Travel Matters Issue 34 January 2020

ISSUE 34 JANUARY 2020
BREAKING NEW GROUND FOR THE TRAVEL TRADE IN SCOTLAND, NORTHERN IRELAND, NORTH OF ENGLAND & IOM
*Terms and conditions apply
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK,
CALL 0333 336 2915 OR VISIT AGENTS-UK.NCL.EU


THE FREESTYLE EXPERIENCE.
At NCL we know that the perfect cruise holiday means something different to everyone. With Free at Sea, we’re offering your customers the ultimate in freedom, flexibility and choice. They can design their bespoke holiday by adding their choice of extras from as little as £99 per person on top of
the great value base fare*. They can choose two out of five offers – Premium Beverage Package, Speciality Dining Package, WiFi Package, Shore Excursion Package or Family & Friends Offer.
PREMIUM BEVERAGE PACKAGE
They’ll enjoy a wide selection of soft drinks, spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and bottled or draft beer served in all bars, lounges and restaurants throughout their cruise.
UNRIVALLED DINING EXPERIENCES
From buffets with live-cooking stations to pan-Asian restaurants, as well as up to three main dining rooms with daily changing menus and à la carte service.
SPECIALITY DINING PACKAGE#
There‘s no better way to enjoy a wide selection of unique dining experiences! Customers can dine in Teppanyaki, Le Bistro, Cagney’s Steakhouse and more.
WIFI PACKAGE**
They’ll enjoy up to 250 minutes WiFi per stateroom, so they can stay connected at sea and share holiday moments with friends and family back home.
SHORE EXCURSION CREDIT
Make the most of time ashore with US$50 shore excursion credit per stateroom, per port of call.
AWARD-WINNING ENTERTAINMENT
Your customers can catch a fully- staged Broadway blockbuster, a fabulous production show, live bands and singers, comedy, and dance the night away in clubs.
ONBOARD FACILITIES
Thrilling, multi-slide Aqua Parks, challenging ropes courses, exciting Go Kart tracks^ and challenging climbing walls, sports courts and state-of-the- art gyms.
FAMILY CRUISING
We bring the best family holiday ever with action-packed, complimentary youth programmes, flexible family accommodation and fun activities all over our ships.
ALWAYS INCLUDED
*Upgrade charge depends on cruise length. £99pp is applicable for cruises of 7-9 days. See back page for more terms and conditions. #Number of meals subject to the length of the cruise. **Number of minutes subject to the length of the cruise. ^Not available on all ships


ISSUE 34 JANUARY 2020
BREAKING NEW GROUND FOR THE TRAVEL TRADE IN SCOTLAND, NORTHERN IRELAND, NORTH OF ENGLAND & IOM
CANADA HIGHLIGHTS
FOCUS
ON CRUISE
FABULOUS INCENTIVES
PLUS
DFDS Agents' Guide


A new decade!
After a welcome festive break, it’s time to hit the road running into a brand new decade - 2020 - here we come!
Hopefully, your clients’ New Year’s Resolutions included ‘to travel more often’. Everyone is reporting a busy start to the year, with Peaks reaching an all time high - long may it continue!
For anyone who is feeling the January blues, don’t worry - this month’s bumper issue should help cheer you up! Our Focus on Cruise includes details of lots of new ships as well as some fantastic offers, while our Canada Highlights reveal the growing allure of this vast country - plus there are loads of incentives to keep you motivated.
Whatever you may wish for this year, let’s hope it comes true!
@travelmatters.biz @TravelMatBiz @travelmattersbiz @travelmattersbiz Read last month’s issue online at... www.travelmatters.biz
Andrea Pellicci
Director
07766 010272 [email protected]
Hilary Douglas
Director
07989 414454 [email protected]
Gary Reavely
Director
07762 630057 [email protected]
Travel MattersTM is published by GAH Publishing Ltd, 96 Craigleith Hill Crescent, Edinburgh, EH4 2JP 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.


NEWS
New lounge opens at Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Airport welcomed the travel trade to the official opening of the new Aspire Lounge.
The new lounge, which seats 142, offers unlimited free Wi-Fi, comfortable seating with tableside charging facilities, freshly cooked food, uninterrupted runway views, separate booths for business and family passengers and private washroom facilities.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport said: “We’re delighted that we’re the first airport to be home to Aspire’s new look lounge as they begin to roll it out across the world. It looks excellent and has already received great feedback from passengers who have had time to enjoy the new surroundings and relax ahead of their flights.”
It is the second Aspire Lounge at Edinburgh Airport, with the original opening in July 2014 and set for a complete refurbishment beginning this February.
Part of Swissport, Aspire operate 30 airport lounges
in Europe, North America and Africa, 15 of them being located in the UK at key locations such as Newcastle and Manchester Terminal 1.
Global travel supply:
600,000+ accommodations in 200+ countries
35+ types of accommodation including vacation rentals
500+ airlines covering more than 6,500+ airports
175+ car rental companies with a presence in 3,000+ rental car locations
35,000+ tours, activities, attractions, and adventures
24 hour customer support:
Dedicated travel agent sales support
www.expedia.uk/taap
Agent Support – 0203 027 9793 (option1) [email protected]
JANUARY 2020
5


8
Youtravel Peak Deals
31
Canadian Summers with Air Canada Rouge
Inside Guide...
14-15
New destination for Loganair - Haugesund
83
Set sail & discover with NCL
20
Super powers from Stuba
24-37
Canada Highlights
47
Leger -
Best of Europe
66-67
Bonus Savings with Silversea
75
New brochure from Newmarket Holidays
22-23
Exsus Travel - Escape the Obvious
32-33
Destination St John’s - North America Travel Service
41-44
Your helpful DFDS Agent Guide
48-73
Focus on Cruise
49
Out of Office with MSC
56-57
Princess Cruises - Best. Sale. Ever.
70-71
Cunard - Freedom Calls
53
Azamara’s Great Big Sale
81
Abercrombie & Kent - what’s your travel wish?
JANUARY 2020


JAMAICA SAINT LUCIA ANTIGUA BAHAMAS GRENADA BARBADOS
ESCAPE WINTER
DISCOVER THE CARIBBEAN
OVER-THE-WATER SUITE,
SANDALS SOUTH COAST, JAMAICA
THE WORLD’S ONLY 5-STAR LUXURY INCLUDED® RESORTS
24 Years Running
LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORLD’S LEADING ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS
CALL AGENCY SALES 020 7590 0210 EMAIL [email protected]
VISIT sellingsandals.co.uk
OR TO BOOK
CALL 0808 164 3459 | VISIT sandals.co.uk/agents
WATER SPORTS LATITUDES˚ OVER THE WATER BAR
Offering more quality inclusions than any other resorts on the planet, a Sandals Luxury Included® holiday is an incomparable showcase of quality, choice and welcoming hospitality. We include the best of everything, so your clients can do anything their heart desires. Sip cocktails crafted from premium spirits on a hammock for two at a bar suspended over a calm turquoise sea. Step from an exotic Over-the-Water Villa into their
AT THE WORLD
private Tranquility Soaking TubTM while a personal butler pours them a perfectly chilled glass of sparkling wine. Spend every day of their stay exploring a new coral reef or hitting the greens on a Greg Norman- designed course overlooking a cobalt blue sea. Dine in France one night, Tuscany the next without ever leaving the resort. Sure, there’s time to do absolutely nothing...on your plane ride home. At Sandals, every day is yours to enjoy to the fullest.
TRAVEL AWARDS
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NEWS
Iconic Airbus A380
to return to Glasgow
Emirates has confirmed that the Airbus A380 will return to Glasgow at the end of March 2020.
The airline plans to operate the iconic A380 on a year- round basis on the double daily service, along with one of the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft on the route.
Mark Johnston, Managing Director at Glasgow Airport, said: “Emirates’ decision to operate a year-round daily service using the Airbus A380 is tremendous news and underlines the airline’s continued commitment to Glasgow Airport and its passengers.
“We invested significantly in our international pier infra- structure to vastly improve the experience for our long- haul carriers and passengers last year.
"This included the building of Scotland’s first triple airbridge, which not only supports a wide range of aircraft types but is perfect for servicing the A380.”
Since the introduction of the Glasgow-Dubai service in 2004, over 4.8 million passengers have travelled between the two cities and further afield through Emirates’ network of 158 destinations.
The A380 flying between Glasgow and Dubai has a three-class configuration, with 14 private suites in First- Class, 76 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 399 seats in Economy Class.
YOUTRAVEL PEAK DEALS
Booking with Youtravel between 26th December and 31st January will automatically enter you in a thrilling prize draw to win an amazing holiday in the Caribbean
plus amazing weekly prizes to choose between:
An annual Cinema pass
A Premier League hospitality package (for 2)
An annual Merlin pass for the whole family
Check out Youtravel.com to discover more details
about the campaign's prizes and exclusive discounts.
BOOK NOW TO WIN!
JANUARY 2020
8
8


