, there are signs of mixed performance and slowing throughout Europe. While Central and Eastern European destinations have been performing well, many Western European destinations have posted declines in hotel occupancy in the first two months of the year. Overall, a slowdown is evident in hotel occupancy rates in most European sub-regions.

The global economy is being restrained by a mix of govern-ment austerity, household deleveraging, corporate caution, and high commodity prices. Meanwhile, data on economic activity indicate that the Eurozone is in mild recession and concerns are mounting regarding government debt.

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On the Road issue 203 Page 5

Places news ...continued

And...As Italy’s unemployment rate topped 10% in May, it emerged that young people are flocking to become shepherds. Traditionally the preserve of older men, the profession has recently attracted 3,000 young Italians, according to agri-cultural body Coldiretti.

They are choosing a simple life in the great outdoors because their aspirations to become doctors, lawyers or engineers have been thwarted by Italy’s negligible economic growth, which has been com-pounded by grinding austerity measures.

These young shepherds had introduced more advanced animal husbandry techniques and improved the quality of the meat, wool and cheese they produce, Coldiretti said in a report.

Scientists have recorded the first docu-mented sighting of an all-white killer whale off the far eastern coast of Russia. Researchers from Moscow and St Peters-burg universities took images and video of the whale surfacing near Commander Island off the coast of Kamchatka.

The whale has been named Iceberg and due to its 2m high dorsal fin is estimated to be about 16-years old. The creature was first spotted in August 2010 but images where withheld to allow the scientist teams to study if Iceberg was a true albino orca.

Iceberg is fully accepted by a standard pod of black and white orcas. Only two other albino orcas live in the same area but they are juveniles. Orcas mature at about 15-years of age and males can live for up to 60-years.

Paris is the most expensive place to travel, according to the’ ‘Club Sandwich Index,” a ranking based on the price of the common room-service item, accord-ing to a report released by Hotels.com, the travel booking Web site.

The website compared the price of a club sandwich in 750 hotels in 26 countries.

After Paris, Geneva was the second-priciest destination. Oslo, Tokyo, Rome, Helsinki, Stockholm, Canberra, Copen-hagen and London rounded out the top

10 of the most expensive cities for travel- or at least for order-ing the classic chicken, bacon, egg, lettuce and mayo on toast.

The average cost of a club sandwich in Paris was $33.10. The least-expensive city of those sur-veyed was New Delhi, where the sandwich cost $9.57.

The TCF’s range of guided city tours has also been redesigned in recent months. The tours now provide even greater barrier freedom for disabled participants. The newly developed “Feeling Frankfurt” tour pays particular attention to the needs of visually-impaired people, featuring many anecdotes, touch objects and taste tests. All of the TCF’s public guided tours may be adapted to be fully wheelchair-accessible, with sign language interpreters available upon prior request.

More information on barrier-free Frankfurt, dates of public barrier-free city tours and the brochure for download can be found on

www.frankfurt-tourismus.de/barrier-free.html

Greece

Frankfurt

‘Greek Pompeii’ reo-pens An archaeological attraction described as “the Pompeii of the ancient Aegean” has reopened on the island of Santorini, following a seven-year restoration project. Akrotiri was closed to the public in 2005 after a makeshift roof covering the site collapsed, killing a tourist. It was one of the centres of Cycladic civilisation in about 2,000 BC, but was abandoned prior to a cataclysmic eruption of the Santorini volcano. The erup-tion buried Akrotiri in lava and ash, preserving houses, streets, furniture and pottery, making it one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world.

The Frankfurt Tourist+Congress Board (TCF) recently reviewed its entire range of city tour specifically for disabled travellers with the aim of making them comprehen-sively barrier-free, adding new tours and restructuring existing ones in the process.

In doing so they have launched a new brochure ‘Barrier-free Frankfurt am Main’ Providing comprehensive travel information for the handicapped, helping to plan, book and realise their trips with a minimum of hassle.

The brochure’s individual sections highlight a variety of handicapped-related aspects, e.g., whether a sightseeing attrac-tion, festival or trade show offers barrier-free access, has toilets for disabled persons or permits guide dogs on the premises. Also included is detailed information on the accessibility within the airport, train station and public transportation network as a whole. barrierefrei@infofrankfurt.de

Russia

Paris

Akrotiri

The Frankfurt Tourist +

Congress Board

Crystal Cruises is launching a new program of Christian heritage tours in Europe this year and expanding its Jewish heritage tours by nearly a third.

Examples this year include a pilgrimage to Medjugorje Apparition Hill in Bosnia, a private mass in Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, a service excursion at the 400 year-old charity brotherhood of Pio Monte della Misericordia in Sorrento. The impetus for the creation of the tours was the popularity of the line’s Jewish heritage tours, according to John Stoll, VP of land and port operations

“Religious-related shore excursions are one more way our guests can experience the unique history and culture of a destination, and perhaps even connect with their own per-sonal ancestry,” Stoll said. He added that the tours have been a hit with non-practitioners of the faith because of the tours’ inherent cultural and historical components.

Highlights of the Jewish Heritage tours include a visit to the Jewish quarter in Girona, a cemetery in Dublin; synagogues in Stockholm; a concentration camp in Berlin; and a museum in Athens.

Faith Tourism news

International experts gathered last month on Iona to discuss the history of the island and its globally-important collection of carved stones.

Historic Scotland and the Iona Community hosted a research workshop to add to our understanding of this highly significant religious site and the collection of intri-cately carved stones on display there.

The research will help planning of events in 2013 marking the 1450th anniversary of St Columba’s arrival in 563 AD in Iona.

In early medieval Europe, monasteries were the only centres of learning and artistic excellence. Iona was one of these, with extensive international contacts. Its enduring significance is illustrated by the presence of the wonderful collection of medieval sculpture which remains on the island. It is hugely popular with visitors, some of whom continue the tradition of pilgrimage that began soon after the

founding of a monastery by St Columba and his followers in 563 AD.”

The monastery continued to flourish after Columba’s death in 597 and its fame was such that in the 8th century at least two Irish kings retired to spend their last days there. The magnificent gospel-book, the Book of Kells, is thought to have been cre-ated at Iona before being taken for safety to Kells in the early 9th century.

Columcille (Irish, ‘Dove of the Church’) was better known by the Latin name Columba. He was born of royal lineage in Co Donegal and trained in the newly introduced monastic life from an early age.

The twin aspects of Columba’s life, austerity and power, are reflected in the sculpture that followed. Simple grave markers, perhaps of the type that stood beside Columba’s grave, can be con-trasted with the mighty high crosses of the 8th century and the later grave slabs of the Lords of the Isles.

Iona Abbey, : © CROWN COPYRIGHT REPRODUCED COURTESY OF HISTORIC SCOTLAND

On the Road issue 203 Page 6

Christian and Jewish heritage excursions

Shining new light on the Isle of Iona

The year 2013 marks the 450th anniver-sary of the appearance of the Heidel-berg Catechism, a landmark doctrinal document in the history of the reformed church. Following its endorsement by the Dordrecht Synod in 1619, it was dissemi-nated throughout the world and became the symbol of change and the new era in Europe, America and Asia.

The Heidelberg Catechism is associated with a time of awakening, renewal and a search for meaning that was to leave its mark on the 16th and 17th century. The radiation of that new reforming spirit penetrated all levels of society and moulded the awareness of life that the people had at the onset of the new epoch. Along with Geneva and Leyden, Heidelberg with its court life, then at its zenith, and its university, housing the famous Bibliotheca Palatina, formed the intellectual centre of European Calvinism.

It is planned to celebrate the jubilee with a joint exhibition project on the subject of the Heidelberg Catechism at three locations: in the Heidelberg Palace, in the Kurpfälzisches Museum in the city of Heidelberg and in the Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn (Netherlands)

Each of the various exhibition locations is to have its own specific themes.

The central topic in the Netherlands is to be the practice and history of religion under Orange rule.

In Heidelberg Palace, the spotlight is to focus on the Prince Electors and their politics, life at court and claims to occupy a forefront position. In the course of the change in faith, the Electorate of the Palatinate realigned its stance in imperial and foreign policy.

The Kurpfälzisches Museum in Heidelberg is focusing on the academic aspects and is placing the Heidelberg Catechism in the context of the time of its establishment. Amongst the contentious issues of the day was the struggle over pure doctrine. The Heidelberg theologians played a pioneering part in that controversy.

“Power of faith” from 12 May to 15 September 2013 featuring various top-ranking exhibits kindly lent from Germany and abroad and combined with items held in collections based in Heidelberg and the metropolitan region. It is to be accompanied by a publica-tion in several languages containing articles on the history and adoption of the Heidel-berg Catechism, along with a catalogue.

www.heidelberg-marketing.de (English Version), section “Tourism” and then section “Anniversaries/Special Events”.

“Power of faith”: Jubilee exhibition

Johannes Calvin, reformer and founder of the Calvinism

AmaWaterways

The cruise company is offering special J̀ewish Heritage’ tours and excursions

on five of its popular Danube cruises in 2012, including two sailings on board the new AmaCerto, which debuts this month and incorporates the most advanced design in river cruising, offering spa cious staterooms featuring two balconies; a heated swimming pool; and multiple fine dining venues.

