March 22 2019 | ISSUE NO 2,101 | Travelbulletin.Co.Uk TB 2203 2019 Cover Wrap 19/03/2019 09:54 Page 2 TB 2203 2019 Cover 20/03/2019 10:36 Page 1
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TB 2203 2019 Cover Wrap 19/03/2019 09:54 Page 1 March 22 2019 | ISSUE NO 2,101 | travelbulletin.co.uk TB 2203 2019 Cover Wrap 19/03/2019 09:54 Page 2 TB 2203 2019 Cover 20/03/2019 10:36 Page 1 March 22 2019 | ISSUE NO 2,101 | travelbulletin.co.uk Greece Help clients unlock that holiday feeling this week 19 9 22 agent bulletin event bulletin 12 UK & Ireland Win tickets to see Birmingham agents mexico Find out why everyone’s Take That! were flying high at our talking about Airline Showcase Floating gardens & #SeeSouthScotland whirlwind tours S01 TB 2203 2019 Start_Layout 1 19/03/2019 14:27 Page 2 S01 TB 2203 2019 Start_Layout 1 19/03/2019 14:27 Page 3 newsbulletin WOMEN OF THE WORLD... WOMEN IN Travel CIC, the social enterprise dedicated to empowering women through employability and entrepreneurship in the travel industry, celebrated the launch of ‘BAME Women in Travel’ with an event which was held at London’s Royal Society of Arts. The BAME Women in Travel initiative will assist black, Asian and minority ethnic women in the travel and tourism industry to fulfil their economic and individual potential through customised training and mentoring services aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and employment. Stretching the sterling with budget breaks across Europe THE ANNUAL Post Office Travel Money 2019 City Costs accommodation in the Latvian capital remains cheapest Barometer has revealed the top ten European city breaks across Europe at £67 for a two-night stay for two people that represent the best value for British holidaymakers, sharing a room. Warsaw (£160) has risen to third place with Eastern European cities featuring prominently. from fourth last year on the back of a staggering 11.5% fall Coming in at the top of the list is Vilnius, the Lithuanian in prices. Costs are down by 7% in Moscow (£187) and 5.3% capital, with Belgrade and Warsaw coming in second and in Prague (£190). third respectively, with costs lower than perennial city break This year’s report found that accommodation prices have favourites, Krakow and Tallinn. fallen in almost three-quarters of the cities surveyed, with Rounding out the rest of the top ten are: Istanbul, costs varying from £67 to £270 for a two-night weekend Bucharest, Porto, Riga, Bratislava, Moscow and Prague. stay for two at the end of March. For the second At £147.35, the total cost of 12 spending items in consecutive year the Post Office found that evening meals Vilnius – including a range of drinks, an evening meal are cheapest in Athens, where the cost of three courses for two with wine, two nights’ three-star weekend with a bottle of house wine is on par with last year at accommodation, sightseeing charges and city transport £36.65. Istanbul is almost as cheap at £36.66, while a meal – was down 11.1% year-on-year. Prices in Belgrade were in Warsaw costs just over £38. On the other side of the £4 higher at £151.57, a rise of 1.9% since then. spectrum, visitors to Stockholm could pay £130 for their The only other top ten city where prices have risen evening meal, while eating out in Oslo costs even more at since last spring is Riga (up 3.4% to £179), although around £141 for two people. puzzle bulletin greece © swisshippo - complete the Su Doku to be in the destinations, deals and delights from This week running to win a £50 M&S voucher the Balkans’ ancient islands Inset 11 15 news airline showcase mexico updates from the travel industry in plenty of pictures from a fun night of holiday offers, hotels and hot weather © ajlatan Britain and beyond information and entertainment galore in sunny Central America - 04 12 19 Main : agent bulletin air travel uk & ireland incentives and opportunities for the latest stories and information, the best of the British Isles, terrific 09 resourceful agents 14 brought to you from up in the air 22 tours and homegrown holidays Cover Pictures travelbulletin.co.uk March 22 2019 3 S01 TB 2203 2019 Start_Layout 1 19/03/2019 14:27 Page 4 newsbulletin On-board bedding with Thomas Cook THOMAS COOK has launched its ‘Sleeper Seat’ to add some extra comfort for any high- altitude sleepers. An unexpected perk of flying Economy, the Sleeper Seat transforms a row of seats into a bed, allowing customers to catch up on their beauty rest while they are up in the air. Set up on-board by cabin crew, the seat features a mattress (with fitted seat), head rest, pillow, blanket and amenity kit for a relaxing kip to start your client’s trip. Customers who book the Sleeper Seat can also enjoy James Martin meals and in-flight entertainment, just like Exciting new