Festivals.
More than we could ever tell.
Take the Under 30s Course at malta-training.com
to find out more
Malta attracts a number of music festivals to
its shores each year featuring high profile acts. Festival-goers can rave in ancient castles during Annie Mac’s Lost & Found in April, join a crowd of 50,000 at the free Isle of MTV in July and soak up the summer sunshine listening to dance music at Summer Daze in August.
With accommodation and flight packages to suit all budgets, music enthusiasts have every reason to check out this Mediterranean hotspot.


The Voice of Travel in Scotland
I hope everyone enjoyed a well- deserved break at Christmas but like me, I’m sure it’s now a distant memory! So, how has January been for all you agents out there? Peaks have been good and it’s nice to see people booking holidays and a lot of them doing it with a high street agent - let’s hope this continues.
In my last article, I spoke about the Sparkle Awards which will take place on 3rd September at a lunch in Edinburgh. This event will recognise the people at the coal face of our industry - it’s time for you all to shine and be nominated later this year by your line manager!
One of the other initiatives the SPAA is launching is a collaboration with Planeterra. Our first project will be in
Dubrovnik, Croatia - a place well acquainted with a troubled recent history and the highs and lows of rapidly growing tourism. The SPAA’s aim is, along with help from our members and associates, to raise funds for DESA.
In other news, it was good to see earlier this month that the much- needed Glasgow Airport rail link got the backing from council leaders. Plans
for a metro link for Glasgow Airport have been agreed by council leaders in Glasgow and Renfrewshire.
The first phase of the proposed Glasgow Metro would link Paisley Gilmour Street train station and Glasgow Airport, before extending further east. The announcement came ahead of a conference on the state
of the economy and infrastructure in Glasgow.
An airport rail link has been promised for years with different proposals approved and later scrapped. The Glasgow Metro was first proposed by a commission tasked with improving the city's infrastructure in April last year.
Now the leader of Glasgow City Council, Susan Aitken, has said the Metro's first phase will be between the airport and Paisley Gilmour Street train station. This is such a much-needed
service for Glasgow Airport and the SPAA will be helping the Airport push the project forward.
The 90th Annual SPAA Dinner takes place on 27th February. This is my favourite SPAA event here in Scotland, as it’s steeped in the traditions and heritage of the Association. I will proudly wear the Chain of Office, which has every single president’s name engraved on it from the last 90 years. It will be very heartfelt that a lot of these past presidents will also be in attendance on the evening.
I will be, like many others, very thankful for all the work by the past presidents over the years. You all steered the association to this grand old age! It’s an amazing accolade today to be the oldest travel association in the world and in 2021, we will be celebrating our centenary!
If you don’t have a ticket for this year’s dinner, it’s not too late to get one and I hope to see many of you there.
Here’s to the countdown for lighter evenings - it will be nice to go to and from work when it’s actually light outside!
Joanne, President SPAA
The SPAA look forward to welcoming our many friends to this year’s
90th ANNUAL SPAA DINNER
Thursday 27th February 2020
at the
CROWNE PLAZA, GLASGOW
For tickets, contact Janice Hogarth on 07795 331 889 or email [email protected]
JANUARY 2020


ASSOCIATE MEMBER NEWS BYTES
Teldar Travel - supporting travel agents
Teldar Travel recently launched in the UK but who are we and what makes us different?
Teldar Travel is part of Accor, meaning we are stable and secure, with a direct connection to Accor properties. Teldar offers the largest and most diverse inventory of 1,000,000+ accommodations, including all the other big hotel chains plus alternative types such as camping, apartments, vacation rentals, homes and villas. We offer real-time rates and live availability, even last minute. We also have Teldar Transfer, Teldar Activity & Teldar Car too.
Teldar Travel supports agents with a personalised approach with our own call centre and premium customer service. This includes a Quality Check on bookings 48 hours before check-in. Agents will personally benefit from our own Reward Programme - Miles Attack – where you can earn on all bookings, all year!
For more information, contact:
Miya Gilritchie
Head of Region
M: 07553 676 106 [email protected] www.teldartravel.com
Specialist knowledge with Africa & Beyond
Here at Africa & Beyond, we don’t just like Africa,
we LOVE Africa. Everything about this fabulous continent excites us. Our team has such an in-depth specialist knowledge of Africa, Dubai, Arabia and the Indian Ocean, built up over years of experience travelling, living and working in these fabulous destinations.
Africa & Beyond is growing and is hugely popular thanks to word of mouth and its reputation for excellent service. We pride ourselves on quick turnaround times and every quote is tailor-made and put together with passion and enthusiasm. We believe our independent travel agents are key to our growth and no booking goes unnoticed.
To find out more, contact:
Katie Winn
National Sales Manager
Africa and Beyond Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 161 789 8838
Mob: +44 (0) 7483154272 [email protected]
Welcome to the new Edinburgh airport Aspire lounge
The new Aspire lounge is conveniently located close to Flybe gates in the north-east of the terminal (above Pret a Manger) with lift access to the upper floor.
Passengers can experience a stylish, comfortable start to their journey and enjoy:
• Work booths for those travelling on business
• Free, unlimited Wifi and tableside charging facilities
• Hot and continental breakfast options. For the rest of the day, a choice of two hot dishes along with lighter options, a cheese board plus snacks and treats
• A choice of soft and alcoholic drinks from the bar
• A variety of magazines and newspapers
• Panoramic views of the runway
Available to our ‘W’ and ‘R’ class passengers
Any flights booked are subject to the General Conditions of Carriage found at flybe.com. Lounge access available to Flybe ‘All In’ passengers. Further information can be found at https://www.executivelounges.com/airport-lounges/edinburgh-airport-aspire-lounge-new. Date of issue and correct as of 16/12/19
Adventure is
knocking with Cosmos
No one turns dream trips into reality with more expertise and affordability than Cosmos. We've been sharing the world with savvy travellers for more than 50 years, so we know how to help your clients turn their bucket list into a "better-than-I-dreamed" list.
When it comes to showing customers the best of
the world, Cosmos goes the extra mile. In addition to
our private, first-class coaches, we use a variety of transportation for an out-of-this-world experience. But guests will never have to worry about getting to the ferry on time, buying tickets for the train, or waiting in long lines. They can just sit back and enjoy the ride - with expert guidance from our Tour Director along the way.
For more information, contact:
Danielle Radford
Business Development Manager Cosmos & Avalon Cruises
Tel: 07815 559 757
Email: [email protected]
JANUARY 2020
11
To Flybe Gates
Gate 13 Gate 14
Gate 15
Gate16
Flybe App - Available to download for Android and iOS
↓