The complimentary tours are designed to highlight the rich Jewish heritage of the Danube and include visits to Jewish districts, museums, monuments, synagogues and other landmarks of significance to Jewish history. A dedicated guide will lead the tours each day, which are open to all interested passengers, regardless of their faith.

The cruises each pass through four countries as the Danube meanders its way through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, ‘Jewish Heritage’ highlights include a special visit to the tomb of Chatam Sofer, the famous rabbi, a visit to Oscar Schindler’s

house in Regensberg, and Room 600 at the Nuremberg Palace of Justice.

Passengers will also visit the Jewish Museum, Judenplatz and Old Synagogue, Sigmund Freud House (outside), Jewish Cemetery and Jewish Quarter in Vienna.

In Regensburg, a specialist in Judaica will lead a tour that includes the site of the Regensburg Synagogue. In Nuremberg, the tour will include the Jewish cemetery, old Jewish ghetto and the location where the Old Synagogue stood. Departures are June, July, August and October Tel freephone 0808 223 5009, www.amawaterways.co.uk

AmaCerto - balcony

Transport news No-frills airline goes bustIn early May, Danish no-frills airline Cim-ber Sterling declared bankruptcy after its owners pulled their financial support, leaving passengers holding worthless tickets and 890 staff without jobs. The airline issued a statement which said one or more administrators will be appointed by a court to try to preserve as much of the operations as possible under a recon-structed company. For the time being, all flights have been cancelled.

The airline is 70.8% owned by Mansvell Enterprises, an investment vehicle of Ukrainian businessman Igor Kolomoisky. Low cost Spanish airline Vueling is offering rescue fares for any passengers holding valid tickets with Cimber Sterling between Spain and Denmark.

Turin airport closure in JulyTurin airport is to close for essential runway works works. Passengers booked on Ryanair flights to Turin 7th - 9th July will transfer to nearby Cuneo airport which is 65 km away and then be provided with complimentary coach transfers.

New mode of transport – BurgundyTravellers have a new car rental option in Burgundy, ‘Old Car’s Tour’ offer a selec-tion of French and British cars from the 1950’s and 60’s and a choice of specially selected routes. Drivers can feel the wind in their hair in a classic British sports car, or enjoy the more sedate pleasures of a Renault 4CV.

‘Old Car’s Tour’ also provide a road book-let including recommended places to visit and useful addresses, and can provide a themed route around the region and a picnic if desired www.oldcarstour.com

Cambridge Airport takes offMid May saw the first scheduled airline and holiday flights at Cambridge Airport. Blue Islands flight - the major regional airline of the Channel Islands - operated in conjunction with tour operator CI Travel provide weekly direct return flights every Saturday over the summer season, until 15 September 2012, by highly fuel-efficient and economical 48-seat ATR42-500 turboprop aircraft.

Cambridge Airport has plans to gradually expand its European short-haul opera-tions with new routes to popular and niche destinations, including a scheduled airline route to Dole-Jura near Dijon in France starting on 2 July, providing access to the acclaimed wine-making regions of Franche-Comté and Burgundy. Only three miles from the centre of Cambridge, the airport will offer international travellers direct access to London by rail in just 45-minutes and provides a gateway to the East of England.

Brandenburg airport delayOfficials at the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport have confirmed the new property will not open until March 2013, delaying the project by a further nine months. Because of problems with the fire security systems, according to reports on Reuters.

Brandenburg airport (airport code: BER) is intended to replace both Tegel (TXL) and Schonefeld (SXF). A major overnight operation was planned to move all the equipment between Tegel and Branden-burg after close of business on June 2 is cancelled.

Flights from London airports are not affected as passengers will continue to use Tegel and Schonefeld, However many thousands of passengers have booked the new schedules which Air Berlin and Lufthansa had planned to operate from Brandenburg with effect from June 3.

A Lufthansa spokesperson in London said: “Lufthansa will proceed with our expanded schedule from June 3 as planned. We are in discussions with Tegel to secure the necessary slots for our new services.

Budapest terminal changesFollowing the collapse of the national airline Malev, Budapest Airport will move all airline operations from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 overnight 29-30 May 2012.

From 30 May 2012, all easyJet, German-wings, Jet2.com, Norwegian and Wizz Air passengers will depart from Budapest Airport’s Terminal 2B. Passengers flying on these airlines will arrive at Terminal 2A (from Schengen countries) or at Terminal 2B (from non-Schengen countries).

In a statement the airport company said following the demise of Malev it has no option but to reduce costs by combining operational areas, and make the best use of the infrastructure at the more modern Terminal 2.

Negotiations are underway with Hungar-ian state railway company (MÁV) and the Budapest Transport Center (BKK) to offer seamless transport connections between the railway station at Terminals 1 and 2.

During the first two weeks following the change , Budapest Airport’s ground trans-port partners, will offer special services between the two terminals www.bud.hu/english

Air Mauritius Air Mauritius, one of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest airlines, has announced a cut in long-distance flights.

Flights to Durban, Frankfurt; Geneva; Melbourne; Milan; Munich; and Sydney will be suspended this year. Air Mauritius said the cuts are part of a restructuring plan to allow the airline to swing back into profit during its fiscal year through March 2014.

Short and medium distance flights will be added mainly around the Indian Ocean rim and emerging markets.

Istanbul delaysExtensive track works on the line between the Turkish border and Istanbul in connec-tion with Turkey’s new Bosphorus Tunnel Project will affect normal rail journeys.

Passengers travelling on timetabled inter-national public trains will find their service terminated at the Turkish border and a bus replacement service will be provided from there to Istanbul. The works, started in March and will continue for the next two years.

On the Road issue 203 Page 7

Cambridge’s first flights

Old Cars tours

AOA appeal to UK GovEarlier in May, UK airports urged for a parliamentary inquiry to lobby for lower aviation taxes and better international connectivity.

The Airport Operators Association (AOA) has submitted its response to the Avia-tion All Party Parliamentary Group’s inquiry into the competitiveness of the UK aviation sector. In its submission, the AOA highlights:

The detrimental impact to the UK economy of having the highest aviation taxes on the world, and the need for the Treasury to undertake independent analysis of the economic impacts of APD, not just on the avia-tion sector but the UK economy as a whole;

The economic benefits of the avia-tion sector; highlighting the lack of coherent aviation policy and its long term damage to the UK economy to compete in new and existing markets; and

The work being undertaken, col-laboratively by the industry, through Sustainable Aviation to make aviation cleaner, quieter and smarter.

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Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the AOA, said:“UK plc depends on aviation as crucial infrastructure providing the regional, national and international con-nectivity essential for a successful trading nation such as ours. At a time when euro-zone economies are slowing, we need to maintain and increase our connectivity to growing economies worldwide. We have made all of these points in our submission.”

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preferred Hotel Group launcH tool for meetinG planners

Preferred Hotel Group™, a leading provider of sales and marketing support to independent hotels around the world, announced the launch of PHG Meetings (www.PHGMeet-ings.com). A comprehensive online RFP (request for proposal) management system, PHG Meetings connects corporate sales man-agers, Global Sales Offices (GSOs), property level sales professionals and meeting plan-ners with one convenient and powerful tool.

PHG Meetings, in partnership with Elite Meetings International (EMI), creates a seamless 360-degree system that enables all potential meetings professionals involved in the booking process to interact quickly, efficiently and productively. This easy to use website utilizes EMI’s SpeedRFP™ RFP management system, and a search technol-ogy platform similar to the one that powers www.EliteMeetings.com.

The online portal also fully integrates more than 600 Preferred Hotel Group member hotels with EMI’s SpeedRFP system, which has already been adopted by more than 3,800 meeting professionals worldwide. SpeedRFP users can now simply point their browsers to PHG Meetings and submit their saved RFPs to any of the participating Preferred Hotel Group members in just a few clicks.

“We are excited to launch PHG Meetings, which provides our clients with a fast, efficient and seamless way to search, based on their specific needs and requirements, for the best independent hotels in the world. And, in turn, our member hotels benefit from the most sophisticated web-based sales technology available,” said Craig Jacobs, Senior Vice Presi-dent, Group Sales, of Preferred Hotel Group.

Book a group or meeting at participat-ing Preferred Hotel Group properties in Europe between now and 30 June 2012 and receive special Daily Delegate Package Rates and 24-Hour Package Rates in some of the continent’s best venues.

50tH anniversary offer

Corinthia Hotels with a luxury collection of properties in some of Europe’s finest capitals, launched a special “One in Five” offer for the conference and events market. To qualify, a planner must book a meeting for at least five people, whereby the fifth delegate stays for free. The offer is valid at all Corinthia Hotels, which are located in London, Lisbon, Prague, Budapest, St. Petersburg, Tripoli, and in Malta at the Corinthia Hotel St. Georges Bay and Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa.

The 50th anniversary celebration offer applies for new meetings and conferences booked and confirmed between now and August 30, 2012 and held by March 31, 2013. Planners can find all details online at www.corinthia.com/50

london top business travel destination

London is the most visited international city for business travellers according to a new study by expenses specialist Concur. The UK’s capital topped the list of the top 25 most visited global business destinations in 2011 (based on the number of hotel nights) - beating cities such as Shanghai, Singapore, Beijing, Toronto and Hong Kong.

