november 30 2018 | issue no 2,087 | travelbulletin.co.uk ... · updates from the travel industry in...

Accommodation OnlyHow selling the experience is

key to success

news bulletinEileen tells all from theTravel Counsellorsconference in Scotland

AITO reportwe report direct from the2018 AITO conferencein Ras Al Khaimah

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this week

November 30 2018 | ISSUE NO 2,087 | travelbulletin.co.uk

germanynational tourist officebrings a taste ofGermany to the UK

21mediterranean islandsCyprus attracts moretravellers than ever before

mediterranean islandsCyprus attracts moretravellers than ever before

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3travelbulletin.co.uk November 30 2018

PUTTING OFF booking a holiday to a dream destination isnot uncommon among Brits, according to a nationwidestudy commissioned by Travel Republic. Researchers foundthat 58% of Brits have never been on their dream holiday.Money was the main reason why people have been

reluctant to book their ideal holiday with 64% of surveyrespondents saying they could not afford it. Financialcommitments, such as paying bills and clearing debts, werecited as the main monetary hurdles for 59% of respondents.Other reasons for not taking that dream trip included

work commitments with 49% admitting to prioritising theircareer over travel. Some respondents reported that theyfelt it could be too late to take the holiday of a lifetime with

17% saying they wished they had taken the trip when theywere younger and had more time.The top destinations Brits would love to visit but have not

yet been included the Caribbean (25%), Iceland (25%), USA(17%), Mexico (16%) and Bali (16%). However, there is hopefor agents keen to help their clients’ holiday dreams cometrue with Travel Republic reporting a rise in bookings to theCaribbean and the USA. The online travel agency reported a110% year-on-year increase in bookings to the DominicanRepublic and a 34% increase for Barbados. For the USA,Orlando has experienced a 77% increase in bookings year-on-year and for New York, bookings are up by 41%. Infurther encouraging news for agents, the ABTA TravelTrends Report 2018 found that last year more Britishholidaymakers have taken more holidays than at any pointin the last five years. Naomi Wilkinson, marketing director at Travel Republic

said: “The research highlights that everyday life can often getin the way of booking holidays to our dream destinations. Wehope to show that visiting these aspirational destinations ispossible, and it shouldn't break the bank.”

SPENDING CHRISTMAS in the sun is becoming more popular among British holidaymakers and plenty of resorts in the Maldives areencouraging visitors who want to combine sun with Santa to spend their holidays on the beach rather than in front of the telly. KandimaMaldives is offering an extensive Christmas-New Year programme, including the arrival of Santa on Christmas Day to give out goodies tothe kids, Christmas Eve and New Years’ Eve beach cocktail parties and live entertainment. See www.kandima.com for more information.

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bulletin briefingANTOR reflects on anothersuccessful World Travel Market

04 newsupdates from the travel industry inthe UK and beyond

09 agent bulletinincentives and a great online trainingprogramme for Antigua and Barbuda

10 personality bulletin Louise Tansey from Bourne Leisureshares her top travel tips

11 puzzle bulletin play Su Doku for your chance to win a£50 M&S voucher

12 AITO reportthe complete round-up from AITO’s2018 conference held in Ras Al Khaimah

21 germanythe national tourist office brings ataste of Germany to the UK

19 accommodation onlyJetset shares the trends agentsshould keep an eye out for in 2019

15 mediterranean islands meet the new Magaluf as Meliainvestment pays off

14

SANTA IN THE SUN...

Can holiday dreams come true for 58% of British travellers?

This week

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VISIT PALMA has launched Palma 365, asustainable tourism strategy aimed atpromoting the Balearic Island as a year-round European destination focused onculture, shopping, heritage and art for thebenefit of local communities. The strategyaims to highlight Palma’s lesser-knownattractions and to increase visitornumbers over the winter months.There are four main initiatives in the

Palma 365 strategy. They include a newapp called “Welcome Palma” with liveheat sensors designed to show touristswhich areas of the city are crowded andto suggest alternative places to visitbased on preferences such as culture,shopping, gastronomy, history and art.The app will have a live chat functionfor tourists to ask questions aboutwhere to go and how to avoid crowds. To further encourage visitors to seek

out local arts and crafts, Palma 365 hasintroduced a new catalogue of shopswhere traditional goods, such asceramics, glassware and shoes, can bebought, as well as historic shops,restaurants and bakeries.The other two strategies are more

bus stops to reduce overcrowding in themain tourist areas, and new signageand tourism routes to encourage peopleto visit points of interest outside themain city.Pedro Homar, general director of

Palma 365 says: “Our tourism strategyaims to achieve a sustainable tourismmodel, which will benefit both locals andvisitors alike, and will propel Palma to thetop of the list of desirable year-roundcity-break destinations from the UK.”For more information, go towww.visitpalma.com

travelbulletin.co.ukNovember 30 20184

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CONSULTANTS FROM Aberdeen’s Thomas Cook shops participated in a sales training sessionwith Super Break. Pictured from the left are consultants from the Bon Accord branch: RachelCormack, Sarah Davidson, Wendy Cameron (business development manager at Super Break)Fiona Pastuszko, Kristian Hughes and Lewis Edwards.

Mediterranean expansionfor TUI Group across

Spain, Greece and Turkey TUI Group is set to expand itsinternational concept hotelportfolio with the addition of 12new TUI Sensimar hotels andthree new TUI Family Lifehotels in 2019. As part of this expansion, TUI

will debut a TUI concept brand inthe Greek island of Santorini withthe TUI Sensimar Meltemi Blue.In addition, TUI Sensatori BarutFethiye Resort in Turkey will beextended with the construction ofa new building next to the hotel.This will take the portfolio ofTUI’s three international concepthotel brands from 88 to 103hotels. UK guests have around84 hotels to choose from. TUIGroup’s overall hotel portfoliocomprises 380 hotels andresorts, 50 of which are operatedby third-party hoteliers.“For our three international

concept hotel brands, we planto deliver strong growth incooperation with localpartners,” said Sebastian Ebel,TUI Group executive boardmember in charge of Hotels &Resorts. “We are also drivingour growth roadmap in thehotel segment further aheadthrough our TUI Blue, Robinsonand TUI Magic Life brands andour long-standing joint venturepartners such as Riu.”While some of 15 the new

hotels are located in topdestinations such as Spain,Greece and Turkey, some otherswill expand the offering in Italy,Egypt, Tunisia and Croatia.

Tourism strategy to focus on authentic Palma attractions

Fjord fun, British boating, Baltic banter and Canary cruising with CMV for 2019 CRUISE AND Maritime Voyages (CMV) is adding five new cruises to its 2019 programme. The sailings include a British Islescruise, the Norwegian fjords, the Baltic, Southern Norway, and a Canary Islands and Madeira cruise calling in toCasablanca and Cadiz.Cruises start at £399 per person for the six-night Norwegian fjords itinerary, and the Canary Islands and Madeira

voyage starts at £999 per person. The Canary Islands-Madeira trip sets sail from London Tilbury on November 10 andruns for 19 days, while the six-night fjords trip runs from November 3. The ten-night British Isles cruise on Magellan sails from London Tilbury on April 3. On April 13, the Magellan then

sets sail for the Norwegian fjords on a seven-night itinerary with fares available from £499 per person. Completing thedepartures on April 20, Magellan sails on an ‘Easter Hidden Baltic’ cruise visiting Scandinavia, Germany and ports inLithuania and Poland with fares from £799 per person.Lisa Jacobs, head of trade sales said: “This is good news for the travel trade as we know there is a large number of

people, who like to travel during the early or late season, and have yet to book. Demand for 2019 has been remarkablewith a waiting list in place for many popular itineraries.”For more information, visit www.cruiseandmaritime.com

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On track in Australia and New ZealandHOT ON the heels of room night bookings in WesternAustralia going up by 7% and room night bookings onAustralia’s Gold Coast increasing by 113%, Travel 2 isexpanding its offerings to Australia and New Zealand.Buoyed by new direct flights from the UK to Australia on

Qantas and increased investment by Great Southern Rail todouble capacity over the next two years, rail touring is onthe up down under. Rail travel has set itself apart as the highest grossing sector

of all Australian touring. For the first time, UK travellers cantake advantage of all-inclusive expedition holidays withGreat Southern Rail on the cross-continental north-to-southThe Ghan and east-to-west Indian Pacific journeys.Travel 2 is launching its new Australia and New Zealand

brochure featuring 78 new properties, 56 new day andextended tours and suggested itineraries to help agentsprovide tailored advice to suit different holidaying groups.Highlights include overnight safaris in Sydney’s Taronga

Zoo and epicurean self-drives in the Barossa Valley in thestate of South Australia.To find out more about an agent incentive for bookingtrips to Australia and New Zealand with Jet2, turn toAgent Bulletin on page 9. For more information about theitineraries to these two countries, log on towww.travel2.com

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TURKISH AIRLINES held a dinner to mark ten years flying fromBirmingham, with historic Warwick Castle as the backdrop for thecelebrations. Guests were taken on a trip back to the War of the Rosesera with knights showing off their sword skills to a captive audience.

