TB 0709 2018 Cover 05/09/2018 12:47 Page 1 September 7 2018 | ISSUE NO 2,075 | travelbulletin.co.uk Australasia Discover how the Aussie Specialist programme can help you sell Australia week short breaks this 23 agent bulletin puzzle bulletin personality bulletin Book your client unlimited 9 11 18 access to one of Europe’s booking incentives, play Su Doku for your Tomas shares with oldest theme parks training & competitions chance to win a £50 us his top travel tips for agents M&S voucher S01 TB 0709 2018 Start_Layout 1 04/09/2018 14:45 Page 2 S01 TB 0709 2018 Start_Layout 1 05/09/2018 12:45 Page 3 newsbulletin PERTH PALS… TOURISM WESTERN Australia hosted a group of ten travel agents on a fam trip in partnership with Qantas. The agents flew out on the newly introduced nonstop service to Perth. Highlights included Perth’s new developments and food scene, wine tasting in the Swan Valley, meeting the quokkas in Rottnest Island and exploring the marine life in Ningaloo Reef, including encounters with whale sharks and manta rays while snorkelling in the world’s largest fringing reef. Pictured taking in the city sights are, from the left: Trina Price, Dalescrest Travel; Felipe Francisco, Tourism Western Australia; Poppy Ellin, STA Travel; Jo Gilmour, Flight Centre; Ben Joseph, Gold Medal; Demi- Jade Markham; Christine Barr, Gold Medal; Linda Collins, Clarkes Travel; Alister Carter, Flight Centre; Bethan Pollard, Cockermouth Travel; and Joanne Connolly, Flight Centre. Turn to p.19 for Australasia feature. YouGov poll finds 68% of young UK passengers would welcome AI at airports AN ONLINE YouGov poll commissioned by inflight virtual reality (VR) preview of the tourist attractions entertainment and passenger engagement company Spafax available in their travel destination, along the opportunity to has revealed that younger travellers want airports to use pre-book tickets once they’d browsed. Efteling Theme Park Resort - Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance their airport Charles Vine, head of brand alliances for the company, Inset experience, although older travellers seem less keen. said: “The results send a clear message to us that people A total of 2,110 UK adults (18+) were surveyed about their want the introduction of technology, but only in a way that wishlist for ‘an airport lounge of the future’. The findings enhances their trip, entertains or is enjoyable. 27% were revealed: 37% of people aged 18 to 34 would play against being helped by AI for a hypothetical upcoming trip, augmented reality board games with other passengers whereas a resounding 68% of the British public did want AI whereas only 9% of those aged 55 and over would; 17% of to help them get the most out of their time at the airport – 18 to 24 year-olds would like to try on hologram clothes at whether that be assistance navigating the airport terminals an airport, while only 6% of those aged over 55 might; and or speeding up the check in process.” 36% of women would choose, when in an airport lounge, a A second survey asked respondents to envisage an upcoming long haul flight from London to New York and found 38% preferred to use artificial intelligence to help with speeding up the airport process. It also revealed that 35% wanted it to give information on news in their destination whilst on-board the flight. This week Visit yougov.co.uk for more details news puzzle bulletin australasia a round-up of this week’s industry play Su Doku for your chance to win big in the ‘Great Aussie Title: Shark Ningaloo Title: Bay, Marine Park, WA Australia Credit: Tourism developments & announcements win a £50 M&S voucher youth challenge’ - - 03 11 19 Main : agent bulletin personality bulletin short breaks this week’s new competitions Tomas shares with us his book your client unlimited access to 09 & booking incentives 18 top travel tips 23 one of Europe’s oldest theme parks Cover Pictures travelbulletin.co.uk September 7 2018 3 S01 TB 0709 2018 Start_Layout 1 04/09/2018 14:45 Page 4 newsbulletin Last chance for holidaymakers to book Fred. Olsen’s European river cruises TRAVELLERS SEEKING to explore the delights of the Saint Lucia to host September travel agent showcase Rhine, Moselle and Main THE SAINT Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) and sales collateral, updates, factsheets, rivers on Fred. Olsen will be hosting a special travel agent event, maps and images − this re-launch also Cruise Lines’ Brabant are offering the opportunity to meet directly with sees the incorporation of more video still invited to do so, with a some of the island’s major hotel partners. content, webinars and a better limited number of sailings The event will take place at De Vere management system for fam trip requests. left for 2018. Wotton House, Dorking on September 12, The programme has also been