Travel Matters June 22 Issue 51

ISSUE 51 JUNE 2022
EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES FOR THE TRAVEL TRADE IN SCOTLAND, NORTHERN IRELAND, NORTH OF ENGLAND & IOM
Winter 2022 Full Season 2023 Spring 2024
Our Second Season is Now On Sale
Sailing from 7 UK Ports: London Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol & Falmouth Discover our World of Destinations


IMHERE
Our Offers
Ambassador Fares
• Save up to 25% off Full Fares
• Includes Expedition Drinks Package (with additional 20% discount), which includes:
- All gratuities & service charges
- Premium wines, spirits from the bar, premium teas
& speciality coffees
• Guaranteed dinner sitting~
• Priority for complimentary cabin upgrades~
• Launch Bonus - Free unlimited standard Wi-Fi on board+
Launch Fares
• Save up to 25% off Full Fares
• 20% off Explorer Drinks Package, which includes: - All gratuities & service charges
- House brand spirits and wines by the glass
- 50% discount on premium beverages from the bar
Onboard Credit
Up to £40 per cabin per night on all Ocean View Cabins*
Essex County Cricket Club Ticket Offer
Book any launch fare and you can receive a ticket to watch Essex in a LV= Insurance County Championship or Royal London Cup fixture at The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford.^
Dear Trade Partner,
We are Ambassador Cruise Line: Britain’s newest cruise line and the breath of fresh air our industry needs as we sail through the next era of travel.
Over the last year we have been busy making history, crafting an authentic, premium value, no-fly cruising experience with a few innovative twists that will help take our industry in a more sustainable and inspiring direction.
Our flagship of the fleet, Ambience, is currently enjoying her maiden season and what a beauty she is.
The arrival of Ambition in spring 2023 also heralds the launch of sailing from 7 regional ports: London Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol and Falmouth.
I am happy to share with you, our latest fantastic offers on the left-hand side. And for you, our valued trade partner, I’m delighted to announce that commission
is now payable on the entire Ambassador fare. So, encourage your customers to upgrade to our great value Ambassador fares which include the Expedition drinks package and earn yourself some additional commission today***.
With 2 ships, traveling to 6 continents, sailing from 7 ports, with 58 countries to be visited, 165 ports to be called on and 176,195 nautical miles to be sailed; Let us take our mutual customers there on an Ambassador sailing.
Lisa Jacobs
Head of Trade Sales, Ambassador Cruise Line
Visit us online or call our cruise ambassadors for free today
ambassadorcruiseline.com 0808 102 8322
Full T&C’s available on our website ambassadorcruiseline.com. All Fares and offers are available from 19th May 2022 through to 1st August 2022 inclusive, closing at 23:59. Capacity controlled and subject to availability. May be withdrawn without notice at any time. The prices featured in this advert are correct at the time of going to print 12 May 2022 and are based on two adults sharing a category 1 standard twin inside cabin. Please see our website for the most up to date and current prices prior to booking. *Available on bookings made on category 6 grade and above on all Launch Fares. ^Complimentary Essex Cricket ticket will be issued upon request by guest and valid for the 2022 or 2023 seasons, subject to availability and offer may be withdrawn at any time. ~Conditions apply. +Offer may be withdrawn without notice at any time. Ambassador Cruise Line is a trading name of Ambassador Cruise Holidays Limited. Ambassador Cruise Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 13299365. ***Applies to new bookings only, with effect from 19th May 22. Ref: 250


ISSUE 51 JUNE 2022
EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES FOR THE TRAVEL TRADE IN SCOTLAND, NORTHERN IRELAND, NORTH OF ENGLAND & IOM
FOCUS ON THE MIDDLE EAST
AIR TRANSAT - DIRECT TO CANADA
VISIT MALTA WITH YOUTRAVEL.COM


in this issue...
7 Journeys Collection with Explora
9 Earn double points with Wendy Wu
11 New event - SPAA Sparkle Awards!
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13 Villa news from ONEE
15 Discover the world via the new Istanbul Airport
e AWARDS
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16/17 Cook Islands -
Love a little paradise
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19 Air Transat - direct flights to Canada
21 Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral returns to the seas
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4 travelmatters.biz


22-29 Focus on the Middle East
23 Daily flights from Edinburgh with Qatar Airways
27 Space & comfort with Emirates
31 Sail with friends - Virgin Voyages
23 27
33 Inghams - WIN! A summer picnic hamper
35 The best of Europe with Leger Holidays
37 Windstar Cruises - all-inclusive savings
38/39 Youtravel.com - Visit Malta
41 2023 European Tours on sale now with Riviera
43 Island hopping with Classic Collection Holidays
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JUNE 2022 5


@travelmatters.biz @TravelMatBiz @travelmattersbiz @travelmattersbiz
Rising to
the challenge
Media reports of the travel chaos across the country over the last few weeks have done little to help the industry get back onto its feet.
Every sector has been affected by the pandemic and with the loss of so many skilled workers, especially in the travel and hospitality industries, once again, we are left dealing with the fall out of cancelled flights and holidays, assisting wherever we can. Thankfully, the travel industry is always ready to rise to a challenge!
This month’s issue focuses on the Middle East and highlights the great options that this destination offers. With just a short flying time, plenty of flights and a range of accommodations, there has never been a better time to plan an escape to warmer climes. Families, couples and groups will find some great attractions to enjoy as well as sandy beaches to relax on and with guaranteed sunshine.
So, why not take a break from the mayhem, grab a cup of coffee and sit back to enjoy a good read!
The Travel Matters Team
Read previous issues online at...
www.travelmatters.biz MEET THE TEAM:
Andrea Pellicci-Glen
Director
07766 010272 [email protected]
Hilary Douglas
Director
07989 414454 [email protected]
Gary Reavely
Director
07762 630057 [email protected]
Travel MattersTM is published by GAH Publishing Ltd,
96 Craigleith Hill Crescent, Edinburgh, EH4 2JP
For magazine delivery and subscription enquiries, email [email protected]
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This magazine can be recycled through your kerbside collection or at a local recycling point. Travel Matters is printed
on paper sourced from managed forests where more trees are planted each year than are harvested. All printing inks are vegetable oil based, eco-friendly and all print is produced in conditions that are compliant with and certified to the ISO 14001 environmental standard.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the prior permission of the copyright holder. All prices and data are correct at time of publication. Opinions expressed in Travel Matters are not necessarily those of the publisher and GAH Publishing does not accept responsibility for any mistakes that may occur.


INTRODUCING OUR JOURNEYS COLLECTION
Explora Journeys is CREATING a collection of journeys that offer the perfect BLEND of celebrated destinations and less-travelled spots, both seen from a new and ORIGINAL point of view that will inspire and EXCITE in equal measure.
All journeys include high speed unlimited wi-fi, access to sophisticated dining across a choice of nine culinary experiences, unlimited beverages, fine wines, premium spirits, a welcome bottle of champagne, on board gratuities and more.
Coasts of Culture & Sunsets in Santorini
11 JUNE – 17 JUNE 2023 6 NIGHTS
ATHENS — PATMOS — BODRUM — KASTELLORIZO — SANTORINI — ATHENS
Ocean Suite fares from GBP 3,300 Ocean Penthouse fares from GBP 4,500 Ocean Residence fares from GBP 6,800
Epic Fjords & The Arctic Circle
11 JULY – 23 JULY 2023 12 NIGHTS
SOUTHAMPTON — KRISTIANSAND — HELLESYLT / GEIRANGER — ÅLESUND — MOLDE — TRONDHEIM – NARVIK — HONNINGSVÅG — TROMSØ
Ocean Suite fares from GBP 6,300 Ocean Penthouse fares from GBP 9,150 Ocean Residence fares from GBP 12,300
FEATURED JOURNEYS
Fares are cruise only, per person; subject to availability, Terms & Conditions apply.
REGISTER AND JOIN OUR COMMUNITY AT EXPLORAJOURNEYS.COM/TRAVELADVISORS OR CONTACT 0800 014 8486


NEWS
ON THE MOVE....
A&K AND COX & KINGS EXPANDS TRADE SALES TEAM
Abercrombie & Kent and sister brand, Cox & Kings have welcomed back Richard Hey as Agency Sales Manager for Northern UK and Europe.
Hey re-joins the business after the pandemic reduced the size of the team and will focus on supporting travel agents, training and product assistance for both brands’ partners.
Kerry Golds, Group Managing Director commented: “The trade are
an important pillar of our business and our commitment to our trade partners means that now recovery is well underway, we need a full team to support them. We’re thrilled to welcome Richard back to the family and look forward to working with our partners to support them and their clients.”
RIVIERA TRAVEL APPOINTS JESSICA PAYNE AS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE
Cruise and escorted tour specialist, Riviera Travel, has promoted Jessica Payne to the role
of Business Development Executive.
Jessica has worked in Riviera’s contact centre for the past year and before that spent five years overseas as a rep in Rhodes, Costa del Sol, Mallorca, Mexico, Thassos and Thailand.
Jessica will manage a number of trade accounts across the UK and will be looking to develop agents who want to start selling river cruises and touring holidays. She will report to Tom Morgan, Head of Agency Sales UK & Ireland.
Riviera has made several trade-specific sales and business development appointments during the past two years, as the company continues to strengthen its relationships with its travel partners. A number of recently-created vacancies in sales, customer service and administration are currently open.
Jessica said: “I’m delighted to take on this new role and responsibilities, as
the opportunities for agents to sell river cruise and touring holidays are clear. I’m really looking forward to helping grow our business as travel further opens up and continuing the great work the team have delivered to support the trade.”
Tom commented: “Jessica has shown enormous potential during her time with Riviera and we’re thrilled to have her
join the team. Her appointment further demonstrates our commitment to the trade and we’re eagerly anticipating her growing and developing our relationships with our travel agent partners.”
JEN WATSON JOINS G ADVENTURES
Jen Watson has joined the
G Adventures team of UK Global Purpose Specialists (GPS).
Glasgow-based Watson joins G Adventures
with over 16 years of experience within
the travel industry and will support
G Adventures’ agent community across the north of England, Ireland
and Scotland. Stu Darnely, national sales manager at G Adventures comments: "As part of our regrowth strategy, G Adventures will be working more closely than ever with our travel agent community as we look to connect travellers with their long-awaited adventures. Our GPS team play a pivotal role in supporting agents in everything from training to marketing and Jen’s experience and people skills make her the perfect person for the job.
“We’re seeing increased demand from agents wanting more in-person meetings and our GPS team are now back on the road, nurturing those face to face relationships, helping with training and speaking with customers to help raise awareness around the benefits of adventure and touring."
Starting her career with Thomas Cook, Watson’s career has seen her work across worldwide sales, product and commercial for Travel 2 before moving to Hays Tour Operations to manage the product development for the Middle East and Africa.
HIKE MORE WORRY LESS
8 travelmatters.biz