Uncover the mysteries of Myanmar by sea and air

MYANMAR HAS spent several years off the mainstreamtourism radar but the Southeast Asian country is making acomeback with operators making forays into sectors thatgo beyond the backpacker market.

An example of this is the partnership between PlateauInternational and Ayravata Cruise Company, which isoffering luxury cruise experiences in Myanmar on theIrrawaddy and Chindwin Rivers.

These serene rivers symbolise the richness of this ancientland and the cruises are aimed at the premium market.

Meals onboard are prepared by chefs and when on dryland, the chefs will take guests on tours through localbazaars to experience the country’s best produce and learnhow to cook local dishes, and experience traditional Myanmarculture. Cruises range in duration from four to 11 days.

For agents looking to book trips to Myanmar involvingmultiple destinations within the country, Myanmar’s domesticairline, Air KBZ, has opened up more internal flights. Thenew routes link the capital, Yangon, to Loikaw and Daweitwice a week. Loikaw’s main attractions are the Taung KwePagoda and Seven Stages Lake, while Dawei is best-knownfor temples, pagodas and beaches. For more information about the cruises, go towww.plateauinternational.com and for details about AirKBZ flights, go to airkbz.com

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https://www.bahia-principe.com/en/

THE AMADEUS Imperial will be the16th passenger ship for AmadeusRiver Cruises, joining the fleet fromspring 2020. It will cruise the Danube,Rhine and Main rivers as well as theDutch and Belgian waterways.Passengers can enjoy a choice of 72

deluxe cabins or 12 Amadeus suites.As on all ships built since 2011, the

Imperial cabins on the Mozart andStrauss decks also feature lowerablepanoramic windows along the entirecabin width. All deluxe cabins and suites are

equipped with spacious bathrooms, aninfotainment system, a flat screentelevision, a telephone, a cabin safe, aminibar and individually adjustable airconditioning. All suites have anaccessible outdoor balcony with aseating area.

The Amadeus Imperial will set sail onits maiden voyage in early April 2020along the canals in Holland andBelgium. Following this journey, the shipwill operate between Amsterdam andBasel to the Black Sea and the world-famous Danube Delta.Natalie O’Mahoney, head of sales for

Amadeus River Cruises said: “This isan exciting addition to the Amadeusfleet. River cruising is growing

increasingly popular amongst UKaudiences who are looking to explorenew destinations and enrichthemselves in new experiences.Amadeus understand that itspassengers want to combine Europeanculture with high class luxury whilststill retaining the comfort andfamiliarity of their temporary home andthis new ship will manage theseexpectations perfectly.”

Wizz Air opens up Kraków route fromDoncaster Sheffield AirportBOOKINGS ARE now being taken for a three-times-a-week service with Wizz Air from Doncaster SheffieldAirport (DSA) to Kraków, Poland, with flightscommencing from May 2, 2019.The service will deliver an additional 56,000 two-way

seats and an expected record year for Wizz Air at DoncasterSheffield Airport, with more than 600,000 passengers in thenext 12 months. The announcement follows Wizz Airlaunching a new route to Budapest, Hungary, with a furthernew route to Debrecen, Hungary in December from DSA. The airport is predicting these new routes will help

deliver a record year for total passengers in 2019-20.Chris Harcombe, aviation development director,

Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “This is great news for usto have another exciting leisure route from Wizz Air, whohave continued to grow their range of low-cost routes sincestarting operating from DSA in 2006. More than half of thetotal seats available from DSA are low cost with Wizz nowoperating 12 routes and we’re pleased to be one of the firstroutes from their new Kraków base.”Kraków, close to the border of the Czech Republic, is the

second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland.Originally the official capital of Poland, the old town gainedUNESCO World Heritage status in 1978.


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TEMPLES THROUGHOUT Japan are now open to hosting travellers andtourists thanks in part to the launch of new project Terrahaku. Templelodgings (Shukubo) offer visitors the opportunity to get a taste of thesimple, traditional lifestyle of Buddhist monks and Shinto priests. TheTerahaku project will feature 100 temples. www.seejapan.co.uk

Adults-only wellness centre boosts health tourism in PortugalIN JUNE 2019, Longevity Wellness Worldwide will open a five-star property in Alvor, Portugal. This state-of-the-artwellness centre will include modern integrative and regenerative medicine with wellness and preventative diagnostics,therapies and programmes.The adults-only property set in the western Algarve with panoramic views of the bay of Alvor will offer a dedicated

wellness and medical spa over two floors focused on a range of medical and non-medical state-of-the-art diagnosticsand therapies for optimal health and wellness. The hotel will have 70 bedrooms and suites including standard Longevityrooms, junior suites, Longevity thematic suites and one premium Longevity ‘The One’ suite.Treatments on offer will include hyperbaric treatments for intense tissue oxygenation, in-depth diagnostics, advanced

detoxification and health regeneration therapies, cardio-vascular repair and prevention programmes, diabetes,metabolic and sleep optimisation programmes and obesity management programmes. For more information, log on to www.longevitywellnessworldwide.com

Sweet 16 ship to set sail across Europe for Amadeus River Cruises

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A shark spectacular for St HelenaST HELENA, a tiny island in the South Atlantic Oceanbecomes a focal point for nature lovers betweenNovember and April with the annual arrival of whalesharks, the world’s largest fish species. This is whenthey feed on plankton and small fish and the area is oneof the best places in the world to swim alongside thesesurprisingly docile creatures. As a Southern Hemisphere destination, January and

February, when the whale shark presence peaks eachyear, are summer months, making it an option foradventurous travellers seeking a winter sun holiday.Experts and travellers are drawn to the island by thisunique whale shark interaction, which is strictly regulatedon the island and is only offered by accredited localmarine tour operators.The island’s tourism board is keen to promote the

destination in the coming months and it is highlighting theisland’s close proximity to Johannesburg so agents can selltrips to St Helena as an extension of South African trips.The first whale sharks typically arrive in St Helena from

late November and early December, and stay until April,peaking in January and February. Direct flights to St Helenaduring the summer season operate on Saturdays andTuesdays from Johannesburg in South Africa.Helena Bennett, director of tourism for St Helena, said:

“St Helena is lucky to have some incredible marine wildlifeexperiences throughout the year, but the arrival of the firstwhale sharks is always a much-anticipated moment on theisland. The chance to witness these creatures firsthand is atruly special experience and we look forward to welcomingvisitors drawn by this opportunity.”For more information visit www.sthelenatourism.com

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Shiva Hotels set to expand in London startingwith a Soho site

SHIVA HOTELS and Reuben Brothers have entered into ajoint venture to transform a prime site in London’s Soho.

Reuben Brothers purchased the site in August this yearand Shiva Hotels will be the operator under a long lease.The companies are working with the local community andWestminster City Council to combine two separatelyconsented hotel schemes on Great Marlborough Streetand Poland Street.

The plan is to create a 200-bedroom luxury lifestyle hotelthat will incorporate substantial restaurant and retail spaceand become a focal point for the neighbourhood.

Rishi Sachdev, managing director of Shiva Hotels,commented: “We are delighted to be working with theReuben family on this joint venture. We are looking forwardto adding another truly great central London location to oursoon-to-be revealed luxury lifestyle hotel brand.”

