Travel Matters Issue 20 November 2018

TRAVELMATTERS EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES
ISSUe 20 november 2018
Breaking new ground for the travel trade in Scotland, northern ireland, north of england & ioM
New routes from Edinburgh: Islay • Bergen • Guernsey • Stavanger
TM


Better Connected from Edinburgh with Loganair
Scotland’s Airline, Loganair has announced its largest expansion programme at Edinburgh Airport, with four new routes being launched as part of its summer 2019 schedule.
Named last month as European Regional Airline of the Year, the airline will introduce regular year-round services
to the Norwegian cities of Bergen and Stavanger; to the island of Islay; and a seasonal link between Edinburgh and Guernsey.
Stavanger will become Loganair’s second destination in Norway with four flights each week from Edinburgh, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flights from Edinburgh to Bergen – the Gateway to the Fjords – will operate three times each week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – commencing on May 10.
Bergen, Stavanger and Guernsey will each be operated by the airline’s newly acquired 37-seat Embraer 135 jet, the latest addition to its fleet of 30 aircraft.
A 34-seat Saab 340 will fly the Edinburgh to Islay route – the capital city’s first ever scheduled air link to the Inner Hebrides. The service will commence on 25 March and will initially operate four times each week before building up to a daily service by May, with a morning flight on Saturdays and lunchtime services on the other six days.
Inbound Edinburgh passengers will also be able to get access to Loganair’s extensive range of international connections via
its Better Connected programme with a rapidly growing group of airline partners
– including Qatar, Emirates, KLM, British Airways, Turkish Airlines and Air France.
This increased international connectivity means, for example, that a passenger on a flight from Sumburgh will be able to travel on one ticket to global hubs such as Dubai or Qatar with major carriers, getting access to hundreds of onward destinations.
Not only does it make things much easier for customers and their baggage, but it also provides quite a significant saving on
an Air Passenger Duty fee of £78 which would otherwise be put through for two separate tickets. Customers will also be protected if they miss one of their flights due to disruption.
So next time you’re booking a trip which takes you outside the UK, consider
the extensive range of options which Loganair’s interline and codeshare partners can add to your customer’s journey.
Bookings can be made at Loganair.co.uk or any of the main GDS.
Change your channel – visit Guernsey
Fly Edinburgh to Guernsey
Starts 11 May - 14 Sep 2019 Weekly flights
Loganair.co.uk or GDS


FocUS on northern LightS hoLidayS
PLUS
SPAA Annual Travel Awards New routes from Loganair
TRAVELMATTERS EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES
ISSUe 20 november 2018
Breaking new ground for the travel trade in Scotland, northern ireland, north of england & ioM
Short Break highLightS
TM


And the winner is.....
it’s that time of year again...the awards season! time for the travel industry to get together, let our hair down and celebrate all the hard work throughout the year.
This year’s SPAA Awards’ night fitted the bill perfectly. Bigger and better than ever before, it’s great to be able to recognise the best in the Scottish travel trade - suppliers and agents.
However, the greatest thing of all on the night was the atmosphere. What always stands out above everything else at these events whether in Scotland, Northern Ireland, North of England or Isle of Man - is the fantastic feeling of belonging to one big family!
Even though we are competing against each other, we all celebrate the winners! And who knows, maybe next year it could be your turn......
Hilary Douglas
Director
07989 414454 [email protected]
 [email protected] www.travelmatters.biz
Travel MattersTM is published by GAH Publishing Ltd, 96 Craigleith Hill Crescent, Edinburgh, EH4 2JP
Printed by Claro Print
For magazine delivery and subscription enquiries,
email [email protected]
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.
Gary Reavely
Director
07762 630057 [email protected]
Read last month’s issue online at... www.travelmatters.biz
Follow us on
@travelmatters.biz @ TravelMatBiz
Andrea Pellicci
Director
07766 010272 [email protected]
Get in touch...


news
Visit California’s Roadshow
the Visit california team and destination partners are hosting a series of california Quiz nights.
Featuring some fantastic individual and team prizes, including a place on the 2019 California SuperFam, dinner and drinks will be included on the night. To participate, agents will first need to complete the online California STAR training programme, at www.star.california.com/uk
The Roadshow will visit Aberdeen on 27th November, Glasgow on 28th November and Edinburgh on 29th November. To sign up, email you and your colleagues’ names and the event you want to attend to: [email protected]
Shine Bright with Cunard
agents can now register for the cunard Shine rewards club. Following the introduction of the programme by P&o cruises last november, cunard will also operate a points system allowing agents to gain points through a variety of ways, from making a cunard Fare booking to completing training modules.
Agents can now combine the points they earn from both Cunard and P&O Cruises and exchange them for a variety of rewards, including designer goods, experience days and technology products.
There are also enhanced rewards from Cunard brand partners such as Pickerings 3 Queens’ Gin, Laurent-Perrier champagne and Godiva chocolates, with the ultimate reward of a Cunard cruise.
Agents can register online at www.shinerewardsclub.com
november 2018
5


30-31
Take a Faroe Islands break - Atlantic Airways
50
Check-In with Turkish Airlines
53
Links Travel & Tours - Asia Specialists
6
november 2018
Inside Guide...
5 & 7
Discover the Americas with United
13
River cruising on board Fred. Olsen’s Brabant
21
Travel with the experts - Iceland Pro Travel
46
Q&A with Richard Forde, Newmarket Holidays
56-62
SPAA Annual Travel Awards - suppliers say Thank You
12
Agent winners - Emirates’ incentive
14-23
Focus on Northern Lights Holidays
30-43
Focus on Short Breaks
47
Earn Rewards with Cunard
63-64
Loganair adds new routes
14-15
Iceland & Beyond - Icelandair
18-19
Winter excursions with Hurtigruten
38-39
Eurowings - destinations worldwide


news
Grand opening ....
after starting out as a modern apprentice
17 years ago and working for various travel companies including Lunn Poly/thomson and Virgin holidays, Paul reid has recently opened his own travel agency in Uddingston.
Working alongside Billy and Kirsty, Paul and the team of the new office Travel Guru, have been rushed off their feet since they opened!
Icelandair Group acquires
Wow air
the icelandair group has entered into a share purchase agreement to purchase all shares in the airline, WoW air.
Subject to approval, the shareholders of WOW air will receive 5.4% of Icelandair Group‘s shares after the transaction. The companies will continue to operate under separate brands and their combined market share on the transatlantic market will be around 3.8%.
Bogi Nils Bogason, Interim President & CEO, Icelandair Group commented: “WOW air has in recent years built a strong brand and enjoyed great success in the company‘s markets to and from Iceland and across the Atlantic.
There are many opportunities for synergies with the two companies but they will continue to operate under their own brands and operating approvals. The tourism industry is one of the cornerstones of the Icelandic economy and
it is important that flights to and from Iceland will remain frequent.“
WOW air currently serves 37 destinations across Europe, North America and Asia including Edinburgh, Dublin, London, Montreal, Los Angeles, Dallas Ft Worth and St Louis.
november 2018
7


news
8
27 CAliForniA Quiz niGht, aberdeen
28 CAliForniA Quiz niGht, GlasGow
29 CAliForniA Quiz niGht, edinburGh
29 turkiSh AirlineS’ FeStive ShinDiG, PrinCiPal hotel, edinburGh
28 SPAA 89th AnnuAl Dinner - Crowne Plaza, GlasGow
07 GeorDie BAll Gosforth Park hotel, newCastle
14 StAr exhiBition PrinCiPal roxburGh hotel in edinburGh
11 SPAA SeMinAr & SPrinG network lunCh - Grand Central, GlasGow
07 trAvel GoSSiP roADShow, belfast
07 GlASGow SPAA Quiz
14 eDinBurGh SPAA Quiz
23 ABerDeen SPAA Quiz douGlas hotel, aberdeen
30 SPAA Quiz FinAl travel 2 offiCes
04 GrAFtAS newCastle
hilton hotel
06 SPAA AGM & ChriStMAS
networkinG lunCh
the Corinthian Club, GlasGow
2019
More appointments for Royal Caribbean
royal caribbean has announced a number of new appointments within its Sales team.
Adam Morris has now joined the UK
Sales team as Regional Sales Manager
North East. Adam joins from Thomas
Cook where he has spent the last 12 years,
most recently as a large store manager and Cruise Expert for the North East region.
A new Regional Sales Manager for Scotland, Cumbria and
Lancashire has also been appointed. Emma Sweeney
has joined the company from TUI Travel PLC, where she has been since 2011.
Emma has strong sales experience and an excellent
understanding of the importance of customer service.
New Regional Sales Manager for Saga
Saga travel has announced the appointment of Jason kemp
as regional Sales Manager, responsible for Scotland and northern ireland.
Jason joins Saga Travel after six years with Balkan Holidays and previous roles with Globespan and TUI. He joins a six strong regional sales team, reporting in to Liz Ryan, Senior Regional Sales Manager.
Liz Ryan commented: “We’re incredibly excited to have Jason join the team. We haven’t had local representation in Scotland and Northern Ireland for some time now and we know the potential this region has.
Jason is incredibly well respected in the industry and he has a fantastic network across the regions he manages.”
november 2018
20 SPAA SuMMer in the City BAll, edinburGh
22 SPAA GolF DAy
lanark Golf Course
05 SPAA SeMinAr & AutuMn network lunCh, edinburGh
10 trAvel GoSSiP roADShow, GlasGow
11 trAvel GoSSiP roADShow, newCastle
12 StAr exhiBition aberdeen
07- ABtA trAvel 09 Convention
07 SPAA AnnuAl trAvel AwArDS, GlasGow
19 StAr exhiBition GlasGow
05 SPAA AGM & ChriStMAS networkinG lunCh GlasGow