Wendy Wu Tours’ Brand New Wu Breakaways. Our most generous agent incentive ever!
This is your chance to enjoy our experience-packed, fully inclusive, fully escorted group tours for absolutely FREE!
Every customer that you book onto any of our Group, Tailormade or Private Tours earns you a point. Put all the points you earn in a year together to ‘pay’ for your land only tour.
That’s a point per customer, not per booking, so four customers on one booking earns you four points! And not just for you either – you can put your points towards a FREE spot for your travel partner too.
Earn DOUBLE POINTS
this June!
With Vietnam now fully re-open and the exciting news that Japan are underway with their first steps of re-opening, we’re in the mood to celebrate!
Earn DOUBLE POINTS for every customer you book to ANY destination by 30th June!
You don’t need to do anything other than make bookings. We will keep a tally of your points and your Wendy Wu Tours BDM will keep you informed as you make bookings.
Log on to our agent website to gain full access to offers, free marketing materials & incentives etc. If you do not have access to our agent website please contact [email protected]
JAPAN | CHINA | SOUTHEAST ASIA | INDIA | EUROPE CENTRAL ASIA | MIDDLE EAST | SOUTH AMERICA
Taj, Temples and Tigers 9
In Pursuit of Pandas 10
A China Experience 11
Gems of Georgia 11
Highlights of Sri Lanka 14
Majestic Yangtze 15
Angkor to the Bay 18
A Mekong Experience 20
Tour Name
Victoria Mekong Cruise Downstream
Vietnam at a Glance
Inpiring India
Victoria Mekong Cruise Upstream
Journey through Jordan
Ultimate Uzbekistan
A Week in Japan
Portugal Uncovered
Classical Greece
Dreams of Egypt
Panoramic Peru
Japan Uncovered
Points required per 2 pax
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Points required per solo traveller
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For more information, visit www.wendywutours.co.uk/agents/bambu/wu-breakaways
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Hello and welcome everyone to my latest update on our SPAA.
We are fast approaching the end of the second quarter in 2022 and normally we would be allocating time in the diary for sitting down to assess budgets, projections and overall performance of the first half of the year.
The eagerly anticipated return to normality has alas proven to be somewhat more elusive than we hoped and ongoing issues continue to affect industry stability. Here in Scotland the media reported delays and resourcing problems at airports have had less of
a major impact, with all our Scottish airport operators stepping up and delivering some fantastic numbers on processing passengers through
the system.
This unfortunately does not seem to be the case in other UK locations with daily media reports on massive queues
for security clearance and tales of passengers missing flights
and connections.
Compounded with some airlines drastic service cuts, with thousands of flights cancelled and some other IT issues creating havoc, it has come down again to the travel agents to pick up the pieces and source solutions to ensure the clients can look at alternatives.
It was also particularly disappointing
to learn of the decision to retract the direct flight from Edinburgh to Barbados this winter. Our members were eagerly anticipating this service and hoping that this would remain a long term key strategic route in our endeavours to expand the dedicated route network direct from Scotland. Let’s hope there may well be a reassessment of viability in the future.
Added to further issues with ferries and some rail services, it is not painting a positive picture for anyone considering travelling anywhere and remains the foremost task of rebuilding public confidence as a priority.
So on the report card for the first half of 2022 - I’m afraid the conclusion must be “some way to go before finally returning to better days”.
However as always, as an industry we are resilient and always look on the positive side and work towards solutions and not wait for them to come to us.
The SPAA continues its dialogue with all members, principal associates and political committees at Holyrood and we continue to ask our members for feedback as per our recent survey to
THE VOICE OF TRAVEL IN SCOTLAND
enable us to gauge the thoughts and feedback from our members that we can take forward to our next round of political meetings in June and July.
The annual quiz was held at the Marriott hotel in Glasgow in May and what a fantastic night it was - certainly one
of the best! Well done to Gayle Gordon as quizmaster and Janice Hogarth
on time keeping duties, who both did a wonderful job and made it a great evening for all the participants.
Congratulations to Kenneth MacLeod Travel on their win - they managed to jump into the lead on the final question which made it a really exciting race right up to the end. Thanks to all the teams who entered and those who were behind the scenes looking after the marking and of course, our very generous sponsors, Turkish Airlines, Fred Olsen & JTA.
We are also launching our brand
new agency Awards in the form of
the Sparkle Awards as per the page opposite and I do hope that you will embrace this new event to recognise those members of staff who deserve to win an award in one of the categories.
By the time you read this we shall have had our Charity Caribbean Summer Party event at the Science Centre in Glasgow and this will have given us all an opportunity to network and connect with our industry peers and raise a glass of rum punch or two to our ongoing recovery.
Take care and stay safe.
Mike Tibbert SPAA President
spaa annual
Open to Members & Associates plus guests, join us for a great day of golf and networking.
• 10:30am Bacon rolls/Coffee/Tea • Midday Tee off • 5:30pm High Tea
Golf day
Fabulous prizes up for grabs! Kindly sponsored by
Turkish Airlines & Visit Barbados
Email: [email protected] for more details
LANARK GOLF CLUB
Thursday 18th August 2022
10 travelmatters.biz


THE SPAA IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEWEST EVENT FOR 2022
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THE VOICE OF TRAVEL IN SCOTLAND
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY...
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AWARDS
THE SURGEONS QUARTER, EDINBURGH - THURSDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER
The Awards have been designed to recognise the contribution of Travel Agency Staff in Scotland in both the Business and Leisure Sectors. There are eleven Award categories and the Awards recognise a variety of Agency Roles.
A judging panel will decide the top three applications in each category and the eventual winners. The top three from each category will be invited to attend the Awards Lunch at The Surgeons Quarter in Edinburgh on 8th September, along with their nominator (Supervisor/Manager or above).
The Award Categories are:
• Best Contribution in a Leisure Consultant Role
• Best Contribution in a Cruise Consultant Role
• Touring and Adventure Consultant of the Year
• Operations Manager of the Year – Leisure Travel
• Business Travel Consultant of the Year
• Operations Manager of the Year –
Corporate Travel
• Business Development Manager of the Year – Corporate Travel
• Corporate Account Manager of the Year – Corporate Travel
• Best contribution in an Agency Support role – (non reservations)
So how do you submit a nomination?
• A Supervisor or Manager should submit the nomination
• Nomination forms can be found on the SPAA website www.spaa.org
• The nomination will be a written submission of between 250-300
words explaining why the person has been nominated
• Nominations open on 6th June and must be submitted by 22nd July. Any nominations after this date will not be considered
• Once the form is completed it should be emailed to [email protected] Some examples of why a person
might be nominated could be:
• Fromcustomerfeedback
• Implementation of new ideas that have a direct impact
on Company revenue
• Implementation of new ideas that benefit colleagues and/or the Company
• Charity work that is related to the travel industry
• Actions over and above the call of duty
• Newcomer of the Year
• Rising Star of the Year
IMPORTANT: The nominations will be anonymous for the judging panel. All entries must be emailed to [email protected]. No hard copies please.
The application form can be found in the members area of the spaa website - spaa.org or use the following link https://spaa.org/?page_id=6148&preview=true
For any additional information please contact: Janice Hogarth, SPAA Secretary - [email protected] • Mob : 07795 331889 Kindly sponsored by -
JUNE 2022 11


Where’s William?
Welcome to Where’s William? My new, monthly column in Travel Matters where I, William Young, will bring you all the news from the rivers and oceans with Scenic & Emerald Cruises.
As travel starts to move to a ‘new normal’, I was thrilled to get out on the rivers once again last month, with our innovative cruise line, Emerald Cruises. This river cruise was a long-time coming; a special charter which has been in my diary for almost three years.
Boarding the Star-Ship felt like coming home. Emerald Sky can accommodate 180 guests and your guests can enjoy the inclusions of: return flights from up to 16 UK airports, transfers abroad, all meals and delicious afternoon tea, drinks with lunch and dinner and a tour included each day, Wi-Fi and tipping – all in the price they pay.
On the 8-Day Holland and Belgium in Bloom river cruise, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the majestic Keukenhof Gardens and as this was a speciality cruise, we had Brian Cunningham, head gardener at Scone Palace, joining us on board to talk about how guests can turn their gardens into their own little paradise.
What an amazing cruise to get back sailing to Europe’s rivers - the guests loved it. We are seeing more and more interest in charters from agents and group departures. We have excellent incentives and benefits for booking groups and charters with Scenic & Emerald Cruises - contact me for more information on events and support to drive your bookings.
Thank you for the support, as always.
Please contact your Sales Manager, William Young for further information –
E : [email protected]
T : 07921 830147
W: scenic.co.uk | emeraldcruises.co.uk
LOGANAIR TAKES OFF TO BERGEN AND STAVANGER
Loganair has resumed its flights from Edinburgh to Bergen and Stavanger.
The two direct services have been relaunched for the first time since the pandemic and also mark the airline’s first international routes from Edinburgh Airport since 2019.
Flights to Stavanger will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Flights to Bergen take-off on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Additional flights from Aberdeen to Oslo Gardermoen will also commence in September to further strengthen connectivity between the countries.
Customers will also be able to explore further afield via Loganair’s codeshare partnership with Norwegian regional airline, Widerøe.
Both routes are operated by an Embraer 145 jet, and fares to Bergen and Stavanger start at £99.86 including 15kg luggage allowance and a mandatory carbon offset charge as part of Loganair’s sustainable flying programme - GreenSkies.
Kay Ryan, Loganair’s Chief Commercial Officer, said:
“We are really excited to launch the recommencement of our international services between Edinburgh and the Norwegian cities of Bergen and Stavanger.
“As we start to see European travel strengthen as summer approaches, it is the ideal time to bring back two services that were, pre-pandemic, incredibly popular for both leisure and business travellers looking to enjoy all that Edinburgh, Bergen and Stavanger have to offer.”
I HATE HOTEL BATH TOWELS.... SO THICK & FLUFFY,
I CAN’T EVEN CLOSE MY SUITCASE!
12 travelmatters.biz