NEWS
FEBRUARY 2020
19 FEBRUARY
The Amazing Thailand Roadshow
Belfast
27 FEBRUARY 2020
SPAA 90th Dinner
Crowne Plaza, Glasgow
MARCH 2020
11 MARCH
The Amazing Thailand Roadshow
Glasgow
12 MARCH
Geordie Ball
Grand Hotel,
Gosforth Park, Newcastle
19 MARCH
SPAA Pre-Lunch Seminar & Spring Network Lunch Marriott Glasgow
24 MARCH
Face to Face with TIPTO, Edinburgh
APRIL 2020
02 APRIL
STAR Exhibition
Principal Roxburgh Hotel, Edinburgh
06 APRIL
CMV Magellan ship visit, Belfast
MAY 2020
05 MAY
SPAA Glasgow Quiz
12 MAY
SPAA Edinburgh Quiz
15 MAY
CMV Magellan ship visit, Dundee
15 - 18 MAY
Advantage Conference
Madeira
20 MAY
CMV Marco Polo ship visit, Belfast
26 MAY
SPAA Aberdeen Quiz
Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen
31 MAY
CMV Magellan ship visit, Newcastle
JUNE 2020
02 JUNE
SPAA Quiz Final – Glasgow
02 JUNE
Bright Travel Training event, Glasgow
18 JUNE
SPAA Summer in the City
Glasgow
19 JUNE
CMV Columbus ship visit, Invergordon
22 JUNE
CMV Columbus ship visit, Belfast
23 JUNE
CMV Magellan ship visit, Greenock
25 JUNE
Events for Travel Luxury Hotels Roadshow, Belfast
AUGUST 2020
20 AUGUST
SPAA Golf Day
Lanark Golf Course
SEPTEMBER 2020
03 SEPTEMBER
Sparkle Awards
Principal George Hotel, Edinburgh
08 SEPTEMBER
CMV Magellan ship visit, Invergordon
10 SEPTEMBER
STAR Exhibition
Douglas Hotel, Aberdeen
10 SEPTEMBER
CMV Marco Polo ship visit, Newcastle
11 SEPTEMBER
CMV Marco Polo ship visit, Aberdeen
14 SEPTEMBER
Events for Travel Luxury Hotels Roadshow, Aberdeen
15 SEPTEMBER
Events for Travel Luxury Hotels Roadshow, Glasgow
OCTOBER 2020
12 OCTOBER
ABTA Travel Convention, Marrakesh
12 OCTOBER
CMV Marco Polo ship visit, Newcastle
NOVEMBER 2020
05 NOVEMBER
SPAA Annual Travel Awards
Doubletree Hilton Hotel, Glasgow
DECEMBER 2020
01 DECEMBER
STAR Exhibition
Doubletree Hilton, Glasgow
10 DECEMBER
SPAA AGM & Christmas Lunch, Glasgow
Calling all agents... CMV ship visits
Cruise and Maritime Voyages is once again offering agents the opportunity to visit their ships, including Magellan, Marco Polo and Columbus.
Ports hosting the fam visits include Aberdeen, Belfast, Dundee, Greenock, Invergordon and Newcastle. The complimentary ship visits will include a short presentation, refreshments, five-course lunch with wine, plus time to explore the ship’s facilities and accommodation.
For more details and to book, email agents@ cruiseandmaritime.com or call 0844 414 6140.
My keyboard must be broken - I keep hitting the ESCAPE key but I’m still stuck at WORK!
JANUARY 2020
DATES
FOR YOUR
DIARY


NEW worldwide 20/21 brochure
2021 holidays on sale for the first time
Early Bird Price Promise
VIP door-to-door travel service† Guaranteed departures
Book online at
www.titanagents.co.uk
*£99pp deposit is available on the majority of Titan holidays – book by 31 January 2020. †Mainland UK only.
Book by 31 Jan 2020
£99 per person deposit*


NEW DESTINATION 2020
Loganair launch Aberdeen to
HAUGESUND
On the west coast of Norway, surrounded by fjords
and mountains, you’ll find Haugesund. This is the area where the Nowegian Vikings used to live and where the Viking Kings had their Royal seat.
Just waiting for you to explore
EN.VISITHAUGESUND.NO
Flights take-off 24 February


Photo: Scott Sporleder
Photo: Ida K. Vollum - Vest Foto
Photo: Mattias Fredriksson
Photo: Ida K. Vollum - Vest Foto
Photo: Nordicdrone
Photo: Mattias Fredriksson
Photo: Aakrafjorden Nature
Photo: Ravnafloke


NEWS
Record numbers for
London City Airport
Over five million passengers travelled through London City Airport in 2019, making it the busiest year in the airport’s history.
A total of 5,100,025 passengers flew in and out of the airport last year, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.3 percent.
The most popular route remains Amsterdam, with
a total of 664,621 passengers, an increase of 6.9 percent on the previous year. The second most popular route was Edinburgh with 511,116 passengers, a 3.3% increase, followed by Dublin at 460,132 passengers.
Passenger numbers were also up on routes to Belfast (14.7%, 210,936) and Glasgow (10.2%, 252,980. This year will see the launch of a new Dundee service.
Savings available on Finnair
Finnair has launched a selection of January sale fares to a range of destinations in Asia and the Far East including Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Singapore, all via Helsinki.
Customers can fly the short northern route from Edinburgh, via Helsinki to Shanghai, China's biggest city, with fares starting from £398 and to Guangzhou from £448. These special fares are on sale until 27th January 2020, for travel between 27th January and 30th November 2020.
Well done, Sharon Wilson, from Dawson & Sanderson, winner of DFDS' last incentive for 2019
- £600 of Love2Shop vouchers!
BE OPEN TO WHATEVER COMES NEXT....
Finnair has a strong strategic focus on connecting flights to the Far East and Asia using the shorter northern route. Last year the Finnish flag carrier celebrated 30-years of flying to China and now serves seven destinations across the country.
Having just introduced flights to its fifth Japanese destination, Sapporo, famous for its top ski resorts, in December 2019, Finnair will also be extending its route network to South Korea’s second biggest city of Busan from 30th March, 2020.
JANUARY 2020


Live the
VILLA LIFESTYLE
Make your own pool rules No set meal times and al fresco dining Sunloungers reserved just for you Packaged your way
For more information visit:
WWW.JAMESVILLAS.CO.UK or call 0808 159 8315
FREE
CAR HIRE
or TRANSFERS*
+
FREE
AIRPORT PARKING*
+
PLUS
£100pp LOW DEPOSIT†
2020 HOLIDAY OFFER
*Terms & conditions apply †Selected flights only
All our package holidays are protected
THE 2019 BRITISH TRAVEL AWARDS’ BEST VILLA HOLIDAY COMPANY
YES YOU CAN
Villa Marko, Istria


The 'Lion City' Always Amazes
Despite being one of the smallest
cities in the world, the island nation of Singapore offers travellers a superb and unique experience. Steeped in history and tradition, old shops, markets and pre-war buildings stand proud against the backdrop of modern skyscrapers and architectural wonders. The city is incredibly well organised, the standard of accommodation, attractions and tourism facilities are first class and there is a great deal to see and do.
TOP TIPS WHEN TO VISIT
Located 94 miles north of the equator, Singapore is hot and humid year round. It can be quite a shock for first time visitors leaving the air conditioning
of Changi Airport to feel the unique warmth - day or night! April and May are the hottest months while March and September can be the most humid. Also known as the Garden City with
its sunshine, warm temperatures and rainfall, when it rains, it's torrential but passes very quickly - so always pack a brolly when going out.
PLACES TO VISIT
• Explore Orchard Road - Shopping and entertainment in the heart
of the city, glitzy and glamorous, the beautifully created decoration and lighting makes the place look sparkling.
• Stroll the two mile Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade - it will take you past many of the attractions. There are mist sprays and breeze shelters with motion sensor fans to provide cool spots along the way.
• Gardens by the Bay - Since it opened in 2012, more than 20 million people have visited this truly innovative and inspiring futuristic wonderland in central Singapore.
• Sentosa Island - Known as Asia's favourite playground, locals refer to it as Las Vegas in a forest on the beach! It’s a huge fun playground filled with many attractions and things to see and do. Take the cable car ride to get there in style.
• Day trip to Malaysia - Separated from Singapore by the Straits of Johor Bahru - a very short causeway links the two countries and there are some great tours to let clients see this beautiful neighbouring country.
• Chinatown - An eclectic mix of old and new - traditional temples, shops, wet markets, mix with boutique hotels, chic restaurants and hip bars.
• Raffles Hotel - One of the world’s most famous hotels, it has welcomed countless legendary names - writers, movie stars, politicians all found inspiration and conviviality here - no trip to Singapore would be complete without a visit to this iconic location. Recently completely restored, you can enjoy the restaurants and courtyards, and of course, a Singapore Sling in the legendary Long Bar.
STOPOVER IN ISTANBUL
When flying with Turkish Airlines, be sure to recommend to your clients
that they stop off for a few nights in Istanbul. One of the most incredible cities, Istanbul has it all - a spectacular setting, world famous sights and attractions, great shopping, restaurants and hotels and a truly vibrant and eclectic atmosphere.
TOUR ISTANBUL
A unique benefit when you fly with Turkish Airlines. If clients have a layover in Istanbul between 6 and 24 hours before their onward Turkish Airlines flight, they can take advantage of this free tour, allowing them to discover the delights of Istanbul for themselves!
Turkish Airlines flies to Singapore with daily connections from Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, London and Dublin. Your clients will not only love the excellent inflight service and amenities, but also
enjoy a generous free baggage allowance in both Business and Economy class. Turkish Airlines flies to 317 destinations in 126 countries worldwide.
JANUARY 2020
Singap
p
o
or
r
e
e