DISCOVER MORE:
SEYCHELLES
WITH THE AIRLINE THAT FLIES TO MORE COUNTRIES THAN ANY OTHER
MAHÉ


It’s the company you keep
in the past, the benefit for a travel agent in being part of a consortium or franchise was chiefly in the area of better commissions or access to product, but
there has never been a more important time to be associated with a support organisation than now. Utilising the strands of expertise not available within your own company, goes way beyond just seeking more buying power and new marketing opportunities.
There are countless organisations
to belong to, not just commercial
entities such as the consortia and
the independent companies offering homeworkers opportunities, but also trade associations themselves, such as the SPAA, ABTA, CLIA, AAC, GTMC and so on. These groups are offering huge value through to their memberships
like never before, simply because of
the complexities that confront us now
in the travel sphere, in addition to new legislation and the political arena. Nowadays, even for the biggest agent, there is value in being attached to a group of like-minded individuals where solving common industry problems has become a daily occurrence.
Many offer global connections and solutions which are becoming more of a standard requirement than before.
Whilst on the one hand there is a great deal of consolidation in the retail and corporate agency arena, operators
and airlines are now paying a lot more attention to the “invisible bookers” or what are in effect, sub-agents. There has been a massive upsurge in individuals attaching themselves to mother agencies in recent years where, although few qualifications are needed, are able to generate substantial client lists into their portfolio. There is little to stop individuals setting up as travel agents and why shouldn’t they, so long as they ensure they take their responsibilities seriously in terms of customers’ travel arrangements, and the mother agency can clearly manage activity on their behalf.
Airlines and operators are keenly aware that an increasing amount of business
is originating from these homeworkers and sub-agents and subsequently, they want to be able to influence those agents to sell their product. However, the route to get to these bookers is not as easy as
it sounds, as many are not even known
to the provider. This is why membership organisations are crucial to suppliers to continue the development and the route to market for their product. It’s a brave agent who does not belong to one of these groups and indeed it’s probably hard to
find one that doesn’t. The dynamics of
the travel industry are changing as are the methods of distribution of product become wider still, whilst at the same time, consumers and corporates are being confronted with a myriad of different ways in which to book.
As more and more people travel, then there are naturally more routes in which to purchase travel arrangements, so whilst the traditional high street agent is still a hugely vital cog in the overall machine, the number of individuals now in the business has by far overtaken those with a mainline presence and therein lies the dilemma for suppliers – how do they get to influence that increasing number of individual bookers that are scattered
far and wide across the country. More
so than ever, organisations such as the SPAA with our networking opportunities, along with all the other well-known membership organisations who conduct their own meetings, seminars and conferences, all provide an increasingly important platform for suppliers to connect with agents and vice versa.
So, whilst disruption is happening
all around the world in travel, agents themselves are conducting their own quiet revolution.
ken McLeod SPaa President
10
november 2018
SPAA AGM & ChriSTMAS NeTworkiNG LuNCh
#SPAAChriSTMAS
Thursday 6th December 2018
The Corinthian Club, 191 Ingram Street, Glasgow G1 1DA
Join us for some networking and festive cheer with our Members and Associates! Welcome drinks from 12.15pm, Christmas Lunch served at 1.00pm
Contact [email protected] for further details and to register


The Voice of Travel in Scotland Established 1921
associate Member news Bytes
Wendy Wu appoints BdM for Scotland
Wendy Wu has appointed Wayne Russell as Business Development Manager Scotland.
Commenting on the appointment, John Warr, Global Sales Director said: “We are delighted to welcome Wayne on board to build on John Booty’s excellent turnaround work in Scotland. Wayne’s appointment enables us to do two things; firstly to release John, who can now give Ireland his full focus as well as enable us to give Scotland and its agents the attention it deserves!
“Although we are in double-digit growth in Scotland, we know that there is scope to reach more agents and work closely with them and their customers to shout about our excellent and new products including South America. Receiving the award for best ‘Escorted Touring & Adventure company’ from our Scottish agents at the SPAA Awards night was one of our proudest moments and re-enforces my decision to invest in the Scottish market. It was always going to be hard to replace John: however, I am reassured that we have the right person
for the job.”
travelcube and Bedsonline come together
With over 40 years’ experience serving the trade, our companies have combined to give agents a significantly enhanced offering. We’ve just unveiled our new brand identity and website and
we are totally committed to helping you shine.
The new enhanced Bedsonline platform offers travel agents access to our diverse and competitive product portfolio with 170,000+ hotels worldwide, with 90,000+ directly contracted, 24,000 transfer routes, 18,000 activities and 140,000 car hire options, all sourced by a team of over 1,000 contractors.
A powerful, user-friendly search engine allowing users to filter and compare results, including intuitive email and PDF functions and we have the best hotels at the best price due to our exclusive agreements. This includes exclusive retail
travel agent rates too!
delta expands edinburgh services
Delta will double its flights from Edinburgh next summer by adding a new service to Boston’s Logan International Airport, effective 24th May, 2019.
Complementing the existing daily service to New York-JFK, the seasonal Boston route will offer customers more travel options from Edinburgh to the United States, with two flights every day during the peak summer months. Delta also offers a seasonal, daily flight from Glasgow to New York- JFK.
The new Boston flight will operate in conjunction with Delta’s joint venture partner, Virgin Atlantic. Delta has scheduled a 163- seat Boeing 757-200ER aircraft between Edinburgh and Boston, offering 16 fully flat-bed seats in Delta One, in-seat entertainment, Wi-Fi access and free mobile messaging.
authentic travel experience with azamara
When you travel the world with Azamara Club Cruises®, it’s more than just a holiday. We offer unparalleled itineraries and give a deeper, more authentic travel experience.
We’re always seeking new ways to exceed guests’ expectations and to further evolve our Destination Immersion® philosophy. Our shore excursion programme caters for every individual travel style. You could learn how to make mozzarella by hand in Italy, or stay overnight in a game reserve near Mombasa – the choices are vast and plentiful.
Spending more time in port than any other cruise line with our late nights and overnight stays, our three boutique-style award- winning cruise ships can visit smaller, more unusual ports that larger ships cannot reach. With more inclusive amenities for all guests including drinks and gratuities as standard, our top tier crew and friendly, authentic service, we offer a
truly home from home experience on board.
Contact: Wayne Russell
Business Development Manager Scotland Telephone: 07947 903807
Email: [email protected]
For more information contact: Colin Clark , Account Manager - Scotland and the Regions, UK Tel: 07973 715 819
Email: [email protected]
UK Sales Support - 0800 783 0747 Email - [email protected]
For more info contact:
Miya Gilritchie- Key Account Manager
(Scotland & NI)
Tel: 07971 183656
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Nikki Singleton
Major Account Manager UK & Ireland
Tel: 07833 406300
Email: [email protected]
november 2018
11


Agents IncentIve
12
first prize
Karen dempster, traveleads
WON the TOP prize of 2 Business Class tickets (taxes paid) from Edinburgh to Dubai including 3 nights’ 5-star hotel accommodation!
third prize
Grant drennan, travel Your World
WON 2 Economy Class flights from Edinburgh to anywhere on
the Emirates’ network!
fourth prize
helen WalKer, fliGht centre
WON Champagne Dinner for 2 at Cannonball Restaurant
& Bar, Edinburgh!
Congratulations everyone!
november 2018
Here are the winners!
second prize
Gordon reid, charlie reid travel
WON 2 Economy Class tickets (taxes paid) from Edinburgh to Dubai including 3 nights’
5-star hotel accommodation!
fifth prize
andY GilhoolY, travel counsellors
WON Sunday Lunch for 2 at The Pompadour by Galvin, Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh!


European River Cruising
2019 sailings of the Rhine, Danube, Moselle & Main rivers
Fred. Olsen’s smaller river boat, Brabant, is scheduled for an exciting second season in 2019. There’s a wide selection of unforgettable itineraries that present chances to absorb captivating cities and experience breathtaking scenery – from picturesque countryside backdrops and historic castles, to terraced vineyards and charming towns. For any sailing your customers may choose, Brabant’s bright, spacious and welcoming atmosphere will provide the perfect base
for exploring Europe’s spellbinding rivers.
Amsterdam • Basel • Belgrade • Cruising through the Iron Gates • Bratislava • Budapest Cruising the Danube Delta • Cologne • Cruising the Main Valley • Düsseldorf • Bernkastel-Kues Hirsova • Strasbourg • Cruising the Wachau Valley • Vienna • And more...
For further information call Trade Support on 01473 746 164,
or visit our dedicated agent website at fredolsencruises.com/agent
All bookings are subject to FOCL standard terms and conditions available on our website and on request. Information shown is correct at time of going to print (November 2018). E&OE


TO ICELAND AND BEYOND
Fly direct to Iceland with easy connections to up to 23 destinations in North America.
Reykjavik I Anchorage I Baltimore I Boston I Cleveland I Chicago I Dallas I Denver I Edmonton I Halifax I Kansas City I Minneapolis I Montreal New York (JFK & Newark) I Orlando I Philadelphia I Portland I San Francisco I Seattle I Tampa I Toronto I Vancouver I Washington D.C.
+ icelandairacademy.com


ICELANDAIR STOPOVER SERVICE
Add a touch of Iceland to your journey across the Atlantic at no additional airfare.


northern lights
Stewart Travel acquires Lapland specialist
after completing the management buy out of Stewart travel, the senior management team have announced the acquisition of Lapland specialists, canterbury travel.
Established in 1970, Canterbury Travel owns a selection of Santa themed villas as well as hotels and offers a range of Arctic activities including sleigh rides with huskies, snowmobile experiences, reindeer safaris and tours to see the Northern Lights. Canterbury Travel will be integrated into the Stewart Travel group under the banner of newly created Brooklyn Travel Holdings and founder Dolores Collins will remain involved in the business as a consultant.
Take a day trip with Newmarket Holidays
newmarket holidays are offering a Lapland Santa experience day trip priced from £499 per person.
Departing from Durham Tees Valley, this specially chartered flight flies direct to Pajala in the heart of Swedish Lapland, above the Arctic Circle. The package includes return transfers from the airport to Santa’s village, thermal clothing, a ride in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, dog sled trip, a snowmobile ride, organised activities, a private family meeting with Santa, a Christmas gift for every child as well as a two-course lunch.
Search for the Northern Lights with Super Break
Super Break is once again offering an exclusive programme of short breaks this winter with a total of 26 departures between december 2018 and March 2019, including inverness airport for the first time.
A variety of packages are available that include direct return flights, 20kg hold luggage and 5kg hand luggage, return resort transfers, 3 or 4 nights’ accommodation as well as two excursions worth £200pp. Prices start from £699pp for a three-night break and £799pp for a four -night break.
A range of other airports are also available, including Manchester on 24th December – now from just £499pp and Newcastle on 4th January.
On Super Break’s ‘Incredible Iceland’ package, clients can explore the surrounding volcanic landscape, geothermal pools and waterfalls on the ‘Search for the Northern Lights’ and ‘Lake Myvatn – Land of Fire & Ice’ tours.
In addition, Super Break recently added three new packages to its Northern Iceland programme, including a self-drive option, a luxury option and a wilderness break for nature lovers. Prices are from £999pp for a three-night self-drive break.
Gary Gillespie, national sales manager at Super Break comments: “This product is selling well across all airports and I urge agents to ensure they are closing sales to avoid customers missing out.
“This product is really unique and if customers come in looking for a Northern Lights trip, agents should consider Akureyri – it’s different, it’s remote and it offers some incredible experiences.”
For more information and bookings, call Super Break on 01904 436000 or visit www.superbreak.com/agents
16
november 2018