VILLA NEWS FROM THE EXPERTS - ONEE
As we move into the summer months, one thing is for sure we have been very busy and thank you to you all for your enquiries and support.
The biggest issue we have encountered in the last month is, without doubt, availability. Demand is there, with lots of late enquiries for this summer but in many cases the space isn’t, even within our extensive portfolio. We know 2022 has been a strange year with so many rebookings but our advice to you all is if you know what your clients want, then please book as early as possible for Winter 22/23 and beyond.
As we move into autumn booking, we are seeing much improved availability everywhere, take a look at our Autumn highlights below for some inspiration.
Our product team has also been incredibly busy adding new destinations and product in existing destinations. We now have almost 1000 properties in the ONEE portfolio and continue to grow it daily.
As always, we are here for any training, partnership requests or queries you have and look forward to hearing from you.
Tim & Tom
AUTUMN VILLA HIGHLIGHTS FROM ONEE:
TIM MALONEY
Call: 020 4551 7908 Email: [email protected]
TOM LANGWADE
Call: 020 4551 7910 Email: [email protected]
WHAT’S NEW
Villa Collections now live on onee.com
BELIZE • CALIFORNIA • MALDIVES COSTA BRAVA • ICELAND IRELAND • VIETNAM • SRI LANKA
Noleta Ranch Santa Barbara
Villa Aldonza
Villa Sequoia Los Angeles
CYPRUS: VILLA URANIA
5 bed/10 guests. 7 nights from £4,888 (1st Sep–21st Oct 2022)
USA (PALM SPRINGS): VILLA ALEJO
4 bed/8 guests. 7 nights from £11,205 (1st Sep–21st Oct 2022)
SEYCHELLES: 360 VILLA LUXE
4 bed/8 guests. 7 nights from £10,420 (1st Sep–31st Oct 2022)
WHAT NEXT...
USA (COLORADO): VILLA MENDIA
4 bed/8 guests. 7 nights from £8,405 (1st Sep–21st Oct 2022)
ITALY: VILLA STIFFONTE
4 bed/8 guests. 7 nights from £10,927 (5th Sep–4th Oct 2022)
FRANCE: MAISON PERIGORD
5 bed/10 guests. 7 nights from £3,558 (1st Sep–21st Oct 2022)
To see the ONEE extensive Villa portfolio and many more options for your next curated stay go to www.onee.com
If you would like to have a chat with their dedicated travel trade team, call 0208 142 4801 or send an email to [email protected]
To stay up to date with new properties and developments, join their Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/oneetraveltrade


– BRINGING TURKISH HOSPITALITY TO THE SKIES
DISCOVER THE WORLD VIA THE NEW ISTANBUL AIRPORT
The brand-new IST airport has been the new home and central hub of Turkish Airlines since the “Mega Move” by Turkish Airlines in April 2019. Featuring the world’s largest airport terminal under one roof, split over
five piers hosting both domestic and international flights, it is expected to eventually become the world’s busiest airport - even eclipsing Atlanta.
Currently the airport is in its first phase and has capacity for 80 million passengers annually - based on
3 runways. When all four phases are completed by 2028 - the capacity will be for 200 million passengers with
6 operational runways!
The new airport has everything you The new airport has everything you
would expect from one of its size and importance - top class services - the latest high tech user friendly security, check-in and boarding processes.
It is extremely easy to navigate with clear signage throughout the facilities and the sheer size of it makes the surroundings feel airy and serene, never too crowded. Organization and facilities for passengers with reduced mobility are especially good.
Clients who like to indulge in some ‘retail therapy’ will find the largest duty-free shopping outlet worldwide to while away an hour or so!
Turkish Airlines facilities at the airport include two lounges: Business and Miles&Smiles, for their Business Class passengers and special card holders. For any Economy Class passengers wanting to purchase lounge access, Istanbul Airport features its own
IGA lounge.
Additional services featured at the airport include but are not limited to, airside and landside hotels, sleeping pods, restaurants, cafes and even buggy rental for those who prefer not to walk the distance.
Given that Istanbul is a major transfer point based on Turkish Airlines’ incredible route network and renowned quality of service, the planners have very carefully made the transit process as simple, easy and straightforward
as possible.
Welcome to the World’s Meeting Point!
EDINBURGH - ISTANBUL
5 weekly increasing to daily from 20 June 2022.
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays
TK1344 Edinburgh-Istanbul – Depart 1040 Arrive 1705
TK1343 Istanbul-Edinburgh – Depart 0730 Arrive 0950
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays
TK1346 Edinburgh-Istanbul – Depart 1640 Arrive 2305
TK1345 Istanbul-Edinburgh – Depart 1325 Arrive 1550
14 travelmatters.biz


TIME TO MEET AGAIN
Experience the privilege of starting your journey from the new aviation center of the world.


SNAPSHOTS
With the reopening of the Cook Islands' borders to the world and the launch of new international air access to Rarotonga, Ian Griffiths from Cook Islands Tourism had the pleasure to present ‘love a little paradise’ to Scottish travel agents in both Edinburgh and Glasgow.
16 travelmatters.biz


Float away in Paradise
Travel to the Cook Islands from
1ST MAY 2022
www.cookislands.travel


Your connection to nature
Quebec City
New direct flights from London
Direct flights to Canada from Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin and London
London Gatwick > Toronto
7 direct weekly flights
London Gatwick > Montreal
7 direct weekly flights
London Gatwick > Quebec City
1 direct weekly flight
Manchester > Toronto
4 direct weekly flights
Glasgow > Toronto
3 direct weekly flights
Available to book via the GDS
[email protected] | 00800 87 26 72 83
2021 World’s Best Leisure Airline
airtransat.co.uk


Flying to Canada with Air Transat
Exploring the maple leaf country is easier than ever this summer!
London–Quebec City: new and exclusive
Have you heard? Air Transat makes crossing the pond a real breeze with frequent and direct flights to Canada from London, Manchester and Glasgow. Amazingly adventurous, exciting, powerful, rewarding, spectacular, wild: Canada is all this and more, and there are so many places to experience it from coast to coast!
To Quebec City and beyond
With direct weekly flights from London Gatwick to Quebec City all summer, Canada’s spectacular wildlife, wilderness and wide-open spaces are more within reach than ever before.
In addition to being the first airline to offer non-stop service from London to Quebec City, Air Transat also
flies to Toronto year-round and has resumed its service to Montreal for summer. And with multi-destination flights available at no extra charge, the possibilities are plenty for passengers looking to explore multiple gateways across the Atlantic.
Award-winning service, year after year
Named the World’s Best Leisure Airline by Skytrax for the fourth time, Air Transat provides a warm and friendly experience at every step
of the journey. Here are just a few reasons why Canada-bound customers are in for a treat:
• Our Economy Class offers a warm welcome, unparalleled comfort, ergonomic Italian leather seats and personalized entertainment.
• Our exclusive Club Class cabin comes with spacious and comfortable seats, a choice of gourmet meals, two checked bags and personalized
VIP service.
• Families have access to their own check-in counters and side-by-side seating so that parents and children can sit together, plus perks for their little ones through the Air Transat Kids Club programme, created especially for mini globetrotters ages 2 to 11.
• Passengers fly in comfort and style on board a world-class fleet of Airbus aircraft, including the A330, A321 and the greenest-in-class A321neoLR, burning 15% less fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50%.
And that’s just the beginning!
One such place is the province of Quebec, in Eastern Canada. Air Transat is the only carrier to fly direct from London Gatwick to Quebec City, the provincial capital and ideal gateway
to natural wonders like the stunning Charlevoix region and the whale watching hub of Tadoussac.


NEWS
ALL AT SEA
with Alli G
Allison Graham
THE RETURN OF 'THE BIG AJV QUIZ'
Some 35 travel agents recently attended ‘The Big AJV Quiz’ - including Reed & Mackay, Focus Agents: Ian Dickson Travel, Ventur, Hays, Ski Independence/Osprey, Trip.com, Clarity along with Ramsay World Travel.
Hosted at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, the fun and informative event included food & drinks, as well as prizes (vouchers & goodie bags)!
Congratulations to the winners - Ian Dickson Travel with the runner up, Ski Independence/Osprey.
Look out for details of the next events taking place in Glasgow and Aberdeen later in the year.
STAR ALLIANCE CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Star Alliance and its 26-member carriers celebrated the 25th anniversary of the global airline alliance on Saturday, 14 May, 2022.
In conjunction with the anniversary, Star Alliance and its member carriers will launch new campaigns and customer innovations under the new brand tagline “Together. Better. Connected.” with the aim of fostering better connections through the Star Alliance global network, with a focus on digital seamless connectivity and innovations in
customer experience.
Read the latest news from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Hello again and welcome to summer!
It has been a busy and very exciting month for us, as our beautiful Balmoral resumed sailing. Not only is it great to have her back cruising among the fleet again, but it also marks the start of our first season of sailing from Newcastle and Rosyth for more than two years.
Up until August, she will split her time between these two northerly ports, offering a number of cruises hand-crafted especially to ensure our guests – and your customers – see and experience the very best in the destination they are visiting.
This summer, Balmoral will venture to a number of European cities where your customers could discover historic landmarks, take in the medieval old town of Tallinn and explore Stockholm and its beautiful archipelago. In August, she’ll embark on an enchanting adventure exploring the many highlights of Iceland, with opportunities to explore the Golden Circle from Reykjavik, discover remote Seydisfjordur and perhaps spot a whale or two as well!
If you have customers looking for a shorter getaway, they could journey to the Norwegian Fjords for a five night break and enjoy the benefits of our ships’ smaller size as she navigates size-restricted waterways to capture the beauty of Norway’s summertime landscapes and fjords such as picturesque Nordfjord.
We are also delighted to be able to offer you and your colleagues the opportunity to experience ‘The Olsen Way’ for a day this summer as part of our trade ship visit programme, with dates available in Rosyth in July and August. For all the details, visit our Travel Agent Centre – hope to see you
on board!
As you can see, it continues to be such an exciting time for us at Fred. Olsen and we are so pleased to be able to share this journey with you, our valued trade partners. Because, after all, ‘it’s all about the people.’
Bye for now!
Alli G
USEFUL CONTACTS
To make contact with Alli, or for anything else on agent support, please contact our Sales Support team on 01473 746164 or email [email protected]
For help with marketing tools and support, contact the Trade Marketing team: [email protected]
Visit our Travel Agent Centre:
www.fredolsencruises.com/agent
20 travelmatters.biz