London was well ahead of European competitors such as Paris which came 7th, Amsterdam (13th), Stockholm (15th), Madrid (22nd) and Dublin (23rd).

But London was only the sixth most expen-sive destination for corporate travel when comparing the cost of hotels, dining and entertainment – trailing behind destinations such as Tokyo, Copenhagen, Sydney and Stockholm.

Concur used its database of more than 15 million corporate users and $50 billion of spending on travel and entertainment during 2011 to compile the report.

ecm summer scHool

Host city this year: Dubrovnik, the so called pearl of the Adriatic! The 26th Summer School runs from August 25-29, 2012, and will provide at least 50 fortunate students with the foundation and knowledge to progress a rewarding career in the meetings industry.

As is the case every year, the number one goal of the ECM Summer School is to provide a solid basic education for those just start-ing out in the Meetings Industry. It brings students face to face with leading industry practitioners, through seminars that reflect the latest trends; new technologies and practices.

Pier Paolo Mariotti, Meeting Manager of EURAC Convention Center in Bolzano, Italy, hosted the 23rd Summer School in 2009. Since 2010, he is the new Course Director of the ECM Summer School.

“The Summer School has now been in existence for 25 years, and we all do our utmost to ensure it continues well into the future by maintaining the highest standard of course content, retaining and recruiting the very best of speakers, and giving up-to-date examples showcasing latest trends in the meeting industry. There is no such training in the meetings industry! Try it out!”,

says Pier Paolo Mariotti.

Please go to www.europeancitiesmarket-ing.com where you can download the programme and register.

MICE news

The European Cruise Council and Cruise Lines International Association, announced new safety measures Cruise ships worldwide which came into effect at the end of April.

An industry-wide safety review, announced in January, has been strengthened with the appointment of four independent experts, who were consulted on the above safety measures and will be consulted on all future proposals.

On the Road issue 203

Cruise news

Every ship will now carry more than one lifejacket per passenger and passengers will no longer be allowed onto the bridge during difficult manoeuvres to avoid unnecessary distractions. However, bridge tours will still go ahead at other times.

Every ship’s passage plan will be drafted by a designated officer, approved by a master and briefed to every member of the bridge in advance.

All members of the bridge team to agree the ship’s course before the vessel sets sail

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titanic 11

Leading Australian businessman Clive Palmer has launched a new international shipping venture which has plans to build a fleet of world class luxury liners includ-ing a 21st century version of the Titanic. Mr Palmer has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with state-owned Chinese company CSC Jinling Shipyard to build Titanic II.

“It will be every bit as luxurious as the original Titanic but of course it will have state-of-the-art 21st century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems,” Mr Palmer said.

Titanic II will sail in the northern hemisphere and her maiden voyage from England to North America is scheduled for late 2016.This new venture will add to Mr Palmer’s growing tourism portfolio which includes the Coolum Golf and Spa Resort and Robina Woods and the Colonial golf courses.

celebrity cruises – olympic coveraGe

An one-billion people will tune in for this year’s Olympic Games in in London, and Celebrity Cruises has arranged for guests sailing on its fleet to be among them.

From the Opening Ceremony July 27 to the celebratory Closing Ceremony August 12, Celebrity will broadcast ‘live’ via satellite the swimming, diving, gymnastics, rowing, cycling, athletics, and basketball events, in addition to airing daily compilations of highlights from all 26 sports featured in the Games of the XXX Olympiad.

Celebrity’s guests will be able to view the Olympic Games within the comfort of their staterooms and suites, or in several bars and lounges on every Celebrity ship (with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition, which sails year-round in the Galapagos Islands). The specific locations and event times will be listed within each Celebrity ship’s daily newsletter.

costa

• Starting in Winter 2012/13, a new clas-sification system for fares and cabins will be introduced, making holidays with Costa simpler and better value for money. In the new classification, there are four cabin categories (Classic, Premium, Samsara and Suite), which differ in terms of their value based on location, size and services offered. Each of these categories offers benefits and privileges that can be tailored to suit every guest’s needs.

• Winter cruises in the Mediterranean have been confirmed, with two ships in the area: Costa Classica, offering 11 and 12-day cruises to Portugal/Morocco and Greece/Israel/Turkey; and Costa Pacifica, with week-long cruises in the western Mediter-ranean to Savona, Marseilles, Barce-lona, Palma, Cagliari, Palermo and

Civitavecchia.

Also returning are week-long cruises in the Red Sea, departing from Sharm el Sheikh with Costa Voyager, to visit coral reefs and ancient civilisations.

• Costa has a new arrival in the Costa fleet - the Costa Voyager .Formally part of the Iberocruceros fleet, she offers guests 416 cabins in total, (houses 927 guests) includ-ing 16 panoramic suites and 12 suites with private balconies. There are three restaurants, four bars, a theatre, wellness centre and gym, treatment rooms, sauna and Turkish bath, swimming pool, disco, shopping centre and children’s club (Squok club).

The original Titanic

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new safety measures

On the Road issue 203 Page 9

Cruise news...continued

Regular cruises in the Valley of the LoreleyRüdesheim – Bingen – St.Goarshausen

Dept.Rüd.: 9.15am,11.00am and 2.00pmDept.St. Goar: 11.00am,2.10pm and 4.10pmFull restaurant service and snacks available

Commentary in English – Multi-lingual staff – Group rates

Tel. Bingen +49 6721 14140E- info@bingen-ruedesheimer.de www.bingen-ruedesheimer.de

The technical characteristics of the Costa Voyager make her especially suitable for cruises to the Red Sea, a relatively new destination for Costa Cruises and one that will be offered this year.

From Eilat, excursions will take guests to a natural oasis in the Negev desert, the fortress of Masada and the wonderful landscapes of the Dead Sea. From Aqaba, visit the pink city of Petra, carved into the mountain. From Safaga there are excur-sions to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, visiting the tombs of the Pharaohs or enjoy-ing the natural beauty of Hurghada and the crystal waters of the island of Mahamya. From Sokhna passengers can travel to beautiful beaches.

msc cruises

The cruise company MSC Cruises has increased the number of embarkation points and ports of call throughout Spain . Embarkation points now include Bilbao and A Coruña. The company has also increased the ports of call to include Cartagena, Ceuta, Mahon and Palamos.www.msccruises.co.uk

european waterways

Europe’s largest luxury hotel barge operator, has created a new ‘Artisan’ theme cruise in Ireland which will particularly appeal to people interested in the crafting of handmade food products.

During this 6-night, all-inclusive cruise aboard the fully-crewed, 10-passenger hotel barge ‘Shannon Princess’, guests will enjoy tours to see the finest craftsmen at work. People such as Ralph Haslam, the owner of Mossfield Organic Cheeses, or the owners of award-winning Meadowsweet Apiaries & Farm Shop, renowned for their delicious honey.

Guests will visit the world famous Clarindbridge oyster beds on the shores of Galway Bay, as well as a tour of Portumna Castle’s kitchen garden, full of herbs and berries used by the barge’s chef. Two visits to the “Wilde Irish Chocolate Makers” and to McGeoughs Craft Butchers & Smokehouse, an award-winning charcuterie producing among other delights, smoked Connemara lamb, complete the itinerary.

Shannon Princess will be cruising between Athlone and Killaloe along the River Shannon and across Lough Derg. www.gobarging.com

pHoenix reisen

PR has christened its newest riverboat, the Amelia, which is owned by Scylla of Basel, but will sail exclusively for Phoenix Reisen. The 135-meter long vessel has 108 state-rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and French balconies. Dining is open-seating. The Amelia will be sailing a variety of cruises on the Rhine and the Danube rivers. Phoenix Reisen offers river cruises in Europe, China, Egypt and South America

p&o cruises

Has come into the spotlight for a new scheme which could withhold tips unless staff hit performance targets.

The Guardian reported recently that docu-ments show staff, who are paid as little as 75p an hour, have ‘a significantly increased basic salary’ after tips. But David Dingle, CEO of Carnival UK, in charge of P&O cruise lines said the move was part of a package to “make crew more responsive” and offer protection as tips dry up in the economic downturn. Cash tips are being phased out in favour of electronic tips automatically added to passengers’ bills, which pay for the potential performance bonus. As passengers could opt out of paying, Dingle said, the firm was “taking the risk out” by paying bonuses if targets were met. Bonuses will be held back in part if customers’ feedback ratings do not exceed targets, some of which stand at 96%. Cabin stewards whose attitude was ranked below 92% by customers will forfeit an entire bonus payment worth approxi-mately 15% of their basic salary.

oceania cruises

Has launched a comprehensive fly/cruise `free air’ programme, offering complimentary flights for all of their European and Worldwide itineraries.

Oceania Cruises’ free air programme is provided from London airports. Regional airport departures and business class upgrades available at additional cost. Reservations can be made through Oceania’s online booking engine and Amadeus Cruise as well as Oceania Cruises’ recently expanded Southampton-based Reservations office.

Clients who have already made cruise-only bookings will have the option to add flights to their existing reservation, at no extra cost, and all new bookings will be quoted as fly/cruise with an air credit for anyone wishing to take cruise-only. Oceania Cruises will retain its popular `fully refundable deposit’ policy for both cruise only and fly/cruise bookings. www.oceaniacruises.com

Air China has added Gatwick to its UK operation flying 4 times weekly.