rebranded The cruise line is during Saint Lucia Showcase week; an to be called ‘Saint Lucia Expert’ (SLEx). All offering three European annual industry programme of previous ‘specialists’ will be transferred to river itineraries on networking, meetings and events ‘expert’ status automatically with a Brabant, departing before covering destination news, tourism refresher course required each December. the end of October as developments and new information on Tiffany Howard, chief marketing officer detailed in the company's accommodation and excursions. for the tourism authority, said: “We are in ‘Castles, Cathedrals & The evening will be attended by a senior a very fortunate position as tourism Historic Towns’ brochure. delegation comprising: the minister for arrivals from the UK are strong. But we Martin Lister, head of tourism, information and broadcasting, Mr can’t just sit and hope that this itinerary planning and Dominic Fedee; the new chairman of the continues. We need to work closely with destination experience for SLTA Board, Nicholas John; and SLTA’s our trade partners to showcase and sell the company, said: chief marketing officer, Tiffany Howard. the amazing things you can experience on “Brabant has enjoyed a One of the standout features of the a holiday in Saint Lucia.” fantastic inaugural season, Saint Lucia Showcase this year is a new Agents interested in attending should serving some of Europe’s training portal; the existing training has email Nicole Compton at finest rivers and been refined to make it more interactive [email protected] or for more waterways, and with her and − alongside the existing marketing destination information go to stlucia.org final voyage setting sail at the end of October, it really is the last chance for Saga sees ‘substantial’ increase in trade sales for 2018 anyone wishing to join us SAGA HAS confirmed significant growth in trade sales through the first half of the to book for this year. year, across both its Holidays and Cruise businesses. “Whether clients have The operator began selling via the trade four years ago, with trade sales forming always wanted to visit 11% of its Holidays business and 7% of Cruise in 2017. Earlier this year, structural Cologne’s iconic cathedral, changes brought a renewed focus to travel agent partnerships to which the company have daydreamed about attributes a substantial year-on-year trade sales growth in excess of 30% on their exploring the streets of Holidays business and 80% on Cruise. Strasbourg, or simply wish This is in tandem with a demand for long-haul touring products and for cruise, with to enjoy stunning scenery as the first of two new build boutique cruise ships, Spirit of Discovery. they cruise along some of Iain Powell, head of trade sales, said: “I’m incredibly excited by the results we are Europe’s most picturesque seeing through the trade. We’ve spoken at length around the importance of travel rivers, there is sure to be agents in growing our business and the support we’ve received has been quite something to tempt before overwhelming. We will continue to invest in this channel and have lots of exciting Brabant’s 2018 season developments planned in the remainder of 2018 and into next year”. comes to a close.” Joe Sutcliffe, head of Long Haul Product, said: “We’ve released lots of new and Launched in April this exciting products in the last few months, many of which form part of our new year, river ship Brabant can brochure, so I’m not surprised there is significant customer interest. Travel agents accommodate 156 guests. are experts at matching customers to the right holiday and so far they’ve done an For more information visit incredible job for us at Saga.” fredolsencruises.com 4 September 7 2018 travelbulletin.co.uk S02 TB 0709 2018 News 1_Layout 1 04/09/2018 11:46 Page 5 newsbulletin Mark Warner to open new resort MARK WARNER will be opening a new beach resort in Greece for 2019. Paleros Beach Resort is located on the Ionian coast of Western Greece and will undergo a multi-million euro renovation before opening in May 2019. The hotel features 130 rooms including doubles, suites and family rooms, suitable for all sized parties. Guests will be kept entertained as the resort offers a host of activities and services including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and SUP boarding, tennis, biking Boston Harbour Hotel debuts with guided tours and a variety of fitness classes John Adams presidential suite Brits swap beaches for all of which are included in BOSTON HARBOUR hotel has announced it has introduced the cost of the holiday. the John Adams, a two-bedroom private suite offering battlefields David Hopkins, the grand views of Boston Harbour along with personalised NEW RESEARCH conducted company’s managing service and amenities and 4,800sq.m of living space.