Fly from Edinburgh with the World’s Best Airline
Starting June 2, we will operate daily flights from Edinburgh Airport that will serve passengers travelling from Glasgow and east-central Scotland.
Explore the idyllic islands of the Seychelles, reconnect with loved ones in Australia or plan an adventure in the Philippines. See more of the world and fly with us to over 140 destinations around the globe.
qatarairways.com


MIDDLE EAST
DISCOVER THE AUTHENTIC CHARM OF AJMAN WITH YOUTRAVEL
Located just a 45 minute drive from the hustle and bustle of Dubai sits Ajman – an authentic and truly charming Emirate. Living in the shadow of a tourism goliath, it would be forgivable to assume Ajman is all but a sleepy suburb – however, nothing could be further from reality.
Home to a selection of beachfront hotels and resorts, with sweeping vistas of the Persian Gulf, catering to all clients. Families looking for those all-inclusive lazy pool days, or young couples yearning for uber chic design led serenity or slower pace travellers in search of old world charm - all make for the perfect base to explore Ajman. Clients can go morning kayaking through the mangroves spotting flamingoes, play a round of afternoon golf or early evening explorations of the brand new museum dedicated to showcasing the fascinating history of Ajman – set against the awe- inspiring mosque.
Don’t be fooled though, Ajman’s small size, distinct lack of record breaking skyscrapers and missing bling, certainly does not make for a lacklustre holiday destination – quite the opposite!
It’s the savvy-traveller’s
destination of choice for wallet-friendly luxury hotels
in the Middle East (cost of
living crisis anyone?), home
to several big hitters, from Fairmont, Luxury Collection
Hotels and Oberoi to name
but a few, travellers will be
spoilt for choice on where to enjoy their hard earned time away without the eye-watering hotel rates often seen elsewhere.
Ajman might be working hard to retain its authenticity but that doesn’t have to mean forgoing those pool-side
pina coladas, swapping that bottle
of Malbec for a cranberry juice over dinner or no relaxed explorations of the local souks – the
balance here is spot on and the warm welcome is accompanied with open arms.
Don’t expect shiny malls with enough bling to give Bond Street
a run for its money (Dubai is all but a hop, skip and a jump away for a few hours, should
registers prove too irresistible!) but there are some low-key investments already popping up – starting with a contemporary facelift of the marina
– restaurants and coffee shops have already started moving in, perfect for grabbing the morning flat white before trying your hand at the watersports
on offer or those more low-key warm evening strolls.
Youtravel have an array of excellent hotel options for clients, throughout the year. Check them out now at Youtravel.com!
the call of the cash
24 travelmatters.biz


Travel Matters speaks to
STEVE WILLIAMS
Director of Sales MSC Cruises
Tell us why you think your Middle East cruises are such a fantastic sales opportunity for travel agents.
The Middle East region offers clients a great value for money winter cruise, in a safe and easy to reach part of the world. There are so many benefits to an Arabian cruise - not least Emirates’ direct air connections from all over the UK & Ireland - so getting there is always an easy option - and with very little time difference, it’s perfect for a week’s duration if customers don’t want to stretch to a longer winter holiday.
Of course, the weather is a huge draw with near guaranteed sunshine and warm temperatures throughout the winter, assuring your guests of some wonderful winter sunshine.
A cruise offers guests the opportunity to visit exciting destinations and enjoy glitzy shopping malls, wild dune bashing in 4x4s, ancient souks and sandy beaches coupled with very reasonable onboard cruise costs, with meals, entertainment and children’s facilities all included. You
can always pre-purchase the drinks packages which is commissionable to agents at the point of sale.
What are your plans for Winter 2022/2023 and beyond, including the re-positioning voyages to and from Dubai?
With the launch of World Europa, our newest and largest class of ship ever built, positioning to The Arabian Gulf for Winter 2022/2023, there has never been a more exciting time to visit. We want to provide our guests not only with a truly unique and memorable holiday, but also a sustainable one,
so this is an intrinsic part of our innovation programme.
This is why MSC World Europa, our first LNG ship and our most environmentally advanced yet, signifies another important step forward for us with regard to our long-term vision for zero emissions. Onboard, guests will enjoy experiences for all ages, with distinct districts, each with their own mood - from a tranquil adults-only zen district, the lively promenade with entertainment, shops and bars, to a separate family district that houses as many as ten new kids' facilities.
The ship will offer an extensive range of accommodations, with 19 different categories to choose from and 65% of cabins with balconies. There will be 13 dining venues, including six speciality restaurants and the completely re-imagined ship promenade including The Spiral - a striking architectural centrepiece in the form of a dry slide spanning 11 decks -
the longest at sea!
What advice would you give to agents to help them sell these cruises?
It is a great way to introduce a cruise into the conversation without mentioning a cruise! You can tempt clients by asking
them - "If I could offer you a 7-night holiday in the sunshine, with a variety of exciting destinations to visit, all meals included, a great kids' club, 13 restaurants, nightly shows included in the cost, showcasing incredible entertainment - all on a regional direct flight from your local airport for £XXX - would you be tempted?"
Often guests that haven’t cruised before won’t even consider a cruise so this is a great way to get them engaged in the conversation. Alternatively if they are cruisers already, you need to know your product, the destinations and the benefits of selling a Middle Eastern adventure. Break down costs to a daily rate - it’s surprising what incredible value it works out.
It’s also a good idea to complete our online training portal - MSC Masters - so you really understand our product and brand offering, so even if you haven’t cruised with
us personally, you can confidently sell to your guests. Destination is key when customers decide so learn about the ports of call and the extensive range of shore excursions available.
What support and assistance can your sales team offer agents?
Our sales team are always available to support our trade partners, be it through supporting cruise shows, sending bespoke window offers, or exploring marketing opportunities. In addition, MSC Book offers toolkits to help our agents sell and promote.
My team are out on the road and always happy to visit stores so please do contact your local Regional Sales Manager if you would like a visit or to discuss how they can help you grow your MSC Cruise Sales.
We also have regional MSC Facebook pages for all areas of the UK and Ireland - these are well worth following for updates and offers as well as our main Facebook page - MSC Travel Agents.
Do you offer attractive rates and terms for group departures?
We have a super groups policy and it is always worth speaking to your local MSC Cruises regional sales manager who can work with you on discussing details and seeing if there is potential to successfully hold and market a group. Groups vary from an organised one such as a large family or a wedding, to taking an allocation and marketing a specific departure through your agency.
Depending on how close the sailing is, there are various benefits such as reduced rates and free cabins depending on the number of passengers being considered. My advice is to speak to your RSM and discuss if this may be a good option for your own business.
JUNE 2022 25


MIDDLE EAST
EMIRATES RAMPS UP GLOBAL OPERATIONS AND INTRODUCES PREMIUM ECONOMY AS BOOKINGS SURGE
Since Emirates resumed flights to Glasgow in August last year, the airline has seen bookings take off as thousands plan and take long- awaited holidays.
Emirates serves 52 destinations from Glasgow, offering travellers convenient access to the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific through its Dubai hub.
The new cabin class, which offers luxurious seats, more legroom and a service to rival many airlines’ business offering, will be available to Emirates’ customers travelling on popular A380 routes to London, Paris and Sydney from 01 August and Christchurch
from December. Although not on the Glasgow route yet, Emirates has plans to fit out 126 aircraft with Premium Economy cabins, as well as the latest interiors across other cabins, so agents should keep their eyes peeled for announcements soon.
SUPPORTING LOCAL
PASSENGERS GO
COMMUNITIES
THE EXTRA MILE
Emirates also supports the local business community through its SkyCargo capability, with notable exports being Scottish whisky, seafood and also oil well equipment from Aberdeen. So far during 2022, the route has carried over 2,300 tonnes
of air freight.
In line with the ramping up of global operations, Emirates is also seeking talented candidates to join its award- winning cabin crew team. The next invitation-only session in Glasgow will take place on 28 and 29 June, 2022. Interested candidates can read more about the Emirates cabin crew and apply online on the Emirates Group Careers website.
Booking data shows many customers, after not being able to travel for so long, are booking once-in-a-lifetime breaks and people have been booking longer holidays than usual. Some of the most popular holiday destinations from Glasgow include Dubai, the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Thailand, Bali and Australia.
Flights from Glasgow are operated in a three-class configuration, offering premium services in First Class, Business Class as well as Economy Class. Echoing the ‘once-in-a-lifetime trend’, bookings for Business Class have been exceptional with travellers taking advantage of Emirates’ luxurious, lie-flat, soft leather seats, gourmet meals and 23-inch HD TVs at 40,000 feet.
CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND CONTACTLESS TRAVEL
Emirates remains focused on taking various steps to ease travel and has been a leader in introducing initiatives in cooperation with health authorities and organisations to protect the health of customers and to ensure their safety.
This includes introducing measures on the ground throughout all touchpoints and onboard to provide its passengers with the highest safety and hygiene standards at every step of the journey. The airline has also introduced contactless technology to ease
the customer journey through Dubai airport.
Emirates flights to and from Glasgow operate every day using Emirates’ fuel efficient wide-body Boeing 777-300ER.
Flight EK28 departs Glasgow at 14:35, arriving at Dubai International at 01:05.
Flight EK27 departs Dubai International at 07:50, arriving in Glasgow at 12:45.
All times local.
Emirates supports the International Air Transport Association’s industry commitment to reach net
zero carbon emissions by
2050 and we are constantly reviewing the opportunities that will help to achieve this goal. Our environmental efforts are focussed on three areas: reducing emissions, consuming responsibly and preserving wildlife and habitats.
G
WITH PREMIUM ECONOMY
Flyers around the world can soon
look forward to another distinctive Emirates’ travel experience as the airline recently unveiled its full Premium Economy offering onboard and on ground and announced it will open this highly sought-after cabin for sale from 01 June 2022.
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OVER 5,000 CHANNELS
OF ENTERTAINMENT
Knowing their safety and wellbeing are looked after, customers across all classes can enjoy more than 5,000 channels of entertainment on ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system.
26 travelmatters.biz




