Travel Weekly (UK) articles from May 2008

Travel Weekly (UK) archives from May 2008

NCL rides New Wave of cruise ship design.(News)
May 2, 2008... President says cruiseline is planning Freestyle cabins for 21st-century passengers Jane Archer Norwegian Cruise Line's 150,000-ton next-generation F3 Freestyle ships will have cabins with curved walls and 'open' bathrooms in a move to...

Fancy talking cruise over breakfast?(News)
May 2, 2008... Hurtigruten is to run eight breakfast seminars across the UK to build awareness of its products. The seminars for agents will provide training on the company's destinations and voyages and highlight the potential of the group market. ...

Enjoy animal magic.(Departures)
May 2, 2008... Dinah Hatch reports on South Africa's stunning and varied national parks and wildlife South Africa is a hugely popular choice for safari tours and wildlife spotting and not without reason. The country's flora and fauna is amazingly...

Departures.
May 2, 2008... Coastline is offering savings of [pounds sterling]100 per adult on all villas for departures between May 10 and June 22. Pay [pounds sterling]429 per person to stay at Can Carros villa in Majorca, including flights and car hire. The offer...

Departures.
May 2, 2008... 1,000 Things to do in Britain [pounds sterling]12.99 With the green debate hotting up and carbon footprints becoming a burning issue, UK breaks have never looked more appealing. Why increase your carbon footprint by flying when great...

Greecethe film set.(Departures)
May 2, 2008... There is something about the place that keeps directors coming back. Janine Kelso reports on the country's hotspots that featured on the silver screen The film musical Mamma Mia!, which was shot in Greece last September, is set to be a...

Totally tropical taster.(Departures)
May 2, 2008... A fam trip to Hawaii gave a group of agents a real insight into island life. Janine Kelso reports Ten top-performing agents spent a week on an educational in tropical Hawaii last month after winning a competition with Funway Holidays. ...

Say aloha to Hawaii.(Departures)
May 2, 2008... For beaches and big waves to lush landscapes and bubbling lava, make a beeline to this tropical island paradise. Janine Kelso reports facts Aloha! Welcome to Hawaii - the land of big-wave surfing, hula girls and tropical beaches. Most...

20ways to sell diving holidays.(Departures)
May 2, 2008... By Linsey McNeill 1. Do customers specifically want a diving holiday If so, your customers will want a minimum of two dives a day, so on a seven-night break they'll want to visit at least 10 sites. Harlequin suggests the Harbour...

News.
May 2, 2008... competition Tourism Malaysia - the official destination partner of 1999 Champions League winners Manchester United - is teaming up with Travel Weekly to offer one reader and a friend the once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to play on the Old...

Royal Caribbean eyes growth in Europe.(News)
May 2, 2008... Royal Caribbean Cruises will continue to expand in Europe as cruising reaches 'critical mass' in the region. The company will have eight cruise ships in Europe in 2009 and plans to continue expanding its fleet in the region. Royal...

News.
May 2, 2008... "I am gobsmacked. I have never seen or experienced anything like it. It will be easy to sell this ship back in the office." Louise Charlesworth, manager and cruise expert, Thomson, Blackburn, Lancashire "I love all the decorations in...

Cruiseline aims high with Project Genesis.(News)
May 2, 2008... Royal Caribbean International president says ship must rival hotel standards "We need to...compete with rooms in the land-based hotel sector" Juliet Dennis Improved stateroom accommodation to compete with rapidly rising hotel...

Agents get wow factor on Independence of the Seas.(News)
May 2, 2008... About 4,000 travel agents were wowed by cruise ship Independence of the Seas during the week of its naming in Southampton. Royal Caribbean International's cruise ship, the largest in the world, was showcased to the trade and named on...

News.
May 2, 2008... in brief PSA marks 50 years The Passenger Shipping Association is celebrating its 50th anniversary by running a year-long series of events. Ports, museums, libraries and travel companies are being urged to join forces to celebrate the...

Find the perfect match.(Departures)
May 2, 2008... Janine Kelso rustles up some Greek holiday options to suit different types of holidaymaker With a whole host of resorts offering sun-soaked beaches and plenty of culture, it can be hard to know which Greek destination to suggest for each...