Exclusive North Iceland Arctic Experience
Direct from Newcastle, City of Derry and Inverness Airports
+ Direct flights departing 4th January - 8th March 2019
+ 3 or 4 nights accommodation
+ 20kg hold luggage & 5kg hand luggage
+ Resort airport transfers
+ Search for the Northern Lights tour
+ Lake Myvatn - Land of Fire and Ice full day tour
+ +
S
r
S
e
B
Break representative in resort
u
u
p
p
e
r
from £699pp
or book now with £49pp deposit
Looking for soemthing different? Visit us online to discover our full range of European or UK city breaks.
Terms and Conditions: Price based on 2 adults sharing a double/twin room for 3 nights at 3* Hotel Nordurland All prices are subject to availability and cost change. All details correct at the time of print.
Visit SuperBreak.com/TravelAgent for more information


northern lights
Hurtigruten, Norway and the Northern Lights
99% Northern Lights success rate
When your clients want to make their Northern Lights dreams a reality, there’s no better and more reliable offering than a 12-day Classic Voyage in northern Norway with Hurtigruten. Last year, 99% of our UK guests who travelled with us during the aurora season (between
1 October and 31 March) on our 12-day voyages, saw the Northern Lights. That’s a pretty impressive track record, even if we do say so ourselves.
Aurora guarantee, you say?
Not only that, Hurtigruten’s 12-day Classic Voyages during the aurora season
come with our special northern Lights Promise: if the Lights don’t show, hurtigruten will give your client a 6 or 7-day voyage free of charge to try again the following season. It’s basically the closest thing you can get to an aurora guarantee.
What’s an auroral zone?
The auroral zones are 2,500 km-wide belts spanning the magnetic north and south poles, where the aurora is most commonly seen.
Northern Norway:
best for aurora sightings
Iceland is often (mistakenly) assumed to be the best place for Northern Lights sightings, but for those based in the
the northern Lights (aurora borealis) have mystified and mesmerised humans since the year dot. homer, aristotle and Shakespeare have attempted to describe this heavenly wonder but even their words don’t do the aurora justice. there is simply no substitute for seeing them with your own eyes – which is why the northern Lights consistently rank at the top of travel bucket lists the world over.
18
november 2018
UK, this accolade rightfully belongs
to northern Norway. According to astronomers, the coastal areas of Troms and Finnmark in northern Norway record the greatest number of auroral occurrences.
The highlights of Norway
Coastal Norway has some of the
most breathtaking scenery in the
world. Hurtigruten’s 12-day voyages
will take your clients on an authentic exploration of Norway’s charming and spectacular coast, stopping at 34 ports both northbound and southbound from Bergen to Kirkenes and back again. Popular highlights include the pristine fjords of Lofoten and Vesterålen, the North Cape, as well as the historic towns of Bergen, Ålesund, Trondheim and Tromsø. And with over 50 optional winter excursions on offer, your clients can join a range of exciting activities including snowmobiling, husky dog sledding, king crab fishing, Viking and indigenous Sami cultural activities.
Who is Hurtigruten?
Pronounced Her-tig-root-en, Hurtigruten is a household name in Norway. Founded over 125 years ago, Hurtigruten has grown from pioneering the original Norwegian coastal route, that still serves local communities today, into a world leader in exploration travel, taking guests to many destinations including Antarctica, Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland, Alaska and Canada.
Five steps for Northern Lights success
There are five things that will improve your clients’ chances of seeing the Northern Lights and it’s Hurtigruten’s ability to deliver these that make us Northern Lights specialists.
1. Be in the auroral zone: Our famous route takes you to 22 ports above the Arctic Circle - the auroral zone - where the Northern Lights often appears directly above our ships.
2. Visit the arctic between october and March: We sail daily during the auroral season, spending 7 out of 12 days above the Arctic Circle.
3. keep clear of clouds: We can’t control the weather, but unlike a static viewing point, we can sail past any cloud cover for a clearer view of the skies.
4. Spend time outdoors: We are a floating Northern Lights observatory plaform, with spacious viewing decks and onboard announcements of Northern Lights occurences.
5. avoid light pollution: Out at sea, we are away from the ambient artificial light on land and our ships are low- lit, increasing the quality of your Northern Lights viewing.


FREE voyage if the lights don’t occur on your 12-day voyage between October and March
■ Daily departures all year around
■ Our famous route sails in the
Arctic’s Auroral Zone and to 34 ports along the beautiful Norwegian coast
■ Choose from a range of winter excursions such as husky dog sledding, snowmobiling, and king crab safari
■ Nordic gastronomy at its best on board, using fresh, local ingredients, sourced at ports during the journey
Flight-inclusive departures from 9 UK airports
2018 – 2019 DEPARTURES
MANCHESTER:
19.01.2019; 02.02.2019; 10.02.2019; 21.02.2019; 04.03.2019; 15.03.2019
10.03.2019 29.03.2019
01.12.2018
22.01.2019; 30.01.2019; 13.02.2019; 24.02.2019; 07.03.2019; 18.03.2019
2019 – 2020 DEPARTURES
MANCHESTER:
28.10.2019; 06.02.2020; 18.01.2020; 20.02.2020; 10.03.2020; 19.03.2020
13.03.2020 30.03.2020
04.02.2020
17.10.2019; 24.01.2020; 09.02.2020; 17.02.2020; 28.02.2020; 02.03.2020; 21.03.2020
LEEDS BRADFORD:
NEWCASTLE:
GLASGOW:
London Gatwick:
London Gatwick:
LEEDS BRADFORD:
NEWCASTLE:
GLASGOW:
12 DAYS FULL BOARD
including flights
Bristol: 25.01.2019; 21.03.2019 Bournemouth: 20.11.2018; 16.02.2019;
Bristol: 19.11.2019; 26.01.2020; 15.02.2020 Bournemouth: 08.11.2019; 29.01.2020;
27.02.2019
Birmingham: 05.02.2019; 01.04.2019* Cardiff: 26.03.2019
08.03.2020
Birmingham: 30.11.2019; 26.02.2020; 01.04.2020 Cardiff: 24.03.2020
VISIT: www.hurtigruten.co.uk © BRIS STUDIO
|
FROM PP £1,349
EMAIL: [email protected]
*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.


northern lights
Take a Northern Lights
holiday with Iceland
Pro Travel
iceland Pro travel offer a number of packages to view the northern Lights.
These include a 4-day/3-night winter break in Iceland with prices starting from £570 per person, a 5-day/4 night holiday priced from £665pp and a Northern Lights and Golden Circle package for 4 days/3 nights from £655pp.
On the Northern Lights and Golden Circle tour, visitors can
can enjoy the vibrant northernmost capital of Europe, Reykjavik and go on a Northern Lights boat tour from the Reykjavik old harbour where they may be lucky enough to see a dazzling display of the Northern Lights.
Aurora season is going strong in Alaska
Clients can also head to the Blue Lagoon spa experience, enjoy a south shore adventure or hike on a glacier.
On the Golden Circle Gullfoss-Geysir tour, they can walk around the world-famous Geysir geothermal area, a geothermal field where hot springs are in abundance, geysers explode and pools of mud bubble.
One of the Golden Circle’s many highlights is the Gullfoss waterfall, the queen of Iceland‘s waterfalls. The tour ends with the Thingvellir National Park. This is the original site of the oldest existing parliament in the world. The Great Atlantic Rift is clearly visible, a rift that is slowly pulling Iceland apart along tectonic plates.
20
november 2018
if you have clients heading to north america for a winter holiday, then alaska is one of the best places to see the northern Lights.
Travellers from all over the world visit Alaska each winter to see this stunning display and take advantage of other winter experiences like snowmobiling, dog mushing, skiing, festivals and sporting events.
While the Northern Lights occur year-round, summer’s near- constant daylight makes seeing them impossible but winter’s clear, dark nights lend themselves to stunning displays.
Sightings are also possible during the “shoulder seasons” of early spring and into the autumn, when less daylight leads to darker night skies. Many Alaska hotels even offer a Northern Lights wake-up call (upon request) to wake visitors when the lights are on display.
The Interior (especially Fairbanks) and Far North regions are considered the best in Alaska for Northern Lights viewing, although the aurora can be spotted anywhere throughout the state. Visitors can track real-time aurora activity and find 3-day forecasts at www.explorefairbanks.com


UNIQUE & EXTRAORDINARY
Experience the beauty of Iceland like you’ve never seen it before with Iceland ProTravel
TRAVEL WITH EXPERTS
NORTHERN LIGHTS TOURS • NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAYS • CITY BREAKS AND MUCH MORE....
© IPT © IPT
From a city break, a self-drive holiday, an escorted tour, or a unique Icelandic spa break
Stay in luxury accommodation, sample the gourmet food, explore the unique landscape...
....we have a large selection of holidays that can be tailor made to suit your needs
Our sister company ICELAND PROCRUISES operates the Ocean Diamond cruise liner, offering circumnavigation tours around Iceland
and stunning Greenland voyages.
All enquiries:
email: [email protected]
or call: 020 3630 1340 Y6096
For more information please visit:
www.icelandprotravel.co.uk www.icelandprocruises.co.uk
We offer travel agents commission
The land of the Northern Lights and Midnight Sun awaits you... Explore one of the most fascinating places on Earth with icelandprotravel...