MIDDLE EAST
RELAX AT THE NEW JUMEIRAH AIRPORT LOUNGE
Jumeirah Group has officially opened the Jumeirah Airport Lounge at Dubai International (DXB), located in the Terminal 3 Arrivals.
The new airport lounge offers travellers a taste of the brand’s renowned hospitality and Dubai’s seven-star luxury. Modelled in the style of one of the brand’s luxurious presidential suites, it features a range of services and amenities, including signature dining, lavish surroundings combining contemporary furnishings with artworks from Emirati artist, Mattar bin Lahej and up and coming Portuguese artist
Ana d’Castro.
Three distinctive zones include a dedicated check-in and transportation services; a waiting area to relax and enjoy snacks as well as its signature resident barista coffee experience; and a private VIP room offering bespoke personalisation services by a dedicated guest relations and butler service team trained by Burj Al Arab Jumeirah experts.
Guests can also freshen up after their flight in the lounge’s bathrooms which feature a large shower and Amouage luxury bath and body amenities, while their luggage is transferred directly to their room.
EMIRATES TOPS CATEGORIES AT AWARDS CEREMONY
Emirates has once again been recognised as ‘Best Airline Worldwide’ for the ninth consecutive time at this year’s Business Traveller Middle East awards.
The airline also won three other categories, including airline with the “Best Premium Economy Class”, “Best Economy Class” and “Best Frequent Flyer Programme”.
ACCOR ADDS QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 TO ITS PORTFOLIO
Accor has now taken over the operations of
the QE2 in Dubai. The cruise ship will undergo further upgrades and renovations prior to joining the MGallery Hotel Collection.
Situated in Dubai’s Port Rashid, the QE2’s location is in close proximity to Sheikh Zayed Road, providing easy connection to every main attraction the city has to offer. Dubai International Airport, Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and La Mer Beach are all located less than 20 minutes away, while the Palm Jumeirah and Mall of the Emirates are located 35 and 29 minutes, respectively.
Once the renovation is completed, the new MGallery Queen Elizabeth 2 will feature 447 hotel rooms, nine food & beverage outlets, ten meeting rooms, an outdoor events area, six retail outlets, a swimming pool and a gym.
Accor currently operates 62 properties in the UAE with 20 more properties in the pipeline.
SUNSHINE ON MY MIND
28 travelmatters.biz


MIDDLE EAST
DARREN PHILLIPS...
VIEW FROM THE
MIDDLE EAST
Hi guys, hope all is going well and that things are finally getting back to normal......whatever that is these days!
It’s great to see agents busy and people finally feeling more confident to travel. Greece has relaxed all Covid travel restrictions so even unvaccinated people can go now. In most countries, you just need to show a Covid pass or have a negative test before departure, so practically everywhere is open for business again. It’s so exciting to see travel coming back and the buzz that it brings - it’s what makes this industry so rewarding and dynamic.
It’s also great to see Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have started sailing again from the Tyne and Ambassador Cruises have committed
to sailing from here too for 2023. It sends a positive message to people that cruising is safe once again and on the up. The football phenomenon has also given the industry a huge boost with about 50,000 fans travelling to see Sunderland at Wembley, Liverpool in Paris and Rangers in Seville, so all that extra business will be greatly received.
Now back to me! I have been away to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for 11 days, on Emirates' new flight times from Newcastle. The overnight flight is so much better and getting there early morning means you have an extra day in the sun!
I arrived in Dubai and got the Emirates’ transfer coach (compli- mentary) to Abu Dhabi. It departs DXB at 10am so coincides nicely with the overnight flight, takes approximately 2.5 hours and drops you off on the Corniche in AD. There are plenty of taxis waiting to take you to your hotel. I stayed four nights in the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr - it is stunning! It has its own section of the private beach overlooking the grand mosque and three swimming pools. The food was amazing and there was a souk next door in the Shangri La Hotel, just a ten-minute walk away.
AD is like Dubai 25 years ago, not hugely built up, no mega high rise buildings nor the glamour of its neighbour, with a more relaxed feel - no hustle and bustle! After four days, I got the complimentary EK coach back to DXB. It leaves at 09:45 so not too much of an early start and gets you to DXB at 12:15, so is timed perfectly with the afternoon flight back to NCL, but I was having a week in Dubai so just jumped in a taxi to Le Meridien Hotel near the airport.
I love that hotel - it was the first hotel I stayed in on my first visit
to Dubai in 1997...... OMG I’ve been going to Dubai for 25 years...that makes me feel old! I had a pool access room which was great - straight out of the room and five seconds later - you are at the pool! I loved it. The heat wasn’t too much of a problem either. I thought it might have been 43C, but there was a nice breeze most of the time which was fab and kept you a little cooler!
Soon it was back on the afternoon flight to Newcastle and at a civilised time too. I do hope EK keep these flight times for the future.
Right, that’s enough from me, happy selling guys and hope to see y'all soon.
Darren
LE ROYAL MÉRIDIEN DOHA NOW OPEN
Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts has opened the doors at its first Qatar hotel as Le Royal Méridien Doha welcomes its first guests.
Located in the heart of the country’s future city, Lusail, the 377-room hotel is the latest in Qatar’s efforts to add over 100 new hotels and serviced apartments as the country gears up to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM. The new hotel is connected
to Place Vendôme Qatar, a Parisian-inspired luxury complex which features 580 retail outlets, restaurants and theatres.
The hotel features 240 guest rooms including 53 suites offering sea or city views, as well as 137 residences including studios, and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. With easy access from the airport, the hotel is a 15-minute drive from downtown Doha, a 12-minute drive to Doha Exhibition and Conference Centre and offers metro and bus links to the surrounding Entertainment City and is the closest hotel to Lusail Stadium.
The 5-star hotel follows closely from several new openings in Qatar, including Zulal Wellness Resort and Banyan Tree Doha. Rooms start from £172 (794 QAR) per night based on a two person stay.
NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR QATAR AIRWAYS AND VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia have announced a new strategic partnership that will significantly expand both airlines’ networks, lounges and loyalty programmes.
Qatar Airways currently operates daily flights into Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth as well
as three weekly flights into Adelaide continuing into Auckland, New Zealand. Thanks to the new codeshare agreement, Qatar Airways’ passengers will be able to travel seamlessly to 35 destinations on Virgin Australia’s extensive domestic
network, including the popular Australian tourist destinations of Cairns, Gold Coast, Alice Springs and Broome, on a single booking.
Qatar Airways’ passengers will also have access to Virgin Australia’s recently relaunched short- haul international markets, including Fiji and Queenstown, New Zealand.
JUNE 2022 29


NEWS
WESTJET TAKES OFF FROM EDINBURGH FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME
WestJet’s new non-stop service from Edinburgh to Toronto commenced earlier this month, marking the first time the airline has operated from the capital.
Flights will depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays on a Boeing 737 Max, with the seasonal service running until October.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport comments: “Welcoming a new airline partner to our airport is always an exciting day and we are delighted to see the WestJet tailfin in Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh.
“This new service will open up Canada and Scotland to travellers from both countries, whether that be seeing family and friends for the first time in a while, strengthening business connections with existing and new partners, or just experiencing the fantastic sights and culture that these two amazing cities have to offer.
“North America is one of our strongest markets and we hope that by making a success of this route it demonstrates the desire there is for greater direct connectivity and something we can work towards with our partners.”
Pictured from left to right, are: Sir John Elvidge, Chairman
of Edinburgh Airport; Gwen Raez, VisitScotland Senior Market Development Manager – Long Haul; Jared Mikoch-Gerke, Director of Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs for WestJet Airlines; Jenny Gilruth, Transport Minister;
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport;
piper Conner Pratt.
NEW ATTRACTION TO OPEN AT SEAWORLD ORLANDO IN 2023
SeaWorld Orlando has announced that the park will launch a brand new coaster in 2023.
The new attraction will be the park’s seventh coaster and SeaWorld will announce the ride details over the coming months.
SeaWorld Orlando was voted best theme park, its newest coaster Ice Breaker the best new attraction in North America and Mako took the number two spot for best rollercoaster in the recent USA Today 10 Best Reader’s poll. The awards are part of USA Today’s annual 10 Best awards determined by popular vote.
EMERALD CRUISES ANNOUNCES ITINERARIES
Emerald Cruises have announced details of a range of new river and yacht cruise itineraries for 2023.
In Asia, highlights include the 12-Day Majestic Mekong 8-day river cruise where guests can join a tuk-tuk tour through Phnom Penh, visit the Oudong Monastery and Temples and enjoy acrobatics and music at the Phare Cambodian Circus. Itinerary also features Long Khanh Island, known for its scarf weaving and Hoa Hao Buddhist pagoda. The 12-Day Majestic Mekong journey on board Emerald Harmony calls at Phnom Penh, Tan Chau, Long Khau Island, An Long, My An Hung, Sa Dec,
Cai Be and Ho Chi Minh City.
From the Qatari capital of Doha, guests can enjoy a luxurious three-night stay before setting sail on Emerald Azzurra to the Sir Bani Yas Island
for a day at the beach. In Abu Dhabi, there is an included guided tour of the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The 11-Day Gems of the Arabian Peninsula with Doha yacht cruise sails from Doha to Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Khasab, Fujairah, Zighy Bay and Dubai.
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30 travelmatters.biz
Emerald Harmony, Mekong Delta
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam


Sail
with friends
Sailors score up to $3200 when they Sail With Friends.
$200 onboard credit for each cabin through June 30th.
If your Sailors book a voyage and get their friends on the same one booked through you, they’ll now get $200 in onboard credit per cabin (up from $50!) until June 30th. And it shouldn’t take too much convincing, because each referred cabin will come with $200 in onboard credit, too.
Whether they’re planning a dreamy birthday trip with close friends or that bachelor party that got postponed last year, we’re sweetening the deal when they do — because the bigger the crew, the more credit they’ll score—up to $3200.
LEARN MORE AT FIRSTMATES.COM
FOR PACKAGES, VISIT TRADE-VOYAGESTORE.COM
Here’s how to do it:
Step 1 Book your Sailor on a voyage.
Step 2 Let your Sailor know about our Sail With Friends program and the $200 per cabin bonus that they and their friends can earn.
Step 3 Share the social media assets with your Sailor, and ask them to post them on their social channels...but don’t forget to customize the text.
Step 4 Book their friends on the same voyage and link the bookings.
Step 5 Rake in your commissions and new clients!


