ISSN 1753-1462 Travel Daily now For a Fast & Professional Visa & Passport Service in the UK, Asia With online forms, Visa Tracking Travel DailyUK and Australia & Telephone Support First with the news Call 0207 939 8100 Thu 31 May 07 Page 1 www.traveldaily.travel EDITOR: Derek Rhind www.actionvisas.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] Ph 0845 686 1220 Today’s Travel Daily Iberia - no fiance yet TD today has four pages of Travel DailyUK IBERIA management has yet to flagship’s board confirmed that it First with the news news and photos plus a full page receive a formal bid for the had received notification of a attachment from (click): carrier, chairman Fernando Conte possible bid interest from a on location on Mallorca • Traflagar Tours said, while reiterating the need consortium consisting of British for consolidation in the airline Airways PLC, TPG Capital, Vista TD is on location today in EK stay free deal industry. Capital, Inversiones Ibersuizas Illetas, on the Island of EMIRATES is offering first and Speaking to reporters ahead of and Quercus Equity. Mallorca, courtesy of Hotel business class passengers flying to yesterday’s AGM, Conte said, ‘We Speculation has also continued BonSol and Jet2.com or via Dubai from 15 Jun-31 Aug don’t have a fiance,’ adding that surrounding likely offers from OVER the last few years free accommodation packages. while a number of entities have Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, as Mallorca has developed a well- First class passengers will shown an interest in the well as private equity firm Apax. earned reputation for fine wining receive two complimentary nights company, the carrier has yet to Conte said Iberia has a net and dining and is attracting visitors in a deluxe room at the Ritz receive a formal offer. cash position of €1.8 billion for gourmet weekends. Renowned European chefs are Carlton Dubai while business He noted that regulation for which it could earmark for leading the way to further passengers will recieve an sector consolidation is improving, investments and looking ahead, overnight stay at the Jumeirah gastronomic excellence with an highlighting Iberia’s privileged Conte said he is targeting nearly impressive six Michelin awards Emirates Towers, and both will position in the consolidation 60% of total capacity to come already gained by restaurants and also receive a US$100 credit for process. from long-haul flights by 2008, hotels all over the island. use at their hotel or a Sundowner Last week, the Spanish up from 54% at end-2006. Reis de Mallorca (‘Kings of dune dinner safari. BA club relaunches Award for Thanda Mallorca’) hotel association, a The airline said the move was group of 32 independently-owned in-line with its continued efforts Speedbird club THANDA Private Game Reserve hotels around the island, has to promote Dubai as a world-class has been deemed the most BRITISH Airways has relaunched launched its “Restaurants with tourist destination. luxurious destination in Africa, Character” brochure featuring 10 its dedicated trade website, winning &‘Africa’s &Leading of its top restaurants offering ‘British Airways Speedbird Club’. Have you registered Luxury Lodge’ in the 2007 World traditional island hospitality and The new site features an Travel Awards ceremony held in fine cuisine, some of which have interactive menu, an improved for Cruise Weekly? Abu Dhabi this week. gained various awards including THIS week’s copy of our sister search function plus a database the Taittinger Prize and a Michelin publication Cruise Weekly was of frequently asked questions, Star. sent out this morning. and BA said it will provide travel Nessie makes a bid The unique character and The free publication contains agents with faster access to up to LOCH NESS and the Great Glen, culture of Mallorca is reflected in all the news from across the date info about the carrier. one of Scotland’s natural wonders the