News.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Vicki Tittley, head of sales, Comtec Technology is always evolving. Sometimes this is in the shape of new products and at other times it's just a step change taking place, which has a marked impact on the way the travel industry...

News.
May 2, 2008... US cruiselines to benefit from strong euro US cruiselines that use dollars on board European itineraries expect to benefit from the poor euro exchange rate this summer. Companies such as Norwegian Cruise Line have been quick to remind...

News.
May 2, 2008... Godmother christens ship Royal Caribbean International's Independence of the Seas was officially named this week in Southampton by godmother Elizabeth Hill from Chesterfield, Derbyshire. She was chosen after a nationwide search to find a...

Maureen.
May 2, 2008... Turned out they'd be lucky to stay conscious as the odour that filled the office as he approached was something else Ginny's high standards A face from the past appeared in our office this week, albeit less tanned than I'm used to. It...

A year on, staff return to Madeleine resort.(News)
May 2, 2008... Tour operator Mark Warner says it is focusing on the coming summer season despite continuing media interest over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Many staff who were working at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz when the three-year-old...

Hays TravelThomas CookThe Co-operative Travel Thomson.(Mystery Shopper)
May 2, 2008... NE12, Unit 8, The Killingworth Centre, Cramlington I was acknowledged and offered assistance by an agent as soon as I entered the store. I asked whether it was safe to visit Israel at the moment. She checked the Foreign and...

News.
May 2, 2008... in brief Cash injection for site A group of travel entrepreneurs have invested $9 million into building the world's largest booking website for cruising on small ships and river boats. Former Travel Weekly columnist Daniela Wagner...

News.
May 2, 2008... In brief Thomas Cook claims Thomas Cook is pursuing a claim for more than [pounds sterling]500 million in damages against the European Commission over Brussels' veto of a proposed merger between Airtours and First Choice. The EC...

News.
May 2, 2008... In brief TTA opens new site The Travel Trust Association has announced the addition of its latest member planitgay.com. The online travel agency for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community officially launches on April 30...

News.
May 2, 2008... Byline: Julia Lo Bue-Saidcommercial director,Advantage The Internet is a great thing. Musing on what I'd like to cover in my column this month, I Googled my way to French novelist Alphonse Karr. Chances are you don't know much about...

Pirates ahoy? Bring e_SSRqem on, says captain.(News)
May 2, 2008... If there's one person not to mess with, it has to be the captain of the world's largest cruise ship Independence of the Seas. "Jack Sparrow is my idol," said Teo Strazicic, referring to Johnny Depp's character in the film Pirates of the...

The nature of nurturing.(Skillzone)
May 2, 2008... Coaching is a buzzword, but are the benefits measurable and how can you keep up the momentum after it's completed? Jackie David finds out from people coach Amana Walker Why are people in travel increasingly turning to coaching? We want...

Join our club.(Skillzone)
May 2, 2008... Travel Weekly's Cruise Club 2008 is about to set sale with a new crew on board. Jackie David reports "The great news is that because of the complexity of the market, about 80% of cruise customers will book through an agent" This, the...

How did I get here?Alison Jarvis, national sales manager, Attraction World.(Skillzone)
May 2, 2008... What was your first job in travel? Junior sales consultant, Midlands Co-op Travel, Hereford. How did you climb the career ladder? I think it was a case of enjoying what I was doing and taking the opportunities that came my way....

Skillzone.
May 2, 2008... Hogg Robinson Group has promoted Matthew Pancaldi to director of sales for the UK. He will focus on developing new business opportunities and securing managed corporate travel accounts. Tourism Flanders-Brussels has appointed Sarah Mathews...

No limits in Austin.(Departures)
May 2, 2008... Matthew Hampton discovers that a short spell in the Texan capital is music to his ears Are you ready to rock? Austin is. The self-styled 'Live Music Capital of the World' is so full of venues and willing musicians it can't fail to set your...

Book now for Agent Excellence Awards.(News)
May 2, 2008... Agents in the Midlands still have a chance to get tickets to go to the Travel Weekly Agent Excellence Awards. The event is being held at the Hilton Metropole at Birmingham NEC on May 27. Agents who have entered will have a chance to...

BA.com product will add a personal touch.(News)
May 2, 2008... BA.com is set to launch a new online product that will provide a 'personal' service when choosing a holiday. General manager Carsten Willert debuted a new system at the Travolution Summit 2008. The Inspire Me tool tries to get behind...