In addition to the Soho development, other sites that willcome under Shiva Hotel’s new umbrella include MaryleboneLane, Covent Garden, Buckingham Gate and Holborn. ShivaHotels already owns and manages the Kingsway Hall Hotelin Covent Garden, the Hilton at London Heathrow Terminal5 and the Hilton DoubleTree at London ExCel.

Reuben Brothers owns a portfolio of hotels acrossEngland, including the Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel andCountry Club with its 18-hole golf course.For more information, go to www.shiva.co.uk

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http://hummingbird.travel/

COMO POINT Yamu is launching the Phang Nga Bay Experiencewhich will give guests the chance to discover more of Phuket.The experience includes a four-hour cruise and villaaccommodation with butler service. It is available until October31, 2019. www.comohotels.com

with Eileen...At homeWhat has h

omeworker Eileen

been up to this m

onth?

NOVEMBER HAS BEEN a special month in theTravel Counsellors calendar – it’s when ourannual conference took place. There’s always

much excitement and anticipation prior to the event, afantastic atmosphere throughout the weekend and greatenthusiasm and motivation following the conference.This year, our conference was held in Scotland for

the first time with the SEC, in Glasgow as the venue.Things got underway on Friday evening with aninformal meal with entertainment provided bycomedian Des Clarke and singer Craig David.On Saturday, after a morning of business sessions

and guest speakers, the afternoon “pow wow” gave usthe opportunity to meet suppliers and hear the latestnews about their products and services.On Saturday evening, we got glammed up for our

gala dinner and awards evening. This year,unsurprisingly, there was a “Tartan & Thistle” themeand quite a few of the men elected to wear kilts.Continuing the theme, entertainment was providedby the bagpipe-rock group, the Red Hot Chilli Pipersand Marti Pellow, lead singer of the Scottish ‘80sband Wet Wet Wet.On Sunday, it was back to the conference hall in

the morning for more business sessions and to hearfrom our hugely popular guest speaker, Olympicchampion Sir Chris Hoy before the conference cameto an end in the early afternoon.Having never visited Glasgow before, I opted to

extend my stay and see more of what the city has tooffer. The highlight of my visit was the famousKelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum which wasexcellent – a must-see for anyone visiting Glasgow.With its world class visitor attractions, lively arts

scene, vibrant night life, not to mention its famousfootball clubs, Scotland’s biggest city really does hassomething for everyone. It is a great choice for a city break as well as a great

starting point for visiting other parts of Scotland.As this is my last column of the year, I’d like to take

this opportunity of wishing everyone a very happyChristmas and a prosperous 2019.

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

[email protected]

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Thailand-Vietnam route opens upwith new Bangkok Airways flightAGENTS LOOKING to offer client extensions to Vietnam onThailand holidays, and vice versa, can now consider a newroute with Bangkok Airways.Commencing on January 25, 2019, reservations are now

open for the airline’s Bangkok-Cam Ranh/Nha Trang route.The service will operate four times a week with Airbus A319aircraft. Cam Ranh is located on a scenic bay and hasbecome a popular resort destination for travellers toVietnam. Nha Trang is another Vietnamese coastaldestination, with the region known as the Riviera of theSouth China Sea. It is popular with divers.

Marconfort makes its mark in MalagaTHE MARCONFORT Hotels Group will open the newMarconfort Costa del Sol Hotel in April 2019. The four-star property is a fully refurbished hotel located

15 minutes away from Malaga airport, and it is aimed atfamilies, couples and groups of friends seeking all-inclusive seafront holidays. For spa treatment fans, the hotel features a modern

wellness centre with a wide range of treatments on offer,as well as a hydro zone and gym and there are new areas tocater to children and teenagers as well as adults-onlyspaces. A Blue Lounge with special services is available forthose staying in the superior “Blue” room category, whichincludes a range of room sizes up to junior suites.For more information about the property, go towww.marconfort.com

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SHEARINGS HOLIDAYS hosted more than 20 agents atthe Country Living Hotel in Harrogate for a trainingsession, afternoon tea and chance to see the refurbishedhotel. Pictured are: (left to right): Ginette Steele -personal travel agent, Midcounties Co-operative; JenniferHarding - personal travel agent, Hays Travel; Claire Dutton- national key account manager, Shearings Holidays andDamian Kellegher - travel expert, Designer Travel.

AGENT INCENTIVES� EXODUS TRAVELS is giving agents thechance to win Love2Shop vouchers worth£75 and £50, as well as runner-upprizes of a limited edition of theExodus Travels cookbook and brandedwater bottle by filling in a simplesurvey on the Travel Bulletin website.As an extra incentive, agents who makebookings with the operator by December15 will go into a draw to win an iPad,cases of wine and £15 Love2ShopvoucherS. For all the details, go towww.travelbulletin.co.uk

� AgEnTS cAn earn T2 Rewards on allbookings made from the new 2018/19Australia & new Zealand brochurethrough Travel 2, that include returnflights with Etihad and a minimum offive nights’ ground arrangements untilDecember 9, 2018. A minimum deposit of£100 per person must be paid or thebalance paid in full with Travel 2before December 9 to qualify. Seewww.travel2.com for more information.

agentbulletin

� NEW! Three nights’ stay to be won atthe new Marconfort Costa del SolHotel in Torremolinos

� NEW! Win seven nights at the newFantastia Bahia Principe Hotel inTenerife

� Win a three-night stay at the HotelLa Torre Golf Resort & Spa withYoutravel.com and Costa Calida!

� Win a £50 Love2Shop voucher withBangkok Airways

AGENT TRAININGAGENTS WILL have the chance to win one oftwo fam trip places to Antigua and Barbuda in2019 if they complete the Travel Gym trainingmodule for this stunning destination on the TravelBulletin website. The online module outlines flightaccessibility to Antigua and Barbuda, the focus onromance and honeymoon tourism, as well as

exciting activities and events to help agents makemore bookings. To complete the module and go into

the running for the fam trip prize, go towww.travelbulletin.co.uk/travelgym/

destination-training

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Which three words would bestdescribe your personality?Fun, bubbly and passionate.

What’s the best way to start aholiday?With a glass of Prosecco in hand, ofcourse… Bubbles all the way!

On weekends I am most likely to befound…After all the chores are done, I’lleither head out for a bit of retailtherapy or get out into the garden –I have my very own garden bar!

My next holiday will be…After sneaking in a few cheeky UKbreaks, I’ll be jetting off to Pefkos inRhodes. It’s a stunning place.

What’s your favourite month – and why?December. I just love the lead-up toChristmas with the dark nights andall things festive.

Do you have any phobias?I don’t like heights at all – just thethought makes me go all funny!

What do youalways take onholiday?My hair

straighteners are amust, and I alwayspack dominos and

Scrabble.

Your best-ever holiday?There have been too many tomention but if I had to choose one,it’d be Florida as it was magical.

What should you win an award for?People always refer to me as thehostess with the mostest. Whetherit’s an award do, networking eventor conference, I always ensure theBourne Leisure table gets noticed.

The best piece of advice from amentor was…Always try your best, enjoy everyday as if it’s your last – and neverlose the passion and drive.

The top three experiences (ordestinations) on your bucket list: A narrowboat holiday, a visit to theGrand Canyon and a tour ofAustralia and New Zealand.

The last picture on my mobile phone is...A Snapchat picture of me and mydaughter – I was getting a lesson onhow it works… Getting down withthe next generation!

If you had to choose anotherprofession, what would it be?I love events and organise the TravelBrit Awards, on behalf of BourneLeisure and several other domesticoperators. It’s a huge event withinthe industry and I get a real buzzpulling it all together – so on thatbasis, I’d have to say party planner.

What are you looking forward to? My holiday. I can’t wait for a little bitof R&R.

At weekends, you’ll find me…Socialising and mainly in the gardenby the bar – it’d be rude not to, really.

What would you change about thetravel industry?I’d want everyone to book theirholiday with their local travel agentand not book direct!

I’m super-proud of…My children – they have grown intosuch lovely adults.

My celebrity dinner date is…Robbie Williams and just a table fortwo, thank you!