categories for Travel Bulletin Star Awards 2019 they would with a normal Economy seat. TRAVEL BULLETIN has announced five new categories for Speaking of the in- the 2019 Star Awards, our annual industry gala where the flight bedding, Henry best of the best of the travel industry are recognised through Sunley, commercial the votes of agents across the country. director at Thomas Cook New categories for this year are Star LGBT+ Destination, Airlines, said: “We always Star Leisure Airline, Star Worldwide Hotel Brand, Star Rail look for ways to innovate Operator and Star Trade Sales Team; with holiday hotspots, operators, airlines and resorts for our customers and all going head-to-head in the hopes of bagging a coveted Star Awards trophy. Sleeper Seat is a UK first The Star Awards Gala Dinner will be held this year on September 9 at the Landmark that we are really proud Hotel in London. Full details of this year's nomination and voting system, as well as all the of. It is a fantastic way to categories, will be published in the Star Awards Preview Issue on April 26. transform your flying To see all the categories for 2019, check them out online at www.travelbulletin.co.uk/starawards experience and enjoy some extra comfort when flying in Economy.” He continued: “It’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter reveals details of flexible too, as while only Hagrid-themed coaster one person can use Sleeper Seat at a time, UNIVERSAL ORLANDO has lifted the lid can choose to jump on the beloved you can swap with other on the resort’s highly anticipated new giant’s motorbike or hop into the sidecar people in your group addition to The Wizarding World of Harry to join their favourite groundskeeper as during the flight…but it’s Potter − Hagrid’s Magical Creatures he flies through the forest and braves the entirely up to you if you Motorbike Adventure. weird and wonderful creatures lurking want to share.” Brimming with magical mischief, the within Hogwarts’ iconic grounds; such as Sleeper Seats are rollercoaster will blend JK Rowling- Cornish Pixies, Centaurs and, of course, available on long-haul esque storytelling with cutting-edge Hagrid’s loyal three-headed dog Fluffy. routes such as New York technology for a Hogwarts experience for Weaving past a series of challenges, and San Francisco for wizards and muggles alike. Dedicated to Potterheads should be weary of Devil’s adults and children over bringing the no-maj world into Rowling’s Snare and prepare for some unexpected the age of 12 from May masterpiece, the set includes an actual surprises along the way. 13, with prices starting replica of the Forbidden Forest, featuring Reaching speeds of 50mph, Hagrid’s from £200 one-way. more than 1,200 live trees, Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.is For more information visit Beginning with Hagrid’s Care of expected to open on June 13. www.thomascookairlines. Magical Creatures class (as featured in For more information, visit com The Prisoner of Azkaban), thrillseekers www.universalorlando.co.uk 4 March 22 2019 travelbulletin.co.uk S02 TB 2203 2019 News 1_Layout 1 20/03/2019 09:42 Page 5 newsbulletin Single supplements scuppered by European Waterways IN RESPONSE to the growing trend of solo travel, European Waterways is waiving the single supplement on more than 40 hotel barge departures in 2019, across cruises that include eight regions across Europe. The cruise regions include Burgundy and the Canal du Midi in France; Venice and the Po Valley in Italy; a tulip cruise in Holland; and the highlands of Scotland. Eligible WINTER IS COMING... Celebrity Cruises is encouraging adventurous travellers to embrace the cold cruises are available from weather on a seven night Alaska Northern Glacier fly/cruise holiday. For more information about this April through July 2019, package, call 0800 441 4054 or visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk with savings of up to £1,750. The special offer European Parliament votes on cannot be combined with other offers and additional no-deal air travel arrangements Vale Ian Leyde, restrictions may apply. TRAVEL AGENTS seeking to reassure customers who are Gibraltar Tourist Board According to Derek reluctant to book European flights after March 29, the date Banks, managing director the UK is scheduled to leave the EU, can inform wary THE GIBRALTAR Tourist of European Waterways, travellers that the European Parliament has voted in Board is sad to share the the luxury hotel barge support of UK airlines still being able to operate routes to news that Ian Leyde, UK company has seen a 50% and from the UK to EU countries, in the event of a no-deal Sales Manager passed increase in solo travellers Brexit. As a result of this vote, regardless of the outcome of away suddenly last week.