INGHAMS IS THE LEADING TOUR OPERATOR FOR ALL THINGS LAKES AND MOUNTAINS ACROSS EUROPE
WHEN YOU THINK OF AUSTRIA, ITALY, FRANCE, SLOVENIA OR SWITZERLAND IN THE SUMMER, WHAT IS IT YOU VISUALISE?
Did you know holidays to these majestic destinations can be so many things to different people;
• A dream for walkers – reconnecting with nature, fresh air, stunning scenery
• Perfect for cyclists – for the hardened mountain biker in the hills or the leisurely cycle around the lake, maybe even on an e-bike!
• Where better for wellness and mindfulness – slow down, enjoy the walks in the mountains, choose a hotel with a fantastic spa, swim in the lakes – just take time to breathe
• So much history – whether it’s the Colosseum in Rome or the medieval castles and towns of Slovenia, there is a lot to experience
• Be on the water – paddleboard, kayak or windsurf in Lake Garda or raft in Chamonix
• Activity based on land – parapente, climb the mountains or take part in summer tobogganing in Chamonix
• Travel by rail – Switzerland is renowned for its train rides across the Glacier Express or the scenic Golden Pass line, one of the most stunning countries of contrasts.
WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD ENJOY OUR HOLIDAYS?
• 50+ age group – looking to be more active and enjoy something more than a beach
• Families – families are far more active and love an active break in the fresh air
• Solo Travellers – some of our properties offer low or no single supplements
WHY YOU SHOULD BOOK THESE FABULOUS HOLIDAYS WITH INGHAMS
• We have over 85 years’ experience with great relationships in these destinations
• During the pandemic, we have always done the right thing and looked after you and your customers
• Online booking system for you – agents.inghams.co.uk available 24/7
• Fantastic reservations team open 6 days a week with low call wait times
• Price parity
• Agent toolkit enabling you to manage bookings easier adding excursions
or extras, downloading invoices, welcome packs and tickets
• Agent hub giving you training tools, flyers, images as well as destination training videos
• Easy to produce posters via the agent website for your windows and social media
• Dedicated trade social media pages Facebook: Inghams Summer for
Travel Agents, Inghams Winter for Travel Agents and Santas Lapland for Travel Agents
Insta: Inghams trade Sales
• Agency Sales Team dedicated to you. Team of 3 who are available to help with training, products, queries or just an ear and a chat. Julie, Sasha and Hannah are available via [email protected]
Reservations: 01483 791111 Website: agents.inghams.co.uk
32 travelmatters.biz


AUSTRIA FRANCE ITALY SLOVENIA SWITZERLAND
Summer 2023 on sale
Queen’s Jubilee Offer
70 years = £70pp low deposit*
WIN a summer picnic hamper!
All Summer 2023 bookings made by 30th June will be entered in a draw to win a Summer Picnic Hamper. Winner announced 4th July
Find out more
call 01483 791111 visit agents.inghams.co.uk
*Valid on 2023 bookings up until 31st October on selected holidays and on TUI and Jet2 flights only - all holidays using other airline carriers have a deposit of £150.
Deposit amount will show once you select your flights in the booking process


LEGER HOLIDAYS EXPANDS ITS LUXURIA LUXURY FLEET
Leger Holidays, the escorted tours and coach holidays company, has expanded its fleet of Luxuria coaches adding four new vehicles, bringing the total to eleven.
Currently, Leger Holidays offers a choice of 119 Luxuria tours, which all feature upgraded travel on
Luxuria coaches.
play games, or simply watch the miles fly by on-screen via the coach’s front view camera and there’s a plug socket and USB port at each seat to keep devices charged.
Externally, the Luxuria coaches
are stylish and elegant. Internally, passenger comfort is the priority,
with all the usual facilities available
on Luxuria coaches, including air conditioning, a spacious interior and wider, deluxe, reclining, armchair-style seats with generous legroom.
The on-board configuration has a selection of double and single seats, including four rows of face-to face seats with shared tables and there are five single seats which are ideal for passengers travelling independently. There is a washroom with an on-board toilet and also a drinks servery.
The new coaches will join the fleet in early June.
Leger Shearings Group CEO Liam Race said: “Passenger comfort is our priority across the whole fleet, but the Luxuria coaches really are top of the range.
“The equivalent of business class, travelling by Luxuria ensures the journey is a unique experience.
“Working with our partner operators, who have invested in these luxury vehicles to operate on our behalf, we will have seven new Luxuria coaches out on the road by June and the whole fleet of eleven have full lines of work scheduled for this year.
“Demand has fuelled the increase
in the luxury coaches and it is very encouraging and a positive sign that the travel industry is bouncing back.
It seems our customers are also willing to spend more by upgrading their holidays – possibly to make up for the time they’ve missed out on during
the pandemic.”
The four new vehicles have been built to the Luxuria specification and every seat has its own, fully interactive, touch-screen monitor offering a wide choice of entertainment. Passengers can watch movies, listen to music,
34 travelmatters.biz


LOW DEPOSIT
£50
per person
from only
Rovinj, Croatia
No testing required on European tours for fully vaccinated travellers!
With 1000s of fully escorted holidays combining luxury coach travel, superb accommodation and expertly planned itineraries, there’s something to suit all interests and budgets in our collection. Now is the time for your customers to rediscover Europe’s most spectacular destinations!
• Our remarkable collection features sensational short breaks, grand adventures, relaxing river cruises, fabulous festive escapes and more.
• Hundreds of local coach joining points to choose from, or your customers can start their holiday from their door step with our Door-to-Door service.
• Our luxury coaches boast state-of-the-art features, making your customers’ journey as comfortable as possible.
• Personal touch-screen TVs packed with films, music & TV shows • Deluxe armchair-style seats with retractable calf rests
• Only 31 seats creating a much more spacious environment
To order your bulk brochure supplies visit BP Trade-Gate
Your customers can book with confidence...
Full Financial Protection
Your customers can rest assured that their holiday will be safe, secure and fully bonded by ABTA from the day they book.
Customers can change their holiday for FREE
If your customers contract COVID-19 up to 7 days before they’re due to travel, they can move their booking to another tour or date for free.
Your customers can upgrade to Luxuria
the ultimate in business class style coach travel...
Refunds within 7 days
If your customers’ holiday is cancelled we’ll refund their money within 7 days, giving them complete peace of mind.
ORDER YOUR BROCHURE SUPPLIES
Your trade contact is: Ashley Dellow [email protected] Call Ashley on 07818 454 450
Visit www.leger.co.uk Call 01709 833 805 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm
TODAY!
1 Cover Designs.indd
1
21/12/2021
15:16:25
Travel by
300 fully escorted TOURS IN 35 DESTINATIONS
OVER
Luxuria
5
0
0
Luxury coach escorted touring
CO
Europe
& Worldwide
FULLY ESCORTED HOLIDAYS
January 2022 to October 2023
OVER
YOU’RE IN
good company
www.leger.co.uk
AC
H LOCAL JOINING
POINTS


NEWS
WINDSTAR CRUISES LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS
Windstar Cruises has launched its biggest ever exclusive UK sale featuring over 140 worldwide sailings departing between May and
December 2022.
The sale, which runs until 30th June 2022, offers savings of up to 60% and includes both short- and long-haul itineraries, as well as Cruise Tours and the longer Star Collector voyages.
Offers include:
• Nine Alaska voyages ranging from 7 to 14 days
• Three Australia & New Zealand voyages ranging
from 11 to 14 days
• 32 Star Collector voyages ranging from 14 to 21 days
• 35 Cruise Tours ranging from 9 to 18 days
• 19 Greece itineraries ranging from 7 to 10 days
• Eight Italy itineraries ranging from 8 to 10 days
• 14 Mediterranean itineraries ranging from 7 to 10 days
• 18 Northern Europe itineraries ranging from 7 to 11 days
• Three 14-night ocean crossings
• Three seven- and eight-night Tahiti itineraries
Cruise prices start from £1,523 per person for a 14-night sailing from Lisbon to St Maarten departing 26th November, with savings of between £776 and £1,047 per person.
INTREPID TRAVEL INVESTS IN ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION PROVIDER
Intrepid Travel and CABN have announced a partnership which will see Intrepid Travel invest a AUD $7.85 million equity stake to deliver more than 70 off-grid, sustainable cabins across Australia
by 2023.
CABN’s current experiences include 11 minimalist escapes in some of Australia’s most stunning locations. Each cabin is built from predominantly locally sourced and sustainable materials and requires minimal infrastructure with a ‘leave no trace’ philosophy. Their unique design allows guests to immerse themselves in nature and disconnect from everyday life.
Retreat style projects planned across Australia include the recently announced CABN site in collaboration with the Hans Heysen Foundation at the Cedars in Hahndorf, South Australia; the Myponga Reservoir project and along the enhanced iconic Cooloola Great Walk departing Noosa in the Fraser Coast Region.
SPL VILLAS LAUNCHES TO THE TRAVEL TRADE
SPL Villas, a family run independent villa specialist, has recently launched to the UK travel trade.
The villa specialist, who launched last year in the midst of the pandemic, offers a portfolio of over 900 individually chosen villas for a range of budgets in over 100 destinations across Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey.
The company has appointed a trade partnerships manager to educate agents on its villa portfolio and help with training and has also developed an agent training module as well as an agent portal enabling agents to see the exact commission they will earn on each villa, which they can hide when showing their screen to clients.
The company will be offering agents 10% commission on all bookings as well as running a number of agent booking incentives across the year and fam trips to showcase its product to agents face to face.
36 travelmatters.biz


MENTON, FRANCE
FOR UNRIVALED ACCESS TO EUROPE, WINDSTAR KNOWS THE WAY
WIND YACHTS STAR PLUS YACHTS
Our sailing and all-suite yachts deliver just 148 to 342 guests to nearly 75 itineraries and more than 150 iconic European ports in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Iceland, Norway, and many others. Your clients have opportunities to immerse themselves in a more personalized Europe for an All-Inclusive experience that’s 180 degrees from ordinary.
Windstar Knows the Way to Holiday! Book your clients now
for All-Inclusive savings! www.WindstarCruises.com/ukholidaysale.
To find your way to Windstar please call 0808 178 2233 or email [email protected].