DISCOVER MORE:
with the airline that flies to more countries than any other
SINGAPORE


NEWS
Record number of passengers for Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus carried a record 2.5 million passengers last year between Ireland and North America.
The new high was notched up by the Irish flag carrier op- erating its largest ever transatlantic schedule, flying to 14 North American destinations including a new direct service to the gateway to the midwest, Minneapolis St. Paul, which launched last July.
The airline's top five US destinations included New York, followed by Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Florida.
Aer Lingus flies from Dublin and Shannon to 16 North Atlantic routes across North America from 16 UK airports, including Edinburgh and Manchester.
The airline has announced five new European routes for 2020 with flights direct from Dublin to Brindisi and Alghero (Sardinia) in Italy and Rhodes in Greece; and from Shannon Airport to Paris and Barcelona.
The Irish carrier is set to add extra capacity on a selection of its North American routes, by introducing larger Airbus A330s on services to Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Minneapolis- St. Paul – offering more seats in spacious cabins.
By Summer 2020, Aer Lingus will have replaced its entire Boeing 757 fleet with four new state-of-the-art, single-aisle Airbus A321neo LR aircraft, which offer fuel savings of over 20 per cent, thanks to their greater eco-efficiency.
UK guests flying to North America with Aer Lingus can enjoy seamless connections by pre-clearing US Immigration
and Customs in Dublin before stepping on board their transatlantic flight. This means they can arrive as domestic passengers on arrival Stateside, skipping lengthy queues for a swift and smooth welcome to the US.
The Stuba Super heroes will be out in force this peaks period giving our travel agents super powers when you need it the most.
PLUS as a thank you, you could win 4 x Experience Day vouchers to the value of £100, or one of our extremely popular Stuba Chilly Bottles. Simply make a booking of £250 and over between 13 January and 28 February to be entered into the prize draw.
STUBA - The Superpower
STUBA - The Superpower
JANUARY 2020
in Bedbanks
in Bedbanks
To ensure you don’t ‘peak’ too early we will be dropping in Stuba Survival kits to see you through the long hours.




Exsus Travel - Where’s hot for 2020?
Exsus Travel offers a wide range of exceptional holidays across the globe, so it’s hard to narrow it down and pick our favourites – but here are five destinations that are topping our extensive wish list for 2020, which we highly recommend for your clients. From going on safari in Zimbabwe to discovering the many natural gems of Nicaragua, our travel experts can tailor- make their perfect holiday to these destinations and many more.
Jamaica
With James Bond returning in style in 2020, this is the year to find out just why Ian Fleming loved Jamaica so much that he made it his home and found inspiration for his classic Bond novels here. We love the glamorous, award-winning S Hotel Jamaica, which sits on beautiful Montego Bay and has an irresistibly trendy ‘Mykonos meets Miami’ vibe. Despite only being open a year, Condé Nast Traveller has awarded it the top hotel in the Caribbean and Central America, so it has made a huge impact in a short space of time.
Sweden
The romantic snowy landscapes of Swedish Lapland are perfect for a winter escape. Distinctive designer hotel Arctic Bath opens here in January 2020 – and your clients
can be among its first guests. This striking, futuristic-looking hotel floats on the River Lule in summer and is surrounded by its frozen waters in the winter. Guests can enjoy the surreal experience of taking a dip in the circular central bath, before warming up in the sauna and cosying up by the log fireplace. Why not combine with the Treehotel, where your clients can relive their childhood fantasies by staying
in a treehouse - and not just any old treehouse – choose from seven unique treehouses, from a UFO to a bird’s nest.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is firmly back on the travel hotlist for 2020, thanks to the FCO lifting its travel advice in 2019. Intrepid visitors to this often-overlooked country will be amply rewarded with colourful colonial cities, diverse and unique landscapes and incredible adventures such as hikes in the cloud forest. They can also stay in beautiful lodges on private islands, tropical Pacific Coast hideaways and luxurious Caribbean retreats. This is
a perfect chance for your clients to discover Nicaragua’s many gems for themselves – before the crowds descend.
Israel
Israel certainly offers something a little different and those who venture off the beaten track can see unrivalled religious landmarks and breathtaking scenery, from vast deserts to sweeping beaches. What’s more, with new direct daily flights to its hip capital Tel Aviv taking just five hours, exploring this fascinating country has never been easier.
There are also some stylish luxury hotels to experience, with Six Senses adding to their already impressive stable in 2020 with the Six Senses Shaharut in the Arava Valley, near the Negev Desert.
Zimbabwe
Having been a little off the radar in recent years, Zimbabwe is firmly making a comeback in 2020. Not only does it have new luxury and eco-aware hotels, its successful conservation
and anti-poaching programmes are reaping rich rewards and protecting local wildlife. This ensures high-quality wildlife safaris, including coming face to face with the famous Big Five, as well as the chance to stay in some gorgeous luxury safari camps and lodges along the way.
With over 90 countries to explore with Exsus Travel, your clients can visit these destinations and beyond in 2020, escaping the obvious and experiencing the extraordinary.
Call our team of well-travelled experts to find out more: 020 7563 1303
or visit www.exsus.com
JANUARY 2020


Escape the obvious in 2020
Since 1998, Exsus Travel has specialised in tailor-made luxury holidays, honeymoons, beach escapes, safaris and family adventures in over 90 destinations all over the world, from Burma to the Bahamas. Exsus creates holidays that are individual and distinctive, so your clients can escape the obvious and experience the extraordinary.
Africa • Asia • Australasia • Europe • Indian Ocean • Middle East North America • South America • Caribbean
020 7563 1303 | www.exsus.com


CANADA
Sale now on with Canadian Affair
Canadian Affair is offering 5% off a wide range of holidays in its January Sale.
Valid until 31st January, 2020, the discount includes the Rockies & Alaska Cruise Extravaganza, British Columbia Winelands Circle Holiday and Vancouver Island & Desolation Sound Wilderness Discovery Cruise.
The 30 top performing agents during this period will secure a place on one of three Canadian Affair fam trips taking place this year, with the winners being announced in February. The fam trips will be to Montréal and Québec City in May; Northern Ontario including Toronto in June; and the Canadian Rockies including the wine region in September.
Agents should call Canadian Affair’s dedicated trade line on 020 7616 9192 for more information.
UK visitors on the up
With 792,000 arrivals in 2018, the United Kingdom held the top spot as Destination Canada’s largest long-haul market.
Over the first nine months of 2018, in spite of a slight decline in total arrivals, United Kingdom leisure trips to Canada reached a five-year high. Tourists from the UK on average spend close to $1,500 per trip and stay for around 12 nights. UK visitors enjoy trying local food and drink, experiencing nature-based experiences, seeing historical or world heritage sites and exploring indigenous culture while on holiday.
An increasing number of UK travellers are also booking organised group travel packages through a travel agent or tour operator, up from 34% of travellers in 2017 to 45% in 2018.
In October 2019, arrivals from the UK by air and sea increased 3% on the basis of gains in cruise (+74%) and air arrivals direct from overseas (+1%).
Take an Arctic Safari with Travelsphere
For clients looking for an escorted tour to explore Canada and view its fascinating wildlife, Travelsphere offer a Canadian Arctic Summer Safari.
Starting in Winnipeg with a visit to the Assiniboine Conser- vation Centre for a unique opportunity to see rescued polar bears through underwater viewing tunnels, clients will then fly on to Churchill, known as the ‘polar bear capital of the world’, where they can see these majestic animals hunting along the shores of Hudson Bay.
The tour offers guests a cruise to spot Beluga whales that gather near the estuary of the Churchill River, before
continuing onto Hudson Bay for another cruise to discover the remote habitats of Western Hudson, where polar bears can also be seen in their summer guise.
Other highlights include an Arctic feast, a wildlife-spotting tour on a tundra vehicle and a farewell dinner at Fort Gibraltar. Optional excursions are also available including kayaking with the Beluga whales in the Churchill River. Suitable for beginners and first time kayakers, the excursion focuses on spending time with the beluga whales in their natural environment.
Departures from Glasgow include 4th August, 2020 on Air Canada Rouge.
JANUARY 2020