northern lights
Catch a glimpse of the ‘Mirrie Dancers’
With recent reports in the press of various sightings of the northern Lights in Scotland, you may not have to go too far to catch sight of the shimmering lights of the aurora Borealis.
Northern Scotland actually lies at the same latitude as Stavanger in Norway and Nunivak Island in Alaska and autumn and winter, with their long periods of darkness and clear nights, are the best time of the year to experience the auroral displays.
Places include:
Shetland, Orkney and Caithness (eg. Noss Head, Wick); Aberdeenshire and the Moray Coast (eg. Nairn, Portknockie, Cairn o’ Mount); Lewis, Harris and the most northerly tip of Skye; the far north west of Scotland (eg. Applecross, Lochinver, north of Ullapool); The Cairngorms; Galloway Forest Park – the only Dark Sky Park in Scotland; Rannoch Moor and Perthshire and Angus and the coast of Fife (eg. St Andrews) and Calton Hill or Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh (if the aurora is really strong).
On Skye’s Trotternish peninsula, the quirky Shulista Croft Wigwams are a great base for exploring the northern tip of the island and Skye is also home to nine Dark Sky Discovery Sites making it one of the best places in Scotland for stargazing, as well as hunting for the Northern Lights.
If you are visiting Scotland in the autumn or winter, you can keep an eye on the Aurora Forecast from Aurora Watch UK, which offers notifications on increased auroral activity - visit https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/alerts/
While the northern reaches of Scotland offer better chances of spotting the ‘Mirrie Dancers’, the aurora can be seen anywhere in Scotland when the conditions are right and where the light pollution is at a minimum.
Passengers recently on board cruise and Maritime Voyages’ cruise ship, astoria, were given a spectacular display of the aurora Borealis on a 14-night ‘Land of the northern Lights’ voyage.
CMV cruises in search of the Northern Lights are always popular and already for next year there are waitlists for some cabin grades. Mike Hall, Head of
Marketing at CMV said: “By including two of the ports with the best record of sightings - Tromsø, and Alta, and by cruising to them at the right times of year, our passengers get a much better chance to see them.”
Next year, CMV offers a cruise on sister ship Marco Polo departing from London Tilbury on 24th October for 13-nights, with fares from £1,109pp.
22
november 2018
CMV switch on the lights


northern lights
Visit the kingdom of light
northern norway, the largest and most sparsely populated part of mainland norway, covers more than a third of the country and stretches from the helgeland region in the south to mainland europe’s northernmost point near the north cape.
Large parts of Northern Norway were in the past inaccessible,
but today there is an extensive network of both roads and small airports with regular flights between many of the small towns and villages. Hurtigruten also calls at ports all along the coast at least once per day, both northbound and southbound.
Tromsø, Northern Norway’s largest city, lies far north of the Arctic Circle and is not only a vibrant university town, with concerts and shows but also holds an international film festival.
With long summer nights in high summer north of the Arctic Circle, the sun doesn’t dip below the horizon at all. However, winter nights, although long and cold, offer the chance to see the Northern Lights dancing across the skies.
You can get the latest Northern Lights forecast on
norwayLights.no.
APPEARANCE OF
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS GUARANTEED
ENJOY THE UNIQUE MOOD LIGHTING ON BOARD OUR A350
Experience the beauty of breath-taking Lapland. Fly from Edinburgh, Manchester or London Heathrow via Helsinki to various parts of Lapland, or direct from London Gatwick to Ivalo and Kittilä. Book now and give your clients and unforgettable winter holiday.
november 2018
23
THE NORDIC WAY


fam trip highlights
24
Dates Visited: What Did I Like:
Airline / Transportation: Hotels:
Food & Drink: Sightseeing / Experiences: Destination Summary:
Educational to Bulgaria
with Balkan Holidays
Report by katie greenacre, neWcaStLe airPort
4th June – 8th June, 2018
There were a lot of different elements to Bulgaria that I enjoyed, from the reasonably priced food and drinks, to the promenade lined with shops and stalls.
We flew direct from Newcastle Airport with BH Air to Bourgas. Our experience of the security process was fast and efficient, allowing us time to enjoy a pre-flight drink prior to boarding. The transfer to Bourgas was only 40 minutes.
Stayed in various hotels including the Hotel Barceló Royal Beach in Sunny Beach on an All-inclusive basis.
Great location, only 5 minutes from the resort centre and the beach. The majority of hotels visited in Nessebar had fantastic views of the coastline. The Hotel MPM Arsena has 80% sea view rooms. Hotels Sol Nessebar Bay and Palace are very friendly with lots of activities, pool and slides for the whole family to enjoy.
Hotels in Sunny Beach ranged from 3 to 5-star and were never too far away from a supermarket (most being 24 hours) or a restaurant. Hotels in the resort of Duni were beautiful. The area surrounding these hotels was quiet so I would suggest that this resort would be more suited to those looking for a more relaxing holiday. Sozopol is only approximately 15-20 minutes away for customers who wish to visit outside of the hotel complex.
Fantastic buffet choices at the Sol Nessebar Palace and Marina Royal Palace in Duni. Lots of great bars in Sunny Beach with live music, including the Irish Bar.
We visited the Old Town of Nessebar, where we were able to experience a walking tour of the town as well as the beautiful Sozopol, with amazing views!
On our last night we had the opportunity to experience Khan’s Tent, an evening show and and meal, just a short bus trip from the centre of Sunny Beach.. Featuring a band playing live music, a delicious 3-course meal, an array of performing acts from plate spinning, aerial silk performers to dancers taking over the floor, this was a fantastic experience which I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.
Overall, I found that Bulgaria is a holiday destination that has something for every type of customer and Balkan Holidays have a wide choice of hotels that will help you to find the perfect holiday for your clients.
november 2018


news
aWe- inspirinG!
Inspire Loyalty is an innovative loyalty and incentive programme
designed for the independent hotel sector and the travel industry, working
with organisations to nurture relationships with guests, intermediaries and staff, to enhance customer
experience and encourage repeat business.
Although Inspire Loyalty was originally designed for the hotel sector, it has evolved to provide a broad range of businesses a reward solution for companies who want to engage with bookers and their customers directly, to encourage more business using a loyalty club.
The product comprises of a branded loyalty website, points based platform and loyalty app featuring a choice of rewards, providing a simple and cost effective solution complemented by member support and branded email communications.
Founder, Steve Risk, has over 20 years hotel experience and created Inspire Loyalty in 2010. Steve’s career started in banking after studying hotel management! His passion for hospitality & marketing returned five years later in hotels from reception at IHG to direct marketing manager at The Gleneagles Hotel and onwards to commercial sales positions with Marriott Hotels and MacDonald Hotels.
With a degree in marketing, Steve applied data principles to produce a tangible loyalty product underpinned to enhance customer service and a memorable experience through rewards.
The platform can offer a choice of rewards, including Love2Shop, Amazon, John Lewis, Virgin Wines and other retail partners, which is now enjoyed by many travel agents who earn points when booking with leading cruise companies.
Many organisations are still using their time to buy and hand deliver retail cards to reward agents and while that’s a nice touch, it can all be handled online, including the points exchange for a physical reward.
Inspire Loyalty’s programme is fully managed, saving organisations administration and resources, including a data reporting suite, a client promotional vehicle and bespoke online branding. A big thank you goes a long way but fulfillment through reward really stimulates the heart and mind.
Inspire Loyalty is offering Travel Matters’ readers 20% off its monthly fee for new business secured before 31st December 2018. Tel 028 9091 2996 or email [email protected]
november 2018
25


SPECIALIST
Journeys ...now working with the trade
Specialist Journeys has announced that it is now working with agents through four of its leading brands and has launched a Uk wide awareness campaign including face- to-face visits with 1,000 carefully targeted independent travel agents.
The agent-friendly brands include:
andante traVeLS:
Archaeology, culture and history tours worldwide
BrightWater hoLidayS:
Garden holidays and scenic Scottish tours
hiStoricaL triPS: Exploring the history that shaped us
arBLaSter & cLarke:
Immersive, indulgent and inspirational wine tours
Speaking about the announcement to start working with the trade, Chief Executive Officer Jackie Willis said: “We have a portfolio of well-known and established brands built up over many years of dealing directly with the public. But with the increasing interest
in experiential touring holidays, we felt that the time was right to start working with the trade. Most of our itineraries are unique
and we will be introducing holidays that may previously have been difficult for travel agents to find – this presents agents with an amazing opportunity to generate new, incremental sales.”
Travel Sales & Marketing specialists 3FOR are managing the trade engagement plan and Specialist Journeys Ambassadors will be visiting agencies to ‘spread the SJ Love’ in Scotland. 3FOR Managing Director Trevor Davis is extremely excited about the launch. He comments: “Until now agents have struggled to place customer enquiries for specialist holidays such as Archaeology, Culture, Garden Tours, History and Wine Tours. The launch of these products to the trade will open new sales opportunities for agents and we
look forward to
working with them
to grow customer
awareness of
these products.
Commission will
be paid on the
total invoice price
and price parity is
guaranteed.”
For brochures, contact [email protected]
Cruise Sales
Opportunity of the Month...
Silversea in the Caribbean - Winter 2018/2019 and 2019/2020
i once had the opportunity to attend a ‘how to Sell More Luxury cruising’ seminar hosted by the ceo of a major cruise line. he made the point that there are many customers on your database who could easily afford to purchase cruises at the top end of the market.
However, these clients are still looking for value for money which is why winter cruises in the Caribbean are an ideal choice - with so many ships heading to the Caribbean and vying for business, the pricing is incredibly good.
This includes Silversea, who are trying to tempt customers to upgrade from mainstream cruises and land based five-star hotels. With Silversea, all accommodation includes spacious ocean view suites - most with private verandah. In respect of the all important drinks package, guests will find free flowing champagne, premium wines and spirits!
Another major selling point for selling cruises with Silversea, is the fact that there is a butler service in every suite in every category and there are no gratuities to be paid!
As the advert says - you do the maths - look at the bottom line and what is included and compare it to a land based holiday or a mainstream cruise - you and more importantly, your clients will be pleasantly surprised.
Silversea have two superb ships in the Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Barbados and San Juan and as their ships are smaller, they can visit amazing smaller ports without the crowds you find in the larger ports.
Offering a fantastic cruise at a value for money price, why not speak to Amanda Middler (for Scotland and NI) by emailing [email protected] or email Julie Nunes (for Northern England) on [email protected] for more information.
26
november 2018