Air Europa Spain’s second largest airline will increase its frequency from Madrid to Lima to daily from 26 June.

ANA is to launch its Tokyo - Seattle service on 25 July this year. The service will fly daily, initially using the Boe-ing 777-300ER, with flights switching to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner during the course of the financial year.

British Airways has, following the acquisition of bmi, announced it will fly a six times per week service to Seoul from 2 December 2012.

And... BA CityFlyer is to introduce a three times per day service between Aberdeen and London City on 24 September.

easyJet has launched two new routes to Palma and Malaga from London Southend Airport. Daily flight to Malaga and 4 times weekly for Palma.

And... they will add services between Gatwick and Luxembourg from 29 October 2012

Etihad Airways will add Addis Ababa, and Ahmedabad from Abu Dhabi in November 2012. Flights between Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa will initially operate five times a week, increasing to daily in 2013. Flights will operate daily between Abu Dhabi and Ahmedabad.

Flybe, part-owned by British Airways, has published its 2012-13 winter schedule. Two new routes operating for the first time are between Birmingham and Waterford, and Newcastle to Bergen

flydubai, the budget airline of the Emirate, has introduced a four times per week services from Dubai to Sana’a the capital of Yemen.

Icelandair has just launched new flights from Denver International with non-stop service to Iceland.

Monarch, has launched new routes to ‘The Pearl of the Adriatic’, Dubrovnik, and Heraklion. The flights operate from Birmingham and Gatwick airports .Flights to Dubrovnik will operate three times a week from Gatwick airport and two times a week from Birmingham. Flights to Heraklion will operate two times a week from both Gatwick and Birmingham airports.

And... they have announced plans to launch a total of twelve new routes for winter 2012/13 including sched-uled flights from Leeds Bradford International Airport for the first time. London Gatwick to Friedrichshafen - 4 x flights per week. Funchal - 3 x flights per week. London Luton to Munich - 4 x flights per week. Manchester to Friedrichshafen - 2 x flights per week. Grenoble - 3 x flights per week. Munich - 4 x flights per week. Birming-ham to Funchal - 2 x flights per week. Grenoble - 3 x flights per week. Munich - 4 x flights per week. Sharm el Sheikh - 2 x flights per week. Leeds Bradford to Grenoble - 3 x flights per week. Munich - 2 x flights per week.

Ryanair has launched a new route between Edinburgh and Poland.The no-frills flights will go twice a week from Edinburgh to Szczecin.

United Airlines now flies from Manchester to Wash-ington DC with an eight-hour non-stop daily flight.

Virgin Atlantic will add a fourth daily service between London Heathrow and New York JFK from October 28.

Flight plan

Shannon Princess’

Donau Auen National Park © WienTourismus / Popp & Hackner

The high-speed Twin City Liner catamarans that shuttle between Vienna and Bratislava have permanent berths on the Danube Canal. From April until the end of October the service operates between the two capitals twice a day. The down-stream Vienna-Bratislava leg lasts an hour and a quarter, while the upstream return journey takes fifteen minutes longer. Passengers travel in premium air-con-ditioned comfort, while first-class seating, panoramic windows and the captain’s lounge complete the luxury inter-city travel experience. www.twincityliner.com

Between May and October the National Park Boat, which also berths at the Danube Canal, takes nature lovers to the Lobau wetlands direct from the city center. This unspoiled natural paradise is part of the Donau Auen National Park. Specially trained park rangers lead visitors on an hour-long walking tour of the wetlands and surrounding woods before the round trip concludes with a boat ride back to the city. www.donauauen.at

DanubeDanube

On the Road issue 203 Page 10

Hospitality news

ParisBoth Ritz Paris and Hôtel de Crillon will be closing their doors for two years for complete renovations-overhauling the ornate-but-tired monuments.

The iconic Ritz Paris-known for hosting the rich and famous, Coco Chanel even had her own suite-hasn’t seen a major renovation since 1979, and will close at the begin-ning of August, along with its restaurant and cooking school. After the hotel failed to receive the French Tourism Ministry’s prestigious “palace” hotel designation, the Ritz’s owner, Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, decided to bring the hotel up to date.

Renovations have already begun at the palatial Hôtel de Crillon, which is planning an extensive transformation of the entire property - including adding a spa, after it closes on November 1st

RomeHilton Garden Inn opened its latest hotel in Rome’s elegant Parioli district. The former Claridge Hotel has been converted to Hilton Garden Inn Rome Claridge and is located within easy reach of famous attractions such as Villa Borghese with its surrounding parklands, and Via Veneto.

TurkeyThe newly refurbished Neilson Seaside Beachclub in Ortakent, Turkey has under-gone a €500,000 makeover in time for summer 2012. Meanwhile, Neilson Adakoy Beachclub, also in Turkey, was recently expanded with 36 new rooms added and upgrades to public areas. In addition, while Neilson’s board offering currently includes daily breakfast, daily lunch and four even-ing meals, customers can now also opt in for a full board upgrade at all Beachclubs. www.neilson.co.uk

Croatia The € 160 million Falkensteiner Punta Skala Resort in Petrcani near Zadar (north-ern Dalmatia) has opened after eight years of construction. The resort is the Austrian company Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group AG’s biggest Croatian project.

The five-star Falkensteiner Hotel&Spa and the four-star Family Hotel Diadora join numerous pools, restaurants and wellness facilities now offered in the resort.

EdinburghThe Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh has re-opened following a multi-million pound renovation. Located in the heart of the City, beneath the Castle, the property features 269 guest rooms, designed in a contemporary Scottish style with frosted glass-walled bathrooms and state-of-the-art technology.

Facilities include a newly-installed Shera-ton Club Floor, where Club guests receive exclusive access to a bright and spacious Club Lounge which serves breakfast, drinks and light snacks throughout the day. There is also a new dedicated meetings and events complex offering 14 flexible function rooms, making it the largest conference and banqueting area in a hotel in Edinburgh. The property also boasts the six-storey One Spa.

Guests enjoy new signature brand experi-ences, including the Link@Sheraton experi-ence with Microsoft – a communications hub in the lobby providing complimentary wi-fi and PC workstations. www.shera-tonedinburgh.co.uk

London - Regents StreetLocated at London’s 68 Regent Street, facing Mayfair to the West and Soho to the East, the Café Royal has, since its opening in 1865, has been pivotal to London life. It re-opens in June 2012 - not as a major conference venue but as a hotel and a member of Set - the new contemporary hotel collection.

It will offer a diverse selection of restaurants, cafés and bars, from the restored Grill Room (of which Wilde, Shaw and Kipling, Elizabeth Taylor, Winston Churchill and Princess Diana were all patrons) to the buzzing Domino Room. Also on offer is a Holistic Wellbeing Centre featuring a huge pool.

There will be 159 new rooms and suites. The five vast suites of historical signifi-cance, provide a window onto the Café Royal’s past whilst also offering all of the state of the art amenities of its future.

HeathrowSofitel London Heathrow has been crowned Best Airport Hotel Europe at the Skytrax World Airport Awards second year in a row, presented in Vienna on 19th April 2012. Awards are based on the World Airport Survey, voted for by over 300,000 Business Travellers and cannot be influenced by the venues or products.

NiceWith a superb location in the centre of Nice - AC Hotels by Marriott, the 143-room former Elysée Palace Hotel is situated just a stone’s throw from the old town and the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. With a rooftop terrace featuring an outdoor swimming pool and restaurant offering panoramic views of Nice and the Mediter-ranean, the property is set to become a stylish addresses in the city. All AC Hotels by Marriott offer complimentary wi-fi and free mini-bars. Work has already started on the conversion with the hotel expected to be open in early 2013. www.marriott.co.uk/ac-hotels/travel.mi

Basilicata Francis Ford Coppola’s new Palazzo Margherita in Bernalda in the Basilicata region of Southern Italy, which opened in March, snapped a spot as a top new hotel in Travel + Leisure’s 2012 It List.

The nine-room, 19th century villa was restored by French designer Jacques Grange and the Coppola family, and fea-tures old world touches such as fresco ceilings and restored tile work as well as cutting-edge technology such as 3D and Apple TVs. Accommodation does not come cheap here. Expect to pay from about €363 to €1853 per night, double, depending on the season and room category.

Amsterdam Hyatt Hotels has just announced its first Andaz hotel on the European mainland and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts’ first hotel in Hol-land. The 122-room hotel will be located at the site of the former Public Library on Amsterdam’s Prinsengracht within close walking distance from the city’s major attractions.

The interior design of the hotel will be by famous Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. The design concept and the stylish allure of the rooms will reflect a modern view on Dutch history www.andaz.com

BrusselsGreat Hotels of the World Premier Collec-tion have announce the opening of a brand new hotel in Brussels, Thon Hotel EU.

The hotel is ideally situated in the heart of the city’s European district and within easy reach of public transport links. It is also near to the city’s main historical and cultural attractions, including the Grand Place and the Natural Science Museum, and just 15 minutes from the airport by car.