If I won £100,000 I would…Go on a huge shopping spree tostock up on everything I’d need for around the world ticket – there’s somuch I want to see and experiencein the world.

What I love most about my job: Socialising with my industry friends,on the road, at events or catching upon Facebook. I love meeting newfaces and welcoming them into ourtravel family.

My top travel tip is… Always, always add theadditional luggageallowance. It’simportant to be ableto pack allyour clothesand shoeswithout thepanic ofgoing overyour limit at check-in.

Try your best, enjoy every dayas if it’s your last – and neverlose the passion “ ”

Louise TanseyNational sales manager at Bourne Leisure

Louise's next holiday will beon the island of Rhodes.

personalitybulletin

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puzzlebulletin


Where Am I?

Rising dramatically from the central plains, this ancient rockfortress was designated as a world heritage site in 1982 and

is famous for its palace ruins set atop a 200m high rocksurrounded by the remains of an extensive network of

gardens, reservoirs and other structures.

Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the

3 x 3 squares contains the digits 1-9.Once you have completed the puzzle, simply identify the numbers that relate

to the letters, A, B, C and D then e-mail the solution, with your name,

company name, and full postal address plus phone and ABTA number if

applicable to:

[email protected]

Closing date for entries is Thursday, December 6th. Solution and new puzzle

will appear next week.

The winner for 16th November is Jessica Matthews, Myriad

Travel in Liverpool.

November 16th Solution: A=2 B=1 C=6 D=8

Number: 044

Across 1. Major US airline, sounds like a letter of the

Greek alphabet (5)3. White-washed Andalucian town, famous for

its burro-taxis (5)5. Iconic Singapore hotel, re-opening next

year (7)8. Capital of Macedonia (6)9. Ancient South American civilization (4)11. Well-known Accor brand (4)13. Capital of the Gambia (6)16. Home of the Disneyland Resort (7)17. Indigenous people of New Zealand (5)18. Marked ski run (5)

Down 1. BBC's new Sunday evening nature

documentary series (9)2. One of the Florida Keys (5)3. Bamako is the capital (4)4. Still Open All Hours actor, Sir David (5)6. Suva is the capital (4)7. Princess, fourth in line to the throne (9)10. Largest island of the Seychelles (4)12. Boise is the state capital (5)14. Specialist operator, ___ Villa Holidays (5)15. Capital of the Italian region of Puglia (4)

Where Am I?

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

For the solution to the Crossword and Where Am I? Please see page 22

Crossword

Su Doku

Num

ber:

044

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

�A

�B

�C

�D

S03 TB 3011 2018 News 2_Layout 1 28/11/2018 10:28


AITOreport

JOHN PETERS, managing director of Monkey business and the former pilot of the Royal Airforce wason television screens around the world as his disfigured image became a symbol of Saddam Hussein’sreign of terror. He spoke to delegates about his seven-week ordeal of torture and interrogation duringthe Gulf War, that brought him close to death. He now advises, coaches, and offers a consultingservice to major companies on leadership issues.

Travel trends acrossthe generations

ELIZA FILBY, generationsexpert and historian ofcontemporary values,explained to delegates thather role primarily is todistinguish what is agespecific behaviour,highlighting the differentgeneration sterotypes; BabyBoomers (born between1946 and 1964), GenerationX (born between 1965 and1979), Millenials (bornbetween 1980 and 1994) andGeneration Z (born between1995 and 2012) andGeneration Alpha bornwithin the 21st century. Addressing delegates she

said: “Travel for theMillennial Generation andGeneration Z after them isnot just a leisure activity. It isdetermining how theychoose their jobs, theirpartners and how they arechoosing their education. Alot of people now definetravel experiences as a corerequirement for theireducation, particularly foruniversity and how they aredefining their life cycle andlifestyle through travel. Forthese two generations, evenmore so than for the BabyBoomers and Generation X,travel is their identity.” Filby highlighted

millenials are becomingparents and becoming familytravellers and their demandas family travellers are verydifferent to Generation X,noting 40% of UK millenialparents say the quality oftheir holidays has gonedown since they’ve had kids.She further highlighted thatmulti-generational holidaysare a new growth area, withmore multi-generationalhouseholds in the UK - threegenerations living under thesame roof - than there hasbeen since the Second WorldWar. Filby added “One fifth ofUK residents last year took amulti-generational holidayso its becoming morecommon for millenials to goon holiday with their parentsand to take their GenerationAlpha kids.”

THE 2018 edition of the AITO conference (TheAssociation of Independent Tour Operators)took place in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.This year's conference highlighted Ras

Al Khaimah as a tourist destination thathas a variety of offerings that go beyondits sandy beaches, taking holidaymakerson a journey of discovery, including avariety of cultural and outdoor adventureswhich delegates had the opportunity toexperience for themselves.In 2017, the region saw visitors from the

UK increase by 17% over the previous year.The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism DevelopmentAuthority (RAKTDA) aims to increase thenumber of UK visitors in 2018 by 20%, andis set to exceed a total of one millionvisitors this year.As 70% of visitors to the region are

families, the tourism authority is keen tocontinue to attract this demographic; theregion has recently added a new zip line forchildren and will see the return of hotelpackages that offer a 'kids go free' incentive.Speaking to Travel Bulletin at the

conference Haitham Mattar, CEO of thetourism authority, said: “The key thing withthe new zip line is that children of all agescan do it now. The current one has a weightrestriction and you have to be 45kg. Kids willbe able to go together with their parents. Theyoungest kid we had on there was nine yearsold and there's a video out there with this kidand he's so brave."Ahead of the conference Mattar also

highlighted: "The United Kingdom has

held its position as one of the top four keysource markets for Ras Al KhaimahTourism over the past few years andcontinues to show strong signs of growth.”Also speaking ahead of the event AITO

chairman, Derek Moore, said: “We’re thrilledto have been invited by RAKTDA. It isparticularly exciting for AITO members tovisit such a fascinating destination that is onthe cusp of change in terms of tourism. Weare also pleased to be flying with Emiratesto the conference – its vast network ofairports in the UK will make travel to Ras AlKhaimah so convenient for our memberswho are spread across the country.”

AITO 2018 begins under the theme 'A Tale of the Unexpected'

Delegates had the opportunity to experiencethe world’s longest zipline, The Jebel JaisFlight, in Ras al-Khaimah.

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AITOreport

A GALA dinner was held on the last evening of the AITO conference at the Ritz-Carlton inRas Al Khaimah. Pictured from the left is: Shaji Thomas, director of destination tourismdevelopment for the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA); KateKenward, executive director of AITO; Derek Moore, chairman of AITO; Haitham Mattar, CEOof RAKTDA and Mohamed Khater, assistant director of tourism development, RAKTDA.

Challenges facing theMiddle East’stourism sector

A SERIES of roundtablediscussions were held on Daytwo and Day three of theconference, one being on thechallenges that are facing theMiddle East’s tourism sector.The debate was led byconference moderator JonoVernon-Powell, the founder ofNomadic Thoughts, who poseda series of questions todelegates who responded intheir groups in a live poll viathe Slido app.Some of the issues raised

about the region included:safety, such as the ongoingthreat of terrorism; humanrights; alcohol laws andmedication permitted in theregion; and environmentalissues concerningsustainable tourism. AITO chariman Derek Moore

said: “Of great interest to touroperators is that the perceptionin the mind of the consumer atthe point of purchase is thereality to the tour operatorbecause if I’m going to sell thisplace and the consumers havea negative perception of it thatis my starting point in realityas I’ve got to solve thatnegative perception.”He added: “Ras al Khaimah

is the perfect example of avery well organised tourismdevelopment authority. Theyhave only been doing it fortwo years as a programmeand they are going about it ina very logical and sensibleway, developing the productand trying to get the messageout and I hope we havehelped them”.