wide range of culinary delights burgeoning cruise industry, and Existing members can have is bidding for World Heritage that visitors can sample around now boasts subscribers all over their membership transferred and status. the island from modern the world. will also receive access to extra The application officially starts Mediterranean to traditional Mallorquin fare and many of these See www.cruiseweekly.com.au benefits incl exclusive training today and has been initiated by restaurants boast spectacular to register for your personal copy. sessions and competitions. Destination Loch Ness, a group of some of Loch Ness’ biggest mountainside or sea-view private businesses to increase the locations that add to the dining experience. Transport Executive areas tourism economy. Maidenhead, £Excellent A great opportunity has arisen to join this meeting and incentives company based in Maidenhead as a Transport Executive. They require an experienced Travel Consultant ideally with Sabre, BSP and previous ticketing experience. To apply please email Robin at [email protected] or call 0207 397 1273 quoting ref: RF134. 7iÊ>Ü>ÞÃÊÃiiÊÌ }ÃÊ ÜÜÜ°V>`°V°Õ " " \ÊäÓäÊÇÇÈÊ£nääÊNÊ`°ÌÜJV>`°V°Õ vÀÊÞÕÀÊ«ÌÊvÊÛiÜ /7 \Êä£ÓÎÊÈäxÊ{{äÊNÊ}>ÌÜV°ÌÜJV>`°V°Õ -/ ,\Êä£È£ÊÓÎnÊ{{nnÊNÊ>V iÃÌiÀ°ÌÜJV>`°V°Õ
Working in the UK!!! Travel Trade Recruitment is the UK’s premier travel recruitment specialist We currently have numerous permanent & temporary vacancies with the UK’s leading travel companies nationwide. By joining the Travel Trade Temps Team we offer; the highest rates of weekly pay, paid holiday entitlement plus you will have the flexibility of working on contracts to suit you. If you are thinking of heading to the UK contact us and see how we can help you in finding the right job. For more information call +44 (0) 207 953 1179 or email [email protected] To view our current vacancies or to register online go to www.traveltradejobs.com London’s fastest growing The Heart of the Mediterranean Travel Daily UK sightseeing company www.visitmalta.com First with the news • “Private tours away from the crowds” The official website for Thu 31 May 07 Page 2 • From a private viewing of the Tower of London to an exclusive champagne tour of the Roman Baths Malta, Gozo and Comino EDITOR: Derek Rhind E-mail: [email protected] Ph 0845 686 1220 More info [email protected] New KC flight AIR ASTANA, the national Jet2.com tops the polls Window carrier of Kazakhstan, is Jet2.com yesterday revealed flights left within 15 minutes, expanding capacity this summer that it had come top in a with the worst offender, Easyjet, Seat by introducing a new Boeing 767- punctuality list of low cost only registering 65.5%. A PAIR of stilts with sneakers on 300ER aircraft on its Saturday airlines operating out of the UK. Operating out of Leeds the bottom was the most service from 23 Jun. Flightontime.info, the online Bradford, Newcastle International, unusual item up for sale in an Air Astana offers the only non- flight data specialists, analysed Manchester, Belfast International, auction by Spanish flag carrier stop service twice-weekly official CAA (Civil Aviation Blackpool and Edinburgh, Iberia this week. between London Heathrow and Authority) flight data and 12- Jet2.com now flies to more than Every year Madrid Airport Almaty - the country’s financial months statistics confirmed that 35 destinations across Europe. empties out its lost-and-found and commercial centre. Jet2.com had beaten the likes of Philip Meeson, boss of Jet2.com department and sells off the The new aircraft has 30 Ryanair, easyJet and BMIbaby to said: “It is no surprise to us that unclaimed items, with proceeds business class seats and 190 claim the crown of most punctual this data from the CAA has going to the government. economy class seats representing low cost airline in the UK. backed up what passengers have As well as the stilts, lots a 50 per cent capacity increase in Hundreds of