There are 405 bright and modern guestrooms and 37 spacious one, two and three-bedroomed apartments spread over eight floors. Thon Hotel EU also offers 10 multipurpose conference rooms, catering for up to 300 delegates in theatre-style. All meeting and conference rooms have natural daylight and are fully equipped with essential audio and technical equip-ment. One meeting room will be specifi-cally designated for video conferences.

The Twelve restaurant, inspired by the European flag and its twelve stars. Seats 220 seats with the a further 130 places in an adjacent room. There is a terrace garden with design elements of a Moroccan riad. The terrace will offer a further 60 seats for The Twelve restaurant. Other facilities of the hotel include a lounge bar, state-of-the-art fitness centre and an underground car park. www.ghotw.com/Thon-Hotel-EU

Thon Hotel EU lobby

Café Royal bedroom

Palazzo Margherita

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On the Road issue 203 Page 11

Hospitality news ...continued

the Royal Palace and Mons Meg amongst other attractions.T0131 668 8831 or email hs.explorer@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

The Cube by Electrolux And I thought they just made white goods!! The Cube will open at Southbank Centre in London from 1st June and run until 30th September 2012. The unique dining concept is a celebration of Electrolux expertise, and boasts it brings together some of the most pioneering and innovative chefs in the UK.

Following successful visits to Brussels and Milan, The Cube by Electrolux will be positioned on top of the Royal Festival Hall this summer offering great views of the capital and food to match.

Double Michelin star chefs Sat Bains, Claude Bosi and Daniel Clifford will be joined by the winners of ‘Ramsay’s Best Restaurant 2010’ and Michelin star holders Jonray and Peter Sanchez, as well as Scotland’s Michelin star chef, Tom Kitchin. All of the chefs are supported by Electrolux daily in their own restaurants.

The Cube by Electrolux seats just 18 guests around one table allowing them to watch their meal being prepared in an open plan kitchen, which is equipped Electrolux domestic as well as professional equip-ment. As part of the experience, each chef will also offer their hints and tips for guests to apply when entertaining at home for friends and family.

Visits to The Cube by Electrolux are priced at £175 per person for lunch and £215 for dinner Monday to Sunday. www.electrolux.co.uk/Cube/London

noma did it again For the 3rd consecutive year, restaurant “noma” in Copenhagen has been awarded “No.1 Best Restaurant in the World” by readers of the Restaurant Magazine. “Through the use of innovative cooking methods, Rene Redzepi’s former warehouse on the dockside has changed diners’ percep-tions of Nordic cuisine. It is a restaurant of extraordinary pedigree, where passion and honesty is reflected in every mouthful.” Where the comments from the judges - www.theworlds50best.com.

Executive chef René Redzepi focuses on regional produce, such as Nordic langous-tine, foraged berries, musk ox and even live ants and shrimps. All their prime produce is sourced in Scandinavia, but especially in Denmark, and this is one of the rea-sons for noma’s success.

Edinburgh Castle Scotland’s number one paid for visitor attraction has unveiled a host of new hospitality and tourism offerings for 2012.During August, Historic Scotland and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo have joined together to offer a selection of hospitality options as the Tattoo hosts a celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Packages include a first class array of hospitality options, providing fine dining across a stunning choice of venues within the Castle. Guests can also enjoy other exclusive elements including private recep-tions and behind the scenes tours.

Also new for this year are afternoon teas at the newly refurbished castle Tea Rooms. Visitors can enjoy afternoon tea in the dramatic surroundings of crown square which has played host to a number of key events in history. Pre-bookings can be made in advance for groups of up to 100. Special group rates on application.

The castle is also offering pre-booked private tours outside opening hours where groups can get exclusive access to theHonours of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny,

Is Britain Open For Business? Visitor Queues and Visitor Visas On Tuesday May 15th the UK’s Immigration Minister, Damian Green, appeared before the British parliament’s Home Affairs Committee to answer questions about queues at passport control in Heathrow Airport.

Simultaneously, the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) released a statement pointing out that the problems created by UK Border Agency at Heathrow, whilst bad for Britain’s image and economically damaging, should be viewed in the wider context of the problems caused by issuing visas.

Research conducted by ETOA reveals that hundreds of millions of pounds are lost to the UK economy every year because the visa process is so alienating that applicants give up and decide to go elsewhere.

The UK tourist visa costs £78, which currently offers two countries: the UK and, courtesy of a recent waiver scheme, Ireland. The Schengen visa costs €60 and offers 26 countries.

• The Schengen visa application form is three pages long; that for the UK is eight pages.

• The UK visa form has to be completed in English. The Chinese do not require their visa forms to be completed in Chinese characters; the Russians do not insist on Cyrillic.

• Prospective visitors have to submit fingerprints as well as a photo, make themselves available for an interview at a location that can be hundreds of miles from where they live. They may have to wait for as long as three weeks for a decision.

• ETOA’s survey of travel agents and tour operators showed that 26% of Indian and 30% of Chinese clients applying for UK visas gave up rather than endure this time consuming and humiliating application.

• France now attracts over 50% more visitors from India than the UK.

• In 2009, Switzerland joined the Schengen Area. Indian visitor arrivals were at 132,000 in 2008, by 2010 they stood at 197,000; this was growth of 49%. In the same period, the UK numbers rose from 359,000 to 371,000: a growth rate of 3%.

• Since the UK introduced visas for South Africans in 2009, visitor numbers have declined by 24%. In the same year visas were abolished for Taiwanese travelling to the UK. Visitor numbers have since increased by 39% and revenue by 155%.

• Visit Britain’s figures show that just 3% of Chinese visitors to Europe in 2010 obtained a UK visa, 2% obtained both UK and Schengen visas and 95% obtained just a Schengen visa

Tom Jenkins, Executive Director of ETOA said, “Images of queues at Heathrow damage the UK; they make the prospect of a visit here tiresome and unattractive. The damage done by this is major, but is short term: it can be fixed quickly. The damage done by our visa regime takes place thousands of miles away, where the clients are, in the origin markets. These markets, such as India, China and Indonesia, are of enormous long term importance to our strategic growth as a destination. They are being lost.

The current government is making efforts to improve the speed and experience of obtaining a UK visa. Given the benefits to jobs and investment, this should have the highest priority.”

ETOA

noma by Mads Damgaad

Electrolux - The cube

Options and Attractions news

The ships figurehead shows the Cutty Sark, nickname of the witch Nannie Dee who chases Tam O’ Shanter, snatching his horse’s tail before he escapes by crossing the River Doon

Cutty Sark re-launched

In 2007 the Cutty Sark was badly damaged by fire, but is now moored in a specially constructed dry dock, that allows visitors to walk along the decks in the footsteps of the merchant seamen who sailed her more than a century ago. Visitors can also discover the hold where her precious cargo was stored and inspect the graceful underside of her hull - and then amazingly balance this 963-tonne national treasure just by one hand!

55 years ago, a few days after her 11th birthday, the then Princess Elizabeth’s first Official Engagement was to open the Cutty Sark to the public with her father, King George VI.

This was her father’s second Official Engagement since ascending the throne following the constitutional crisis caused by his brother, David, (Edward VIII).Through announcing his intention to marry the American divorcee, Mrs Simpson - King Edward was obliged to abdicate.

The Cutty Sark was ordered in 1869 by Jock ‘White Hat’ Willis for the Willis Shipping Line. The company had a fleet of clippers and regularly took part in the tea trade from China to Britain. Speed is a clear advantage to a merchant ship, but it also created prestige for the owners: the tea race was widely reported in newspapers and had become a national sporting event with money bet on the winning ship.

After the Suez Canal opened the Cutty Sark focused on the wool trade from Australia where for 10 years she held the fastest transit time.

The name Cutty Sark comes from a poem by the Romantic Scottish poet, Robby Burns. It tells the story of Tam o’ Shanty [Shanter] (1790) who stayed drinking late in a tavern. As Tam rode his mare home that night he passed Alloway kirk (church) beside the River Doon, where he saw witches and warlocks dancing in a bright light to the devils bagpipes. Tam is beguiled by one particularly comely witch, Nannie Dee, whose cutty-sark (shirt) is too small for her.

He cannot help shouting out in passion,”Well done, Cutty-sark!” and in an instant all was dark.

The hellish legion begin to chase Tam, but devil, witches and warlocks cannot cross running water and Tam’s brave mare is just able to “win the key-stone o’ the brig”. But only just, for Nannie is first among the fiends in pursuit – she grabs the horse’s tail, which comes off in her hand, Tam and his mare make it over the Doon- where sadly the brave horse dies.

“Man and mother’s son, take heed:Whene’er to Drink you are inclined,Or Cutty-sarks rin in your mind,Think ye may buy the joys o’er dear;Remember Tam o’ Shanter’s mare”

Until November 2012 entrance to the Cutty Sark will be free.

The Cutty Sark is part of the four, Royal Museums Greenwich, which also includes the National Maritime Museum, The Queen’s House and the Royal Observatory - the home of the Prime Meridian of the World, making it the official starting point for each new day and year. www.cuttysark.org.uk

The last surviving tea clipper and the fastest and greatest of her time, the Cutty Sark, was re-launched by Queen Elizabeth II at Greenwich in London, last month (April) following a £50 million refit.