TV presenter Monty Halls speaks out on the next generation of sustainable travellers BRITISH EXPLORER and founder of Seadog TV & Film Productions, Monty Halls who recently starred in the C4 series ‘MyFamily & the Galapagos’ took centre stage as he discussed issues surrounding sustainability.Addressing delegates, Monty said: “Because of the huge surge of interest in the environment, because of this huge wave

of mobilisation in this new generation, people are doing things about it. There is a revolution I think going on – local peopleand tourists as well are really keen to engage with this stuff – I’m sure you’ve found this. They are really keen to getinvolved in this sustainability message and that’s a really powerful thing.” He continued: “I think it provided these experiences at these remote places – what you’re doing is creating the most

wonderful ambassadors for these places around the world and there’s some interesting theories at present.”Monty explained that he felt more confident than ever that ‘the power to save the planet rests with the individual

consumer.’ He added: “There is good evidence emerging that the best way to save a delicate eco-system and a threatenedeco-system is to send tourists there. What you can do is create a viable local economy. That eco-system environment hasreal value to the nation as a whole and you can create ambassadors as well. So I’m a big advocate of responsible tourism.”

THE AITO 2018 Travel Insights Survey,involved more than 22,000 participants,providing an in-depth insight into the risingtrends in travel and tourism, while providingthe 36 AITO businesses that took part withtheir own-indepth market research intotheir customer and prospects. The survey found the level of

satisfaction with AITO members remainshigh, with 96% of respondents saying theywould be likely to recommend their AITOtravel company, matching the resultsachieved last year. The likelihood of themrebooking with their AITO member hasalso stayed steady year-on-year, with only4% of respondents saying they wereunlikely to book with their AITO memberagain. The two driving factors for bookingwith an AITO member for nearly 60% ofrespondents are for their knowledge andthe expertise they possess. The studyhighlighted consumers’ desire to holidayremains high – only 9% said they would

be taking fewer holidays over the nextthree years, while 69% said they would betaking the same number and 22% saidthey would be taking more; almost exactlythe same results achieved last year. Emailand brochures remain the most popularways to keep in touch with customers and80% said email was their preferredmethod of contact.The survey suggests only 13% said that

Wi-Fi access was not a requirement whenthey were on holiday. Approximately 30%of 75-84 years olds said access was fairlyor very important. The real Wi-Fienthusiasts are the 55-64 year olds where44% said it was fairly or very important,while 80% of people who value Wi-Fi wantit in their hotel room. The survey alsofound as many people use theirsmartphone to research and plan theirholidays as they use a desktop, howeverlaptop and tablet remain the mostpopular choices.

‘Desire to holiday remains high’ among AITO members


IndustryInsight by...

Tracey Poggio, chairman of ANTOR, reflects on another successful World Travel Market...

ONCE AGAIN, World Travel Market (WTM) was avery busy event but it was also very successful. Itwas great to be able to offer so many agents

hospitality and learning experiences – and for us toreceive great feedback from the agents, which helps uswork more effectively.On the Philippines stand, local delicacies and drinks

were served daily and there were great opportunitiesfor agents to network with suppliers, particularly in theMICE sector. The MICE sector is growing in thePhilippines with revenues on the increase andconstantly improving infrastructure. Israel offered mouthwatering treats with cooking

demonstrations, as well as wine-tasting. The traveltechnology centre proved very popular along withthe caricaturist and morethan 100 industryprofessionals on hand tonetwork with agents.India Tourism hosted

nearly 200 guests. RashmiVerma, secretary fortourism, made announcements about market shareand position, e-visas and a 24/7 security helpline.Aashima Mehrotra, director of tourism, talked aboutthe new website and app, as well as experientialand medical tourism. Visitors enjoyed traditionaldances, henna, turban-tying, yoga, meditation and aBollywood workshop. Grenada held a daily prize draw to win a hamper of

Grenadian goodies, and used WTM to promote the firstnew-build luxury property on Grand Anse beach for ageneration, Silversands Grenada, which opens inDecember. Also in the Caribbean, Tobago exhibited forthe first time as a stand-alone destination – the newTobago Tourism Agency launched a new brand andmarketing strategy, and an online training programme.Qatar showcased models of the FIFA 2022 stadiums

designed by internationally-renowned architects as thenext host nation for the World Cup. Shifting from theMiddle East to the Mediterranean, it was great to seehow Tunisia has successfully rebuilt its reputation as a

safe destination with more than 100,000 British touristsso far this year. Their stand featured 80 hoteliers andlocal agents led by the Minister of Tourism. Also inNorth Africa, Egypt’s minister of tourism, Dr Rania Al-Mashat and Ahmed Youssef, chairman of the ETPB,announced a new flight incentive programme.Representing destinations across Europe, multiple

stands had much to offer agents at WTM. Gibraltarunveiled the 2019 opening of Gibraltar Vault, a warrenof military tunnels inside the Rock of Gibraltar whichhas been converted into the world’s largest naturalstorage facility for investment-grade wines. Polandmarked 100 years of Polish independence with a rangeof travel packages focusing on authentic travelexperiences, slow tourism, gastro culture and Kraków’s

turn as the European Capital ofGastronomy Culture. CzechRepublic observed 100thanniversary celebrations bysharing insights about 2019’sopportunities while enjoyingMoravian wine.

At the French pavilion, Valérie Pécresse, Paris Ile-de-France Region’s president, and the NormandyTourist Board hosted drinks for the 75th anniversary ofthe D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy.Catalonia and Slovenia also focused on history andculture – Catalonia launched 2019 as the Year ofCultural Tourism by promoting six new cultural routes.Slovenia launched its new Year of Culture campaign,which encourages visitors to ancient castles, UNESCOWorld Heritage sites and lesser known regions toreduce the impact of crowded tourist hotspots.Visit Sweden held a matchmaking event, alongside

WTM, where agents could meet 15 Swedish suppliersfor 20-minute meetings and enjoy a Swedish buffetlunch and interactive learning. And Visit Finlandlaunched the new Moominvalley TV series. The Moomincharacters appeared for photo opportunities.It was another great WTM and we hope the agents

were able to glean new insights into the destinations sothey can be more effective every day.

"WTM offered great insights for agents frommultiple destinations"

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Four new islands fromPlanet Holidays

IN 2019, Planet Holidaysis adding Kea andKythnos - two of theclosest islands to Athensbut which remain largelyunexplored - with thefive-star Porto Kea Suitesin Korissia, Kea and the‘Class A’ Porto KlarasStudio & Apartments inLouta, Kythnos.The operator is also

adding Patmos island,where St John is said tohave written the Book ofRevelations and Paxos,the smallest island withinthe Ionian Islands.In total, the company

now features 28 Greekislands, and has added anew feature of islandhopping and multi-centreitineraries. Options include16 nights in ‘Athens,Iraklia & Naxos’; 14 nightsin ‘Athens, Kos & Rhodes’and a 14-night itinerarycombining ‘Mykonos &Cyprus’. The holidayoperator can also tailor-make itineraries from itsextensive programme,combining mainland andisland destinations.Visit planet-holidays.co.uk for moredetails.

Seek out the sights of Sicily with Rail Discoveries’ low deposit offerHOLIDAYMAKERS CAN explore the largest Mediterranean Island with Rail Discoveries’ ‘Sicily & Mount Etna’ tour, whichis currently subject to a low deposit offer.Eight days exploring this Italian island starts from £1,195 per person, during which guests will discover scenic

coastlines and historic cities with an itinerary that includes an excursion to Mount Etna, a journey on the CircumetneaRailway, Taormini, Giardini Naxos and a cruise to the Aeolian Islands.Julian Appleyard, commercial director at sister brand Great Rail Journeys, said: “Sicily is a wonderful Mediterranean

island to visit and being the largest there's plenty to see and do. For example, this island is home to Europe's largestactive volcano, Mount Etna. However, my favourite excursion on this trip is the cruise to the Aeolian Islands. This smallvolcanic archipelago is a UNSECO World Heritage site with dense greenery and rugged hillsides that rise out of the clearwater, it is truly a picturesque area of the world.”Tour departures fall on April 23, May 14, June 4, and September 3 and 24, 2019. Customers can also secure their

place for £50 per person when booking before December 7.Visit www.raildiscoveries.com or call 0800-240 4470 to find out more.

mediterraneanislands

THE BALEARIC Island of Menorca hasunveiled its new tourism strategy, ‘Menorca,an island for sport’ which capitalises on theisland’s natural resources and sportsfacilities, as well as an increasingworldwide demand for sports tourism.Earlier this month at a presentation in