News.
May 2, 2008... Staff from international airlines representing North America, the Baltic, Africa, Spain and Ireland flew to Gibraltar last week to attend Skybreak's first airline summit. Back row, from left, are Declyn Meenan, Estonian Air Jonathan Hinkles,...

Skillzone.
May 2, 2008... Kosmar Holidays has named Ruth Hilton head of commercial and marketing. Hilton joined Kosmar in March from MyTravel, where she held various positions, including general manager and head of commercial. The Association of Independent Tour...

Skillzone.
May 2, 2008... JOB OF THE WEEK Reservations agent Salary: [pounds sterling]20,000-[pounds sterling]28,000 Location: Central London What the ad says: An excellent opportunity to join an established travel company with a number of offices in...

Departures.
May 2, 2008... What you need to know * South Africa's national parks are extremely popular (particularly during South African school holidays) so it's always advisable to book accommodation ahead of your visit. * International Visitors can purchase...

tackling the future.(Analysis)
May 2, 2008... Up to 1,000 industry leaders gathered at the World Travel and Tourism Council summit in Dubai last week to consider the challenges ahead. Ian Taylor reports "Tourism that is about isolating people, building walls that exclude local people...

News.
May 2, 2008... In brief Qantas fares rise Qantas has announced a 3% rise in international fares and 3.5% increase in domestic prices to compensate for soaring fuel costs. Chief executive Geoff Dixon said the gap between the cost of fuel and the...

Merger hits the buffers.(News)
May 2, 2008... Continental boss halts consolidation with United, which reported pre-tax losses of $542 million, saying 'the risks outweigh the rewards' Ian Taylor Consolidation between two of the biggest carriers in the US ground to a halt at the...

Eos is casualty of airline crisis.(News)
May 2, 2008... "we were on the verge of success [but] issues arose that we could not overcome" Eos Airlines became the latest casualty of the growing airline crisis when it ceased flying on Monday. The business-only carrier filed for bankruptcy...

Silverjet soldiers on with $25m in UAE cash deal.(News)
May 2, 2008... Silverjet appears to have secured its immediate future with a deal for $25 million in additional funds from an unnamed United Arab Emirates investor who has taken a 28% stake in the business-only carrier. Chief executive Lawrence Hunt...

News.
May 2, 2008... World weather Midday readings A*F A*C Alicante s 72 22 Amsterdam sh 59 15 Auckland sh 63 17 Bahamas s 77 25 Bangkok sh 91 33 Beijing s 79 26 Budapest s 68 20 Buenos Aires r 63 17 Cairo s 84 29...

News.
May 2, 2008... Barometer 02 05 08 Top 10 Shopping Destinations 1 New York 2 London 3 Dubai 4 Paris 5 Bangkok 6 Rome 7 Los Angeles 8 Hong Kong 9 Marrakesh 10 Milan Top 10 UK...

checking in withTyrie.(News)
May 2, 2008... Peter Tyrie, founder and managing director of Eton Collection talks to Chloe Berman about changes in the industry, the effects of the economic downturn and his portfolio of boutique hotels "People might not go away as often, but they will...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
May 2, 2008... from the travel weekly blog Europe's tallest water slide Following on today's aquatic theme, Tenerife's Siam Park has built Europe's tallest water slide - the Tower of Power. Not to be confused with Disney's Tower of Terror or the...

It sure is tough out there.(Comment)
May 2, 2008... Byline: Martin CouzinsOnline editor "In the event of trouble, agents will need to be prepared to give customers clear, timely information" This week reveals just how much of an impact the credit crunch is having on the travel industry....

Cruising.
May 2, 2008... EasyCruise Life maiden voyage...take two The maiden trip of easyCruise's second ship will now go ahead on May 17. The vessel had been due to sail last month, but labour strikes in Greece delayed the cruiseline's plans. The ship,...

News.
May 2, 2008... in brief London revpar falls London hotels saw revenue per available room(revpar) dip by 4.3% in the week ending April20, according to figures from hotel benchmarking service The Bench.Occupancy dropped by sevenpercentage points to...