ANDANTE TRAVELS
01722 713800 [email protected] Opening hours 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
BRIGHTWATER HOLIDAYS
01334 657155 [email protected] Opening hours 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
ARBLASTER & CLARKE
01730 263111 [email protected] Opening hours 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
HISTORICAL TRIPS
01722 713820 [email protected]
Opening hours 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday
2019 brochure
archaeology, culture & history
HISTORICAL TRIPS
5020


news
28
november 2018
The Canny Lad...
darren PhiLLiPS
Hi everyone, hope all is OK and we are all very busy....
I recently had the chance to visit Seabourn Ovation while she was in the Tyne! I have never been on a cruise ship like it - small and intimate and the staff were amazing. Hosted by Bekkie and Matthew, they did a brilliant job of showcasing the product with an excellent presentation in the theatre, followed by a tour and an amazing lunch!
My favourite part of the ship was the “wall of wine”! As the ship was full, we could not view any staterooms but I managed to get a cheeky little glance in one as we walked along the corridor. I was pleasantly surprised by its size and the fact they have a full bath too! All in all a great day with an amazing product.
I’m just back from Dubai (again) and this time went to a few places that I have not been before.
Firstly the Polo Club at the Melia Desert Palm Hotel - this place is a little oasis away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Dubai yet still only 15 mins to Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa. With a fabulous spa and a relaxing pool in lovely gardens, this is a real gem of a place and one that I am so glad to have found!
Next stop - the QE2 - what a place! I had a fantastic tour of the cabins and public areas and as Gary mentioned in his article last month, it is amazing to see this ship restored to its former glory - you really feel like you are transported back in time.
I also visited Bastakiya Quarter on the creek - the oldest part of Dubai and now a major tourist attraction. It dates back to 1890 when there were only 60 houses and is a bit different now, full of coffee shops and restaurants.
It’s a great place to go after sunset and enjoy a coffee and meal overlooking the creek watching the Abras and dinner cruise boats go along the creek.
In contrast, City Walk is a newish shopping and entertainment area near Dubai Mall. It’s great as it has outdoor air conditioning - it was still very hot, 40 C in the daytime and only dropping to 35 C in the evening!
Thanks for reading guys, happy selling and see you at the GRAFTAS on 4th December at the Hilton!
darren
Wide open spaces are good for the heart


news
Get Just Rewards with If Only...
and Visit Qatar
if only... have launched a joint trade campaign with Visit Qatar, offering agents the chance to earn £50 Just rewards when making a booking that includes a two-night stay in doha.
This incentive will run throughout November and will then continue in Peaks 2019, running from 1st January to 3rd March 2019.
Doha, the capital city of Qatar, is an ideal city for a twin centre holiday. Visitors can discover cultural authenticity with museums, galleries and historic sites, as well as luxurious hotels and spas.
Rated as one of the top five airports in the world, with visa-free arrival and accessible to 80% of the world in six hours, Hamad International Airport
is ideal for flying further to
destinations in the Indian Ocean, Asia and Australasia.
Special offers from
Princess Cruises
Princess cruises is offering up to $375pp onboard spending money, or free flights and transfers on select europe-based sailings, on almost 800 voyages departing in 2019 and 2020.
Included in the offer, which runs until 20th December, is the 2,670-guest Sapphire Princess, which sails round trip next year from Southampton to destinations such as the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Scandinavia and Canada & New England.
Alternatively, up to £350pp off flights and transfers is available on over 70 Europe-based fly cruises. Several sailings on the latest addition to the line’s fleet, the 3,660-guest Sky Princess, feature as part of the offer. The ship launches in October 2019 with an inaugural season in the Mediterranean, departing from Barcelona, Rome and Athens.
8 Day Sri Lanka Private Tour
Discover the amazing contrasts that this pearl of the Indian Ocean offers, from breath-taking scenery to World Heritage sites. Visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and witness a colourful Kandyan dance performance on a tour before heading to this blissful beach hotel for an indulgent experience.
From £2,209 per person
Price includes
•Return flights with Emirates from Glasgow, Edinburgh & Newcastle
•7 day private tour of Sri Lanka, including 6 nights premium accommodation
•1 night post tour at the Fortress Resort & Spa •Half board daily during tour
For more information call our Sri Lanka Specialists on 0141 955 4000 or visit ifonly.net
Prices are per person and based on 2 adults sharing. Valid for travel 11 Apr – 30 Jun 19, Must be booked by 27 Mar 19 Subject to availability. All flight inclusive holidays are protected by ATOL scheme.
november 2018
29


short brefaeaktsure
With atlantic airways´ twice weekly flight from edinburgh and a flying time of just 1 hour 20 minutes, the Faroe islands are nearer than you think!
The capital Torshavn is a charming little ‘metropolis’, with one of the most picturesque harbours in The Faroe Islands. Your clients will enjoy exploring the narrow streets and seeing the traditional ‘grass roofed’ houses of the Old Town, discovering the local boutique shops, cafes and bars.
A wide range of dining options are available, including quality restaurants specialising in fish, seafood, lamb and traditional Faroese dishes.
Torshavn can be surprisingly lively at weekends too, with live music and cosy bars.
With a rental car for the day, it’s possible to experience
The Faroe Islands independently. See the dramatic unspoilt landscape, countless waterfalls, explore the small colourful villages and simply enjoy the nature. Driving in The Faroe Islands is easy with excellent roads that hug the coastline and with very little traffic.
Many options are available for hiking, with trails directly from Torshavn, or excursions to nearby Islands or even a boat trip to the Vestmanna Bird cliffs and Grottos.
Hotels range from the four-star Hotel Foroyar which has spectacular views overlooking Torshavn and the Hotel Hafnia right in the city centre, to three and two-star options as well as boutique hotels.
Tour operators offering packages for weekend breaks in the Faroe Islands include Regent Holidays and Best Served Scandinavia or you can book flights with Atlantic Airways on your travel agency booking system (GDS), by telephone: 0131 659 9944 or visit www.atlanticairways.com
photo by Ólavur Frederiksen
30
november 2018
A Faroese weekend break staying in Torshavn, the world’s smallest capital
Offer your clients a weekend break with a difference in The Faroe Islands
photo by Ólavur Frederiksen


Direct flights from Edinburgh to The Faroe Islands. Enjoy the magnificent landscape, the great culture and the stunning gastronomi. With direct flights from Edinburgh twice a week it is perfect to take a weekend break in The Faroe Islands.
Book flights to The Faroe Islands from £90 oneway Read more and book your trip on
www.atlanticairways.com
REYKJAVÍK
FAROE ISLANDS
EDINBURGH
BERGEN
AALBORG
Atlantic Airways Vága Floghavn 380 Sørvágur Faroe Islands Tel +298 34 10 00
GRAN CANARIA
BARCELONA MALLORCA
BILLUND
COPENHAGEN


short brefaeaktsure
32
Celebrate Christmas in
Tivoli Gardens
With copenhagen listed as the top city to visit in 2019 by Lonely Planet, this is an ideal time to visit this lovely city.
Visitors can celebrate all things Christmas in Tivoli Gardens, from 17th November to 31st December when the historic garden is filled with glittering Christmas lights and snow-covered trees to create that perfect Nordic Christmas atmosphere. Add in the amusement park’s 27 fun rides and the Christmas market and there’s plenty to see and do.
The garden will be decorated with more than 70,000 Christmas baubles and more than 1,000 Christmas trees will be completely covered in lights. There will also be a new projection show on the concert hall’s iconic façade.
Featuring around 60 stalls, the Christmas market is the perfect place to find Christmas presents, decorations, leather products, arts and crafts and all sorts of food and drink. Visitors can also enjoy the ballet classic The Nutcracker in The Tivoli Concert Hall.
For those who
prefer to stay closer
to home, there is a huge selection of Christmas Markets
to choose from, including Newcastle, Belfast, Glasgow, Chester, Manchester and London - all a perfect excuse to book a short break!
Discover Poland in 2019
Poland is preparing for a bumper year for tourism next year and is positioning itself as a destination with universal appeal.
Celebrating 100 years of independence in 2019, the country is looking to build on its accessibility from the UK market when flight availability is year-round, from regional airports and at a good price.
Food lovers will want to visit Krakow, which is the 2019 European Capital of Gastronomy Culture and the cafes and restaurants of Warsaw are gaining an international reputation for quality and variety.
In Wroclaw, the former EU capital of culture, there is a thriving craft beer scene. Poland is also home to some of the world’s oldest spa resorts and is looking to connect this with the wellness trend - visitors can choose from Poland’s 45 health resorts.
Nature lovers can discover the white sandy beaches along the Baltic Coast; the seaside resort of Jurata with views across the Baltic Sea, or discover Jurata, the popular seaside resort. With beautiful lakes and mountains, water sports and a 190-mile desert trail, Poland has something to offer everyone.
november 2018
FlyBe - ideal for a
winter short break
Flybe’s 2018-19 winter schedule features a total of 14 routes
with a choice of up to 272 flights a week from george Best Belfast city airport.
Commencing 8th February 2019, passengers will see an increase in the number of flights between Belfast and Glasgow with additional services operating on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, bringing frequency up to five times a day. In addition, Flybe offers a comprehensive programme of flights between Belfast and Manchester with up to seven flights a day.
Other highlights include a total of 14 routes with Doncaster Sheffield to Belfast City operating for the first time in winter; up to 6 flights a day to London City, ideal for short breaks to London and the return of extra seasonal frequency between 21st December 2018 – 3rd January 2019 to and from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow and Leeds Bradford for Christmas and New Year breaks.