CANADA
Fly to Canada with the World’s Best Leisure Airline
Air Transat was voted the World’s Best Leisure Airline in 2019 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, for the second year running.
Providing a much-loved service across the pond for over 30 years, Air Transat offers direct and connecting flights from Glasgow, Manchester, London Gatwick and Dublin to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary.
Passengers love this friendly, comfortable service with great value fares, including free onboard meals with a glass of wine or beer and personalised inflight entertainment.
Last year Air Transat welcomed to the fleet, the first of their brand-new Airbus A321neoLRs, because the holiday should start the moment you step on board! This new Airbus is greenest
in its class and in perfect sync with
Air Transat’s continued efforts in sustainable tourism. Sometimes less is more and when compared to previous generation Airbus aircraft, the Airbus A321neoLR consumes over 15% less fuel, generates 50% less noise in the cabin and communities, produces about 5,000 fewer tonnes of CO2 a year and lowers NOX emissions (which contribute to smog and acid rain) by 50 per cent.
In Economy Class, the new leather seats are wider than those of previous generations of Airbus, providing passengers with more personal space.
They’re equipped with a state-of-the- art entertainment system, with larger individual touch screens and USB ports to charge electronic devices – real world off, vacation on! The A321neoLR will serve UK and Irish routes to Canada alongside the Airbus A330, replacing the older generation Airbus A310, to ensure passengers always enjoy seat back TVs and charging ports on board.
Premium Economy passengers
travel in style in the newly designed Club Class cabin, with spacious and comfortable seats. They also benefit from two pieces of checked baggage, priority airport services and the Gourmet menu by celebrity Quebec chef Daniel Vézina.
For families, travelling to Canada is child’s play with Air Transat’s free Kids Club! Families travelling with mini-
globetrotters aged 2 to 11, receive members’ kits filled with travel goodies, priority airport services, on-board surprises, plus free and automated standard seat assignments to ensure that kids are always seated with their parents.
Since launching just over a year ago, Air Transat’s Star Rewards programme has been hugely popular with travel agents across the UK and Ireland.
The current Incentive rewards agents with up to £25 in shopping vouchers for every passenger booked by 28th February, 2020.
Rewards can be spent on thousands
of gifts and experiences, ranging
from weekend breaks and luxury hotel stays, to the latest gadgets and beauty
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Agents keen to take part in the Star Rewards programme should keep their eyes peeled for incentives throughout the year. Register now at AirTransatGiveaway.com to hear about the latest incentives!
JANUARY 2020


Cash Giveaways for Canadian Getaways
Book Canada 2020 flights during Peaks and we’ll reward you for every Air Transat passenger
£15
shopping voucher for each return Eco Standard ticket
Book now and claim
AirTransatGiveaway.com
Book between December 24, 2019 and February 28, 2020. Rewards applied per passenger for direct or connecting routes from London Gatwick, Glasgow, Manchester, or Dublin to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary or Québec City, in any travel period. Eco Budget fares not included. Terms and conditions apply, see online for details. Get in touch [email protected].
£25
shopping voucher for each return Eco Flex or Club Class ticket
2019 World’s Best Leisure Airline
airtransat.co.uk
Available to book via the GDS


CANADA
Time to relax with Air Canada Rouge
As Air Canada’s leisure airline, Air Canada Rouge provides value and choice to those who love to travel. Offering seasonal non-stop services between June and September from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester to Toronto,
with convenient connections to destinations throughout Air Canada’s extensive global network departing daily from Toronto Pearson International Airport; 62 Canadian destinations, 53 in the United States as well as services to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America.
Operating a fleet of Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, featuring both a premium and economy cabin. At the airport, Premium Rouge customers will benefit from airport priority services plus receive two free checked bags weighing up to 23kgs each.
Once on board,
passengers
can relax in a
dedicated cabin
whilst enjoying a
wider seat, more
recline and a
generous 37” seat
pitch, premium
meals served on
china ware and
complimentary
wines and spirits. Customers travelling in Economy Class enjoy a complimentary hot meal and non-alcoholic beverages plus one free checked bag weighing up to 23kgs.
In both cabins, passengers can access ‘Player’, a new generation of in-flight entertainment. For Premium Rouge passengers, wireless streaming of on-demand entertainment is available on complimentary iPads. To access the in-flight entertainment in Economy, passengers must download the Air Canada ‘Player’ app prior to travel to stream on-demand entertainment onto their own Apple device. Alternatively passengers can rent an iPad for the duration of the flight for $10 CAD.
The double aisle Boeing 767-300ER aircraft offers 282 seats onboard, 24 seats in Premium Rouge and 258 seats in the rear cabin: 219 Economy seats and 39 Preferred seats which for a small additional charge offer 5” of extra legroom.
Night skiing and ice skating
For clients looking for a ski resort with a small-town feel that’s not too far from a city, Sasquatch Mountain, in Vancouver’s Fraser Valley is ideal. The resort has 34 runs,
3 chair lifts, 2 surface conveyor belt lifts and 2 terrain parks.
This season they are opening their brand new Blue Quad Chair, to get skiers up the mountain 20% faster than previous years. Sasquatch will also be adding a second terrain park. The Whistle Punk park will feature an easier terrain for beginners while the Sasquatch park plans to include a jump line and some bigger features.
Every Friday night, the Sasquatch Social Series will offer night skiing, music and live entertainment while non skiers can try out the snowshoe trails and tube park.
Alternatively, visitors can enjoy some old-fashioned fun with ice skating at Robson Square’s outdoor rink, in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Admission is free if you bring your own skates, otherwise skate rental is $5 per pair. Helmets are also available.
JANUARY 2020


RAIL HOLIDAYS
to Europe, North America and beyond!
Independent Rail Holiday Experts
Book Rail Holidays up to 2 years in advance
Short hold times and Instant Quote
Full Price Parity
ABTA and ATOL protected
Excellent Commission
Dedicated Trade Team to help – contact [email protected]
Railbookers offers expertly planned, tailor made holidays by train. We take the complexity out of booking independent rail travel by offering holidays inclusive of rail, hotel stays, flights, sightseeing and more!
Order brochures through
ULTIMATE CANADA COAST TO COAST
17 DAYS
£3,099
PER PERSON
FROM
EASTERN CANADA RAIL JOURNEY
9DAYS
£1,149
PER PERSON
FROM
GRAND CIRCLE OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
10 DAYS
£3,099
PER PERSON
FROM
Halifax > Quebec City > Montreal
> Toronto > Niagara Falls > Toronto > Jasper > Banff > Vancouver
Experience the quaint charm of Halifax and explore the blend of old and new in Montreal. Visit Toronto, take a tour out to see the majesty of Niagara Falls before heading west for a spectacular train trip across the great Canadian plains to the Rocky Mountains. Wrapping up the trip is a stay in cosmopolitan Vancouver.
Toronto > Ottawa > Montreal > Quebec City
Explore Eastern Canada on this exciting holiday, starting with multi-cultural Toronto and the majestic Niagara Falls up close on a boat cruise. Next it’s onto historic Ottawa before boarding the train to Montreal and taking in the historic charm of Old city. The last stop on this popular trip is Quebec city with it’s distinctive European ambience.
TradeGate.co.uk Visit www.railbookers.co.uk to view all of our rail holidays or call 0203 327 3586
Vancouver > Kamloops > Banff
> Lake Louise > Jasper > Vancouver
Experience the splendour of the Canadian Rockies on this grand rail journey with Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail. Travel through the Canadian Rockies and along the Fraser River and Canyon, explore the iconic emerald lakes and the beautiful waterfalls. Travel to Banff, picturesque Lake Louise and to the charming town of Jasper.
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FLY FROM
SCOTLAND
7579