London, Menorca’s tourism minister, MaiteSalord, joined Joan Febrer from Menorca’sSports Association and Matias Ximelis fromMenorca-based organisation ‘CyclingFriendly’ to outline the island’s new strategy.Over the past few years, there has been a

steady growth in demand for sports tourismwith an increasing number ofholidaymakers identifying sport as theirprimary reason for travel and, according tothe World Travel & Tourism Council, sportstourism now represents 25% of the totaltourism income worldwide.In 2017, 10.6 million people travelled to

Spain for sports tourism (up 5.9%),spending more than 12.8 million euros,marking an 8.9% year-on-year increase intourism expenditure. Sports tourismexpenditure is approximately 20% morethan the average, creating significantopportunities for destinations with theappropriate resources and infrastructure.For Menorca, the sports tourism

opportunities stretch beyond just spendingpower with sports tourists typically travellingoutside of the main summer season, alsoaddressing seasonality objectives.The island is also very competitive as a

sport destination: the environment is wellpreserved with the island celebrating 25years since it was acknowledged byUNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve; there aremore than 300 days of sunshine a year; thecoastline is 220km long and the ancientpath which circles the island, the Camí deCavalls, offers opportunities for cyclists,walkers, horse-riders and trail-runners. Inrecent years, the public and private sector,together with the Menorcan communityhave made a concerted effort to restore theCamí de Cavalls path for public use andhave succeeded in turning it into animportant tourism feature.The Spanish island has a wide range of

sport competitions held each year forboth amateur and professional athletessuch as marathons, trail running, cycleraces and sailing regattas, allcontributing to a premium sportscalendar. For 2019, the calendar willexpand with the addition the World PadelTour championships which will take placefrom October 20 to 27, 2019.

Menorca to tran-‘sport’ visitors in new tourism initiative

S05 TB 3011 2018 Mediterranean Islands_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:30

Columbia Beach invites guests toenjoy the festive seasonCYPRUS’ COLUMBIA Beach Resort has launched a newfestive programme with a Cypriot twist.Kicking off December 22 and running until January 1,

2019 the resort is inviting guests to enjoy Christmas andthe New Year with a bespoke timetable of activities; fromsampling the resort’s festive food, to singing traditionalcarols by the fire, meeting Santa, Christmas games andenjoying fireworks on the beach.There will also be plenty of family festive fun to be had

with The Den Kids Club offering a variety of themedactivities including a dedicated Christmas party, makinggingerbread and a festive family treasure hunt. Christmasfamily movies can be enjoyed on both Christmas Day andNew Year’s Day with popcorn and juices. Face painting,Christmas cookie making, marshmallows and hotchocolate tasting are also available throughout.Cyplon Holidays is offering a seven-night festive break

from £979 per person. This price is based on two adultssharing a Junior Suite, Pool View on a bed-and-breakfastbasis, departing on December 19 with Gatwick flights withThomson (excluding baggage), and private resort transfers.(Visit www.cyplon.co.uk)For more resort information visit www.columbiaresort.com

Peter Vella, Director UK &Ireland, is mapping out Malta’sgastronomy, culture, film andadventure experiences.



THE CYPRUS Tourism Organisation’s most recent visitor figurescontinue to show strong growth to the destination. For the periodof January – September 2018 tourist arrivals totalled 3.2 millioncompared to 3 million in the same period of 2017, recording anincrease of 7.9% and outnumbering the total arrivals everrecorded in Cyprus during the first nine months of the year.Tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom increased by 5.3% inSeptember 2018 compared to September 2017.

Film Trail shines a spotlight on Malta’s big screen sights & on set locationsTHE SCENIC coastlines and strikinghistorical sites of Malta, Gozo andComino have played host to manyblockbuster movies. The Malta TourismAuthority has therefore compiled a listof the destination’s hottest A-listlocations in a new Film Trail; the latestmap to be released in its series ofthemed ‘trails’ providing agents andvisitors with useful maps to guidethem during their time on island.The map highlights the backdrops of

famous Hollywood films and series’that have been shot on location acrossthe archipelago. With craggycoastlines, lagoons and renaissancearchitecture, TV series’ such as Gameof Thrones (season one) were filmed atinland villages for a number of

dramatic scenes, while Valletta hasprovided the backdrop for Murder onthe Orient Express and Gladiator.With more than 300 days of

sunshine a year, visitors can explorethe picture-perfect scene locations forthemselves. Some of the Film Trailhighlights include:• Mdina: this was Malta’s first capital

city and was the location for one ofGame of Throne’s most emotionalscenes –the farewell between Catelynand Ned Stark in season one. Boastinga maze of tangled streets built ingolden limestone, Mdina is a favouritewith film directors looking for amedieval-looking location.• The water tank: Malta is world

renowned for its water SFX facility,

located on the south-eastern side ofthe island. Captain Philips’ was shothere in 2013, and the tank is one ofthe very few to operate with a naturalhorizon as the backdrop.• Fort Riscoli: located at the South

Entrance to the grand harbour atValletta on Malta, this was a majorlocation for the setting of the films‘Troy’ and ‘Gladiator’. The Fort is in adilapidated state but has been a keysetting to much of Malta’s history.• Gozo: the setting for Brad Pitt and

Angelina Jolie’s 'By the Sea' (2015),Gozo has winding roads and is hometo the island’s oldest village, Gharb.For more information or to downloadthe map visitwww.maltauk.com/filmtrail



https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pfomd-parklane-a-luxury-collection-resort-and-spa-limassol

MAGALUF’S END of season results for 2018reveal the transformation of the area into asafer and more family friendly destination.In 2012, Gabriel Escarrer, executive vice

president and CEO of Meliá HotelsInternational, pledged to transformMagaluf; highlighting the need for stronginvestment in the area. Working inpartnership with the Palmanova-MagalufHotel Association and Calvia Town Hall, theSpanish hotel group has invested almost250 million euros into its hotels in the areato improve and reposition its properties, andthe destinations of Palmanova and Magaluf.A five-year regeneration plan was also

launched in 2015 to: extend the season tonine months (March to November); attractmore families and adult travellers to thedestination; enhance diversification,focusing on the MICE and sports travelsegments as a complement to leisuretravel; to modernise and increase thequality of complementary facilities(shopping centres, restaurants, beachclubs and other leisure facilities); and

improve security, public order and thereputation of the destination.The quality of hotels in Magaluf has

continued to improve, with 66% ranked asfour- or five-star properties, which is thehighest percentage on the island, and it isexpected to rise to 70% once hotelupgrades are completed by 2020.Investment in both high-quality facilitiesand customer safety has been fundamentalin attracting a new type of customer to thedestination; 80% of current visitors toMagaluf are families, adult travellers andcouples or senior travellers, with moredisposable income. There has also been asignificant reduction in the number of youngpeople and students, associated withMagaluf’s nightlife, falling to less than 17%compared to 22% in 2016. The destinationhas also welcomed the recentannouncement by Thomas Cook to removeits travel programme for students in 2019.As part of the initiative, Meliá Hotels has

renovated 11 of its hotels in the area,totalling more than 3,500 rooms.



WITH TWO new daily flights from Athens, Sunvil is reintroducing the island of Kythira, found offthe south coast of the Peloponnese, into its programme. The island has a lush landscape withthick forests covering half of the land mass and Sunvil guests can stay at either the Kapsali resortwhich offers two bays and is backed by a Venetian chora or in hotels in Agia Pelagia or Avlemonas.The operator offers tailor-made itineraries, and recommends combining the island with a citybreak in Athens or as part of a fly-drive trip into the South of the Peloponnese. Visit sunvil.co.uk

Healthy happenings as Astypalaia goes smoke freeASTYPALAIA, AN island in Greece’s Dodecanese, has just gone smoke free. Maria Kampouri, the deputy mayor of the island responsible for this initiative, is

looking to get the inhabitants of the island fit and healthy by banning smoking altogetherfirst from all public areas, restaurants and bars and next will be the beaches. This initiative is part of a programme to turn Astypalaia into a well-being destination

by promoting the sports and leisure activities that will contribute towards the fitness ofvisitors and the islanders. In terms of accommodation options, there are a number of small boutique hotels with

the cost per room per night under £150. Some examples include the Afrodite Studios,Pylaia Boutique Hotel, Tholaria Boutique Hotel, Melagrano Villas and the Chrysalis Hotel.