Krakow
SHORT BREAKS
BY AIR OR RAIL
Did you know your clients can travel by air or by Eurostar on many of our tours? So, if they prefer not to fly they can choose to travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras – return rail connections to London are available on selected holidays and dates from over 50 regional stations. A quick Eurostar ride takes travellers to fascinating destinations within Europe.
KRAKOW | Four days from £449pp
Krakow ranks with Prague and Vienna as one of the architectural gems of central Europe. This, the city of Chopin, Copernicus and Pope John-Paul II, and formerly the medieval capital of Poland with 6,000 monuments, 140 churches and 2.5 million works of
art, cries out to be explored.
Selected departures from March to December 2019
VENICE - CLASSIC & UNDISCOVERED
Four days from £579pp
Venice really is one of the few cities on earth that can genuinely be called unique and when you arrive you will be staggered that every painting, TV programme or photograph you have ever seen of this wonderful place is telling the simple truth: Venice is one of the most beautiful cities on earth.
Selected departures up to December 2019 PARIS | Four days from £329pp
This inexhaustible city has something for everyone – whatever your taste. It is everything you imagine it to be – romantic, inspiring, vibrant even outrageous.
Selected departures from March to November 2019
ROMANTIC RHINE, BLACK FOREST & ALSACE
Eight days from £929pp
The majestic Rhine cuts through magnificent mountains, meandering past charming medieval towns, fairy-tale castles, the steep terraced vineyards of Alsace and the wooded slopes of the Black Forest. Witness Germany’s landscape at its most dramatic, a fitting backdrop for a magical journey of discovery and unforgettable experiences.
Departures from April to October 2019
EUROSTAR + REGIONAL RAIL*
Venice
EUROSTAR + REGIONAL RAIL*
Romantic Rhine
SO MUCH IS INCLUDED
• A programme of included tours and excursions
• The services of our experienced and tour manager
• Hand-picked accommodation and all local taxes
• Hotel transfers
• Return Eurostar and TGV from London St Pancras with regional rail connections available on selected dates from over 50 stations* OR... return flights from a selection of UK airports
Paris
CONTACT OUR AGENCY SALES TEAM:
Call for support: 01283 744307 | email: [email protected] CALL RESERVATIONS 7 DAYS A WEEK:
Call to book: 01283 744370 | Book online: www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents
Prices are based on two people sharing and are correct at time of print. Single supplements may apply. Holidays are operated by and subject to booking conditions of Riviera Travel, ABTA V4744 ATOL 3430 protected. Subject to availability. Additional entrance costs may apply. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. For further information please write to Riviera Travel, New Manor, 328 Wetmore Road, Burton upon Trent, Staffs, DE14 1SP. *Supplements may apply for regional rail.
Darren Tamzin Mia Paul Emma
YOUR FRIENDLY AGENCY SALES TEAM
ABTA No. V4744


short brefaeaktsure
Getting ready to hit the road with the new guide is Gary Gillespie, national sales manager and Bryony White, sales executive at Super Break.
34
Fly from Scotland with the Lufthansa Group
Lufthansa recently held an eXperts academy roadshow for agents in glasgow, covering topics such as agent Servicing, Partner PlusBenefit, aJV and network operation.
The Lufthansa Group offer a number of flights from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, with a new flight from Edinburgh to Munich now flying twice a week as well as 12 weekly flights to Frankfurt.
Along with seven weekly flights from Glasgow to Frankfurt and four weekly flights to Munich, Eurowings has also expanded its Glasgow to Dusseldorf flight to offer a daily service.
Lufthansa passengers have the choice of three types of Economy fares - Light, Classic and Flex as well as Business Class on all European and medium-haul services.
Eurowings offers three different fare levels - BASIC, SMART and BEST.
Lufthansa also offers internet access on its entire existing A320 -family fleet, on all short and medium-haul routes.
Super Break brings back ‘Agents Guide to London’
Super Break has reintroduced its ‘agents guide to London’ to ensure agents have as much information as possible when selling London short breaks.
The six-page A4 guide features a range of maps showing tube stations, key attractions, all the main West End theatres including what show is currently performing at each, plus details of key packages agents can promote.
The attractions are broken down into four themes, including Family and Attractions; Cultural London; Luxury London and Free London, making it easier for agents to make relevant suggestions to customers about what to do whilst in the Capital. Key O2 events are also detailed alongside highlights of popular packages such as the operator’s ‘Friday Night Out’ breaks.
Gary Gillespie, national sales manager at Super Break comments:
“We always listen to agents and we’ve had lots of requests for the return of this counter guide. We haven’t produced one for several years and it’s great that agents can now take advantage of all the information inside it and focus in on selling London, especially as we approach the popular festive season.”
Guides will be distributed to key agents plus a PDF version is available online at www.superbreak.com/agents to download.
november 2018


The greater the connections,
the smaller the world.
Discover over 400 destinations worldwide.


short brefaeaktsure
Book a Hoseasons UK break
By hiLary doUgLaS
Having recently decided that I wanted to enjoy a short UK break, with quality accommodation at a value for money price, the obvious choice was Hoseasons! They have a huge selection of accommodation to choose from - lodges and cottages, parks and even boats with locations all across the UK. Suitable for adventure seekers, nature lovers, city breakers, families, couples or groups of friends, you would be hard pushed not to find something for your clients.
As more and more consumers decide to ‘stay-cation’, the UK is a great option for agents to sell to both new and existing customers. After searching through the impressive range, I decided upon the lodge in Mouswald village near Dumfries. The booking process was seamless and handled by an informed and friendly agent. On arrival and check in, I was met by the managers who lived on site and made to feel very welcome.
They showed me around the property and explained how everything worked and told me to drop by anytime if I had any questions. If as they say ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’ then Hoseasons were spot on.
My two-bedroom lodge was spacious, comfortable and had everything you could need. I particularly liked the welcome pack!
Once I was settled in, it was time to sit back and enjoy the amazing facilities - especially my very own hot tub - with a glass of wine - admiring the great views!
The lodge was ideally located, with numerous walks and close to local attractions. Dumfries is only six miles away and the shopping heaven of the Outlet Village in Gretna Green only 15 miles. For a
bit of culture, Caerlaverock Castle near Dumfries is a great day out and shows Scotland at its very best!
This was only a small selection of things to do, but wherever
your clients choose to go in the UK with Hoseasons, they will find plenty of attractions and activities near their accommodation of choice. After a busy day exploring, there is nothing better than coming back to your lodge to relax and enjoy your holiday retreat!
With the boom in the popularity of UK short breaks, this market offers great potential and financial rewards for travel agents and and Hoseasons definitely fits the bill!
If you want to get into this market, then email Ryan Carroll on:
[email protected]
36
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR FOR CELEBRATING HOT TUB SEASON!
THERE’S 10 £50 LIFESTYLE VOUCHERS UP FOR GRABS!
Simply confirm a Hoseasons booking and send your name, booking reference & ABTA to [email protected] between 5th November - 9th December 2018 to enter
november 2018


short brefaeaktsure
Credit: ‘STUDIOCANAL S.A.S.’
The Guernsey Literary
and Potato Peel Pie Society
international best-selling book, ‘the guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’, by Mary ann Schaffer and completed by her niece, annie Burrows tells the story of guernsey under german occupation, through a series of letters.
The book has now been adapted into a feature film, directed by Mike Newell, starring Hollywood A-lister Lily James and tells the story of the lead character’s journey of self-discovery and fascination for the island. Fans of the film or book can now follow in the footsteps of the characters as though they’re stepping through the pages of the novel itself with themed walks and occupation tours on the Island.
The wartime occupation of the Channel Islands can be seen even today, with fortifications and bunkers and the Island boasts many popular historical attractions including the German Military Underground Hospital, German Naval Signals HQ, German Occupation Museum and La Vallette Military Museum.
Credit: ‘STUDIOCANAL S.A.S.’
LODGE BREAKS
from£359*
Be social
To book visit www.hoseasons.co.uk/agents or call 0345 498 6153
*Price based on a 3 night stay starting 15/02/2019 at Mouswald Lodge Park in Scotland. Applies to selected UK lodge locations and accommodation types, accommodation only. Based on maximum occupancy. Prices may differ depending on departure date. Subject to availability. We reserve the right to withdraw, extend or amend offers at any time. Booking conditions apply, see brochure or website. Image may not be representative of specific offer.
facebook.com/HollieHoseasons @HollieHoseasons
ABTA No. Y0662
See booking conditions for full details.
november 2018
37
FIND YOUR WONDERLAND FOR WINTER


short brefaeaktsure
Plenty of legroom with Eurowings!
General Information
Product
Whatever your budget, Eurowings has
a product offering that meets every passenger’s requirements. The BASIC
fare, for the price conscious customer, offers a flight only fare with a difference as, unlike on-board other low- cost carriers, passengers on Eurowings can still collect miles.
Looking for a little more comfort? The SMART fare offers just that! Choose your preferred seat, enjoy an inclusive snack and drink, travel with one 23 kg bag whilst simultaneously collecting your miles.
For maximum comfort, Eurowings also offers BIZclass across the short-haul route network. This premium offering includes a seat in the first 3 rows of the aircraft with the added benefits of a free adjacent seat, 2 x 23 kg bags, à la carte catering, lounge access, security fast lane and priority boarding.
Furthermore, aside from the already- mentioned best economy leg room, Eurowings also offers on-board Wi-Fi and on-board entertainment.
Eurowings operates from 10 UK airports to 9 destinations in Germany and Austria. London’s Heathrow Airport is home to Eurowings’ largest operation, offering seamless connections to important German business centres such as Dusseldorf and Cologne. From Edinburgh, Eurowings flies to Cologne, Dusseldorf and Munich. At a time when other
airlines are reducing passenger comfort, Eurowings is proud to promote its greatest USP - legroom!
Providing 32’’ in the first 12 rows on its A320 fleet and the first 10 rows on-board the A319 fleet, Eurowings have the best economy short-haul legroom in Europe, while still offering low fares.
Since April this year, Lufthansa’s subsidiary is the first low-cost carrier
to offer a full flat business-class-service on 3 of its intercontinental routes from Dusseldorf to New York, Fort Myers and Miami, expanding the service to Newark and Las Vegas in the future. From the UK, the new BIZclass can be tested
on connecting flights via Dusseldorf from London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.
Corporate Product
Eurowings offers a dedicated programme called Dynamic Flex to all of its corporates with a revenue of more than £10,000.
This makes travelling so much easier and, primarily, much more flexible.
All this, obligation free. Corporates just need to register at www.eurowings.com/ en/4u/corporate-customers
3 Daily business fares including flexible conditions
3 Booking changes and cancellations possible
3 Preferred seating free of charge including more legroom (32’’)
3 Collect miles in the Boomerang Club 3 Status and premium miles with Miles
& More
3 Dynamic Flex company advantages are available on eurowings.com, an online booking engine (OBE) and all major global distribution systems (GDS), eg Amadeus.
38
november 2018