On the Road issue 203 Page 12

By Alan Bennett

museums + HeritaGe awards for excellence 2012

Visitor attractions from across the UK have been recognised for their remark-able achievements at the Museums + Heritage Awards for Excellence 2012 held in mid-May.

The annual Awards recognise projects of excellence ranging from ground-breaking achievements of national institutions to those crafted with limited resources and budget or those championing sustainabil-ity. Among the big winners of the Awards was the Heritage Lottery Fund which walked away with the 2012 Outstanding Contribution to the Sector accolade.

Amongst the 2012 winners were: The Ironbridge Gorge Museum, won coveted Classic Award for its continued growth, development and sustained interest from visitors both regionally and nationally. The winners of the International Award were Bolton Museum for ‘Quest for Immortality’ The award for projects on a limited budget was won by The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke: Once Upon a Time.

The Educational Award was won by Historic Royal Palaces, London: All the King’s Fools, Hampton Court Palace. The Permanent Exhibition Award was shared between two attractions, the National Museum Scotland for the Transformation of the National Museum of Scotland and the Holburn Museum in Bath. For all winners go towww.museumsandheritage.com

‘wHat tHe butler saw’

Exhibition to 21st October 2012

A new exhibition inspired by Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs opens at

Leeds Castle this month, tracking the real stories of the people who lived and worked above and below stairs at Leeds Castle during the 1930s.

“What the Butler Saw” uses archive materials, photographs and costumes to recall theglorious weekend house parties held between the wars by the castle’s last private owner, Anglo-American heiress, Lady Baillie.Well known as a former Royal Palace which has been used by Henry VIII and the medieval Queens of England to hold court over 9 centu-ries, Leeds was a private house and weekend home to Lady Baillie for nearly 50 years after she bought and substantially refurbished it in the mid-1920s.

The interiors were designed by top French architects and furnished with a collection of the finest arts and antiques, offering a won-derful place for entertaining. The exhibition draws on the published memoirs and diaries of many of her society guests from the world of politics; the aristocracy, including members of the Royal family; and from Hollywood.

It offers an insight into the privileged world of the upper classes and how they relaxed, listening to fellow houseguests like Noel Coward play on the Steinway grand piano, or laughing with David Niven and Errol Flynn as they played tennis and swam.

And it tells the “below stairs” stories, of more than 30 members of the castle’s staff, with excerpts from menus, account books, wage slips and laundry lists showing how they kept the place running. The exhibition is staged throughout the castle, in the very rooms where many of the weekend parties took place. Entry to this exhibition is included in the price of admission. www.leeds-castle.com Tel: +44 (0)1622 767865 Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1PL

Lady Baillie and friends outside the Castle

On the Road issue 203 Page 13

Options and Attractions news ...continued

Merlin is considering alternative loca-tions for the Dungeon, which has been based on Tooley Street for 38 years, to enable Network Rail to carry out a significant redevelopment of London Bridge Station.

Network Rail intends to redevelop the station and the surrounding area as part of its Thameslink programme and has proposed creating a ground-level concourse bigger than the pitch at Wembley Stadium.

The presence of the Dungeon at the County Hall building would create a cluster of attractions on the South Bank including Sea Life London Aquarium and the London Eye.

However, Merlin said that the planning permission was only one preparatory step and no final decision to relocate has yet been taken.

leonardo’s final Home

Clos Lucé is Leonardo Da Vinci’s final home and resting place is dedicated to his spirit and memory - Located in Amboise, on the south bank of France’s famous Loire Valley, Clos Lucé is a royal mansion that was offered as a residence to Leonardo in 1516 by King Francis I. The Master spent the final three years of his life there in an unaccustomed level of comfort, close to the three main mas-terpieces he took with him from Milan: the Mona Lisa, The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist.

This estate, linked to the Royal Château of Amboise by a tunnel, virtually in ruins until the Saint Bris family bought it about two centuries ago. A major restoration took place in the 1960’s to restore its Renaissance atmosphere and leave it as Leonardo Da Vinci would have known it.

new attractions in tallinn

Lennusadam or the Maritime Museum in the Seaplane Harbour (near the city centre) opened in mid May. Seaplane hangars are architecturally unique – the first big concrete shells in the world were built as part of Peter the Great’s Naval Fortress in 1916-1917.

The Museum’s star exhibits is the submarine “Lembit”, waterplane Short 184, steam-ice breaker Suur Tõll, historic boats, yachts and naval artillery. The submarine “Lembit” is one of the twin submarines of the Republic of Estonia launched in 1936 at Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard in England. Its twin sister “Kalev” perished in November 1941. The “Lembit” is the only survived warship of the pre-war Estonian Navy and in the Baltic countries.For more information go to: http://www.lennusadam.eu/en/

After a total makeover, the Tallinn TV Tower (outskirts of the city, in Pirita area) has reopened to the public . At (170m), it offers amazing views, interactive exhi-bition, visitors can send a TV greeting to a friend, and a cafe-restaurant add the finishing touches.http://www.teletorn.ee/uus/en

london dunGeon to relocate?

Merlin Entertainments Group, the operator of the London Dungeon, has announced that it has received planning permission to relocate the facility to the County Hall building.

Under the proposed plans, it would convert part of the building into a new Dungeon facility. The plans submitted to the London Borough of Lambeth show that many of Dungeon’s existing attractions could be recreated there, as well as some new ones - such as a scene based on Guy Fawkes’ gunpowder plot.

Maritime Museum in the Seaplane Harbour

The zoological and environmental park has unveiled its new parrot show, which will combine multimedia effects and striking architecture showcase various exotic parrot species included in the park’s important conservation programme. www.loroparque.com

Now visitors can catch a glimpse of his private life as they visit his bedroom, his kitchen, and his study, as well as the Renaissance rooms and chapel display-ing the frescoes painted by his disciples. Model Rooms devoted to Leonardo, the inventor and engineer, can be found in the lower ground floor. Visitors can also see the source of his inspiration through a specially created landscaped walk displaying 20 giant, fully working, interactive machines and 40 translucent canvases, 3 to 4 metres high, depicting sketches and details from his paintings.2012 will be a very special year as it is the 560th anniversary of Da Vinci’s birth.www.vinci-closluce.com

tenerife’s new offerinGs

David Nash at KewGardens

• Tenerife’s Loro Parque continues to rein-vent itself with new shows and exhibits. A brand new exhibition of white Bengal Tigers, a fully renovated sea lion stadium, new parrot species and newly-born offspring of meerkats, marmosets, parrots, orcas and dolphins are just some of the new attractions at Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz.

• Nature lovers will find novel ways to explore the beauty of Tenerife this year with new tree climbing activities in Las Lagunetas. “Forest Park Tenerife” opened earlier this year, to become the newest outdoor adventure park on the island.

Boasting the largest trees in the Canary Islands and combing fun ways to stay active whilst learning about the local environment, the park incorporates two tree climbing circuits - one for families and one for the more adventurous - reaching up to 80 metres in height and featuring 30-metre-high wooden plat-forms, as well as zip-lines that stretch for 200 metres. All tree climbing circuits have been designed in harmony with nature and can be enjoyed by children aged 6 years old and over. Tel: (+34) 902 091 471 www.forestalpark.com

Hippodrome casino opens

The Hippodrome Casino opens in Leicester Square this month. It is housed in the restored Grade 2 listed Hippodrome building. Heliot Lounge, bar and restaurant is named after the internationally celebrated animal trainer, Claire Heliot, and will offer two private dining rooms. Renowned mixologist Tony Conigliaro will showcase his molecular mixol-ogy skill at the lounge bar at Heliot. Situated adjacent to Heliot will be the Matcham Room, a performance space that will be a unique addition to London’s diverse array of theatres and concert venues www.hippodromecasino.com

tHe Garden of edible and useful plants

London’s oldest botanical garden Chelsea Physic Garden has created an inspiring new half-acre garden which opened in late May. The Garden of Edible and Useful Plants displays an extraordinary range of plant spe-cies on which humanity depends; from forest fruits and land restoration plants to super foods and plants used for hygiene, science and the arts.

The new garden showcases a diverse col-lection of productive and functional plants, incorporating both the beautiful and bizarre. Exciting new features include a compactvineyard, a living plant amphitheatre and astone pier to view Robert Fortune’s tank pond. The garden is bound together with traditional clay paving bricks and green oak arches which lead visitors through the plantings.www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

universe of sound

A virtual Philharmonia Orchestra has taken up residence at the Science Museum. An imme-sive digital installation employs the latest

digital and interactive technologies to reveal the inner workings of each orchestral section and invite the public to interact, create and explore. The project will include a live performance of The Planets, the commission of a new work to allow the audience to develop their own musical journey, and workshops Science Museum. 23rd May - 8th July 2012 www.science-museum.org.uk

david nasH at Kew Gardens

David Nash, one of the UK’s most prolific creators of ecological art, will produce and exhibit his work across the Gardens from June 2012. The exhibition will feature sculptures, installations, drawings and film throughout the Gardens, glasshouses and exhibition spaces. Nash will work on a ‘wood quarry’, creating pieces for the exhibition using trees from the Garden that have come to the end of their natural life. Nash’s relationship with, and ever-growing knowledge of, his chosen material - wood - sits in accordance with the conservation work carried out by Kew both in the UK and around the world 9 June - 14 April 2013.