thousands of low been telling us for years, and it is included a wedding dress, a bass business class and 27 per cent cost flights were analysed in 2006 interesting to see how far behind guitar, several surf boards, 38 capacity increase in economy and of the 13,890 Jet2.com the competition are falling. cartons of cigarettes and more class. movements, the airline’s average “With many low cost airlines than 6000 books. delay was only 12.4 minutes. frequently grabbing the headlines The Tuesday flight from A BRITISH man has been The airline also fared the best for all the wrong reasons, this Heathrow to Almaty will continue arrested in Italy after setting when comparing the percentage latest accolade is testament to to be operated by Boeing 757-200 fire to the towels of a group of of flights leaving within 15 the dedication and talent of our aircraft. German tourists while on holiday minutes – 79.4% of Jet2.com cabin and flight crew.” in San Remo on the Italian In Illetas, only 8 km (5 Riviera. miles) from central Galileo adds hotels 55-year-old Glyn Bowden was Palma, the clifftop Bon THREE new hotel groups have coach driver for a group of 55 been added to Galileo’s ‘next English holidaymakers, who had Sol nestles amidst pine generation’ booking tool, Inside complained about the Germans trees, and dominates Shopper, bringing the total putting towels down to reserve the picturesque Palma number of hotel chains using the sun lounges at a resort pool. bay. system to 200. After a number of escalating The Bon Sol is a family- Club Quarters, Hyatt Place and incidents Bowden ended up La Quinta Inns can now return owned and managed piling the towels on the beach rates from their own central and lighting them, leading to hotel, proud of its reservations systems directly to other tourists calling the police. reputation for the very Galileo travel agents. “The Germans thought they Inside Shopper now owned the private beach but I incorporates 84% of the Galileo wanted to make sure my tourists inventory, representing around got a crack of the whip,” he said Hotel BonSol www.hotelbonsol.es 60,000 hotels around the world. in his own defence. GERMAN travel giant TUI has bought an entire village in the Italian region of Tuscany. The village of Tenuta de Castelfalfi near Florence will be renamed Toscana Resort Castelfalfi and will include an 18-hole golf course, olive groves and several dozen villas. Local newspaper Il Tirreno reported the acquisition with a headline saying “The Germans have conquered our village!”. It’s not thought Glyn Bowden will be welcomed to the area.
*>ÞiÌÊ ÞÊ,iÃÕÌÃÊqÊvÊÜiÊ`½ÌÊ ÌÊ / iÊv>ÃÌiÃÌ}ÀÜ}Ê Ì>À}iÌÃ]ÊÞÕÊ`½ÌÊ«>Þ° ÌÀ>ÛiÊ*,Ê>}iVÞÊ 6Ìi`ÊÌ iʺ"iÊÌÊÜ>ÌV »ÊLÞÊ*,Ê7ii° ÕÌÃ`iÊ `° /\Ê䣣ÎÊÓ{ÎÊ£££Ç \ÊÛiÕÃJÕVÀiVÕV>ÌðVÊÊÊ The article below is our regular soapbox feature, where our readers can have their say about anything Travel DailyUK affecting First with the news the industry. Regular contributor Julian Fisher Thu 31 May 07 Page 3 speaks his mind! EDITOR: Derek Rhind You may take in a show at the Covent Garden Theatre, One size fits all? followed by a dance with Lady ON an Air France flight to Paris this wasn’t a man who wandered Luck in the Palm Beach Casino. I sat next to a worldly gentlemen into war zones leaving with battle You’ll be pampered with 5 and his wife who seemed scares. star treatments in the Spa and comfortable in their magazines Although some ‘battles’ he fitness area, which comprises a and newspapers completely un- witnessed had left their mark. gym, 3 Jacuzzi’s, sauna, 2 phased by the goings on of the Rising in my seat I listened ABOVE: MSC Orchestra, the Turkish baths, sports massage, cabin crew preparing for take-off. intently. latest addition to the MSC fleet. body treatments with muds, Not unlike many flights I’ve The problem he said was that From the moment you step solar showers, aromatherapy, taken around the world I didn’t he has a contact number… an aboard you’ll