CANADA
KEVIN ROGERS
AIR CANADA
AREA SALES MANAGER, NORTHERN ENGLAND & SCOTLAND
Prior to joining Air Canada, I worked
in various positions at the in-house tour operator division of Co-Operative Travel, Escape.
I started my career in August 2001 as an apprentice on the modern apprenticeship scheme, previously working within the Reservations and Schedule Air Ticketing team.
Thereafter, I held the position of Team Manager, Schedule Air Support, which included managing and overseeing the day-to-day aviation responsibilities for the Schedule Air Fares, Support and Ticketing teams. It was at this point that I caught the aviation bug!
My passion for the aviation industry became clear, which fuelled my drive to advance my career. A vacancy at Canada’s flag carrier, Air Canada, became available and I just had to apply for what seemed to be such an
adventurous and exciting role at a highly renowned and multi-award- winning airline. I have never looked back since.
In order to engage effectively with the travel trade, I conduct several fun and informative initiatives, including quiz nights, sales blitzes, training workshops and webinars.
These initiatives help deliver Air Canada’s key USPs and promote our extensive domestic and international route network and industry-leading portfolio of premium products
and services, including Air Canada Signature class and premium economy. A must try, if I may say so myself!
My role is centred around building relationships, providing information and listening to gain a deeper understanding of what the travel agency community requires.
In turn, this shapes the provision of adequate tools, such as collateral, fares and marketing support to help travel agencies promote and sell the Air Canada brand. Relationships are key and it is important to build confidence and trust.
Our recent Northern England and Scotland sales blitzes targeted both business and leisure travel agencies. Face-to-face engagement proved invaluable and it was a great success, resulting in lots of bookings!
When I am on the road, I always remember what Andrew Edmonds,
Air Canada Manager, Business Travel Sales UK, once told me: “Be the face
of Air Canada in Northern England
& Scotland”. Air Canada has a very respected brand in the market and I am so proud to be the face of that brand in my sales territory.
Canada is such a great destination
to visit, with so much to see and do. Personally, I love the city of Vancouver. It is a bustling west coast seaport
in British Columbia, surrounded by spectacular mourntains and beautiful scenery.
Vancouver is truly a favourite of mine and has something to offer everyone year-round, including fantastic art, theatre and entertainment, sports and outdoor adventures.
JANUARY 2020


Canadian summers await.
Take off for Canada this summer from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Manchester with Air Canada Rouge, featuring complimentary checked baggage*, meals and advance seat selection**
Plus, we offer added comfort in our Premium Rouge class: priority check-in, extra legroom, wider seats, and more.
Learn more at aircanada.com
*Non-sop trans-Atlantic services only;
*A checked bag(s) fee applies to Economy Basic fares.
**A advance seat selection fee applies to booking class W, S, T, L and K.






CANADA
New attraction
for Toronto
Little Canada, a new
attraction set to open in
Toronto this year, will be located in the heart of downtown in Yonge - Dundas Square.
The animated attraction will take visitors on an immersive journey through Canada in miniature, with the chance to explore and experience Canada’s expansive country in just a few hours.
Little Niagara, Little Toronto and Petit Quebec will be the first destinations to open, followed by a new destination opening every year or two after, until the journey reaches from coast to coast.
The Canny Lad...
Luxury property for Yorkville
Marriot International
has announced Toronto’s first W Hotel in Yorkville.
The hotel will be a
nine-storey, 255-
room luxury property
surrounded by Bloor
Street’s high end shopping boutiques and will feature its own DJ booth and recording studio.
The $40 million design transformation of the hotel is expected to be completed this summer, when it will open as the W Toronto.
DARREN PHILLIPS
in Canada...
Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year and you are now ready for Peaks!
This month, I thought I would tell you all about my recent trip to Canada - it was wonderful!
I flew on board KLM, from Newcastle to Montreal via AMS and was very impressed with it all. The connection was good and the aircraft very comfortable, with a decent amount of legroom!
On arrival in Montreal, I was greeted by the limo driver which I booked through HolidayTaxis and within 30 minutes, I was at my hotel! I stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn, Westmount - the room was very spacious and had a small kitchenette with a fridge, so it kept the drinks cool!
The hotel location was ideal - just a quick 10-minute ride on the underground and we were downtown, with its amazing buildings and all the usual hustle and bustle of a major city. We took a speed boat trip out on the St Lawrence River which was amazing. I even managed to barter down the price, from $160 to $100 for an hour’s private boat trip!
We also walked for miles around the city over
the next few days - it's a great way to explore. The nightlife is fantastic too and well worth a visit just for that!
Next we headed up to Quebec in a hire car. We took the Kings Trail along the river for a couple hours then headed inland through the mountains and the rivers. The scenery
is stunning! On arrival in Québec, we checked into the Best Western Plus Centre Ville hotel. Again a lovely spacious room and only a 20-minute walk to the Old Quarter which was the highlight of the trip for me - I just loved it.
Sadly, it was then time to head back to the airport for the flight back to Newcastle - I only wish that we could have stayed longer!
Darren
JANUARY 2020


North America with a touch of Iceland
Stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare
Reykjavik I Anchorage I Boston I Chicago I Denver I Edmonton I Minneapolis I Montreal I New York (JFK & Newark) Orlando I Philadelphia I Portland I Seattle I Toronto I Vancouver I Washington, D.C.
n Fly direct from Glasgow, London (Heathrow & Gatwick), Manchester, and Dublin to Iceland with easy connections to North America.
n 23 kg checked luggage (Light fares excluded), 10 kg hand luggage, 32 in legroom, in-flight entertainment and more.
n Stopover in Iceland for up to 7 nights at no additional airfare. + icelandair.co.uk


CANADA
JANUARY 2020
Readers’ Choice Awards
Condé Nast Traveler has announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards with Cape Breton Island (Number 1) and Vancouver Island (Number 3) both recognised in the Top 5 Islands in The Americas.
Located at the north-eastern tip of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island offers visitors beautiful landscapes, delicious seafood and culture. The Vancouver Island region features coastal rainforests, pristine coastlines, fishing, wildlife viewing and adventure excursions.
Readers of Condé Nast Traveler also recognised Quebec City as the third best small city in the world and the
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Expansion for Hyatt Hotels
Hyatt Hotels is planning to double its Canada presence, opening more than 20 new hotels by the end of 2022.
The new properties include three hotels in the downtown area of Niagara Falls, Ontaria including a dual branded Centric Falls and Hyatt Regency Niagara Fall Project with 150 and 350 rooms respectively and the 200 room Hyatt Place Niagara Falls. Other openings include Park Hyatt Toronto, Hyatt Place Kelowna, Hyatt Winnipeg Downtown, Hyatt Place Moncton, Hyatt Place Brampton, Hyatt Place/Hyatt House Edmonton Downtown and Hyatt Place Ottawa.
The Canadian Arctic
This summer, The British Museum will be hosting an exhibition about the Arctic. As one of the world’s last
true wildernesses, the Canadian Arctic offers visitors a unique experience, with its Intuit Culture, rare wildlife and stunning scenery.
The Canadian Arctic will also feature in the new Hollywood movie, Call of the Wild, due to be released this February. Set in the Yukon Territory, the film is also expected to generate rising interest in the area and a number of new hotel openings will also help attract more visitors.
Follow The Great Trail
For visitors looking for outdoor adventure, a hike along The Great Trail offers ample opportunities to explore the great outdoors. At 24,140 kilometres, it’s the longest recreational trail network in the world.
Weaving its way across Canada, the Trail actually passes through every one of the 13 Canadian provinces and territories, linking some 15,000 communities. Visitors can hike, explore on horseback, cycle or paddle in the summer and autumn, as well as cross-country skiing, dogsledding and snowmobiling in the winter and spring.
Much of the Great Trail is repurposed rail lines, including Newfoundland and Labrador’s 872-kilometre T’Railway Trail. This section passes old railway stations, converted railway cars, relic trains and restored trestles and follows the former Channel Port aux Basques to St. John’s line through the forest, cities and fishing villages.