I-escape.com queries 'boutique' hotel label.(News)
May 2, 2008... Hotel review website i-escape.com has opened up a debate over the use of the term 'boutique hotel'. The company says the term has become over-used since it was coined in 1980s New York and the industry should adopt a stricter definition....

'Agents must be food critics, too' says MD.(News)
May 2, 2008... Exclusive Trade should do more to satisfy increasingly food-savvy consumers Chloe Berman Agents mustbecome hotel restaurant critics if they want to provide quality customer service, a leading hotelier has said. Declining...

New Missonis for Rezidor.(News)
May 2, 2008... Rezidor has confirmed it is to launch two Hotel Missoni propertiesin Edinburgh and Kuwait in the first quarter of 2009. Rezidor executive vice-president of brands Gordon McKinnon said the hotels were a natural extension for the fashion...

Superbreak gets friendly with new logo.(News)
May 2, 2008... Superbreak has unveiled a new logo which it says highlights the company's core brand values including friendliness, trust and reliability. Sales director Ian Mounser said the change was made after two months of customer and agent research....

Agents concerned as surcharging spreads.(News)
May 2, 2008... AITO chairman warns more operators could start practice as euro strengthens Edward Robertsoned.robertson@rbi.co.uk Agents say they may lose holiday bookings to Europe if surcharging becomes commonplace. Operators are being forced...

Is virtual search a good thing?(Letters)
May 2, 2008... Change needed at Disneyland Paris I am in full agreement with the author of the letter 'My trade is not "critical" to Disney' that appeared in Travel Weekly on April 18. I found Disneyland Resort Paris disappointing on many counts. ...

Operators improve but 'could do better'.(News)
May 2, 2008... Survey results suggest practices are improving, but many still contact clients direct "Cruiselines direct bookings back to agentstour operators will never do that" Chloe Bermanchloe.berman@rbi.co.uk Operators have improved their...

More airlines collapse.(News)
May 2, 2008... Rising fuel prices and credit crunch blamed for demise of Eos and Nationwide "The fuel price is having a huge impact. There has been a step change in demand" Ian Taylorian.taylor@rbi.co.uk The soaring oil price and collapsing...

Allard defends rise in fuel surcharge.(News)
May 2, 2008... Swan Hellenic's decision to increase fuel surcharges to [pounds sterling]14 per person per day has been defended by its owner. Roger Allard, chairman of All Leisure, which owns the cruiseline, said the increase from the current [pounds...

Agent reaps rewards of blue-sky thinking.(News)
May 2, 2008... Exclusive Shop director hopes Bluetooth marketing tool will get nod from Triton Chloe Bermanchloe.berman@rbi.co.uk An East Yorkshire agent has designed a Bluetooth marketing system for Worldchoice members. Steve Riley, director...

EasyJet signs deal in bid to end screen scraping.(News)
May 2, 2008... EasyJet continued its drive to stop agents screen scraping its online fares and bolster the [pounds sterling]10 fee it wants for corporate bookings by signing a deal with IT company Partners Software. The carrier has demanded [pounds...

News.
May 2, 2008... in brief Allbury to cut staff Allbury Travel Group has launched a 30-day consultation period with staff to prepare for a number of redundancies. The number of employees to be released at the former Libra Holidays UK will be decided...

News.
May 2, 2008... in brief Win a Red Letter Day Collette Worldwide Holidays is offering agents the chance to win a Red Letter Days Experience Pack worth up to [pounds sterling]95. To enter the draw, agents have to register with the operator's online...

Kosmar pushes revamped hotels in new brochure.(News)
May 2, 2008... Kosmar Holidays has launched its first-edition summer 2009 brochure after driving a programme of refurbishment in suppliers' hotels. Managing director Abhi Dighe said about 85% of hoteliers featured in the operator's programme agreed to...

Malaysia sales boom? If Only...(News)
May 2, 2008... "I think it will work as the prizes are a bit special" Luxury operator If Only... has launched an incentive scheme to drive sales to Malaysia. Managing director Brendan Maguire said the new promotion will see agents given a specially...

Fly into space with On the Go.(News)
May 2, 2008... On the Go is offering customers the chance to fly into space with its new Russia Trans Siberia programme for 2008/09. Sales and marketing manager Megan James said the 30-minute flight in a Russian fighter jet takes customers to the edge of...