The Parklane 'pitches'the perfect escape

THE PARKLANE in Limassol,designed by The HarrodsDesign Studio, is currentlyundergoing a reconstructionand is scheduled to open itsdoors next year as theParklane, a LuxuryCollection Resort & Spa.Located on the waterfront,

the hotel will consist of 53suites, most with their ownprivate pools, and 222 luxuryguestrooms. Among thefacilities on offer will be aconference centre with atheatrical Ballroom, tenrestaurant and bar outlets, aThalasso spa including threeRussian Bagna Suites, andthree outdoor swimmingpools, including a seawaterpool. In addition, there willalso be the Princess & thePirate Kids’ Park consistingof a Castle, a lake with aPirate Ship, water-gamesand a Kids’ Restaurant.The property will also

introduce its FootballAcademy in partnership withFootball Escapes featuringcoaching from footballlegends Rio Ferdinand andBobby Zamora. The academywill see some of the world’sbest footballers share theirtips and techniques andchildren staying at Parklanewill benefit from theknowledge and experienceof these footballing legendsduring week long courses.These are available onselect dates throughout2019 to children betweenthe ages of five and 15.Children will receive a fullkit, including shirt, shortsand socks, and experttraining from a selection ofUEFA licensed coaches fromrenowned English PremierLeague clubs. Off the pitch, parents can

enjoy 25 acres of landscapedgardens, 300m of sandyMediterranean coastline, achoice of three swimmingpools, the world-classKalloni Spa and a wealth ofrestaurants and barsoffering international andlocal cuisine.

Meet the new Magaluf as Melia investment pays off



Accommodation Only bookingson the rise as Jetset shares top

trends with agentsWITH ‘PEAKS’ just around the corner,Jetset is sharing some of the mostexciting trends agents should bekeeping an eye out for into the New Year.For the first half of 2018, the operator

noted that the fastest area of growthwas for Accommodation Only bookings;the JETS system has long had astandalone section for this product, butthe company has attributed this notablerise to several factors. Firstly, the brandhas integrated new supplier feeds intothe system; the new APItude feed fromHotelbeds and STUBA feed (from themerged Getabed and RoomsXml) havesuccessfully opened up new content.Add to this the most recent ‘speedbased’ development of the Package Paland Hotel booking stages and thecompany is able to provide one of thequickest systems for the trade.In terms of destinations being

booked, usual suspects such as NYC,Vegas and major European capitalscontinue to lead the way, however thecompany has also noted a strong pick upin destinations linked to cruising such asFort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Singapore.The final key trend identified by the

company is linked to the durationsbeing booked. Jetset product executive,Chloe Smyth, said: “The cruisephenomenon aside, we have becomethe fortnight kings (not the Xbox gamevariety) but the duration of stays.Throughout the year we have takenmassive strides in longer durationsbeing booked. Turkey has seen amassive boost this year in packages butalso Accommodation Only and thetypical booking there is 14 nights. Thisis really helping move our averageduration numbers up from where it wasa year or so back. Turkey is not the onlyarea where 14-night bookings arecoming through with Spain and Portugalalready starting to book well for suchbreaks in Spring and Summer 2019.Orlando bookings are also helping todrive this duration figure along.”Continuing with Jetset’s 50-year

anniversary and celebrations, thecompany will be finishing the year on ahigh by releasing an Affinity code with aJetset funded discount. The Code 14100will run throughout December andprovide a £100 discount on any 14-nightbreaks (Packages or Hotel Only).

accommodationonly

Palladium maps out its plans for travel agentengagement in 20192018 HAS proved a successful year for the Palladium Hotel Group both in itswork with the UK travel trade and in achieving its first ever Travel Bulletin StarAward as travel agents’ ‘Star European Hotel Brand’.In a recent interview Sergio Zertuche, chief sales and marketing officer for

the hotel group, said: “Travel Agents are one of our most valuable partners anda key audience we want to engage with. We’ve taken great efforts to ensure ourmessage and our brand proposition is delivered directly to them, such as in thecreation of Palladium Connect, our loyalty B2B programme, where we providetravel agents with our latest news and products and where we can reward themfor their loyalty. To be considered as one of the most respected hotel chains inthe UK market is an honour and I think it reflects well on the efforts we haveundertaken to talk as much as we can with travel agents.“We're going to continue being very active with the trade into 2019, so will still

be pushing ahead with fam trips and our successful ‘Palladium Night’roadshows in different locations across the UK. Our core values areentertainment, engagement, excellence, and innovation; so we organise theseevents in order to engage with travel agents and to also offer them a platform toshare some great moments with us, learn more about our products but also takethe time to listen and understand their needs so that we can help make it easierfor them to offer our brands and products. At the end of each event is when weoffer them free trips to some of our properties, either in the Caribbean, in Ibizaor Tenerife and we will continue to organise events with them.”The hotel group has a raft of new openings across its portfolio, including the

announcement of Palladium Hotel Costa del Sol; the company’s first insouthern Spain which will be opening its doors in July 2019. After an extensiverenovation project, the building will become a four-star establishment with 336rooms, located on the beach front a 30-minute journey from Malaga airport, inthe coastal town of Benalmádena.This month also saw the opening of three hotels, two of them in Costa

Mujeres, north of Cancun: the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres with 673 rooms;and TRS Coral representing the company’s all-inclusive luxury brand conceptfor adults-only. TRS Cap Cana located in one of the most luxurious parts ofPunta Cana also opened this month.The company is also further developing its Bless collection with the first

property opening under this brand on January 15, 2019 in the neighbourhood ofSalamanca in Madrid.

S06 TB 3011 2018 Accommodation Only_Layout 1 27/11/2018 10:35

WITH FOUR distinct hotel brandsunder its stewardship, RCD Hotels ismaking significant strides both in itsproperty expansion and in attractingincreasing numbers from the UK.Initially the “pioneers of all-inclusive

within the Hard Rock brand” with itsHard Rock Hotels All Inclusive portfolioin Mexico and the Caribbean, theevolution of the company has seen RCDHotels develop Unico 20º87º HotelRiviera Maya along with the iconic EdenRoc and Nobu brands in Miami Beach.The Hard Rock All-inclusive portfolio

of Punta Cana, Riviera Maya, Cancunand Puerto Vallarta bring a combinedtotal of 4,000 rooms with an occupancyrate reportedly averaging 86% upwardsthroughout the year. In tandem the UKmarket has also been seen to beincreasing year-on-year, up by 35% for2018. Responding to this demand theHard Rock All-inclusive brand is toexpand and open the Hard Rock HotelLos Cabos in the first quarter of 2019.Developed with an aim to take the

all-inclusive product concept to the

next level, UNICO 20º87º has furtherenhanced its gastronomy programmewith rotating celebrity chefs and dailycookery classes including SushiMaking, Focaccia Making and sessionsthat incorporate local flavours.Moreover, the property has expandedits local all-inclusive programme withthe addition of new excursions and onproperty activities bringing a local andauthentic flavour to guests including‘Wine and Art’, ‘Tequila Tasting’, and‘Astronomy and Wine’.Tracey Dyson, UK regional sales

director at RCD Hotels, said:“Travellers are becoming a lot moreadventurous. They want to learn aboutthe culture, the food, the mixology, theart; all of that is important and I thinkyou get that whole feel within UNICO.Most of everything within the hotel hasbeen sourced locally, your host is awealth of knowledge telling you whereto go if you did want to eat out or finda beach - they are there to give andshare that local knowledge with you.What we’ve found is that where we

initially went in to attract youngaffluent travellers, we're actuallyseeing an age range that’s off theradar; we’re seeing guests from 18 to80 and everyone seems to enjoy it.”In the USA, Eden Roc Miami Beach

recently benefitted from a USD250million make-over, creating a BeachCosmopolitan concept and fusinginfluences of the Miami cityscape andits world-famous beach into the hotel’srooms, public spaces, restaurants andhealth and fitness programmes. It’sbeen a strong year for the propertywith an average occupancy of 82% thisyear to date and a significant increasein UK trade sales.The second tower shared with this

property encompasses a five-starNobu hotel, which has been indevelopment over the last three yearsand designed with a Japanese beachhouse vibe. The brand will also beexpanding with a standalone Nobu inLos Cabos next to the Hard Rockopening in the first quarter of nextyear and in July a Nobu in Chicago.