YOU‘VE GOT THE BUSINESS.
WE‘VE GOT
T
TT
T
TH
H
HE
E
EN
N
NE
E
ET
T
TW
WORK.
ver 160 destinations worldwide with Eurowings.
Discover a network o
f ov
Book now!
1760EW_Travel_Matters_ANZ_190x277mm_RZ01.indd 1
05.10.2018 10:10:52


short brefaeaktsure
DaviD paterson, Country Manager – Scotland Flybe
40
i joined Flybe 18 years ago – or Jersey european as it was known back then! My main role is to manage all commercial areas across Scotland, promoting strong, long lasting customer relationships. With so many varying elements to my role, i can safely say that no two days are ever the same.
Whilst my role as Country Manager allows me to work from home, I regularly travel all over the UK, including to our Head Office in Exeter and occasionally internationally.
My day-to-day usually sees me working with our Scottish TMCs and key corporate customers, plus partner airline sales teams to promote Flybe’s connectivity both in the UK and to worldwide destinations.
I also collaborate regularly with tourism agencies in Scotland, to promote inbound traffic and show how accessible our beautiful country really is.
I started at Flybe as Regional Manager and progressed to Field Sales Manager soon after. Having been with the business for such a long time, I’ve been lucky enough to witness first-hand how much the company has grown, from initially operating only two routes out of Scotland, to now having a network of over 200 routes across 15 different countries.
In 2017 Christine Ourmières-Widener joined as CEO with a vision to make the airline more regionally driven. I worked closely with Christine to implement this change which saw the introduction of the Country Manager team. These new roles were brought in to help us become closer to our customers and provide a link between Flybe and our local communities.
In my role, my main goal is to drive sales and improve brand awareness. Scotland is of huge significance to the Flybe network with over 40 routes from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, so it’s important for Flybe that we keep front of mind with our Scottish customers.
Our key focuses include our multiple frequency routes
to our Manchester
and Birmingham
hubs; Aberdeen and Edinburgh to London Heathrow; Edinburgh to London City; plus, our point-to-point regional services including to Belfast City, Cardiff and Southampton.
One of the best parts of my role is the amount of opportunity I have to travel.
What many people don’t realise about Flybe is that we have codeshare partnerships with 11 international airlines including Etihad, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, meaning we can offer connectivity and choice from your local airport in Scotland to worldwide destinations including Abu Dhabi, Barbados, Houston, Orlando and even Las Vegas, as well as further afield to the Far East and beyond.
I would happily recommend this job to anyone thinking
about a career in the airline industry. Not only are the travel opportunities a great incentive, but the varied nature of the job provides you with many transferable skills, enabling you to easily diversify into other roles.
When I have clocked off from work in the evening, you’re likely to find me socialising with friends or listening to and playing music – but what really keeps me “grounded” (pun intended!) is spending time with my family and grandchildren.
november 2018


short brefaeaktsure
Book a short break from Belfast International Airport
Whether you want to jet off to some winter sun, shop until you drop or just relax and sightsee for the weekend, Belfast International Airport have direct flights to a wide variety of destinations perfect for that short break away and with added routes this winter, there is even more reason to pack your bags and treat yourself.
If you are looking for winter sunshine, it’s not too late to escape the cold to a sunny shore! With regular flights from Belfast International to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, you can jet off for a cheeky piece of sunshine to get you through the cold winter months!
Why not be prepared and do your Christmas Shopping! You can book a flight from Belfast International to the Big Apple from 15th November to visit the city that never sleeps!
You might want to stay a little closer to home? Belfast International Airport also flies on a regular basis domestically to the likes of London, Manchester and Liverpool; perfect city breaks for a spending spree.
If you’d prefer a fascinating city centre or want to get into the swing of Winter by visiting the Christmas markets, Belfast International Airport has a destination for you!
Fly to Paris, Amsterdam or Krakow; these classic cities are perfect for a short break away, with excellent Christmas market displays, historic sites and much more!
Or try out one of our new routes on offer this winter to Prague, Salzburg and Venice to check out what these amazing destinations are all about!
november 2018
41


short brefaeaktsure
42
Scottish
Highlands
& Islands -
‘Best in Travel’
the Scottish highlands & islands have been named one of the top 10 regions in the world in Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in travel’ destinations for 2019.
The Highlands are well known for scenic driving routes, including the North Coast 500 and there is a new addition to the area - the 90-mile Snow Roads Scenic Route - from Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey.
The circular North East 250, runs through the beautiful countryside and coasts of Moray Speyside and Aberdeenshire.
In the UK’s largest National Park, the Cairngorms is a hot spot for wildlife watching and visitors can also ski in the winter, or enjoy watersports in the summer.
With incredible scenery, spectacular white sand beaches, numerous distillery experiences and historic local attractions, it’s easy to see why the Highlands & Islands are included in the Top 10!
Loganair adds new routes
Loganair has announced its largest expansion programme at edinburgh airport, with four new routes being launched as part of its summer 2019 schedule.
The airline will introduce regular year-round services to the Norwegian cities of Bergen and Stavanger; to the island of Islay; and a seasonal link between Edinburgh and Guernsey.
Stavanger will become Loganair’s second destination in Norway with four flights each week from Edinburgh, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flights from Edinburgh to Bergen - the gateway to the Fjords - will operate three times each week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Bergen, Stavanger and Guernsey will each be operated by the airline’s newly acquired 37-seat Embraer 135 jet, the latest addition to its fleet of 30 aircraft.
A 34-seat Saab 340 will fly the Edinburgh to Islay route - the capital city’s first ever scheduled air link to the Inner Hebrides. The service will commence on 25th March and will initially operate four times each week before building up to a daily service by May, with a morning flight on Saturdays and lunchtime services on the other six days.
Loganair also plans to increase the frequency of flights between Edinburgh and the Isle of Man, adding an extra service on Wednesdays throughout the summer, plus a Saturday flight during the TT race weeks in May and June.
There will also be an improved schedule to and from the Isle of Man on Fridays and Sundays, with evening flights ideal for weekend breaks and those commuting for work. The new service from Edinburgh to Guernsey will operate on Saturdays from 11th May to 14th September.
Jonathan Hinkles, managing director of Loganair said: “I’m delighted to launch four brand new routes from Scotland’s capital, significantly expanding our presence at Edinburgh.
“It marks the first phase of our Summer 2019 schedule announcements and we expect to make more in the coming months across our network. We know that Stavanger and Bergen will be of interest to both the leisure and corporate customer and have no doubt that both Islay and Guernsey will prove very popular to people looking for a holiday in these beautiful destinations.”
november 2018


short brefaeaktsure
Enjoy the thrills of Formula 1 with Classic Collection
classic collection holidays are offering an exclusive Spanish grand Prix package to Barcelona, priced from £1,299 per person.
Departing from Edinburgh on 9th May, 2019, the package Includes four nights bed & breakfast
in a Classic room at the 4-star Hotel Roger De Lluria, private resort transfers and a 3-day general admission ticket to the Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
the Marvel Season of Super heroes will return to disneyland Paris from 23rd March to 16th June 2019 for a second year at Walt disney Studios Park.
In 2019, new Super Heroes will join the Avengers, such as Groot who will help the Guardians to save the galaxy.
Captain Marvel will also be landing at Disneyland Paris for the first time ever as part of Marvel Season of Super Heroes to celebrate the release of her new movie, Captain Marvel.
Epic Marvel stories will include shows and experiences featuring Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Star-Lord, Gamora, and other Marvel Heroes.
Newcastle-Amsterdam
New year at sea
Make sure your customer sees in the New Year in style with our 3-night Amsterdam mini cruise.
It includes:
• 3 evening meals & 2 buffet breakfasts
• Live festive entertainment
• Watch Amsterdam’s fireworks from the deck • Complimentary sparkling wine at midnight
• Up to 5 hours in Amsterdam on 31st & 1st
From just £297pp
Don’t forget, we have fantastic agent
incentives year-round, too.
dfds.co.uk/agent
Price is subject to availability. T&C's apply.
november 2018
43
Meet your Super Heroes at Disneyland Paris


44
KLM flight review
Edinburgh/Amsterdam/Edinburgh - Boeing 737-800 Aircraft By gary reaVeLy
I have always been a fan of KLM and Schiphol Airport but had not flown with them for years so I was interested to review their customer service and on board product as well as to see if the airport was as user friendly as I remembered.
cHecK-In At eDInBURgH
I was on the first flight of the morning - bag drop was quick and efficient. Edinburgh was busy as always but the security check was a breeze and the staff on good form even at that time in the morning!
BoARDIng pRocess
This was well organised, strictly by seat number, with plenty of staff at the gate. The aircraft was equipped with slim line Recaro seats which offer the normal 31-inch economy class seat pitch and I felt very comfortable with adequate leg room.
eDInBURgH/AMsteRDAM FLIgHt - econoMY cLAss
The airline cabin crew on this sector were first class. Smiling, quick and efficient, they worked their way through the cabin with a breakfast and beverage service which was more than adequate for the 75 minute flight duration. They easily dealt with a number of questions from passengers about the transit procedure through Schiphol and this was also covered with the in-flight announcements. We landed on the newest of Schiphol’s five runways, resulting in a longish taxi to the gate but still arrived on stand comfortably ahead of schedule.
AMsteRDAM scHIpHoL AIRpoRt
This airport has two huge advantages: firstly the afore- mentioned five runways, avoiding long landing delays and take off queues and its celebrated ‘everything under one roof concept’ so no change of terminals, which makes it a very attractive concept to any prospective client.
The airport prides itself on quick and easy transits - the departure screens are plentiful and easy to read and there are numerous transfer desks where the helpful staff are there to assist passengers. I have always loved the small trolleys the airport provides for hand luggage - it was great to still be able to use these!
I went landside to have a look at the check-in area and the terminal facilities and they too are excellent.
The airport is directly connected by a fast and frequent train service into Amsterdam city centre which is another great benefit. Yes it is busy but it really does work extremely well.
AMsteRDAM/eDInBURgH FLIgHt - BUsIness cLAss
I used the facilities of the KLM lounge which had a relaxed atmosphere, with a good choice of snacks and drinks. Boarding process was equally slick and I boarded the aircraft at my leisure. This crew were equally as good and quickly served a quality meal on a full flight. Flying time was just over one hour.
KLM AnD sUstAInABILItY
Airlines are more aware than ever of their social and environmental responsibility and KLM leads the way with this - reducing CO2 emissions, fuel and water consumption, lessening their noise footprint, changing diesel engines to electric, recycling cabin waste, pioneering the use of Bio Fuels etc - all pointing to an airline who cares about its passengers and the world they live in.
oveRvIeW
KLM are one of the world’s longest established airlines and
it shows. Both flights were excellent and lived up to my high expectations - especially the all important crew. Schiphol Airport has a major advantage - it has expanded greatly since I was last there with additional piers and many more gates however - the airport has stuck to its core principles of putting the passenger first and foremost in all that they do. Long may that continue!
november 2018