Shearings pulls plug on viewdata.(News)
May 2, 2008... Operator switches to web and call centre booking channels as system use dwindles Juliet Dennis Shearings Holidays is to switch off viewdata for travel agent bookings at the end of next month. The tour operator will instead take...

News.
May 2, 2008... operator pumps [pounds sterling]25 million into hotels Shearings Holidays is to invest [pounds sterling]25 million in its hotel chain this year and aims to increase its portfolio to 50 by the end of the year. The operator is the sixth...

News.
May 2, 2008... Patricia picks up Worldchoice prize Agent Graham Ecob, partner at RM Adams Travel, Aylesbury, has presented a luxury holiday to prize draw winning customer, Patricia Campbell. Patricia beat more than 3,000 entrants to scoop a week's...

Curtains close on Rear View.(News)
May 2, 2008... It is with a heavy heart that Rear View reveals this is the last time you will ever be able to read this much perused page. Changing times mean a change of focus and from next week, the Travel Weekly team will be bringing you even more...

When a crisis hits.(Skillzone)
May 2, 2008... are you dead calm, a drama queen, or somewhere in between? Neal Baldwin helps you decide Dealing with stress is often a matter of mind over body. But how exactly do you cope with all life throws at you? Take our fun quiz and find out ...

Departures.
May 2, 2008... Sample product Funway Holidays offers seven nights in Hawaii for [pounds sterling]1,275 per person in June 2008, including three nights' room-only at the Sheraton Kauai, four nights' room-only at the Wyland Waikiki Hotel and flights with...

Departures.
May 2, 2008... The lowdown Gateway airports: San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix and Seattle in the US, and Vancouver in Canada. Who flies there? United Airlines, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Continental Airlines Flying...

Departures.
May 2, 2008... If you do only one thing Marvel at bright orange lava spilling out of the volcano on the Big Island - the only one of Hawaii's islands that is growing, thanks to the lava flow creating new ground.

Departures.
May 2, 2008... View from the ground Skinny, skinnier, skinniest. Not the roll call for the models on Project Catwalk, but the type of jeans you need to pack for Austin, a town that worships at the temple of rock, where the look du jour is whippet thin....

News.
May 2, 2008... Tower has the Power to thrill Testing has begun on the Tower of Power, the highest ride at the new Siam Park in Tenerife, due to open this summer. Those brave enough to enjoy the ride will have to climb 256 stairs to reach the top,...

Week in pictures.
May 2, 2008... The Week to ComeWhere to be and what you need to know for the week ahead Saturday May 3 Granada celebrates the Festival of the May Crosses with floral decorated plazas, balconies, and pavements. granada.org Sunday May 4...

News.
May 2, 2008... "[My worst holiday experience was] filming in Antigua in very high humidity, wearing a wig" The world according to... Tim McInnerny, actor/travel writer How many holidays do you take a year? Usually one in the UK and one...

Cruisers hit four million.(News)
May 9, 2008... A record number of Europeans took to the seas Juliet Dennisjuliet.dennis@rbi.co.uk A record four million Europeans went on a cruise holiday in 2007 - up 17% on the previous year. The latest figures from the European Cruise...

News.
May 9, 2008... Travolution event was great success In Travolution editor Kevin May's opening remarks at last week's Travolution Summit he said something along the lines of "you wouldn't find a more senior assembly of travel executives in one room at any...

Skillzone.
May 9, 2008... Salary: [pounds sterling]40,000-[pounds sterling]45,000 Location: Luton, Bedfordshire What the ad says: "Are you a talented account manager with excellent online marketing skills? As well as receiving a competitive basic salary, 23...

Getaways grown-upsfor.(Departures)
May 9, 2008... If you're yearning for a tranquil, child-free resort then check out our pick of the best in the Caribbean. Janine Kelso reports If screaming babies and boisterous children sound like a recipe for a holiday from hell then an adults-only...

Findheaven.(Departures)
May 9, 2008... Emily Bamber books the top table at a selection of European Michelin-starred hotel restaurants to sample their menus foodie There's nothing like leaving a world-class restaurant and only having to stumble upstairs afterwards, and the...

Departures.
May 9, 2008... With no-frills flights from the UK, fascinating history and majestic religious ruins - this dazzling destination has it all and more. Jeannine Williamson takes you on a tour This month marks Israel's 60th anniversary of independence, with...