find yourself in a yoga, beauty centre, manicure, immediately launch into emergency telephone to call… world of truly Italian style and pedicure, and a hair stylist as conversation with a person who, well, when in an emergency. And elegance. well as fitness and dance on this occasion, I knew I wanted he did just that. You’ll be welcomed aboard by sessions. to have a conversation with. Unsurprisingly, the call ended an English speaking crew, whose Here was a man I thought who up back in the UK and was aim is to ensure you have the had something to say and who answered by a very cheerful lady perfect cruise experience. would make the flight more who was actually no help at all. There are 18 suites, all of bearable. It was late and he needed help which have balconies, 809 No sooner had the attendants and had no where else to turn to. Outside cabins with balconies. closed the doors he greeted me Sorry came the reply, we might and 173 Outside cabins without. as if he was the Captain. have some luck tomorrow, can it The ship also has 275 Inside The vessel also has a fully “Welcome on board!, business or wait? cabins, which are fully air equipped internet café, for pleasure?” he quipped after I didn’t learn what the conditioned and come with those who want to send home sounding so official. emergency was but it irked him interactive TV, telephone, an email or upload some family I replied that it was for both that the emergency service would internet connection, mini bar photos. but ostensibly to spend time in serve to remove him from the and safe. The sun deck 2 adult pools, my favourite capital with my country – just ‘say the word’ - but The ship has 12 bars to suit and a children’s pool and sister and her family. wasn’t up for much else. everyone’s mood, whether features the El Sombrero Pool Into the flight he shared many Someone ought to redefine you’re looking for a quiet, Bar for that long cooling drink. stories and we had a few laughs… ‘emergency’ he scoffed. intimate drink with a partner or There is a tennis court and I didn’t think to interrogate this If you think that when abroad pre dinner cocktails. ample sunbathing. man about his travels and relay and in possession of an Life on board the new MSC one of the reasons why I was emergency number your every Cruises’ flagship is geared for going to Paris. crisis can be deflated and every relaxation and a holiday But if not by fate certainly by problem solved… think again. without regimentation. chance he spoke of a trip where Information is a most powerful Every guest is welcome to he had a problem and needed commodity none less so than set their own tempo, to join in help. when it is present and ‘local’. activities and enjoy the We had been discussing And what of my co-passenger … eclectic entertainment – as amongst other things the on-going he was taking a well earned There are 5 restaurants their mood dictates, be it problems in Iraq and how one break, tending to his wounds. including a Chinese, with an cocktails for two with a group of Americans had to be Well, at least those of our infinite variety of tastes to background of romantic ‘evac’d out’. I asked if he’d ever ‘great nation’ after another tempt the pallet. classics, the lively beat of the experienced anything like it but battle lost in Eurovison land. Regional recipes, ethnic dance floor, or the pulsating dishes, specials of the days, for rhythms at aerobics … their 14 weekly menus and 280 holiday, their fun, to their own diverse dishes in the main beat. restaurants – Villa Borghese and Sports events, beauty L’Ibiscus. treatments, shopping, theatre, The figure concious can entertainment and games: a benefit from calorie controlled whole new world awaits you on options on the menus. board the MSC Orchestra. Visit www.msccruises.co.uk for details
success is not the key to happiness. happiness is the key to success. if you love what you’re doing, yousuccess will be successful.