CHECK OUT THESE AMAZING OFFERS!
EXCLUSIVELY WITH YOUTRAVEL.COM
+ FREE ROOM UPGRADE from Standard Pool View to Valid for stays until 11th Oct 22 when you Standard Partial Sea View! book by 9th July!
Valid for stays until 31st Oct 22 when you book by 10th July!


NEWS
RIVIERA TRAVEL ANNOUNCES 2023 OCEAN CRUISE PROGRAMME
Riviera Travel has launched its ocean cruise programme for 2023, with a total of 10 itineraries available to book now.
New for next year are an ‘Aegean Odyssey’ voyage on the Star Flyer, which comprises a seven-day sailing, with two nights in Istanbul and one night in Athens and guided tours in both cities. Departing 4 May, guests will also take in Pergamon, Chios, Patmos, Santorini and Monemvasia.
The 16-sail, 162-guest Star Flyer is a reconstruction of a 19th century, four-masted vessel, combining age-old design with luxury on-board facilities. Prices start from £2,399pp.
The programme also features two voyages on the new Ocean Albatros expedition ship. An ‘Arctic & Spitsbergen’ eight-day sailing, with a pre and post stay in Oslo, departs on 7 June which includes the opportunity to experience the midnight sun from within the Arctic Circle, visit the glaciers and fjords of Spitsbergen and sail along the rim of the Arctic pack ice. Prices start from £4,299pp.
The 194-guest Ocean Albatros is currently under construction and being built specifically to navigate the Arctic and Antarctica. It includes an observation lounge, lecture room and panorama restaurant. A speaker programme by the onboard expert guides will be on offer.
Other sailings include six Adriatic yacht cruise itineraries, for up to 38 guests per sailing. The specially-chartered yachts will offer eight-day voyages, with a total of 91 departures from May to October, on a number of routes.
Exclusive solo departures are available on select itineraries. All itineraries include return flights and transfers, a programme of guided tours and visits, select meals
and an expert tour manager throughout.
GO SOLO AT CHRISTMAS WITH THE JG TRAVEL GROUP
The JG Travel Group is promoting its ‘Going Solo’ breaks, which are available through both the Just Go! Holidays and National Holidays brands.
Highlights include Christmas in Prague, an 8-day coach break which features a guided tour of the city and on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day, both lunch and dinner are served in a local restaurant. Guests will enjoy a guided tour of Prague Castle, a dinner cruise
on the River Vltava, a visit to Kutna Hora and a stop in Nuremberg. Departing 22 December 2022, the price includes return coach travel from various pick-up points, return ferry journeys, five night’s B&B accommodation in Prague, various meals, a range of excursions, first
and last night B&B hotel in Germany and a Going Solo host is on hand to assist at the hotel. There are no single supplements.
Other tours include Christmas Festivities in the Cotswolds, a 5-day coach break priced from £369pp.
This tour features a traditional Christmas lunch and light entertainment every evening at the hotel, a pantomime performance, while on Boxing Day there is the opportunity to explore two Cotswold villages.
Departing 23 December 2022, price includes return coach travel from various pick-up points in the north
of England, four night’s accommodation including breakfast and dinner, a traditional Christmas Day lunch, a ticket to the pantomime, an excursion to Birmingham and an excursion to Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway.
I WANT TO GO ON A ROAD TRIP, LISTEN TO GOOD MUSIC & DISCOVER BEAUTIFUL PLACES
40 travelmatters.biz


2023 European tours
Flights from Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Newcastle
Lake Como, St Moritz & the Bernina Express
8 days from £1,099PP
Up to October 2022 & April to October 2023
Flights from Edinburgh or Manchester
on sale now
Classical Spain
7 days from £699PP
Up to November 2022
& March to November 2023
Flights from Edinburgh, Manchester or Newcastle
Switzerland, the Matterhorn & the Glacier Express
8 days from £1,499PP
Up to October 2022 & May to October 2023
Flights from Manchester
For more information and to book Call: 01283 744370
Visit: rivieratravel.co.uk/agents
Price based on two people sharing a room subject to availability and correct at time of print. Single rooms available at a supplement. Additional entrance costs may apply. Riviera Travel booking terms and conditions apply. ABTA V4744 ATOL 3430 protected.
Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel.
ABTA No. V4744


FAM TRIP REVIEW
A-ROSA DONNA RIVER CRUISE REVIEW
By Jill Grimshaw Hays Travel
Who goes on a River Cruise?
Am I too young to enjoy a river cruise? And who is A-ROSA? These are the questions I was asking myself before I attended the CLIA Conference on board A-ROSA DONNA. I just didn’t know what
to expect.
Once in Budapest and ready to board the ship, check-in was very smooth and I was directed to my cabin on Deck 1 with my luggage arriving shortly after. A safety briefing was held in the lounge prior to our departure.
I was a bit apprehensive with my cabin being on Deck 1. Would it be dark with just a window at the top of the cabin? Would it be noisy? However, I was pleasantly surprised at how bright and large the cabin was, with lots of light. There were two twin beds, a sitting area and loads of storage. The cabin was also very quiet, so I was able to get a great night's sleep!
As we left Budapest, there was a Sailaway party on the Sun Deck. Sailing down the Danube at night with Budapest all lit up was an amazing experience and a great place to start my 2-night trip to Vienna. This is what memories are made of.
All meals on board A-ROSA DONNA
are buffet style - it is open dining and informal. Every night a variety of freshly cooked, local dishes were on offer
and the service in the restaurant was brilliant. There is also an outside terrace where I chose to have my breakfast both mornings - very relaxing and a great way to start the day.
You can choose a tour, or stay on board the ship or explore on your own. In Bratislava I went on a walking and mini- train tour of Bratislava. All tours are conducted by a local tour guide and you are supplied with headphones so you are able to hear the tour guide and walk at your own speed. I visited Bratislava Castle along with walking around the main town area. It’s not a huge city, so it's ideal for walking.
The tours only lasted a few hours so I was able to wander about on my own and spend some time on the sun deck before we sailed to Vienna to fly home. If you want to be more active, there are bike excursions also available.
In my opinion, A-ROSA is a great option for a River Cruise. I found it to be informal, relaxing, enjoyable and memorable and would highly recommend it!
The Panorama Lounge is a great place to meet friends, sit and read a book or just watch the world go by. At night it comes alive with various entertainment including live music. The sun deck had a small pool and plenty of sun loungers and chairs, more than enough for everyone on board and with music being played, it had a lovely atmosphere.
One of the surprises on board was the Spa area - complete with Massage Rooms, Relaxation Room and a Finnish Sauna. All with floor to ceiling views
of the river! Very relaxing. There is no charge for the Relaxation Room or the Finnish Sauna. The treatments are at a cost but it was not that expensive. There is also a small gym area.
A choice of optional excursions are available to book, graded in 4 levels; easy, moderate, advanced and sportive.
42 travelmatters.biz


Trust our experts
Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and spoils those who
visit with superb sandy beaches, azure Aegean waters and highly impressive mountain scenery - do hire a car if you can, there are some fabulous mountain drives to be done. Secluded villages nestle amongst vineyards, olive and citrus groves.
The Samarian Gorge is the most dazzling of more than a dozen imposing canyons.
Coastlines to the north and south boasts beaches, coves and great bays decorated with ribbons of the finest fine golden sand. And a benefit of occupying the most southerly point in Europe is that summer lingers longest here.
Please call our travel experts on freephone 0800 008 7288 for further details of our luxury holidays, multicentres, private tours and island hopping adventures.
www.classic-collection.co.uk
Expertise, service and perfectly personalised holidays
Book with confidence


AIRLINE NEWS
TUI TAKES OFF FROM TEESSIDE
TUI has welcomed its first Teesside Airport passengers in nine years as it launched its summer breaks to Majorca.
The first flight jetted out to Palma, joining the airport’s busiest schedule since 2013 - the last time TUI touched down. The service runs every Tuesday and will also provide connections to four Marella Cruises sailing itineraries, including Coastal Gems, Treasures of the Mediterranean, Magic of Spain and Mediterranean Medley, all on Marella Discovery.
TUI is also running a programme of flights from the airport in 2023, with tickets on sale now. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “After such a difficult time for the aviation industry as a whole – with airports reporting £10 billion losses since March 2020 – it’s fantastic to now see our terminal packed once again and have TUI back
on board.
“The fact that the flight was absolutely packed out shows how excited people are to have the service back and future bookings are looking just as encouraging. TUI has also committed to 2023 too and we’ll never stop working to secure more of the flights people want to see.
“The only reason we’ve been able to secure the routes we have is thanks to people from across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool showing their support - and thanks to
our multi million-pound terminal redevelopment, it’s smoother and quicker than ever to use your local airport to get away on a well- deserved break.”
NEW BAR OPENS AT
TWO NEW SERVICES FROM BELFAST CITY AIRPORT
Emerald Airlines, exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional, has expanded its services from Belfast City Airport, with new routes to Glasgow and Exeter.
The airline already operates services to Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford and Manchester and has also welcomed an additional two aircraft to its Belfast fleet, increasing the frequency of its existing services to Manchester and Birmingham, which now operate up to 3 times per day.
Edinburgh Airport has announced the opening of Fever-Tree's new bar and cafe. The bar will offer cocktails, a selection of beer, wine and bubbles as well as a small plates menu.
The 51-seater bar, which features a 'tree canopy', expects to serve up more than 40,000 mixed drinks to domestic and international passengers in their first year of operation at the airport.
The designed drinks menu has been assembled to showcase the very best long mixed drinks - pairing Fever-Tree's award-winning mixers with selected spirits - and the bar will also offer a selection of beer, wine and bubbles as well as a small plates menu.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport says: "Build back better they say. When our retailers had to close due to the pandemic, we focused on doing just that - and what's better than welcoming new partners and new concepts to the airport to deliver a fantastic passenger experience? Adding Fever-Tree is the perfect tonic. Exciting? Of course. Better? Of course!"
The Fever-Tree Bar and Café will be open daily at Edinburgh Airport from 4am-11pm.
Speaking of Aer Lingus Regional’s commitment to Belfast City Airport, Ellie McGimpsey, Aviation Development Manager at Belfast City Airport, commented: “We are seeing strong demand for flights to England and Scotland, with customers visiting family and friends, making the most of a long weekend and getting back to business travel.
“These new routes will give passengers more flexibility and choice, conveniently connecting them to a number of exciting destinations across Great Britain. Customers can travel from Belfast City to Glasgow daily and Exeter up to five times per week.
"The Aer Lingus Regional routes have been very popular with both inbound and outbound passengers, and we look forward to working together to further develop the network from Belfast City Airport.”
EDINBURGH AIRPORT
44 travelmatters.biz