Travel trade and group planners can access discounted rates for entry and tours by contacting Kew Gardens’ travel trade office by Email: groups@kew.org mailto:groups@kew.org tel. 0208 332 5648 and online at www.kew.org/groups http://www.kew. org/groups and at www.kew.org

Summer in London

On the Road issue 203 Page 14

Options and Attractions news ...continued June to follow the tracks of Brown Bear in the Alutaguse forests.

For more information about visit:http://www.visitestonia.com/en/search/special-offers?q=brown bear&refresh_facet=true#container-search

mauritsHuis treasures move

The Mauritshuis is embarking on a unique collaboration with the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag. From 24 April 2012, around 70 highlights from the Mauritshuis collection are on display at the Gemeentemuseum for a about two years. The paintings include View of Delft by Johannes Vermeer, The Bull by Paulus Potter and The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt van Rijn.

The collaboration is the result of the Mauritshuis’s plans for expansion and renovation, between 2 April 2012 and mid-2014. www.mauritshuis.nl / www.gemeentemuseum.nl

new in rotHenburG

The “Leyk Lichthäuser” ceramics factory is located just a 5-minute car ride away from the old town of Rothenburg This is where the world-famous Leyk model houses are produced by hand.

Visitors can see for themselves how the miniature model half-timbered houses are produced with painstaking craftsmanship. There is also an interesting exhibition space with numerous examples of the decorators’ art.

Also opening on the 14th July is an oriental water garden and café info@leyk.rothenburg.de www.leyk-shop.com

brown bears in nortH estonia.

Something for true nature enthusiasts Forests and woodlands cover almost half of Estonia and are generally less intensely managed and more natural than those in Western Europe, making them favourable for a diversity of wildlife. The numbers of large carnivores - more than 150 wolves, about 700 lynx, and 550 brown bears - indicate the richness and ecological poten-tial of Estonian forest ecosystems. Largest population of brown bears are believed to be in the forests of Alutaguse in North-East Estonia.

The Estonian nature tour organisers Estonian Nature Tours and NatourEst are promoting scheduled trips for May and

oxford - alice’s day

It’s 150 years since the real Alice inWonderland heard the story of her imagi-nary and fantastical adventures down a rabbit hole, narrated by Charles Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll. This year, celebrations will be city-wide and even more exuber-ant than usual. There will be curiouser and curiouser happenings and some extra special surprises in store. 7 - 8 July /www.storymuseum.org.uk/alice

florence celebrates ameriGo vespucci year

2012 marks the 500th anniversary of the death of the Florentine navigator who named the continent America. Florence’s city administration is honouring the brilliant city dweller with many cultural events and initiatives throughout the year.

Amerigo Vespucci, breathing the cultural atmosphere of the Medici court during his life, was the first Renaissance Humanist who brought to the sea the rational spirit of research, the scientific method to tackle a goal and to give a knowledgeable steering to the art of navigation. “He was first a man, than a sailor and an astronomer”. Have a look at the official calendar. Go to:http://www.vespucci2012.com/2012/03/official-calendar-of-vespucci-events/

500tH anniversary of KatHerine parr

A year-long historic, literary and musical event to celebrate the life of Tudor Queen Katherine Parr, who lived, died and is entombed at Sudeley Castle Cheltenham.

The castle and the neighbouring village of Winchcombe are holding year-long celebrations that include family days of archery and falconry, Tudor banquets and even a re-enactment of Katherine Parr’s funeral. At its heart of the event will lie a special Katherine Parr exhibition, featuring items from the castle‘s own collection, as well as several other pieces on loan from other national and historic collections.

A new interpretive film, featuring world famous historian Dr David Starkey will guide visitors around parts of the castle never previously seen. Ticketed events will include the opportunity to enjoy afternoon tea with Lady Ashcombe and specially invited guests. www.sudeleycastle.co.uk

2012 sisi’s anniversary year

24.12.2012 marks the 175th anniversary of the birth of Empress Elisabeth. Schloß Schönbrunn is this year concentrating on Elisabeth as a family person. They are cur-rently looking at Sisi’s family in Bavaria, while September will start to focus on her children.

In addition, the two famous Winterthaler paintings of Empress Elisabeth and Franz Joseph have been restored to their spar-kling original condition and the bathroom has been given new wall coverings.

royal delft - new interactive museum

Royal Delft has completed an extensive renovation of its museum. To present its history in a contemporary style, the museum has introduced an interactive ‘Delft Blue Experience’: a journey through the present, the past and the future of this age-old pottery.

The renovation allows visitors to experience the authentic Royal Delft Blue production process more intensively. www.royaldelft.com

russell watson’s Jubilee proms

Waddersdon Manor Nr Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire is the venue for Russell Watson’s Jubilee Proms in Friday 29th June.Russell and his Orchestra celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee with this special concert, with repertoire from his top selling albums and all of your Last Night of the Proms favourites.

Joining Russell will be his special guests, the operatic quartet ‘Amore’. For more information, visit their official website at www.amoreofficial.com Adult £35.00 Child £20.00.

Special offer for groups. Buy 10 tickets and get one free, offer applies to multiples of 10 tickets. Call 01296 653226 Monday to Friday 10.00-3.00 for more information

palais de toKyo reopens in paris

In its 75-year history The Palais de Tokyo near the Place du Trocadero has had a number of uses. Before the opening of the Centre Pompidou on Rue Beaubourg in 1977, it was the home of France’s collection of modern art - known as the Palais des Musees d’Art Moderne. In the 1980s it became a museum of photogra-phy and, before closing for seven years in 1995, it presented objects and decor of the cinema.

Now it has re-opened to the public as the biggest non-collecting contempo-rary art museum in Europe extending all the way from the Avenue President Wilson down the hill to the river Seine.

The new Palais, with its four spacious floors of exhibition space, will produce about 40 shows a year.

In the European Group Travel Trade Guide, incorrect contact details were included for Esterházy Palace (see page 28 of the printed Guide Eisenstadt/ Schloss Esterházy) The correct details are also on the web site www.ontheroad.co.uk click on the Guide on the home page, and at the end of this article

esterHázy HiGHliGHts

Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt is one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Austria and the most notable cultural monument in Burgenland.

“The apartment of the princess”, “Highlights from the Esterházy Palace”, “Haydn explo-sive” and the wine museum are the

four exhibitions at Esterházy palace. The resplendent Haydn Hall with its brilliant acoustics is one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world and an absolute highlight. Its name giver, the famous composer Joseph Haydn, had worked for the House of Esterházy for almost 40 years.

Be our guest at Esterházy and enjoy one of our princely pleasure packages! We offer exhibition tours, day trips, concerts, wine tastings and culinary delights. All packages are individually tailored to your needs.

Schloss EsterházyTel: +43 2682 63854-12ausstellung@esterhazy.atwww.esterhazy.at

Correction

Alice as illustrated by John Tenniel

Amore - prettier than Russell !!

Royal Delft

Kath

erine

Parr

On the Road issue 203 Page 15

Groups will be given performance opportu-nities in the Disney Park and the chance to enjoy professional jazz performances in the Disney Village.

For more information or to book, please contact Patrick or Caroline at Greatdays on: 0161 928 3242 or via email: sales@greatdays.co.uk website: www.greatdays.co.uk/disney-jazz

Russian Northern Express Gateway Travel is offering a unique program for 2012, The Russian Northern Express. This 10 day tour departs from Moscow on 1st September and visits Vologda in Central Russia, Arkhangelsk in Russian North and Kem (featuring a mini cruise to Solovetski Islands), Murmansk (city behind the Polar Circle), Petrozavodsk (Karelia region) and ending in St. Petersburg.

6 nights are spent on the train and choice is available in either first or second class cabins. The package also includes 3 nights’ accommodation in 4 star hotels, full board throughout the tour, sightseeing tours, shows and performances. Email sales@russian-gateway.com.au

Save up to 90% on roaming chargesStaying in communication while travelling has got a whole lot easier with the launch of an innovative service - toggle mobile. This breakthrough in mobile technology allows users to save money when roaming across multiple destinations without the need to keep changing SIM cards. The tog-gle mobile SIM comes with a permanent UK number and the option to add a selection of local numbers while travelling. Huge savings of up to 90% can be made as users will be able to receive free incoming calls on their toggle mobile while roaming in over 100 countries worldwide. www.togglemobile.co.uk

Euro Disney lossesThe Operator saw its net loss widen to €120.9m in the six months ended 31 March 2012 from €99.5m a year ago.

Revenues slipped 0.9% to €552.4m, while costs increased by 3% to €637.1m, resulting in a first-half operating loss of €84.7m, versus a loss of €61.1m last time. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declined to €1.7m from €25.2m. The resorts division, which includes the Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios theme parks, seven on-site hotels and the Disney Village shopping and entertainment zone, reported a 1% rise in revenue to €551.1m.

Theme parks revenue was up 2% at €304.8m, primarily due to a 2% increase in average spending per guest to €44.11, partly offset by a 1% fall in attendance to

CULTOURFAIR 2012The 4th edition of CULTOURFAIR, Interna-tional Cultural Travel Fair will take place this year in the city of Granada, on October 3rd, 4th and 5th, at the Granada Exhibition and Conference Centre, who is also sponsor of the event along with Granada Tourism Authority.