At New Frontiers we work with all the biggest names in the travel industry, be they tour operators, high street travel agencies, call centres, cruise operators or business travel companies. They trust us for our attention to detail and ability to match the right person to each position. This means our ‘high flyers’ recruitment team can offer a wide selection of attractive roles with salaries of over £30k, whatever area of business you work in. www.jobintravel.com or call: 0845 202 2222 Travel Daily Competition THIS month’s Travel Daily was The Legacy Falcon Hotel competition comes courtesy of built? Travel DailyUK First with the news Legacy Hotels & Resorts. Email your entry to us at Thu 31 May 07 Page 4 A lucky winner and their guest [email protected] EDITOR: Derek Rhind will have the chance to spend a (or click this article). weekend at The Legacy Falcon Certain dates are excluded VS unveil futuristicT3 plans Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. from the prize with the editor’s VIRGIN ATLANTIC says its plans cars up a curved ramp onto a 22m decision being final and no cash for the transformation of wide arrival area, in the heart of alternatives will be offered. Heathrow T3 will provide tough the terminal building. Our usual terms and conditions competition for the new T5. All the Check In formalities will apply and are available on By the end of this year, all be completed in the car before request. Virgin Atlantic passengers will see the passengers arrive, so all that The competition closes on 11 a brand new Check In area in T3, is left to do is check travel Jun and the winner will be Zone A and the creation of a documents and answer security announced in TD on 12 Jun. state-of-the art Drive Thru Check questions before walking through The black and white timbered Legacy Hotels & Resorts also In for its Upper Class passengers, the hotel style lobby. former inn in Chapel Street is currently operates and manages well ahead of T5, which will open From here it will be a short shortly to embark on a £2.3 The Legacy Oaklands Country in March 2008. walk to security and through to million refurbishment to House Hotel in Grimsby, The The development, which is part the Clubhouse, and then onto the transform its 84 en-suite Legacy Chesterfield Hotel in of BAA’s refurbishment and gate. bedrooms, seven conference Chesterfield, The Legacy Rose expansion of Heathrow’s T3, has Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive suites, bars, lounges, and Crown Hotel in Salisbury, been designed by Foster + for Virgin Atlantic commented, restaurants and public areas. The Legacy Springfield Hotel in Partners in conjunction with “The new T3 will provide a Stratford-upon-Avon is the ideal Gateshead and The Legacy Aston Virgin Atlantic’s in-house design unique Virgin experience for our location for a leisure break. Court Hotel in Derby. team. passengers. Visitors have the chance to Legacy, through its associate The Virgin Atlantic Check In “From check in through to their find out more about the home network, represents the Wild area, which will be wider, departure gate, they will have a of William Shakespeare, The Pheasant Hotel, Chainbridge brighter and more spacious, fast, efficient and stress free Teddy Bear Museum and the Hotel and Bryn Howel Hotel in focuses on fast, efficient and journey, which will relax them for Butterfly Farm or simply take a Llangollen and Glasgow’s stress free Check In, which the the start of their trip and save walk along the River Avon. Normandy & Erskine Bridge Hotels. airline’s research has shown are them precious time at the airport. To enter this fantastic Whether you are looking for a three key factors for passengers. “We estimate that it will take competition, just answer the leisure break, corporate The airline expects that 80% of the majority of our passengers following question by logging on hospitality, a wedding venue or its passengers from Heathrow will under 15 minutes to check in and to www.legacy-hotels.co.uk to a relaxing meal then Legacy be using Online Check In and get through to the Departure find out the answer: Hotels and Resorts will provide Kiosk Check In by the end of 08. lounge, and even less time for our Question: In which century the perfect venue. Upper Class passengers will be Upper Class passengers to get to www.legacy-hotels.co.uk taken in their chauffeur driven the Clubhouse.”
GENERAL MANAGER PRODUCT/COMMERCIAL MANAGER REGIONAL SALES MANAGER Dubai, UAE South East South East £40,000 (tax free) TO £35,000 To £40,000 basic plus car OTE uncapped Our client is an established travel company based in the Middle East. As GM you will head its Responsible for our client’s successful online accommodation-only brand, your overall remit Our client is a top 10 business travel management company. The RSM will oversee the outbound holidays division, based at its prestigious Dubai operational hub. You must be able to will be to maximise sales and margins for this product in both the trade and consumer Southeast region and will target large corporates. Average deal size will be in excess of £500K demonstrate a minimum of 5-7 years senior managerial experience in outbound tour markets. You will need to be able to demonstrate sound commercial and product experience, and you will be rewarded in line with your deal sizes. You will have aggressive targets that will operations, be motivational with a dynamic management style, and be able to work with as well as pricing and yield experience, with an interest in the internet and e-commerce. An allow you to maximise your potential on an uncapped OTE. Package for this role is to a diverse multinational staff. This is a fantastic opportunity to live and work in the fastest growing excellent opportunity for a Product/Commercial professional to further their career and negotiable £40,000 basic plus a car allowance plus an uncapped OTE. You must have previous tourism region in the world with executive responsibility for outbound holiday operations. enhance their e-commerce knowledge and skills. business travel sales experience Please contact our LONDON office. Please contact our LONDON office. Please contact the LONDON office.