FINNAIR SERVES NEW
SIGNATURE SUNSET COCKTAIL
Finnair has launched a new signature cocktail for customers in all cabins as part of its elevated long-haul flight experience.
The new ‘Northern Blush’ drink has been created in partnership with Scandinavian cocktail producer, Danish Mikropolis Cocktails, who have committed
to delivering more than 800,000 drinks to Finnair customers. Mixed to match the Finnish sunsets of red, orange and yellow, this cocktail is also infused with traditional Nordic flavours, including lingonberry and a hint of juniper berries.
Customers at Finnair’s Helsinki lounges can also sample the new cocktail on the ground for two days following its launch, before it
becomes exclusively available
in the air. The new cocktail is complimentary in Economy during the first meal service and can be bought for €8 per drink during the rest of the flight. Business Class customers will also be able to enjoy a tipple of Mikropolis’ Negroni on Finnair’s long-haul routes.
AIR ASTANA CELEBRATES
20TH ANNIVERSARY
On 15th May 2022, Air Astana celebrated the 20th anniversary of its first commercial flight from Almaty to Nur-Sultan.
Air Astana has carried almost 60 million passengers and more than 250,000 tonnes of cargo over the last 20 years, with 600,000 flights operated and an average passenger load factor of almost 70%.
The airline has always focused on safety, service innovation, passenger comfort, operational efficiency and in particular low costs, which are in-line with those achieved by the world’s leading low-cost airlines.
The Group’s fleet has grown to 37 aircraft, including Boeing 767, Airbus A320/A320neo/A321/A321neo/ A321LR and Embraer 190-E2 aircraft, with an average age of four years. Since its launch in 2019, FlyArystan, the Group’s low-cost subsidiary, has grown to operate 10 Airbus A320 aircraft on 44 international and domestic routes.
Air Astana has also won the Skytrax Best Airline in Central Asia Award nine times since 2012 and received the Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Award three times, together with APEX Awards in 2018-2020.
RISE IN TRAVEL FROM NEWCASTLE
Last month, Newcastle International Airport celebrated its one millionth passenger to travel through the airport since the start of 2022.
Laura Hartshorne, Senior Aviation Sales Executive at Newcastle International Airport, said: “It is fantastic to have welcomed over one million passengers so far during 2022.
“We have seen the restart of our TUI long haul programme to Orlando and Mexico, more new routes including Bergen and Stavanger in Norway and recorded our busiest day since 2019!”
Eurowings is one of Newcastle Airport’s 16 airline partners, with three flights a week to Dusseldorf, increasing up to four-weekly this summer.
JUNE 2022 45


NEWS
AMBASSADOR CRUISE LINE CELEBRATES LAUNCH OF SECOND SHIP
Ambassador Cruise Line has announced the launch of its 2023/24 sailing programme which will see the cruise line’s first ship Ambience return for her second season with new itineraries, as well as Ambassador’s latest addition to the fleet, Ambition, take to the seas.
Ambition will set sail on her inaugural season on
4th March 2023 with capacity for 1,200 guests. Together the two ships will be sailing to six continents and 58 countries, calling at 165 ports and cruising over 176,195 nautical miles.
For 2023/24, Ambience will be sailing a brand new 120-night ‘Grand Round the World Cruise’, the cruise line’s longest itinerary to date, whilst Ambition will depart from both Ambassador’s home port of London Tilbury and six new regional UK ports including Belfast, Dundee, Newcastle and Liverpool. Specialising in no-fly itineraries, the cruises are adult-focussed and primarily aimed at the 50-plus market.
Ambassador Cruise Line Chief Executive Officer, Christian Verhounig, said: “We are extremely excited to be able to offer our trade partners very attractive launch offers, a range of new and exciting itineraries as part our 2023/24 programme and launch our second ship Ambition’s inaugural season.
"For our valued trade partners, I’m delighted to announce that commission is now payable on the entire Ambassador Fare. So, encourage your customers to upgrade to our great value Ambassador fares which include the Expedition drinks package and earn yourself some additional commission.”
Both Ambience and Ambition's 2023/24 itineraries will offer a number of themed cruises, as well as a selection of multi-generational sailings.
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TOUCHES DOWN IN GLASGOW
Glasgow Airport recently welcomed Westjet’s new service to Toronto which will operate four times per week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays.
Glasgow’s Operations Director Ronald Leitch said: “Toronto has always been a popular destination for our passengers, so we were thrilled to welcome WestJet’s new service to Glasgow Airport.
“Our recovery and that of the wider aviation industry, is continuing at pace and we are keen to continue to reconnect with our North American cousins after what has been a
long absence. As a gateway to Scotland, we are also keen to welcome once again the tens of thousands of Canadians who travel through Glasgow Airport each year to explore all our country has to offer.”
The Toronto route also offers onward connectivity across Canada, thanks to WestJet’s network from Toronto Pearson Airport. WestJet has also resumed its Halifax route at Glasgow Airport with three services operating per week. Both routes will operate using WestJet’s latest generation Boeing 737 fleet, which delivers an enhanced guest experience, improved fuel efficiency and is 40% quieter than the previous aircraft.
I'VE TESTED POSITIVE FOR NEEDING A VACATION
46 travelmatters.biz


IMHERE
NOWONSLE 2023/24 SEASON
SAILINGS FROM
7 REGIONAL PORTS
Cruise Ship
Iceland’s Land of Ice & Fire Ambition
River Seine Experience Ambition
Arctic Voyage to North Cape &
Land of the Midnight Sun Ambition British Isles & Seine Discovery Ambition Iberian & North Africa Escape Ambition Summer Songs Seacation* Ambition
British Isles & Ireland Discovery Ambition
Hidden Gems of France & Spain Ambition
Majestic Fjordland Ambition
Iceland’s Land of Ice & Fire Ambition
Arctic Voyage to North Cape &
Land of the Midnight Sun Ambition Scottish Islands, Highlights & Faroes* Ambition
Iceland’s Land of Ice & Fire Ambition
River Seine Experience Ambition British Isles & Seine Discovery Ambition
Iberian & North Africa Escape Ambition
BELFAST
Port
2023 SAILINGS
Belfast
Belfast
Belfast
Belfast
Belfast
Belfast
Ambition
Departure Date Nights
6-Jul-23 11
17-Jul-23 7
24-Jul-23 14
7-Aug-23 13
20-Aug-23 13
2-Sep-23 3
30-Apr-23 13
13-May-23 14
27-May-23 8
4-Jun-23 14
18-Jun-23 12
30-Jun-23 7 7-Jul-23 11
18-Jul-23 7 8-Aug-23 13
21-Aug-23 13
3-Sep-23 13
3-Sep-23 2 23-Apr-23 6
29-Apr-23 13
12-May-23 14
26-May-23 8
3-Jun-23 14
17-Jun-23 12
29-Jun-23 8
Price fr.
£1,009pp
£709pp
£1,199pp
£1,259pp
£1,119pp
£299pp
£1,239pp
£1,159pp
£719pp
£1,199pp
£1,009pp
£659pp £939pp
£709pp £1,259pp
£1,119pp
£1,259pp
£199pp £519pp
£1,239pp
£1,159pp
£719pp
£1,199pp
£939pp
£699pp
Arctic Voyage to North Cape &
Land of the Midnight Sun Ambition Liverpool 25-Jul-23 14 £1,199pp
Summer Songs Seacation & British Isles Discovery* Summer Songs Seacation*
Taste of Fjordland
British Isles & Ireland Discovery
Hidden Gems of France & Spain
Majestic Fjordland
Iceland’s Land of Ice & Fire
Arctic Voyage to North Cape &
Land of the Midnight Sun
Scottish Islands, Highlights & Faroes*
*Please note sailings starts and ends at different ports
Ambition
DUNDEE 2023 SAILINGS
Dundee
Dundee
Dundee
Dundee
Dundee
Dundee
LIVERPOOL 2023 SAILINGS
Liverpool
Liverpool Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool
Ambition Liverpool
NEWCASTLE TYNE 2023 SAILINGS
Ambition
Ambition
Ambition
Ambition
Ambition
Ambition
Ambition
Newcastle Tyne
Newcastle Tyne
Newcastle Tyne
Newcastle Tyne
Newcastle Tyne
Newcastle Tyne
Newcastle Tyne
Full T&C’s available on our website ambassadorcruiseline.com. All Fares and offers are available from 19th May 2022 through to 1st August 2022 inclusive, closing at 23:59. Capacity controlled and subject to availability. May be withdrawn without notice at any time. The prices featured in this advert are based on two adults sharing a category 1 standard twin inside cabin. Please see our website for the most up to date and current prices prior to booking. Ambassador Cruise Line is a trading name of Ambassador Cruise Holidays Limited. Ambassador Cruise Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 13299365.


WE RE READY TO PARTY
No fines expected ;-)
Hello!
We are Britain’s newest
cruise line and we’re delighted
to announce that we’re now sailing
from seven ports nationwide
and we’ve launched our second season and we’ve added a second ship to our fleet and we are now cruising to many more destinations worldwide.
But, we’ve got so much more to celebrate. So, check out our offers and let your guests enjoy themselves with the warmest welcome at sea.
How to book
Reservations & New Bookings 0808 102 8322 Book online at ambassadorcruiseline.com
Email [email protected] or see your travel agent Guest Services & After Sales 0808 102 8435
Email [email protected] Trade Sales Reservations 0808 102 8427
Email [email protected] Group Sales 08081028440
Email [email protected]
Call our specialist cruise consultants for FREE.
Lines open: Mon-Thurs 09:00-20:00, Fri 09:00-18:00, Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-16:00. Opening hours are subject to change. Please see our website for up-to-date opening hours.
UK Office: Gateway House, Stonehouse Lane, Purfleet, Essex, RM19 1NS.