accommodationonly

“We’re not selling beds but selling experiences” says Melia Hotels InternationalRANKED AMONG the biggest hotel groups in the worldand with 58 properties in the pipeline, Meliá HotelsInternational is continuing to invest in its key markets,devoting itself to the ongoing regeneration of Magaluf,and embarking on an expansion into Asia.Gabriel Escarrer, (pictured) CEO and vice chairman of

Meliá Hotels International, said: “We're moving away fromthe perception of commodity; we’re not selling beds butselling experiences. This is something that we havecontinuously worked toward during these past 62 years. Tokeep you in one of my resorts worldwide, I need to innovatethe whole time; I need to bring different concepts throughoutyour stay in terms of food, beverage, entertainment, spa,meeting facilities, and activates…our approach is whatmakes our brand so unique compared to others.”A key stepping stone for the brand has been its

digitalisation strategy. This includes merging its B2C(melia.com) and B2B (Melia Pro) rewards platforms;tasking administration procedures to robotics so hotelemployees can dedicate more time to guests; and theenhancement of the customer experience such as a digitalbracelet that replaces the wallet, ID and room key in resort.A project close to Escarrer’s heart has been the

ongoing transformation of Magaluf (the full details ofwhich can be found in Mediterranean Islands - p.18).Highlighting the need for strong investment into the areaback in 2012, Escarrer updated us with the latest news:“It was something that needed to be given a secondchance so we designed together with the localadministration a business plan to be developed in thenext three years; this is our seventh summer season andthe results so far have been amazing and well above ourfeasibility study. We've been able to not only invest 248million Euros to upgrade all our properties but to also open

28 different food and beverage outlets, 16 different shops, abeach club called Nikki Beach, a theme park called‘Katmandu’ tailormade for families, and a concept calledWave House for teenagers. We are trying to differentiate asmuch as possible the offering for different customers andthis is something I'm very proud of - to reposition anexisting place like Magaluf was no easy task.”

With an average of one property opening every twoweeks during the last two years this ratio will be one thehotel group is planning to maintain in the coming yearsalong with a long-term objective to expand further intoAPAC, recently signing the Meliá Hoi An and Meliá PhuQuoc in Vietnam, and Meliá Phuket Karon in Thailand.Escarrer concluded: “What we are now has always been

thanks to the travel agencies and the wholesalers, andthis is something that I keep in mind. It's very importantthat we always work very closely with them and toanticipate their needs - that's the reason why we havedeveloped Melia Pro and its tailor made for the trade.”

RCD gains greater momentum & succeeds in attracting more UK travellers

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germany

Europa-Park gets into a winter wonderland this seasonEUROPA-PARK will be transformed into a wonderland this winter with 3,000 snowcovered Christmas trees, a Christmas market and festive shows for all the familyincluding the Winter Starlight Parade.

With more than 100 rides set across 15 themed areas - each reflecting a differentcountry of Europe - special events for the Christmas season include helping park mascotEd Euromaus open the doors to the Advent Calendar in Italy each evening, the lighting ofthe Christmas tree at Luxembourg Square (with Santa’s help!), and an outdoor ice rinkset in the Scandinavian area along with a ski school.

Thrill-seekers might like to head on over to the Eurosat - CanCan Coaster, designedand built in cooperation with the Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris, complete with iconic redwindmill. With views over the park at night, the Big Wheel Bellevue towers above thePortuguese area will come with blankets in each gondola to keep everyone warm duringtheir scenic flight and, indoors, the Voletarium - Europe's largest Flying Theatre - offersthe virtual reality experience of flying across the continent.For further information go to www.europapark.com

A Great Rail Grand TourHOLIDAYMAKERS CANdiscover Germany'sillustrious cities over tendays with Great RailJourneys’ Independent‘Grand Tour of Germany’.With prices from £1,095

per person, guests canimmerse themselves inGermany's history, discovercontemporary and historicalarchitecture and uncover theever-changing face of theGerman capital. The itineraryincludes Berlin, Munich,Kaiserburg Fortress,Freiburg and Nuremberg.Julian Appleyard,

commercial director for theoperator, said: “Germany isa country rich in historyand culture, with a mix ofancient and modern; thereis so much to see, and thistour takes in the highlightsof some of Germany's mostmajestic cities. Myfavourite stop on this tourhas to be Berlin due to itsmany historic highlightswhich have helped to shapethe city. Simply wanderingthrough the city is a greatway to explore and soak upthe atmosphere.”Visitwww.greatrail.com/grj-independent or call 0800-240 4470.

AS PART of its Culinary Germany campaignfor 2018, the German National Tourist Office(GNTO) UK and Ireland has teamed up withglobal meal kit company HelloFresh UK todevelop a regional German themedspeciality recipe, bringing a taste of thedestination to UK consumers.

The tourism board’s recent culinarycampaign has focused on regional foods andincludes a dedicated recipe page on itswebsite featuring specialities from each ofthe 16 Federal German states, all linkedtogether on social media through#EnjoyGermanFood. As food tourismbecomes increasingly popular, this latestcollaboration with HelloFresh UK looks toprovide a new way to raise awareness of thediversity and mouth-watering quality ofGerman food, plus inspiration for food travel.

The move follows a successful summerfor the destination, with statistics fromGermany’s Federal Statistical Officeshowing an increase of visitors from the UK(registered as overnight stays) of 5.7% for

the month of July, compared to 2017. Thismarked the seventh consecutive rise in arow for the UK in 2018 and followed theannouncement for Germany’s half yearresults (January – June 2018) of a 4.5%increase in international overnights.

Beatrix Haun, director of the GermanNational Tourist Office UK and Ireland,commented: “The UK is one of the mostimportant source markets for Germany,regularly achieving second place worldwideand we are delighted by the continuingincrease in overnight stays by visitors fromthe UK. Just when you think you knowGermany, there is something new todiscover, whether it’s on the coast, throughGermany’s vast natural landscapes, a cityyou’ve never visited or exploring one ofGermany’s 25,000 castles, parks andgardens; travel experiences in Germany canoffer something new every time”. For more destination information orculinary inspiration go towww.germany.travel

GNTO brings a taste of Germany to the UK

S07 TB 3011 2018 Germany_Layout 1 27/11/2018 14:16

germany

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Paul ScudamoreContributing EditorUse cheques and (any remaining) High Street banks.

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

November 30 2018

We asked our staff the following question this week:

What’s something you like to do ‘the old-fashioned way’?

Crossword:Across: 1. DELTA, 3. MIJAS, 5. RAFFLES, 8. SKOPJE, 9. INCA, 11. IBIS, 13. BANJUL, 16. ANAHEIM, 17. MAORI, 18. PISTE. Down: 1. DYNASTIES, 2. LARGO, 3. MALI, 4. JASON, 6. FIJI, 7. CHARLOTTE, 10. MAHE, 12. IDAHO, 14. JAMES, 15. BARI.

Highlighted Word: DALLAS

Where Am I?: Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

puzzlesolutions

020 7834 6661

FOR THOSE that love the fairway, Maritim has a dedicated golf course on the BalticSea with nearby deluxe hotels to help golfers improve their handicap. The MaritimGolfpark Ostsee on the Baltic Coast in north Germany offers multiple, year-roundplayable nine-hole courses designed by internationally renowned golf architectChristoph Städler. Only a few minutes’ drive away from the course, guests at eitherThe ClubHotel Timmendorfer Strand or The Maritim Seehotel TimmendorferStrand receive a 50% discount on green fees. Visit www.maritim.com



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november 30 2018 | issue no 2,087 | travelbulletin.co.uk ... · updates from the travel industry in...

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