Fly direct to Canada with
the World’s Best Leisure Airline
There’s now a choice of two flights per day to Toronto and 5 flights per week to Montreal from London Gatwick this summer.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Direct flights to Toronto
Glasgow - Toronto Manchester - Toronto Dublin - Toronto
London Gatwick - Toronto
Direct flights to Vancouver
Manchester - Vancouver London Gatwick - Vancouver
Direct flights to Montreal
London Gatwick - Montreal
√ Departure flight √ Returning flight
Plus connections to Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary* and Quebec City*
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2019 World’s Best Leisure Airline
airtransat.co.uk
Available to book via the GDS
Peak summer direct flights in 2020. Schedules subject to change, see online for latest details. *Connections to Calgary and Quebec City are available between May and October. Fly from London Gatwick via Montreal to connect to Quebec City.


FAM TRIP REVIEW
Dominican Republic with Palladium Hotel Group
FAM TRIP REVIEW
by JUDITH HILL,
Reservations Consultant, If Only...
My opinion of the Dominican
Republic has completely changed, thanks to a 7-night fam trip with the Palladium Hotel Group. I thought
that the destination was purely for traditional package holidays but having experienced first hand how much there is to see and do, my eyes have been opened to all the tailor made possibilities.
The capital city, Santo Domingo is a vibrant and culturally diverse city – The Colonial Centre is full of historic buildings dating back to 1496 with influences from famous names such as Columbus and Sir Francis Drake. There are great restaurants with live music, which are a fabulous way to appreciate the Dominicans love of food and dancing. If you fancy a multi- centre reminiscent of Havana and Varadero, I would highly recommend Santo Domingo and Punta Cana as an alternative.
GRAND PALLADIUM RESORT
This resort is more like a self-contained village featuring different hotels with very distinct personalities, meaning there is something to suit everyone.
The four hotels include: Grand Palladium Bavaro; Grand Palladium Punta Cana; Grand Palladium Palace and TRS Turquesa Hotel, which is adults only – all four sitting on a powder white, sandy beach.
Although the resort has over 2,000 rooms in total, it never felt crowded. The staff are a real credit to the Palladium Group as nothing was too much trouble. A train and shuttle service are available to get from A to B, are very frequent and great when it gets too hot to walk along the beach, which is otherwise the quickest way to get around the resort.
There are lots of lovely places to eat but a special mention must go to Sumptuori Teppanyaki, which was
a fantastic experience along with a phenomenal meal.
If staying at the TRS Turquesa Hotel, TRS customers only have to pay a $20 service charge each to visit the CHIC Cabaret & Restaurant. It is $100 for Grand Palladium customers to go - but well worth paying to experience this entertaining show.
TRS CAP CANA HOTEL
Beautiful adults-only property with
a very boutique, exclusive feel. Smaller property in terms of amount hotel rooms/suites (115 in total)
when compared to other hotels in the Palladium Group. Super relaxed atmosphere with a more personalised service and plenty of dining options.
Clients can visit CHIC Cabaret & Restaurant at the Grand Palladium Resort for a service charge of $20, which covers transportation to and from the TRS Cap Cana Hotel.
JANUARY 2020




FREE BUSINESS CLASS UPGRADE*
Enjoy fully inclusive escorted tours to China and Japan.
Or no single supplement for solo travellers on selected tours.
Book by 31 Jan 2020
JAPAN UNCOVERED – the best tour of Japan
Tokyo | Kyoto | Hiroshima | Mt Fuji | Snow Monkeys | Osaka
WHAT’S INCLUDED
International airfare All accommodation All entrance fees All meals All transportation Expert Guides
Receive £30 per booking made by 29/2/20.
All bookings go into a draw to win a Wendy Wu Tour.
CALL 0808 239 0061 VISIT wendywutours.co.uk/agents JOIN US @Wendy Wu Tours Agent Friends *See website for T&C’s


DFDS Agent
Helpful Guide
& Useful Information
dfds.co.uk/agent
KEEP ME!


HOW TO BECOME AN AGENT HOW TO RESET A PASSWORD
Email
[email protected]
with the
following information
• password. •• •• ••
Branch address & postcode.
Before contacting DFDS, please contact
your Head Office as they may have your
Agency name.
Email
[email protected]
Branch manager & email address.
Agency name.
ABTA number or equivalent.
Branch postcode.
• VAT Number.
• Telephone number.
• The consortia you are part of
HOW TO MAKE A BOOKING
• Account ID. •
•
OFFERS AVAILABLE
Account registered email address.
•• • ••
• Select offer. •
• Select date.
• Follow on screen instructions.
Visit
Preferred new password.
www.dfds.co.uk/agent
Go to the agent online page –
Login.
www.dfds.co.uk/agent
Select route.
Select latest offers for agents.
You will see – Product type, from price,
book by date, departure dates,
offer code.
• Copy the code you want linked to the product – to paste into the offer
code field on the first page of making
a booking.
HINTS & TIPS WHILST BOOKING:
Visit the agents offers page.
Upsell opportunities, meals, cabins and attractions.
Most northernly port to and from Europe.
No luggage restrictions.
Convenient travel times. Depart at 5pm, arrive at 9.30am.
Parking available.
Pre-booking meals can save £££.


Arcade Games
Onboard shop with savings up to 30%
A la carte dining
2x cinemas onboard
DID YOU KNOW?
Live band and singers
Starbucks Coffee
Kids’ entertainers
4x bars including SKY bar
HINTS & TIPS ONBOARD
• Hungry? Pre-booking your meals can save up to 33% compared
to the onboard price.
• Don’t Forget! Bring a continental adaptor.
• Oh no, I missed it! Be at the port no later than 45 minutes before departure.
• What time is it? Onboard time is 1 hour ahead of UK Time.
• Bad weather? Seasickness tablets are free at the Guest Service Centre.
• I don’t have enough ££!
We accept GBP and Euros onboard.
• How much? Switch off data roaming whilst onboard to avoid any unwanted mobile phone charges.
SALES SUPPORT DETAILS
• Monday to Friday 9-5 assistance.
• Email [email protected]
or 0191 293 6287.
• 72 hour email response.
• Reset passwords – email only.
• Becoming an agent.
• Commission queries.
• Booking and technical queries.
• Invoice queries.
• Advertising and artwork.
FERRY GOOD REASONS TO CHOOSE DFDS
• We are an impulse purchase.
• We do not replace long haul, cruises.
• We have daily departures from
Newcastle to Amsterdam.
• We are great for families travelling to Europe with their vehicles.