Advertisement Feature
COLOUR, CULTURE AND CUISINE – SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS IT ALL
Enjoyment and experiences await in this faraway and diverse region, says WDebbie Rawnsley, A&K platinum travel consultant – India Orient and Australasia
e know Southeast Asia. We have arrange meetings with indigenous tribes, a war A&K experts across eight offices veteran at Cu Chi Tunnels and a tour of Mekong all with extensive knowledge and Delta’s colourful markets.
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
IMAGES OF INDOCHINA & ANGKOR WAT ESCORTED TOUR 12 nights from £7,095pp
A tour of Angkor’s ruins, a calm interlude at Ha Long Bay and Luang Prabang, before bustling Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
INDOCHINA ADVENTURES TAILOR-MADE
22 nights from £5,355pp
Indochina’s beautiful beaches, ancient streets, remote valleys and tropical jungles are beautifully introduced on this immersive itinerary around the Mekong Delta, Vietnam and Laos.
HOI AN, VIETNAM
Speak to Debbie (right) today:
01242 547 843 [email protected]
access to little-known local gems. Here are just some highlights of how we can make your clients’ holidays amazing.
Thailand is perfect for all trips, all year round. Our 40 staff organise trips including learning Muay Thai, private cooking classes and a trip to Chiang Mai Patara Elephant Day Care Centre.
With three different microclimates in Vietnam, a visit needs careful planning. Our local team can
EXPLORING SIEM REAP
Cambodia is magical but monsoon season could put a damper on holidays - plan trips between October and March. Your clients can enjoy a private champagne breakfast on the banks of Srah Srang Baray or a VIP trip to the Phare Circus show, thanks to our local knowledge.
Laos is at its best between November and February. We can showcase its highlights to your clients with helicopter transfers, a picnic at Kuang Si waterfall and a visit to the Bear Rescue Centre.
Accessibility in Myanmar is key so we advise travel here between October and May. A balloon ride over the ‘Golden Land’, a romantic dinner cruise past ancient illuminated temples and a trek to Palaung and a tea plantation all make Myanmar even more spectacular.
We make holiday heaven for all your clients.
LET OUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE BE YOUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
From the beach to the bush, Asia to Zambia, luxury lodges to sleek city hotels, A&K curates luxury tailor-made holidays that go beyond the guidebook
abercrombiekent.co.uk 01242 858 498


Questions & Answers
hiLary doUgLaS speaks to richard Forde ,
Head of Trade Sales, Newmarket Holidays
Has 2018 been a successful year for Newmarket Holidays?
It’s been a challenging year - the long winter and then extended summer disrupted booking patterns which we had to adapt to, but there has been a definite turn around in the last two months, with things picking up considerably.
One of our key success stories has been India. There is a growing interest in this part of the world in part, due to TV series like the Marigold Hotel. You can get a lot for your money and we have
a large programme there with a lead-in package of 10 days for £1,199 per person.
We have also become a lot more flexible with our escorted tours programme and seen more success with this. We work with smaller group tours adding to the adventurous side of things.
Are there any products agents should be looking out for?
Firstly, it’s Oberammergau time again. That’s selling really well with a couple of options and it’s always a popular trip.
We have also recently teamed up with A-Rosa river cruises. This
is a bit different, offering more
flexible dining, all- inclusive drinks and
a lot more relaxed cruising.
Multi- generational
river cruising
now means families can all
go together, giving agents more to sell onto clients.
What support can you offer agents looking to expand their sales?
We only really started working with the trade in 2010 which has grown from zero to 20% of our overall business - we would like this to continue to grow.
To this end, we will be launching a new agent website which will be ready by the beginning of December so agents can get used to it for Peaks, featuring downloadable posters, images, training and everything to make it easier to sell Newmarket Holidays.
We also have Gemma on the road in your area and she will do branch or manager training and run store events. We have a huge portfolio of over 300 holidays so she is there to help agents understand them all.
Do you have a strategy for agency partnerships?
We partner with regional agents where possible and on the independent side, there are agents like Alba Travel who we have worked with for over nine years now, chartering out of Inverness and Aberdeen to Italy. That business continues to be very important to us.
With larger agency partnerships, such as Barrhead, we have also seen significant growth, particularly in the long haul market to the likes of Canada, the US and India. We do a lot of manager training and presentations.
Do you have a favourite holiday destination?
First off Cornwall. Where I stay, there isn’t any Wi-Fi and barely any phone signal, so I get total peace and quiet! I love the coastline there and get to do some bodyboarding which I thoroughly enjoy.
Secondly, I love Thailand - the colours, flavours, spices and weather - one of my aims next year is to do one of our Newmarket trips to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam!
46
november 2018


Booking Cunard has never been so rewarding.
Cunard is thrilled to be joining Shine Rewards Club, giving you great opportunities to earn exclusive rewards. Earn Shine points by making a Cunard Fare booking or for completing Cunard training. Combine your points with those you’ve earned from P&O Cruises and put them towards host of fabulous rewards.
Register today at shinerewardsclub.com


Customer journey enhanced at Belfast City Airport following £15m investment
george Best Belfast city airport, located just a 5-minute drive from Belfast city centre, has undergone a significant upgrade following a major £15 million investment.
Aimed at further enhancing the experience of the airport’s core business and
leisure passengers, the works have resulted in an upgraded security area and departures lounge, as well as an increase in the retail, food and beverage offering. Katy Best, Commercial Director at Belfast City Airport, said: “Situated just five minutes from the city centre, the airport is an important gateway for passengers arriving in Belfast, as well as departing holidaymakers and business travellers.
“Being able to provide a seamless journey through the airport has always remained central to everything we do. Infrastructure and facilities are integral to achieving this and now with the various improvement works at the airport complete, the passenger experience through Belfast City Airport has undoubtedly been enhanced.”
As a result of the investment, the retail offering within Belfast City Airport’s Departure Lounge has increased by over 30% and now boasts 552 square metres of retail space.
The new World Duty Free and WH Smith units feature a walk- through design allowing customers to browse the expanded range of products on offer.
Along with a 100% increase in seating in the Departure Lounge, all airside toilet facilities have also been refurbished.
Katy Best continued: “The investment has also seen a complete refurbishment of the central security area which has seen average passenger processing time slashed to just six minutes.
“Using equipment and technology similar to that found in some of the world’s leading airports, such as automatic tray return facilities, e-gates and an improved fast-track security lane, we have created a system which allows the fast flow of passengers even at our busiest times.”
The food and beverage offering has also increased by 25% with the opening of
The Artisan, a new 280 square metre bar restaurant showcasing the best of Northern Irish produce.
In addition to the improvements inside the terminal, the airport’s car park booking system has also been upgraded making the process easier and quicker for passengers. Outside the airport, a ‘Premier’ car park has been introduced. This is the closest car park to the terminal and includes
fast track security access.
Katy Best concluded: “In keeping with our overall mission of delivering an airport experience that exceeds our customers’ expectations, we are committed to the continuous improvement
of the overall passenger journey and the investment has been a huge reinforcement of this commitment.”
For more information about the airport and its on-site facilities, please visit
www.belfastcityairport.com
48
november 2018


c i t y / s h o r f t e ab tr ue ar ke s
Fly from the
UK & Ireland’s most convenient airport
Just 5 minutes drive from Belfast city centre
Ranked amongst the Top 3 most punctual UK airports
www.belfastcityairport.com


airline news
MORE THAN JUST A MEAL
During your flight, a truly fine dining experience will take your taste buds above the clouds.
MORE THAN JUST MOVIES AND GAMES
Hundreds of movies and music albums, Live TV, free Wi-Fi connection and much more will be at your fingertips.
MORE THAN JUST A SEAT
A special seat that turns into a fully flat bed, an abundant legroom, seat separators for your privacy, luxury amenity kits and more. All for your comfort.
MORE THAN JUST A TRANSFER
Private chauffeur driven vehicles will take you to or from the airport, with a pleasant, luxury ride.
MORE THAN JUST A VISIT
‘The Best Business Class Lounge’ will refresh you before your meetings with five-star facilities such as gourmet dining, suite rooms, shower, piano, massage therapy and mini golf.
CHECk-IN wITH...
Air Transat partners with easyJet
air transat has announced that it it will be partnering with easyJet and its Worldwide by easyJet unique connections service.
Travellers passing through London Gatwick who book a flight on the Worldwide by easyJet platform will have access to
a wide range of flight options to Canada as well as multiple destinations in Europe. With one platform, they will be able to book all of their flights.
GatwickConnects offers a one-stop shop for passengers; with just one transaction, they can book connecting flights with airlines that do not share an interline agreement.
The service simplifies baggage handling as well.
There’s a GatwickConnects counter in the baggage reclaim area, where passengers can check-in their bags and pick up their boarding pass for their next flight, making connections much quicker.
Pictured (from left to right) are Johan Lundgren, Chief Executive Officer, easyJet and Gilles Ringwald, Vice President, Commercial, Air Transat
50
november 2018
HOSPITALITY
MORE THAN JUST A WORD