SENIOR EUROPEAN SALES MANAGER Based Northern England GENERAL MANAGER ACCOUNT MANAGER £Excellent London London – City Fully conversant with all e-commerce techniques and existing emerging distribution channels, £40,000 To £35K + car you will be dynamic and entrepreneurial in nature and target-driven. A proven track-record of My client is a bespoke tour operator. It is looking to appoint an experienced General Manager, Our client is a leader in business travel management. Due to continued growth, a new exciting sales leadership in an international consumer or B2B environment is essential, along with to be based at its offices in London. The position will involve management of operations, opportunity as an Account Manager has arisen. As the AM you will be responsible for the fluency in an additional European language. Currently employed in a commercial or sales inventory, and finance. You will need to be able to demonstrate a strong background in tour overall managing of a portfolio of Blue Chip Clients worth upwards of £15million. You will be leadership role, you will have solid knowledge of the Continental European online travel operations management, ideally gained in the FIT and/or longhaul sector. Needless to say, a responsible for developing growth and you must have both prior AM and analytical experience landscape, especially product requirements by region. Commercial, creative and influencing passion for this very specific travel industry sector would be a big bonus. within the business travel sector. Up to £35K base plus company car allowance plus a bonus skills to an advanced level are essential. Please contact our LONDON office. Please contact our LONDON office. scheme is in place. Please contact the LONDON office. INDIA REGION NEW BUSINESS HUNTERS PRODUCT MANAGER South East Central London £29K basic plus £6,100 car allowance TRAVEL ANALYST £Excellent (OTE £55,000) Wiltshire/Berkshire border Organised and methodical, educated to degree level, the successful applicant will have Our client is a business travel management company based at forefront of technology. The To £35,000 experience in planning and costing a programme of tours, with a minimum of two years successful candidate will target Blue Chips as a BDM. You will have aggressive targets which The main responsibilities are completion of monthly market share reports, facilitating self experience in this field. Experience of costing and managing the profitability of a programme is will see your commission structure earning you the highest commission industry wide based on service reporting, maintaining customer dimension to allow reporting by customer type, essential. A proven ability to negotiate with outside suppliers and organisations, and dealing percentage of deal size. Remuneration for this role will see you have a £29,000 basic plus a automated and ad-hoc reporting, and other analysis work. The ideal candidate will have at with the needs of different internal departments are prerequisites. Extensive experience of £6,100 car allowance plus a realistic OTE of £55,000. You must have previous business travel least 12 months experience working in an analytical role within travel. A background with a travel within India and the subcontinent is required. sales experience. Business Intelligence tool such as Cognos Report Net/Report Studio is highly desirable. Please contact our LONDON office. Please contact the LONDON office. Please contact the LONDON office.
LONDON Te l : 020-7480 7506 Email: [email protected] BIRMINGHAM Te l : 0121-233 4949 Email: [email protected] MANCHESTER Te l : 0161-835 2445 Email: [email protected] GLASGOW Te l : 0141-248 6853 Email: [email protected]
Travel Daily is a publication of Travel Daily UK Ltd. All content fully protected by copyright. Please obtain written permission from the editor to reproduce any material. While every care has been taken in the preparation of Travel Daily no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Information is published in good faith to stimulate independent investigation of the matters canvassed. Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Bruce Piper. TRAFALGAR’S ELEARNING
Since its introductio
1 www.trafalgar.com
2 Click Travel Agents Login (in the footer navigation) Howtostarto start 3 Enter yo email address password - it’s simple user 4 eLearning
5 Launch
NEW
ICONS BOARD GAME DARE TO COMPARE Test your knowledge of Trafalgar’s touring experience. Compare independent travel and escorted touring.
NEW
MYTH BUSTERS USA & CANADA BOARD GAME TTM Test your knowledge of Trafalgar’s USA & Canada product. 3857 www.trafalgar.com