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NewcasUtlKe UK
Newhaven Dover Calais
Dieppe
SE
Mark Henderson
Regional Sales Manager UK North
IT
ITGraham Hopcraft
Key Account manager UK South
[email protected] +44 7702811161
GR GR
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ES [email protected]
+44 7701314263
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Dunkirk
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Amsterdam (IJmuiden)
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Head over to www.dfds.co.uk/agent NOW and start your journey with DFDS.
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SKIING MADE EASY
with Balkan Holidays Flights from Belfast, Newcastle, Edinburgh
• 53 years of experience
• 11 UK airports
• Dedicated trade sales team • 7 nights from £249
• Low deposit of £70
Visit balkanholidays.co.uk/agents | Like us facebook.com/groups/BalkanAgents Call 0207 543 5555 (7days) | Brochures via BP Trade-Gate » Viewdata: BAL
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AIRLINE NEWS
New service from Paris
with Air Astana
Air Astana will launch a new service from Paris to Almaty in June 2020. The flights will operate three times a week using the carrier’s new Airbus A321LR.
The service between the French Capital and Almaty, Kazakhstan’s commercial centre and second city, will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with departures from Paris at 19.20 local time, arriving in Almaty at 06.35 local. The return flight from Almaty will depart at 14.15 local time and arrive in Paris at 18.00hrs local.
Upon arrival in Almaty, passengers from Paris will enjoy convenient domestic flight connections to Kazakhstan’s capital Nur-Sultan and Shymkent, as well international flight connections to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan and Dushanbe in Tajikistan.
Air Astana became the first carrier from Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe to be awarded a 4-Star rating by Skytrax at the World Airline Awards 2012 and was also named ‘The Best Airline in Central Asia and India’ that year. Both achievements were repeated in 2013- 2019. Air Astana was also named Winner in TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards in 2018 and 2019.
More seats and flights
from Loganair
Loganair’s summer 2020 schedule has been expanded, offering more seats, better flight times and additional routes.
From Glasgow, the airline will base a third 49-seat Embraer Regional Jet to upgrade services to Benbecula to a year-round jet operation and provide an improved schedule to the East Midlands; larger aircraft will
be introduced on routes to Kirkwall and Sumburgh, providing more seats and the new service to Newquay, commencing 22nd May, will be expanded to offer up to five flights per week during the summer.
There will also be an extra weekly flight between Glasgow and Donegal during the peak summer, taking the total to six weekly flights and an extra weekly
flight between Glasgow and Islay, taking the total to
16 services each way per week. An improved schedule – offering evening flights every weekday – will also be introduced on the new Glasgow to Cardiff route which takes off from 24th February. Overall, Loganair will offer 21% more air seats on 5% more flights across 16 routes from Glasgow in Summer 2020.
From Edinburgh, the airline will launch of two new international routes. Commencing 17th April, there will be up to five non-stop flights per week to Hannover and from 7th May, services will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays to the Danish city of Esbjerg.
easyJet has launched new flights between Edinburgh and Verona, providing the only direct winter connection between the two cities.
Flights will operate twice a week throughout the year on the airline’s A320 aircraft, eight of which are based at Edinburgh.
Take off with... Wizz Air
Wizz Air have now launched flights from Edinburgh to four destinations in Eastern Europe.
The airline will fly to Warsaw and Gdańsk in Poland, Budapest in Hungary and Bucharest in Romania.
JANUARY 2020


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CRUISING
MSC Meraviglia
- Cruising from New York
Last September I was given the opportunity to visit the MSC Meraviglia in Belfast on her re-positioning voyage from Southampton to New York. Offering superb facilities and a relaxed and fun atmosphere, the Meraviglia offers incredibly affordable cruises for clients.
For 2020, she presents a number of outstanding sales opportunities. For example, on 8th September, the ship cruises again from Southampton to New York on a 14-night voyage with an overnight stay in Iceland, two great Canadian ports and one night on board in New York.
Prices start from an incredible £839 per person.
Sailing into or out of New York on a grand ship is one of travel's best experiences and these cruises are great for clients looking to cruise to somewhere different and take a pre and /or post cruise stay in New York or further afield in the USA.
Once in New York - Meraviglia then undertakes three 10-night Canadian cruises - two of them navigating the mighty St Lawrence River to Quebec with an overnight stay in this city. These cruises offer great value for money, with lead-in prices starting from £749 pp.
Finally, she departs New York on 22nd October for a 17-night cruise to Miami - her winter base. She will visit St Maarten, Martinique, Grenada, Curacao, The Dominican Republic and Ocean Cay, MSC's marine reserve in the Bahamas. Prices start from £1,229pp for this voyage. You could sell this as a New York, Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida cruise and create an unforgettable holiday for your clients at an exceptional price.
Why not take advantage of these great sales opportunities and talk to your local MSC sales manager who will be able to give you further information.
Celebrity chef to create
signature dish for Saga
With a love of fine dining, combined with a love of being on the water, Michelin-star chef Nick Nairn says he ‘was more than happy’ to sign up with Saga to create a signature dish for new river ship Spirit of the Rhine. He will also host show- cookery demonstrations during two sailings.
Nick, 60, said: “I am kicking around ideas with the Saga team regarding the menu. At home in Stirling, my grandfather and father used to smoke their own salmon so that was a thought – it has the best taste and travels well which is so important as I must be able to guarantee the quality of the food.
“But I am known for my game dishes, I served Roe venison for the BBC’s Great British Menu Royal Banquet, which celebrated the Queen’s 80th birthday, so that is something I might recreate; a modern twist on a traditional dish could work well on Spirit of the Rhine.”
Nick’s signature dish will be available in the a la carte restaurant on Spirit of the Rhine and he will be on board during the 19th April, 2021 Keukenhof and The Hague sailing and the 25th October, 2021 Best of the Rhine sailing.
Spirit of the Rhine launches on 23rd March, 2021.
JANUARY 2020
CRUISE SALES OPPORTUNITY




CRUISING
THE RENOWNED CRYSTAL EXPERIENCE GOES DIGITAL AS THE COMPANY LAUNCHES SIGNATURE APP AND DEBUTS NEW CRYSTAL STORYTELLERS PODCAST SERIES
Now available on the iOS platform for iPhone, a world
of award-winning Crystal Experiences is available through the new Crystal Cruises app.
Through the new digital platform, travellers can explore hundreds
of voyages by Ocean, River, Yacht and Expedition, as well as itinerary details and onboard amenities and experiences.
Once users select and download the free Crystal Cruises app via the App Store, they are welcomed to a home screen with three navigation options: “Explore Crystal”, “I Have Not Yet Booked” and “I Am on Board.” The first two of these choices offer different avenues of perusing the worldwide itineraries Crystal ships sail, while the latter is only functional while users
are on board a Crystal ship and leads
to an array of info specific to their voyage – ship details and deck plans; officers; movies, music, newspapers and magazines; enrichment presentations; points of interest and weather; spa; dining and more.
Through the app, users can also access Crystal’s library of
digital brochures and
detailed information
and distinctions of each brand experience – Crystal Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Yacht Cruises and Crystal Expedition Cruises.
They can navigate the Voyage Finder to select itineraries specific to
the dates, destinations, themes and special offers that best suit them. Currently, more than 800 global voyages of award- winning, all-inclusive Crystal luxury are open for booking, including 2020
and 2021 for Crystal River Cruises, plus 2022 and early 2023 for Crystal Cruises, Crystal Expedition Cruises and Crystal Yacht Cruises.
In addition, Crystal has also launched a new podcast series titled Crystal Storytellers. The weekly exploration with some of the world’s most intriguing individuals and experts
in entertainment, travel, politics, adventure and more builds upon Crystal’s renowned Crystal Visions Lecture Series featured aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, bring- ing these enriching presentations to listeners around the world. The first episode from the inaugural season features Kathy Reichs, novelist and television producer of the hit series Bones.
Each episode of Crystal Storytellers features an expert guest speaker from
a 2019 Crystal voyage in conversation with the ship’s Cruise Director about their respective areas of expertise, as well as highlights of their Crystal voyage and anecdotes about their careers and personal interests. These exclusive interviews vary in topic and perspective depending on the guest and are designed to capture the uniquely
informative and engaging style presented aboard Crystal ships and leave listeners educated
and entertained.
Every week listeners can expect to hear
a new intimate conversational interview recorded aboard Crystal ships as they explore some
of the world’s most remarkable destinations.
Featured in season one, guest speakers on Crystal Storytellers include:
Bruce McGill
American actor known for his memorable roles in both film and television including National Lampoon’s Animal House
Melissa Manchester
Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress
Michelle Lee
Performer, philanthropist, award winning actress, singer, director and producer
Scott Kelly
Former military fighter and test pilot, engineer, retired astronaut, former commander of the International Space Station and retired US Navy captain
Sir Michael Burton
Former member of the British Diplomatic Service
Kevin McCollum
Tony Award-winning theatre producer and partner to Crystal Cruise’s Crystal on Broadway programming
Rob Caskie
Legendary storyteller specialising in South African history and early Arctic and Antarctic exploration.
New episodes of the podcast are available every Tuesday until 28th January 2020.
To learn more about upcoming speakers on Crystal, or to book a voyage, please visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk
or call 0207 399 7601
JANUARY 2020