For the second time, CULTOURFAIR will be held simultaneously with MITM Euromed, Meetings and Incentive Travel Market, in its 16th edition. All exhibitors and buyers of CULTOURFAIR 2012 will have the oppor-tunity to schedule individual meetings with the exhibitors and MICE (meetings, incentives, congresses, events) buyers of MITM Euromed, as well as with worldwide tour operators and travel agents specialized in cultural tourism.

www.cultourfair.com , www.mitmeuromed.com For more information, please contact: Gisela Matamoros, Press Affairs Manager, gsar@gsamark.com, T: +34 91 541 43 08, F: +34 91 542 07 00.

6.8m. The increase in average spend was driven by higher spending on admissions and merchandise.

The lower attendance resulted from a decline in guests from Italy, the Nether-lands, Belgium and Spain, partly offset by an increase in French visitors. Hotels and Disney Village revenue dropped 1% to €224.5m, reflecting a 3.6 % point decrease in hotel occupancy to 79.8% and a temporary reduced restaurant capacity in the Disney Village, partly offset by a 4% increase in average spending per room to €207.29. The decrease in occupancy resulted from 33,000 fewer room nights sold primarily due to fewer guests visiting from Italy and the UK, as well as lower business group activity, partly offset by more French guests staying overnight.

European Jazz Festival

Greatdays, the Wholesaler and Tour Operator, has teamed up with ‘Serious’, the organisers of the annual London Jazz Festival, to create the first European Jazz Festival in Disneyland Paris on the 19th and 20th of April, 2013. The line-up of leading jazz musicians already includes: the incredible Natalie Williams; New Orleans trumpeter Abram Wilson; Simply Red band member Kevin Robinson; pianist Tom Caw-ley and alto saxophonist Nathaniel Facey.

The event will be open to all jazz groups including big bands, jazz ensembles ,choirs and Jazz fans. There will be inspiring work-shops on themes such as skills develop-ment, guidance and performance critique held by some of the leading professional jazz musicians on the international circuit.

Travel Industry news

The Awards Awards will be made in two categories: Best Fair Deal Tour 2012 and Best Fair Deal Tour Operator/ Travel Agency 2012; the winners will be announced in November. And the prize for those who win? Apart from the honour and a framed FEG certificate the winners will get free and automatic promotion to 60,000 of qualified tourist guides spread all over Europe, dealing with potential clients on a daily basis.

What is a Fair Deal Tour? A fair deal tour is a tour that is advertised and sold transparently, explaining exactly what you get and where no one is exploited. A fair deal for participants, the guides, organisers ,service providers and communities.

Nominate your own favourite candidate Apart from the Best Fair Deal Tour 2012 you can also nominate the Best Fair Deal Tour Operator / Travel Agency 2012.

Only fee-paying tours and operators and organisers who charge for their services are eligible to win. The deadline for nominations is 30th September 2012. For a full list of criteria and more details, please go to www.feg-touristguides.org To receive a nomination form, please email secretariat@feg-touristguides.org

CHOOSE YOUR FAVOURITE FAIR DEAL TOUR

The European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations [FEG] is launching two new tourism awards this spring in order to promote tours that offer a fair deal. Members of the public have until the end of September to nominate their favourite candidate based on a memorable personal experience.

Kevin Robinson, Natalie Williams, Tom Cawley, Nathaniel Face and Abram Wilson

European Eccentrics of coffee throughout the raid. A neighbour of the shop in Wythenshawe, Manchester, commented, “It’s just typical of the way robbers behave these days!”

A batter class of royal gift When it comes to a jubilee gift, what would you give the monarch who has everything? Iceland, the frozen food company, has decided on a model of Buckingham Palace made from 3,000 duck spring rolls. Three metres long it was made by Prudence Staite, a food artist, in Pamington, Gloucestershire, it is called Duckingham Palace.

Contain yourselfA new pop-up hotel provides a nice solution for festival-goers who don’t like camping and Portaloos but don’t want to traipse offsite to a hotel. The Snoozebox Portable Hotel is made up of stacked shipping containers which are fitted with proper beds and bathrooms. The modular hotel can be made up of anything from 40 to 400 containers, and is confirmed to appear at various festivals this summer.

The ‘snooze boxes’ do not exactly embrace the great outdoors (there are no windows, for one thing) but each is kitted out with a double and a single bed, a wet room, air-con, a flatscreen television and power sockets - handy for recharging cameras and phones - plus enough storage space for clothes and wellington boots.

The best bit: the actual containers can be shipped all over the world thanks to their standard sizing. But for this summer at least, Snoozebox will stay in the UK, pop-ping up at the Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor Castle, and Goodwood Festival of Speed and Hop Farm Festival later this year. What’s next? For more information contact Snoozebox (0845 092 0174; www.mysnoozebox.com)

Mixed signals Drivers in the Chinese city of Chongqing have been confused by a rank of 33 traffic lights that appear to change at random. One motorist complained: “When you look at one light it’s red, but the one next to it is green. No one knows where or when to go.”

A local traffic official explained: “Drivers should ignore them. they are just for deco-ration because the junction looked bare. They look very pretty at night.”

Free dinnersMargaret Winberg, a retired occupational therapist was sent an invitation to an official dinner. The invitation should have gone to Margaret Winberg, once Deputy Premier for Sweden. Margaret (1) was delighted to attend the dinner hosted by the Environmental Minister Lena Elk. Lena realised the mistake but gallantly escorted Margaret (1) to her table and was photo-graphed with her and other guests. The Deputy Premiere Margaret (2) said “I hope my namesake had a lovely free dinner”

Bare cheek In Constanta, Romania, a motorcyclist who had a naked woman riding pillion was stopped by a local policeman, and the woman was booked for not wearing a safety helmet. A witness said the woman took the ticket and put on a spare helmet and still naked apart from the helmet rode off.

Statement of the century Thought from the Greatest Living Scottish Thinker - Billy Connolly - comedian and actor.

“If women are so bloody perfect at multitasking, how come they can’t have a headache and sex at the same time?”

Cups and robbers A masked robber who held up a newsa-gent’s shop, casually clutched a cup

Look alike - or not!!To celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, VisitBritain and Brit-ish Airways recently hosted a ‘pop up’ tea party for the public at Daning International Plaza - China.

A special surprise guest Queen ‘look alike’ added to the atmosphere and gave hundreds of passers by a taste of what the celebra-tions will be like in Britain for the Diamond Jubilee weekend.

The surprise tea party was created using the ‘pop up’ concept. The public were entertained with music from a Beatles tribute band and British Airways staff served Twining tea, cakes and sandwiches. The highlight of the tea party was the attendance of a Queen ‘look alike’ who flew in especially for the event and had pictures taken with the guests.

Boring and DullA Perthshire village called Dull is to twin

with an American town called Boring. Tommy Pringle Dull’s Chairman of the Community Council said “People are always stopping to take

photos of the village sign post so now they will do

a double take when they see the new sign post

Welcome to Dull - a twin community with Boring”

The spy who loved bees Police in Turkey have been examining the carcass of a European bee eater, a migratory bird, after claims that it had been spying for Israel. The bird was found dead in a village near the city of Gaziantep, and villagers raised the alarm after finding a ring around its leg stamped “Israel”. They also thought the bird’s nostrils were unusually large.

Officials from Turkey’s agriculture ministry examined the carcass and assured villagers that fitting rings to migratory birds was common practice.

The “Queen” pops over to China for a cuppa

Kids logic

Well done all the teachers out there-who manage to keep a straight face!

Teacher: Why are you late?

Student: Class started before I got here.

Teacher: Sam, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?Sam: A teacher sir.

Teacher: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor? John: You told me to do it without using tables.

Teacher: Jason why do you always get so dirty?Jason: Well, I’m a lot closer to the ground than you are.

Teacher: George Washington not only chopped down his father’s cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn’t punish him? Louie: Because George still had the axe in his hand...

Teacher: Glenn, how do you spell ‘crocodile?’ Glenn: k-r-o-k-o-d-i-a-l Teacher: No, that’s wrong Glenn: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.

Teacher: Harry, your composition on ‘My Dog’ is exactly the same as your brother’s.. Did you copy his? Harry: No, sir. It’s the same dog.

Teacher: Now, Simon , tell me honestly, do you say prayers before eating?Simon: No sir, I don’t have to, my Mum is a good cook.

Teacher: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn’t have ten years ago.Winnie: Me

Teacher: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?Donald: H I J K L M N OTeacher: What are you talking about?Donald: Yesterday you said it’s H to O

On the Road issue 203 Page 16

Snoozebox

By Angie Richards

“W

e W

elc

om

e G

rou

ps

”

Watches/Jewellery/Gifts

Shopping

Restaurants Gifts/Souvenirs/HotelsConcerts

Motorway Restaurants

Gifts/Museums

Museums

Restaurants

Shopping

Museums

Gifts/Souvenirs

Crystal & GlassPerfumerie/Museum/Boutique

Museums

Souvenirs/Restaurant

Gifts/Souvenirs/Leather

Travel

Associations

Clothing

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